Friday 30 December 2011

Thursday 29 December 2011

That's Health: Mediband urges diabetics to be prepared

That's Health: Mediband urges diabetics to be prepared: A leading medical ID device producer is urging diabetics to take advantage of the silicone wristbands on offer to them in a bid to make it e...

Saturday 24 December 2011

That's Christmas: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

That's Christmas: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the team behind the That's Team of online magazines! We hope that you are able to get and to giv...

Friday 23 December 2011

That's Books: Special Book Offer Can Save You £6

That's Books: Special Book Offer Can Save You £6: Author Heather Flood's latest book for youngsters, Giant Sticker Monster and Other Children's Stories, has been acclaimed by actress Judy Bu...

That's Books: In Search of Sara Ann - The True Story Of An Adopt...

That's Books: In Search of Sara Ann - The True Story Of An Adopt...: Gareth Adeney The true story of an emotional reunion with long-sought birth family An official letter from the State of Israel marks a s...

That's Christmas: Autism Friendly Pantomime Performance

That's Christmas: Autism Friendly Pantomime Performance: This panto season Hall for Cornwall is running a Loud performance of its pantomime Robinson Crusoe & The Cornish Pirates. In a Loud Perfor...

That's Christmas: Christmas comes to the Honey Monster's Sugar Puffs...

That's Christmas: Christmas comes to the Honey Monster's Sugar Puffs...: As if Sugar Puffs were not tasty and fun enough and also nutritional (there's nowt wrong with honey, cereal and a bit of sugar!) the clear c...

Wednesday 21 December 2011

That's Christmas: Looking for stocking fillers? Then get Christmas c...

That's Christmas: Looking for stocking fillers? Then get Christmas c...: The kids have finished school and are enjoying their time off, and it’s easy for parents to feel panicked about how to keep them entertained...

That's Christmas: Life-changing mobility car given to deserving Hamp...

That's Christmas: Life-changing mobility car given to deserving Hamp...: Christmas came early for four-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer Zac Walton and his family when they took delivery of a wheelchair-accessible ...

That's Christmas: Surviving Santa

That's Christmas: Surviving Santa: A guide to sleep survival over the Santa Season has been published by The Sleep Council. As the UK’s number one source of everday sleep ti...

Sunday 18 December 2011

That's Christmas: Alternative Nativity Costumes Proving Popular Acco...

That's Christmas: Alternative Nativity Costumes Proving Popular Acco...: It used to be the case that children would only wear the traditional kinds of costumes for nativity plays, such as Mary, Joseph and the ‘lit...

Saturday 17 December 2011

That's Books: Julia Suzuki Became The First Author To Be Feature...

That's Books: Julia Suzuki Became The First Author To Be Feature...: Children's author Julia Suzuki's book 'Yoshiko and the Gift of Charms' was featured on group discount shopping site Living Social tomorrow -...

Top 5 Baby Sleep Tips for Christmas

Sleep is one of the big topics when it comes to babies. How to make sure your baby is getting enough of it and how to manage the lack of sleep new parents suffer from as a consequence. Whole books have been written on the topic but one thing all the experts agree on is that a rested baby is more likely to be a happy baby, so it follows that helping your baby get the sleep they need means more fun and relaxation for you and your baby.

Without trying to write a book on the subject Solvej Biddle, mum of 2 and owner of quintessential travel brand Content&Calm has teamed up with baby sleep specialist and midwife Vicki Scott RM to create a set of top tips to help your baby get the sleep they need over the busy festive period.

• The single most important tip is to help your baby to settle himself to sleep. If he can go to sleep by himself in the first place, he’s much more likely to be able to resettle during the night or during his daytime nap.

• A darkened environment is essential for many babies to sleep, especially as they get older. When your baby comes into a light sleep during the nap, if it’s dark he or she is more likely to resettle himself back and continue to have a longer and more restful sleep.

• A familiar environment is very important when away from home, staying with family or friends over Christmas. The more you can do to make your baby feel safe and secure, the more relaxed they will feel and more easily they will sleep. We call these sleep associations: darkness, familiar bedding or toys, whichever you usually use. All these help your baby to know that it’s sleep time and so to settle more easily. So no matter where you are, once in his cosy, darkened cot he’ll feel able to sleep.

• If you can, use the holiday time to recharge your own batteries too. If you’re lucky enough to have extended family or friends around over Christmas, give them a chance to bond with your baby while you catch up and enjoy the occasional lie in or daytime nap.

• When you go away, of course it’s a holiday for your baby too. However too many late nights and early mornings will take its toll on all of you. Babies are much happier, more able to have fun when they get enough sleep and all this adds to your enjoyment too!

That's Travel: National Geographic Traveller - Family Spring 2012...

That's Travel: National Geographic Traveller - Family Spring 2012...: National Geographic Traveller - Family Spring 2012 is available now in UK newsstands, a speci...

Children Take Winter In Their Stride With Active Clothes From Little Terra

Children’s online retailer Little Terra brings together inspired ideas to keep kids snug and stylish in the great outdoors as temperatures plummet, with its new Autumn and Winter collection.

Rather than keeping kids cooped up inside, Little Terra’s carefully selected collection – featuring top brands, including Jack Wolfskin, Sprayway and Barts – provides clothes to help them make the most of the outdoors.

This year, Little Terra has brought some of the collection’s key items together to view in a video, available at www.youtube.com/user/LittleTerraShop

Aimed at keeping children warm from head to toe, items in the range - available at www.littleterra.co.uk - include Jack Wolfskin Snowmotion fleece-lined wellies, as well as a variety of hats and insulated winter trousers tailored at the knee to enable movement.

Colour is also a key feature, with vibrant fleecy jumpers and jackets in bright shades, such as the Kenai Jacket and Talkeetna Fleece.

Warm and waterproof coats are also available - including the Wonderlake jacket and the Penguin Winter jacket – both from Jack Wolfskin - which each include reflective detail for added safety.

Based in Alfreton, Derbyshire, Little Terra’s specialist children’s buyer, Carolyn Budding, acknowledges the challenges faced keeping young people warm during the winter months. She said: “Parents want to be able to watch their child enjoy themselves, whatever the weather.

“Whether building a snowman or splashing in puddles, our range means that the focus is on fun rather than worrying about the cold.”

www.littleterra.co.uk

gNappies Presents a Hybrid Option for Parents

Being eco-aware is something most people aspire to, and this is even more pertinent for parents who will have their offspring in mind when thinking about the future of the planet. However, many parents have been reluctant to try non-disposable nappies to reduce their carbon footprint, says gNappies, believing the cost or downtime are too high to consider, but the hybrid option available from gNappies – combining a cloth nappy and disposable refills – can really give parents the best of both worlds.

Working parents and parents of more than one child can often be short of time and anything that represents extra work can be off-putting. Non-disposable nappies have sometimes been discounted as a result of this – but parents can still be eco-friendly with biodegradable nappies.

Says Kim Graham-Nye, co-founder of gNappies, “Parents genuinely want to do better environmentally and, many are horrified to learn that disposable nappies account for a third of landfill. However, cloth nappies aren’t for everyone – which is why the hybrid option is a great solution. Changing nappies doesn’t have to be such as chore– and the availability of disposable and biodegradable refills means it’s even easier for parents to consider this as a viable option.”

Kim and her husband Jason introduced the hybrid nappy concept after discovering shocking facts about disposable nappies and their impact on the environment. Around 11 million disposable nappies enter UK landfill every day, each taking up to 500 years to decompose and accounting for a third of the world’s landfill.

gNappies gives the option to choose between disposable nappies or cloth nappies – with the disposable element being a gRefill – an insert which is home compostable or can be disposed of in the domestic waste. On a home compost, the gRefill only takes 50 – 100 days to biodegrade, compared with 500 years for a single disposable nappy.

gNappies come in a range of colours, patterns and sizes. The dedicated gNappies UK website - www.gnappies.co.uk - features all the products as well as gBundle starter packs.

That's Christmas: Free Festive Kids Game and Free Gift At Westfield ...

That's Christmas: Free Festive Kids Game and Free Gift At Westfield ...: Westfield Stratford City has today launched The Christmas Alphabet Hunt to help parents ke...

Wednesday 14 December 2011

Mums Can Get Their Mojo Back In 2012 With The MuTu® System

Mums who want to get stronger, fitter, leaner and more confident in 2012, forever, need look no further than the MuTu® System (http://mutusystem.com/mutu-system.html).

The MuTu® System, has been created by Wendy Powell, a mother of two who has been there & done it, and is also an experienced, highly qualified pre & post natal fitness professional. Her unique, proven, step by step 12 week programme and video series of restorative exercises, effective workouts, yoga and motivational techniques is ideal for women who want to rediscover their waistline AND body confidence, however long ago they had their baby.

Five interconnecting elements have been woven together to put a mother's body back where she wants it. MuTu Core is the *find your waist & flatten your tummy* bit, MuTu Breathe, the *tone your pelvic floor & chill out* bit and MuTu New Mum / MuTu Intensive is the *time to get sweaty & shape your body* bit. MuTu Posture is the *stand tall & find your mojo* bit and MuTu Food is the *eat right with no hang ups* bit.

Wendy Powell, said, "There's a huge amount of advice out there for brand new mums but the physical effects of pregnancy, childbirth and mothering - weak pelvic floor, saggy tummy, weak core muscles, back ache - can go on for years, and this is what I tackle. The MuTu® System really 'GETS' the practicalities, hormones, emotions and pressures mums face. By following the programme you can stop being confused by conflicting advice and get your body - and mind - back in good working order and shape, however long ago you gave birth".

She added, "The programme works because it gives women the tools, information and guidance they need to change habits and take responsibility for their bodies once again. The holistic approach is about working out, eating well and increasing self esteem so you feel sexy, capable, strong and healthy in a world full of quick fixes and unrealistic expectations that just don't work".

"Thank you for MuTu - I have been totally motivated & have stuck to a programme for the first time ever! - Wendy, you have achieved the impossible!" Emi, mum of 2

For more information go to http://mutusystem.com/mutu-system.html

Monday 12 December 2011

Sunday 11 December 2011

Saturday 10 December 2011

Cool For kids

Decorating a child's bedroom can be a challenge, so why not invest in a bed which will keep your little one's room chic and on trend for years to come?

Sofa.com has a wide and varied range of single beds, from metal frames to upholstered beds, so there is something to suit tots through to teens. Not only are they built to last but our range of classic beds are great investment pieces and can be used by your child throughout their many ages and stages.

Sofa.com also offer some great solutions for keeping kids' bedrooms clutter-free. The Gabriel footstool is ideal for stashing toys, books and games. It also fits perfectly under bay windows and can double up as extra seating.

Opt for a divan style bed for additional space to store bed linen and other bulky items.

Available in playful and fun fabrics, from juicy raspberry to bright sunshine.

Scallop Single bed in Raspberry, £580

Gabriel Storage Ottoman in Charcoal, from £320

www.sofa.com

Spring is on the way!

Hard to grasp this concept, but spring is, indeed, on the way.

And you can make sure you and your little ones are ready with these warm and cosy must haves from Tippitoes and Baroo.

Whether you are at home or on the move, you won't want to go anywhere without the brand new Striped Knitted Blanket or Luxury Bubble Blankets as they are sure to keep your child snug as a bug.

Baroo Luxury Bubble Blanket, available in cream, white, black, pink and blue, £19.99

Baroo Sail Away Sleeping Bag 6-18 months, £19.99

Baroo Striped Knitted Blanket, 100% cotton, £19.99

Tippitoes Star Wrap, £14.99

Visit www.tippitoes.com or call 0845 600 8595 for further details.

That's Christmas: How To Survive Your First Christmas Alone

That's Christmas: How To Survive Your First Christmas Alone: Your first Christmas alone doesn't have to be terrible. Make sure that you plan what you are going to do well in advance and that you arrang...

Ensure Sweeter Dreams With The New Bedding From Tippitoes By Baroo

Keep your baby snug and warm in the nursery with the new range of bedding and Moses baskets from Tippitoes by Baroo.
A Moses basket is ideal for use from birth until 6 months (approx) and gives the option of keeping them next to your bed or in the nursery.

The new range of Moses baskets are available in white or dark wicker with white bedding. They are also available in natural maize with blue, yellow, cream and pink.

Create the perfect nursery for newborns with the brand new Sail Away or the neutral My Best Friends bedding range that will see them through to toddler years.

They are perfect for use on both cots and junior beds and include a quilt, bumper, sheet and fleece blanket.

To see full Baroo range, visit www.tippitoes.com

Thursday 8 December 2011

That's Business: A CAST of Millions? What nasty IT costs are hidden...

That's Business: A CAST of Millions? What nasty IT costs are hidden...: Results of the new CAST Report on Application Software Health (CRASH) released today by CAST, the world leader in software analysis and m...

Spyder Ski Wear on the Web with Little Terra

Red Spyder jacket from Little Terra
Children’s online outdoor clothing specialist Little Terra is now stocking top ski brand Spyder.

For decades, Spyder has produced technical clothes at the cutting edge of performance, comfort and fashion.

Now Derbyshire-based Little Terra has unveiled its range of Spyder gear for youngsters as families prepare for the impending season.

The collection includes jackets, ski pants, under-jacket roll-necks, gloves and hats – all featuring the distinctive logo of one of the most desirable brands on the slopes.

Insulated and waterproof, the Challenger and Avenger jackets for boys have a snow skirt and a removable heavy weather hood for when the conditions close in or for long, wind-swept chairlift ascents.

For girls, the Lola jacket combines fabulous looks with high performance to keep children warm and dry on the mountain and in resort.

As with all Spyder products, the jackets have been designed specifically with skiers in mind, resulting in useful additions such as internal mesh goggle pocket, attached chamois lens wipe cloth, lift pass pocket and adjustable cuffs.

Ski pants for boys include the top-performance Avenger and Force designs, while for girls the Bitsy Tart pants complement the Lola jacket perfectly.

With a selection of high-end Spyder gloves, hats and under-jacket tops, Little Terra has the ski season wrapped up and is living up to its motto of supplying Online Brands for Off-road kids.

Carolyn Budding, children’s clothing buying specialist at littleterra.co.uk, said: “Spyder has become a really desirable brand across the world in recent years.

“What a lot of people don’t realise is that it has been around since the 1970s, supplying professional skiers as well as the most demanding amateurs.

“Everything Spyder does comes from experience on the slopes and that really shows.”

www.littleterra.co.uk

That's Food and Drink: Need a dairy free Christmas? Then indulge yoursel...

That's Food and Drink: Need a dairy free Christmas? Then indulge yoursel...: As the festive season fast approaches, households across the UK will be stocking up on seasonal treats to indulge in over the Christmas ho...

Wednesday 7 December 2011

Sunday 4 December 2011

That's Books: Britain's 110 Year Old Teenager Launches Her Autob...

That's Books: Britain's 110 Year Old Teenager Launches Her Autob...: On December 3 2011 teenager Hayley Okines was 14. Nothing unusual about that, you might say? But Hayley is unlike no other teenager. She...

That's Books: Badger the Mystical Mutt

That's Books: Badger the Mystical Mutt: Badger the Mystical Mutt is a special dog. A very special dog indeed. He is magical, though his magic doesn't always work out in quite the w...

That's Christmas: Chance to win £1600 of goodies every week until Ch...

That's Christmas: Chance to win £1600 of goodies every week until Ch...: Shopcade , a new social shopping application on Facebook, has announced the winners of its Christmas “Wish & Win” competition for the week...

Sunday 27 November 2011

Own A Colour Charity Initiative Raises Over £85,000 In First Six Weeks

Thousands of people from across the globe have been united by colour in an effort to raise crucial funds for UNICEF, the world’s leading children’s organisation. So far the Own A Colourwebsite, which offers the chance for everyone to buy their own personal colour for a minimum donation of at least £1 per colour, has generated £85,964.

A number of high profiles celebrities have bought colours to support UNICEF as well as spreading the word on Twitter. UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Sir Roger Moore named a shade of blue ‘Swedish Blue’ after his wife’s homeland and the colour of the Swedish flag. UNICEF UK Ambassador Jemima Khan also opted for a shade of blue which she named ‘CFC Blue’ for her son, who’s a big fan of Chelsea Football Club, and renowned entrepreneur and fellow UNICEF UK Ambassador Duncan Bannatyne stayed true to his Scottish roots with ‘Scottish Saltire Blue’.

The global Own A Colour fundraising initiative, which is being powered by Dulux, has also received considerable support on Twitter. An estimated 10,000 people from all over the world have been tweeting about Own A Colour, including influential tweeter and actor Stephen Fry as well as ex-prime minister’s wife and charity campaigner Sarah Brown, who has in excess of 1.6 million followers.

In total 12,213 colours from the world’s biggest ever colour palette have been sold so far, bought by people spanning 84 countries and reaching as far as Argentina, China, Indonesia and New Zealand. Globally, the most popular colour is pink, which has made up 11 % of all colour purchases.

Michael Newsome, Director of Fundraising at UNICEF UK said, “We are delighted with the amount of money raised so far. Each and every colour purchased will help UNICEF to transform a child’s life. There are still 16,765,003 colours left and with Christmas approaching, I urge you to get onto www.ownacolour.com and show your support.”

Matt Pullen, Marketing Director Dulux UK said, “Own A Colour has really captured people’s imaginations and united people across the globe with colour and with the mission of transforming children’s lives. We hope this success will continue especially with Christmas around the corner… what better gift than buying a friend or loved one a colour which will ultimately help a child’s life?”

Visit www.ownacolour.com for more information and to purchase your own colour for a £1 and help transform a child’s life.

Markel & Butlins making dreams come true for Young Carers with Princess Royal Trust

Long-term supporters of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Markel Insurance and Butlins joined forces to provide a fun-filled day out for young carers on Saturday 22 October at two Butlins resorts – Bognor Regis and Minehead.

Thirty six young carers from the Carers Support Centre Bristol and Surrey Young Carers were given a little respite from their caring responsibilities and enjoyed a fun-packed day of fairground rides and seaside treats.

Daniel is 15 and cares for his Mum who has mobility problems, his 14 year old sister who has life threatening asthma and his 11 year old brother with ADHD. The family haven’t had a holiday in years. ‘I’ve never been to Butlins in my life and I’m well excited I can hardly wait or sleep. I’m going to go on all the fairground rides as soon as I arrive.’

Young carers’ are children under the age of 18 who look after someone in their family who has an illness, a disability, a mental health problem or a substance misuse problem, taking on practical and/or emotional caring responsibilities that would normally be expected of an adult. Many young carers feel hopeless, isolated and alone - they often feel robbed of their childhood. We are working with carers as young as 5 years old – many of whom take on responsibilities way beyond their years.

Markel and Butlins have been supporting The Princess Royal Trust for Carers for over four years. The ethos of both organisations is to make a real difference to the lives of unpaid carers and to know that anything they do in cash or in kind really does benefit carers.

Kim Britten, Director of Fundraising at The Princess Royal Trust for Carers said: ‘The Trust is delighted to have the continued support of both Markel and Butlins, two organisations who clearly demonstrate how working together can make an even bigger difference to the lives of young and adult carers alike. We believe this is partnership working at its very best where everyone is a winner especially unpaid carers.’

Helen Walker, Marketing Manager Markel said: "It’s fantastic to see how carers benefit from our support. We are delighted that, along with Butlins, we have been able to bring some excitement and normality to the lives of these incredible young carers, and that for one day they can enjoy the freedom we often take for granted."

FACTFILE
Markel (UK) Limited is a leading specialist insurer providing insurance for a variety of professional, management, social welfare, charitable and speciality property/liability risks for organisations of all sizes. More information can be found at http://www.markeluk.com

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers is the largest provider of comprehensive support services, reaching more than 424,000 carers, including more than 28,500 young carers, through a unique network of 144 independently managed Carers’ Centres, 85 young carers’ services and interactive websites http://www.carers.org and http://www.youngcarers.net.

That's Books: Rabbitwood

That's Books: Rabbitwood: If you travel beyond the seven mountains, traverse through many enchanted valleys, make your way over or around a variety of lakes and river...

That's Books: Mercadzil And The November Bird by Anne S. Boryer

That's Books: Mercadzil And The November Bird by Anne S. Boryer: The fat old witch Mercadzil is fed up. Nothing interesting has happened for ages, no one has asked her for a spell, and the custard in her s...

That's Books: The Forest of Kings

That's Books: The Forest of Kings: The Forest of Kings is a large and well-illustrated tale. Appropriately it is published by Far Far Away Books, as it is a story set in a tim...

That's Books: Harry Potter - A Christian Chronicle?

That's Books: Harry Potter - A Christian Chronicle?: Foreword by Christina Rees Written by Sonia Falaschi-Ray £9.99 Paperback 978-1-84624-681-4 ...

That's Books: Findus at Chirstmas by Sven Nordqvist

That's Books: Findus at Chirstmas by Sven Nordqvist: It's Chirstmas Eve Eve, you know, the day before Christmas Eve? It's a very busy time for Pettson and Findus his talking cat. But when P...

Saturday 26 November 2011

That's Books: Phillipa Knickerbocker Glory And The Ice Cream Cas...

That's Books: Phillipa Knickerbocker Glory And The Ice Cream Cas...: Published by Gibson Publishing Price: £6.99 Available: Monday 26th March 2012 from Waterstones and other leading book stores Phillipa...

That's Books: The Three Little Pigs, retold

That's Books: The Three Little Pigs, retold: The Three Little Pigs is here retold and illustrated by Little Red Riding Hood. See The Three Little Pigs as you have probably never quite...

That's Books: Deep Water. A Cate Carlisle Files novel

That's Books: Deep Water. A Cate Carlisle Files novel: Cate Carlisle receives a worried and, to be honest, rather frantic phone call from her boyfriend Michael in Australia. Michael is working ...

That's Books: Matilda's Secret

That's Books: Matilda's Secret: Matilda's Secret is a novel by Sandra Goldbacher and it is a part of the "A Girl for all Time Book" series. Matilda Marchmont is thirteen,...

Friday 25 November 2011

One Space website Extends Support for Single Parents with Launch of Family Health Check

Single parent family health check launch
The Single Parent Action Network (SPAN) has today announced the launch of its new Family Health Check, an online triage system for family support workers and single parents experiencing difficulties, to help prioritise issues and signpost families to additional and relevant help.

The online Family Health Check has been funded by the Department for Education as part of the Early Intervention programme that aims to support parents through a range of online and telephone services. The Family Health Check can be accessed through SPAN’s www.onespace.org.uk website.

"The Health Check is not a simple search engine, it priorities issues and treats the user in an holistic way, looking at answers given from various parts of their life," confirms Simon Bates, development director, SPAN.

"Although the Family Health Check is available for use by individuals, it is also designed to be incorporated into the practice of workers who support families as an assessment tool or as a way of exploring issues and to help prioritise and take steps to solve the problems identified."

"From our experience of working with single parents, we know that there are several main areas to address when confronted with relationship breakdown: children and parenting being one of the most important, while training and work, income, divorce and separation, health and well-being, and community and social support are also key, due to the consequential effect on the family,” explains Bates. “The Family Health Check guides its users through a series of questions to provide an individualised signposting and advice sheets on completion addressing these main areas."

"However, this is the start of the journey for many single parents," continues Bates. "Practitioners and families will be able to combine this information with other pillars of support such as a searchable tool designed to help single parents find services in their area. In addition, the One Space website also features 'Ask-the-Experts' where professionals can be contacted for advice and information including family law, child support and a relationship counselling. The site also provides housing advice from Shelter and money advice from the Citizens’ Advice Bureau. A new Virtual Learning Centre also offers a range of free courses to support families through difficulties."

"Although divorce and separation is one of the most stressful experiences that children and parents can go through, we believe that the faster interventions can be made, the more chance we stand of preventing poverty and more entrenched difficulty further down the line.” concludes Bates. “For those who work directly with families, we hope that the One Space website can be used to extend the range of support that is offered and help address the key areas associated with the difficulties single parents face."

For more information please see: www.onespace.org.uk

Sunday 20 November 2011

That's Travel: Members of women’s online travel community have of...

That's Travel: Members of women’s online travel community have of...: Members of women’s online travel community Thelma & Louise aren’t keeping to the “Mum’s the Word” mantra of old when it comes to dealing w...

Tuesday 15 November 2011

Wednesday 9 November 2011

Nappy Bundles Make the Perfect Gift for New Parents, Says gNappies


Choosing the right present for expectant parents can be a tricky task and can often result in duplication of gifts – but the arrival of the full gNappies range in the UK, providing a hybrid non-disposable nappy solution, means an alternative gift idea is available which also helps protect the future of the planet.

Those shopping for new parents can help invest in the future of the child and choose a stylish and practical gift.

Says Kim Graham-Nye, founder of gNappies who was recently named in the top 10 of the Fortune 100 Entrepreneur list: “A green baby means a happy planet, and with society increasingly trying to reduce its carbon footprint now more than ever, gNappies offers an opportunity for eco-aware new parents to do just that. People often don’t know what to buy new parents and it can result in lots of items or clothing that just don’t get used – so gNappies is a good practical and thoughtful alternative gift.”

A starter pack such as the gNappy baby bundle contains everything needed for new parents to get started with gNappies. The bundle contains both tiny and small sized cute and colourful little gPants; which accommodate any new-borns growth, complete with the cute ‘g’ logo on the back. The bundle also comes with 80 biodegradable gRefills, which are designed to fit into the little gPants and can be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. They can be home composted or disposed of in the domestic waste.

Not just eco-friendly and practical, the gPants are stylish and come in a variety of colours and patterns. The gRefills create biodegradable nappies that are trendy, colourful and nature friendly whereas the washable gCloths can be used over and over again, offering a cloth nappy option. The bundles can also be personalised for boy or girl by adding the new gWipes which are also 100% biodegradable.

The full range of stylish nappy ‘pants’ comes in a range of colours, patterns and sizes, and is now available for purchase via a dedicated gNappies UK website, where buyers can opt for bundle packs or individual gPants, gRefills and gCloths. To see the range visit www.gnappies.co.uk.

Yoomi turns Red for TAMBA this Christmas

Yoomi Limited Edition TAMBA Red Collars
Yoomi, the clever people behind the UK’s first self-warming baby bottle has launched a stylish Limited Edition ‘red’ collar to support Tamba and brighten up feeding time this winter! 10% of all red collar sales will be donated to Tamba, to help meet the unique challenges faced by multiple birth parents.

Why yoomi? Have you ever stumbled around the kitchen in the middle of the night trying to warm your bottles or become impatient waiting for hot water to be brought to you in a restaurant?

Well, that doesn't have to happen, now! yoomi have the answer with their self-warming bottle, which warms feed to the perfect temperature of breast-milk at the touch of a button… in just 60 seconds!
• Ideal for feeding on the go
• Great for the night feeds
• Perfect breast-milk temperature, every time

On the shelves in the UK since November 2009, yoomi is the most practical solution to feeding on the go and quickly and easily warms your baby’s feed - whether it be in the car, train, cafe or restaurant! This is a truly innovative feeding system that can be used quite literally anytime, anyplace, anywhere!

Selected as one of the ‘Top 15 Inventions of the Decade’ by the British Library and a Double Gold winner in the Loved By Parents 2011 awards for ‘Best Bottle’ and ‘Best Travel Invention’, yoomi is fast becoming a hot favourite with parents!

An original British invention, yoomi is expanding rapidly and can now be found in 12 countries around the world.

Why Tamba?
The link with Tamba holds a special place for Jim and Farah, the founders of yoomi.
“Having experienced the joys of expecting twins, the complications of a multiple birth and the loss of one of our babies, we really value the support and comfort Tamba provides to parents at such a difficult time. For us, supporting Tamba is a way of helping other families through the joys and sometimes sadness that comes with multiple births” Jim and Farah Shaikh, parents to Danial (…. and now Niall)

Tamba have established a Bereavement Support Group to help families faced with the loss of both or one twin and have also produced a guide for parents on Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome.

Yoomi – a real help for parents, especially of multiples…
Yoomi is the perfect time-saving and practical solution to feeding time and is becoming a feeding time essential for parents facing the challenges of multiple babies.

“Yoomi has been a lifesaver! … particularly at night time when there is no more waiting around for the kettle to boil… feeding within a minute has been a godsend. The difference is unbelievable!” Sarah, mum to Ava and Megan

“This is the next stage of baby care and should be handed out to every twin mother on the NHS. It is like having a breast in a bottle. It saved time, money and my sanity.” Sophia, mum to Teddy and Betty

What Tamba say “Our sincere thanks to yoomi. Families expecting twins or more face greater risks during pregnancy and often end up in neonatal care. When they finally get their babies home it can be exhausting but thanks to your help we can make sure even more families have a happier, healthier start to life.” Keith Reed, CEO, Tamba

So support Tamba by turning all your yoomi bottles Red for Christmas!

Tuesday 8 November 2011

An itchy subject for parents...

Over a third (37%) of all of school children under 16 (4.06 million) now experience at least one head lice infestation a year, rising to 48% among four to 11 years-olds, according to a new study. Yet only 39% of parent are managing to successfully get rid of these infestations, even though £23 million2 is spent on over-the-counter and prescription head lice treatments every year.

Of the 1,000 parents surveyed by head lice treatment NYDA® 92% Dimeticone Dual Formula – an innovative treatment clinically proven to kill head lice in under five minutes and their eggs (nits) within 8 hours, It found many parents still failed to check their offspring’s heads regularly for head lice, leaving infestations undetected. Just 35% of parents said they check once a week, 9% check once a month, and 12% say they only check when they notice the child scratching its head. A further 6% of parents said need the motivation of a school letter with a lice warning.

Nearly a third of parents (29%) still use chemical head lice treatments based on neuro-toxic insecticides, to which a high percentage of lice – up to 80% in certain cases – have in fact developed resistance. Many parents seem to remain unaware that this is the case, or that a treatment like NYDA® does not encounter resistance, since it works by suffocating the lice rather than poisoning them.

Finally, manufactures and healthcare professionals are failing to take note of and communicate to parents the Department of Health’s recommendations on eradicating lice. The British National Formulary, used by health professionals, states explicitly that “a contact time of 8–12 hours or overnight treatment is recommended for lotions and liquids 7”, but many branded treatments – though not NYDA® – claim to be able to clear head lice and their eggs in 30, 20 or even just 15 minutes.

In practice, this is too short a time to kill louse eggs, which are more stubborn to treat. Indeed, some treatments are unlikely to be able to kill the eggs at all. In these circumstances, a second application after seven to nine days becomes essential to kill newly hatched nymphs (larvae) and thus break the lifecycle before the nymphs reach maturity and in turn start reproducing. (During its 50-day lifespan, a female louse can lay up to 300 eggs.)

Babs Young, Independent Nurse Consultant, Children and Young People’s Public Health and NYDA’s public health expert, commented: “Although head lice are not considered a major health hazard, infestations can have a physical and psychological impact on children and their families.

"The results of this new survey make clear that, because head lice infestations are a common occurrence, health professionals and pharmacists need to provide clear information and guidance to parents on the methods of detection and treatment. This should be based on the guidelines from the Department of Health (BNF) which will enable parents to choose the most effective treatments for their child.”

Which products are parents using in their attempts to eradicate lice?

36% of parents surveyed had treated their children on average 7.13 times in the last three years, yet only 39% reported treatment success in eradicating head lice:

• 29% of those parents had used a chemical treatment containing an insecticide with neurotoxic action. Not only are these treatments ineffective against eggs younger than four days, but in up to 80% of cases, lice are resistant to the insecticides they contain.
• 38% of parents had used a treatment that works physically. These lotions contain dimeticone (like NYDA®) or cyclomethicone and work by coating the lice and killing them through suffocation or disrupting their water balance.
• 34% had used mechanical combs (wet combing or ‘bug-busting’), employing a head lice comb and hair conditioner to remove the head lice and their eggs manually over several sessions
• 13% had used natural treatments containing herbal oils e.g. coconut oil. (There is no clinical evidence of efficacy for these measures.)

Hippychick Wins Prestigious Somerset Business Award

Hippychick is over the moon to have won Business of the Year (5-50 employees), at this year’s Somerset Business Awards. Around 300 people from the county’s top businesses attended the ceremony, with event organisers commenting that the standard of the entries this year had been exceptionally high and very competitive.

The judges were particularly impressed with Hippychick’s sales growth, particularly in a tough trading year and with one of the key members of their team out of action!

Julia Minchin, Joint Director of Hippychick said, “We are delighted to have received this fantastic award, it is a huge honour and well deserved recognition for the whole Hippychick team.”

For more information on Hippychick and its innovative range of products, please visit www.hippychick.com or email trade@hippychick.com.

Saturday 5 November 2011

That's Christmas: Have an Alphatastic Christmas!

That's Christmas: Have an Alphatastic Christmas!: There are few things more special for your little child or baby than having their name right in the heart of a beautiful piece of artwork. ...

Wednesday 2 November 2011

Monday 31 October 2011

Yezz, It Really Is That Small, Swift And Compact!

Open your mind, charter new urban territories or go where you have gone before but with greater ease.

The new Quinny Yezz, suitable from six months, is like nothing you have seen before. Forget what you know about other lightweight buggies and be free to absorb what the Quinny Yezz has to offer the dynamic city parent.

If you are a frequent traveller by public transport then this buggy is going to blow you away. A buggy isn’t just useful for a quick outing to the shops with your little one because it’s lightweight and more compact for the shopping aisles; it’s a way of life of some parents, especially those living in the city. 

The need to get from A to B quickly and as efficiently as possible makes a super lightweight compact buggy an essential piece of equipment. If you find yourself speeding around the city, jumping on and off buses and sometimes wish you could tackle the underground with a buggy and babe in arms then the Quinny Yezz is the buggy for you.

Weighing just five kilograms the Quinny Yezz can be flung over the shoulder in one simple movement. With three simple actions the buggy is collapsed and clicked into place ready to be grabbed by the comfortable carrying strap. Off at the other end, release and shake out the buggy, lock into place, and you are both ready to get going again. All this can be done while holding your baby and your handbag.

The Quinny Yezz is also great for taking on holiday as it’s so small and compact. Place it effortlessly in the boot of a car leaving lots of room for everything and the kitchen sink; or take it abroad as it will not add much to the baggage allowance. The Quinny Yezz seat has been designed with a slight angle to keep napping children comfortable for hours.

The Quinny Yezz is made from a high performance glass fibre material called IXEF® which gives it a strong yet super lightweight frame. The fabric used for the buggy’s seat and hood is made from material similar to paraglider fabric which is light, very strong and comfortable. The wheels on the Quinny Yezz are skating wheels which makes it responsive and easy to manoeuvre with a smooth ride. This robust combination all creatively held in place with pre-stretched climbing rope is enough to excite even the toughest extreme sport enthusiast.

The Quinny Yezz is available in an explosion of colours that are striking and bright. Suit your mood - Grey Road, for a classic chic look; Blue Track, an electric blue; Red Signal, sure to stop and turn heads; Pink Hybrid, for all those girly girls; Green Curve is a beautiful emerald green and Yellow Move, is bright and bold.
 

Open your mind, charter new urban territories or go where you have gone before but with greater ease.

The new Quinny Yezz, suitable from six months, is like nothing you have seen before. Forget what you know about other lightweight buggies and be free to absorb what the Quinny Yezz has to offer the dynamic city parent.

If you are a frequent traveller by public transport then this buggy is going to blow you away. A buggy isn’t just useful for a quick outing to the shops with your little one because it’s lightweight and more compact for the shopping aisles; it’s a way of life of some parents, especially those living in the city.  The need to get from A to B quickly and as efficiently as possible makes a super lightweight compact buggy an essential piece of equipment. If you find yourself speeding around the city, jumping on and off buses and sometimes wish you could tackle the underground with a buggy and babe in arms then the Quinny Yezz is the buggy for you.

Weighing just five kilograms the Quinny Yezz can be flung over the shoulder in one simple movement. With three simple actions the buggy is collapsed and clicked into place ready to be grabbed by the comfortable carrying strap. Off at the other end, release and shake out the buggy, lock into place, and you are both ready to get going again. All this can be done while holding your baby and your handbag.

The Quinny Yezz is also great for taking on holiday as it’s so small and compact. Place it effortlessly in the boot of a car leaving lots of room for everything and the kitchen sink; or take it abroad as it will not add much to the baggage allowance. The Quinny Yezz seat has been designed with a slight angle to keep napping children comfortable for hours.

The Quinny Yezz is made from a high performance glass fibre material called IXEF® which gives it a strong yet super lightweight frame. The fabric used for the buggy’s seat and hood is made from material similar to paraglider fabric which is light, very strong and comfortable. The wheels on the Quinny Yezz are skating wheels which makes it responsive and easy to manoeuvre with a smooth ride. This robust combination all creatively held in place with pre-stretched climbing rope is enough to excite even the toughest extreme sport enthusiast.

The Quinny Yezz is available in an explosion of colours that are striking and bright. Suit your mood - Grey Road, for a classic chic look; Blue Track, an electric blue; Red Signal, sure to stop and turn heads; Pink Hybrid, for all those girly girls; Green Curve is a beautiful emerald green and Yellow Move, is bright and bold.

RRP £175.00

The New Kub Moses Basket Rocks

Popular brand KUB nursery furniture has recently launched a Moses Basket and two ECO stands. The Folia Moses Basket is a beautiful classic baby basket that comes complete with a little white KUB bear.
 
The KUB ECO stands are available in two colours – natural and white and have a unique and beautiful shape that makes them really stand out.
 
And what’s so great about the stands is that they can gently rock which helps to sooth babies while they rest and sleep. The stand has special feet that enable you to switch from rocking to still very easily. The stands are also part of the ECO range so you can be assured that the wood has been responsibly sourced, as it has been certified according to the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council ® (FSC).
The KUB Folia Moses Basket is a great place for a new baby to sleep so you can get up and running at an affordable price. Made with a strong and durable maize weave, the sturdy yet elegant basket will fit effortlessly in any room. The basket has a hood and is very well padded so will be extra comfortable for your newborn.
The Moses Basket comes fully dressed so it’s ready to use immediately. Lined with lovely soft white cotton and a white waffle fabric, the basket looks striking. The mattress is covered with a soft white sheet and the coverlet is a blanket which can be used as it tucks safely and neatly under the mattress.
Folia Moses Basket – RRP £80.00
Folia Stand Natural – RRP £30.00
Folia Stand White - RRP £30.00 

That's Entertainment News: Michael Bentine's Potty Time Complete Series 4

That's Entertainment News: Michael Bentine's Potty Time Complete Series 4: Voted one of the greatest kids' TV shows of all time, Michael Bentine's Potty Time - Complete Series 4 is finally available to own on 7th No...

Sunday 30 October 2011

That's Christmas: Create your own Winter Wonderland!

That's Christmas: Create your own Winter Wonderland!: The pre-Christmas build-up can be a magical time for adults alike. And now you can make it even more special for you and your children with ...

Saturday 29 October 2011

Thursday 20 October 2011

Earn £5 M&S Vouchers this half term, by doing something good!

GYKO
 turn 5 items into £5 at M&S
As any parent will tell you, they always seem to have items that their children have outgrown or no longer need that they would like to see go to a good home. Now parents can turn their kid's unwanted items into a £5 M&S voucher.

The new community based website www.mygyko.com which enables parents to sell, swap or giveaway to other parents is offering a £5 M&S voucher when they list 5 items on the site by the 31st October.

The ethos behind the GYKO site is to build on existing local community spirit. The site provides parents with a simple easy to use, safe and friendly way of trading the items their children have now outgrown with other families living in their area.

What is unique about the website is that it puts parents with children at the same school, sports club or uniformed organisation(s) in touch with one another and allows them to buy, sell, swap or give away items.

The GYKO site enables the informal school gate agreements that often exist between small circles of friends to be widened up to a larger community.

By conducting transactions via the school and sports club you don’t have to advertise your address to strangers who then collect items from your home. Nor do you have to incur postage charges.
Parents who are looking for ways to earn some extra cash will find this an ideal place to sell outgrown uniforms and sport kits that are filling up their cupboards and garages.

With the added incentive of earning a £5 voucher for listings made by the end of October, this half term is the perfect time for parents to de-clutter and sort out the items that their children no longer require.

The site is free to use for both the parents listing items and the parents acquiring items.

GYKO is a site that puts community and parents first as opposed to profit and commercialism – something that can only be beneficial to everyone.

Little Terra Backs Vaude and Bush Baby Child Carriers

Child Back Carrier from Little Terra
A good child carrier provides young people with a comfortable ride and a bird’s eye view – and the user with a comfortable way of carrying their precious load.

Both the Bush Baby and Vaude Baby Carrier ranges are stocked by the children’s retailer Little Terra.

Carolyn Budding, who is the managing director of Little Terra, has hand-picked both premium brands due to the wide range of models they offer, providing a choice of options for buyers and an advanced level of adjustment to make both child and carrier comfortable.

With years of experience transporting children in these types of carriers, Carolyn, as with every item stocked by Little Terra, has used her own experience as both a specialist buyer and a mother of two to ensure products are more than capable of meeting the demands of modern families.

Carolyn said: “Child carriers are suitable for children from around six months of age and offer a more versatile means of getting around, where pushchairs could struggle to handle the terrain, or are difficult to manoevre such as around busy city centres.”

Little Terra has produced a free downloadable guide to help parents make an informed choice when selecting a back carrier.

Available online at http://www.littleterra.co.uk/Advice_and_FAQ/Child_Back_Carri... the guide is packed with information, including fitting, frame construction, weight considerations and accessories.

http://www.littleterra.co.uk

Sunday 16 October 2011

That's Christmas: Jellyfingers Great Free Toy Giveaway

That's Christmas: Jellyfingers Great Free Toy Giveaway: Flash Sale Website ‘Jellyfingers’ Great Free Infant & Pre-School Toy Giveaway Jellyfingers, a flash sale site dedicated to the infant and...

Sunday 9 October 2011

The north’s first specialist independent baby clinic opens in Yorkshire this month

Based at the renowned Good Health centre in Roundhay, Leeds, the private clinic is run by Milk Matters, an organisation specialising in solving early parenting problems such as distressed babies and babies with feeding or sleeping problems.

Charlotte Young, 33, from Halifax, who runs Milk Matters, has been working with mums and babies to help solve their problems since 2003.

Charlotte, who also writes popular parenting blog Analytical Armadillo, said: “Mums come to us when they are at the end of their tether.

“Babies with colic or reflux, feeding problems, wind or excessive sleep disturbances can be very distressed and unsettled for long periods of time. All of this adds up to distressed parents too.

“We focus on the whole of the situation and believe that by assessing all of the possible contributory factors – mum, baby, birth and what has happened since – we can better understand, and therefore identify the problem, rather than just medicating symptoms.

“Using our keen observation skills and taking a detailed history, we can help parents understand what baby is communicating. And we’ve literally had overnight results.”

The clinic will be open to anyone who has problems from birth to one year, whether they are breast or bottle fed. It is the natural progression for Charlotte, who has spent seven years helping babies via home visits, helplines and online.

Charlotte is a certified breastfeeding counsellor who has undertaken extensive further training to specialise, and will be joined at the clinic by other practitioners if the case demands. This includes Independent Lactation Consultant Ann Dobson, a well-known specialist in treating tongue tie.

Lucie Biddle , 32, from Liversedge, is just one of the mums helped by Milk Matters. Lucie said: “Louie is my third child and he was seven months old when I contacted Milk Matters back in July.

“He was not only a very frequent feeder but would also get very distressed. He would wriggle, squirm, writhe, arch his back and fight me until finally becoming so distressed and hysterical that I had to stop feeding and cuddle him until he calmed down.

"He would be sick so much after each feed that I had to cover us both with a bath towel. But because he was gaining weight, the health visitor and doctor didn’t seem concerned; he prescribed Gaviscon for reflux and we were sent on our way.

“He was never settled, crying so hard while trying to feed that he often stopped breathing for a moment. He never slept for more than a couple of hours at a time and would have several screaming fits each night.

“After trying an osteopath, raising the mattress and all the usual tips given for reflux, I turned in desperation to the internet and found an article by Milk Matters. I contacted Charlotte on a Friday and she came over the same day; even though it was a bank holiday, Charlotte booked us in for a further appointment on the Monday.

“The affect on Louis was instant. He slept twelve hours that night and is now sleeping well during the day. We have no hysterical screaming fits at all. I can’t believe how we managed for so long.”

To contact the Milk Matters Baby Clinic call 0845 26 99 574 or visit www.milkmatters.org.uk

Wednesday 28 September 2011

Little Terra can help you protect your children's eyes from UV

Protect children's eyes come sun or snow
The low setting autumn sun can cause discomfort for eyes and while a good deal of emphasis is placed on protecting children’s tender skin from the rays, it is also extremely important for parents to consider investing in eye protection for their youngsters.

Specialist children's buyer Carolyn Budding, of the retailer Little Terra, has built up a range of high protection sunglasses ideal for all seasons, which are as enticing for children as they are reassuring for their parents.

Carolyn said: “At Little Terra, our children’s sunglasses and ski goggles have been carefully selected to filter UV rays and shield young eyes, supporting youngsters in spring and summer, through autumn and also, with some brands, through the ski season.

“Sun rays come from all directions, even in autumn, and so the most efficient method of protecting the eyes is to wear good quality sunglasses, and to also wear a protective hat.

“A wide-brimmed hat can protect eyes from any rays coming from above or below the sunglasses – and choosing wraparound sunglasses rather than standard design frames offers further protection.

“Design features such as soft temple ends and soft silicone nose and brow pieces embedded in the frame also make for a more comfortable fit.

“Some products also feature an adjustable neoprene strap to make sure the glasses fit securely and don't get pulled off.”

Little Terra has produced a free downloadable guide to help with the purchase of children's sunglasses and goggles. Find out more at www.littleterra.co.uk/Protecteyes

www.littleterra.co.uk

Thursday 22 September 2011

Martial arts governing body blasts child cage fighting and demands ban

Questions raised over insurance cover for child cage fights

The National Association of Karate and Martial Art Schools (NAKMAS) has called for a ban on child cage fighting, involving children as young as five, warning that it carries high physical, mental and emotional risks.

NAKMAS has questioned whether any insurance provider in the UK covers the practice.

NAKMAS has criticised child cage fighting after a recent news report showed young children, estimated to be eight years of age, taking part in the practice in front of an adult audience. Neither child was wearing any protective clothing during the fight.

Joe Ellis, chair of NAKMAS, says:  “Cage fighting for children is a time bomb waiting to happen. Cage fighting is far too risky for children, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. We have evidence that young children are also involved in full contact karate and the risks involved in this practice are identical to that of cage fighting.

"The fact that some adults find it entertaining to watch children beat each other up is disturbing. The practice needs banning in the UK and the organisers brought to their senses.

“Children are not developed emotionally or physically for cage or full contact karate and NAKMAS will be writing to all local authorities asking them to consider banning the practise on local authority owned premises.

“Whilst NAKMAS is heavily involved in equality for all at national, regional and local level, and does not want any age group to be restricted from learning a combat or martial arts sport, cage fighting is too high risk for children.”

No protection

NAKMAS is also urging premises owners to refuse access to such activities and points out that there are unlikely to be insurance providers in the UK providing cage fighting insurance for children.

Joe Ellis says: “Combat tournaments of any kind require risk assessments to be carried out and insurance in place to protect participants and the organisers. In the event of any legal action brought against the organiser of the event, it is also likely that the facility providers, would be litigated against in the event of negligence or injury claim arising.

“NAKMAS provides welfare, child protection procedures, health and safety policies, equality and disability policies to all affiliate clubs as well as extensive insurance and legal protection for its members. I would like to see proof that the organisers of these so-called cage fighters have adequate policies and procedures in place for provide this type of protection.”

To find out more about NAKMAS visit www.nakmas.org.uk

Sunday 18 September 2011

That's Christmas: Kids want Gadgets for Christmas!

That's Christmas: Kids want Gadgets for Christmas!: A new Shopzilla poll reveals what 6-12 year-olds want this Christmas. Santa is not taking austerity measures this Christmas judging by th...

Wednesday 7 September 2011

Marks & Spencer Launches Online Maternity Bra Advice Tool


Iconic British retailer Marks & Spencer today launches an online advice tool which gives pregnant women advice on maternity bras and breast health, tailored to their exact stage of pregnancy.

The tool is available online within the Lingerie area of www.marksandspencer.com and features advice from Julia Mercer, Lingerie Technical Manager at M&S. It allows users to select how many weeks’ pregnant they are and generates an advice guide specifically for that stage of pregnancy.

Julia says: “Women should get their breasts measured every six months in order to ensure that they’re wearing the correct size bra, but during pregnancy regular visits to a bra fitter are more essential than ever.

“With all the changes occurring in your body there won’t ever be a time when it’s more important to be comfortable.

“This new tool will help pregnant ladies identify the stages at which they should get fitted and understand the importance of doing so.”

Research by Mintel suggests maternity bras are an essential purchase for mums-to-be, who appreciate their importance and the health implications of wearing an ill-fitting bra, especially during pregnancy.

As one of the UK’s most popular and trusted underwear retailers Marks & Spencer hopes that the online advice tool will give women everything they need to make an informed decision when purchasing their maternity underwear.

Monday 5 September 2011

Recent Survey Shows Young Children Have Access To Parents Phones, Extra Care Must Be Taken Says Firstnumber

Firstnumber
A survey undertaken by Nielsen has found that in the US almost a third of apps on parents phones have been downloaded by their children. The survey also confirmed although many people consider their phones to be private, 13% of the US app downloaders surveyed by Nielsen stated their spouse and/or partner had downloaded apps on their phone, while 6% said friends were responsible for some of their downloads. 8% of all respondents identified that their children has installed apps on their phone.

From the data provided through the survey, it was discovered that the youngest child downloading apps was nine years old. It was also discovered on average that 30% of all apps installed on the respondents phones were installed by their children.

Cheap call providers Firstnumber advises parents to take extreme care when handing phones to children. This is of particular importance when full access to the internet and applications can be accessed at the click of a button.

Smartphones and apps that adorn user friendly and intuitive interfaces have created large appeal amongst the younger generation, and are very simple to use. As a result, younger children are accessing app stores and downloading games and other applications with greater ease and frequency.

The spokesperson from cheap international calls provider Firstnumber elaborates:  “If parents can lay the right foundations and ensure that the appropriate parental security settings have been put in place prior to their child's usage of a smartphone, this gives some guarantee towards the safe experience of the device by youngsters. Secondly, by making sure that any app account login details are kept out of the control of children, this will enable full control for parents over spending levels and the kind of apps which are being downloaded.”


FACTFILE:
Firstnumber.co.uk is an online phone directory offering direct dial access codes that reduce the cost of making international calls from a UK landline.

Sunday 4 September 2011

GYKO gives power back to parents



GYKO
As any parent will tell you, they always seem to have items that their children have outgrown or no longer need that they would like to see go to a good home. Often time and not knowing who to pass items on to has stopped parents de cluttering and finding new homes for unwanted kit.

Now a new community based website www.mygyko.com offers a solution to just the problem.

The ethos behind the GYKO site is to build on existing local community spirit. The site provides parents with a simple easy to use, safe and friendly way of trading the items their children have now outgrown with other families living in their area.

What is unique about the website is that it puts parents with children at the same school, sports club or uniformed organisation(s) in touch with one another and allows them to buy, sell, swap or give away items.
The GYKO siteenables the informal school gate agreements that often exist between small circles of friends to be widened up to a larger community.

By conducting transactions via the school and sports club you don’t have to advertise your address to strangers who then collect items from your home. Nor do you have to incur postage charges.

Parents who are looking for ways to earn some extra cash will find this an ideal place to sell outgrown uniforms and sport kits that are filling up their cupboards and garages. Whilst parents who are shopping on a budget for school items may well find costly items such as blazers, football boots at a fraction of the cost of similar brand new items or in some cases parents may be getting items for free- the website offers an option of giving items away to others as well.

The site is free to use for both the parents listing items and the parents acquiring items.

GYKO is a site that puts community and parents first as opposed to profit and commercialism – something that can only be beneficial to everyone.

Be That Writer: Beautiful Britain family travel writing contest ca...

Be That Writer: Beautiful Britain family travel writing contest ca...: A family travel writing competition celebrating the beauty of Britain is calling for submissions. The contest at www.havealovelytime.com...

Wednesday 31 August 2011

That's Education: Replacement laptops for students within 24 hours o...

That's Education: Replacement laptops for students within 24 hours o...: Today, l aptops are essential for every student to keep up-to-date with their studies. This is why Endsleigh Insurance, studen...

Little Nibbles Range Creates More Natural Choice for Mums and Dads



HiPP Organic Squiggly 
Corn Puffs
HiPP Organic has again put their expert baby knowledge to the test, by offering mums and dads even more choice from the popular ‘Little Nibbles’ snack range. Along with the arrival of several new products, eye catching cartoon characters have also been added to the tasty Little Nibbles product range to encourage young ones to experiment with new flavours and textures at a time when encouraging self feeding is important.

So what can parents expect to find in the range?

The new melt-in-the-mouth Squiggly Corn Puffs are HiPP’s latest first finger food for babies from 7 months upwards, specially developed to encourage them to chew and feed themselves. Plus, the newly inspired Squiggly variety is entirely free from all nasties with a purely natural taste. So as is always the case with HiPP, you can rest assured that you are feeding your little one the very best of organic.

The all natural Fruit Bars with Cereal have also joined the HiPP Organic Little Nibbles snack range, available in two different varieties; ‘Plum & Apple’ and ‘Peach & Apple’. They are both sure to tantalise your little one’s taste buds! With no added sugar, each fruit bar contains 50% organic fruit and four different organic cereals, suitable from 12 months onwards. These handy sized bars are also sold individually, making them the ideal snack when out-and-about!

For those Elephant Biscuit lovers out there, you’ll be pleased to know HiPP have worked on their existing recipe to make them even tastier! Not only are they now free from added sugar, but they have also introduced organic apple juice for a sweeter flavour. These distinctive elephant shaped biscuits are perfectly sized for little hands to hold onto, providing important top up nourishment for tiny tummies, as a convenient snack. Suitable from 12 months onwards.

Other scrumptious products which sit within the new HiPP Organic Little Nibbles range include the yummy range of Little Nibbles Rice Cakes which are available in 3 delicious flavours; ‘Organic Apple’, ‘Organic Carrot and Pumpkin’ and ‘Organic Tomato and Sweet Red Pepper’. All are made with just organic rice and fruit or vegetable juices so are naturally free from added salt or sugar.

One Stop Shop for Information
The entire Little Nibbles range is available from the HiPP web shop with free delivery http://www.hipp.co.uk/acatalog/rusks.html

For expert advice on feeding your toddler, a downloadable toddler feeding plan and lots of other information and recipes to go to www.hipp.co.uk

Monday 29 August 2011

Romans, Spies and Ballerinas Make Up Children’s Fantasy School Uniform



Boy
Playmobil research reveals traditional school wear is due for a shake up.

With only a matter of weeks until the start of a new school term, UK children are crying out for an opportunity to give the traditional school uniform a makeover of a lifetime. Given the choice, children would wave goodbye to the standard white shirt, smart trousers and sensible shoes in favour of a unique combination of their favourite costumes.

According to research by toy experts Playmobil, the fantasy school uniform for boys is a Roman soldier’s helmet on their head, a secret agent’s suit accessorised with sunglasses and high tech gizmos, finished off with a pair of trainers!

Girls take a daintier approach opting for a ballerina’s tutu, crowned with a princess tiara and, like the boys, a pair of trainers to complete the look.

Although unconventional, and certainly defying the dress codes of most schools, the designs undoubtedly earn top marks for originality.

The survey of over 600 children aged 5-11 was commissioned to mark the launch of Playmobil Fi?ures, a brand new range of interchangeable pocket money toys. Unlike current Playmobil characters, Fi?ures come unassembled meaning children can put them together, take them apart or mix and match body parts and accessories to create a brand new character, dressed in attire of their own design.

Commenting on the research, Jamie Dickinson, Marketing Manager for Playmobil said: “The fantasy school uniform is another great example of the limitless imagination of young children. We are strong believers that creative and imaginative play has a positive impact on a child’s development, and what’s more creative than giving children the opportunity to invent their own characters and stories.”

“It’s interesting to see the dream outfits take inspiration from popular toys and dressing up costumes. Although school children may not be able to exercise their creative flair with their uniforms just yet, they can design weird and wacky creations to their hearts content during play.”

Playmobil Fi?ures will consist of a series of 24 individually packaged figures, 12 themes for girls and 12 themes for boys, with each figure priced at just £1.99. The contents of the bag will be a mystery which is why the ‘g’ in figures is replaced with a ‘?’. Packaging for male and female characters differ in colour and children looking to collect the full set can swap characters with their friends or siblings.

Boys and girls will also be able to play with and collect individual characters without parents having to buy a whole playset and, as all Playmobil characters are built to identical dimensions, children can use their Fi?gures in existing ranges.

Playmobil Fi?ures are available from: John Lewis, Toys R Us and all good toystores.
 
Characters in Boys Series
Blue Knight
American Footballer
Boxer
Mummy
Masked Ranger
Pizza Chef
Rock Star Guitarist
American Campaigner
Grim Reaper
Sportsman
Dragon Knight
Executioner

Characters in Girls series
Gemstone Princess
Fairy
Queen
Rock Star Singer
Skier
Female Outlaw
Teenage Girl
Witch
Equestrian Woman
Mother with Baby
Mermaid
Damsel

That's Home and Household: New DiscountVouchers.co.uk Weekly Deals Offer Savi...

That's Home and Household: New DiscountVouchers.co.uk Weekly Deals Offer Savi...: Online voucher codes specialist delivers latest value for money offers redeemable at House of Fraser and Debenhams. The late...

Tuesday 23 August 2011

FCA promotes local fostering needs through new website service

Foster Care Associates (FCA), reportedly the UK's largest Independent Fostering Agency, has added a new geographically targeted section to its website to provide locally-based fostering information and placement needs to its visitors.

Under the heading 'Your local FCA', the website now offers readers information about FCA and fostering in their local area, divided between the agency's 14 operating regions.

Visitors can now access regional FCA news, information about forthcoming fostering events in their community and learn more about their local fostering team through FCA staff profiles. There is also a range of local FCA foster carer stories to give a better insight into becoming a foster carer as well as information about the specific placement needs in line with Local Authority referrals. Directions and contact information for the company's regional and local FCA offices complete the individual sections, which are presented via a tabbed format.

With over 80 local offices spread throughout the UK, the new website feature adds better scope for FCA to communicate its range of locally based support services to potential and existing foster carers. It also complements the wealth of existing information about becoming a foster carer and wider fostering information through a total of over 500 unique pages.

Marie-Louise Allred, Marketing Manager for FCA, commented: "People who enquire about fostering tell us how important knowing about our local infrastructure and support services is to them. The new website section presents this information in a simple and easy to access format so that prospective carers can learn about the staff, carers, young people, events and offices in their local area.

"Fostering can be an isolating role so knowing what an agency has to offer in your local area is vital in the decision making process. Over the next few months we will be adding even more local information to these sections so that prospective carers really understand what FCA has to offer in their community."

The provision of a locally based service is central to the agency's unique Team Parenting approach to foster care, which is based upon the principle of delivering a holistic range of therapeutic support services to the foster carer and to the child. Team Parenting is proven to achieve positive outcomes for looked after children and young people across the UK.

The new website functionality is part of a wider phased redevelopment of the FCA website, which includes a new Home page and a forthcoming new Media Centre.

FACTFILE:
Foster Care Associates (FCA), part of the Core Assets Group Ltd, is the UK's leading Independent Fostering Agency, with offices operating throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Working in partnership with Local Authorities and Health Trusts throughout the UK, FCA aims to provide 'quality care in a family setting' for over 2600 foster children who are looked after by the agency's 2200 foster families.

www.thefca.co.uk

Monday 22 August 2011

Pocket savings with FREE sport sessions for kids from YAZOO



YAZOO
Keeping your children entertained after school can be an expensive, time consuming business with the rising costs of after school clubs, coupled with your hectic work schedules!


It is little surprise to find mum and dad struggling to juggle every day life while sticking within a weekly budget. The latest Which? survey (July 2011) states that 86% of British adults said that compared to a year ago, their grocery bill has increased, meaning day-to-day savings have become an even higher priority for families. To help save families time and money, YAZOO has teamed up with Premier Sport (Playball in Ireland) to offer free sport activities for kids, worth up to £15.00 per session.

Whether it’s before school, during lunchtime or at the end of the school day, Premier Sport provides kids a whole host of activities available at flexible times to suit parent’s needs. With cheerleading, dancing, football and tag rugby on the agenda, kids can stay active and healthy, but equally importantly, just have fun.

YAZOO milkshake is the perfect drink for children after playing sports as a recent study found that active children are better off drinking milk than water or sports drinks. Parents can also feel confident that YAZOO is a healthier alternative for their kids as it’s school approved.

Signing up to a free activity couldn’t be simpler; after purchasing a multipack of YAZOO Chocolate, Strawberry or Banana, log on to the website, www.yazoo.co.uk and enter the unique code to produce a voucher for a free activity session with Premier Sport. Mums and dads will then be guided to the Premier Sport website to sign up for their child’s chosen activity. Premier Sport activity clubs are available across the UK, making it even easier for mum to keep the kids entertained during the working week.

For further information on this offer, please visit http://www.yazoo.co.uk

Saturday 20 August 2011

That's Holiday: Free Car Booster Seats To Take On Holiday

That's Holiday: Free Car Booster Seats To Take On Holiday: Independent luxury travel company Classic Collection Holidays ( www.classic-collection.co.uk freephone 0800 294 9315) is giving complimentary booster seats

Wednesday 17 August 2011

Little Terra Develops Online Guide To Child Back Carriers


Child back carriers are enjoying a growth in popularity, as parents enjoy the freedom and convenience of taking their youngster about the town or country without the limitations of a pushchair. But, choosing the right type of carrier can be a challenge, with so much choice and variety in the marketplace.

Now Little Terra has produced a free downloadable guide to help you make an informed choice when selecting a children’s back carrier.

Available online at www.littleterra.co.uk/choosingchildcarriers the guide is packed full of information including fitting, frame construction, weight considerations and accessories.

Carolyn Budding, the managing director of Little Terra, said: “Child back carriers are invaluable pieces of gear when spending time outdoors with a youngster.

“They enable people to navigate across places that might be more difficult to access in a pushchair, such as over stiles during countryside walks, and children enjoy the elevated position and close contact to the carrier they offer.

“We recommend that carriers are generally suitable for children from six months who can sit unaided. However, coupled with the age factor, there are a number of areas to consider when purchasing this type of equipment and we hope this guide helps signpost people to make the right choice.”

www.littleterra.co.uk

That's Health: Electronic Cigarettes Help Housewife to Stop Smoki...

That's Health: Electronic Cigarettes Help Housewife to Stop Smoki...: "Jackie Castle smoked about 40 cigarettes a day for some 45 years, but when her son and daughter-in-law announced they were to have a bab..."

Tuesday 16 August 2011

Happiness is all in a Cuddle: HUGGIES® Natural Fit release Oxytocin survey results


Parents should have as much cuddle time as possible with their newborns. Because new survey results released today by HUGGIES® Natural Fit and Netmums, revealed that almost two-thirds (62%) of new mums are unaware of the benefits of the hormone Oxytocin, when caring for their little ones.

Reassuringly though, over half (55%) strongly believe cuddling is the key to encourage a stronger bond with their baby but 22% do not know why.

HUGGIES® Natural Fit’s independent spokeswoman, Dr. Carol Cooper says: “Oxytocin has long been dubbed the cuddle or love hormone and is produced in high levels during both cuddling and breast feeding.

“Becoming a mum for the first time can be a daunting task. It’s therefore important that more mums are aware that there are so many more benefits to cuddling your baby.

“In fact, research by the Basel’s Institute of Psychology claims mothers with high levels of Oxytocin adapt to motherhood far easier and are less likely to suffer from post-natal depression. Postnatal depression can last up to two years post birth which indicates that the more tactile contact a mother has with her child, the better for both parties.”

The research also revealed that while more than half of mums (52%) cuddle their baby immediately, 42% believe that they should wait so that the baby does not expect immediate attention.

Dr. Cooper comments: “Research has shown that babies who aren’t comforted when they need it actually become more demanding, not less. Parents eventually discover from experience, that there is very little to be gained by waiting for a baby’s cries to reach a crescendo - babies that have reached this point are much harder to pacify.

Dr. Cooper also speaks of the wider social implications associated with a lack of physical affection: “Evidence shows that the part of the brain, known as the Orbitofrontal Cortex, may not mature properly in babies who do not receive enough affection. This region of the brain is still mysterious, but it acknowledged as being vital to decision-making and emotional processing.

“It’s clear that mums are already building a bond with their little ones through a cuddle but I do hope this survey shows all mums that there are many more benefits beyond the initial feel-good factor of a cuddle.

“To put it simply, where there’s mum with high levels of Oxytocin there is a happier mum and a baby getting lots of cuddles and the best start in life.”