Visit from the Stork Autumn 2014

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As always, thank you for taking the time to read our magazine, and I hope you find it useful. The wonder-ful companies who advertise with us want to reach young parents like you, so if you like their product or service, please get in touch with them. A special thank you this issue goes to Shelly Monks and her family who were the wonderful stars in our crowdfunding video, as well as Adreen Hart-Rule for filming it!

Kimberly X

Hello all and welcome to the 4th issue of VFTS magazine. It is still in the midst of summer

whilst writing this, but I’m sure the autumn leaves will be drifting in by the time you all read it, so I hope you all had a lovely summer and are now settling in for all that autumn brings. In this, our new changing bag size edition, we have some fab content for you as usual.

W h i l s t producing this issue of VFTS magazine, we launched our crowdfunding c a m p a i g n , which has the potential to

change the future of VFTS and get important advice and information to thousands more of you - young parents. Read all about it on our social enterprise news page 6. I also had a very adventurous summer, as my friend gave birth to her daughter with me and her husband by her side. A big congratulations to Channy on the birth of Aurora – You can read all about in my blog on the website! In our pregnancy feature we tackle the very serious issue of baby death and stillbirth, after the sad news of the Radfords losing their son. But it is not all doom and gloom though, as we’ve got autumn crafts on page 16, a yummy Halloween cupcake recipe (page 19), and some advice on potty training your little ones!

Editor’s Letter

Thanks to:Staffordshire University Journalism Department, University of Salford Business School, Salford CVS and all of our advertisers for their support.

Visit from the Stork magazine is published and produced in-house by Visit from the Stork CIC. Design and layout by Press A design (www.pressadesign.co.uk)Visit from the Stork is a Community Interest Company, Registered Company Number 8963615Registered address: Suite 8, 2 Beaumont Road, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 6BE Visit from the Stork proudly adheres to the Press Complaints Commission Editor’s Code of Practice. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without written consent of the publisher. Text and pictures are sent at the owner’s risk. Views and opinions expressed in Visit from the Stork magazine are those of the individuals and not representative of the publishers/and or its associated partners. All information is correct at the time of going to print. All advice is intended for educational purposes only. VFTS cannot be held responsible or liable for any loss or claim arising out of the use or misuse, of the suggestions made. If you have any health concerns, please consult your GP or other health professional.

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Editor’s Letter

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VFTS family

The VFTS Family

Kimberly Bond Editor-in-Chief@VFTSeditor

Hayley AuffretSpotlight Editor @hayleyauffret

Natalie RobertsFreelance Writer @Natalieroberts1

Nicola SimpsonFreelance writer@artscrafts624

Gemma WalshFeatures writer@GemmaLwalsh

Vicki MoorheadReviewer@elliebearbabi

Mary-Kate WilliamsonReviewer@mummymemories

Zoe AshtonFreelance Writer@zoeashton22

Emily Moore Comic Art Editor @Foxhatart

Want to join our family? Spaces for contributors for the website and magazine. Contact kimberly on [email protected]


Contents

Contents

Page 19 Spooky Spider Buns

Spotlight6 Mia Bambina

Pregnancy 9 Shnuggle Basket review

10 Angel Babies

Features14 The importance of Safe Sleep

16 Autumn Crafts 19 Yummy halloween cupcakes

28 Halloween: The mummy debate32 Say cheese - Oral health for kids

Real Life20 Katie Butler

Early Years30 The Benefits of Clubs & classes

34 Lets go potty...is your toddler ready?36 Imune Nutrition drink for kids review

For You 8 VFTS News

12 Subscribe for just £9.99 per year! 24 Love is in the air – top tips for couple time

26 The Motherhood club37 Useful services directory

39 Competition

Top tips for couple time P24

Crafty Firework pics p16

ON THE COVER :

Is your toddler ready for toilet training? p34

Real life stories P20

Win a Pamper pack from BepanthenPage 39

Page 6


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Provides versatile discretion without

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100% cotton jerseyMade in the UK

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In the spotlight…

In each issue of Visit from the Stork our Spotlight Editor Hayley explores a new product or service which have been created to make your parenting duties a tad easier! If you would like your business on our product spotlight page for our winter issue, email [email protected] by October 31st.

interviews

Product Spotlight

http://www.snoob.co.uk


MIA BAMBINA

Tell me about yourself/your business and who is involved

“I started Mia Bambina shortly after my daughter Mia was born 7 years ago and started with my own line of products approximately 2 years ago (the bibs and babygrows). I run the business myself (with some occasional 'help' from Mia!). I have two children now, one pink and one blue.

What started your interest in organic products?

“I knew a bit about organic cotton and the benefits of it. My aim with my own brand products was to make organic cotton affordable to more, I don’t have many overheads as I work from home so I can reduce the cost of the products.”

How did you turn your idea into a viable business?

“Within a couple of months of having the idea I had opened my on-line shop. It has been a struggle having young children and a part time job as well and finding the time is difficult, however I really enjoy learning about websites, running a business, providing the best customer service and finding hidden hours in the day!”

What is the favourite part of what you do/product you sell and why?

“I love my organic bandana bibs. These are designed by myself and I’ve used them for my own children. It was really important to me that these were organic cotton as my children were very dribbly and sickly so their faces were constantly being wiped. I also love coming up with new designs!”

What is your most popular product?

“The bandana bibs are the most popular product. I have received some lovely feedback for them. My personal favourite is the starry design and matching Babygro, the Babygro has integral scratch mitts which I think is brilliant.”

You can find Mia Bambina atwww.miabambina.co.ukor on twitter @miabambina

Product Spotlight

http://www.miabambina.co.uk


Parenting Products

& New Baby Cards

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facebook.com/ChiggsWheels

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Social enterprise News Visit from the Stork is more than just a magazine- we want to give young parents a chance to grow, learn new skills, and feel confident that they can celebrate parenthood. Here’s what we’ve been up to the last couple of months and some of our plans for the Autumn!

Leading the crowd…We have launched our crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, with the aim of raising enough funds to print the magazine for a year! It is an ambitious project, as it relies on the ‘crowd’ donating to our cause – that means anyone and everyone can help us, no matter how small. We had great fun filming the video, helped by Shelly Monks and her family in Hanley Park, Stoke-on-Trent. To find out more, send us in a donation or share the campaign, visit http://igg.me/at/help-vfts-growThe campaign will be live until November 1st, and for every donation, there is a reward – from Twitter shout-outs, to exclusive VFTS gifts and a lifetime subscription to the magazine!

VFTS gets craftyVFTS will be getting crafty at Handmade at St Johns in Peterborough on October 11th. The Handmade fayre sees lots of local businesses showing off their wares. Kimberly will be selling cards, keepsake boxes, Jewellery and gorgeous little knitted toys, which have been made and very kindly donated to us.Rewarding mums in businessVFTS will be joining Bizmums at their annual awards and conference on October 4th as the sponsor for Young Mum of the Year. All nominations are now in, and the shortlist will be announced soon!

scan with your smartphone to go to the crowdfunding campaign!

VFTS News


Shnuggle Basket ReviewBy Mary-Kate Williamson

Designed by parents, the award-winning Shnuggle Basket is a clever alternative to a traditional Moses basket, I put one to the test with my little girl, Isabelle when she was smaller and we absolutely love it. I've said this before and I'll say it again - The Shnuggle basket is 100 times better than a 'normal' Moses basket.

Isabelle, who is 5 and a half months old is dairy intolerant, she suffers from eczema and like all other parents it's very important

to me to keep her as safe as possible. The word 'hypoallergenic' catches my eye these days so when we got the chance to try out a Shnuggle basket and I loved the sound of it, I ignored my partners 'we've already got a moses basket' and accepted straight away. See we spent £55 on a Moses basket at the Baby Show and I purchased it because it was vintage floral print, extra girly and I thought it was 'oh so cute'. Not once did I even notice that it wasn't padded or comfortable at all or the fact that actually it was on the small side and the noise it made when it moved - so when baby moves, she would be woken up by the noise. The Shnuggle basket is made from strong hypoallergenic material that’s also easy to clean, so if it does get dusty you can clean it - all of it! No wicker keeping hold of bits - that also makes it fantastic if

you’re planning to have another baby one day as this basket can be stored much safer than your average Moses basket can be and then you can clean it perfectly because every little baby is sensitive. The mattress is airflow - really is all about

safety. I love that it’s ideal for babies like

Isabe l le who are r e a l l y l o n g because it’s 10% l o n g e r than the standard M o s e s baskets. The hypoallergenic shell is washable using warm soapy water and you can pop the rest into the washing machine; if I was to wash my wicker moses basket with warm soapy water it wouldn’t clean it as well. Isabelle slept very happily in her Shnuggle basket and I slept happily knowing she was comfortable/safe. The Shnuggle basket is available in various colours; ivory cream,

pure white, sky blue, sage green, blossom pink and pebble grey

and it retails for £75 excluding the stand, if you were to buy a stand too I suggest the rocking one, it’s fantastic and costs £25. I know that my original Moses basket was £20 cheaper but in my personal opinion the Shnuggle basket is worth the extra because it’s so much safer, it’s going to last longer for your baby because it’s bigger and also you can store it safer, keeping it much cleaner if you’re planning anymore, making it a worthwhile investment.

“Isabelle slept happy in her Shnuggle basket…I slept happy knowing she was safe.”

Pregnancy


It was with great sadness that the Radford Family from Channel 4’s hit documentary 16 Kids and

Counting announced that their son Alfie Thomas Radford was born ‘sleeping’ on the 6th July 2014.

The grief and pain that the Radford’s are going through is something that thousands of women across the world can relate to – as 1 in every 200 babies delivered in the UK is stillborn. Astonishingly, that adds up to 6,500 babies every year, a figure that hasn’t changed much in the last 15 years, despite medical advances.It is a common misconception that these deaths happen because of a developmental or genetic problem that means the baby could not survive. In fact, major birth defects are the cause of stillbirth in less than one in ten stillborn babies. Around a third of stillbirths are unexplained (in other

words perfectly formed, normal-sized babies); and a further third have not grown properly.Erica Stewart; Bereavement Support Services Manager at Sands (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity) who support anyone affected by the death of a baby says: “There is a wide spread lack of awareness among pregnant women and health professionals of how common stillbirth is, and the potential for reducing risks.“A third of stillbirths are classed as ‘unexplainable’, which can imply that they were unavoidable, when actually we know that with certain improvements with antenatal care and more research, some of these babies can actually be saved.”There are well-documented risk factors for stillbirth, such as smoking and obesity, but babies at highest risk are those with poor growth that’s not picked up during pregnancy.

“If you notice any change in movement get it checked by a mid-wife...Mother’s instinct is usually right.”

Angel Babies Pregnancy

Many women experience grief at the death of their baby

Pic: 123rf.com


Sands and the charity Count the Kicks™ say it is important for women to be aware of their babies’ movements throughout their pregnancy, as well as taking into account their own health and wellbeing. “If you notice any change in your baby’s movement then you should call your midwife”, says Erica.“Don’t be scared that you’re going to be both-ering people, I’ve spoken to so many mums who’ve said ‘I knew something was wrong the night before but I didn’t want to bother the staff’, and when they got to the hospital there was no heartbeat. So if you notice any change in movement or just don’t feel right, go and get checked out with the midwife. Mother’s instinct is usually right.”Sands’ first aim is to support anyone affected by baby death in a number of ways. They have a network of over 100 groups through-out the UK, a national telephone helpline, an online support forum and their Sands support literature.

If you have been affected by the death of a baby, you can contact Sands; telephone: 020 7436 5881e: [email protected]: [email protected]: www.uk-sands.org

• Eat well and stay healthy. Get advice before pregnancy if you are very overweight.

• Book early and go to all your antenatal appointments – regular monitoring can pick up early signs if your baby is not developing well.

• Report any bleeding or abdominal pain immediately.

• Talk to your midwife about the risk factors for stillbirth: if you are at higher risk your pregnancy care should take that into account.

Top tips for a good pregnancy

Watch out for our full interview with Erica on our website!

Angel Babies Pregnancyy

Words: Kimberly Bond


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Subscribe for only £9.99 per year!

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Get the magazine to your door FIRST beforeit goes out to distributors

Recieve our newsletter with subscriber-only discounts and offers

Enjoy special free gifts throughout the year

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Safe sleep awareness and education is an important tool for any parent to have, especially with a first baby. Now, a new project from the Lullaby Trust meets safe sleep education for young

parents, with their mission to reduce the number of babies and toddlers that die from SIDS (Sudden infant Death, previously known as ‘cot death’.)

Sudden infant Death is the term used to describe the sudden and unexpected death of a baby or toddler that is initially unexplained. While there are still 270 infant deaths a year, since the 1990’s the message about ‘safer sleep’ and reducing the risks of SIDS has lowered the amount of infant deaths by 70%. The Lullaby Trust’s new project – Bubbalicious Ambassadors – is aimed at educating younger parents about the importance of safe sleep. It will be run as an expansion of the ‘Bubbalicious’ branch of the charity, which is currently a website and online media forum for young parents, with a focus on safe sleep.

Carly Binger is the Bubbalicious project manager. She said: “We are hoping to expand Bubbalicious into a successful peer education project, which will see young parents devel-op their confidence in skills and knowledge about safe sleep, which then they will pass on through a series of talks to their peers.”

The Young parents who get involved will be trained as qualified ‘peer educators’ by UK Youth, a charity which helps young people to access accredited learning opportunities.

Safer sleep education The importance of

Feel Good Feature

Pic:

123r

f.com


What is it? – a voluntary training programme for young parents to become ‘peer educators’ in Safe Sleep and gain a qualification.

Who is it for?- any parent under 23, who lives in London

When is it? Training means you need to be able to commit to weekly training from November 2014 to February 2015.

How do we get involved? Contact Carly Binger, Bubbalicious/Young parent project manager at [email protected]

Is there a deadline? – Yes 31st October 2014 to contact Carly.

Carly explained: “In my experience, a young person’s peer group has a great influence on the way he or she behaves. Peer education makes use of peer influence in a positive way. “Youth peer educators are less likely to be seen as authority figures ‘preaching’ about how others should behave from a judgmental position. “Rather, the process of peer education is seen as more like receiving advice from a ‘friend in the know’, who has similar concerns and an understanding of what it is like to be a young parent or young person.” The project will see the young parents in-volved become ‘Bubbalicious Ambassadors’ – peer educators of Safe Sleep. “Through this project the young parents will be developing their confidence and knowl-edge of parenting, and safer sleep in particu-lar, and they will have time to reflect on their own experience of being a parent.“They will gain skills in holding workshop, talks and doing presentations, and gain the

qualities and strengths they need to be a great peer educator, which is all part of their own self development.”

Once trained, the young parents will be commissioned to do ‘workshops’ or ‘talks’ or ‘interactions’ of their own to their peers, even-tually forming a record of their own progress, and the people they have spoken to. The record will then be evaluated by Bubbalicious and the Lullaby Trust, to see if this type of project can actually work.

The project is funded by the Big Lottery and has places for 20 Young parents to become peer educators in safe sleep over the next two years. Initially, the places will be for par-ents from London, with plans to grow bigger after the ‘pilot’ phase is over. “We are going to start small,” Carly says, “our funding means anyone from London can apply to be trained, and then we would expand to regions or cities like Birmingham and Manchester in the future.”

Visitwww.lullabytrust.org.uk or www.bubbalicious.co.uk

Feel Good Feature

http://www.lullabytrust.org.uk

http://www.bubbalicious.co.uk


Autumn Crafts

Creating pictures of Fireworks is a traditional arts and crafts project undertaken by children in the run up to Bonfire Night on 5th No-vember. Here is a round up of a few different ways to create lovely vibrant and colourful pictures of Fireworks.

By Nicola Simpson, AKA multicraftingmummy

This is a great activity for children aged 3+.

1.Line a baking tray or large container with paper.

2.Drizzle a few different coloured paints over the paper.

3.Add around 5-6 marbles into your container.

4. Lift the try and gently roll the marbles around to create your fireworks.

5.Carefully remove the marbles from the tray and then lift out the sheet of paper and leave it to dry.

Family Time


1. .Take a sheet of thin white card or thick paper and use lots of different coloured wax crayons to completely cover it.2.Mix together equal quantities of black paint and washing up liquid in a paint pot or disposable cup.3.Paint the black paint mixture all over the colour-ed in paper or card. You will need to apply a few coats to completely cover the colouring in. You should leave each coat to dry for a few minutes before applying the next one.4.Once the paint has completely dried then use either a sharp pencil or a fork to scratch out your firework picture.

An old classic arts and crafts project which you may well remember from your own childhood.

1.Add a few splodges of different coloured paints onto a plate.

2.Take a sheet of black paper and dip your brush into one of the colours and gently dot this over the paper.

3.Repeat this with each of your different colours to create your firework dis-play.

Family Time


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These Spooky Spider buns were originally made to feed a group of hungry toddlers at a playgroup Halloween Party. The spooky decorations were inspired by a search on Pinterest for Halloween Buns.

By Nicola Simpson

Ingredients – (makes 12 buns)100g butter100g caster sugar100g self-raising Flour1 tsp baking powder2 eggs1 tsp cocoa powder1-2 tbsp hot water

To make the buns:1.Pre-heat the oven to 180C/Gas mark 4 and line a tray with 12 bun cases.

2.Cream together the butter and sugar using a wooden spoon or electric mixer until it’s fully combined.

3.Beat in the eggs one at a time.

4.Dissolve the cocoa powder into the hot water. Then add it to the mixture and give it a good stir together.

5.Sieve and then gently fold in the flour and baking powder until all of the flour is fully incorporated.

6.Spoon your mixture into your bun cases.

7.Place into the oven for 12-15 mins.

8.Transfer the buns to a wire cooling rack and allow them to cool completely before decorating them.

Butter Icing ingredients (enough for 12 buns)140g butter, softened280g icing sugar, sieved2 tbsp cocoa powder1-2 tbsp milk

To decorate the buns:

1.Remove the centre of the bun with a sharp knife.

2.Fill the hole with 1 teaspoon of butter icing.

3.Place the piece of bun removed back over the icing.

4.Insert 8 strips of liquorice into the icing to make the spiders legs.

5.Attach 2 eyes. Use baking pearls, mini smarties or mini marshmallows for this.

Mix all of the ingredients together using either a spoon or an electric mixer adding just enough of the milk to make the mixture creamy and smooth.

Spooky Spider BunsSpooky Spider BunsHalloween Recipe


Real Life

“When I felt him kick at 17 weeks pregnant, I knew he was my future”

This issue we interview Mum of two Katie Butler, from Peterborough, about the highs and lows she has had since becoming a mum.

How old were you when you found out you were pregnant?I was 18 when i found out i was pregnant and im not going to lie i was in utter shock and it was the first time I actually felt scared. I had always said children weren’t a part of my future it wasn’t until i felt him kick at 17 weeks I realised he was my future. How did you break the news to your family and friends?My mum was with me when i took the test she told my step dad and I had let close friends know when I was 10 weeks pregnant just at our usual weekly shopping day, nothing fancy! They were as shocked as me- I was the last person they would have thought to be pregnant. The pregnancy was awful i had really bad hyperemisis all the way through i was even being sick during labor and had to give up work early due to it.Did you have a natural labour? He was induced at 38 weeks due to low amniotic fluids, only gas and air, was a vontouse delivery other than that all natural!Have you ever been judged for being a young parent? Did you have particular support from anyone?I haven’t had any judgment that I know of- my step-dad was my biggest support, my mum passed away from cancer when kayden was 2 weeks old so our family was very close at that point. She was battling with cancer for around 7 years.. It has affedted me as a mother I found it very hard to leave Kayden with anyone else or let anyone help me with him. I didn’t realise how much i had learned from watching her over the years i was always worried about how i would cope being a single parent but I took to it like a duck to water.I always knew that if i was even half the mother she was i was going to be just fine.


Real Life

What’s been the biggest challenge you have faced since becoming a mum?Potty training most definitely; scrubbing the floor numerous times a day and a never ending pile of washing to do after little accidents, but seeing his face after he used the potty and how proud he was of himself made everything worth while. How did the second pregnancy go? The second Pregnancy was really well, barely no sickness or pain until my waters broke at 35 weeks. I was in labour for 19 hours, after 12 of those i was induced again as my contractions wernt getting any stronger.What’s the best thing about being a young parent? Actually having the energy to look after them haha and being young enough that I will be able to watch them grow up and still be able to have a career once they are older.

Who is your inspiration? My Inspiration is most definitely my mum, she showed me how to be a parent without me even realising. She overcame so many obsta-cles in her life and i will always be grateful for everything she has done for me.What is your dream job? My dream job is to become a Grief counsellor for children and young adults who have suffered the loss of someone close to them due to cancer.Would you have any more children?I would, even after all the health issues that we are going through with Joseph at the moment, another child is most definitely part of my future plans.. Only one more though lolLastly, any tips for young parents? Don’t worry about what others say, whether you become a mother a 16 or one at 30 there will always be people who think it is there right to judge or criticize.

“My inspiration is definitely my mum...she overcame so many obstacles in her life and I’ll always be grateful for what she’s done for me.”

Kayden & Joseph



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Love is in When you’ve got kids it can sometimes feel like your relationship fades into the background. No matter how much time you have to spare, here’s our guide to make the most of it.

What to Do With an Hour or a Day

Sometimes when it’s been so long since you’ve had time together as a couple, it can be a bit daunting even coming up with an idea of what to do. So whether you’ve got half an hour or a whole weekend, why not work your way through our lovers bucket list and see if you can’t work on strengthening your bond?

Stop Mindless DistractionsIt can be easy to think of things like running errands together in the car as necessities, but with a small change to your thinking, you can learn to treat it as couple time. Turn off the radio and talk instead – driving is the perfect opportunity to clear your head and spend some time listening to each other.

Stop Dropping Everything

Babies are slightly different, but as your child gets to toddler age and beyond, he or she needs to learn that they aren’t the centre of the universe. It’s okay to finish your conversation as a couple or finish what you’re doing before indulging them – you’ll reap the benefits in the long run.

Pen Each Other InFinally, you’ve heard the term ‘pencil it in’ right? Well pencil isn’t good enough. When you’re living together, kids’ parents’ evenings or doctors’ appointments can seem to be the priority, but when you’ve said you’ll spend the evening together, make

sure you treat it as as important as any other engagement.

You Time


Love is in the air

Sneak some couple time into your everyday lives and your relationship will blossom.

Lover’s

Bucket List

Start watching a new series together – online resources such as BBC iPlayer and 4oD have free box sets to watch

Take the train somewhere you’ve never been before – download the National Rail app and type in a letter of your choosing, pick the first one from the drop down list and explore a new town or city.

Try something new together – why not steal a couple of hours on a cookery course, or doing something different outdoors like archery?

Exercise together. It doesn’t have to be the gym if you find it boring, but we spend too much time sat at a desk, so get your walking boots out or your running shoes on.

Volunteer together. Homeless or food shelters are always looking for one-off volunteers. Alternatively, hospices and old people’s homes often welcome people who are willing to give up an hour of their time for entertainment – can you play piano or teach craft lessons?

You Time

By Zoe Ashton


Welcome to the Motherhood club, a VFTS cartoon created by Staffordshire University Student Emily Moore. After a house party Daisy has just found out she’s pregnant...

The Motherhood club


Want to find out what happens next? You can read the next chapter on our website...

The Motherhood club


Halloween...The Debate

YESHalloween for me, is one of my favourite times of year - like all holidays! When I was younger, I enjoyed the Halloween parties, the trick or treating, the sweets and treats.Plus of course the ultimate dress up! When I fell pregnant, I got excited for the fact I had a chance to be a kid again, last year we celebrated in style with doing up the whole house with decorations and a big buffet dinner with the family. Corey dressed up and we gave sweets to the trick or treaters when they came knocking! Last year I did my first ever pumpkin carving, that was fun! I understand some people’s religions suggest they should not believe in or celebrate Halloween, my partner being one of those. But I see it as harmless fun for chil-dren. I remember when I was younger one girl was told by her parents she wasn’t allowed to attend the fun halloween party with her friends, it would have broke my heart. I see it as an excuse for dress up and sweets - thats all it is to little ones too!

It’s always one of the big questions in parenting and will be the talk of the school playground this term...what are you going to do for Halloween? Should we even ‘celebrate’ ghosts, mon-sters and all things ‘dark’? Two VFTS mums give their view on the scariest day of the year...

Gemma Collins, 23, BedfordshireWe don’t ‘celebrate’ Halloween as it is a lit-tle too dark for me. I know people say that it’s fun and about parties and sweeties etc and going out dressed up.That’s an aspect of modern Halloween for many but there is also a very dark undertone to it, relating to spirits, the souls of the dead and generally evil things. Being Irish, Spirits are some-thing that I do believe in, but I don’t think they are in anyway good. Believing this is part of the reason why I don’t celebrate it and neither do my family. It’s not some-thing I want Mini to be overly involved in either. I am not going to be the crazy mum-my at the school gate protesting against the Halloween disco or excluding her from carving a pumpkin but there is a line i’m not willing to cross. We won’t ever do dec-orations or celebrations at home for Halloween or host a party etc. We won’t dress up in any scary outfits either. I just don’t really get why you’d want to dress your child up as a dead person with fake blood over them or an “evil” witch etc? Instead we will do autumn themed fun things and keep it lighthearted.

NoVicki Moorhead, 24, Ireland

Halloween

http://www.halloweenclipart.com


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Gifts for new babies and their mummies!

We also create wine glass charms for new mummies with a selection of coloured beads available.

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http://www.facebook.com/babyboutiful

http://www.little-uns.com


The Benefits of Clubs and ClassesThere are an array of clubs and classes to go to with your little ones, from craft to music, to reading and soft play, you aren’t short of choice! But aside from killing a few hours and mixing up the play routine, what else can these classes offer in the way of benefits?

Socialising

Especially if your child is an only one, classes are a great way to introduce a social aspect into your child’s life at a young age. Interacting with people their age can help to build their confi-dence in later life, but don’t be worried if your little one is cautious at first. We all need to find our feet, so if your child clings to you at first, don’t force them to go play with their peers. Giving them a nurturing environment is key, and once they know they have that, they will slowly build the confidence they need to go it alone without Mummy. Classes and clubs are also a great way to teach your child empathy by interacting with others.

Trying New ThingsAs you grow up it can become harder to fit ‘new things’ into your hectic schedule, and so trying new things is absolutely best done when you’re young. Growing up is a chance to use trial and error to find what makes you tick and to nurture hobbies and interests that you will keep for the rest of your life. Don’t be despondent if your child doesn’t take to music classes, for example, as they might find a craft class much more engaging – just keep trying new things!

Regular RoutineParticularly with young children who haven’t yet made the transition to school or nursery, attending a regular class or club can be a great way of introducing a routine into their days. If a routine is set early on, it will be less of a shock for your little one when they do get into school and have to be up at a set time every day. Older children will often be proud of their member-ship of a club such as Cubs or Rainbows, giving them something to look forward to and a sense of camaraderie. Healthy HabitsRecent figures show that children are becoming more and more overweight, and it is definitely something we should be looking to combat at a young age. In girls alone, according to The Times, 29.2% of under 19 year olds are obese or overweight. Making healthy habits at a young age, by introducing them to sports classes, can help them to last a lifetime, so encouraging them at classes such as Water babies and Tumble tots are really great things to be doing.

By Zoe Ashton

Early Years


Come and join our Gymbabes class for;Baby massage Interactive songs and music for babies and parents

Get your baby walking…they’ll literally have the world at their feet!

Book your class now at www.tumbletots.com/stoke-on-trent or Email Steve on [email protected]

Gymbabes classes in Stoke-on-Trent Newcastle-under-lyme Saturdays 9am Wednesday 10amSmallthorne Friday at 9.10am.

http://www.tumbletots.com/stoke-on-trent

http://www.thewoodenplayden.co.uk


EARLY Years

SAY CHEESE: Good brushing is important to keep your child’s teeth healthy, & there maybe more to it than you think. Oral health expert Natalie Roberts explains...

Getting children to brush their teeth can sometimes be a struggle. Twice a day you may be facing crying and tantrums but it is extremely important to persevere. As soon as your

little ones first tooth comes through you should be brushing it. A small smear of toothpaste on your finger or on a brush if they will allow is fine for children under three years of age. At age three to six, you can use a ‘pea’ sized amount on a small, soft headed toothbrush and children age six plus can use adult toothpaste and a bigger toothbrush.

Children need to be brushing their teeth at least twice a day with flouride toothpaste. Your toothpaste should be clearly labelled with the amount of flouride that is in it - as older children


EARLY YEARS

Pic: : Evgeny Atamaxvnenko

Five tips for getting your child to brush their teeth:1. Let them do it themselves first. This may make them feel grown up.2. Put on music for them to brush to. Once the music has stopped they can stop. Make sure to pick as song that lasts around two minutes or stop it after two minutes. Two minutes is a long time when brushing and they could become bored if it lasted any longer.3. Let them pick their own children’s toothpaste and brush.4. Brush your teeth at the same time. Seeing mummy or daddy doing it may encourage them.5. Think about creating a sticker chart or another reward system to work towards, but avoid sweets and chocolate as a reward.

need more. For those of you that are wondering what Flouride is - it is a mineral that has properties which can help to prevent tooth decay and is recommended by most Dentists. Encourage your child to brush their own teeth - although you may need to go over them again to make sure they have done it effectively! Brushing in a circular motion will remove more plaque than a side to side motion. Concentrate on the area where the tooth meets the gum. Leaving plaque in these areas causes the gums to become irritated and this is when they can start to bleed when brushing. By age two or three your child should have all twenty of their milk teeth. Keeping the teeth healthy is important for eating, smiling, speech and their confidence.Permanent teeth will usually start erupting around age six and all the adult teeth should come through by the age of thirteen, but wisdom teeth often don’t erupt until the age of seventeen plus. In total an adults has thirty two teeth when they have all erupted.

Remember: To help prevent your child getting tooth decay, try and limit the amount of sugar your child is having - when food is left on the teeth the plaque turns into acid, and the acid eats away at the teeth. Sugary foods make it harder for saliva in the mouth to neutralise these acids - so offer your child cakes and sweets at meal times as a treat instead of in between meals.


Early Years

Lets go Potty...is your toddler ready?

It’s happening. It feels like it’s happening everywhere. I can’t get away from it. My Facebook newsfeed is filling up with daily

accounts of it. Potty training. All of the tiny little babies I knew 2 years ago are turning into toddlers and doing their first lit-tle wees outside of nappies. Some are having whole days with only minor accidents. There are even a few who are staying accident free for full days or even weeks. Yet here I sit, still waist deep in nappies... Waiting. Why is everybody doing it but me? Don’t get me wrong, I try. I nicely persuade Jay to sit on his Lumi potti after his bath (when you’re guaranteed a wee, or so I thought) with the lure of a nice potty related book... Nothing.

By Gemma Walsh

http://www.lumipotti.com/


Early years

Lets go Potty...is your toddler ready?

Okay, I don’t try that hard. He’s not ready. I know he’s not ready. It is not our time. But how will I know when it is our time? And how do I fend off the pressure of the parents with the perfectly pooping children? A general age to start can be anywhere from 18 months (usually for girls who can find is easier to get the hang of training) to 3 years plus (especially for those little boys who usually don’t mind sitting in their own mess – like mine). Kate Barlow, from the Parent Consultancy, admits that ‘potty training is a big milestone and often a worrying time for parents’ Luckily, to help us along, she gave us her concise list of the basic signs of readiness to look out for. “If your child displays 2 or more of these signs, it could be time to take the plunge. -Can follow simple instructions -Takes an interest in the toilet -Has a dry nappy for more than 2 hours -Seeks independence when washing and dressing -Indicates when their nappy needs changing - Asks to use the toilet or potty”

If it doesn’t happen straight away, don’t force it. It will happen when it’s time, requiring the development of both bladder control and understanding skills. You may have to look out for a few more of the above signs. If you’re unsure, having a little experimental day won’t hurt though. See where they’re at and if they might be ready or getting closer.

“Potty training is like any other new skill,” Kate reassures us. “You were patient when he made a mess whilst eating and fell over whilst he took his first steps, now he needs time to practise potty training.” As for the pressure – you don’t see children going into university still in nappies. No matter how much you feel like it won’t – IT WILL HAPPEN EVENTUALLY!! Then comes the most exciting part - “Mummm, I need a weeee.”

Catch Gemma’s Potty Training Diaries and her Lumi Potti review at the end of September on our website.

http://www.theparentconsultancy.com/


Nurture by Imune Natural Juice DrinkReview by Vicki Moorhead

As a mum, I want to ensure that my little lady is as fit and healthy as possible. That in-cludes trying to ensure she gets the right vitamins and minerals daily to keep her immune system in tip top condition. So when I heard about a new immune boosting juice drink for little ones called Nurture by Imune, I knew it was something we had to try out.

The Nurture juices are unlike any other currently available as one pouch/drink contains Vitamins B6, B9, B12, C, D, and zinc which contribute to the normal function of the immune system. Calcium and Vitamin D are needed for normal growth and development of bone in children, and according to the Imune website, the drink contains 100% of the recommended amount of these vitamins for children aged 2-5 years. The juices are 100% natural and are made up of 50% fruit juice and 50% water.

There are two yummy flavours to choose from: Strawberry and Cherry and Orange and Pineapple. Mini’s fave out of the two was the strawberry and cherry, as was mine! I had to try it out strictly for research purposes of course! I can vouch for them, both flavours taste great, kids will love them! They come in packets of 4, with each pouch drink containing 200ml’s of juice. It is recommended that only one pouch is drank per day per child. I found that because the pouch is so big it lasted all day for Mini, I just put lid back on and popped back into fridge and used as she wanted it throughout the day. The pouches have an anti-spill spout, so no worries of juice covered clothes or spillages in the car when out and about! I really like these, I think they are a brilliant way to give your child those important vitamins and minerals daily. Perfect if you have a “picky” eater and you want to try and get more vitamins and minerals into their system, want to ensure they get the recommended daily amounts, or just to give their immune system an added daily boost to help them face all those coughs and colds heading their way this September, these fruity juice pouches are the perfect solution.

“Perfect for those colds heading our way this September”

Nurture drinks available £2.99 for 4 from Tesco

Early Years: Review


Staffordshire

NHS Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire runs a support service for young parents with several groups across the city. www.stoke.nhs.uk

Regional ServicesPeterborough

Little Miracles is a charity based in Peterborough which helps parents with disabled children and those with special needs. www.littlemiraclespeterborough.org.ukFamily Nurse Partnership is a service for parents under 20, providing support through home visits right through pregnancy. Speak to your midwife for more information.

Useful services

Alice Charity is a Staffordshire based charity helping families who are homeless or need help with various problems. 01782 627017

Want to advertise your service here? Contact Kimberly on 07402630671 or @VFTSeditor

National Charities The Ectopic pregnancy foundation has informa-tion and support on their website http://www.ectopicpregnancy.co.uk

Brook is a sexual health charity for under-25’s. They can help with any aspects of pregnancy, sexu-al health and offer information about abortion. www.brook.org.uk

Bliss charity is for parents who sick or premature babies. www.bliss.org.uk

The Miscarriage Association offers advice and guid-ance on anyone suffering from miscarriage or baby loss. http://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk

Ronald Mcdonald House Charities (RMHC) pro-vides accommodation for families who have got children in hospital. There are currently 14 Ronald Mcdonald Houses in the country. www.rmhc.org.uk

Pregnancy Sickness support helps women suffering from extreme pregnancy sickness & have volunteers who have had it themselves. www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk

Advice Services

Citizen’s Advice Bureau is a charity which provides free, confidential and independent advice on all subjects ranging from pregnancy, to benefits and housing. visit www.adviceguide.org.uk for self help information or go to your local branch for an appointment.

Salford & Manchester

Nurture & Nurse CIC provide individual support for families through 1-2-1 workshops and visits before & after birth. Based in Eccles and availa-ble across Salford. www.nurtureandnurse.co.uk

Useful Services directory


http://www.tappytwins.com


WinA Mum-to-be Pamper pack from Bepanthen

You can read more about Bepanthen in our Winter issue, out on November 28th

You deserve extra pampering during the most important time

of your life – pregnancy and being a mum. We are offering you a chance to win a Bepanthen Pamper Pack from Bepanthen Stretch mark cream, which means you can nourish your bump and enjoy the other gifts in your pack. The Bepanthen Pamper Pack contains: • A pregnancy Journal • A Yummy Mummy Mask from Love Lammie • Sanatogen mum to be vitamins • Bepanthen Stretch Mark cream • Bepanthen Nappy Ointment •A Bepanthen bib for when little one arrives• A mum-to-be bag for all your goodies

To enter just answer this question: What is the medical name for ‘Stretch Marks’? [Hint: Google knows the answer!] A : Striae B: Tiger stripes C: Dermabrasion

Enter via our competition post on Facebook from Friday 12th September or Tweet us @VFTSeditorAll correct entries will be put in our draw!

Entries close at 10pm on the 1st November, and the winner will be announced in the Winter magazine on November 28th.

VFTS competition


Documents

Visit from the Stork Autumn 2014