New Beginnings Baby Blog.

When is the right time to start potty training?

2011-07-19T05:36:00.000-07:00

While there is no magic age for potty training, most toddlers will develop the necessary physical and cognitive skills between 18-24 months (though some aren't ready to start until as old as four). Look out for some independence and an understanding of what it means to go to the bathroom. They may start telling you when they have soiled their nappy too.

Before potty training begins, it is a good idea to buy a potty and leave it next to the toilet to introduce your toddler to the idea of using it. Travel potties are also useful when away from home as children often form an attachment to their potty, causing distress when it is not available. Some of these will also convert into toilet seats which are great for avoiding problems in public toilets. At home, trainer seats are often used as the next stage in potty training and don't forget a toilet step so that your toddler can reach!

Parents are often under pressure from family or friends to start potty training but, if you start too early, it often means your child has to be reminded about the toilet several times a day and the hanging on is reduced to vital seconds. Leaving training until they show signs that they are ready means that the whole process is a lot easier and quicker.

While some children are soon dry at night too, it is perfectly normal to continue in nappies for a year or more at night, with occasional bed wetting for a few years. It is only when your toddler has regular dry nappies in the morning that you should stop using them at night. A waterproof sheet on the bed is a good idea and trainer pants are perfect for the transition from nappies.

Here are few tips from mums to make the potty training experience easier:

keep a potty or travel potty in the boot of the car on long journeys. When your toddler needs the toilet, they usually need to go straight away!

when you stop using a nappy at night, buy a few pairs of trainer pants. It is much easieir to change pants at 3.00am than the whole bed!

remind your toddler often about the toilet, especially if they are playing, as they may not want to stop their game to use the potty

it is useful to keep a travel potty in the bottom of the buggy as it is often difficult to find a public toilet quickly when you are out and, if you do, these are not always the most toddler-friendly places!

once you have stopped using nappies, don't be tempted to go back to one if you are on a long day out as this will only confuse your toddler. Take a couple of pairs of trainer pants with you instead and, if there is an accident, you can quickly change the pants.

Above all, keep calm and avoid putting pressure on your toddler. They will get there in the end!

Sleeping Tips

2011-02-14T05:17:00.000-08:00

As any new parent will know, the better your baby sleeps, the better you sleep! Here are some tips to remember to promote a good night's sleep:

Place your baby on their back

Do not let anybody smoke in the same room as the baby

Do not fall asleep with your baby on the sofa

Keep your baby's cot in your bedroom for the first six months

Do not share a bed with your baby if you or your partner are smokers, have been drinking alchohol or taking drugs or medication that makes you drowsy or you are excessively tired

Place your baby in the "feet to foot" position with bedding tucked in and covers no higher than the shoulders

Do not let your baby get too hot (or too cold)

Position a room thermometer above the cot and check the room temperature from time to time

Establish a bedtime routine and keep to it. Baby will eventually understand that after, say, a bath, feed and story that it is time to sleep!

If you need to attend to your baby in the night, keep lights low and noise down so that baby drops off again quickly.

Do not use a 2nd hand mattress for a new baby, even if it is only siblings that have used it before. Always buy a new mattress for a new baby.

Product Review - The Buggysnuggle

2010-11-26T02:55:00.000-08:00

Buggysnuggle has made some great improvements to their footmuffs this year. To secure the Buggysnuggle on to the buggy, there is now a hook over flap as well as the ties to secure the Buggysnuggle in place. This ensures the Buggysnuggle will stay in place on both forward and rear facing seat units. If the ties are not required, there are mitred corners on the back for tucking them away out of sight. The "floating harness" design means that you can pull the entire harness through for easier fitting. Again, the zip opens from both sides but there is also now a double zip at the bottom so muddy boots can stick out to avoid getting the Buggysnuggle dirty.

As before, the Buggysnuggle remains a good size that will last you throughout the time your child is in a buggy. The top part is still removable to convert the Buggysnuggle in to a seat liner during warmer weather.

The designs and thickness of the Buggysnuggles means that there should be something to suit all tastes and budgets.

We think that the improvements have been well thought out and improve the functionality of the Buggysnuggle. With prices being held at the same price as 2009, these offer great value for money .

Product Review - Lumilove Nightlight

2010-09-16T03:06:00.000-07:00

The Lumilove Nightlight is a good alternative to a plug in nightlight. Although, at £24, it is quite a bit more expensive than a basic nightlight, we still think this is a good buy.

The Lumilove comes in a range of 5 really cute designs to suit both boys and girls - panda, kitten, puppy, elephant and rabbit. The nightlight gives out a low-consuming LED light, which continually changes colour throughout the night. The light unit does not heat, despite being on all night, and so is safe for little ones to touch.

Lumilove say that their nightlight is suitable from 10 months under parental supervision. However, because it can be used wirelessly, parents can use it in younger babies rooms as it can be put up on a shelf out of reach of little hands to give a soft light in baby's room when feeding or changing in the middle of the night.

As your child grows, they will continue to get use out of a Lumilove. They are great for toddlers who have developed an imagination and have become afraid of monsters in the dark! They are also handy at potty training stage as they avoid the need for turning on lights in the middle of the night if your child wants to use the bathroom. Children become attached to the character of their light and the reassurance it offers at night helps children to settle for sleep.

... And now for the technical bits - the nightlight comes with a plug in charger and you must initially charge the unit for up to 18 hours to ensure it is fully charged. After that, it can be used and will only take 8-10 hours to re-charge the battery. The light should run for 8 hours. If the light colour stays red, rather than continually changing, it means the battery is running low. This means that you can use the nightlight wirelessly each night and simply plug in to re-charge during the day. Each Lumilove comes with a 2 year guarantee.

We would recommend the Lumilove to:

New parents looking for a nightlight for baby's room

1st birthday present for somebody looking for a "useful" present that the child will also love

Present for a baby shower, especially if you don't know what sex the baby will be and you are stuck for ideas

Toddlers who are sacred of the dark

Babysitting Circles

2010-08-07T03:14:00.000-07:00

You've got through those first worrying months and now you feel it's time to start having some "me time" again and you have to find a babysitter. Now for those of us lucky enough to have family nearby then that would be the ideal choice. What do you do though if you don't, or feel you can't keep asking them?

Finding a babysitter can be difficult (and expensive)! More and more mums are forming a babysitting circle with friends. It works by having a pool of friends you can call upon to babysit. In return you have to take your turn, and how you arrange it is up to you but it's always a good idea to draw up some "rules" between you so everyone knows where they stand. The benefits are obvious - you get a night out, for free, and your children are in the care of a parent you know and trust.

Babysitting Do's and Don'ts:

If a babysitter is coming to you:

1. Do show her how to put the central heating back on after it automatically switches off at 10.30pm. There's nothing worse than coming home to find your babysitter jogging on the spot to keep warm.

2. Do leave her a selection of decent snacks and drinks. Otherwise she may have to resort to eating handfuls of coco-pops from your larder – not attractive.

3. Do ensure your children are at least bathed, fed and in their bed-clothes and have had a story read to them. Then all she has to do is pop them into bed - job done.

4. Do arrange to lock your dog in another room if needs be – your babysitter hasn't come along for the evening only for your dog to try and have sex with her leg. Ditto the cat.

5. Don't stumble in, completely trashed at 2am, and ask if she wants to stay and have "one for the road". She doesn't.

And if you're the babysitter:

1. Agree beforehand what time your friend will be back home.

2. Under no circumstances take it as an opportunity to rifle through her wardrobe or bank statements.

3. However tempting it may be, now is not the evening to call your sister in Australia and have a good old chinwag. Ditto hitting the drinks cupboard.

4. Unless they've set fire to the curtains, smile sweetly and reassure your friend that her children were little darlings. No one wants to come home at the end of a great evening to be told their children ran riot around the house.

5. Remember it's against the law to smack someone else's child – however tempted you may be when you find them setting fire to the curtains

BabyStyle Oyster comes top in which? Travel System Test

2010-07-28T01:40:00.000-07:00

The Oyster from BabyStyle has been awarded the Which? Best Buy in the Travel System test published in their June issue. This is the 2nd time the Oyster has received this award from Which? in less than a year. The Oyster scored 80% making it the top product in the test. Which? commented "our top scoring travel system has a reversible seat, manoeuvres well and scored highly in our public transport test as it's narrow enough to push down a bus gangway."

BabyStyle has recently launched a wide range of new colours in the Oyster. We think they are great - see what you think at http://www.newbeginningsbabyshop.co.uk/product_details.php?catid=14&prodid=79

Potty Training

2010-07-20T05:51:00.000-07:00

Potty training is one of those subjects on which there are hundreds of opinions as to the when and how, so it can be a very confusing issue for parents - if it weren't difficult enough already. And can be even harder to deal with if you feel you're dealing with other people's disapproval, whether it's from your parents, your child's nursery or other mums. While the parental advice market is awash with techniques promising to potty train your toddler in x days or weeks, remember that the best approach will be one tailored to your own child's needs as an individual and at the time when she's ready and receptive to training. Here are a few pointers to get you started.

Is it time?While many experts say that you should wait until your child is at least 18 months to think about toilet training, and some say even longer, your parents may be insisting that you were toilet trained just as soon as you could walk. You probably know mums who had their babies out of nappies at fifteen months and mums who have put it off until their toddler is as old as three. So whose advice do you follow? Well, your parents probably aren't exaggerating all that much, as they most likely come from a generation that used fiddly terry squares and pins and nasty plastic overwraps that they had to wash in not terribly good washing machines. Back then, the incentive to get a baby out of nappies ASAP was pretty strong, particularly if the next child was on the way. These days, however, both cloth and disposable nappies are easy enough that the focus for finding the right timing is more on the child and, if anything, parental convenience often leans towards putting training off for a while.

The truth is that the 'right' age for potty training can vary greatly from child to child, and if you wait until your child appears ready for potty training you may find it is a far quicker and less frustrating process, and one that doesn't cause upset for your toddler.

Signs that your child is ready for potty training A few parents may wait with toilet training until their child comes and tell them themselves that they are ready to use the toilet, but most children will display signs of readiness for toilet training a long time before they come to you and say 'Mummy, I want to use the toilet now'. Signs include:

Being able to tell, or show you, when she's doing, or about to do a wee or a pooh
Showing an understanding that things (not just pooh) belong in certain places
Having words for wee and pooh
Staying dry for a couple of hours at a time
Having fairly regular bowel movements
Showing an interest in other people's use of the toilet An older child may also actually ask to use the potty or ask to wear normal underwear.

When NOT to potty train It's easier to say when it isn't the right time to start potty training, and that's when there's something else going on that could be a potential source of stress or disturbance for your toddler. It's not a good idea, for example, to start her off on toilet training just as you send her to nursery, when a sibling arrives, when there is a family bereavement or as you move house. And if your toddler resists the idea of using the potty it's best not to make it into an area of conflict, be ready to back off and give her some more time or make your approach more casual.

What you can do to prepare the ground Even before you think your child is ready to use the potty you can help smooth the way. From very early on you can talk to your baby naturally about wee and pooh, telling her what is in her nappy 'Oh, it's just a wee wee this time", so she begins to learn what wee and pooh are. Later, when potty time is getting a little closer you can get her used to the idea that wee and pooh belong in the toilet or potty. Get a potty ahead of when you think you need it - let her choose and even decorate her own potty if you think that will help - and tell her what it is and what it's for, but without making a big fuss about it.
To show her what the potty is for you can tip pooh from her soiled nappy into the potty and show her that that's where the pooh goes, and then let her see that you take it to the toilet and flush it away. Very soon if you ask her where you put the pooh from the nappy or potty she'll probably point you in the direction of the toilet door.

Start letting her watch as you, or other family members, use the toilet so that she can see it's completely natural and don't feel silly about explaining her that you're doing a wee or a pooh on the toilet - she may start handing you pieces of loo roll! You can let her get her potty out and sit on it while dressed to practice and you may be surprised by how quickly she sits on it and pulls straining faces pretending to do a pooh. Don't push this don't force her to sit on the potty.

Tips for getting started There are many techniques for potty training and different approaches work with different children, but here are a few ideas to get you started, as well as some of things it's best to avoid.

Dress her in clothes/nappies that make it easy for you to get to her nappies or, with older toddlers, choose clothes that she can easily manage to pull down herself. If it's warm enough to let her run around in her underwear or even the altogether some of the time, then that can make things even easier - the summer is usually an easier time to train than the winter

When you see that your toddler's doing a wee or a pooh, or if she tells you, ask her if she wants to use her potty - have it close to hand with wipes at the ready. Don't make a big panic about getting the potty out on time, if you're a bit late then you can tip the pooh into the potty to show her what the idea is

Talk to your toddler about being wet and dry etc. Talk her through what she's doing if you see that she's doing a pooh by her facial expression, 'you're doing a pooh now, aren't you? Shall we change your nappy when you've finished?'

If you know roughly when a pooh is due you can sit her on the potty and read a book or sing a song together while you wait for the pooh to arrive. It may help to have a particular book or song that is just for potty times. But don't sit her on the potty for too long - no more than a few minutes at a time - and don't hold her down on the potty if she wants to get off

Reward successful potty trips with enthusiasm and praise - some mums like to give a small treat for using the potty successfully

Go at your own child's pace: there's no reason why your child should be potty trained in a week or two

When it comes time to move your toddler into proper underwear have her come with you and choose her own if she's old enough to enjoy this. You'll need a big supply!

Try to be consistent. Once you have made the move from nappies to training pants or proper underwear, try to avoid switching back and forth between the two, as this may confuse her and set her back. You'll need to think about how you can keep as much consistency as possible when you're out and about or visiting.

Consider a travel potty for out and about. These fold up flat, have disposable liners and are fairly inexpensive. This can save you the panic-stricken search for a grown-up toilet when your little one needs to 'do potty'.

Accidents will happen during potty training and it's best not to make a fuss about them and certainly not to punish or chastise your toddler when she does have an accident. Be prepared by having clean up things and spare clothes with you at all times so you can clean up quickly without making it traumatic for her.

Set a good potty routine from the off by showing her how to wipe properly and hygienically and how to wash her hands properly afterwards.

By Maria Meunnich

Save Our Breastfeeding Support Groups!

2010-06-14T04:45:00.000-07:00

Today I wanted to let you know about the GBSN (Gloucestershire Breastfeeding Supporters Network) and the brilliant service they provde to breastfeeding mothers.

Anyone who has ever breastfed will probably admit that it's not all plain sailing. Worries over soreness, whether the baby is getting enough milk, and the sheer exhaustion it can cause, lead to many mum's seeking support and this is where the GBSN comes in. They have a network of support groups and are supported purely by fundraising and donations.

Until April of this year they received funding from NHS Gloucestershire but this funding has stopped and the real threat of local support groups closing is starting to happen.

Have a look at their website, they have some great advice factsheets and details of how you can help them to fundraise by doing simple things as:

-set http://www.everyclick.com/ as your home page, register to support GBSN and use it for all your online search – you can also use it for online shopping and eBay trading

-use http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/ as your online shopping portal – after registration a percentage of your purchases goes to GBSN

-if you visit Waitrose in Cheltenham, Cirencester or Stroud, pick up a ‘Community Matters’ form and fill it in, nominating GBSN

http://www.breastfeedingsupporters.org.uk/

Father's Day Present

2010-06-11T02:44:00.000-07:00

Struggling to think of a Father's Day Present? Take a look at the Baby Art Magic Box. This is a lovely idea - you can take a handprint or footprints of your baby or toddler in the modelling clay and it's there forever! It's so easy to do, there is no mixing, you simply roll out the clay, take the imprint and then leave to air dry and harden. If you go wrong you simply roll it out and try again until you get the perfect print. You can then add your own message to Dad.

At only £9.99 it's a lovely affordable gift which all dad's will cherish

http://www.newbeginningsbabyshop.co.uk/products.php?catid=34

Free £10.00 Voucher

2010-06-05T07:13:00.000-07:00

This month we are offering a voucher for £10.00 off your next purchase when you spend over £50.00 in New Beginnings either online at http://www.newbeginningsbabyshop.co.uk/

or in store.

You will receive a £10.00 gift voucher automatically when you spend over £50.00.

Encourage Imaginative Play

2010-06-04T03:20:00.000-07:00

We are always reading in the papers or seeing on the news that children spend too long in front of the TV or computer screens. This can have a detrimental affect on their development. We are being encouraged by the experts to get children playing again!

We are looking to introduce more developmental toys into our range and we have just introduced some wonderful puppets and finger puppets.

Puppets help children in story telling and role play, encouraging creativity, imagination and language development, as well as being great fun!

Puppets stimulate children's imaginations
Puppets may help quieter children express hidden thoughts and feelings through the puppet by taking the focus off the individual
Puppets may help well-known rhymes and stories come to life and help children interact
Puppets provide a focus for role playing activities where they can become the character and act out imaginary stories
Puppets can provide an element of fun to learning
Puppets can be used as a teaching tool or in free play
Puppets are enjoyed by adults as well as children!

Denim Diapers!

2010-05-24T14:05:00.000-07:00

I had to look twice when I stumbled across Huggies Jean Nappies on a website in America - yes they are for real!

What do you think? Would you buy them? Cute or tasteless??

Everything You Need For A New Baby!

2010-05-24T03:30:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know, that's New Beginnings motto but the Silver Cross Sleepover really does have just about everything you need for a new baby.

For starters it is a pram perfect for a newborn with the added benefit of a swivel wheel easy fold chassis. The carrycot clicks off easily from the chassis and can then be placed on the solid Ash rocking moses stand. A set of beautiful pin-tucked covers is included to convert the carrycot into a moses set.

The carrycot converts easily into a roomy pushchair for when your little one wants to sit up, and you have the option of baby either facing you or facing away.

A luxury footmuff is included to complete the pushchair and a sturdy pram bag and raincover completes the package.

Now, if you are interested in a travel system this can be achieved by the addition of a Venturer car seat which will click straight onto the chassis for those quick trips out.

Silver Cross value all the accessories at £200 and we believe this to be an accurate figure as they are all of the high quality you would expect from Silver Cross.

The pram plus all the accessories cost £560.00 which we think represents good value for money when you consider you get a pram, pushchair, change bag, footmuff, raincover, moses set and rocking stand. The venturer car set costs £115.00 but we have a special offer on at the moment. If you purchase the Linear Sleepover in the vintage colour the car seat is FREE OF CHARGE saving £115.00.

If you would like more information please click on the Silver Cross Link http://www.silvercross.co.uk/our-range/pram-systems/linear-sleepover/vintage/

We have this on display in the shop at the moment if you would like a full demonstration.

People overspend by 99% on their first child...

2010-05-22T02:31:00.000-07:00

ING Direct have commissioned a survey which showed that on average new parents plan to spend £1117 on their first child but ending up spending a shocking £2220!

As a result ING have created adverts showing "airbag" moments - times when you need to have dipped into your savings to "cushion" the blow.

They are giving everyone the chance to win £1000 by creating your own airbag moment video. If you click on the link you can create your own video - but be quick as the competition ends Friday.

Good Luck!

http://www.savingfeelsgood.co.uk/airbags.htm

Gloucestershire's Most Popular Baby names

2010-05-18T07:13:00.000-07:00

Following on from my post yesterday about names that parents regret choosing I looked up the most popular names for babies born in Gloucestershire:

Top Girls Names in Gloucestershire
1. Summer
2. Mia
3. Charlotte
4 Jasmin
5. Jessica
6. Alice
7. Isabel
8. Natasha
9.Chloe
10. Jolee

Top Boys Names in Gloucestershire

1. Jack
2. Charlie
3 Harry
4. Freddie
5. Samuel
6. Oscar
7. Alfie
8. Callum
9. Ben
10. Toby

Did you chose the right name???

2010-05-17T05:28:00.000-07:00

One in five parents REGRET the names they have chosen for their children, it has been revealed in a new study.

According to Bounty.com research 19% of folk are fed up with the sheer number of other children sharing the same moniker.

In hindsight mums and dads claim they wouldn’t have chosen names such as William, Oliver and Jack. And looking back, parents of girls popularly named Chloe, Ruby and Olivia would have chosen alternative names.

Other boys’ names they end up wishing they had avoided include Alfie, Thomas and Joshua.And girls called Emily, Grace and Jessica would also have different names if their parents could re-write history.

Cause for amusement - The poll of 3,000 parents, reveals 15 per cent of parents say that much to their dismay, their child’s forename has been the cause of amusement amongst friends and family.

A fifth of mums and dads wish they had chosen a name which was easier to spell, and eight per cent get fed up with people being unable to pronounce the name properly.

While one in 10 thought their chosen name was cool and clever at the time, the novelty has worn off over time.

Keeping the peace Bounty’s Faye Mingo said: “Choosing a name that you and your child will love for the rest of their life is one of the first most important things that you’ll ever do for your child.
“It can be one of the first issues that expectant parents argue about and sharing baby name ideas with family and friends who want to give a helping hand in the naming process, can also cause tensions.”

The study also shows 19 per cent of parents resigned themselves to using a family name to keep the peace.

Thirteen per cent decided to choose a name which seemed quirky and unusual at the time and just under one in 10 people named their child after a favourite celebrity, while three per cent used the place of conception as inspiration for a name.

47 per cent were shocked to find that other people would judge their children by the names they had been given.

Incredibly, one in five proud mums and dads has experienced a stranger turning up their nose when they revealed their baby’s name.

And 13 per cent said the registrar raised an eyebrow when they registered the birth.

Even those parents who don’t regret the name on their child’s birth certificate, admit there are names they prefer now and wish they had thought of when their child was born.
Faye added: “Today’s baby name trends move very quickly, so names that seem relatively unusual and quirky can quickly become mainstream and common in the classroom.
“For example, ten years ago the name Ruby was relatively unheard of as a baby girl’s name, yet our annual baby name poll shows Ruby ranked in the number two spot for most popular girls names in the UK. Likewisefor boys, a decade ago the name Alfie would have been considered outdated, yet today it ranks as the fifth most popular boys’ name.”

Boys names parents most regret
1. William

2. Oliver

3. Jack

4. Alfie

5. Thomas

6. Joshua

7. Daniel

8. Charlie

9. Harry

10. James

Girls names parents most regret

1. Chloe

2. Ruby

3. Olivia

4. Emily

5. Grace

6. Jessica

7. Charlotte

8. Evie

9. Sophie

10. Daisy

New Arrival!

2010-05-12T03:31:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Emma Lawson and partner on the safe arrival of their daughter Sofia, weighing 6lbs 2oz.

Aren't real nappies expensive?

2010-04-29T03:34:00.000-07:00

This is a question that is often asked by parents when looking at the cost of "real nappies" and disposables.

The Ethical Consumer Research Report have calculated that the average price for an all in one reuseable nappy to be £12.28, and for a disposable nappy to be 14 pence. At first glance it appears that real nappies are much more expensive but once you actually work it out it's quite surprising how much cheaper reusables are in the long term.

On average it is recommended that to use reusables you need around 20 nappies – which would therefore cost £245.60. It is estimated that a small baby tends to need around ten changes per day, reducing to around 6 per day as they get older, averaging around 2,918
nappies per year, which at 14p each would cost £408.52 in disposables – just for the first
year.

Even taking into account washing costs they are cheaper. It was calculated that the cost to wash one nappy would be around 0.75p. Washing a year’s worth (2,918 nappies) would therefore
work out at £38.90. Over the two and a half years a baby will be in nappies, the average
cost of disposables would therefore be £1,021, and reusables £342.85.

So food for thought. If you are considering it come in and have a look at Pop-in nappies which have 10% discount during Real Nappy Week, and don't forget Gloucestershire County Council give £30 cashback when you spend over £50 on real nappies.

Why not give it a try by purchasing a trial pack of one nappy? Go on - give it a go- it may be easier than you think and it will certainly save you money!

http://www.newbeginningsbabyshop.co.uk/products.php?catid=59

Real Nappy Week - Greener Disposables?

2010-04-28T03:00:00.000-07:00

As it's Real Nappy Week I've been looking into figures and have been totally amazed by the huge numbers of disposable nappies we use each day in the UK.

Dispensing with disposables in the UK would stop almost six million nappies a day, or two billion nappies a year, ending up in landfill. Nappies account for 2% of all household rubbish, and cost the council tax payer £67m a year. A weight of disposeable nappies equivalent to 70,000 double-decker buses go to landfill every year - enough buses to stretch from London to Edinburgh! Disposeable nappy use creates about 400,000 tonnes of waste each year in the UK - roughly the equivalent of the waste produced by a city the size of Birmingham.

So if all these nappies are going into landfill how long do they take to rot away? Since the 1960s disposable nappy manufacturers have increasingly replaced paper with super-absorbent polymers (mainly sodium polyacrylate) which can hold many times their own weight in water. Further innovations have brought a range of plastics for coating and sealing, as
well as perfumes, fragrances and dyes. This has meant that the likelihood of such products
ever being broken down in the environment – even over hundreds of years – is continuing
to recede., and figures are being quoted as between a hundred years and never for a nappy to decompose.

It's clear we have to look at alternatives - either biodegradable disposeables or reuseable "cloth" nappies. It has led to a wave of ‘greener’ disposable nappies which claim to address
some of these issues -

Bambo Nature is the only ‘green nappy’ to be independently accredited. The product also avoids perfumes and other chemicals and features an absorbent starch core.

Moltex Oko contains minimal amounts of gel and no perfumes. They claim to be
compostable.

Nature Babycare although not gel-free, it claims to be based on biodegradable materials and to be chlorine free.

Tushies are the only nappy to use absolutely no gel at all, relying on wood pulp and cotton
for absorbency.

Supermarket own-brands – Both Sainsbury and Asda produce an ‘eco-nappy’ option
claiming greater proportions of biodegradable materials.

Because landfill sites are compacted and covered, decomposition rates are slow. A disposable nappy can take between 100 years and never to decompose, and a biodegradable nappy (by inference) between 5 months and 50 years.

(Source Ethical Consumer Research Report)

Real Nappy Week 10% discount!

2010-04-20T03:17:00.000-07:00

Real Nappy Week is from the 26th April to 2nd May 2010 and you will see lots in the press about the benefits of using "Real" or reusable nappies.

The main points why you should consider using real nappies are:

Kind to your baby - Like babies, modern washable nappies come in many shapes and styles. Designed to be comfortable and secure, it is easy to find the ideal nappy for your baby. You even get to choose how you wash them, just like baby’s clothes.

Kind to your wallet - Using real nappies over disposables will save you a small fortune estimates range up to £800, considerably more if you use the same nappies on subsequent children.

Kind to you - It has never been simpler to use real nappies. Today’s options have no pins – most use poppers or velcro and come in a wide variety of colours and patterns to coordinate with your baby’s clothes!

Kind to your environment – Using real nappies instead of disposables you will halve your weekly rubbish and your carbon footprint could be up to 40% smaller! This means less rubbish filling up our landfill sites and a kinder option for our planet.

If you would like to see how these nappies work please visit us in the shop and we will be happy to show you how easy it is. We stock Close Parent's Pop-in Nappies as they are a one size nappy and are simple to wash and dry.

From now until the end of Real Nappy Week we are offering 10% off all nappies ordered. If you combine this discount with the £30 grants available from local authorities it's never been a better time to save money!

Visit our website for more info http://www.newbeginningsbabyshop.co.uk/products.php?catid=59

New Arrival!

2010-04-19T08:41:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Ruth and David on the safe arrival of Evie May weighing 6lbs and 6oz!

Celebrity Mums choose Cosatto

2010-04-14T06:22:00.000-07:00

What are the celebrity mums choosing for their babies? Well Cosatto it seems! Cosatto sent us details.....

Mum to be Denise van Outen has taken Cosatto's Budi 3-in-1 Combi in Ember for her little girl due in May. It doesn't end there, she's also ordered our Easi Peasi Changer- Zuton, Goo Goo Rocka- Little Bunni and Maternity Cushion in cream hearts. Look out in Prima Magazine!

Sara Cox has just ordered the Duet Lite and Swift Lite Supa 2010 - In Crowd, for her spring baby!

A-List Footballer and his lovely wife (not allowed to name for legal reasons) have taken the new Cabi 3-in-1 Combi Walk in the Park for their little boy…keep your eyes peeled in HELLO & OK!

Nicola McLean has taken the Cabi 3-in-1 Walk in the Park for baby due in the Spring. Along with Swift Lite Supa 2010 Little Pip Squeak, Goo Goo Rocka- Jeli baby, and 40 Winks Travel Cot. All items of which were whisked off to the Mayfair hotel for her Baby Shower shoot for OK! Will let you know when the feature will be!

Zoe Ball ordered the Yumi Highchair for her nephew at Christmas dinner. The Balls and the Cooks were all round for Christmas turkey. We have sent Zoe the i-spin in Smile for little Nelly.

Cosatto are thanking Marina and Ben Fogle for the lovely card they sent from Ludo. He is loving his Cosatto bouncer. They welcomed little Ludo into the world in December, and he went straight into Cosatto's uber comfy Goo Goo Rocka Little Bunni bouncer.

Jemma Kidd gave birth to twins: Mae Madeleine and Arthur Darcy, who we want to see soon out and about in our Cosatto You2 Twin Stroller, You and Me that Jemma ordered in December.

All Cosatto products are available to order from New Beginnings.

Baby Style Oyster - New Colours

2010-04-12T05:52:00.000-07:00

BabyStyle have anounced that a new range of colours for the BabyStyle Oyster is going to be available from June.

We think this is great news as the best selling pushchair has already proved it to be a winner with us and has received many awards including Which Best Buy Pushchir.

The new range will consist of purchasing the chassis in black or silver with a black seat unit. You can then personalise it with a hood and liner from a range of 12 colours. The pushchair costs £219.00 and the colour pack £50.00.

The carrycot comes in black and this too comes with an accessory pack of choice of 12 colours.

So why is the Oyster so great?

Well after seeing many pushchairs I really feel it offers a great range of features at an affordable price. The best bits are:

*The chassis - strong, stylish and easy to fold it is really compact when folded.

*The wheels are quick release - perfect if you need more space in the boot.

*The brake can be put on or taken off from above - perfect when you are wearing flip flops!

*The wheels can be locked into position with just one push of a button.

* The chassis has a height adjustable handle so no more bending if you are taller.

*The seat unit is easy to put on and off and can be forward facing or rearward facing. It can also be folded down with the seat unit attached - very rare indeed. The seat unit has a built in UV and insect net which is zipped inside the hood and can be pulled down when the sun shines - brilliant!

*The carrycot is roomy and easy to click on and off

and finally , you can use it as a travel system with a choice of a BabyStyle, Britax or Maxi cosi car seats.

Demand is bound to be high for the new colours so we recommend that you pre-order if you are interested.

April Fools Day

2010-04-01T05:35:00.000-07:00

April Fool's Day - April 1st

April 1st is the day people try to trick their friends, to make them behave like fools. Ranging from the elaborate practical joke to the obvious Your zip's undone the joker gloats April Fool when the unsuspecting victim falls for it. No one is exempt until noon but after that the joking must cease or the prank rebounds on the joker with the rhyme "April Fool is gone and past, You're the bigger fool at last." A favourite joke is to send someone on a fool's errand, a search for something that does not exist, a friend of mine was sent to buy tartan paint once.

Origin
In Britain, fooling at this time of year has gone on for centuries, however the origin of the custom still remains obscure. There are several theories to account for it.
One theory is that in Europe, until the sixteenth century, March 25th, the first day of the Vernal Equinox Festival, was New Year's Day. On April 1st, the last day of the festival, people used to give presents to one another. In 1564, Charles IX, the French king, adopting the Gregorian calendar and fixed January 1st as New Year's Day. Those who were against the revision continued to express their complaints by giving presents or paying New Year's visits on April 1st. In the following years, these traditionalists who insisted on celebrating the New Year at its old time were mocked as fools and people would play pranks and tricks on them and called them ` Poisson d'avril ', meaning April Fish. This must have been so much fun that it spread all over the world and people played tricks on everyone, not just the people who didn't accept the new calendar.
Other people say it's just a continuation of a festival in honour of the Celtic god of Mirth but most popular belief is that it's a reaction to the change in season and the start of spring. Whatever its origin, making fools of people on this day remains one of the most flourishing of all British customs.
In Scotland, for example, April Fool's Day is actually celebrated for two days. The second day is devoted to pranks involving the posterior region of the body. It is called Taily Day. The origin of the "kick me" sign can be traced to this observance.

Famous hoaxes
Even the television stations and newspapers get in on the act.
Some of the more famous April Fool's include.
A report that hawks carrying cameras would be used on the motorways by police to catch speeding motorists.
A news report about sheep with grass growing on their backs because the weather was so wet.
Numerous news reports about official sightings of the Loch Ness monster.
A documentary on Spaghetti was broadcasted a few years ago by the BBC claiming that spaghetti grew on trees .
Some companies get in on the act too - BMW run a spoof advert every year.
A full-page BMW car advertisement was run on On 1 April 1986, about their new car for driving between Great Britain and the Continent. It was both left and right hand drive, had pedals on both driver's and passenger's side, had a detachable steering wheel which could go either side and a full set of instruments on each side, the unused one being covered by a lovely walnut panel. (I would have bought one!)
A mechanism that inflated the car tyres automatically was described by BMW one year.
Even the most serious Brits can't resist, the British magazine, New Scientist, often puts April Fool articles in their issue near the 1st of April. The rest of the magazine would have the correct date at the top of the page, but this page would have "1 April" at the top.
Basically don't believe anything you read, hear or are told on April 1st!

Egg-citing Easter!

2010-03-29T09:15:00.000-07:00

Easter may be the focal point of the Christian calendar but its origins are pagan. The Ango-Saxons brought their Gods with them to Britain, including the Goddess Ostara. Her name was corrupted into Easter and her celebration was adopted by the early Christian church to mark the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Easter tends to be celebrated over one weekend. Good Friday marks the day of Christ's execution and Easter Sunday the morning of his return to life - symbolised by rebirth or renewal in nature by hen's or bird's eggs - and the end of lent. After the invention of chocolate, Easter eggs as we know it were born.

Easter bunnies are linked to this time of year by their cousins the hare, whose courtship rituals around Easter time helped them to become a symbol for this time of year.

With 2 Bank Holidays, Easter is a great chance for families to spend some time together. There are usually lots of local activities for a great day out. Here are a few:

Easter Eggstravaganza at Bristol Zoo - take part is an Easter egg hunt and make friends with the Easter Bunny & Spring Bear as they wander around the zoo
Slimbridge Wetland Centre - meet the team of tame ducks at Puddleduck Corner or follow the Easter egg trail
Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury - Forest Fables, Thurs 8/4/10. Suitable from age 5+. The ancient stories of Aesop are brought to life through puppetry and music
Gloucestershire National Trust events - there are lots of events over the Easter holidays at various National Trust properties
Clearwell Caves Easter Egg Hunt

If you know of any local events taking place in Gloucestershire, why not let us know about them.

New Arrival!

2010-03-15T09:46:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to James and Rebecca on the safe arival of their baby daughter Martha on Saturday.

Dribbling Baby? Try Dribble ons

2010-03-15T03:58:00.000-07:00

We have just discovered a fab new product called Dribble Ons. This is a bandana shaped bib made of soft stretchy cotton and backed in tery towelling. It solves the problem of keeping your baby dry when they are dribbling and is a stylish alternative to a bib. Priced at £4.99 we think they are going to be on all parents "must have" list.

Origins of Mother's Day

2010-03-02T04:42:00.000-08:00

Mother's Day is celebrated worldwide although in the UK the correct term is "Mothering Sunday", and it always falls on the 4th Sunday of Lent. Because the dates of Easter and Lent vary the date of Mothering Sunday varies too - this year it's on 14th March.

Mothering Sunday has been recognised since the 17th Century. In those days it was common for children to move away from home at an early age to work as young as ten years old. They would live in their employers' houses and saw little of their families.

They would worship in their nearest church known as their "Daughter" church. However it was considered very important that they should return to their home church or "Mother " church to worship at least once a year. Employers would give their servants time off to worship at their Mother church and spend time with their families. It became known as Mothering Sunday.

As this may be the only holiday they got all year they would take gifts to the family such as cake and posies of flowers. It's customary now to show your mum that you love her with a gift, but all mum really wants is to be with her family on Mothers Day.

Ideas for a Baby Shower

2010-03-01T08:02:00.000-08:00

Baby showers have been popular in the US for years and now their popularity is growing in the UK. Increasingly we are being asked to suggest gifts or ideas for throwing a Baby Shower.

A baby shower is simply a party thrown for the mum-to-be where everyone gets together, brings a small gift for the baby, and has lots of fun! There are no hard and fast rules but these are a few guidelines;

When to hold it? Usually around 6 weeks before the baby is born

Where to hold it? Anywhere, but not at the mum-to be's house. She doesn't need the added stress of being the hostess and cleaning up when everyone has gone.

Who to invite? Friends and family, and new found friends from the antenatal classes. baby showers are often woment only affairs but men can be invited too!

What gift should I bring? You don't have to spend a fortune on a baby gift. Practical gifts such as baby lotion, a towel, some wipes, or even a fun rubber duck for the bath will all be welcomed. The party host could point you in the right direction by finding out what mum needs beforehand and compiling a list that can be referred to.

A hospital survival kit is a great idea. Ask everyone (on an invite) to bring one item to contribute to the "Labor and Delivery Survival Kit". Examples are stop watch, slipper socks, headband, back massager, body lotion, lip balm, lollipops, breath mints, disposable camera, bubblegum cigars, a contact list & of course a bag or baby change bag to put it all in.

One idea that doesn't cost a penny would be some IOU vouchers for babysitting duties. These are always welcomed!

Another unusual idea is to have a baby Time Capsule. Ask everyone to bring something small with them that could be put into a Time Capsule for the baby to open when he or she turns 18.

The party is also about having fun - some ideas for Baby Shower Games are below:

1) Guess Mum's Tummy Size: (Materials- String or yarn and scissors) Have each woman pull the string to the size they believe would fit perfectly around the Mum-To-Be's centre of her pregnant tummy. After everyone cuts their string, compare the results to the Mum-To-Be's actual tummy. Give a prize to the woman who is the most close! This is a baby shower favourite.

2) How Many Baby Items Can You Name: (Materials- pad of paper and pen for each woman). Have each woman write down as many baby products as they can name (bottle, blanket, dummy, etc) within 5 minutes. Sure it is easy at the beginning, but towards the last few minutes, the women will start racking their brains for more :) Give a prize to the woman who gets the most baby products named!

3) Who Can Make The Mum-To-Be's Baby: (Materials - Baby magazines, Scissors, Glue, Paper). Have the women group up into teams of 3 and give each 3 baby magazines. Have them cut out pieces of different baby qualities and put together a picture of what they think the Mum-To-Be's baby will look like. Have the Mum-To-Be pick which baby would possibly look like hers the best! Give prizes to the winning team!

5) Pin The Sperm on the Egg - Draw an egg and sperm and play in the same way as pin the tail on the donkey!

6) Place The Baby On The Mummy: (Materials- Cutouts of a baby with tape and blindfold). Another one of our favorite baby shower games is the baby shower version of Pin The Tail on the Donkey. Blindfold each participant and then give them a paper baby to then approach the mum and place the baby as close to the tummy as possible. The one who gets closest to placing the paper baby on the pregnant tummy wins.

7) Bottle Races: (Materials- Baby bottles with Milk or alternate drink). Have each participant take a bottle filled with a liquid and suck the bottle as a baby would. The woman who drinks the most in an alloted time wins the baby shower gift. This baby shower game gets everyone laughing!

8) Guess the weight of the baby sweepstake. Everyone guesses the weight and it is written down. When baby is born the person closest takes the winnings.

There must be loads more ideas out there - please let us know if you have any which we can add to this list.

Cath Kidston Maclaren Quest

2010-02-22T05:09:00.000-08:00

We are now stocking the Cath Kidston Maclaren Quest - it's gorgeous - need I say more???

If you want any more information or you would like to order click on the link to go to our website.

Feeding Bow set for a penny!

2010-02-08T03:24:00.000-08:00

Credit crunch special! A feeding bowl set for 1p!

This set has been designed to aid baby to feed themselves: -The bowl is shaped so it's higher at the back -The suction ring secures the bowl to the table or highchair. -The spoons are the right size and are flexible so soft on baby's mouth. One spoon is shaped to make it easy for baby to negotiate food to mouth, and the other is a regular shaped spoon for when they progress.

See our website for details. Just pay 1p plus our usual postage and packing charge of £2.95

Oops A Baby!

2010-01-29T05:19:00.000-08:00

In a comprehensive survey of mothers and expectant mothers, The Baby Show discovered that nearly 20% of babies due to be born in 2010 were not planned and 46% were conceived outside of the bedroom. Over 1,000 parents and parents-to-be responded to a survey commissioned by The Baby Show, who looked into the circumstances surrounding the conception of babies due in 2010; to discover the days, times and places babies in the UK are conceived. The survey revealed the following:

* Nearly a fifth of UK pregnancies were not planned
* Of those that were trying for a baby most parents were trying to conceive for between 1-3 months
* Nearly half the respondents conceived their babies outside of the bedroom
* 9.5% of respondents conceived their baby while on holiday
* Less than 1% of respondents conceived their babies in a car
* Most babies were conceived on a Saturday, with only 8% of babies being conceived on a Monday
* April is the most popular month and September is the least popular month to conceive a baby
* The most popular time for babies to be conceived is between 6pm and 10pm
* Only 11.2 % of babies were conceived between 12 and 6pm

The survey was commissioned by The Baby Show to coincide with this February’s event taking place from 19-21 February. The Baby Show is the UK’s biggest and most comprehensive show dedicated to pregnancy, birth and babies in the UK. "The Baby Show carried out this research to paint a picture of how babies are currently conceived in the UK. It was surprising to see that nearly a fifth of babies due to be born in 2010 were not planned. The fact that most babies were conceived on a Saturday night between the hours of 6pm and 10pm supports the belief that people are making their own entertainment in the current economic climate," said Nicole Muller, Show Director, The Baby Show For more information, head over to www.thebabyshow.co.uk

Choosing a highchair

2010-01-18T07:43:00.000-08:00

When your child reaches 4 to 6 months you will probably think about choosing a highchair but the vast array of chairs on the market can be confusing.

The price is often dependent on the number of features a highchair has such as:

• Extra padding on the seats
• Reclining seats
• Adjustable seat heights
• Adjustable foot-rest
• Removable and easy-to-clean seat cover. No nooks and crannies for food to get trapped in!
• Removable tray for easy cleaning

• Compact when folded
• Divided tray to keep different foods separate
• Extra tray or double-layered tray so you can use one for dinner and one for dessert or wash one while the other is in use
• A multi-function highchair, which converts into a separate low chair and table when your baby is a toddler, or can be used as your child grows up.

To decide which features are important to you consider how the chair is to be used. For instance if you have the space is the highchair to stay out permanently and be another piece of furniture? If so the easy folding option is not important but you may want a wooden table as it will blend in with the rest of your furniture.

Another consideration is whether you want your baby to join you at the table. In this case you may want to look for height adjustable features and a removeable tray so you can push the highchair up to the table.

If your baby often goes to grandparents and you need to take the highchair with you look out for a compact folding chair which can go in the boot of the car easily.

Above all make sure you get a a highchair that will seat your baby safely and securely:

• Make sure the chair has a good wide base for full stability
• If you intend to fold up and store the highchair when not in use, make sure it is easy to fold, unfold and click back into place ready for use again
• Check that a harness is included to keep your baby seated securely in his highchair. If not, you can buy one that can be attached to the D rings but it must comply with safety standard BS 6684. I personally would recommend a 5 point harness especially if your baby is a little wriggler. Those shoulder straps make it more difficult to climb out.

When in use, keep these safety points in mind:

• When your baby is sitting in his highchair, make sure that he is properly restrained - it's essential you get into the habit of strapping your baby in the highchair every time you put him in.
• Always supervise your baby at all times while he is in the highchair - don't ever leave him alone when he is eating in case he chokes.
• Don't use a highchair on a raised or slippery surface

Should I buy a Mose Basket?

2010-01-05T06:55:00.000-08:00

Many first-time mums ask whether a moses basket is really needed. So why buy a moses basket? Well, here are 5 good reasons to consider:

In the first few months it is desirable for the baby to be in a warm comfy environment. Remember your baby has just spent 9 months in the womb and the enclosed nature of a Moses Basket is comforting to the baby.

A Moses Basket is easily transportable around the house so, wherever you are during the day, your baby can be there too.

The Moses Basket can be kept next to your bed while sleeping in the first few months.

The Moses Basket can be put into a cot when making the transition from basket to cot/cotbed.

A Moses Basket can easily be taken with you when visiting friends and family and so can double up as a travel cot during the first few months.

Top 10 New Year Resolutions for New Mums!

2010-01-04T02:56:00.000-08:00

With another year over, lots of you will be making New Year Resolutions so here are a few we recommend for new mums:

Service your pram or pushchair regularly - it is probably one of the most expensive items you will buy for your baby so look after it. Check screws are not working loose, lubricate moving parts if necessary, clean off mud and grit from wheels to keep it running smoothly, don't fold it with items left in the basket or you will buckle the chassis and remember to follow the instructions in your manual for use!

Never buy a 2nd hand car seat as you will not know its history

Be kind to the environment (and your pocket) with reusable nappies

Keep fit! Go for walks with your baby in the pram or invest in a baby carrier

Breast feeding helps you loose those extra pounds - better than any diet!

Get an active social life with your baby. There are lots of new things for you to try, such as Jo Jingles, Aquatots, and you will make lots of new friends

Introduce a night time routine and stick to it - you'll soon reap the benefit!

Improve safety around the home. Invest in stair gates and cupboard locks to keep your little one away from harms way.

Introduce good eating habits from the start with plenty of freshly prepared food. There are lots of aids available now to make preparing food easy, such as the Wean Machine which we sell both in the shop and on-line http://www.newbeginningsbabyshop.co.uk/products.php?catid=63

Don't forget to treat yourself occasionally too. A happy and relaxed mum is the essential ingredient for a contented baby.

Maclaren Statement 9/12/2009

2009-12-11T02:47:00.000-08:00

Maclaren is committed to the safety of children. This is our singular mission and why we are recognized by authorities such as the BPA and UK Trading Standards for manufacturing safe products which meet or exceed rigorous standards for Nursery Products.

We cannot comment on specific claims being investigated due to legal considerations, however, any reported incidents are immediately addressed by Maclaren with the utmost care.

Maclaren recognises parents concerns and these fears are completely understandable. Maclaren has taken a proactive approach to ensure the safe operation of its products, both through the increased awareness of the potential for injury with all folding children’s products and the distribution of hinge covers as an extra measure of protection for Maclaren buggies. The feedback from parents around the world has affirmed Maclaren’s actions provide extra peace of mind.

Parents expect a Maclaren buggy to be of the highest quality and safe for use. Our long safety record in use when the child is properly fastened in the buggy is why we are one of the most trusted names with parents around the world.

We invite parents with any questions or concerns to contact Maclaren directly through our Customer Service Team on 01327 841320 or our website www.maclarenbaby.com

Please see below for a demonstration showing how to fit the hinge covers correctly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR46uNouAjk

Maclaren customers can continue to obtain hinge covers by ordering online at http://covers.maclaren.co.uk/ or contacting the customer services team on 01327 841320

Christmas Deal of the Day for 11th December!

2009-12-11T01:41:00.000-08:00

Babies are so hard to buy for at Christmas. They are too young to understand what is going on but you feel that you should give them something. What about a Whoozit? Babies love these brightly coloured toys. And today, for one day only, we have 10% of RRP. So hurry and get one in time for Christmas.

Christmas Deal of the Day for 10th December!

2009-12-10T01:37:00.000-08:00

Does baby want to join in the festivities around the Christmas dinner table too? Here's a quick and simple way to prepare baby's food without yours going cold! Simply put small bits of yummy turkey, sprouts and carrots in the bowl, squeeze the handles and feed straight from the bowl with the spoon included. Nothing could be simpler! So have a stress-free Christmas dinner with the Wean Machine. This special offer is available on-line for 1 day only so don't delay. Get a Wean Machine now for only £14.99 (save £5.00 off RRP). Stocks are limited and once they are gone this offer won't be repeated!

Christmas Deal of the Day for 9th December!

2009-12-09T01:19:00.000-08:00

Our fantastic Christmas offer today is the Hob Nob Rocking Horse at £84.95 (save 10% off RRP). This cheeky little chappie is the perfect present for any budding jockey. Suitable from 12 months. But hurry, there is only limited stock left and once they are gone this price won't be repeated!

Christmas Deal of the Day for 8th December!

2009-12-08T02:52:00.000-08:00

Going away over Christmas? Where will your little one sleep? This travel cot is packed in a light carrying bag handy for storage and travel. It has lockable wheels for ease of mobility. Quick and simple to fold and with easy to clean material and mattress base, the travel cot comes in dark blue with silver trim. And it is great value too! Now only £44.99 (save 10% off RRP). But hurry, this offer won't be available for long!

Christmas Deal of the Day!

2009-12-07T13:57:00.000-08:00

Father Christmas book by Raymond Briggs now only £4.99 (save £2.00 off RRP). Winner of the Kate Greenawy Medal, this classic picture book has been treasured by generations for more than 30 years. Raymond Brigg's irreverent look at Christmas is one of his best loved picture books. If you order on-line and drop us an email to let us know that you are a Facebook, Twitter or blogg fan we will refund your postage too!

Festive Fun in Tewkesbury

2009-11-19T04:03:00.000-08:00

Looking for a fun festive day out? Come to Tewkesbury on Sunday 29th November. Something for everyone - Farmers Market, carol singers, stilt walker, fire eater, live music, fairground rides, a christmas post box and Santa will be switching on the lights at 4.30pm. There is free parking on the day and lots of shops & restaurant are open too. The fun kicks off around mid-day and goes on until 6pm.

Party Shoes Time!

2009-11-17T03:15:00.000-08:00

With the party season nearly upon us take a look at the gorgeous hop n squeak shoes. Available in sizes 3-7 in red or black and priced at £19.99 they are guaranteed to look fabulous with that party dress

Latest up-date from Maclaren

2009-11-13T04:51:00.000-08:00

Maclaren has reviewed their situation in the UK following hundreds of calls to their UK call centre from worried customers. They are now offering customers free hinge covers through their Customer Services centre. See full details in Maclaren's statement:

MACLAREN STATEMENT

Following a great deal of debate and comment in the UK over recent days concerning Maclaren buggies, with particular regard to the exposed side hinges which facilitate the opening and folding the buggy, Maclaren Europe Limited wishes to clarify its position.

Most importantly we wish to reiterate that the safety of our consumers – parents and children – is our primary objective. We would never compromise this and we take all consumer feedback very seriously, both in the design of our products and in supplying clear and unequivocal user instructions.

To this end all of our products are extensively tested prior to launch, including user testing. They also comply with the highest quality and regulatory standards.

We are therefore confident that used according to instructions, as with any mechanical products, all of our buggies are safe, and Mums should continue to use them with confidence.

Dylan Johnson, General Manager of Maclaren UK said ‘Most of the people at Maclaren are parents themselves and understand that our children come first. That’s why we ensure that our products meet and often exceed the EU and US product safety and quality standards.
‘In the last few days, we have heard from hundreds of customers at our call centre and we have been able to reassure them about the quality and safety of our products. Most parents understand that they have to be vigilant when operating mechanical products around children, similar to the care they show when securing children in cars or protecting them around the home. We stress that our buggies are completely safe and fully compliant but if parents remain concerned or worried, we urge them to talk to us.
‘I appreciate completely the concerns this issue has raised with the UK public and our objective is and has always been to reassure parents.’ Maclaren customers who would like further reassurance can;

- Get advice on operating their buggies by contacting our customer services team on 01327 841320
- Obtain hinge covers , which can be used to cover the folding mechanism, free of charge through Customer Services by emailing us at advice@maclaren.co.uk or by calling us
- Download user instructions for all models online from wwww.maclarenbaby.com
- Follow the user instructions and warning labels on their buggies

Maclaren recall of US buggies

2009-11-10T04:07:00.000-08:00

It's with interest that I watched the news this morning - as a retailer of Maclaren buggies we need to know what's going on. It appears that following 12 cases of children's fingertip amputation after trapping in the folding mechanism of their buggy, Maclaren are issuing all one million buggies sold in the USA with a fabric guard to prevent this happening.

Reading between the lines it seems that these accidents occurred whilst the parent was folding the buggy and NOT when the child was in it. Every parent however diligent, must recognise that there is a possibility of children getting hurt when inquisitive fingers are poked where they shouldn't be.

I think it's prudent of Maclaren to issue the guard, but cannot help but wonder about two things. One, is that is took 12 reported injury cases for them to act, and secondly why is this not happening in the UK? If it can endanger US children then surely it must be a potential threat for UK children? I feel that pressure from UK parents will mean that a UK recall will follow shortly.

This should not put you off buying a Maclaren buggy, just make you more aware of the risks. Maclaren are a reliable brand - it's not for nothing that they give each buggy a guarantee for the lifetime of the buggy. If you own a buggy that isn't Maclaren then give the same care of thought when folding it down - I'm sure that it isn't only Maclaren that poses this danger.

Celebrity Baby Names

2009-11-03T08:34:00.000-08:00

Whilst Kai Wayne Rooney is a bit unusual, it has nothing on these celebrity babies:

Romeo, Cruz & Brooklyn Beckham

Peaches and Pixie Geldof

Apple Paltrow

Zowie Bowie

Princess Tiiamii (daughter of Jordan and Peter Andre)

Elijah Bob Patricius Guggi Q Hewson ( Bono & Alison Hewson)

Prince Michael Jackson II aka Blanket

Dweezil, Moon Unit & Diva Muffin (Frank Zappa)

Sage Moonblood Stallone (Sylvester Stallone)

Bluebell Madonna (Geri Halliwell)

Makes me breathe a sigh of relief that I'm plain old Lisa Jones!!

Little Monsters baby Show

2009-11-02T03:26:00.001-08:00

Sunday 15th November at Cheltenham Town Hall from 10.00 until 4.00pm.

Over 50 exhibitors of everything you need for pregnancy, babies and toddlers.

New Beginnings will be exhibiting - hope to see you there!

Child Car Seats - What does the law say?

2009-10-30T04:56:00.000-07:00

The present legislation on child car seats is as follows:

Under 3 years old - A child car seat is mandatory but may not be placed on a seat with a frontal airbag. If the vehicle does not have seat belts fitted, the child may not be transproted in that vehicle
3 years to 12 years or less than 1.35 metres tall - A child seat is mandatory in all vehicles fitted with seat belts. If the vehicle does not have seat belts, the child may be transported on the backseat
Over 1.35 metres tall or over 12 years old - Use of a seat belt is mandatory, if present in the car.

These obligations apply in all European member states.

Why do we have Pumpkins at Halloween Mum?

2009-10-28T07:53:00.000-07:00

I was a bit stumped for an answer but luckily Netmums were able to help me out:

The carved pumpkin - or Jack o'Lantern - is the most obvious symbol of Halloween and originates in Ireland. Its popularity spread with the first Irish immigrants to America who where able to use the widely available pumpkins to carve lanterns from. The tradition is based on the ancient Irish legend of Jack, a notorious ill-doer who turned against God and tricked Satan, thus being denied entry to both Heaven and Hell. Instead he had to stumble through eternal darkness with just a single ember glowing in his lantern to help him along the way.

So now you know!

Pumpkin Ideas

2009-10-26T06:44:00.000-07:00

With Halloween just around the corner parents will be busy carving out pumpkins for the little ones to enjoy. Don't forget though that pumpkins are for eating too.

They are an ideal weaning food as they can be boiled and mashed. The easiest way to cook pumpkins are to halve them, scoop out the seeds and then chop into pieces and then either boil, roast or microwave. The skins are much easier to remove after they have been cooked. Some tasty ways to cook are:

Mashed Pumpkin Cook cubes of squash in a microwave with a couple of cloves of garlic, and mash with butter and a bit of cream . You can combine with carrots for a colorful and tasty mash.- very nice with fish, steak, chicken or sausages.

Roasted Pumpkin Leave skin on and cut up as you would for potatoes, add a crushed clove of garlic, drizzle with olive oil. Cook as you would for roast potatoes but won't take as long.

Pumpkin or Squash Risotto. Steam or microwave chunks of pumpkin until soft. Cook some chopped onion and garlic in a little olive oil until soft. Add 150g of risotto rice and gradually add 3/4 - 1 litre of liquid (chicken stock, veg stock etc) stirring frequently until all the liquid has been absorbed. Mash the butternut squash and mix into the risotto. Add some bacon for a really tasty dish.

Pumpkin Soup. You can use butternut squash too for this recipe as it's sweet and therefore popular with children. Fry a finely chopped onion and a finely chopped clove of garlic in a small amount of olive oil. De-seed the squash with a large dessert / soup spoon. Peel and chop it into cubes.
Add the butternut squash cubes to the frying pan, add a teaspoon of turmeric (optional) and saute for a further 5 minutes. Season with black pepper. Add a litre of stock and simmer for half an hour. Puree in a blender.

Have fun this halloween!

Tips for Weaning

2009-10-17T08:40:00.000-07:00

Since most babies are born with a sweet tooth (breast milk is naturally sweet), you should have no trouble in getting your baby to enjoy eating fruit. Fruit that is fully ripe is naturally sweet. Most fruits provide vitamin C and minerals and the yellow fruits contain vitamin A. At first a baby should have cooked purees of fruit like apples and pears or uncooked mashed banana, gradually introducing other mashed fruits.

The Wean Machine is a great little gadget to help prepare fresh baby food with no mess and no fuss. It can be used at home or on the go, so you always know what is going in your baby's food. Simply fill the bowl with the food, squeeze the handle to puree to the desired consistency and spoon feed your baby straight from the bowl.

Kiwi & Banana

Kiwi fruit are very good for your baby as they have more vitamin C than an orange! Make sure you choose a very ripe fruit, otherwise it can be sour.

Makes 1 portion

1/4 ripe kiwi, peeled

1/4 ripe banana peeled

Puree the kiwi and strain through a fine sieve to get rid of the black seeds. Mash or puree banana and mix with kiwi. Eat straight away or banana goes brown.

Courgette and Banana Puree

This may seem a strange combination but they complement each other well.

Makes 2 portions

1 small courgette, trimmed and sliced

1/2 small banana, peeled and sliced

Steam the courgette slices for approx 8 minutes and then puree with banana.

Avocado, Banana & Yoghurt

This was my favourite! Serve with or without the yoghurt and eat straight away before the banana turns brown.

Makes 1 portion

2 slices avocado

1/2 small banana, peeled

1 tablespoon natural Greet yoghurt

Scoop the flesh of the avocado from the skin and mash it with the rest of the ingredients. Yum!

Why not share some of your recipes with us. We would love to hear what has been successful for you.

Tewkesbury Mop Fair

2009-09-24T01:13:00.000-07:00

The annual Mop Fair will be in Tewkesbury on Friday 9th October and Saturday 10th October. Bring the kids along - they will have a great time. Why not come early and have a look around the lovely town of Tewkesbury too - some great independent shops, yummy tea rooms, the river and not forgetting our spectacular Abbey!

Brand launch for Tewkesbury

2009-09-17T02:11:00.000-07:00

After a lot of hard work by the working party, the launch of the Tewkesbury brand is taking place in the Town Hall. It can be viewed Thursday evening between 5.00 sand 8.00pm and all day Friday or Saturday. Why not pop along to see the brand and give your ideas how it can be used. We think its great and really support all the work Tewkesbury Chamber of Commerce (and especially the working party) have put into getting it this far.

Hop n Squeak Shoes have arrived

2009-09-08T05:36:00.000-07:00

Take a look at thse fab shoes! Fun and practical and absolutely gorgeous to look at too. We are now stocking Hop n Squeak shoes in sizes 3 to 7. They have inbuilt squeak to make walking fun (can be easily removed though!).

Buggy Brolly's Back in stock

2009-08-28T03:18:00.000-07:00

Back to the school run next week and you can bet it will rain. We stocked the Buggy Brolly last year and they were a huge hit and we now have them back in stock. The idea is so simple it's amazing that nobody has done it before - a brolly that attaches to your buggy to keep you dry and your hands free.

They come in a range of 5 colours and cost £21.99. See our website for more details.

Steadyco range has arrived!

2009-08-25T06:04:00.000-07:00

We're really pleased to anounce that we are now stocking the award winning Steadyco feeding range. The steady cup features a large base to make it harder to be knocked over, small handles which are perfect for childrens hands, and a wide mouth to the cup to help the children drink without spilling.

All the products feature the following:

Unique drainage system to ensure thorough cleaning and drying
Unique steady design to avoid spills and boost self confidence and social development
Designed for 12 months+
Stackable
Fully recyclable and made from non-toxic plastics Dishwasher, microwave* and freezer safe
*not including the Cutlery Set because it contains metal

The prices are great value too - we especially like the 4 piece breakfast set which costs just £7.99.

For more information have a look at our website.

Little Monster Baby Show 15th November

2009-08-18T03:18:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to confirm that we will be exhibiting at this event at Cheltenham Town hall on the 15th November.

Yummy Mummy Bags - how far can they go??

2009-08-06T05:58:00.001-07:00

Yummy Mummy Bags spotted in Perranporth Cornwall (carried by my daughter!).

Why use reusable nappies

2009-07-27T04:11:00.000-07:00

We are constantly being told that we should reduce waste but do reusable nappies help? The answer is yes! There are lots of benefits to using reusable nappies:

the average child has its nappy changed 5000 before potty training and in that time you could spend up to £1000 on disposable nappies

reusable nappies cost on average a third of the cost of disposables

4% of all household waste is disposable nappies

8 million disposable nappies go to landfill in the UK every day

using reusable nappies could reduce a household's waste by half

many county councils offer incentives for you to switch to reusable nappies

If you are still unsure, you can purchase trial packs of reusable nappies before commiting yourself. So why not give it a go?

Dusky Moon Shortlisted for Nectar Business Small Business Awards

2009-07-25T02:12:00.000-07:00

Dusky Moon Ltd has been shortlisted in the first national Nectar Business Small Business Awards.

The idea to set up the business, which produces bed guards for toddlers and young children, came about when the company founders, Amanda Allerton & Venetia Fuller, moved their own children from a cot into a single bed. The children were constantly falling out of bed and this caused them many sleepless nights. They couldn’t find anything to buy that would help them solve the problem so they decided to produce their own soft and cosy bed guard known as Dream Tubes.

The pair started the business with a bank loan and the success of the product has been phenomenal. There is a huge demand for Dream Tubes as they are easy to use, portable and there is nothing quite like it on the market.

Dream Tubes are are available in our store or on-line http://www.newbeginningsbabyshop.co.uk/product_details.php?catid=29&prodid=158

Summer Sale now on!

2009-07-20T08:51:00.000-07:00

Our summer sale is now on in-store. Pop in to the shop to see some of our great sales offers!

We won!

2009-07-14T01:51:00.000-07:00

Picture of Lisa (in medieval dress as it was the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival ) being awarded 1st Prize in the Shop Window competition. The gorgeous butterflies are play gyms and the Snail Rockers are by Little Bird Told Me and are available to buy on our website.

Winner of Tewkesbury chamber of Commerce Window Display Competition 2009

2009-07-09T02:39:00.000-07:00

We have just been awarded 1st prize in the Tewkesbury Chamber of Commerce Window Display competition 2009. The theme for this year was Garden Glory and we decorated our window with some of the wonderful playmats and rockers from Little Bird Told Me. These are available to purchase in the shop or through our website http://www.newbeginningsbabyshop.co.uk/products.php?catid=48

Choose the right mattress for a good nights sleep

2009-07-03T01:14:00.000-07:00

Choosing the right mattress for your baby can be confusing. You want a mattress that is comfortable but that is also safe and hygenic. Which is the right one for you?

Foam mattress - these are made from a specially developed grade of polyurethane foam for nursery products and so provide a safe mattress at low cost
Sprung mattress - the springs provide an increased air flow, promote hygiene and regulate body temperature. For older children, the springs aid postural support and encourages natural sleeping positions
Coir mattress - these mattresses have 100% natural filling and and ideal for parents concerned about environmental issues. They have a natural 'springy' feel but are still resilient, durable and breathable
Wool - some premium mattresses also contain an additional wool filling. This 100% natural fabric offers superior comfort. Vertical bonded fibre technology helps regulate body temperature and moisture by keeping a cool surface in summer and retaining heat in winter.

Samples of all the mattresses we sell can be seen in the shop. All the mattresses comply with BS7177:2008 for Domestic Use (Low Hazard) and BS1877:Part 10 1997.

Sleeping Tips

2009-07-02T05:26:00.000-07:00

The better your baby sleeps, the better you'll sleep:

Place your baby on their back to sleep
Cut smoking - fathers too!
Do not let anybody smoke in the same room as your baby
Do not fall asleep with your baby on the sofa
Do not share a bed with your baby if you or your partner are smokers, have been drinking alcohol, taking drugs or medication or are excessively tired
Keep your baby's cot in your bedroom for the first 6 months
Place the baby in the 'feet to foot' position with bedding tucked in and no higher than the shoulders
Do not let your baby get too hot or cold - check the room temperature from time to time
Ensure the mattress is the correct size and that any gaps at the sides and ends of the cot are less than 4cm

Sunday Opening

2009-06-30T07:09:00.000-07:00

Following on from last blog Sunday opening is to happen shortly. Watch this space....

New Beginnings Personalised Shopping Experience

2009-06-24T07:13:00.000-07:00

Are you expecting a baby?

Confused by the choice of prams and seemingly endless lists of "vital equipment"?

We have just launched our "Personalised Shopping Experience" in which we open up the shop out of hours just for you! Put your feet up, enjoy some refreshments, get anything you want demonstrated, and ask as many questions as you like!

Fiona & I are mums too and after 6 years in the shop know a bit about prams ! We can point you in the right direction and navigate the maze of baby equipment with you.

At the end of the consultation we can give you a summary of our recommendations for you to take away. To book simply call us on 01684 274448.

Tewkesbury on the Telly!

2009-06-23T07:20:00.000-07:00

Watch the Money Programme on BBC2 tonight. Tewkesbury will be featured as Mary Portas (Mary Queen of Shops) filmed here recently.......

Child Safety Week Special Offers

2009-06-22T02:48:00.001-07:00

To support Child Safety Week we are running some special offers on safety equipment including:

Safety 1st Pressure Fit Gate was £39.00 now £29.00

Optima Fix Gate reduced by £2.00

Dreamtubes bedguards reduced by £5.00

Flexilocks & Multi-strap locks were £3.49 now £2.49

Safety 1st Digital thermometers were £5.99 now £3.99

What's on in Tewkesbury?

2009-06-20T04:08:00.001-07:00

Free (yes FREE) event on in Tewkesbury today. Bring the family for picnic in the park at Victoria Gardens, meet the lock keeper, Captain Darwin and the Severn Bores. The at 9pm starting from the theatre there is a midsummer procession finishing off with a fireworks display as the sun sets.

Sale is on!

2009-06-20T02:01:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning and the sale is in full swing. Some great bargains to be had including the Cosatto Cabi Travel system reduced from £459 to £319.

A complete package including pushchair, carrycot car seat, change bag,cosytoes, raincover - and covered under Cosatto's amazing 4 year guarantee

New Arrival!

2009-06-18T06:06:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to Jo & Darren Edwards of Tewkesbury for the safe arrival of a beautiful baby girl. Roseanna is now at home with her proud parents.

National Child Safety Week 22-26th June

2009-06-17T02:16:00.000-07:00

Accidents are the second biggest childhood killer in the UK. Six children and young people die every week. 2,000 more are admitted to hospital every week because they’ve been injured in accidents. Some are left scarred for life or permanently disabled.

The tragedy is that many of these deaths and serious injuries can be prevented.We can keep children Safer, Together by working together to prevent serious injuries and death from accidents. We all have a role to play in this.

We are proud to support Child Safety Week by offering discounts and special offers on safety equipment during this week. Available in store or online at http://www.newbeginningsbabyshop.co.uk/

TOP TEN SAFETY TIPS TO PREVENT FALLS

1. Babies wriggle and roll so never leave unattended on a change unit, or change on the floor.

2. Always use a 5 point harness in highchairs and pushchairs. Where there is only a 3 point harness make sure it is tight around the waist.

3. Never place a bouncing cradle or car seat on a table or worksurface as these can move and fall.

4. Use corner cushions on sharp edges when babies are learning to toddle.

5. Always have a fireguard in place if you have a hot fire.

6. Use Safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs. If possible use a gate without a bottom rail to prevent tripping.

7.Keep floors free of clutter and toys when babies are learning to walk. They don't watch where they put their feet and can easily trip.

8.Fit windows with safety locks to restrict opening to less than 6.5cms as serious injuries can result in falls from windows.

9. Use Safety glass or film on any glass door or window at floor level.

10. Don't put chairs or furniture close to windows where they can climb onto and out.

Mid Season Sale

2009-06-16T02:58:00.000-07:00

Our mid-season sale starts 9.30 am on Wednesday June 17th. Lots of reductions and bargains to be had.

Triplets!!!

2009-06-16T02:53:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Sam Blake on the safe arrival of sons Joshua, Adam & Charlie.

Yummy Mummies Support Cancer Research

2009-06-16T02:44:00.000-07:00

We are very pleased to announce that we will donate 10p from the sale of each Yummy Mummy bag to Cancer Research. Buy the bags online or instore priced at £2.95 each

new arrival

2009-06-15T04:27:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to new mum Angela on the safe arrival of baby Charlotte!

Product of the Week - Travel Potty

2009-06-12T06:24:00.001-07:00

Must be potty training time. These travel potties have been flying out this week. It's a clever idea - a fold down potty that has disposeable liners. Perfect for that inevitable " I need a wee wee and I need it NOW!". Another plus is that you can use it on top of a toilet as a trainer seat, or for use in public toilets when they don't want to sit on "that!".

The Potette comes with its own travel bag for convenience and 3 liners and is priced at £13.00. If you need more liners they are available separately in a pack of 10 for £3.00.

The Potette is available in three colours green/purple, blue, or pink and you can buy online at www.newbeginningsbabyshop.co.uk or in store.

Top selling items

2009-06-09T06:38:00.001-07:00

From time to time I will post details of our best selling items, both online and in the shop.

Last week, with the sun shining, we had a clear winner - The Outlook Solar Shade. This is such a simple idea which is far more effective than the traditional parasol. Basically it acts as an extension to the hood on your buggy. Made of fabric which is UPF50+ you tie it over your existing hood and it provides shade and safety from the sun for your baby or child. Priced at £25.00 it's money well spent to keep your children safe from the sun.

It comes in a choice of six colours.

Maclaren has arrived!

2009-06-09T06:24:00.000-07:00

Latest news this week from New Beginnings is that we are proud to announce we now stock Maclaren buggies. Renowned for their hard wearing durability they now offer the Sovereign Lifetime Guarantee on all their buggies. To be eligible you must register your buggy online within 45 days of purchase and in return Maclaren will guarantee to repair any manufacturing defects for the life of the buggy. For the full range have a look on our website www.newbeginningsbabyshop.co.uk

Top Ten Baby Names

2009-02-11T03:27:00.000-08:00

Following the recent anouncement that Chris Evans has called his new baby boy "Noah". We thought it would be fun to look at the top ten boys and girtls names of 2008, and also at what celebrities are calling their children.

Top 10 Boys names for 2008

1 Jack
2 Oliver
3 Harry
4 Charlie
5 Alfie
6 Thomas
7 Joshua
8 James
9 William
10 Daniel

Top 10 Girl's names for 2008

1 Holly
2 Ruby
3 Grace
4 Olivia
5 Sophie
6 Chloe
7 Emily
8 Jessica
9 Mia
10 Evie

These babies arrived in 2008 to celebrity parents...

Beau, born to Louise Rednapp in November
Winston, born to Billie Piper in October
Zuma, born to Gwen Stefani in August
Twins Knox and Vivienne born to Angelina Jolie in July
Malcolm, born to Ulrika Jonsson in June
Ignatius, born to Cate Blanchett in April
Nahla, born to Halle Berry in March
Isaac, born to Sara Cox in March
Twins Max and Emme, born to Jennifer Lopez in February
Harlow, born to Nicole Ritchie in January
Beckett, born to Stella McCartney in January

We would like to hear back from you as to what name you chose and if there was a special reason why.

Yummy Mummy!

2008-11-25T02:03:00.000-08:00

Anyone visiting the shop recently can't have failed to notice our new "Yummy Mummy" shopping bags. Bright pink and made of canvas they are going down a storm! Not only are they great for the environment, eliminating the need for plastic bags, they are becoming a bit of a fashion statement. Priced at £2.95 they won't break the bank!

New Beginnings Out & About

2008-11-03T04:09:00.000-08:00

As well as visiting us in our shop in Tewkesbury we will be out and about at various events over the next few weeks.

Sunday 9th November finds us at The Little Monsters Baby Show at Pittville Pump Rooms in Cheltenham from 10.00 am to 4.00pm. Visit the website for further details and reduced price advance tickets www.little-monsters.co.uk

Monday 10th November we are at Dumbleton Hall Hotel for their Christmas Gift Fair from 7.30pm onwards. Come and see our range of lovely wooden gifts - ideal stocking fillers!

Saturday 15th November we are at The Baby & Toddler Fair at the Wheatpieces Community Centre, Tewkesbury from 12-4pm.

Buggy Brolly - At last- parents stay dry too!!!

2008-09-11T04:17:00.000-07:00

We are really excited about a new product we are stocking. We think its a great idea and hope you do too!

Its a simple solution to the age old problem of trying to push a buggy one-handed whilst holding an umbrella. We know that this is virtually impossible and that we usually give up and resign ourselves to getting another soaking. The Buggy Brolly has been invented to solve this problem. Its a sturdy umbrella which simply clamps onto the pram or buggy leaving you with your hands free. When not in use it folds down for storage on the buggy.

Its on sale now in the shop and on our website http://www.newbeginningsbabyshop.co.uk/ costing £21.99.

New website launched

2008-07-09T06:07:00.000-07:00

At last! After many months of work we are ready to launch our new and improved website

www.newbeginningsbabyshop.co.uk

Take a look and see what you think. The site will be continually updated with new products and special offers. If you have any ideas of products you would like to see on it please let us know. We would also really welcome any feedback on any products you have bought recently and want to recommend to others.

Save money with Pop-in reuseable nappies

2008-07-08T04:14:00.000-07:00

Here at New Beginnings we are really excited about our new nappies. We initially ordered 6 trial packs and the feedback from our customers are that they are fantastic.

So what makes them different? Well firstly they are a one size nappy which grows with your baby. A clever popper system means you only have to buy one nappy - no more expense of buying different sized nappies.

Secondly they are not too bulky. They consist of an outer shell and bamboo nappy, and an additional super absorbant bamboo soaker, all of which pop in and out for easy and quick drying.
Stretchy velcro fastenings give a snug and reliable fit and a double elasticated leg gusset ensures no leaks . A biodegradable liner catches solids and can simply be flushed down the loo .

Thirdly, they come in arange of gorgeous unisex colours with great names like duck-egg and custard!

If you like the idea and want to try you can buy a trial pack for just £15.00. It contains a complete nappy and a booster for use at night-time, and a couple of liners. Order online at

http://www.newbeginningsbabyshop.co.uk/products.php?catid=13

If you wanted to use Pop-in nappies full time you would need 20 nappies. This would equate to a days worth of nappy changes plus a days in the wash. You can buy a multisaver pack which contains 20 nappies, 6 night time booster pads, 2 laundry bags and 200 liners for £229.50 including postage direct to you http://www.newbeginningsbabyshop.co.uk/product_details.php?catid=13&prodid=108Now that sounds a lot of money but it's only when you start doing the sums on disposables that you realise just how much money you can save. If you have a second child you already have your nappies and thats when you start saving hundreds of pounds. I've just done a quick calculation on pampers cheapest nappies which work out at 11p each. Based on 10 changes a day this works out at £400 in the first year only, and remember your child is unlikely to potty train much before their 2nd or 3rd birthday!

There are also more savings to be had as many councils offer incentives for parents to use reuseable nappies, as it saves them money on landfill. Check with your local council. Gloucestershire and Worcestershire currently offer £30.00 cash back when you spend over £50 on reuseable nappies.

A lot of parents think of reuseable nappies as terry towelling nappies with pins and fiddly folding, and buckets of soaking dirty nappies. This is no longer the case. The Pop-in is so simple to use as it goes on like a disposeable with velcro fasteners. A liner makes cleaning up easier, and you don't have to touch the nappies again after changing. Simply put into drawstring bag and when bag full, put the whole bag in the washing machine! Simple. Go on, give them a try!

Buzz on the street is The Bugaboo Bee!

2008-03-10T08:49:00.000-07:00

Anyone passing the shop recently couldn't fail to notice the bright black and yellow stroller in the window. It's the Bugaboo Bee and I must say that my first impressions are that its fab!

Made by Bugaboo, who brought us first The Frog, then Cameleon and Gecko, it has all the functionality you would expect but is compact and folds in one piece (no more taking the seat unit off to fold).

It seems to tick all the boxes - it's suitable from birth (although you would need to purchase the soft carrycot for a newborn), it's forward or rearward facing, the seat unit "grows" with your child, it's light and easy to manoeuvre, and simple to fold.

Being Bugaboo it's not cheap at £359.00 but I feel it is worth the money. The seat unit is black but the very practical (and head turning) hood is available in 5 colours - red, khaki, blue, black and of course, yellow!

TOP 5 TIPS FOR HOLIDAYING WITH KIDS

2008-03-04T05:35:00.000-08:00

Does going away for a summer holiday with the family fill you with dread? How will you survive the journey? Will your baggage allowance be sufficient to cope with the extra luggage that babies and children entail? How will you protect them from too much sun?

With some careful planning you can take the worry out of packing for summer holidays.

The top 5 holiday essentials for anybody with a young family are:

1.Toys and games – pack a small selection of toys to keep them amused on the journey, in restaurants or even if the weather takes a turn for the worst. A pack of crayons and a notepad is often a brilliant distraction to help them cope with boredom.

2.A compact, lightweight stroller – children under 4 may not always want to walk and toddlers & babies may very well need a daytime nap. A lightweight, compact stroller, such as the Quick Smart from BabyStyle, which weighs under 6kg and folds into a carry bag for easy transportation on a plane, is ideal http://www.babystyle.co.uk/easyfold.htm

The Quinny Zap and SilverCross Pop are also great for travelling.

3.Sun protection – don’t forget sun cream of at least factor 50 or total sun block, even if you are spending your holiday in the UK. Sun protection suits are also essential if you are planning a beach holiday. Remember to check the UV protection factor in the suit before purchasing as not all suits provide the same level of protection. Matching legionnaire hats will provide vital sun protection to the head, face and back of the neck (an area which is often forgotten when applying sun cream). There are also some very good sunshades for the buggy on the market. Again, check they provide at least UV protection factor 50. Some canopies and parasols will only provide shade and not protection against the sun’s harmful rays. A make such as the Outlook Shade-a-Babe will provide UV50+ sun visor and a drop down mesh for protection from insects and wind.

http://www.cheekyrascals.co.uk/?menuId=670

4.Lightweight travel cot – if you are planning a holiday with a young baby you may well need to take your own travel cot. Some of these can be quite cumbersome but the Phil & Teds T2 Travel cot is ideal. It weighs less than 2kgs and has a self inflating mattress.

http://www.philandteds.com/nz/t2_07_1.htm

5.Water safety – many holidays involve spending time around water, whether on the beach or around a swimming pool. Don’t forget safety aids, such as arm bands, rubber rings or buoyancy jackets, but remember that these are only aids and your child should still have adult supervision at all times. A good swimming nappy that doesn't leak is essential. We recommend the Splash About Happy Nappy as its tight fitting neoprene construction means that it actually works.http://www.cheekyrascals.co.uk/?menuId=261&pageId=1246

So once your bags are packed and you are on your way, all you have left to worry about is relaxing and enjoying your holiday with your family.

What Mums REALLY want on Mothers Day...

2008-02-25T03:08:00.000-08:00

We would really like YOUR idea of a perfect Mother's Day Present. To start the ball rolling this would be my prefect present. Dads take note - it doesn't have to cost a fortune. It really is the thought that counts. A lot of pampering with a small gift (ideally homemade from the children) is the best present of all.

Lisa's idea of the perfect Mother's Day present
To be given a lie in! Preferably followed by breakfast in bed with home made cards and a bunch of daffodils on the tray. Heaven!

Other Great Ideas

1. I.O.U notes that can be redeemed on the day or whenever. These could be for a washing up session, a basket of ironing, a lie in, a night out at the pictures or whatever your imagination can come up with. Again, costs nothing and is greatly appreciated.

2. A lasting memento of the children while they are small. This could be simple painted handprints, or a beautiful impression of their hands. See www.babyart.eu for examples. These are so simple to do, no mixing just roll out and press the hand firmly into the clay and leave to air dry. Also can buy in our shop or online http://www.newbeginnings.gb.com/selection.php?Choice=35&FirstChoice=5

3. A gift from Oxfam. Amazing gift ideas that mum will love but will also help others less fortunate. You can give a piece of jewellery, chocolates and know that it will help other. Alternatively you can directly help another mother in a third world by funding training. A real feelgood factor present. http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/content/mothers_day.aspx?ICO=UnwrappedHome&ICL=UnwrappedPromo2&ICC=MumsTheWord_content-mothers_day

4. Kinderprint. Beautiful silver jewellery which has an imprint of your childs fingerprint. I know one mum who has a charm bracelet with each charm a different childs fingerprint. Beautiful to wear and immense sentimental value. I have a heart shaped pendant with my daughter's fingerprint and it brings a smile to my face whenever I wear it.
http://www.kinderprint.co.uk/index.asp

5. Lunch Out (or in) Either as long as mum doesn't have to cook that day!

How Can I stop my buggy tipping up when my toddler gets out?

2008-02-18T05:22:00.000-08:00

The age old problem. You have shopping on the back of your buggy and your toddler gets out. What happens? The buggy tips backwards spilling out all your shopping. There is a really simple and inexpensive solution. Its called "Buggyweights" and is simply a weight which velcros around the buggy and prevents the tipping.

see attached links for details. They cost £15.00 on average.

http://www.newbeginnings.gb.com/selection.php?Choice=8&FirstChoice=1

http://www.cheekyrascals.co.uk/?menuId=618&pageId=585

2008-02-18T04:29:00.000-08:00

Where to start??? How about the beginning.

This blog has been created to provide lot of helpful tips and feedback is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions that you need answers to regarding your baby, prams, pushchairs, feeding, weaning, toilet training or anything else that comes part and parcel with having a baby please use our blog. Similarly, if you have any useful tips or recommendations please let us all in on the secret! There is a huge array of baby equipment out there and we would like to know what you think - good or bad. Fiona and I are both mums, and we talk to other mums on a daily basis so we like to think we are qualified to give an unbiased opinion.