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Gift Ideas For a New Baby

Posted on December 30, 2015 by Frostie

Shopping for a new baby can be a minefield. Never mind that you might accidentally buy the same present as everyone else. To help out we scoured the internet and have came up with our top picks.

An ISA.

Starting, or putting money into, a junior ISA is a great idea which will have little ones set up for the future. It also stops the home of the new parents becoming cluttered. You can get a stocks and shares junior ISA from Chelsea Financial Services which invests in funds. Chelsea currently offer their junior ISA for no charge. All you pay is the fund managers charge which is typically 0.75% a year. The advantage of investing in a fund versus individual shares is that your money is invested by a professional and your investment will be spread over many different shares, so if one does badly it won’t bring down your whole investment. Chelsea have a number of ready made junior ISA portfolios selected by their research team if you don’t want to choose your own funds.

Investing early is extremely important because it allows the magic of compound interest to take hold, what Einstein called the eighth wonder of the world. By investing early a small amount of money can become much larger over time. The Junior ISA has the same advantages as a regular ISA. It has protection from capital gains and doesn’t need to be included on a tax return. The one disadvantage of a junior ISA is it cannot be taken out early and can only be withdrawn by the child after they turn 18. So if you want to save for school fees you would be better off investing in your own ISA.

Our other picks are from www.notonthehighstreet.com

Silver Engraved Noah’s Ark Money Box by MY 1ST YEARS. A great little keepsake.

From www.notonthehighstreet.com

Star Fleece Baby Wrap.

From www.notonthehighstreet.com

Personalised Hooded Fleece Dressing Gown.

From www.notonthehighstreet.com

normal_noah-s-ark-personalised-print

Personalised Noah’s Ark Print by PEPPER PRINT SHOP

From www.notonthehighstreet.com

Baby Hand And Foot Inkless Print Kit by ELIZABETH JANE. Remember how small those little feet really were forever.

From www.notonthehighstreet.com

Personalised Percentage Babygrow Or T Shirt by SIMPLY COLORS

From www.notonthehighstreet.com

Personalised Baby Keepsake Building Block by SOPHIA VICTORIA JOY. Unique and makes a great keepsake.

From www.notonthehighstreet.com

normal_personalised-little-nutbrown-hare

Personalised Nutbrown Hare by OH SO CHERISHED. Adorable and great for a cuddle.

From www.notonthehighstreet.com

Baby Hippo Hooded Towel by BATHING BUNNIES. So cute.

From www.notonthehighstreet.com

Add your own ideas below.

Real Easy Wonderoos Reusable Nappy Review

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Frostie

The words ‘reusable nappy’ can strike fear into a parents heart. We know it is better for the environment and the purse but in a sleep-deprived zombie state we tend to go for the easy option. That is until you try one and it isn’t as hard as you think. Especially with Real Easy – the washable nappy manufactured by Wonderoos. The all-in-one, one-size pocket nappy comes with lots of buttons to make sure it fits your baby well, the design is beautiful and gender neutral. The nappy even feels great. It feels silky-soft on the outside and the inserts also feel nice and are comfortable for baby. The soft micro fleece lining keeps baby feeling comfy and dry, while the thirsty soakers take care of the wetness.

Each Wonderoos V3 Pocket Nappy is the equivalent to approximately 300 disposable nappies. One size fits 8-35lbs. You just adjust to fit from birth to potty. They even have unique girl/boy settings on inserts. The nappy is a little bulky so not all clothes will look streamlined on baby. However we can honestly say that we love this nappy. Great for baby, great for the environment and it saves money. What more could you want? This nappy has won many awards and rightly so. Very impressive. Frost loves. Wonderoos One-Size Pocket Nappy can be bought here.

Real Easy – the washable nappy manufactured by Wonderoos – has won the coveted Consumer Choice Award in the Best Baby & Toddler Gear Awards 2015 in the reusable nappy category.

The Best Baby and Toddler Gear Awards allow companies from across the nursery industry to have their products assessed by experts along with a team of parents carefully selected for genuine and unbiased reviews.

Christine McRitchie, Brand Owner, comments, “Having acquired Real Easy nappies in October 2014, we re-launched the brand at Harrogate International Nursery Fair in March 2015. To have now won the Consumer Choice Award, which is awarded to the product with the most online votes, is a demonstration of the amazing support and loyalty of our customers”.

Real Easy is a sized All-in-One reusable nappy, designed to be easy on, easy to change, easy to wash – really easy. Real Easy nappies come in several sizes to give the best fit at each stage, and are constructed with a soft micro fleece lining to keep baby feeling comfy and dry, while the thirsty soakers take care of the wetness.

Earthwise Trading Ltd focuses on manufacturing, distributing and retailing reusable nappies and reusable menstrual products that reduce waste, save money, and work in harmony with nature.

About Christine McRitchie:

Earlier in 2015 Christine was crowned Britain’s Best Online Business as director of Earthwise Trading in the Venus Awards.

Christine lives in Long Wittenham, Oxfordshire with her husband and their four daughters (who have provided lots of nappy changing experience along the way).

The Earthwise Trading story began in Christine’s kitchen 10 years ago, and since then her business has kept over 7.5 million disposable nappies out of landfill.

In other news from the company…

Earthwise Trading Ltd, manufacturer of award-winning Wonderoos V3 nappies is proud to announce the launch of their new collection of delightful prints.

The four gender-neutral designs – entitled Elf Magic, Polar Life, Monsters and Dragons – have been created by an exciting young British designer. Elf Magic is a Limited Edition print, only 300 have been produced and demand is expected to be high, while the other three designs have been added to the long-term design portfolio.

Christine McRitchie, Director of Earthwise Trading, comments, “We’re so excited to be launching this new range of prints, they’re bold and bright and full of fun – and will appeal to children and parents alike.”

Wonderoos V3 are the original single-sized pocket nappy and have been awarded a gold Gentle Parenting award, Bronze Prima baby awards and Bronze Dad’s award in 2015. Wonderoos V3 has also achieved the 2015 Mumsnet Best Award for the second consecutive year and has recently been shortlisted for the 2016 Mother and Baby award.

How To Calm a Crying Baby | Video

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Frostie

baby,nappies, nappy, save, cheap, budget, working mothers, overwork, stress

The price of nappies can be shocking.

A crying baby equals a stressed baby and stressed parents. Okay a baby crying is just a baby talking, but it can still be awful when you do not know how to comfort them. Paediatrician Dr Bob Hamilton shows his fool proof method to stop your little one crying, using ‘The Hold’. Watch and learn.

Christmas Gift List For Baby

Posted on November 13, 2015 by Frostie

Not much is more adorable than a baby. Okay, they can’t talk properly, or do much of anything, but that doesn’t mean they don’t get a cute present. It may be more for mummy and daddy, but here are some great ideas.

Reindeer Hooded Towel From www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk

An adorable towel, ideal for post-bath cuddles this Christmas. A supersoft Christmas hooded towel with fun antlers and a reindeer face, perfect for wrapping up after a bath. 100% Cotton, £14.00. We absolutely love this. It feels super soft and is so cute. Top marks.

Illustries Baby Books

We absolutely adore these baby books from Illustries are an innovative company that creates a unique collection of luxury and bespoke coffee table books and artwork to capture every important detail of milestone life moments through interviews, photography, story-telling and design-led creativity. Reflecting the Illustries’ ethos of designing and delivering beautifully collated individualised keepsakes with a style-savvy twist, the ‘Hey Baby!’ journals offer a contemporary take on traditional baby books to capture the early years of parenthood. In addition and destined to become a stylish must-have accessory for proud parents and grandparents alike, the soon to be launched ‘Hey Baby Brag Book’ is equally as charming and cute as its baby journal sibling.

Small enough to fit snugly into a handbag, man-bag or pocket, the brag book is a cute and convenient baby album to share baby snaps on the go. Designed in the iconic Illustries contemporary style and matching it’s bigger brothers and sisters, the Baby Books, the perfectly petite albums hold up to seven classic 4×6” photographs (or additional smaller photos) alongside beautifully-designed pages dedicated to the all-important little person details, including birthdate. The Baby Brag Book is available as a portrait, hardcover album with accordion-style pages printed on heavy matt uncoated paper and finished with an elegant ribbon tie. In a choice of two on-trend colours; coral pink for girls and duck-egg blue for boys.The Baby Book by Illustries is available here.and Mini Baby Photo Album and Brag Book.

Little Butterfly Dewdrops at Dawn Body Lotion.

This body lotion for baby smells amazing and is 100% certified organic ingredients. Suitable for newborns and those with sensitive and eczema prone skin. With cucumber seed oil, cocoa butter and oat kernel extract, it is hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested. Free of mineral oil, paraffin, paragons, silicones, SLS, DEA, TEA, PEGs or artificial fragrance. Great for baby and for mum to borrow. From notonthehighstreet.com

Reindeer Onesie From www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk

This is so cute and adorable we can barely take it. A great alternative to a dressing gown, this adorable reindeer onesie has a fleecy outer and is lined in soft cotton jersey. Sizes up to and including 18-24 months have popper leg opening for easy nappy changing. Sizes over 18-24 months have zip opening. It is machine washable and is super cosy. http://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/sp+reindeer-onesie-in-pyjamas-robes-and-slippers+d2626

Blade & Rose Leggings.

We love these Blade & Rose Robot leggings.So cute. Britain’s iconic children’s clothing brand, Blade & Rose has a new Autumn/Winter collection of adorable trendsetting leggings and accessories for babies and toddlers. Made from top quality fabric that is durable, these precious leggings are perfect for mini fashionistas whilst kind to their delicate skin. All leggings can be paired with matching socks, bibs and hats. Available in sizes 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 1-2 years, 3-4 years, RRP £10.00 http://www.bladeandrose.co.uk/ and here.

Comotomo Baby Bottle

This is hugely popular with our babies and mums. It makes a great gift. The award winning and revolutionary Comotomo baby bottle is the ultimate practical gift for new parents this Christmas. Specifically designed to provide the closest thing to breastfeeding in a bottle, the unique design features two essential antic-colic vents. The ‘mummy inspired and baby approved’ Comotomo bottle range is dishwasher, microwave, boiling water and steriliser safe making it easy use. Comotomo Natural Feel Baby Bottle is available here.

Wishbone Baby Thermometer

Smart and easy-to-use, this is a brilliant little gadget. The brand new Wishbone Baby Thermometer makes a great gift stocking filler for new parents. It is the first non-contact thermometer that works with smart phones;. Wishbone Baby Thermometer’s has a unique Y-shape which provides the perfect angle for digital temperature reading, and it’s compact design is the ideal size for travelling or keeping on you at all times. It’s the only smart thermometer that is compatible with both Android and iOS devices. RRP £34.99 available on Mothercare.co.uk

Babybjorn Baby Carrier WE

A great gift for any parent, giving them freedom to carry baby around without hassle. No new parent’s kit is complete without a BabyBjörn Baby Carrier We, and this new baby carrier it is perfect ‘treat gift’ for a new mum or dad this Christmas.The BabyBjörn Baby Carrier We is one of a “new generation of baby carriers” and is suitable from birth all the way to three years old; carry your baby on your front close to your heart, and when they are one year old you can carry them on your back , turning the carrier with one simple movement. BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier WE is available here.

Reindeer Mittens From Jojo Maman Bébé

These reindeer mittens are just adorable. Perfect for the festive season. Machine washable with a flexible fit, there is also a matching hat. From jojomamanbebe.co.uk

Comotomo Teether

This teether was a huge hit with Frostie babies. Easy for them to hold and chew on. It has a smart, unique design that babies love. Mimics baby fingers perfectly, and we know how babies love to chew on fingers. Just long enough to reach the back molars, but short enough to prevent choking. They are easy to grab and hold. Made them with a medical grade silicone and heat resistant, so when it comes to cleaning time, just sterilising them in boiling water and you’re good to go!

Comotomo Silicone Baby Teether is available here.

Top 5 Money Saving Pregnancy Tricks

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Frostie

By Layla Anna-Lee, English TV Presenter and soon to be mum.

Don’t buy a baby changing unit! A baby changing unit is literally a chest of drawers with a baby changing section on top and an extra zero added to the price. Proper padded anti-roll baby changing mats add the same amount of height to the sides of a mat that any changing unit would have. You must never leave your child alone on a changing unit or mat regardless. So don’t feel obliged to purchase overpriced units when your current chest of draws with a safety mat could be just fine! (Just make sure the chest of drawers is the right width for the mat and is strong enough to take the weight of a baby.) I bought mine from www.safetots.co.uk

Eco nappies. In two years of a child’s life the average spend on disposable nappies is £1,800. The same stretch of time in reusable nappies is around £350 and if you are planning on having another child you can use them again saving yourself much, much more. Modern day Eco nappies are incredibly well designed, there’s no need for old fashioned soaking and can be washed at 30 degrees. Of course washing adds some expenditure but even then it’s less than all the bin liners and nappy sacs you’ll be needing for those disposables. Not to mention the cost on your conscience that disposable nappies are the largest single household contributor to landfill sites. I bought mine from www.totsbots.com

The Baby Show! Get your ticket, get there early and don’t leave! This was my favourite shopping spot of all. So easy to compare a huge range of baby products all under one roof and so many incredible discounts. I had purchased my buggy before attending the show then saw the exact same one at the show with over £200 off – That’s a pretty impressive discount and at The Baby Show discounts like that are everywhere. There are a variety of invaluable talks to attend, such as first aid and breast feeding talks are included in the ticket price. If you’re a savvy haggler stay right until the end and you might get even more taken off the price tag as exhibitors don’t want to pack up all the stock to travel home. The next show is taking place at Kensington, Olympia from the 23^rd-25^th October: www.thebabyshow.co.uk

You don’t need a cot straight away. When looking to save money sometimes timing is the answer and when choosing your cot you have time to get it right. A baby can sleep in a Moses basket up until around 3 months or until the baby can sit up or roll. This means there’s no rush, you can wait for a sale, a hand me down from a close friend or indeed simply take your time to make sure you’re making an educated purchase. Mine is from www.mobauk.com

Don’t be afraid to ask for things you actually need. Everyone loves buying presents for a new baby. Whether it be an excited mother in law or if you’re throwing a baby shower. It’s important to be honest because your friends really do want to get you something you will actually use. If you don’t need 45 hats and another plush bunny rabbit then just say so! Make a little list of what you need and let your loved ones help you, it truly makes the world of difference.

SmartSun Wristband Review | Parenting

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Frostie

We reviewed the SmartSun Wristband. An ingenious way of keeping safe in the sun for children and adults. They are very easy to use and they work well. The bands are single use and come in a pack of 5. These bands can be used by all ages to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Especially useful given the rising skin cancer figures.

Fresh air and warm weather are healthy for children and, and small doses of Vitamin D from the sun’s rays are good for baby’s skin. Children have delicate and sensitive skin however, so it is important to make sure their SPF is topped up at all times when outside in the sun.

It is easy to forget about reapplying sun cream when you are out having fun, but the SmartSun wristband provides an easy to read indicator of how much UV radiation they have been exposed too. It works by measuring the amount of UV radiation, and lets you know when to reapply sun cream and when they have had too much sun.

With two colour changes – one to tell you when your children’s sun cream needs reapplying, and one to tell you when to avoid the sun, you can enjoy the time spent outside by using the Smartsun wristband to accurately time the next sun cream application. The band is discreet and comfortable to wear for either adults or children and can be used in and out of both pool and sea water.

Available from www.smartsunuk.co.uk priced at £4.99 for a pack of 5.

Little Angels Re-launches Range With a Mumsnet Stamp of Approval

Posted on September 3, 2015 by Frostie

Frost has been reviewing the Little Angels range at Asda. It comes with the Mumsnet stamp of approval so we had high expectations. Thankfully we were not let down. The Sensitive Cotton Soft Baby Wipes are fragrance free and suitable to use from day one, even on eczema prone skin. The Head to Toe Wash is just as great and gentle. It has a no tears formula and is paediatrician approved. Little Angels Baby Powder soaks up excess moisture and prevents chapping and the Comfort Dry Nappies are super soft and delicate. The nappies give up to 12 hours of dryness. We were impressed with the entire range. The products are just as good as any leading brand but are not as expensive. Mums and dads, head to Asda.com.

Mums looking for the very best for their little angels need look no further than Asda’s Little Angels own brand baby range, which now comes complete with a seal of approval from the very best judges of all: other real-life mums.

That’s right: over 100 products in the Little Angels range have been tested and endorsed by users of Mumsnet – the UK’s largest network for parents.

The highly-praised range spans everything needed for a baby’s routine, including nappies, wipes, toiletries and snacks and features exciting new products, formulas and packaging.

And now, having partnered with Mumsnet, mums can rest assured that every product they buy with the ‘Quality Approved by Mumsnet’ logo has gone through a vigorous testing process from a panel of mums just like them, before hitting the shelves.

The hugely popular Little Angels nappy range, the best selling own-label nappy brand in the UK, has seen a major revamp to become the only baby brand to offer mums a complete nappy journey for their baby from newborn to potty training. The super soft and absorbent Newborn, Comfort Dry and Supreme Protection nappies have all received the Mumsnet seal of approval and now, Little Angels have also added Swim Pants (£3) and Potty Training Pants (£4.50)to its already extensive offering.

All economy packs are available in the popular 3 for £12 offer and what’s more, the Comfort Dry, Supreme Protection and Newborn ranges feature a unique size guide on the back of the pack to help mums understand when to move up a size, so you can wave goodbye to leaky nappies! And the colour coded size guide makes it easier for mums to pick out the right size on the shelf.

A new innovation for the Little Angels Newborn range is DreamSkin® technology (£4.50) – new to the market and available at Asda. The unique DreamSkin® technology is designed to help soothe and protect even the most delicate skin, making it perfect for those little ones prone to eczema.

The extensive range of Little Angels wipes now contain thicker yet softer embossed towels, designed to help mum cleanse baby with ease. The premium Extra Care, Extra Protect and Extra Sensitive Wipes (all £1 each or 4 for £3)provide the very best protection against nappy rash by working with the skin naturals defenses, leaving delicate skin silky soft and protected.

All of the Little Angels toiletries, from nappy change and bath time right through to bedtime have secured a big thumbs up from Mumsnet users, and new to the range is the Vapour Bath (£1 or 3 for £2.50), featuring a eucalyptus and menthol fragrance to help sooth baby and comfort little noses. As part of the re-design, the popular Baby Powder(£1.35) now features a newly-improved ergonomic bottle design, making it easier to handle whilst still featuring the same great formulation and value for money.

When it comes to feeding, the Little Angels nutritious and organic snack food range, from Organic Puffs (67p) to Oaty Bars (£1.99), has also been ‘Quality Approved by Mumsnet’, including a brand new Baby Biscotti (£1.19)product suitable from seven months. Available in three flavours – plain, apple and banana – the biscotti are completely organic, with ‘no nasties’ and added calcium and vitamin B1.

Lauren Venters, Category Planner for Baby at Asda comments: “The world of babies can be a daunting place with a variety of brands, hundreds of products to choose from and, quite often, conflicting advice. We know that mums really value the opinions, recommendations and first-hand experiences given to them from other mums and we’re so confident in our Little Angels range that we decided to put it to the test with the harshest critics of all – a panel of Mumsnet mums – and we’re thrilled they passed the test! Having that stamp of approval across the range, should hopefully give mums peace of mind that they’ve made the right choice, leaving more time to enjoy motherhood.”

Justine Roberts, Founder & Chief Executive at Mumsnet comments: “Mumsnet users have really put the LittleAngels range through its paces, testing the products in busy, real-life family homes up and down the UK. Our users value each other’s recommendations highly and place a lot of trust in them, so we’re pleased to have the opportunity to extend this special mark of approval to some products in the Little Angels range, and hope that the wisdom of the Mumsnet crowd will benefit other parents”

Comotomo Baby Bottle Review

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Frostie

This Comotomo Baby Bottle caught our eye immediately due to its great design. It really is a beautiful bottle. As well as being aesthetically pleasing, it is also made with 100% safe materials. It is BPA, PVC and Phthalate free. We love the feel of it, it has a squeezable silicone base, something we have never seen before. It is naturally shaped and has a soft, silicone teat which is ideal for breastfeed babies. Babies will love holding onto the skin like, soft and squeezable body. This bottle is perfect for babies which find it hard to switch between breast and bottle. It really does feel lovely.

The bottle also has a wide neck design which makes it easy to clean. The bottle has innovative vents that prevent colic and stops any leaks. This bottle is durable and had a great “let-down” effect.

Can be used in the microwave, boiling water, dishwashers and sterilisers. This bottle is fun and beautiful, it gives baby a breastfeeding experience in a bottle. Great innovative technology and worth trying if your baby finds it hard to take the bottle. Very impressed.

Comotomo Natural Feel Baby Bottle is available here.