Tag Archives: Children

Fresh Vegan Skincare Brand RINGANA Launch Baby Skincare Products

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In keeping with the RINGANA philosophy, the range consists of four fresh, natural vegan care products, developed with the greatest care and of the highest certified organic and pharmaceutical quality. I have tried these products on my own children and they are amazing. I love them. They work well and you don’t need to worry about toxins. 

vegan, skincare, baby, children

FRESH baby body & wash, FRESH baby bum cream, FRESH baby bum foam and FRESH baby oil. 

Naturally, just like all of the other RINGANA products, the entire product range is vegan, free of synthetic colours, perfumes and preservatives, mineral oils, parabens, PEG emulsifiers, etc. All of the products are dermatologically tested and are very well tolerated by the skin.

The RINGANA story began in Austria in 1996 out of the deep convictions, deeply rooted values and unstoppable energy of two people who wanted to make the world a better place. The ultimate impetus was provided by a toothpaste that their son brought home with him from kindergarten. Ulla Wannemacher and Andreas Wilfinger were so shocked by the questionable ingredient triclosan, that they resolved to launch better alternatives on the market.

Now, 26 years later, they are returning to the starting point of their story, presenting a new product range for babies and young children.

No fluff – no fillers: RINGANA FRESH baby 

FRESH baby body & hair wash: clean from head to toe 

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This mild washing gel cleans delicate skin and hair ultra gently. The pH-friendly formulation is very kind, and won’t make their eyes sting. Skin-soothing extracts of oat, cotton and witch hazel prevent irritation. Ectoin, as a stress protection molecule, supports the skin barrier. Almond and sesame oil have a grooming, lipid-restoring effect, and help to untangle hair. The sensitive skin is supplied with moisture, protecting it from drying out.

RRP 50 ml, £6.70

FRESH baby bum cream: gently soothes and protects 

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This nurturing formulation effectively soothes irritation in the nappy area with witch hazel extract and cotton extract. It strengthens the skin barrier and forms a breathable protective film on the skin. Natural almond, sesame and jojoba oil from controlled organic cultivation promote skin regeneration.

FRESH baby bum cream can be used after every nappy change to prevent nappy rash.

RRP 50 ml, £9.48

FRESH baby bum foam: the eco-friendly alternative to baby wipes 

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Whether you’re at home or out and about: Our innovative FRESH baby bum foam cleanses sensitive baby skin in the nappy area gently yet thoroughly. Skin-soothing ingredients such as witch hazel extract and cotton extract effectively groom baby’s delicate skin. Applied to a soft, washable cloth, FRESH baby bum foam is an excellent alternative to baby wipes and can also be used on hands and face. It doesn’t need to be rinsed off.

RRP 50 ml, £8.61 

FRESH baby oil: a real all-rounder

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Whether used for daily skin care, relaxing baby massages or gentle cleaning, FRESH baby oil was developed for the special needs of baby skin which quickly dries out and loses moisture. The unique combination of pharmaceutical-grade sesame, jojoba, almond and evening primrose oil from controlled organic cultivation grooms and regenerates the skin. Organic extracts of oat and vanilla soothe the skin and have an antioxidant effect. Tip: also ideal for parents and other adults.

RRP 50 ml, £7.66 

Less is more – and it’s all top quality 

Only a few care products are required to look after the sensitive and delicate skin of babies and small children. At the same time, it’s extremely important to use only those products that have been developed specifically for those needs.

“Baby skin is around three to five times thinner than adult skin. On top of that, the protective function has not yet fully developed which means that it dries out faster, and toxins can penetrate easier,” explains Dr. Andrea Haidinger, MSc, Senior Product Developer for organic and fresh skin care at RINGANA.

“It was very important to us to keep the range as small as possible, and reduce it to the essentials. With these four products of the purest quality, with hand-picked, meticulously tested ingredients, we’ve covered all the real needs of sensitive baby and children’s skin,” says Andreas Wilfinger, RINGANA’s CEO.

There are countless baby care products available: powders, oils, creams, lotions & shampoos – all these and more in every conceivable format. But what does a child’s skin really need to make them feel good all over? It’s a question that RINGANA has explored in great depth.

Fresh, natural and pure 

Along with a high standard of sustainability and efficacy, these are attributes that have always been deeply enshrined at RINGANA, and which create the perfect basis for natural baby care. The new range was developed with the greatest care, to meet and exceed the needs of sensitive children’s skin:

a mix of high-end plant oils and valuable plant extracts of organic and pharmaceutical-grade quality is proof of these products’ superb quality.

Further plus points for the new RINGANA FRESH baby range: the products have been recognised with official COSMOS organicnatural-cosmetic certification, they are manufactured with no potential allergenic perfumes, and they contain a special ingredient – a specific cotton cell extract – to soothe the skin.

“Baby and child skin care is a particularly sensitive topic that we’ve approached with enormous attentiveness and respect. A mother only wants to give her children the very best – as I can confirm myself. That’s why we proceeded with the greatest possible care throughout the development of our FRESH baby range,” says Ulla Wannemacher, RINGANA’s General Manager.

As Ulla Wannemacher and Andreas Wilfinger proudly say: “26 years ago we started freeing men’s and women’s bathrooms from mineral oils, excessive emulsifiers, preservatives and metal soaps, replacing them with freshness, efficacy and sustainability. Now, 26 years later, it’s time to revolutionise children’s bathrooms in the same way.”

www.ringana.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RINGANA

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/ringana/

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/user/RINGANA2012

I’m a psychologist, a nutritionist, and a mum… and here are my tips for helping your little one sleep through the night

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Just like eating and drinking, sleep is an essential human need. If your baby or toddler struggle to sleep, you’ll find out pretty quickly that it has a massive impact on you as a parent too. In addition, healthy sleep supports good immune health, learning, memory, growth, and development. Establishing a bedtime routine is a vital part of the sleep journey for babies and children, so here are my top 5 tips to help your little one get into a healthy sleep routine:

1. As a parent myself, I have experienced first-hand how difficult life can be when your child struggles with their sleep. I used to buy numerous separate items to help my child get to sleep, but now Glow Dreaming’s research-based 5-in-1 system has been a life saver! Glow Dreaming includes a gentle red light to stimulate melatonin production, pink noise to support a deeper, more restful sleep, a built-in humidifier to help your little one breathe easier during the night, and fabulous aromatherapy options. An added bonus is that there is no need to fork out for an expensive sleep trainer as Glow Dreaming can provide you with a personalised sleep program from ICRA (Individualised Circadian Rhythm Amelioration).

2. Developing a bedtime routine plays a really important role in preparing your child for bedtime. Many families have told me that their little one seems to become very energetic at bedtime and it can be a real struggle to get them to bed. This is where Better You’s ‘Roald Dahl’ Kids’ Sleep Bundle can really help. The sleep bundle contains magnesium bath flakes, a magnesium sleep body lotion and a magnesium sleep body spray, all suitable for toddlers over 1 and those with sensitive skin. Magnesium is a mineral that assists sleeping by helping us unwind and is an important factor in how our body manages our sleep cycle. Using magnesium products before bed may help your child to relax and help their body prepare for that all important sleep time.

3. Master Herbsmith and co-founder of Pukka Herbs, Sebastian Pole, set up Herbal Reality, an online resource platform for Herbal medicine. He suggests lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) as a remedy that may benefit young children who are struggling with sleep. He says: “Lemon balm is a deliciously fragrant member of the mint family that provides relief from tension in the nervous and digestive systems. Lemon balm is a wonderful herb for children. Lemon balm delivers its properties immediately as a gentle, soothing yet uplifting remedy, acceptable to everyone from the very youngest of age. Lemon balm tea also has a gentle lifting effect that can be very comforting in low moods and for anxiety and tension. You can use it as a fresh herb tea, dried herb tea, tincture, essential oil or cream”.

4. I recommend growing your own lemon balm so that you always have it on hand. It smells delicious and is very easy to grow in sun or light shade, plus you can dry the leaves to ensure you have a good stock of it throughout the year. I use Earthsong Seeds organic Lemon Balm Seed Pack – a bargain at only £2.50 for a minimum of 150 seeds.

5. Does your child struggle to sleep due to constant coughs and colds during the Winter months? In the UK, most over-the-counter cough medicines are not recommended for children under 6 years of age because the risks outweigh the benefits (1). I recommend having a bottle of Pukka Herb’s Elderberry syrup to hand throughout Autumn and Winter. This delicious elderberry syrup also contains manuka honey, ginger and thyme to support seasonal health, and is suitable for children aged 2 and over.

  1. https://www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/over-the-counter-cough-and-cold-medicines-for-children

 

Discover the Laws of Physics with Kikkerland’s Newton’s Lab

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The Kikkerland Newton’s Lab collection is named after the father of modern physics Isaac Newton. These sets are a fun way of learning about science, whilst building, creating, and seeing the laws of physics in action.  Children will see with their own eyes how physics works in real life. Each experiment kit shows a different scientific principle, including optics, hydraulic forces, gravitational forces, and aerodynamics.

Newton’s Lab Wind Energy Kit £20 from Kikkerlandeu.com Learn about wind energy by making your own windmill, blow on to the blades and see how it lights up the house.

Newton’s Lab Crane Kit £30 from Kikkerlandeu.com Build and use the Pulley Crane to teach your kids about how a pulley can be used to change the direction of applied forces and lift heavy objects.

Newton’s Lab Colour Disc £10 from Kikkerlandeu.com Paint the discs with different colour combinations and make it spin to see the amazing mixes from the rainbow and more.

Newton’s Lab Make Your Own Catapult £15 from Kikkerlandeu.com Learn about Newton’s first law of inertia and gravity by making your own catapult. Measure how far projectiles land and plot the variations

Newton’s Lab Make Your Own Levitation Ball £10 from Kikkerlandeu.com Demonstrate the Bernoulli principle by keeping that ball afloat. Teaches children about science and gravity, no batteries are needed.

Newton’s Lab Make Your Own Painting Pendulum £13.50 from Kikkerlandeu.comLearn about the forces of gravity whilst making art.

Newton’s Lab Make Your Own Periscope £10 from Kikkerlandeu.com Build & use the periscope to teach your children about mirrors, reflections, submarines, and much more. Great hands-on learning experience. See what’s around the corner, over walls, or play submarine.

Newton’s Lab Make Your Own Hydraulic Claw £15 from Kikkerlandeu.com Learn about robotics. Explore engineering and learn how to build your own hydraulic lifting claw.

CREATE YOUR OWN THEATRE AT HOME

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We love this adorable gift. So cute and great for development.

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Create your own theatre productions and performances using the beautiful craft set from Royal Opera House shop – the perfect project for budding performers and theatre lovers!

 

Little ones will be sure to have creative fun, learn about how the theatre works, and get lost in their imagination, whilst writing and putting on a dazzling show for all the family to enjoy.

 

All kits include scenery, characters and props, and come packed with interesting facts and activities.

 

Made with the environment in mind, paper elements are created from recycled materials, and even better… no glue or scissors are needed, making it the perfect safe activity for all children to love.

 

Create Your Own Theatre – £12.50

Royal Opera House shop – shop.roh.org.uk

 

Books2Door offer HUGE discounts on Back2School Booksets

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Online book retailer Books2Door who are committed to encouraging a love of reading in all children are launching their Back2School campaign, offering exceptional book sets at affordable prices from treasured classics to the latest must-have series. We are fully behind them and cannot recommend them enough. Head onto their website now and grab some books for your little ones.

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Reading Champions Developing Readers 30 Book Collection Level 6 to 10 (Series 2) – Ages 5-7 – Paperback

 

In this Reading Champions series, every book was carefully constructed to make for an effective means in helping kids develop important reading skills. Each book was designed to help kids mature in their reading journey step by step from the age of 5. Each book was not only designed to be informative and educational but also fun and engaging at the same time too! The themes and topics are very interesting with each book focussed on a different story making this collection always keeping kids wanting for more due to the new and unexpected storyline.

The books are colour banded, this makes sorting the level of difficulty much easier to organise. At the same time, this helps tutors and parents to monitor the progress of reading development, at the same time children will feel a sense of accomplishment as they level up. Reading Champions is one of the most effective reading series and has remained our bestselling collection on our entire website for many months, the Reading Champion series is a modern masterpiece for aiding kids readingdevelopment. Each book was designed by literacy experts to balance the books with enjoyment and education. The setting and characters are diverse, meaning readers are able to not only learn about reading grammar and language skills but also broaden their horizons in different contemporary topics to further increase the pleasure of reading. This series is a wonderful choice for the classroom and for additional homework at home, the amazing series is so well done and neatly organised together that it can make for a perfect gift for children. We have heard so many great stories and feedback from our customers and parents who noticed a massive improvement in their children’s reading skills. Reading Champion is published by Franklin Watts and will continually to remain an all time favourite for us and our customers. Be sure to check out our Home Learning and Featured category for more fantastic and useful learning tools.

Teach children to read.

What a Nutritionist Feeds Her Kids

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It is not uncommon for parents to worry about the nutritional value of the food they are serving their children and little ones. The food children and babies eat when they are younger can really make a difference on how they eat as they get older. However, it’s important for parents to keep the pressure off for everyone, including themselves. Think about what’s eaten over a week, not day to day and avoid coaxing little ones to eat or ensuring kids stay at the table until they’ve finished the meal. All of this can impose negative associations around foods which is ultimately what we want to avoid if we’re trying to create little foodies. According to research recently conducted by Stokke 53% of parents struggle to prepare a meal that the entire family will enjoy.

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Make choice part of your mealtime routine. Kids are more likely to eat something they feel they’ve had a say in, so instead of just plating up their food, ask them first “do you want X or Y with your dinner” or “Would you like spaghetti or rice for dinner today?” for example. You could also try offering multiple sides and giving them autonomy to choose what they want. You’ll probably be surprised how much more gets eaten when it’s them calling the shots. Younger babies don’t often have much choice in their meal options but try offering them a variety & following their lead. At mealtimes have conversations about the meals and foods on offer, allow honest opinions and maybe even make a game of rating the meals for the week. This can help children and toddlers to really think about their foods and their likes and dislikes a little more as well as being mindful about the foods they are eating.

Three fifths (60%) of families will always eat their families will always eat their family meals together at the dinner table. Sitting together and being present at mealtimes helps, but actually eating similar things can also help children to accept a wider variety. Some research shows that families eating together is a big factor in positively influencing the diets of their children, so as much as you can try to ROLEMODEL what a balanced diet looks like, and it’s likely your little ones will follow suit. Remember babies also learn the WHAT and the HOW of eating from copying their parents and those around them too, which is why I love the Stokke Tripp Trapp as a great way to bring baby right to the table with you at mealtimes. Research, conducted by premium children’s brand, Stokke, explored the importance of eating meals together as a family, found that 49% of participants believe eating together as a family creates a happier child and 34% believe it creates a more confident child.

With 82% of parents worrying about the nutritional value of the food they are serving their children and want to ensure they get the balance right – here is what I try to give my children for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner:
Breakfast 

Breakfast is often porridge, or pancakes – mainly because it’s SO easy to add extras to these – extra flavours such as cinnamon, or ginger, extra nutrients from peanut butter or milled seeds stirred in or extra portions of your 5 a day with some berries thrown into the batter/with the oats or even just sticks on the side.

 

Lunch 

I like a picky finger food lunch for those busy days. Trying to make this balanced is often easy too so things such as

Wraps with hummus and pepper

Cucumber fingers with yogurt dip and leftover curries

Tuna, yogurt and sweetcorn spread on toast

Omelettes with potato, mixed veg and cheese

 

Dinner  

Tends to be something hot, but it does vary.

I love potato tots for babies as they are just so simple and easy to vary.

Otherwise, it’s whatever we’re having for dinner

Pasta with chickpea and tomato sauce 

Chilli with potatoes and some grated cheese

I’m all about trying to make the most of meals and balance the food groups on offer where possible so that you know babies AND kids are getting all the nutrients they need. This means I’m always thinking about what I can sprinkle on top, what I can use as a dip or how I can add extras like lentils, fish or beans to pasta sauces.

Stokke are hosting a FREE weaning webinar – How to raise a confident foodie and help your baby love their broccoli as much as their cake! Charlotte Stirling-Reed Nutritionist and Author will be on Zoom 28th April at 8pm. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-wean-your-baby-mini-masterclass-tickets-143331352935?aff=Media10 

 

Expert nutritional advice from Charlotte Stirling-Reed, author of new book “How to wean your baby”, that publishes on 29th April but available for pre-order. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1785043242 @sr_nutrition

 

Stokke is a leading high end baby brand in Scandinavia whose ethos is to nurture family bonding, having your baby closer to you and the importance of eye contact. The iconic Tripp Trapp® highchair was launched in 1972 and has since sold more than 12 million worldwide. www.stokke.com @stokkebaby

 

Women can’t catch men’s earnings, even after any children have left home

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  • In 2018/19, women earned an average of £22,200 and men £27,400 (median).
  • Men earned more than women at every age. At 20-24, men averaged £19,100 and women £17,700.
  • On average, income before tax peaked at age 40-44 at £30,200. However, it peaked for men between the ages of 45-49, at an average of £34,100, and for women at age 40-44 at £26,000.

Now is the time for us ladies to take charge of our finances. Check your state pension entitlement and make sure there are no gaps in National Insurance contributions. Also consider taking out a LISA.

 

HMRC has issued a range of tax and income statistics: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/personal-income-by-tax-year

Sarah Coles, personal finance analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown:

“Women are out-earned by men at every stage of their career, so if women are waiting for a better time to get started with their financial plans, they could be in for a very long wait.

Despite the fact that on average female students get better results at school, are more likely to go to university, and get more first class and upper second degrees, when they emerge from the education system, men are paid more. Between the ages of 20 and 24, women earn 7% less.

The official pay gap – which measures people doing the same work – is close to zero below the age of 40, so the difference is likely to owe much to the careers dominated by women being lower paid than those dominated by men, and how we value particular skills as a society. It’s also influenced by more women working part time from the outset, and some starting families at younger ages.

The gap between the average pay of women and men widens dramatically when people reach the age when they typically start a family. By their early 30s the gap is 13%, and by their early 40s it’s 22%. This is partly because women are overwhelmingly more likely to take career breaks in their children’s early lives, and make compromises over working hours and commutes in order to have more flexibility during their children’s school years.

There’s no time to catch up afterwards either, because not only are women paid far less later in their career, but they reach their peak earning years well before men too – at the age of 40-44 rather than 45-50. This owes something to the fact that senior management roles tend to have a later pay peak, so women continue to pay for missing out on promotions during key childcare years.

Women are also paid less later in their careers partly because once they have taken a financial hit relatively early on, they’re in the frame for any caring responsibilities that come along – including caring for elderly parents. This may mean they have to move into working part-time once again.

A solution to unequal pay requires a combination of an awful lot of things – from changing the way different skills are rewarded, to altering the balance of caring responsibilities in the home, and building workplaces that allow equality of flexibility. The pandemic may help accelerate some of this change, by revealing just how many jobs can be effectively completed with a much higher degree of flexibly, but this kind of societal change tends to be slow and incremental.

It means women can’t afford to wait for pay to equalise, they need to protect themselves now. These figures show the risk of putting off saving and investing, or building up your pension, until you’re in a better place financially. If you postpone it because you’re on a starting salary, or going on maternity leave or working part-time, then you could find yourself putting it off forever.”

 

Keeping Your Child Active

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While younger children may be more inclined to burn off energy by running around, especially during play with their friends, you want to nurture this activity to help them remain fit and healthy as they grow up. Looking into ways that you can promote an active lifestyle without turning it into a chore, or something that they find boring, can help them to enjoy staying active, as well as provide some great opportunities for getting outdoors and spending time together as a family.

Active Toys

Children learn to develop their skills via play, which is why the type of toys that you buy your child can impact their growth tremendously. To encourage your child to engage in more active or outdoor play, you may want to consider toys for the right age from Wicked Uncle. This can allow them to begin to discover games or skills that incorporate exercise. Something as simple as a child’s first bike can help them to discover a love of cycling which can be great for both travel and keeping fit. This can also allow you to venture out as a family, exploring the local area, with the journey becoming part of the adventure. 

Clubs

As your child grows up and starts school, a number of clubs may be offered to them, both by their learning provider as well as other institutions. Encouraging your child to sign up for sports clubs can enable them to learn more about social interactions and keep fit. Some other clubs your child may join might also provide them with life skills, such as the ability to swim. Children can often make lifelong friends by taking part in these clubs, as well as developing their abilities. Many children who attend sports clubs from when they are young often go on to continue enjoying and participating in that sport, even into adulthood.

Combination with a Balanced Diet

While keeping active is important for your child to grow up fit and healthy, their diet cannot be neglected. Even when undertaking exercise, poor food choices can still cause weight gain, as well as other health problems which may affect their enjoyment and longevity. By providing your child with correctly portioned food, rich in lean proteins, healthy fats, and plenty of fruit and vegetables, you will be enabling them to make better food choices as they grow up, as well as to provide their insides with the correct vitamins and minerals they require to function properly. It is also important, after activity, that you do not overcompensate by giving them an increased number of calories. 

While processed or greasy food should be kept to a minimum, these may be incorporated into your child’s diet to allow them to practice moderation, as well as to avoid binging on forbidden foods once they reach an age where they have more autonomy over purchasing food.

Considering ways to keep your child active and healthy now can help them to grow up with a good relationship with both food and exercise. 

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