Tag Archives: parenting

Frost Loves: ‘Things I Wish I’d Known’ by parenting influencer Emily Norris

Posted on by

* The long-awaited book from the undisputed doyenne of mum-hacks, Emily Norris *

THINGS I WISH I’D KNOWN:

My hacks for a tidy home, happy kids and a calmer you

Things I Wish I’d Known is the go-to guide for easy and original mum hacks and habits. Packed with honest, gimmick-free and relatable advice to create a more harmonious family life from the much-loved influencer with over a million followers, Emily Norris, it’s the ultimate parenting guide.

Like Emily Morris I am a mum-of-three children. It is full-on and a happy chaos. Parenting is joyful and full of the highest of highs, but it is also hard and relentless. Anything that can make your life easier can make a huge difference. Emily Norris’s book is full of absolute gems I will be incorporating into my life. From slow cooker hot chocolate stations to rainy day hacks Emily Norris is a master of the lifestyle hack.

Things I Wish I’d Known is a fantastic resource to elevate your life and make parenting easier. Few people enjoy doing housework and there is plenty in this book to make it easier. The book is broken into sections and is easy-to-read and find whatever gem you loved again. This book is fantastic resource for parents and I can’t recommend it enough.

“Being a parent is hard. It can be boring and lonely and stressful and it’s OK to say that out loud. But I truly believe that even the mundane side of motherhood can actually be rather lovely: there is joy to be found even in the mundane.

My motherhood journey hasn’t always been plain-sailing. I’d gone from being a busy marketing director to just ‘mummy’. I loved being a full-time mum to my boys, but I missed the adult interaction I’d had at work and, as a result, my self-confidence took a knock. One thing I really enjoyed was getting tips and ideas from other mums on YouTube. Picking up simple tricks while juggling the ups and downs of motherhood saved me precious time, energy and money – they even saved my sanity on more than one occasion!

Every single hack and habit I’ve written about has been tried and tested on my own family and I hope make Things I Wish I’d Known the ultimate go-to resource for all things parenting – and I hope helps make your everyday a little easier.” – Emily Norris

Things I Wish I’d Known is separated into five sections. The first four – Home Sweet Home, Food, Glorious Food, Travel & Holidays, School Rules – are split into two parts: one for hacks (a quick, clever, and often fun solution to a parenting problem and something you can implement right away) and another for habits (a longer term, behavioural and routine-based remedy focussed on running your household as efficiently as possible).

·       Rainy day remedies including boredom beating activities such as mess-free painting, the painters’ tape assault course and learning ping-pong

·       Nifty ways to tackle that housework to-do list, from the ‘one touch method’ to the essential cleaning products you can make at home

·       Timesaving culinary tricks you’ll wish you’d known sooner including tips to make mealtimes easy, delicious easy-to-follow recipes for all the family and yummy snack ideas your kids will love

·       The must-read guide to managing the school holidays, from how to survive long journeys, beach hacks and the unexpected essentials you’ve got to take with you

·       Top hacks for the school routine, including time-saving tips for navigating the dash to the school gates, hassle-free homework and co-ordinating those extra-curricular activities 

In the fifth and final section, Emily looks at some of the ‘bigger picture’ issues around parenting, often discussed on her channel, such as sleep, boundary pushing and post-baby relationships with partners.

And sprinkled throughout the pages are Emily’s ‘Moment For You’ ideas to encourage busy mum’s to press pause on everything else and prioritise yourself for a little while.

Emily Norris, mum of 3 and YouTuber, has been creating positive, upbeat and sanity-saving content for mothers with young families around the world since 2014. She has created a space on the internet to support others in navigating the highs and lows of motherhood through sharing her infamous hacks and habits, all designed to create a more harmonious life for any family.

With over a decade of experience Emily has built a community of over a million followers cementing her reputation as a trusted voice within the industry. Emily is an ambassador for industry giants P&G and has partnered with household brands including, Disney, Microsoft, Sky,Dyson, Google, Tesco, EGO, KiwiCo and HelloFresh to name a few. Emily shares her raw and honest take on motherhood and is an advocate for ‘doing your best’ and is regularly praised by the mainstream media for her ‘mind-blowing’ and ‘genius’ hacks.

Emily’s community spirit was the inspiration behind her YouTube series ‘Hack your Home’. Putting her hacks and habits into practice, the series see’s Emily clean and re-organise the homes of those in need of a helping hand. Emily and her husband Matt have recently completed their dream home renovation which they documented across their home account @emilynorrishome.

Things I Wish I’d Known: My hacks for a tidy home, happy kids and a calmer you by Emily Norris will be published on 7 March 2024 (Ebury, Hardback, £16.99)

“I would wet myself in fear”: Mum reveals terrifying abusive childhood and vows to ‘end shouting’

Posted on by

Shouting is still controversial, but recent studies show the impact of shouting at children can be ‘just as harmful as hitting them’
abusive, childhood, shouting, www.LETSTOPSHOUTING.com, , anxiety, end shouting, shouting

After becoming a parent, qualified therapist Yasmin Shaheen-Jaffar decided it was finally time to break the “historical pattern” of abuse she had suffered as a child, rendering her “anxiety-ridden” in adulthood.

“Shouting can trigger violence. I was shouted at a lot as a child and it often turned into physical abuse. This made me grow up into quite a nervous adult, and also avoidant of conflict which has brought a whole host of issues I’ve had to overcome”.

Children suffering from verbal and physical abuse often develop a low self-esteem and self-image, and a negative worldview. But the consequences aren’t all psychological.

“This is really embarrassing to admit, but when I was shouted at as a child I would be so frightened that I would wet myself. This just caused me even more shame and made me feel like I couldn’t tell anyone. The fear paralysed me”.

When Yasmin became a parent herself, she felt it was important to stop shouting and instead foster a “healthy communicative relationship” with her child so that the pattern would never be repeated again. This decision was reinforced further when she suffered a personal loss.

“Someone very close to me committed suicide a few years ago. It made me realise within all that shouting that so often happens in everyday life – the real issues get buried. I think quite often the shouting ends up being a distraction”.

After committing herself to ending shouting and encouraging “healthy ways to have difficult conversations”, Yasmin launched World Let’s Stop Shouting Day in an effort to share her experience with parents on the effects shouting can have on their children.

“Children model their behaviour on the people around them. It’s not always easy, but if you don’t want your child to turn to shouting as a way of communicating, and everything that comes with it, you need to change your own behaviour first. It can feel impossible at times, but with some work it can be done”.

ABOUT WORLD LET’S STOP SHOUTING DAY

The World Let’s Stop Shouting awareness day’s focus is to open the conversation about the impact of aggressive and angry communication on our relationships and physical and mental health. Shouting, as a form of verbal abuse, can often be a trigger for more violent crimes and there should be greater encouragement for healthy debate.

More info here: www.LETSTOPSHOUTING.com

Keeping Your Child Active

Posted on by

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. 

Collaborative post with our brand partner.

Pura Baby Wipes and Nappy Review

Posted on by

There is a lot of guilt when it comes to parenting but thankfully, I can stop worrying about baby wipes thanks to Pura. They also do eco nappies. Yes and yes! We reviewed them both so read on.

pura baby wipes and nappies.


Pura make the most environmentally-friendly nappy possible, without compromising on nappy performance. I love the feel of the nappies and they do not have that chemical smell a lot of brands do. They do not leak and look comfortable (if only babies could talk). I was impressed with the nappies in all areas: look, feel and performance. Pura nappies contain no nasty chemicals, perfumes or allergens.  The materials they are made from include soft sustainable organic cotton for baby’s comfort and a super absorbent core made with certified natural plant fibres.

This is what Pura say: “Our nappies are created with 100% green electricity and no production waste, and our super absorbent core is made with certified natural plant fibres. Wrapped in recyclable packaging, our nappies have been awarded the coveted EU Ecolabel.

Every day, in the UK, 8 million disposable nappies are thrown away. Going the extra (greener) mile, we’re working with the UK’s only nappy recycling company NappiCycle to keep these nappies out of landfill and repurpose the material for use in affordable housing and in notice boards for nurseries, schools and businesses. So, relax and use these nappies knowing you’re striking the best possible balance between a happy planet and a happy baby.

As for the perfect nappy? We’re working on it.”

Pura baby wipes have changed my life. I can now wipe bottoms, or anything else, without plastic and guilt. They do not smell and they can even be flushed down the loo. Pura baby wipes are 100% plastic-free, 100% biodegradable and 100% compostable, made from sustainable plant fibres
· Each Pura wipe contains 99% water and organic aloe vera and no perfume, alcohol or chlorine
· Pura baby wipes are available in flushable, with the Fine to Flush accreditation, and non-flushable options. The baby wipes are suitable for sensitive and eczema-prone skin, certified vegan and are accredited by the British Skin Foundation, Allergy UK, the FSC and the Soil Association
· Pura is the most accredited baby care brand on the market, with a unique, simple labelling system listing the product’s eco-credentials for parents
· The first baby wipes in the UK with a Fine to Flush stamp of approval, and an ambition to be the first Carbon Neutral baby care brand
· The only baby brand to be teaming up with the Woodland Trust to help support the sustainability of the UK’s natural environment
· Pura’s baby wipes are approved by midwives and are dermatologically and clinically tested

We at Frost applaud this and cannot recommend them enough. Frost loves.

Go to  my pura to get yours.

 

 

Love and Comfort with the Baby Carrier Move.

Posted on by

Both of my children spent much of the first years of their lives in a BabyBjörn. I cannot recommend BabyBjörn enough. They are the Rolls-Royce of baby carriers. The Baby Carrier Move is the latest carrier and it has the same high-end engineering as its predecessors.  It is made from an airy 3D mesh fabric that I love, it also dries quickly after washing. 

The Baby Carrier Move is stylish and easy to get off and on, it is also easy to manoeuvre. Another reason I love baby carriers is because I find it easy to breastfeed in them. I put a light breastfeeding scarf over the carrier. You can even do it while you are walking. Freedom for mama. Frost loves. 

BabyBjörn is promoting love and comfort with the ergonomic Baby Carrier Move, a carrier designed for simplicity in the home or out and about, for use from day one, all the way to 15 months. The superior back support and an ergonomic waist belt makes the Baby Carrier Move super comfortable for parents, and as with all BabyBjorn Baby Carriers, little ones love being carried, being close to their parent’s heart as they grow and can explore the world together.
Baby Bjorn, baby sling, Babybjorn, baby carrier,

The baby carrier’s thin and flexible 3D mesh fabric ensures that a newborn baby is sitting in a perfect position and the size of the baby carrier can be adjusted as the baby grows. The soft fabric hugs the baby’s back, legs and hips, and provides good support. For the first five months, the baby is carried facing inwards and then parents have the option of carrying their baby facing outwards. The baby carrier is fully adjustable.

Thirty million babies have been carried in a BabyBjörn Baby Carrier since the very first one – Close to Heart – was launched in 1973. The company, which was founded in 1961, continually develops and simplifies its baby carriers to be able to offer parents babywearing equipment that suits their family. It’s important that a baby carrier adapts easily to the baby’s size and the family’s lifestyle.

 “We have tested Baby Carrier Move with a large number of test families in their home environments and on long walks over a long period in order to make sure that it’s comfortable for both parents and babies.” says BabyBjörn’s Josefin Kleremo, project manager for Baby Carrier Move.

Baby Carrier Move is acknowledged as hip-healthy by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI). https://bit.ly/2IH41b1

BabyBjorn, baby carrier, review, BabyBjorn, reviews

The baby carrier is made of an airy 3D mesh fabric that breathes well and dries quickly after washing. The fabric has been specially developed for BabyBjörn’s baby carriers and meets the requirements of OEKO-TEX 100 Class 1 for safe textiles for babies and toddlers.

Baby Carrier Move is available from www.babybjorn.co.uk in the colours Light Grey, Navy, Anthracite and Sage green. Recommended Retail Price:  £119.99

 

Pura Baby Wipes Launched by Parents on a Mission to Democratise Eco-friendly Baby Care

Posted on by

I am obsessed with Pura, a new brand who make baby wipes that are 100% plastic-free, 100% biodegradable and 100% compostable and are made from sustainable plant fibres.  Guy and Abi Fennell are making parenting green and we at Frost are fully behind them.

Launched from lockdown, Pura is a new, UK based, family-run company that is taking on the environmental challenges of traditional wipes, with the launch of 100% plastic free baby wipes. A massive 90% of the wipes currently sold in the UK contain plastic and they can last over 100 years in landfill, yet the vast majority of consumers don’t realise they are using wipes that contain plastic.

pura founders

For maximum affordability, Pura is “cutting out the middleman” and selling direct-to-consumer with free next day delivery 7 days a week, at a price point that’s comparable to traditional disposable wipes and lower than leading eco-friendly brands. In the first month since launch, Pura received more than 250,000 visits to the website, with 45,000 customer orders.

About Pura wipes:

  • Pura baby wipes are 100% plastic-free, 100% biodegradable and 100% compostable, made from sustainable plant fibres
  • Each Pura wipe contains 99% water and organic aloe vera and no perfume, alcohol or chlorine
  • Pura baby wipes  are available in flushable, with the Fine to Flush accreditation, and non-flushable options.
  • The baby wipes are suitable for sensitive and eczema-prone skin, certified vegan and are accredited by the British Skin Foundation, Allergy UK, the FSC and the Soil Association
  • Launch film with a powerful message has already received 6.6 million views on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZaIcRX6Jxv8
  • Pura is the most accredited baby care brand on the market, with a unique, simple labelling system listing the product’s eco-credentials for parents
  • The first baby wipes in the UK with a Fine to Flush stamp of approval, and an ambition to be the first Carbon Neutral baby care brand
  • The only baby brand to be teaming up with the Woodland Trust to help support the sustainability of the UK’s natural environment
  • Pura’s baby wipes are approved by midwives and are dermatologically and clinically tested

Pura has reduced all its subscription prices by 20%:

  • 100% Plastic Free Flushable Baby Wipes, 70 wipes per pack, 10 packs per case, 700 wipes in total. Subscription price: £19.84 (£1.98 per pack/2.8p per wipe); one time purchase £24.80.
  • 100% Plastic Free Non Flushable Baby Wipes, 70 wipes per pack, 10 packs per case, 700 wipes in total. Subscription price: £18.24 (£1.82 per pack/2.6p per wipe), one time purchase £22.80.
  • For all wipes: free next delivery. Certain postcodes restrictions apply.

 

About Pura

Pura is on a mission to provide high quality eco-friendly yet affordable baby products for all, with plans to launch an eco-friendly nappy range later this year and to launch into Europe.

Pura wasn’t born in a boardroom, but in a home in Cheshire in the North West of England, where founders, and new parents, Guy and Abi Fennell created their vision to disrupt the current baby care market, and make being ‘eco’ affordable for all. Co-founder Guy Fennell, explains; “It’s all about driving change and leaving the right legacy for our children. We’d love to see everyone make the switch to plastic free wipes and we’re working hard to make that happen. Parents too often have to compromise on quality or price for environmental friendliness. We want to empower all families to care for their family, their environment and their budget without compromise.”

Simple, transparent labelling

Founders and new parents Guy and Abi want to empower parents to make informed, eco-friendly decisions so they developed a unique labelling system, breaking down complex accreditations into simple visuals that help parents understand at a glance whether the products are plastic-free, biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, flushable.   They are calling on all brands to start using a system similar to the colour labelling on food, to bring greater transparency.

 Website: https://www.mypura.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mypura/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mypura
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyPura/

Pura is the exclusive partner of Nappicycle, the only UK nappy recycling company, working to maximise the number of disposable nappies that are recycled for use as affordable housing materials and notice boards for nurseries, schools and businesses.

  • The brand is also working in partnership with The Hygiene Bank, a grassroots community initiative that provides personal care products to those who need them across the UK, as well as making both financial and product donations to the NSPCC to help families in need. The brand is also offering a 10% discount to NHS staff on all Pura products, available through the NHS Benefits website.

 

Taking Care of Your Toddler While Staying at Home

Posted on by

Being a parent to a toddler is a hard task. And despite the fact that we’re all mostly home due to the ongoing health crisis, the additional household chores, work, and stress make it even more of a challenge.

parenting, toddler,

Luckily, you can overcome the additional workload by staying organised and getting the respite you need. So here are four tips for taking care of your kids at home during these trying times.

Schedule your day

The first step to balancing your work and parenting load is to create a schedule. How many hours or projects do you have to accomplish in a day? In between those hours, set some time for your toddler’s needs, such as feeding and playing. If you run your own business or are a freelancer like mother-of-two Catherine Balavage, then you can be more flexible with your schedule. Otherwise, your company might require you to work for set hours. In this case, it helps to inform your employer about your situation and send in a tentative schedule. They may even have maternity policies to help you out.

Keep them entertained

Keeping your children entertained allows you to focus on your other tasks. In the Irish Times’ article on keeping children entertained, they mention that toddlers are at that age when they want to ‘feel useful’ and are always in the mood to ‘sort’ stuff. For this reason, you can have them do home-play activities such as cooking and cleaning. Kitchen set toys and even a small broom might keep them occupied for a while. To satisfy their urge to sort, you can leave them with simple activities like arranging laundry into piles or different-coloured pasta into groups. Their curiosity has the potential to keep them entertained for hours.

Go out for some fresh air

Staying cooped up in your home is not good for you or your toddler’s health. If you have a garden, now is the time to maximise it. But if you don’t have one, or are simply looking for a change of scenery, you can always go out for a quick stroll. In case you’re worried, the BBC reports that walks are actually highly encouraged now, as adults can use the time to unwind and boost their immune systems. Of course, you’ll need to take trips sparingly to minimise risk. Additionally, it helps to have the necessary equipment to ensure your child remains even safer and more comfortable during these walks. According to iCandy’s guide to pushchairs, a harness and a parasol can help keep your little one protected while you’re out and about. This ensures that they won’t fall out of the pushchair or get too much exposure to the sun. You don’t need these concerns on top of everything else that’s going on, so being prepared will allow you to make the most of your daily walks.

Prepare meals in advance

Meal prep can take up a lot of time, but it will help you manage your day-to-day schedule if you have your toddler’s food ready in advance. It helps to start prepping during the weekend when you have more time. In this regard, Smart Mom Ideas lists a couple of children recipes you can store in the freezer to be eaten for the entire week. The list includes comfort food like chilli mac, small bites like mini pizzas, as well as bulk meals like casseroles.

The current situation won’t last forever. But until things go back to normal, you have to be able to adapt and work around your situation. It will sometimes be overwhelming, but by keeping these tips in mind, it doesn’t have to be too complicated all the time.

Author’s Bio

Jean Baker is a freelance writer and a mother of two beautiful daughters. She does a lot of reading in her spare time, and has opted for this kind of flexible lifestyle to be there for her kids.

Building Environmental Blocks Together

Posted on by

Magicubes, toys, toy review, magnetic cubes, I can tell how good a toy is by how long my children fight over it. The Magicube was a particular winner as, sometimes, they still do. Building blocks are fun anyway but these Magicubes are magnetic and take building to another level. Literally. You can put one on the side. I highly recommend them. They are innovative and great for learning. 

Magicube is a cutting edge construction system that turns the concept traditional building blocks into something extra “magical”. Developed for different age groups: 1 1/2+ and 3+ the Magicube collection offers complete versatility and flexibility for all age groups. Providing a supply of fun activities that reinforce those basic skills and a hands on approach to learning.

Captivating themes include some of your children’s most loved TV characters such as the Peppa Pig Magicube. Match up the magnetic cubes to build Peppa’s house and garden. Or the Paw Patrol Magicube, build Marshall’s fire truck or Skye’s helicopter, the possibilities are endless.

For a greater understanding of learning principles, the Math & Word Building Magicube offers Maths and Word building activities helping to reinforce a child’s first numeracy and literacy skills, with number and letter recognition, as well as first sums and words.

Geomag’s Free Building Magicube, allows children to explore the freedom of creativity without boundaries, available in sets of 8, 16, 27 and 64 the brightly coloured cubes allow children to build to their heart’s content as the magnetic cubes attach to each other on every side. This simple, fun and creative play activity encourages even the youngest of kids to develop their dexterity.

As part of the prestigious “Editors’ Choice Awards” presented by the British Toy and Hobby Association at this year’s London Toy Fair. From the extensive number of 260 exhibiting companies, Geomagworld’s new initiative, the Green Collection, was among the most voted by journalists present, coming runner-up in the ranking. Alongside the launch of the collection a number of new Maths and Word sets will be available which allow children to observe, create and solve with the basics of STEM learning. Not to mention the new Mix & Match sets depicting animals alongside their favourite foods and home which allows children to make fun combinations and bring these animal creations to life.

For more information on Geomag’s existing and highly anticipated Green Magicube Collection, please visit GeomagWorld.