Product Review - The Buggysnuggle

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

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:

1. New parents looking for a nightlight for baby's room


2. 1st birthday present for somebody looking for a "useful" present that the child will also love


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


4. Toddlers who are sacred of the dark

Babysitting Circles

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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!

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!

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...

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

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???

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!

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

Aren't real nappies expensive?

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?

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!

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!

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

Celebrity Mums choose Cosatto

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

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

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!

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!

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

Dribbling Baby? Try Dribble ons

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

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

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

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!

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!

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

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?

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:

1. 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.


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


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


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


5. 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!

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

1. 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!



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



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



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



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



6. 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



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



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



9. 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



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