With the sad demise of Huggies nappies in the UK, we were looking for an alternative – especially as nappies cost so much, we wanted a cost effective option too.

We put Tesco Loves Baby, Aldi’s Mamia and Cheeky Bots nappies, also available at Tesco to the test.

Today I’m reviewing the Tesco Loves Baby range and having already purchased some of the products because I was swayed by the pretty packaging, we were happy to oblige when asked to road test the nappies.

I always stick to a promise to readers, and to myself to post honest reviews and I can honestly say that we haven’t had one leak with Tesco nappies – they’re great.  Some nappies are stiff and uncomfortable, others just feel cheap and the worst ones leak from the sides within a matter of minutes.

We’ve been really happy with both the quality and the price of both the nappies and wipes – and when they look good too it’s an added bonus.

Tesco regularly has baby offers and events so watch out for discounts.  The Clubcard voucher double up scheme has also just started again and you can double up for vouchers redeemable against baby products.

A 36 pack of nappies is currently £5.97 or two for £10.

There’s loads in the range as well as nappies and wipes – bottles, feeding equipment, teething products and dummies to name but a few.

Happy nappy shopping.

This is a sponsored post.  I stick to the Bloggers with Integrity code to post reviews that are as honest as Santa, as useful as Supernanny and as accurate as Carol Vorderman.

Next weekend an amazing three day spectacle in the Chiltern Hills takes place – we’ve not been before and we can’t wait for it – it’s Wood Festival!

We were given a tip off that this family festival shouldn’t be missed so we’re going to spend the day there next Saturday and we’ll be praying to the god of good weather the day before for bright, glorious sunshine.

Nick Cope, the musician (formerly of The Candyskins) is a massive favourite of ours and somewhat of an idol to our four year old, so we won’t miss that!  Think Blur for kids – his tunes are addictively catchy and will have any child mesmerised.

As well as a really exciting musical line up, there are loads of workshops for adults and kids.  We definitely want to find time for willow lantern making and hula hooping!

We’ve always said we’ll start taking the boys to festivals, and wish we had done so sooner – so Wood Festival will be the first of many for our four year old and five month old.  I think this one will be more tie-dye t-shirts rather than glow sticks at the ready.  Bring it on!

Find out more on the Wood Festival website as well as their Facebook page and Twitter stream.

We’ve slipped into bad habits in our house, and even if our mobile phones aren’t on the table when we start eating, they seem to creep over from the worktop, up the table legs and appear by our plates, buzzing and beeping away.

In reality, we can’t seem to switch off long enough to even eat a meal in peace and quiet.  There’s always something we realise we need to check whilst we’re sitting, or show the other person – just quickly, between mouthfuls.

But when it comes to eating out, or eating with friends, is it acceptable to do that?  It’s bad manners really to do it at home when it’s just the two of us at the table, but because we’re both as bad as each other, we let it go.  I think it’s also because it’s often the only chance to catch up with your partner during a day.  These days, alongside a verbal description of what we’ve been up to, we show each other videos we’ve taken along the way, photos, and also tell each other about people’s Facebook or Twitter updates, having a giggle at their misfortune or trying not to feel envious over exotic holiday check ins.

I heard a great idea discussed on the radio recently for keeping people off their phones whilst eating in a restaurant – on arrival everyone puts their phone in a stack in the centre of the table.  The first person who caves in and checks their phone has to pay for dinner – it would certainly make you try harder, especially if you were eating somewhere pricey.

I’d be interested to know if you have phone at the table rules and incentives for making people switch off.

We’re getting so excited – this Saturday we’re off to see Walking with Dinosaurs, The Arena Spectacular at Wembley!  I’ve got high hopes, because our four year old thinks he’s going to see REAL dinosaurs – I’m not worried though, I think he’s going to be amazed.

A bit about the show…

After a worldwide tour seen by over 7 million people in 206 cities, the stunning theatrical event WALKING WITH DINOSAURS – The Arena Spectacular is back!

Internationally renowned designers have worked with scientists to create 20 life-size dinosaurs, including the terror of the ancient terrain, Tyrannosaurus rex! Be amazed and thrilled as the greatest creatures ever to walk the earth return before your eyes.

t’s a dazzling £10,000,000 arena spectacle of unprecedented size and quality set to captivate young and old alike. Marvel at the story of their 200 million year domination of life on earth.Watch them walk. Hear the roar. Be there as they fight for survival and supremacy. From the ripple of their skin to the glint in their eye, you will know the dinosaurs really are back!

Show facts:

• The show has conducted1,746 performances in 206 cities across the globe
• Over 7.3 million people have seen the show since it started
• It takes a team of 3 people to operate 1 dinosaur
• Each large dinosaur weighs approximately 1.6 tons
• 27 trucks (each 73 feet in length) are needed to move the production

Ticket Prices

London (O2 and Wembley)

• £29 (2nd Price)
• £39 (1st Price)
• £49 (Premium seats)

Outside of London

• £25 (2nd Price)
• £35 (1st Price)
• £45 (Premium seats)

We can’t wait! Make sure to visit the Dinosaurs Live website for loads more information.

Don’t forget to check out the Dinosaurs Live Facebook page and Twitter stream.

This is a sponsored post.  We are being given tickets for the show and are extremely grateful.  I stick to the bloggers with integrity code to only post honest and open reviews.

We were recently invited to get involved with Great British Chefs and try out some of their amazing recipes.  Please, please have a look – I love trying new recipes and there are so many good ones here – from bacon roly polies and banana pops to chicken and apple hedgehog rolls and fish fingers in lemonade batter.  Loads of quirky and fun recipes.

Seeing as the weather is finally starting to improve, as well as the fact that Bear (aged 4) is obsessed with ice lollies, we opted to try the mixed berry freezies – full of goodness and easy to make.

Ingredients

• 300g of raspberries
• 150g of strawberries
• 2 tbsp of icing sugar
• 200ml of water

Method

3.

Run the mould or moulds under hot water to loosen the lollies, then remove from the moulds. Serve immediately.

We had great fun blending up the fruit (and eating a few along the way). The next day – for breakfast, Bear tried his freezy and loved it.  Yes they have some added sugar, but I expect far less than shop bought lollies, and you could make eight or ten for the price of a few lollies at the shop.

Next time we may try them without the sugar, I hope he’d still love them as much – although he did enjoy seeing the cloud of icing sugar as we blended it into the fruit puree!

I might try blackberries as well next time.  I was good to explain to Bear how fruit has pips when we sieved them out to leave the pure fruit.

You can use a variety of different lolly moulds - Bear couldn’t quite believe that they came out of the freezer ‘just like a real lolly’!

Enjoy, we loved them.

We have been offered the cost of the ingredients for this post.  I stick to the bloggers with integrity code to post honest and open reviews.

I went to a weaning workshop at the local children’s centre last week.  I’m always impressed at all the free services they offer as well as the drop in messy play, sensory sessions and other groups they put on for a small donation.

So, I went along to find out about weaning – even though Sully is our second, we’ve weaned him early at four months of age after he started refusing a bottle completely and stopped sleeping, so I wanted to find out the best course of action for a young baby.

It did not start well.  The first task was to introduce ourselves, our babies and why we had come along.  I was first and on declaring that I’d already started weaning and explaining why I was met with disapproving raised eyebrows and references to the Department of Health guidelines that you should NOT, NOT, NOT begin weaning before six months.  I was also asked if I had spoken to my health visitor so I meekly said no and that as he was my second I was comfortable trusting my judgement.  I went straight to the bottom of the class.

Everyone else introduced themselves.  I still didn’t seem to move up the class when one mother introduced her five month old daughter who wasn’t weaning yet but had tried an Easter Egg and had enjoyed her first malted milk biscuit.

I couldn’t knock it as I did learn some new things – mainly because the guidelines seem to change from week to week but I’m open to new ideas.  I haven’t taken any of the following as gospel, but these are the things I didn’t know until last week.

1. If you’re expressing breast milk and bottle feeding, you don’t need to sterilise anything.  It’s the bacteria in milk formula that means you have to sterilise.

2. The reason you shouldn’t wean pre-six months is because the stomach has holes in it that don’t close up until this age.  Your baby is also more likely to develop allergies or intolerances if you wean early.

3.  You should start your baby on fruit and vegetable not baby rice or baby porridge as your baby is more likely to have an intolerance to these.

4. Within three weeks of starting weaning at six months of age, your baby should be eating meals like cottage pie and finger foods like broccoli.  

5. Finger foods like carrots can be raw. This really surprised me – I can’t imagine a six month old tackling a raw carrot.  Apparently it’s best not to purée  go straight to lumpy food to get your baby used to it quickly.  

6. Portion sizes should be based on the size of your baby’s fist.

7. If your water doesn’t have fluoride in, you should use a (non-whitening) adult toothpaste.  You should start brushing as soon as your baby gets their first tooth.

8. The latest guidelines suggest you move your child onto semi skimmed milk aged two.  This is due to current child obesity levels.  Personally I think that it’s something quite different that is the cause of our children’s health issues, not that we give them full fat milk.

9.  All children should be given vitamin drops – even babies.  These are free to some families.  I’ve decided not to give our children vitamin drops as I feel quite strongly that they have a healthy balanced diet.  They’re never ill (touch wood) so I don’t think it’s necessary.

10.  Any drinks given to your baby other than milk should be given from a cup or beaker with a spout, not a bottle with a teat.  This is so that they can differentiate and move onto a cup as soon as possible.

So, it was an interesting session.  The biggest piece of advice, apart from the fact that I MUST speak to my health visitor, that I took away is that I should be starting on fruit rather than baby rice.  This surprised me as I saw baby rice as the first logical step of weaning.  However, as we’ve seen no sign of intolerances, I’m still using it, mixed with apple and pear.

We also tasted jars of baby food during the session and I can honestly say I will never be buying Cow & Gate cauliflower cheese or spaghetti bolognese.  I’ve never tasted anything more disgusting.  Babies have taste buds too, so I don’t think I’ll be inflicting that on him!  Sully does however favour their formula.

Finally, the tutor showed the food wheel, broken down into different sized portions based on what quantities of fruit, vegetables, carbs, fats etc children should have in their diet.  Unfortunately the fats section included chocolate, burgers and coke – she had to clarify that these were not suitable for babies.  Just in case you were wondering…..

When you become a parent, you develop a bit of a tupperware habit.  I’ve also realised this week that I am definitely a grown up as I have a tendancy to decant dry goods into pretty jars or plastic containers – herbs and spices, gravy granules (yes I cheat) and even baby formula.

Ready for back to school, we’ve been putting Sistema sandwich boxes and drinks bottles to the test.

As soon as we unpacked the boxes, our four year old (Bear) insisted we add name labels and sit down for a packed lunch.  So we did.  First, we packed up the Slimline Quaddie which has lots of compartments – a big section underneath ideal for sandwiches and a banana, and three smaller compartments on the top.  One contains a small square drinks bottle.  Daddy has one of these lunchboxes for work, and uses the bottle for sauce for his pasta, stir fry or salad, so Bear insisted on having ketchup in his.

We added cucumber, a satsuma, crisps and a strawberry whoopie pie to the other sections – and then we ate.

We also put the Squeeze Bottle to the test which is simple, slimline and has an easy twist opening and can be squeezed as the name suggests. It does what it says on the tin really.  And importantly, it doesn’t leak.

Finally, we tried out the Lunch Cube, which again has great compartments and is ideal for kids lunches or adults. With a sandwich section in the bottom and two compartments in the top, it fits everything in neatly.

Having sections in lunch boxes means you can cut down on waste – there’s less need for foil or film because everything is kept in its place.

Age four also seems to be a particularly picky and fussy age – our son seems to be as fussy about the contents of his lunch box as he does about the box itself.  These were a hit so we’re happy!

There are plenty of places to buy Sistema products in the UK.  And the prices are very reasonable too – £5 for the Slimline Quaddie lunch box on Amazon.

You can find out more about the Sistema story in this video…

<iframe src=”http://player.vimeo.com/video/32242002&#8243; width=”400″ height=”300″ frameborder=”0″ webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen>
We were sent these Sistema products to review. I stick to the bloggers with integrity code to post honest and open reviews.

I’ve always loved scouring charity shops and being on maternity leave has given me more time to browse the high street – after spending time with my gorgeous boys, it’s one of the things I’ll really miss when I go back to work – alongside lazy afternoons in Costa, having time to plan what’s for dinner and never having to sit in rush hour traffic.

As well as charity shop bargains, the age of the iPhone has made it incredibly easy to shop on eBay and Gumtree.  Combined, it really means you don’t have to buy anything new or full price. It’s made me think about buying clothes and other things in a whole new way. If I see something in a shop, I’ll always check online for a second hand version first.

It’s also made me question the way we buy gifts. How would you feel if you received a present that was second hand? From a charity shop for example?  What if, rather than high street vouchers or a top from Next for example, it was a beautiful cup and saucer that the sender knew was perfectly you?  Buying second hand means you get more for your money as well as something unique, with history – and matched perfectly to the recipient.  What if you bought a child a gift from a charity shop and your child gave it to them at their party?  It should be fine right, but would the parents approve?

My absolute favourite is Helen and Douglas House – especially their vintage shop in Summertown just outside Oxford town centre.  It’s well worth travelling to.  Buying second hand clothes means that you can afford to buy better brands.  A pair of Jigsaw trousers from Oxfam may set you back around the same as a pair of New Look trousers for example.  The second hand Jigsaw trousers will last you forever despite having a previous owner whereas the New Look pair will last a season, maybe two.

I picked up some baby gifts for a friend who has just had a little girl – an Old Navy crocheted top from Scope and a pair of handmade booties from the Animal Sanctuary.  I know that she’ll appreciate them, where they came from and that they’re just a little different to the other gifts she’ll receive.  That’s what I’m hoping.

What are your thoughts about buying second hand clothes – and gifts?  Let’s not forget, at the same time as getting a bargain, you’re helping a good cause.  Clothes with good karma!

Images: Top – Old Navy cardigan £1.50 Scope, knitted booties 50p Animal Sanctuary.  Middle – hat with blush £5 eBay, butter dish Blue Cross £8.95.  Bottom – Baby K t-shirt £1.50 Helen & Douglas House, French Connection blouse £6 eBay.

I hadn’t realised until recently how much time we spend sitting at our dining room table. So being able to have Sully, our newborn at the table with us has been fantastic.

There are some baby necessities you just can’t predict needing but I guarantee that for anyone with an older child, especially of school age, this is just invaluable.

We’ve been using the Stokke Tripp Trapp highchair with the added newborn set since Sully was born. He used to sleep in it and now he sits with us while we have breakfast, lunch, do homework, play board games and watch silly videos on the iPad. He’s always a part of everything we do which I love.

The whole Stokke philosophy is based around connection – The Xplory pushchair has a high seat which faces you on eye level and without getting overly slushy, it really is amazing how much more involved you are with your baby on a daily basis when you can push them around and communicating with them. Even if it is just ridiculous cooing faces in those early months.

We’ve just started weaning Sully and the newborn seat is perfect for that too. It’s comfortable for a small baby yet upright enough for feeding. We’ll shortly move to the baby set having used one at Barefoot Books today and realising that he’s big enough to sit in it.

The Stokke Tripp Trapp is an investment – you can use it from birth right up to adult by moving through the newborn set, baby set and then just using the wooden chair and moving the slats down.

I really can’t recommend this highly enough. Of all the products I’ve ever bought or reviewed as a parent, this is just a huge must have. I absolutely love it and love having Sully sitting right with me.  I’m looking forward to seeing him grow up with it.

You can read my review of the Stokke Xplory here.

Watch the Tripp Trapp video too…

We were sent the Tripp Trapp to review along with the newborn and baby sets. I stick to the bloggers with integrity code to post honest and open reviews.

I experienced something new today as a parent – and it wasn’t a nice feeling. That feeling of the burning eyes of other mothers glaring at you, secretly saying ‘that woman’s child is a total pain’ to themselves.

It’s a feeling we’ve all had about someone’s child if we’re totally honest.  Come on – the one at the soft play centre who is throwing balls really hard at other children and won’t stop. The one in the cafe who keeps kicking the seats. The one at the park who won’t let anyone else on the swing.

This morning it was my turn to experience what it’s like to be that kid’s parent. We went to Barefoot Books, a fantastic book shop in Oxford which puts on story time, craft activities and singing and dancing.

Initially he didn’t want to do the singing and dancing but we dragged him in knowing full well that as soon as he sat down he’d want to join in. And join in he did – he sat right next to the lovely teacher – so close he was pretty much on her lap.

He then spent the next 45 minutes interrupting her, talking the loudest, vying to answer every question she asked first and pulling faces that if I’m really honest, grated on me too.

And I only made it worse. I spent the entire time whispering very loudly to him to sit down, give the teacher space, let someone else speak, stop interrupting and calm down.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to quash his enthusiasm and I’d far rather he was hyper than really shy and clung to me – but there was a middle ground where he fell and it was a very happy, comfortable place.

Up until very recently he was chatty, sociable and polite. Today he was testing. I could feel the other parents looking at me. Some with pity, others with a look of ‘thank god you not me’.

If I’m 100% frank, I was glad when it was over.

We retreated downstairs for  face painting, however my trauma was set to continue. He was practically on the face painters chair hanging over her shoulder while she tried to paint someone else’s face. When it came to his turn, the face painter had to ask him numerous times to stop talking so she could do him up as Spider-man - which aptly, by the end of the day looked more like the devil.

If you’ve experienced anything like this, do tell me – PLEASE! And share your wise words of encouragement and advice. Before I put him on Gumtree with all of my beloved clothes that are too small.

p.s. I put ‘problem child’ as a tag which sounds a bit harsh, but it sprang to mind far too readily to be excluded.