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Oops-a-baby!
The Baby Show reveals that nearly a fifth of babies to be born in 2010 were not planned. 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.
Results:
• 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.’’, Nicole Muller, Show Director, The Baby Show.
The Baby Show, ExCeL, London, 19-21 February 2010
The Baby Show with Prima Baby returns to London’s ExCeL, between 19 – 21 February 2010, offering an unrivalled shopping experience, parenting advice and great entertainment, as the ultimate day out for new parents and parents-to-be. The Baby Show is the biggest event in the UK dedicated to babies and since 2002 The Show has grown from strength to strength to become a series of hugely successful national events. Leading experts Annabel Karmel and Clare Byam-Cook will be returning to The Show and will be joined by former model and mother of two, Tess Daly; leading authority on parenting, child care, women’s health, Dr Miriam Stoppard OBE and a number of other experts.

 

 

 

Sweet Kisses

If you want your children to have less dental problems when they're older then you should watch what you put in your mouth.

Whilst previous studies have looked at it, a paper out this month published in leading journal - The Journal of Dental Research 1, confirms that women who use gum containing the natural sugar alternative xylitol have children who experience less dental problems at a young age.

Whilst it may seem odd that your dental health affects that of your child's, it is known that bacteria responsible for dental problems (mutans streptococci – MS) are passed from mother to child during normal activities such as kissing or contamination of feeding spoons or dummies by parents.

In the recent study, 107 pregnant women with high salivary MS levels were split into two groups: those using xylitol gum and those not using it. Maternal chewing started at the sixth month of pregnancy and terminated 13 months later. The presence of MS in the saliva or plaque of the children were measured until they were 24 months. The children from the group whose mothers used xylitol were significantly less likely to show MS colonization than control-group children aged 9–24 months and the control-group children acquired MS 8.8 months earlier than those in the xylitol group.

The results of the study are perhaps not surprising. Xylitol (branded as Perfect Sweet in the UK) is widely known to help dramatically reduce MS levels and dental and plaque problems, because it produces an alkaline environment in the mouth when it is broken down, unlike sugar which makes an acidic one, within which MS can't survive. In fact a recent study showed those given two 4g doses of xylitol syrup a day over a 10.5 month period reduced the occurrence of tooth decay dramatically 4. In the study, those given xylitol syrup had an occurrence of tooth decay of just 24.2%, as apposed to 54.7% in the control group. However, due to the nature of experiments on humans the control group were still receiving a small quantity of xylitol syrup rather than a placebo and so the authors concluded:

“Our results suggest that exposure to xylitol (eight grams per day) in a twice-daily topical oral syrup during primary tooth eruption could prevent up to 70% of decayed teeth.”

Because xylitol gum use reduces MS in mothers' mouths there is therefore less to be passed on to their children. So if you want your children to have good teeth, watch what you put in your mouth.

Please note: there no current guidelines on xylitol use in pregnant women.

 

 

Beverley Turner turns to parenting!

Accustomed to life in the fast lane, Former F1 presenter, Beverley Turner, 36, is used to handling life's tests. So when her husband Olympic Rowing sensation, James Cracknell, set off on a race to the South Pole, leaving her to look after their 5 year old whilst pregnant, she was up for the challenge. However James was at Beverley's side when she gave birth to baby daughter Kiki Willow on Mother's Day last year, 'I had a water birth at home using hypno-birthing which was a wonderful experience - James got really involved in the birth and supported me every step of the way - we were so excited to meet our new little girl.'
Beverly gives us her top tips for parenting:

1. Appreciate every little moment

When you have a job you love, it is always hard to take time off. But this time I am trying to appreciate having time with Kiki as a baby, as when Croyde was born I missed out on so much by going back to work so soon. They are only little for such a short space of time that I really want to make the most of it this time.

2. Be prepared for change

At first being a mum was a shock, as you lose your ability to be spontaneous and it does take some getting used to! But saying that it is absolutely brilliant too, such fun. My 5 year old, Croyde, is just hilarious, the things he says are just great, and my biggest joy is just spending time with him. It is challenging and exhausting, but as they get older and become your little pals you realise what it's all for.

3. Make the most of every situation
James going to the South Pole was a decision that we made together this time so we spoke about it and thought long and hard about the impact it would have on all of us. But we made the most of the situation. Croyde really missed his dad, but to make him feel more involved and aware of what was going on I did a talk at Croyde's school and showed them a big map of where James would be going which he loved!

4. Midwives give great advice
Kiki was really colicky and gripey, and would cry after feeding, taking ages to settle after being fed and needing lots of winding. My midwife, the amazing Pam Wild (who also delivered Davina McCall's babies at home), said to try Colief, a simple one week trial of Colief Infant Drops, told me that Kiki's colicky symptoms were caused by lactase deficiency. The midwife also mentioned Colief contains lactase enzyme drops and has no sugars or syrups, unlike other colic cures, so it wasn't bad for babies.

Once I used it Kiki massively improved, her crying has reduced dramatically. It is slightly more effort to use when you are breastfeeding, but it really worked so well that it is worth it. Go to www.colief.com for more information.

5. Breast is so convenient!
Breastfeeding can be really hard but I had good midwife support and was aware of how much better it is for baby's immune system so I stuck with it (it's also so much easier when you are out and about! Kiki has been fed everywhere from disabled loos to car parks!). It was also great as I could still use the lactose enzyme drops when breastfeeding!

 

 

 

Wine back on the menu, thanks to Eisberg

 

Preparing for the pitter patter of tiny feet usually signals the on-set of cravings and a wave good bye to that well-deserved glass of wine.

But now, thanks to Eisberg alcohol free wine, you can push aside the pickles with peanut butter and bring wine back on the menu to raise a toast to making it through the next nine months.

Women nationwide are still enjoying their favourite tipple during pregnancy with Eisberg’s alcohol free range of wines, a red, two whites and a rosé, which all come in Bordeaux-style wine bottles – making it look even more like the real thing.

Spoil yourself and indulge in the UK’s number one brand of alcohol free wine, from a fresh Chardonnay and a crisp honeyed German Riesling to a mellow strawberry Spanish Rosé and a Cabernet Sauvignon.

Produced from real wine, Eisberg has had the alcohol carefully removed through an incredibly gentle process of osmosis – reducing the alcohol by volume (ABV) in all of the wines to less than 0.05%. Eisberg is also low in calories and recognised by Weight Watchers, where a medium glass is worth 0.5 points based on their calculator system.

So, as well as stocking up on baby goodies to welcome your newborn bundle of joy, make sure you treat yourself with your feet up and a bottle of your favourite Eisberg wine.

Our opinion: "We haven't checked out Eisberg for a few years so WOW, what a change! Contemporary bottles would grace any table and have you bemused as to which is the alcoholic version. When you can't drink for whatever reason, this can psychologically make a big difference. You feel you are socialising on an equal level. Eisberh have got the branding spot on. And taste?? ...spot on too! The whole range just works."

 

The Baby Show 2010

 

The biggest and most comprehensive Show dedicated to pregnancy, birth and baby in the UK

19-21 February 2010, ExCeL, London

21-23 May 2010, NEC, Birmingham

22-24 October 2010, Earls Court, London

In 2010 The Baby Show will return to London's ExCeL, Birmingham's NEC and London's Earls Court, offering an unrivalled shopping experience, parenting advice and great entertainment, as the ultimate day out for new parents and parents-to-be

The Baby Show is the biggest event in the UK dedicated to babies and since 2002 The Show has grown from strength to strength to become a series of hugely successful national events. This October's Baby Show in Earls Court was a huge success with over 26,000 visitors attending.
Appearances came from leading experts including Annabel Karmel on nutrition, Clare Byam-Cook on breast-feeding and Dragons' Den's DeborahMeaden offering advice to the growing number of "mumpreneurs''.

Next year's Shows will not only cement The Baby Show's reputation as an essential part of having a baby, they'll also continue to be a great day out for new and expectant parents. Each Show features thousands of must-have products for both parents and babies from the UK's leading brands such as Pampers, Mothercare and Tommee Tippee; expert advice on pregnancy; birth and parenting skills and entertainment for all the family.

 

 

 

New research from Persil reveals British Mums get in a spin over baby’s basics

£96m wasted on throwing stained clothes away

Of all the things on a new mum’s mind when it comes to caring for her new little one, Baby’s wardrobe is an unexpectedly big worry; according to research amongst new mothers by Persil Non-Bio.

85% of UK mums say they’re at a loss over how to best wash their baby’s clothes and concerned about how to ensure dirt and germs are washed away whilst also ensuring cleaning agents don’t affect their new baby’s delicate skin. They end up wasting up to £96mn a year throwing away soiled clothes that could wash-up as good as new.

Washing Woes:
• Of the 4.5 million mothers in Britain confused over washing, 43% are most confused about how to remove the most common stains that come with everyday baby spills and accidents
• Younger mums are most baffled by baby laundry, with 72% of mums in their 20’s being unsure if they should separate babies’ and adults’ clothes
• The biggest concern for all new mums is that their choice of washing detergent may irritate their baby’s skin (56%)
• Despite it only being necessary to wash babies’ clothes at 30 degrees, only 12% of mothers actually use this temperature. A massive 86% use a temperature of 40 degrees or above when doing their children’s clothes as they believe they need to have this heat to sterilise the clothes and get rid of the germs

Wardrobe woes:
• Persil Non-Bio’s study also reveals that the average British mum spends £135 on baby’s layette
• Yet two thirds of these layettes end up being thrown away by new mums when they can’t remove common stains, collectively wasting new mums £96million pounds a year (£135 x 708,711 new mums)
And new mums bemoan the layette of 3 – 4 vests and babygros they’re advised to buy for the new arrival! Thanks to the accidents new babies have, sometimes they go through this number in just one day, ending up with an empty chest of drawers and a full laundry basket for mum!

In response to the research, Persil Non-Bio has developed some tips to address all the issues and also help mums save some money. For the most common washing woes experienced by new mums, Persil Non-Bio expert Wunmi Ademosu recommends:

• Cold-rinse urine stains immediately before washing (or soak dried stains in Persil Non-Bio) then wash normally at the maximum temperature advised by the care label
• With poo stains, remove any excess solid waste and soak in a sterilising solution before finally machine wash as above
• Scrape off as much sick as possible and then rinse well under cold running water. Wash in Persil Non-Bio at the maximum temperature advised by the care label
• Sponge baby milk dribbles with warm water, then wash clothes in Persil Non-Bio
• Use a non- bio detergent such as Persil Non-Bio. This doesn’t contain enzymes and is particularly suitable for your babies’ sensitive skin
• It is absolutely fine to combine baby’s clothes with the rest of the family’s laundry
• Wash at 30 degrees, which will save you money whilst also being eco friendly
• And for the dreaded carrot stains, once you start weaning, sponge with cold water immediately, then wash in Persil Non-Bio powder detergent

Persil Non-Bio is available at all leading supermarkets in 5 formats: Liquigels, powder, tablets, capsules and Small & Mighty concentrated liquid and is effective to use on a 30 degree wash. For more information visit www.persil.com

 

 

The world’s first electronic infant and follow-on formula dispenser – now available

 

The Bottle Buddy, a unique baby formula dispensing product which accurately counts a pre-set amount of powdered infant and follow-on formula into a baby’s bottle is set to revolutionise the way babies’ bottles are made and is now available from JoJo Maman Bébé, Amazon www.amazon.co.uk and from Bottle Buddy www.babybuddy.eu and retails from £34.99.

Breast milk is best for babies but there are a number of reasons why many mothers only breast feed for a short while or supplement breast milk with powdered infant formula, especially as the baby gets older and hungrier.
Parents scoop over 10,000 scoops of baby formula into bottles and it’s easy to make mistakes. Using Bottle Buddy to make up formula feeds eliminates human error when making up formula feeds and reduces the associated health risks of miscounting formula.
Studies carried out by the British Medical Journal have found that miscounting formula can lead to under or overdosing of a baby’s bottle, this is a major concern for health professionals who link this to malnutrition, childhood obesity and colic. Recent research recently released in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism links overfeeding of infants in the first nine months to childhood obesity and states that “overfeeding of formula and early introduction of high-carbohydrate foods, may contribute to metabolic programming, leading to obesity, diabetes, and early cardiovascular disease in humans”
There are a number of signs that indicate that a baby is being fed too much or too little formula
• slower-than-normal weight gain
• diminished urine output
• a loose, wrinkly appearance to baby's skin
• persistent crying
Signs that a baby is being fed too much at each feeding are:
• a lot of spitting up or profuse vomiting immediately after the feeding
• colicky abdominal pain (baby draws his legs up onto a tense abdomen) immediately after feeding
• excessive weight gain

Tests conducted on mothers attending baby clinics who were asked to measure milk powder from a standard packet with the scoop provided by the manufacturers revealed wide variations in the weight of powder obtained, with the highest scoop weight (5.6 g) being double the lowest (2.8g). http://www.babybuddy.eu/news/hazardsOfScoopMeasurements.pdf
Bottle Buddy was invented by a dad, Alan McElligott who often lost count of how many scoops of formula he had put into his baby’s bottle. After one particularly stressful night of trying to comfort a crying, hungry baby and miscounting formula scoops for his baby daughter’s two a.m. feed, Alan started to look for a machine that would accurately dispense the correct amount of formula into a bottle. When, after three days of unsuccessfully looking online and in the shops Alan, a carpenter and builder by trade, invented it himself and the Bottle Buddy was born.

Bottle Buddy is simple to use, BPA free and works at the touch of a button and is dishwasher safe and easy to clean and sterilise.

Bottle Buddy is set to become an indispensible convenience for parents who feed their babies with formula powdered milk.

The Bottle Buddy is available from www.babybuddy.eu and from JoJo Maman Bebe and retails for £34.99.

 

 

More information and more answers for pregnant women:
NEW breakthrough pregnancy test is FIRST to indicate when conception occurred

Clearblue introduce the NEW, breakthrough Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test with Conception Indicator - the FIRST and ONLY home pregnancy test that is so advanced it is capable of telling a woman both if she is pregnant, and indicating when she conceived.

This ground breaking pregnancy test from the UK’s leading pregnancy and fertility brand maintains all the benefits, top accuracy and reliability of the original Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test, but has the unique advantage of the additional ‘Conception Indicator’ feature which answers the second question women ask when they think they might be pregnant.

The desire for a Conception Indicator test was one of the key insights generated from years of qualitative consumer research. Women consistently mentioned how much they wanted to know when they conceived, upon discovering their pregnancy. Quantitative research also reiterated the need for additional information, as women claimed they wanted secondary confirmation of the pregnancy so they had the confidence to begin planning next steps as soon as possible.

How does the test work?
Once a fertilised egg implants in the uterus wall a woman’s body produces the pregnancy hormone, hCG. This rapidly increases during the early weeks of pregnancy and is present in urine. It is this hormone that pregnancy tests detect when confirming a positive result.

The new test works in a similar way but it has Smart Dual Sensor? technology so instead of one hormone sensor inside the device, there are two. If hCG is present, signifying a ‘Pregnant’ result, the combination of both sensors monitoring the concentration of hCG estimates when conception occurred, providing the unique Conception Indicator result.

How are results shown?
When urine is applied to the absorbent sampler the test is activated and automatically calibrates itself. A ‘Wait’ symbol on the LCD display screen indicates the test is working. Within three minutes an easy to read result is displayed.

If the test is positive, ‘Pregnant’ will be indicated in words on the display along with the Conception Indicator result. This is displayed as an estimate of how many weeks have occurred since conception: 1-2 weeks, 2-3 weeks or 3+ weeks. It is the Smart Dual Sensor™ technology that makes the Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test with Conception Indicator the only pregnancy test capable of delivering two results.
If the result is negative the user will see a ‘Not Pregnant’ reading only on the screen.

No test is more accurate
Extensive clinical studies have pinpointed the different levels of hCG required to estimate when conception occurred. Dr Jayne Ellis, Director of new product development comments: “The Conception Indicator is something we have been researching for a number of years, and the final product is unique. We are excited to be able to offer women more valuable information about their pregnancy as soon as the ‘pregnant’ result is confirmed.”

In laboratory tests, Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test is more than 99% accurate in detecting pregnancy, when used from the day the period is due. The Conception Indicator result is 92% accurate at indicating when a woman conceived, and when using the first urine of the day. As with the original Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test, the ‘Conception Indicator’ is a one-step rapid test designed to be used once before disposal.

NEW Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test with Conception Indicator will be available from July 2008, RSP £9.99 (1 stick), RSP £13.99 (2 sticks).

 

 

 

Ocado Asks Mums What They Want After Their “Special Delivery”

Ditch the flowers, chocolates and champagne – all mums really want after giving birth is a decent, home-cooked meal, with a juicy steak and chips being the number one choice.

Ocado, the independent online grocer, has been working with Mumsnet, the UK’s most popular forum for mums, and found that 62%* of new mums craved a wholesome, home-cooked meal above anything else after birth, particularly if they didn’t have to do the cooking.

As the stress of parenthood kicks in, women admit to the decline in preparing home-cooked food. Pre-pregnancy, 90% of dinners are home cooked, sliding to 40% post birth as mums reach for the ready meals, which see an increase in usage of 65% from pre to post birth.

With the aim of providing new mums with a package of essentials for post birth, Ocado has been working with Mumsnet to find out which products were needed to make mums’ lives easier, with the aim of selling them as part of their ongoing product development. Over 1500 Mumsnet users responded with the need for two survival packs, packaged as post-birth Essentials and new mum Luxuries bundles.

Mumsnet told Ocado its ‘Essentials’ bundle must include the necessary items for new mums and their babies, including, Sudocrem, Infacol and chocolate cupcakes and shortbread – deemed essential, according to mums!

The Luxuries Mumsnet users picked out include a magazine to get through the night-time feeds, indulgent bubble bath, and soothing hand cream and a supply of chocolate goodies and sweets.

Jason Gissing, founder of Ocado says: “As a dad of two I’ve seen my wife’s post-birth cravings first hand. In those first weeks after giving birth a home cooked meal is invaluable. I’m delighted that Ocado has listened to the needs of mums and is offering a service that can help make their lives a little easier.”
* 1500 respondents took part in the research

Acupuncture proves fertile ground for a healthy conception
Acupuncture and Fertility

Can acupuncture really increase a woman's chances of conceiving? Research has found that acupuncture treatment can have a positive effect on those trying for a baby and can actually aid the conception process. Over the past twenty years, fertility problems have increased dramatically. At least 25* percent of couples in the UK planning a baby will have trouble conceiving, and more and more couples are turning to fertility treatments to help them start a family.

Fertility focused acupuncture treatment can help to increase blood flow to the reproductive organs, balance hormone levels, regulate the menstrual cycle and help improve the lining of the uterus and quality of eggs released. Additionally, conditions such as polycystic ovaries and endometriosis have also been shown to improve with acupuncture

Men today also face fertility problems. Benefits to male fertility have been helped by acupuncture with positive effects on sperm count, morphology and mobility.

Some of the positive effects of acupuncture in fertility treatment are thought to include:
• regulate the menstrual cycle and promote regular ovulation
• regulate the hormones to produce a larger number of follicles
• improve the functions of ovaries to produce better quality eggs
• enhance the vitality of sperm
• relieve the side effects of drugs used in IVF
• increase the thickness of the uterine lining so to encourage successful implantation
• reduce the chance of miscarriage

It is known that stress has an adverse effect on the fertility hormones. Acupuncture can be used to strengthen the constitution, thus enabling couples to cope with any stress and anxieties they may experience during the process of trying to start a family. The acupuncture treatment can help promote a calm, positive, relaxed frame of mind which can bring a more successful outcome for conception.

Gerad Kite, acupuncturist and British Acupuncture Council member explains how it can help: “Unexplained infertility is becoming endemic as more and more couples decide to wait to start a family until their 30’s. Acupuncture has now been recognised as a viable treatment to help this patient group increase their chances of conception. The treatment supports the person by finding the key that will unlock the natural healing mechanism that not only brings balance to their system but can dramatically increase fertility”.

Research

Previous studies have proved the effectiveness of acupuncture for infertility.

A recent international study published in the British Medical Journal found that acupuncture given with embryo transfer can improve rates of pregnancy by 65% in women undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

A 2004 study conducted by the Reproductive Medicine and Fertility Center in Colorado found that 51% of women who underwent both IVF and acupuncture treatment at the same time became pregnant, while only 36% of those who only underwent IVF did. The latter group also had higher rates of miscarriage and stillbirth (20%) compared to those women who had received acupuncture (8%).

A 2005 study conducted by Shanghai University in China found that acupuncture also helped treat male infertility. Of the men who participated, those who had acupuncture had an increased percentage of sperm in their semen; their sperm structure and morphology was also healthier than their counterparts who did not undergo acupuncture infertility treatment.

A report published in the journal Fertility and Sterility (2002) found the pregnancy rate in the group receiving acupuncture group was 42.5%, compared to the group which did not receive the therapy, where the rate was 26.3%.

To find your nearest qualified British Acupuncture Council practitioner please visit www.acupuncture.org.uk or call 020 8735 0400

 

 

 

Maybe Baby or Highly Unlikely?
British attitudes swayed by celebrity fertility struggles

New research1 conducted by Clearblue suggests that more than one in five (23%) Britons may have actively changed their own plans to start a family because they have been influenced by high profile celebrities’ struggles to conceive.

According to the survey, 82% of people feel that the endeavours of celebrities such as Kylie Minogue, Courtney Cox and Nicole Kidman to have children have highlighted the reduced chances older women may face of becoming pregnant naturally.

Kylie’s widely publicised desire to start a family has resonated with almost half of those surveyed (46%) and over a third (38%) has reconsidered their own fertility timeline as a result. Comparatively, only 34% of people are influenced by friends and family who have struggled to conceive.

Consequently, 92% of people questioned felt that age 30 and under is the perfect age to have children. Almost a quarter (24%) felt that 25 years old was the ideal age to start a family. Over half (51%) worry they may have left it too late for a trouble-free conception.

Older celebrities’ openness about their fertility problems has led many people (65%) to feel that young celebrity mums, such as Charlotte Church and Katie Price, are increasingly influencing younger generations to have children earlier. The most popular ‘young mum’ role model is Myleene Klass who became pregnant with her first child at the age of 28.

Adam versus Eve
The research also highlights that men have not been blind to the influence of celebrity fertility issues. In fact, 73% of male respondents said celebrity conception problems have really hit home with over a third (34%) saying they have reviewed their own plans to start a family as a result..
Regional Reactions
People in the North East are most likely to be influenced by celebrity fertility woes – as many as a third of them have actively changed their own plans to have a family because they have watched older celebrities struggle.

Proactive Procreation
It seems Brits are taking heed - the fertility related diagnostics market is booming. Recent sales figures of Clearblue’s conception-aiding products are a testament to this. Sales of the Clearblue Fertility Monitor, proven to increase the chances of conception by 89% within the first two cycles of use2, have shot up since its launch in 2005, with one monitor now sold every hour in the UK, while Clearblue’s Digital Ovulation Test has seen a 36% growth compared to last year.

Renowned psychologist, Dr Sandra Wheatley, comments: “Nowadays we are exposed to celebrities personal woes more than we are involved in our own family’s difficulties. Celebrities are perceived to be very much in control of their lives and they have the added factor of being attractive. This combination of intimate knowledge, regular contact, perceived control and high attractiveness makes them a potentially powerful influence when we are decision making. The message that having a baby is a diminishing opportunity for all women as every day passes is a powerful one and one it would be beneficial not to dismiss.”

 

 

I’M A BIG KID NOW!

Big Kid by Day, Big Kid by Night
with NEW HUGGIES® Pull-Ups® Night-Time

Although often a challenge, potty training is a key milestone to becoming a ‘big kid’ and nothing beats the sense of achievement that you and your toddler feel when you master this new turning point.

Luckily HUGGIES® Pull-Ups® pants are at hand to make the potty training process easier. Your little one can pull them up and down like normal underwear to help them feel like a big kid. They are absorbent enough to protect against little accidents whilst your child is learning to potty train and have interactive learning designs that fade when wet, so you can engage with your big kid and learn together.

However, most mums put their little ones back into nappies at night-time for extra absorbency. This can be confusing for a child who has taken pride in his mum congratulating him on successfully using the potty and can lead to him taking a few steps backwards. If only there was a potty training pant specially designed for night-time…

Thanks to an exciting, new innovation from HUGGIES® you can now be more consistent in the potty training process from day to night with new HUGGIES® Pull-Ups® Night-Time Potty Training Pants. This pioneering product will help your little kid continue to feel like a big kid at night-time. They absorb as well as a nappy for a good night’s sleep but like big kid’s underwear your child can pull them up and down, maintaining the feeling of independence that he enjoys during the day.

HUGGIES® Pull-Ups® Night-Time Potty Training Pants are so easy to pull up and down, your child can go to the potty like a big boy or girl before going to bed and go to sleep feeling proud that they are a big kid.

HUGGIES® Pull-Ups® Night-Time Potty Training Pants come in distinctive night-time packaging and are generally designed with Disney Toy Story graphics for boys and Princesses for girls.

HUGGIES® Pull-Ups® Night Time Potty Training Pants are available in two sizes: Size Medium (9-15kg, 19-34lbs) for 14 pants, £4.98 and Size large (14-18kg, 32-40lbs) for 12 pants, £4.98

For more information on stocking HUGGIES® Pull-Ups® Night Time Potty Training Pants, please call KC customer services on 0800 626 008.

 

 

Great British classic baby travel experts, Silver Cross first choice for Jennifer Lopez
as she appears in public for the first time with her new son and daughter in People Magazine (USA)

Jennifer Lopez appeared for the first time in USA publication People Magazine this week with her new twins and has been pictured using the Great British ‘Rolls Royce of prams’ Silver Cross to convey them both.

Jennifer Lopez has chosen baby travel experts Silver Cross to convey her twins firstly in the heritage design and traditional favourite of the Royal family, the Silver Cross Balmoral. For her first choice of pushchair, Jennifer Lopez has also picked two ultra stylish and beautiful, fast becoming modern day classics, Silver Cross Dazzle lightweight pushchairs.

The Silver Cross Dazzle is already a favourite with the ‘A-list’ with fans including Maggie Gyllenhaal, Brooke Shields, Julianna Margulies, Jaime Pressly and Jessica Alba (who has picked a Dazzle for her up coming baby shower) and of course British Silver Cross fan, Charlotte Church who was recently pictured with the Silver Cross Balmoral also has a Silver Cross Dazzle lined up.

 

 

 

FREE ‘Guide to healthy eating in pregnancy’

After the initial excitement of discovering they are pregnant, the thoughts of every mum-to-be turn to the care and welfare of their unborn child and diet plays a vital role in ensuring the health of their baby. But what can you eat? With the wealth of different nutritional information available, it can be difficult to sort the fact from the fiction – particularly when you receive conflicting information from well meaning friends and relatives.

Maggie Evans dispels some of the myths around what you can and can’t eat when pregnant with her FREE ‘Guide to healthy eating in pregnancy’: “This leaflet contains information for mothers-to-be on why a carefully balanced diet is important for their unborn baby, how much to eat and which foods to avoid during pregnancy. It highlights the top nutrients required, why they are needed and which foods they can be obtained from. It also addresses how to combat pregnancy discomforts via diet and how particular cravings can identify a lacking of certain nutrients.”

As many as 68% of pregnant women will experience cravings, such as ice cream and pickles, or even some non-food items such as dirt or coal! Some pregnant women experience irrepressible cravings for chocolate and this could mean that you may be slightly anaemic (lacking in iron). Dark chocolate in particular, can be a useful source of magnesium and iron, whereas milk chocolate actually tends to inhibit the absorption of iron.

There is also a condition called pica, where a person craves and consumes non-food substances, such as coal, dirt, laundry soap, starch, hair, and matches. The name pica, comes from the Latin word Magpie, a bird known to eat nearly anything.* There are several theories about pica – including many about it being linked to iron deficiency or to other elements missing from your diet.

During pregnancy the demand for iron is increased as the foetus and placenta need their own supply of iron which can only be obtained from the mother*. In addition to eating iron rich foods, mothers-to-be can boost their iron intake with Spatone - a unique 100% natural iron containing spa water found in the Welsh mountains of Snowdonia National Park.

Spatone has been clinically proven to have 40% bioavailability**, compared to only 5 – 20% from food and other iron supplements. Spatone comes in convenient one-a-day sachets, which should fulfil 100% of the body’s iron requirement, particularly if taken with orange juice. The body takes as much iron as it needs and the rest is quickly rejected without side effects.

The FREE ‘Guide to healthy eating in pregnancy’, in association with Spatone™, is available to download at www.spatone.com, by calling 0800 7311740 or e-mailing your name and postal address to info@spatone.com.

 

FIRST RESPONSE LAUNCHES FREE MIDWIFE HELPLINE

Health News: Got a Question About Pregnancy? Want To Speak To A Midwife? Log on to the FREE First Response Midwife Helpline.

Whether you’re thinking about pregnancy, actively trying or just need some professional advice, as of today you can now email your questions to a team of fully trained midwives FREE thanks to First Response.

Launched online at www.firstresponsefertility.com this new Midwife Helpline gives people the chance to email a midwife direct, as often as they like. Whether its conception concerns, diet advice, medical worries or finding out your healthcare entitlements, the free service provides confidential advice and information on all issues from conception to birth and beyond.

Parents, especially those trying for the first time, are information-hungry. NHS shortages and the increasing strain on midwives often leaves parents worried about taking up too much of their midwife’s time. This new resource aims to relieve some of the pressure on midwives by supplying accurate information and answering concerns direct.

The site will also anonymously database all questions and answers so you may find your answer before emailing a midwife. For those women trying to conceive, there is also a special section dedicated to conception which offers a plethora of useful tips and advice on baby making.

First Response says, “Our Midwife helpline offers people in the UK a fast track to the reliable information they need. Anyone can email a question directly to the helpline and in a short time will receive a personalised reply. We anticipate a great demand for this kind of personalised service and hope this new communication route helps relive NHS pressure.”

 

 

MOVE OVER YUMMY MUMMIES
TOMY CAMPAIGN PUTS DISHY DADDIES CENTRE STAGE

Calling all new daddies! Tomy today announces it is teaming up with leading parenting magazine, Prima Baby, to launch a nationwide search for the UK’s dishiest new daddy – a true ‘Daddy Idol’. The nursery experts are looking for a gorgeous new Dad to be the ‘face’ of their brand new, stylish Freestyle carrier range.

Up for grabs is a real money-can’t-buy prize – the chance to star in the 2008 national print advertising campaign for thealready award winning Tomy Freestyle Carrier range, launched this Autumn.

The new Tomy Freestyle carrier range has been designed to have strong unisex appeal and is ideally suited to active dads as it’s been endorsed by chiropractors thanks to its innovative ‘back friendly’ features and comfortable ride for babies.Joanne Gray, European Business Head for Tomy Nursery comments: ‘Brad Pitt, David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Jamie Oliver, Heath Ledger - the list of Dishy celebrity Dads is endless. But we reckon there must be plenty of real life ‘Daddy Idols’ out there too and we think it’s about time they took centre stage!'

‘We know how much new Dads love carrying their babies. It’s a great bonding time and of course a perfect opportunity for proud Dads to do a bit of natural showing off. So with a great new carrier range to advertise, it makes sense for us to feature the UK’s dishiest real life new Dad in our new campaign. Now we just need the public’s help to find him!’

Elaine Griffiths, Editor of Prima Baby magazine said: ‘Ever since the famous L’Enfant Athena poster, we’ve been convinced of the special appeal of seeing a proud Daddy with their new baby. We’re excited about finding this generation’s ultimate dishy Dad so we can re-create that swoon factor all over again!’

As well as being the new face of Tomy’s Freestyle carrier advertising campaign and featuring in Prima Baby, the chosen ‘Daddy Idol’ will win a night for two at a top London hotel, £200 spending money, travel expenses, a Freestyle Premier carrier from Tomy’s brand new carrier range and a hamper full of gorgeous Tomy baby and toddler toys.

Any Daddy that has had a new baby since 7 December 2006 or who has a baby before 7 December 2007 is eligible to enter the Tomy ‘Daddy Idol’ search. Entering couldn’t be simpler. Daddies or their proud partners, parents or friends, simply need to visit www.tomy.co.uk/daddyidol or pick up a copy of the November issue of Prima Baby (on sale now), complete an entry form, send off their pictures and cross their fingers!

Nine regional finalists will be selected for the ‘Daddy Idol’ finals with the overall winner being decided by an online public vote. Online voting will go live on www.tomy.co.uk/daddyidol on 25 January 2008.

 

 

SELLOUT EUROPEAN RANGE MAKES UK DEBUT IN TIME FOR WINTER MONTHS

An innovative design team in the Netherlands has created a new collection of gorgeous baby products using microfibre suede and ultra soft plush shearling*. Created by Jose Kok, ex-marketer and mum, the ‘Wallaboo’ range draws its inspiration from the wallaby, creating warm, soft and nurturing products for the first months of a child’s life.

Sold exclusively through Hippychick, the stunning Wallaboo range includes pram and car seat footmuffs, baby wraps and changing bags. Ultra luxurious and practical, it is super soft to the touch, ensuring the snuggest, cosiest experience for babies. And because it’s machine washable, it’s a dream for parents too!

The Wallaboo range is made up of the following products:

- Footmuff (available in black, chocolate, pink, lime, soft blue and red)

Designed to keep baby at a constant temperature, the Wallaboo footmuff has double zippers that run the length of each side for easy temperature control, meaning they can be easily unzipped and rolled down during warmer weather. In winter and spring the the footmufff will serve as a cuddly warm blanket for legs and arms.

The large footmuff (£65.00) fits all strollers and incorporates any 3 or 5 point harness. It has two shoulder openings and one between the legs, plus a detachable top part to keep baby’s head warm, a practical pocket for baby’s favourite toys and double zippers that open on all sides for easy temperature control.

A smaller newborn footmuff (£35.00) is suitable for babies up to their first year and fits perfectly in infant car seats, prams or carrycots for the snuggest, softest ride imaginable.

- Baby blanket (available in soft blue, pink, chocolate and lime)
The hooded baby blanket is ultra soft and cuddly, with a lining of thick absorbent 100% cotton. It is the perfect size for wrapping up baby, as well as putting on the floor as a comfortable place for baby to sit and play. Suitable for infant car seats, it provides a cosy transition from car to buggy so baby doesn’t get cold. Its hood ensure the head stays warm and protected.

- Changing bags (small available in black, chocolate, lime, pink, soft blue and red and large in black, chocolate and lime)

Co-ordinating changing bags in a large (£60.00) or small size (£40.00) have great unisex appeal and feature thermal bottle holders to keep drinks warm or cool, separate pouches for nappies and wipes, a changing pad and zippered dry bag.

The Wallaboo range can be bought directly from the Hippychick website www.hippychick.com, which also features details of good local stockists.

 

 

 

A Major NEW Arrival - Nature Babycare Lightly Scented Wipes
Available exclusively in Waitrose stores.

Why Nature Babycare Lightly Scented Wipes are a great choice!
Moist – Strong – Effective – Kind and gentle to babies skin - Easy to use – Versatile – Ideal for Home and travel – Value for money - Completely Biodegradable – caring for the future & the environment.
Packs of 70 available at £2.69 per pack
Find out more about the Award winning Nature Babycare range by clicking onto www.naty.com
Become a Nature Babycare Ambassador and help made a DIFFERENCE.

 

 

 

Just arrived - the NEW range of baby toiletries from Nature Babycare

Nature Babycare wanted to do more to offer parents a wider variety of products and have launched an innovative Baby Toiletries range. Using natural ingredients to be soft and kind to babies skin, innovative packaging design to deliver
ease of use and another fantastic launch building the Nature Babycare Eco friendly product range.
The packaging is designed to dispense lotions, oils and baby bath with ease. Also easy
to fit into nappy bag, and perfect design for easy storage at home.
This range delivers - Baby Shampoo 250ml – Baby Bath – 250ml – Baby Wash – 250ml –
Baby Lotion – 250 ml Baby Oil – 250 ml – Nappy Rash Cream 100g.
Competitively priced at £2.49 per pack.

For more information visit www.naty.se or Email info@naty.se

 

 

 

Swimming for Two

Leading international swimwear brand Zoggs launches Melbourne Maternity Scoopback and Melbourne Maternity Tankini, their debut into maternity swimwear. The range has been designed to offer maximum comfort and bust support, accommodating bumps up to 9 months and growing with you the whole way!

The launch of the maternity swimsuit enables women to experience optimum comfort, so mums to be don’t have to squeeze bumps into a standard swimsuit. The swimsuits designs feature soft, subtle gathers and a drawstring waist on the tankini, allowing the fabric to expand so that the swimsuit grows as you do! You even buy your normal swimsuit size, rather than 4 sizes bigger, which is always good for the self confidence! Above all the Melbourne Maternity range is stylish and flattering, featuring a scoop back and pink under bust and neckline piping- just because you are expecting doesn’t mean you don’t want to look good.

Swimming is a great exercise for expecting mums, offering a gentle fitness activity that helps to increase flexibility, strength and stamina – all of which can help contribute to a more comfortable pregnancy. Check out www.swim4fitness.com, a series of free online, downloadable swimming programmes developed by Zoggs. Calm and Stretch- Level 1 is great for pregnant ladies who want an easy, more relaxing, unwinding, gentle exercise.

And, for when the baby is born Zoggs has a fantastic selection of water confidence buoyancy aids to get the little bundle of joy experiencing the freedom of the water.

Zoggs is an international swimming market leader, offering a huge range of superior swimming products to cater for people of all ages and proficiencies. Visit www.zoggs.com to view the range of goggles, training aids, swimsuits and water confidence products. Zoggs really is a one stop swim shop!!

 

 

 

Post Natal Shape Up with Ultratone

Although they look like butter wouldn’t melt in their mouths, most babies don’t put everything back where they found it after leaving the womb! Despite the mystical ability of celebrity mothers to ping back into shape as they leave the maternity ward, for most women it’s a long hard slog that sometimes never pays off.

Help is at hand though thanks to Ultratone’s home kits and salon treatments. A closely guarded secret of celebrity mothers such as Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow, Ultratone is the easy way to get back into shape after childbirth.

Ultratone uses biostimulation to re-educate and repair the deep pelvic floor muscles while tightening loose abdominal skin. The really good news is professors at the University College London believe that when it comes to influencing body shape, Ultratone is actually superior to traditional exercise!

Ideal for busy Mothers, Ultratone is possibly the only exercise you can do while feeding a baby! The small portable device comes in a bag, so the user simply sticks on the patches, slings the machine over their shoulder and gets on with life – whether that’s snatching a few minutes on the sofa while your baby sleeps or catching up on the ironing!

Although Ultratone has a specific postnatal treatment programme, it also has several toning and body shaping treatments, including an anti-cellulite programme, a thigh and bottom workout and even a non-surgical face lift!

HOW IT WORKS:

Ultratone simply mimics your body’s own electrical pulses, sending safe currents through your body that rhythmically contract and relax your muscles – just as if you were moving them yourself only better as you can maintain an intense workout without suffering from fatigue or poor technique.

Ultratone Futura Pro salon treatments start at £35.00
Ultratone Facial Plus £149.00

Ultratone Home Kit machines up to £599

Stockist information: Phone 0207 935 0631

www.Ultratone.co.uk

 

 

 

 

Mother to Be
Champneys are delighted to introduce you to their third range of beauty products; Champneys Mother to Be.

Following on from the huge success of the Champneys Spa Collection and Champneys Spa Skin Care, this luxurious collection of products has been specially formulated using high quality natural ingredients that provide benefits for women’s skin during pregnancy.

A woman’s body goes through its most significant changes during pregnancy; mainly because of hormonal shifts in the body. Some of the more common changes experienced range from varying degrees of stretch marks to tight and itchy skin, nausea and swollen joints. Regular exercise and a healthy diet can help prevent some of these changes but also maintaining a regular skin care regime can help to improve the skin’s feel and appearance.

The products have been designed to tackle many of these symptoms by using a wealth of knowledge, not only from women who have been through pregnancy, but also Champneys Premier Therapists who have worked with women's skin for years.

The range pays special attention to the scents, textures, ingredients and essential oils that will relax and sooth the body and mind.
Key ingredients include, a horse chestnut extract which helps to reduce puffiness, super-moisturising shea butter, olive oils, nourishing vitamin E and Algisium C, which helps to improve the skin’s natural elasticity.

This new range comprises of 5 products and a gift set- an essential item for the over night bag for any mother to be!

A soothing bath soak, a gently cleansing bath & shower cream, a nourishing Collagen body butter, a cooling hand & foot cream gel and a calm and soothing mist spray.

Champneys Mother to Be is available at Champneys Health Resorts and www.champneys.com

 

 

 

 

Help Nature Babycare to Make A difference and Let YOUR VOICE BE HEARD.
We know you are all passionate about your family and that drives you on to look for products that are kind to your baby and help protect the environment for their future.

This is why the people at Nature Babycare have set up the Nature Babycare Ambassador Programme.
A programme which enables you to join forces with Nature Babycare and work to advance technology today delivering new and innovative products to parents for their families.

The Ambassador programme enables you to join as an Ambassador and for all parents joining this programme they will automatically be sent a £6.00 voucher. To become a Nature Babycare Ambassador you just submit your name as an Ambassador and recommend three friends. You will then be accepted as an Ambassador and your three friends will automatically receive a £3.00 money off voucher. Your friends do not have to become part of the Ambassador programme, but they will be sent a discount voucher and have the opportunity to test the Nature Baycare nappy range for themselves. Something for everyone with this superb innovative programme.

The Ambassador programme does not stop there. It is a way for you to talk to other parents throughout the world. Join forces with them and talk about things you are passionate about, including your family and looking after the world for their future. We all like to become members of programmes where we have a chance to discuss vital issues close to our hearts and this programme gives you access to like minded parents world wide.

Once an Ambassador you will be kept updated with Nature Babycare developments, you will be asked for your views on new product launches and some time during the year you will be selected to test new Product lines prior to launch.

Nature Babycare also wants you to help them grow and improve their product range, so you will also receive monthly newsletters which will advise you about Nature Babycare’s progress, new stores they have launched product ranges within. Nature Babycare will also keep you abreast of all the latest news on statistics and information on new tests, landfill problems and other ways you too can help improve the environment.

Just click onto www.naty.com and become an Ambassador today!

 

 

 

A quarter of all Mums-to-be wait until the last weeks of pregnancy to do their baby shopping!

Twenty five per cent of mums-to-be wait until the very last weeks of their pregnancy to shop for their baby essentials.

According to the shopping survey, by Wilkinet baby carriers, most pregnant ladies are incredibly prepared, with many starting to shop after the first scan.

After the second scan, when many find out the sex of their baby, the real shopping begins in earnest, with nearly 40 per cent of pregnant women having done almost all their shopping by the end of their second trimester.

Most, however, leave it until the final weeks to do the last bits of shopping for both themselves and baby.

The Wilkinet research shows that only half of the mums surveyed bought a baby carrier before the birth – when in fact having one ready for the day your baby arrives leaves your hands free to do all the shopping you forgot to do beforehand!

Gideon Wilkins, who runs Wilkinet, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, says the survey shows just how prepared mums-to-be really are. He says: “Many women make sure they have everything ready months before the birth but some are incredibly laid back, or disorganised!

“We believe a good baby carrier, like Wilkinet, lets you to get on with your life from day one, allowing you to cuddle up close to your newborn while you do everything you need to do”

 

 

 

Winnie the Pooh’s Natural Look for Babies

Disney’s first ever range of organically grown cotton baby products has Mother Nature’s seal of approval.

Disney Baby have joined with Babies R Us to create a new eco-friendly range of organically grown cotton baby products that have been lovingly created to be kind to your child’s skin. Launching this spring, the Winnie the Pooh range of products is produced from natural colour cotton which is grown in cream, brown and green – the perfect choice for parents whose priority is protecting their baby and the environment. The Disney Baby range has been created with future generations in mind.
Organically grown cotton is the most natural fabric for your baby and ideal for your little one’s sensitive skin. These products are not only gentle for your baby, they are also kinder to the environment. Colours get even softer with each wash – perfect for protecting your baby’s soft skin. In addition, organically grown cotton is easy to wash at low temperatures using non-biological detergents.

 

Pregnancy diet has lifelong effects for baby

University of Nottingham researchers are targeting Europe’s biggest killer diseases — by focusing on the diet of unborn babies.

Poor nutrition in the womb and in the first months of infancy can condemn an individual to a life of poor health including higher risks of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Scientists believe a baby is ‘programmed’ for a lifetime of good or poor health in its first few months by the type and amount of nutrition they receive.

Experts at The University of Nottingham are now heading up part of an £11m project to pinpoint the best way of giving babies a healthy start that will benefit them for the whole of their lives.

Their findings will help to shape public policy on mothers’ diet in pregnancy and lactation. The Nottingham team believes the project could have as big an impact on public health as other lifestyle interventions — such as decreasing food intake and increasing exercise — which are much more difficult to impose.

Professor Michael Symonds, Head of the Academic Division of Child Health at Nottingham University Medical School, said: “What your mother eats and how you are fed as a baby can programme you for a lifetime of good health or bad health.

“This obviously has important health implications worldwide, given that we are living longer, more people are getting cardiovascular disease and we need to get to grips with the mechanisms behind this.”

The EU-funded project is known as EARNEST, its full title being ‘Early Nutrition Programming — Long-term follow-up of efficacy and safety trials and integrated epidemiological, genetic, animal, consumer and economic research’.

The University of Nottingham team is embarking on a series of intervention studies, manipulating diet during pregnancy and lactation to establish the optimum dietary patterns for humans.

Professor Symonds said: “There are two types of baby we should be particularly concerned about — both the baby that is too small and the baby that is too large. There has been a 20 per cent increase in birth weight over the last 10-15 years.

“That is, in part, due to the fact that mothers are larger when they are getting pregnant and are more likely to suffer from pregnancy diabetes, that is they are unable to control their blood glucose adequately.

“The result of that is the baby will actually be larger at birth… which could well be one factor that is contributing to later obesity. If you start off being too large at birth, then you are on a track to remain too large through later life.

“At the same time, a baby of normal size at birth, but who is given too much formula milk, which the mother will perceive as a good thing — i.e. that the baby is growing fast — in clinical terms it may potentially be growing too fast.

“That baby may be at more risk of later disease because when you grow too rapidly one of the adaptations is you lay down too much fat. Once you have too much fat in early life that can stay with you throughout your life: you may become obese earlier with all the complications that go with that.”

EARNEST is a Europe-wide project bringing together scientists from 38 research institutions across 16 countries in the fields of genetics, molecular biology, epidemiology, public health and consumer behaviour.

Professor Berthold Koletzko, of the University of Munich, is co-ordinating the six research initiatives that make up the EARNEST project.

Professor Koletzko said: “Major differences in risk factors for significant health problems — such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, bone health, immune function, cognitive development and behaviour — have already been observed in children who experienced different diets in the first few months of life, or whose mothers were given different supplements during pregnancy.

“These studies have not been running long enough to know whether the differences seen in childhood persist into adult life. If they do, the impact on the health of future generations is enormous.”