Review – Hape Wooden Farm Animals

I recent bought these Hape Wooden Qubes Farm Animals, I saw them on sale and bought them on a whim and I am really glad I did, as Boo loves them.

I bought them with the intention of starting to teach Boo about different animals, (and of course because I am a sucker for wooden toys).  We have been using them to sing Old MacDonald and learn the different animal names and noises, and Boo has also been giving them a good old chew.  Boo has also started to stack them, when the blocks are laying on their side, which is unusual for Boo as she usually just likes to knock things over and take them apart!

They come in a plastic tube which can be used to store them in, and a lovely handle with a wooden heart.  It’s finishing touches like this which make things seem a bit special, and I think they would make a really lovely gift.

The Wooden Farm Animals are for 12 months+ and contain 12 lovely painted farm animals, there are other packs available, such as Safari Animals, Sea Animals & Dinosaurs, all of which looked lovely and brightly coloured and I think Boo would love to play with any of the packs.

I paid £4.99 for these wooden farm animals in a sale and I think they were well worth it.  I can see Boo getting a lot of use out of them.  They are very versatile and can be used for learning about animals, the names and noises and are a great prop for songs like Old MacDonald.

Review – Chad Valley Baby Trampoline

I thought I would write a review of the Chad Valley Baby Trampoline, as I have already posted about how much Boo loves it here.

I love the idea of a trampoline and spent some of the vouchers Boo was given for Christmas on it, as I thought it would be good for her in terms of mobility, she can bounce on it, climb on it, climb off it etc.

Because I love the colour pink we decided on the pink/blue and purple colour of the trampoline, it also fits in nice with my living room… isn’t it nice when things work out like that? hehe.

The trampoline needed some assembly but the instructions were easy to follow and I would say it took us about 10  minutes to put it together.  The construction is sturdy and I had no worries about Boo being able to pull it over easily, though obviously Boo only uses it when someone is there with her.  Though it wasn’t long before Boo started to mess about!

When we first put Boo on the trampoline she was a bit confused but within minutes she was bouncing on it, and now stands on it to watch TV, sits on it to play with her other toys and climbs all over it, and even hugs it. So she must really love it!

I like the fact that it is small enough to be in the living room without taking up too much space and the trampoline itself it a fairly firm, which means when Boo is stood on it I am not too worried about her falling over on it, or falling off it.

We paid £29.99 for it, which I think it a great price as Boo has only had it for a couple of weeks and she has already had a lot of use out of it, and I can see her using it for many month to come.

 

 

Review and Giveaway – Haberman Anywayup Cups

I was really excited when I was contacted to do a review of the Haberman anywayup Bird Cup and Sippy Cup, I have had some trouble getting Boo to drink from cups and have tried all sorts of types from free flow to non drip and designs and styles so more styles of cups to try was definitely a good thing.

I will start with the Bird Cup as this is the one that Boo has used the most. It is also my favourite in terms of design, I love the bright green colour and I love the design, so cute.

It’s a refreshing change from either pink/blue combinations. The see-through ‘belly’ of the bird lets you see how much water has is left, which is handy as I do like to keep an eye on this as I worry that Boo doesn’t drink enough.

The spout of the cup is different from the other cups we have tried and reminds me almost of a variflow teat from a bottle, the more that Boo sucks the faster the water comes out, which I think is a good idea and would be very helpful for babies who are moving from bottle to cup.

The fact that Boo even entertains the idea of drinking from this cup is a success to be honest but the fact that she actually reaches out for it, and actually seems to enjoy using the cup, is something which I could never have imagined.

 

I think it is due to the style of the spout, even though she has never really taken to bottles either, but I think that fact that she is in control of how much water comes out is the key thing.

For me, I love the fact that the cup is simply a ‘cup’ and a lid, no little bits which need to be taken apart and cleaned, (great for timesaving!) And the non spill spout means that I can just keep it in my changing bag when we are out and about and don’t have to worry about it, or keep track of a lid. The Anywayup Bird Cup holds up to 250ml which is enough to not need refilling even if you are out for a while.  It is also dishwasher and microwave safe too.

All in all I can say I really like the Haberman anywayup Bird Cup, and more importantly Boo likes using it, drinking from it, and biting it!  I would definitely recommend it.

 

The second cup is the Haberman anywayup 360 and although it is mean for 18 months plus I have given it too Boo to try a couple of times and I am surprised at how fast she picked up how to drink from it!

The design means that the cup can be drank from at any point on the rim, but the plastic disc inside means that water does not pour out everywhere if it is tipped up too far, great for when babies are learning to control how to drink from a ‘proper’ cup and it really does bridge the gap between a free flow sippy cup and a ‘normal’ cup.

It is also microwave and dishwasher safe, and dismantles easily for cleaning.  Even though it seems to come apart in lots of pieces it is easy and quick to fit back together again. The lid also means that even if it is upside down in your bag there will be no spills!

The design of the cup is great, simple and I think Boo will get a lot of use out of this over the next few months, I also think it will be handy even when she is drinking from a ‘normal’ cup to have to use when we go out and we need to stay clean with no spills!

 

Giveaway

I have also been given a third cup, a very funky Haberman anywayup Cow Cup to giveaway!  I love the design, it’s neutral gender-wise and very striking looking!

The Cow Cup is dishwasher and microwave safe, and holds up to 250ml.  It has the same non-spill spout as the bird cup and I don’t doubt it will be every bit as fantastic as Boo’s Bird Cup!  For a chance to win this lovely cup please enter via the rafflecopter website below. Competition ends on the 23/01/15.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Boo and I were sent the Haberman Bird & 360 Toddler cups for the purpose of this review.  However, all opinions are my (and Boo’s) own and are honest.

Review – Grosuits

We have been using grobags for Boo to sleep in on a night for quite a few months, and I find them great a Boo is a right wriggler and kicks of blankets and the  wakes up cold.  So when the weather turned colder I decided to buy some grosuits so that Boo’s arms don’t get cold.

I ordered two grosuits from their website.  I ordered them late Sunday and I was pleasantly surprised that they arrive with the post on Tuesday!

The grosuits are just like sleepsuits but with the arm quilted, this is really good as I did worry once the weather started to turn that Boo would get cold arms.  We ordered them in a size up from the clothes that Boo normally wears so that she would be comfortable on a night and that they would last until the end of the winter.

 

They are really well made, and the arms are quilted but not too thick that they prevent movement.  They do keep Boo’s arms nice and warm even if the room gets a bit chilly and we don’t have to have her in lots of layers so that she would get too warm overall.  I really like design of the grosuits, they match a couple of the grobags that we have (I am a sucker for a matching set of things!)

The pack of two cost me just over £10 which I think is really good value for money, as I have paid not much less than that for a couple of ordinary sleepsuits.

I would definitely recommend the combination of a grobag/grosuit combination especially if you have a wiggley baby who likes nothing better than to escape their blankets.

 

Review – Visiting Santa Cannock Chase

The big day has arrived! Father Christmas is coming to Cannock Chase! How exciting. We decide to take Boo to see Father Christmas arrive and the to see the man himself! She was only a tiny tiny baby last December (her birthday is the 13th Decmember) so she missed out on seeing Father Christmas before her first Christmas.

I must say what a lovely time we had there.  It was very very busy as expected but I can honestly say that it was magnificent.  Father Christmas arrived on a sleigh pulled by reindeer and it was so lovely to see a sea of excited faces, children and adults! Boo is still to young to really know what it happening, but she did seem to enjoy the atmosphere and had a good old nosey at everything that was going on.

After Father Christmas had arrived and got settled they started allowing the children in to see him, well a say him, I mean them (in a very discreet fashion at the end of the walk through the grotto the path split in two and a very lovely lady sent children one and a time into the alternate Santa’s room, and the way the queue and the whole area was set up I nearly didn’t notice.  It meant that queue wasn’t too horrendous.  The ticket system worked by given people an hour time slot in which they could queue, meaning that the queue didn’t get too long and children didn’t get too bored, overexcited etc.  The two Santas also helped keep things moving. As this is a place where local, and not so local go to buy their real Christmas Tree so it is always amazingly busy.

The grotto which you had to walk/queue though was amazing, and there was such attention to detail it really did keep all the children I could see around me occupied, looking at the displays and there were several activities such as ‘How many Fairies can you see?’ We also managed to spy The Gruffalo, who had decided to get involved in the Christmas Festivities and take a break from being the focus of  The Gruffalo Trail. There was also a story to read about Christmas Trees which I thought was very cute.

The room in which Father Christmas was in was amazing, lots of old fashioned wooden toys and in a lovely wooden hut, exactly how I would imagine where Father Christmas spends his time, with a huge sack of toys for all the nice children.  Boo got a baby reindeer teddy and a baby Christmas Tree which we are going to plant and keep for her, (provided we don’t managed to kill it like we usually do our plants).  The baby Christmas Tree is such a lovely special idea, and it really adds to the whole experience.

The price was not too bad, £6 for Boo and £1 for each adult, now we had taken my parents along with us, as Boo is their first grandchild and they were very excited. So all in it cost us £10 which I honestly think is a fair price for the whole experience and the reindeer teddy and the baby Christmas Tree. But obviously this would be cheaper if there hadn’t been four adults. In all honesty I don’t know why they charge for adults I haven’t seen this before, but then again I have never been to see Father Christmas as an adult and so don’t really know if this is standard practice?

Overall it was an amazing experience and I honestly think we will go every year with Boo, the whole thing had a very magical Christmassy feel was was the perfect way to start Christmas off.

Review – Vtech First Steps Baby Walker

I bought this for Boo on a whim, I just happened to be at the supermarket and it was on offer, half price (and when I got to the till there was another £5 off it – Bargain!!) I like nothing better than a good bargain.

I was keen to get something along these lines as Boo was constantly pulling herself up and cruising along the sofa so I wanted to help her explore ‘walking’ under her own steam.

Boo loves to push it along and doesn’t let anything get in her way! She looks so proud as she flies along and it’s so adorable. The walker works well on both carpet and wooden floors, I was slightly concerned that maybe the walker would go too fast on wooden floors and cause Boo to fall, or be to difficult to push on carpet  and she would lose interest.  But I shouldn’t have worried.

The front panel on the walker detaches so that Boo can sit and play with it as well as play with it when it is on the walker.  There are two settings for the sounds/music on the walker and two volume levels, (though level one is loud enough!).  There are lots of buttons and and lights for Boo to play with and she plays with it often and for a fair while, so I definitely feel like it catches her interest.  Her favourite thing is to remove the shapes around the number buttons at the top of the walker.

All in all I am glad I bought this, as it has provided Boo with lots of fun and also opened up the option of moving upright for Boo and when she motors along beaming proudly it’s just amazing.

Review – Safe Baby Handling Tips Book

This was a present from my brother and his wife when Boo was born.  It’s really funny and gives you a good laugh in those hazy newborn days of no sleep and endless nappy changes. The book is obviously not meant to be taken seriously but it is seriously funny. The simple diagrams give you a plain how to and how not to guide to dealing with a newborn, covering everything from feeding, lifting and changing your little bundle of joy!

The book includes ‘The Wheel of Responsibility which claims to keep parents ‘fair, honest and un-divorced’ I don’t know about that because I totally believe the wheel is weighted and lands on Mom far more often than Dad!! Because the book is cardboard as Boo has got older we have started letting her play with it, supervised of course and she loves to spin the wheel, and she wins every time!

A few of my favourite pages are;

Just in case you needed any guidance! Breastfeeding can be tricky!

 

Oh cot TV’s what an amazing idea! If only!

 

Don’t pick baby’s nose! Who would have guessed!

 

Can you imagine! Yukyukyuk!! This one make me spit my tea out the first time I saw it!

 

Just in case anyone was wondering!

 

Definitely vital advice which should be followed at all costs!

I think this book is great and so very funny, and I think it’s a great idea for a present for any friends/relatives who are soon to be first time parents, my husband and I have a laugh reading it as did everyone we showed it to.

 

 

Review – Cherub Chews – Breastfeeding Necklace

I was lucky enough to win a competition ran by The Ls Mum with Burble Baby for tickets to the Manchester Baby and Toddler Show, which was amazing! Whilst there I, obviously, headed straight over the Burble Baby’s stand and found this lovely necklace by Cherub Chews.  I have actually been looking for a breastfeeding necklace for a while as Boo is getting more and more distracted especially whilst we are out and about and I needed something to bring her focus back to me so she can at least have a quick feed if she needs one.

I adore bright colours this rainbow necklace is perfect, the range of colours mean that it goes with practically any colour/outfit making it very versatile. I have had to stop wearing regular necklaces since having Boo as she is always trying to put them in her mouth or pulling really hard on them when I am holding/feeding her.  However she seems to be content to play with this necklace, and gently plays with the beads, or when she is sleepy just holds on the coloured beads while she is feeding.

The contrast between the hardness of the plain wooden beads and the softness of the crocheted beads is a great idea, and Boo loves to play with both the wooden beads and the crochet covered ones.  I also love the wood smell which the necklace has, and I am really glad I bought this one made of wooden beads as the smell just adds to the appeal of it.

As the packaging states everything in the necklace is non-toxic, eco-friendly, and sustainably sourced from within the EU which is great as I like to know where things have come from.

The adjustable cotton cord means that I can wear it at any length which again means it can go with many different styles tops, and also means that Boo can bite and chew on the beads when I am wearing it and she is sat one my knee or being carried, something which she loves to do.  I can only assume that chewing on the wooden beads is helping her with the discomfort she is getting from teething too as we have tooth number 5 on it’s way through.

I have only had this necklace a few days and already I love it and honestly wish I had bought one a lot earlier as it would have take a bit of the stress out of feeding a very easily distracted baby outside of the house, it was even enough to mean I could feed her in the absolutely jam packed Ikea restaurant on Sunday, something which would have been absolutely impossible before the necklace.

I love the necklace so much in fact I will definitely continue to wear it after Boo stops breastfeeding, I think it will be a special reminder of my breastfeeding journey with Boo and something which can be a very visual representation of it.

Review – Pink Lining Blooming Gorgeous Woodland Tote

I recently bought myself a new changing bag, as I found that the one I had used since Boo was born was becoming too small now that we also needed toys and snacks and more clothes with us on days out.

I decided on the Pink Lining Blooming Gorgeous Woodland Tote bag because I loved the way that it looked and also because I had read good things! The handles and adjustable over the shoulder strap are comfy to hold even when the bag is as heavy as I pack it (I have a need to take everything but the kitchen sink out with me!) The adjustable shoulder strap is great for slinging the bag over the handles of my pram, and it works with both my travel system and my stroller.

The bag has two deep outside pockets on the sides as well as the flat pocket with the flower detail.  I have found the flat pocked excellent for papers and it’s great because it’s separate from the main chaos of the changing bag. The deep outside pockets are large enough to store a sippy cup, which I keep in one of them and in the other side I tend to keep things like anitbac hand gel so again I don’t have to dig through all the bits and pieces I have in the main bag.

The bag comes with a padded changing mat and a wet zip bag.  The changing mat is great, and folds neatly and is easy to put back in to the bag and it’s an added bonus that it is padded.  The wet zip bag is a godsend at times, for those poo explosions on the go or clothes soaked from drink spills etc, it has saved the rest of the clean clothes and toys etc in my changing back on numerous occasions.

I was really excited when the bag arrived, and even more excited when I saw how much space there was inside it! Even with the padded changing mat and the zip wet bag. Sadly my old changing bag had no space once I had the changing mat in it. So this was a very pleasant surprise!  Though I am sometimes in danger of filling the bag and it can end up weighing the same as a small car!

There are all sorts of inbuilt internal pockets including elasticated nappy pockets, two thermal bottle holders (I haven’t used these as I am breastfeeding but they are handy none the less to store things in and I have been using them for pouches and snacks for when we are out.  There is also a pen loop which is great for someone like me, who loses about ten pens a day and can never ever seem to find them! There is also a detachable mirror in the bag, which is great because I use my changing bag as a handbag too (I really don’t want to look like the bag lady!)

Overall I am really really happy I bought this bag, as it has made my slightly chaotic life a little bit easier and it looks absolutely amazing too!