SANAMAMA Carrier Review - The Piggy Back with Straps!

You will already know that I LOVE to carry my little one around in a sling, I find it so much easier and it enables me to have both hands free to get on with things.

At the moment I have been using the Baby Bjorn, but I must admit, he is getting rather chunky and my back can only take so long. At the age of Tyrus, this type of sling is great, but what about when he gets a little older...

We have a rather chunky backpack that our children have used when we go out on a hike, but it is far too heavy for me, I would like to be able to carry one of the children on my back, without the extra weight of a large carrier.

So I was extremely excited when I was given the opportunity to review a Sanamama Carrier, for those of you unfamiliar with the carrier, it draws on the wisdom of an age old African Tradition, but with added safety features for your total peace of mind.

It can be used from approximately 4 months, when baby is able to support his or her own head.

I originally tried this with Tyrus but he was not keen on being put on my back, he preferred the face to face interaction. It was also recommended up to age 3, so I decided to ask Eowyn’s opinion, she was rather keen to give it a go.

With her being that little bit older I was able to attach the carrier easily whilst she stood on the chair, For a younger child it would probably be easier to lay them down and put them in it.

You fasten them in and then place them on your back, I thought it all sounded very complicated,. But actually it was very easy.

Here is my teenage daughter demonstrating how easy it easy to carry your little sister!

It is so lightweight, and takes up hardly any room, you can just have it in your changebag. Its brilliant for children that are not quite old enough to hold on for a piggyback and it gives parents the added safety, without the worry that they are going to let go.

Check out the video here of how to use this wonderful carrier.

It is a very reasonable price, compared to others on the market and it can be used until 3 years approx.

 

For more information on Sanamama please visit their website

 

I love this carrier and cannot wait to use it with Tyrus when he gets a little bigger, all children love a piggy back and this just takes away the hazards, it also means my two older children can take it in turns to carry their little siblings.

 

For anyone looking for the next stage from a baby sling, this is definitely worth a look.

Baby Sing Christmas CD Review.

As many of you will already know from reading earlier posts, our family LOVES music, and practically from birth Tyrus has had his own collection of CDs ranging from Take That to Oasis, all in baby friendly form, so you can imagine my delight when I was given the opportunity to review a Christmas CD, especially for little ones...

Baby Sing Christmas is a fantastic new Christmas Album, by Music for Baby, perfect to create a special atmosphere for baby's first christmas.

Music For Baby is a small independent record label, run by a hsuband and wife team, which specialise in music designed to support development from pre-natal through to toddler and beyond.

Music For Baby believe that the influence music has on our lives begins when you are in the womb, and that it spans across every aspect of life, having a positive impact on concentration, sleep, movement, memory, learning and emotional development, as well as a whole lot of fun!

I definitely agree with their belief, music plays a huge part in the Morrison household, from Pop Music, through to Opera, we adore music.
You will always find at least one of our children listening to music, whether they be doing their homework, lying in bed or just having a quiet moment.

The CD has a fantastic mixture of songs to listen to, from the very traditional to the slightly more modern.
We always have a problem in our house trying to decide which Christmas CDs to listen to, although we love the traditional Carols, many of the CDs are very antiquated and the younger ones lose interest, and the older children enjoy listening to the Modern Day Christmas songs, but the younger ones get frustrated becuase they do not know the words, and they are not the songs they have been learning at school!

I put this CD on especially for Tyrus, however I found that all of the children had come into the lounge and were happily singing along to the words, this CD  has a lovely guitar arrangement and the voice is very soothing. It has 13 tracks, with an additional five bonus tracks that have been remixed and have additional vocals.

If you are looking for a nice, soothing CD that will keep little ones happy and entertained, then I would definitely recommend this CD. It has certainly put The Morrison Household in good Christmas Spirit, singing along to `Away In A Manger' and then `All I Want For Christmas Is You'...


It is available to buy from www.musicforbaby.co.uk

Bras 4 Mums Review and Giveaway.

I can remember (just!) when I was pregnant for the first time and I had decided that I would definitely be breastfeeding, my lovely sister in law had given birth eight months previously, so she passed on many lovely baby items, and some things for me, loads and loads of Nursing Bras in all sorts of sizes and some very handy Nightdresses with buttons for easy feeding.

I have to admit I took one look at the large pile of Bras and thought I would never need half of them, but how wrong could I be....

It is quite amazing how the size and shape of your breasts can change so much. I wish someone had told me how much I would leak too (but that's another story...)

If only there had been a service like Bras 4 Mums....

bras4mums was set up by Tracey-Jane Hughes when she was sold a nursing bra that fitted one week, but not the next, despite being fitted by a 'qualified' bra fitter. After researching bra fitting for pregnancy and for breastfeeding, T-J trained at De Montfort University, and was also a volunteer NCT bra fitter and trainer.

bras4mums offer a personal bra fitting service via their home bra fitting service & telephone or email advice with trained and experienced bra fitters.The website is brilliant and has everything you need for breastfeeding, including Bras, Briefs, nightwear, swimwear, slings and some fantastic accessories that would have been very gratefully received the first time round.

Now, as an accomplished breastfeeding mummy, doing it for the sixth time was not an issue, although I have to admit, some of my breastfeeding wear was getting a little worn.

The wonderful Bras 4 Mums sent me a pair of Nursing Pyjamas to try out....
To be honest I have never understood a mothers need to go on the school run in her pyjamas, however, after putting on my Hot Milk Calm Rebellion Pyjamas I could quite easily understand why they would do this!

They are lovely, so comfortable and they make me feel quite sexy, which any mother who is constantly covered in milk will know is quite an unusual occurence!

The great thing about these pjs are that they can be worn whilst pregnant, as they are very low fitting, a problem I had with some maternity PJs was they stretched too far and had a tendancy to fall down after I had given birth....

The built-in support in the top is excellent for keeping everything in place, and makes me feel well supported.

The range of nightwear available on the Bras 4 Mums site is great, and I shall definitely be hinting at my darling husband for another pair on my Christmas List this year.

They have a great facebook page which has some great offers and lots of advice available, they really are a friendly bunch.

In fact, they are so friendly, they have given me a £30 voucher to spend on the site as a prize, to be in with a chance of winning, just do the following:

~ Have you breastfed successfully, do you have any tips that would help another mum who is considering breastfeeding, if so comment below.

You can gain extra entries by

~ Following Bras4mums on facebook

~ Signing up to my blog via GFC or Networked Blogs

~ Following Hex Mum on twitter

~ Following on Facebook

Closing Date: 8th December 2011

Cornish Daisy Dribble Bib Review

The lovely people at Cornish Daisy sent Tyrus one of their Dribble Bibs to review, which was fantastic because my little man is a real dribbler at the moment, something that has come as quite a shock to me...

The quality of the bib is amazing and it is so soft, perfect for catching that chin full of dribble.

The bibs are not too bulky and Tyrus is perfectly happy wearing it, as can be seen from the photo above!

The backing is a lovely breathable micro fleece, meaning the bib is very light and the moisture is taken away from his delicate skin - although trying to get the moisture out of his rather impressive double chin is another matter!

Please check out the website www.cornishdaisy.co.uk they have some really funky bibs, gorgeous hat and bib sets, and blankets that I could happily snuggle up in and go to sleep....

Also check out their facebook page, they have wonderful giveaways.

Earth Friendly Baby Review

The purpose of earth friendly baby is to create high quality, natural products that are healthy for babies, their friends and the planet .

I was sent four products from the Earth Friendly Baby Range to review with Tyrus, however the entire family decided that they would test them too...

Bath time has never been simpler with these lovely, all-in-one body cleansers. Head and shoulders, knees and toes... whoopee! Choose from our three delightful Shampoo & Bodywashes - soothing Organic Chamomile, relaxing Organic Lavender and funtime Organic Mandarin. They have been specially created to gently cleanse Baby’s delicate hair and skin without leaving behind residue

The first product that we tried was the Mandarin Shampoo and Bodywash. We took this on holiday with us, because space is limited when you are packing for eight, so this was perfect as there was no need to take separate bubble bath/shower gel and shampoo.

It smelt good enough to eat and all of the children loved it. It was suitable for Tyrus aged 3 months all the way up to Lochlan at 11 and not one child complained of any stinging eyes or irritation. It made their hair and body smell lovely and their hair looked very shiny. This is a perfect all in one solution and I would definitely recommend it.

Lovely refreshing scents, rich foam and great cleaning all at the same time! As if that’s not enough, it leaves baby’s skin feeling very smooth, ready for mum to massage, dress and start a new day or to put to bed! In a great value, easy pouring 370ml bottle, a little goes a long way – so pour carefully!

The Chamomile Bubble Bath we used at home, and when it says a little goes along way, they are telling the truth! I thought I had only put a little drop in, however after a few minutes of the water running, the bath was full to the brim with bubbles, which the children thought was amazing and spent the next five minutes playing Bubble tag....

It left all of their skin feeling very soft and moisturised and I feel it is great value, because you really only need such a small amount to have a complete bathful of bubbles!

These body lotions are ideal to use all over baby's body, and come in aromas of soothing Organic Chamomile, relaxing Organic Lavender and fresh Organic Mandarin. They are packed full of organic extracts such as healing calendula as well as skin-beneficial angelica, red clover, elder flower and passionflower. We have also included moisturising shea butter together with lots of vitamins to make these extra special products.

We were sent the Chamomile Body Lotion and it was lovely, in fact anyone in the house that had any dry patches immediately reached for this lotion, from dry arms, to feet, to legs, not forgetting using all over baby Tyrus after his bath, this really was a family favourite. It absorbed quickly and didn't feel greasy, it has a lovely refreshing smell and is easily applied with the pump. You don't need to use very much, so another product that will last quite a long time, although probably not in this house with eight people using it!

Isn’t it always a pleasure to use a soft and thick wipe, Baby? What’s more, these wipes are 100% biodegradable so they help look after our environment. They have been made with mild ingredients including organic chamomile and calendula to gently cleanse and soothe your delicate skin. They are also unfragranced, alcohol-free and tested to be hypoallergenic. Each pack has 72 wipes.

The final product we were sent was a pack of baby wipes. As you can imagine with six children I have had my share of different baby wipes. These ones were quite surprising, although unfragranced they still had a pleasant smell to them, unlike some that are just awful.

The fact that they are biodegradable is a big bonus, and means they are much kinder to the environment than many other baby wipes, although I did expect them to be quite thin and fall apart, however I was very surprised at how thick and luxurious they felt and were not too wet, they cleaned Tyrus and Eowyn with ease.

A very pleasing packet of Baby wipes that are kind to the planet.

These products are definitely worth a try, they use natural ingredients, are not tested on animals and really do look after your skin, its a big thumbs up in this House for Earth Friendly Baby xxx

KiddyBalm Review - So Many Uses

Kiddy Balm's fresh, but delicate aroma is especially created for children and babies over 3 months, it is easy to apply and not messy, being readily absorbed into the skin.  It is gentle enough for use on even the most sensitive skin.For fast and effective relief from nasal congestion, skin irritations, heat rash, insect bites, stings and so much more!  It is a natural, paraben and toxin FREE balm.

An all natural product containing:   Eucalyptus  Camphor  and Menthol  I was very kindly sent this little wonder pot to review. It has a lovely smell and really does have many uses. Its first job was to cool Xenes shaving rash, as she had picked up a blunt razor, as we have all done at some time in our lives! She was complaining of it hurting, so I thought I would give it a try, she said that it did help and made it feel much better.
Next to test drive the Balm was Kaide who decided against mummy's advice to go out and play on the swings in bare feet and stood on a Bumble Bee, it took the sting away for the initial pain, and then I moved onto my usual cure toothpaste, for anyone that hasn't tried it...
Eowyn had a very snuffly nose, so again I applied the KiddyBalm and this really helped.
It can also be used when travelling on an aeroplane as it helps hugely with the air cabin pressure/congestion that is sometimes hard for little ones to tolerate - I am afraid I cannot let you know about that one, unless I win the lottery or a wonderful PR company decides they would like a mad family of eight to test drive a family holiday (someone has to try new places out surely ?!)
I have also been told by the good people at Slade & Ottewill that if rubbed onto the soles of my feet at bedtime, it leads to a wonderful nights sleep, hmmm a full nights sleep, don't think I can remember one of those since 1997......
For more information and to purchase KiddyBalm visit www.sando.me.uk
They can also be followed on twitter @kiddybalm

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Sock Ons They Rock

Keeping socks on babies feet is no simple task. Little kick, tug at the toes and they're off!

Sock Ons are clever little things that keep those socks on. The garment is worn over the sock and 'locks' it into place with a patent pending design.

Sock Ons have been awarded the baby industries most coveted prize for innovation. Sock Ons are an ingenious and trendy solution to a very annoying problem and are quickly becoming a necessary item that no baby (or sane parent) can do without!

Sock Ons have been invented by a mum of five little boys who always lost their socks!

Eowyn and Tyrus showing off the funky sock ons

No more lost socks hooray

Tyrus was sent a pair of these to try in Navy, well they are FANTASTIC!

All of my children have had the same problem when they were born, legs that resembled chicken legs, really long but oh so skinny. Even the smallest newborn socks would only last a few minutes. Each time I picked them up out of the moses basket they would be sockless, but no more…

The sock ons are brilliant, they resemble Asa’s ankle straps that he uses when playing rugby, they are so little and light and fit over the top of the socks, holding them firmly in place and no more lost socks hooray.

Tyrus didn’t seem to notice that they were on, until last week and it is now a game to try and grab them, but he has as yet been unsuccessful in removing them.

Although now aged three months he does actually have a decent pair of legs and I am no longer worried that they will be unable to support the rest of his ever increasing size!

These nifty little gadgets are a must for any new mum and will save hours searching for lost socks.

You can find out more information and look at all of the funky designs by visiting

http://www.sockons.co.uk/

 

Caboodle Bags Review and Giveaway

I was kindly sent two Caboodle Bags to review, a Fun & Funky and an Active. They are both brilliant!
The Fun and Funky is a great change bag for putting both Tyrus and Eowyn’s stuff in, as all of you with a baby and toddler know you need so much stuff, well this bag certainly can hold it. It has a great funky spot design and I enjoy using it. There are so many pockets to put everything in. It comes with a changing mat, a grubby stuff bag and an insulated bottle holder that is attached via a Velcro piece so can be removed if not required. The end pockets are more than ample to hold Eowyn’s drink cup, and with five inside pockets all of their belongings can be stored so that you know where everything is! One of the pockets is especially for mum, with a mobile phone holder-if like me you always seem to spend at least five minutes routing around in your bag for car keys, well with this bag, you can put them in the mum pocket and know exactly where they are.
The bag looks so cool, it would also be great as an overnight bag, Xene has already asked if she can use if for her next sleepover.

The Active is completely different, but just as great. It doesn’t really look like a change bag, more like a rucksack, which is definitely the appeal, as my husband actually carries it, something he probably wouldn’t do with many of the change bags on the market. The cross-body strap is extremely comfortable and features a mobile phone pocket, which can be easily reached when wearing it, instead of trying to locate in my handbag! A fantastic webbed pocket on the back of the bag is perfect for storing the included change mat. The insulated bottle pocket is discretely hidden inside the bag, and the grubby stuff pocket is great for storing Eowyn’s muddy trousers when she slips over – I know this for a fact!
The front pocket is reserved just for me, with purse, key clip and even penholders.

The Caboodle Giveaway

The lucky winner will receive this exceptionally useful and fashionable,Charcoal Stripe Fun and Funky bag which any Mum would be lucky to have.

If you'd like the chance to win this gorgeous bag, heres what you have to do ......
1. You must follow the blog with google friend connect or Networked Blogs.
2. Pop over to Caboodle Bags and RETURN here
3. Then leave a comment with the bag you like best from their website, your facebook / twitter name so i can contact you if you are the lucky winner .

That’s the mandatory entries done , but if you want extra credits you can do any of the following or all ....
~ follow Hex Mum on facebook
~.follow @Hex_Mum on twitter

If you have done any of the extra entries please let me know in a separate comment.

Thanks and Good Luck xxx

Comp closes 10th September 2011

Aquasolari Bed Pad - So Many Uses.

I was kindly sent a couple of  Aquasolari Bed pads to review. What a surprise !

When my older children had been learning to go through the night I used the disposable bed pads, but always felt bad about adding more rubbish to the landfill sites, plus they never seemed to stay in place, so I was interested to see how this new type of washable bed pad would step up to the test, and it certainly does.

When I first opened the box I was immediately drawn to the plush feel of the product, it was very padded and didn’t really feel like a pad for catching liquid. It has very pretty labels actually sewn onto it, so you never have to worry about losing the washing instructions or the label falling off.

The tuck in wings are more than ample, meaning that it has a nice secure fit on a single bed, but it can also be used in a cot or Junior Bed.

My son actually commented that his bed felt much more comfortable with his new `fluffy bit’ which was a surprise as he isn’t the most observant boy when it comes to furnishings!

The pad is so soft it can actually be used on top of the sheet, so if you are trying to attempt a dry night with your toddler and it fails, there is no need to strip the entire bed, just take the pad off and put it in the washing machine.

If, like me you can’t stand the thought of drying out a mattress after an accident, leave one of the bed pads permanently under the sheet, just in case!

It can absorb 2 litres of liquid, a whole bottle of fizzy drink, maybe I should put one on my car seats as they always seem to spill the fizzy in my car!

I also have to admit stealing one of the pads and placing it under my own sheet as I am currently leaking milk everywhere and it is so much more comfortable than placing a towel on my bed.

The pad really does have a multitude of uses. If like me you are terrified that your children will have an accident whilst sleeping in someone else’s bed, such as on holiday, then just fold up the pad and take it with you, if one of the children do have an accident, then you can just pop it in the washing machine and it even tumble dries.

Another benefit to this pad is that it really can be used for lots of things, I wish that I had known about the pad before I gave birth, then I could have placed it under my sheet, just on the off chance that my waters broke whilst in bed, also would have been handy after the birth, or even when I gave birth.

It says on the box it has been washed in the tests 200 times, that’s a lot of washes, so once you have used it for one child, you can just fold it away and use next time round!

The cost of the Bed Pad is £39.99 with free P&P, which I originally thought sounded quite a lot, but when I saw the quality of it, I thought it was worth the money, plus if I purchased 200 disposable ones it would cost me £123, and that would be a lot of rubbish to throw away.

I would definitely recommend this bed pad to everyone.

The wonderful people at Aquasolari are so keen to show you how great it is, that they have given a special discount, by using the link below you can purchase the Aquasolari bed pad for just £35.99, a 10% saving, I am sure you will find it invaluable.

 http://www.aquasolari.com/hexum

It really does have many uses

Thrupenny Bits THE Ultimate Cushion for Breastfeeding Mummies

Thrupenny Bits is a stylish, highly portable breastfeeding cushion or pillow devised by mother of two Melissa Wyatt-Fosbury

"When I had my first child breastfeeding was not something that came easily, mainly I struggled with positioning and latch. When eventually someone suggested I try a breastfeeding pillow, feeding my son became much easier. However the breastfeeding pillow I was using at the time was too big to be portable, baby kept disappearing down the gap when the cushion slipped off my lap and it was severely lacking on the style front. This was when I was inspired to create something better that suited my own needs. 

By the time I had my second child I had devised a breastfeeding pillow addressing the issues I felt were lacking in other pillows.

a/ Portability – it carries like a bag

b/ The fact that it ties on so doesn’t slip off you lap like some others.

C/ Attractiveness – Gorgeous soft-to-touch fabrics aimed at the Mum rather than at the baby.

An added bonus I stumbled upon during the early production stages was that those in the Ultimate and classic ranges could easily be converted to a bag for continued use, I still use mine today as a bag when I’m out with the kids.

 Inside the outer bag theres a removable crescent shaped inner cushion filled with the virtually weightless foam-beads. With a strap that ties at the top, it can be carried over your shoulder like a bag, or hung over the handles of a pram. In short it looks more like a fashionable bag or cushion giving you the freedom to breastfeed anywhere... Arguably the best breastfeeding cushion around it is made from beautiful soft-to-the-touch fabrics that would not look out of place amongst your scatter cushions on your sofa or bed.

When you've just had a baby you don't always feel the most glamorous and don't necessarily feel like buying clothes. With these you can actually feel like you''ve got something gorgeous for you which just so happens to be enormously practical! When you and your baby have decided to stop breastfeeding for good,  you can simply take out the inner sack and voila - you have a lovely bag to carry all your baby paraphernalia around in. Of course until the next one comes along in which case re-insert the inner beanbag and away you go!”

I was kindly sent one of these cushions to help me feed Tyrus comfortably, and he loves it, so do I.

It is easy to put on and tie around your waist, enabling me to have hands free to be able to do other things, such as read with Eowyn or Kaide, or type on the computer with Tyrus supported and not moving about, I am not worried that he will slide in between myself and the cushion, and the beads move around enough that you can mould the cushion to the exact shape you need.

This cushion gives me at least one hand free, which is essential when dealing with more than one child.

The fact that it ties round the waist also means that it stays in place when I stand up, meaning I have some support when carrying Tyrus around the house and feeding at the same time. (which happens quite often!) My arm doesn’t tire because it is supported and he is able to latch on easily.

The cushion that I was sent is a lovely pink and mint green striped, very trendy and the fabric is gorgeous. The foam bead bag removes easily for washing or to turn it into a fashoinable looking bag, both Xene and Neva have already eyed it up for themselves!

I would definitely recommend this cushion for any breastfeeding mums and  am sure that once breastfeeding has stopped the bag will be used by all the females in this house!

To take a look at these fab cushions visit Thrupenny Bits 

Green Nippers Harry Hood What an Outfit!

 

Introduction into Green Nippers and their products:
Green Nippers are a relatively new company specialising in organic baby clothes and organic children’s clothes. They launched their Debut Collection (0 to 12 months) in December 2009. In August 2011, Green Nippers launched their brand new Junior Collection for boys and girls aged 0 to 5 years!

Tyrus was sent a Harry Hood all in one outfit, it is a gorgeous bright yellow colour with green piping and a fantastic hoodie.

Since he was born Tyrus has had relatively dry skin and I do worry what to put on him, but this suit was perfect, it is soft and comfortable, it is not restrictive on his legs and it looks very funky.

The Harry Hood is available in Citrus yellow, lime and boy blue, in sizes 0-3mths up to 9-12mths.

It washes beautifully and Tyrus can be put in and out of it easily without any fuss.

As you can see from the bright and vibrant colour, Green Nippers have proven that using organic cotton does not mean that you have to limit the colours J Green Nippers uses bright colours that have been created using azo free, non toxic dyes without the use of heavy metals, which are natural and biodegradable. 

This Harry Hood organic baby grow was from Green Nippers Debut Collection. Their collection consists of colourful organic baby grows that are designed as “little outfits”, which are practical, comfortable and suitable for all year round.

Green Nippers Junior Collection (0 to 5 years) was launched in August 2011. The range includes smart and practical dresses, smock tops, t-shirts and leggings for girls. For the boys there are a wonderful range of t-shirts, stylish trousers and dungarees. They have carried on their ethos of been bright and colourful for their Junior collection, using a great range of warm and rich colours such as rustic red, chocolate brown, navy and forest green.

All Green Nippers products are certified by the Soil Association and manufactured in a Control Union certified factory in Turkey, under the Global Organic Textile Standard. The Soil Association organic symbol is the UK’s largest and most recognisable trademark for organic produce. The Soil Association certification gives the consumer peace of mind that what they are buying is 100% organic.

There are so many benefits of clothes which are made from organic cotton; the most noticeable benefit is that they are so much softer. Here we have listed some of the advantages of Green Nippers Organic Clothes:
- Made from soft 100% organic cotton
- Contains no nasty chemicals and pesticides
- Eczema friendly
- Only nickel free poppers fastenings are used
- Soil Association certified
- High quality, durable and easy to care for
- Cool and Comfortable
- Environmentally friendly
- Generously sized to fit around cloth nappies
- Range of practical all-in-one outfits are ideal for babies suffering from reflux
- Designed in England
- Ethically made in Turkey

The lovely people at Green Nippers have set up a discount code: ‘ORGANIC’ for you to receive 15% off their website: www.greennippers.co.uk until the 31^st October 2011.

Lansinoh Electric Breast Pump Twice the Milk Half the Time

Introducing the Lansinoh Affinity™ 2in1 Double Electric Breast Pump - the pump that's easy to use, kind on your wallet and gentle on your breasts.

The light and portable Affinity™ can be used as a single or double pump, and is mains or battery operated.  Effortless to assemble and easy to clean, our BPA-free pump features ComfortFit™ breast cushions for a soft, secure fit.  You control the 8 suction and 6 cycle settings to the level you find most comfortable without any compromise of effectiveness

Product Features:

• 2 separate phases to simulate your baby's natural sucking pattern
• Quick change button to switch easily between the let-down (stimulation) phase and the expression phase
• As effective as a hospital grade pump*
• Guaranteed against milk back-up in tubing and pump
• Express more milk in half the time**
• Compatible with most standard neck baby bottles
• Informative, back-lit LCD screen - also suitable to use under low light conditions

http://www.lansinoh.co.uk/products/two-in-one-affinity-double-electric-breast-pump

I have always Breastfed all of my children, and followed the advice of not expressing too early and letting breastfeeding get established before giving bottles, but with every child they have never taken to a bottle, and would refuse to feed if anyone else tried to feed them, which was rather difficult if Asa and I ever wanted to go out!

This time I spoke with the Health Visitor at Tyrus's six week check and she said that now he was six weeks old and he was gaining good weight (above the 75th centile!) it would be OK to express some milk and try him on a bottle.
So I was extremely excited (yes, we mums do get excited over strange things!) when I was given a Lansinoh Electric Breast pump to review. I have never used an electric pump before and was excited but nervous at the same time.

I have always expressed using a manual pump, although I have to admit it was always rather awkward and you could guarantee when I wanted to express quickly I would sit and pump for what seemed like an eternity to squeeze out 2oz, and get extremely frustrated.

The Affinity is a double pump, so I didn't have to worry about uneven breasts - yes ladies we have all been there one looks like Jordan and the other is half the size...

It had very easy to follow instructions on how to set it all up, which took me seconds and then I switched it on. It begins with a two minute let down phase which stimulates the breast and then it moves onto the pumping cycle. The rhythmic cycle is very soothing and relaxing, it isn't too noisy and doesn't feel like a cow being milked..
It has many different settings to suit each individual mummy. A lovely lilac colour that isn't too in your face, plus it doesn't take up much space, which is a bonus in this household.
It was very easy to take apart and clean, I was a little unsure when I saw some of the tiny tubes, but they do not come into contact with the milk, so do not have to be taken off and sterilised.
There are no tiny bits that can be lost when trying to reassemble.

I was amazed at how quickly the milk containers filled with the milk and although I could feel the suction it wasn't uncomfortable, and I didn't feel like I would lose half of my breast in the process.

It was easy to work and could be stopped with a simple pressing of a switch.

Within a very short space of time I had two containers full of milk that I transferred into the milk storage bags and I have frozen them, just in case some brave person offers to babysit all six children (highly unlikely) or someone else in the family can feed Tyrus when he gets a little bigger, I am going to wait a little longer to try him with a bottle.

I would definitely recommend this Breast Pump and think it would be fantastic for mothers who are returning to work and need to express quickly and efficiently.

Review It's A Miracle carrier

Celebrating their 50th Birthday this year and with approximately 30 million babies having felt the closeness and security of a BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier, BabyBjörn is proud to present their latest edition to their family of baby carriers, the BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Miracle.
The BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Miracle is designed fit your newborn baby (minimum 3,5kg,) perfectly from day one. The baby carrier's waist belt and lumbar support offers superior comfort for you too– right from newborn to approx. 15th months.
The BABYBJÖRN Miracle baby carrier allows you to vary the position of the baby carrier at every stage, and the `tape measure' facility allows it to even grow with your baby. Carry your newborn close to your heart - high up on your chest and facing you - providing that essential closeness whilst at the same time allowing you supervision of your baby's breathing. When carrying an older child you can position the baby carrier lower down on your hips to transfer weight away from your shoulders...as with all BabyBjörn carriers, when  your baby is about 5 months old and wants to see whats going on around them you can face them outwards.

 

SUPERIOR COMFORT. Ergonomic waist belt and adjustable design provide optimal comfort while your child grows. Easy adjustments, made front the front, transfer the weight between hips and shoulders.

PROVIDES ESSENTIAL CLOSENESS AND BONDING. Carry your newborn child high up on your chest and facing you, close to the comforting sound of your voice and heartbeat

I have always been a huge fan of BabyBjörn and have used their carriers with all of my children. So when I was kindly given the new Miracle Baby Carrier to review I was very excited at the prospect, I had heard such good things about it and I am very pleased to announce that it has certainly lived up to its reputation and has exceeded my expectations.

Tyrus at aged six weeks is still in need of the closeness of mum, so I find that he spends most of the day in the Carrier, which is not a problem due to the design of the Miracle, it has great padding on the hip area and the comfortable back support means that I do not get a backache, regardless of how long I am carrying Tyrus around, it is easy to adjust if I feel there is too much weight on my shoulders, I just adjust it so that more weight is distributed elsewhere.

I am able to prepare dinner, load the washing machine, unstack the dishwasher, in fact there is nothing that I have yet found unable to do whilst holding him in the sling.

It feels very luxurious and Tyrus immediately falls asleep whenever I put him in, if I then need to put him down, the Carrier is so easy to take him out of, he stays fast asleep.

I love the fact that I can take Tyrus in and out by myself and my teenage daughter is also able to carry him in it, without any trouble, because it is so easy to adjust.

It is also convenient when we are out walking, especially if we find ourselves somewhere that is difficult to take a pram, I can just put him in the Carrier and also have two hands free to hold onto the other children.

It has all the usual fantastic BabyBjörn extras, such as the instructions for use inside and a size guide on the inner part so that you know which height to have it at, dependent on the length of your baby.

I absolutely love this Carrier and I would recommend it to any new parent, and I can see that this will be used constantly for the next couple of months and beyond.

For more information on this fantastic carrier, please visit  BabyBjörn

Not as Glam as The models but It is Me

And Tyrus of course !