I think that skibz are a fantastic idea and they work really well. Designed by British mum Helen Bristol, the Skibz is a great-looking bandana-style dribble bib that works like a bib and looks like a scarf. We kindly received the Dizzy Flowersone for my 2-year old daughter to try and I have to say that she loved it! It’s funky, great-looking (for her is far more accessory rather than a bib) and it’s also great quality. Being 100% cotton I have no worries if the fabric could cause her gentle skin around the neck irritation – it’s so soft and natural!
I love the patterns you can get skibz in – they are a welcome change from bibs which cover my little daughters’s outfits. I would say Skibz are just perfect for those times when your little one needs to wear a bib when out and about! There are so many styles and colours to choose from that it’s easy to find the ones to suit any outfit.
The other plus is that Skibz fit snugly around my daughter’s neck. They are also highly absorbent if you have a little baby that dribbles a lot while teething. The unique double-layered backing system literally draws moisture away from the skin, eliminating soreness and chaffing under the skin.
But for my daughter it’s true that the bright-coloured Funky Flower Zkibz is more of a fashion statement then a serious piece of clothing protection. So I would definitely recommend these to anyone – even if their child doesn’t dribble that much. Since we have the Skibz, my daughter always gets compliments and people ask me where to buy it from. If you are wondering too, you can buy it online at http://skibz.co.uk.
Light, comfortable and manoeuvrable pushchair. This is what I’ve been looking for lately! So when we received the Graco Symbio – Moon to review, it just hit the spot.
My daughter was very excited, too – she couldn’t wait for me to open the box. Very big box, so I was a bit sceptical at first. But when we assembled it, it looked very nice and compact.
The first thing to notice was the elegant trendy design! In stylish grey and nice forms, this pushchair is a real beauty! Then we discovered another plus: the reversible handle! There is also 3-seat position but what I like most is the 5 point harness as safety is a priority for me when choosing pushchair.
We thought we would immediately give it a try. I was very nice surprised that it was so easy to push (using Silvercross in the past, the difference is huge)! Graco Symbio is easy-peasy to push and navigate with one hand only, so when it’s raining I can easily hold my umbrella with the other hand – phew, one “rainy-day issue” sorted!
But thanks God not all days in London are rainy, so when the weather was nice last month, we spent the Saturday out in the park and at some point my daughter felt asleep. Previously I was feeling guilty looking at her trying to find a comfortable position to sleep. This time was different though – she was feeling so comfortable that she slept for a couple of hours (so I got to see my friend over a cuppa and sweet talks).
Despite the fact that my shopping at Waitrose is still a mission as the basket could have been larger to store some of my shopping while rushing after the kid, overall I am very pleased with Graco Symbio! I would definitely recommend it as a nice and comfortable option for city ride and if your little one still enjoys the outside naps in the buggy.
Symbio Pushchair
Suitable From 6 months
Reversible handle
Comfy seat pad
Removable bumper bar
Compact, lightweight frame
Maneuverable
One click travel system
Reversible seat unit for both front and rear facing
Spring suspension and pneumatic tyres
Car seat adaptor
Rain cover included
Weight 8kg
Dimensions
Open: 79cm x 58cm x 100cm
Folded: 79cm x 58cm x 35cm
Weight: 7.5kg
• 1 small butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and finely chopped (about 400g prepared weight)
• 1tbsp baby rice
• Place the butternut squash into the Philips AVENT Combined Steamer and Blender jug. Pour 150ml cold water into the boiler unit and steam for 15 minutes until tender
• Turn the jug to the blending position and blitz 2-3 times until smooth
• Place the baby rice into a bowl. Add 3tbsp boiling water and stir until smooth. Add 4tbsp butternut squash puree, stir well and allow to cool before serving
Cook’s tip
Refrigerate or freeze your remaining portions of butternut squash puree for later use. These will store in the fridge for the next day or in the freezer for 1 month.
• 1 small sweet potato (about 175g) peeled and roughly chopped
• 1 small potato (about 175g) peeled and roughly chopped
• Place the spring onion, sweet potato, potato and chicken breast into the Philips AVENT Combined Steamer and Blender jug. Pour 150ml water into the boiler unit and steam for 15 minutes
• Add the frozen peas to the jug. Add another 50ml water to the boiler unit and steam for a further 5 minutes
• Turn the jug to the blending position and blend 2-3 times until coarsely pureed
• Transfer to a bowl (add a little unsalted chicken stock to get the correct consistency if necessary) and allow to cool before serving
Cook’s tip
Refrigerate or freeze your remaining portions of chicken mixture for later use. These will store in the fridge for the next day or in the freezer for 1 month. Defrost thoroughly and then reheat well and allow to cool before serving.
• 2 sweet dessert apples, peeled, cored and roughly chopped
• Pinch of ground cinnamon
• 1-2 tbsp unsweetened apple juice
• Place both fruits into the Philips AVENT Combined Steamer and Blender jug with ground cinnamon. Pour 50ml water into the boiler unit and steam for 5 minutes until tender
• Turn the jug to the blending position and blitz 1-2 times until smooth
• Transfer to a bowl and stir in the apple juice to loosen the consistency if necessary. Allow to cool before serving
Cook’s tip
Refrigerate or freeze your remaining portions of puree for later use. These will store in the fridge for the next day or in the freezer for 1 month.
See even more healthy baby and toddlers recipes here.
A toddler’s mealtime is a daily challenge for most parents with over 65 per cent claiming ‘they find it difficult to get their little ones to eat properly’, a recent study has revealed.
Almost 40 per cent of toddlers ‘want to eat whatever is on mummy’s plate rather than theirs’ and another 50 per cent ‘suddenly decide to stop eating something they have previously liked’ leaving their parents completely puzzled. This is probably why eight out of ten mums get creative and slightly fib to their kids to get them to eat the right foods, the study showed.
Almost 83 per cent of mums admitted to telling their youngsters an average of two little fibs a day to encourage them to eat things they aren’t keen on such as fruit and vegetables or to put them off sweets and fizzy drinks. And the most common fib is that eating vegetables will make them grow big and strong like their favourite TV heroes, with 65 per cent admitting to using this line on their child. Another 49 per cent tell their children that carrots will allow them see in the dark and almost a quarter have pretended that crusts from bread will give them curly hair.
Other popular small fibs include ‘Spinach will help you grow strong like Popeye’ and claiming that the ice cream van only plays music when it has run out of lollies. But while four out of ten mums admit they feel guilty for lying to their children, 60 per cent say they sometimes reach a point where they simply don’t know what else to do.
Deneice Harwin from Philips AVENT*, which commissioned the study to mark the launch of its ToddlerFeeding Range, said: ‘’Encouraging toddlers to eat new foods can be a nightmare for parents and make meal times the most stressful part of the day. But it’s important that they get the right nutrients and this means eating fruit and veg, which tend to be the worst foods in children’s eyes. ’So it’s no wonder parents are telling little fibs to their children in an attempt to get them to eat certain things.”
The study of 3,000 mums revealed that almost two thirds of parents struggle to get their toddlers to eat a healthy, balanced diet. And 69 per cent consider their child to be a fussy eater. But 89 per cent worry about whether their children are getting all the right nutrients they need, with 13 per cent so concerned that they have even taken their child to see a doctor or nutritionist.
The study also showed that 80 per cent of people have given in when their child refused to eat something, just to avoid the hassle. Dr. Gillian Harris, Child Psychologist, said: “Parents looking for an easier time at the table should remember that the best way to get a child to enjoy eating is to interact with them and get them interested in food – if a child is interested in what’s going on their plate and what they put in their mouth, parents are less likely to need to battle to get them to eat something. The characters and games on the new Philips AVENT range help make this an easy job for parents by giving them something to talk about at meal times.”
The survey has been commissioned by Philips AVENT to celebrate the launch of the new Toddler Mealtime Range. For further information and tips on weaning and toddler feeding please visit www.mybabytalk.co.uk.
Clingy toddler at home, no sleep, too much to do… if you are a busy mum like me who sometimes is feeling stressed out can get an instant natural pick me up from a new product that fits conveniently into a handbag or pocket.
The MamaBabybliss Bliss Stick Uplifting Oil is simply dabbed onto pressure points whenever a woman needs a lift. The all-natural ingredients include:
Lime Oil: lifts depression and energizes a tired mind, while easing breathing and assisting digestion.
Bergamot: for depression, feeling fed-up, respiratory problems, colds and flu, PMS and SAD.
Geranium: helps relieve stress, mild depression, PMS, anxiety and tension, menopausal problems and for general energizing.
“All mums need a little lift every now and then, whether they’re an exhausted new mum getting by with very little sleep while coming to terms with her new, often overwhelming role as mother, or an experienced mum of three rushing between work and after school activities,” explains Justina Perry, founder of MamaBabyBliss. “We’ve created the Uplifting Bliss Stick to help mums take a short breather, giving her the energy she needs before carrying on with her busy day.”
The Bliss Stick Uplifting Oil is available from www.mamababybliss.com and costs £5. The product is part of the MamaBabyBliss range of natural pampering products for pregnancy, babies and mothers, all of which are made with natural active ingredients that are ethically sourced and are entirely free of chemicals found in similar products.
The company also has new website featuring a range of videos including relaxation techniques, massage and yoga. See them at www.mamababybliss.com
Light, comfortable and manoeuvrable pushchair. This is what I’ve been looking for lately! So when we received the 
But thanks God not all days in London are rainy, so when the weather was nice last month, we spent the Saturday out in the park and at some point my daughter felt asleep. Previously I was feeling guilty looking at her trying to find a comfortable position to sleep. This time was different though – she was feeling so comfortable that she slept for a couple of hours (so I got to see my friend over a cuppa and sweet talks).
