Pacapod Sequoia Change Bag - Review

Firstly I have to start by saying, I LOVE THIS BAG! I'm not normally a bag addict, but what I am is a bit of a control freak and I like to be organised and this bag really does help with these aspects of my personality. With the arrival of Noah it's essential for me to be sure I have everything when I'm out and about. 

I was sent the PacaPod Sequoia Change bag to try and review, and before I had it in my possession I loved it because it looked so stylish. It doesn't look like a baby change bag and the outside gives no notion of what it contains inside, which is a fantastic organised system - two 'pods' to contain all your baby paraphernalia and a pocket for your own 'mummy' bits.

Firstly, the outside. It really is a designer change bag. It is beautiful to look at and would suit any fashion conscious mum. I chose the 'mink' colour but it also comes in black. It has a leather covered clutch handle and also has a shoulder strap, long enough to be worn across the body.

Now for the inside: the main bag contains the 'pods' - one for changing and one for feeding. The feeder pod can also be used as a rucksack as it has the straps tucked into the pocket at the back. The changer pod has 7 pockets and they are all marked with what they should contain, which is an excellent reminder system for me because I'm always forgetting to put something in the change bag, like barrier cream/ hand, the little symbols inside the bag really help. The changing mat rolls up neatly and goes into the rear of the change pod, it has a nice fleece bit at the head of the mat so it's softer for baby's head.

The feeder pod is a fully insulated cool bag and can hold up to 4 bottles and can keep them warm for up to 3 hours. It also comes with a detachable bottle cover. Keeping baby's feeding bits separate from the changing items is also better in a hygienic sense.

What I also like about the pods is that they have a clip that enables you to attach them on to the buggy, therefore creating more space in the bag if you need it or also allowing you to take a pod out with you separately of the whole bag. The bag also has 3 pockets, one which the full length of the bag for mummy's bits and pieces, saving the need to take out a handbag as well.

We tend to make sure that the bag is always filled with everything we need and use it at night time when we're up with Noah, the changing pod is always filled for those nocturnal nappy changes.

I would thoroughly recommend this bag to all mummies/ mums to be - I love using mine, it feels designer and when I use it I'm confident that I have everything with me that I need! It is really well made. The materials feel of a very high quality and I reckon it will definitely withstand all the use it's going to get. Get your Sequoia Baby Change bag from Pacapod, retails at £130.

I received a Pacapod Sequoia Bag in order to write this review.

Silent Sunday

 

Postman Pat turns 30!

Postman Pat, Postman Pat, Postman Pat and his black and white cat..... who doesn't know the words to that song!?

On the 16th September it will be 30 years since Postman Pat was created and to celebrate his birthday he is asking is fans to send him birthday cards and drawings and in return they will receive a personal message from him!

It's hard to believe that Postman Pat has been entertaining children all over the world for 30 years and together with his black and white cat Jess he has become one of the most loved pre-school characters ever created. As well as watching Pat on TV children can also now play with the toy range from Character Options.

In order to get a personal message from Postman Pat children should send their birthday wishes and drawings to the following address giving a valid email address and the child's full name:

Postman Pat
Evolution PR
The Abbey Centre
Daventry
NN11 4XG

I feel sure that this will make any Postman Pat fans day!

YourSurprise.co.uk - Great for Personalised Gifts!

YourSurprise.co.uk is an online shop focused on selling fun, personalised gifts for all different occasions and targeted at everyone from babies to businesses. All gifts can be personalised with a photo, text and name therefore making them unique.

I was given the chance to try out the site and make a purchase to see just how easy it is and to look at the range of gifts that they do. The selection on the site is so varied and original, gifts range from bottles of wine with a photo of your choice on it, to personalised songs and the gift I chose to create which was a children's book, Teddy Bear Land, starring Isla as the main character.

Isla loves being read to at bedtime and I decided that she would love a book that she featured in and the timing was perfect as I made the book in time for her 2nd birthday. The book was very easy to make, all the personalisation parts of it are prompted for when you start to make the order. For this particular book you can give the name of the main character and then you can also name 2 friends to star in the book, so I chose Isla's cousin and another friend. You can also write a personal message for the inside page of the book. It was so easy to do and from that point on it was just a case of entering address and payment details as per all other online shops.

We didn't have to wait long for it to arrive from The Netherlands, and when it did (nicely packaged I might add!) I was pleased with it, and knew that Isla would be impressed with her starring role! And she really was. After it was read for the first time, she asked for it again straight away, which is always a good sign. It's a really cute book and I think that a child would be easily impressed if they found that they starred in their bedtime story.

So all in all, it was a great success and I'd recommend YourSurprise if you want to find a gift that you can put your own personal stamp on to make it original.

Most gifts can be delivered within 4 working days and are sent in a fancy gift package! If you spend over £50, you save 50% on your shipping costs!
Check out YourSurprise.co.uk selection for the best gift and personalise it today!

John Crane High Tea Shape Sorter - Review

Ever since Isla was 6 months old and was given a tea set and plate of pretend cakes for Christmas, playing tea parties has become a regular part of her role play games. She loves pouring tea and handing out the cups to people and pretending to eat cakes, so when we were sent the John Crane High Tea Shape Sorter to review I knew it would go down really well and is also so pretty!

This gorgeous wooden set is a two tiered cake stand and comprises of 15 different shaped and brightly coloured cakes.The great thing about this shape sorter is not only do children learn to match shapes but each of the cakes also has a number on their base which corresponds to the numbered shapes on the stand. Isla is great with matching shapes but the fact that this also includes the extra feature of number recognition is brilliant!

Apart from the educational aspects of this toy it is just so stunning to look at, all the cakes are so beautiful and individual, decorated with strawberries and cherries, they're so girly and sugary! I can see that we will have lots of fun with this and also that it will have longevity in terms of playtime. My Other half also commented on how well made it is and it was very easy to put together.

Since Isla has had it we've had more tea parties than The Ritz! We love this set and I think it would make a perfect gift for any little girl! 

High Tea Shape Matching Set available from all good toy stores including Dillon’s ToyBox , RRP £23.95

John Crane stock many other fab wooden toys, check out their blog here for more information http://www.thejohncraneblog.co.uk/

Widgey® Nursing Pillow - Review

I was really pleased to be asked to try out the Widgey® Nursing Pillow as last time around with Isla I found that I couldn't get enough of pillows for all different uses - in bed during pregnancy and for back support when relaxing in the evening and then when she arrived for assisting with Isla's positioning when I was feeding her whether breast feeding or bottle feeding. So I became a bit of a pillow addict!

I was sent a fab Cow Print widgey and I couldn't wait to use it.

Widgey® Nursing Pillow is a feeding aid for nursing mothers with a firm filling and removable cotton covers (great for milk spillages!!). Uniquely designed to hug around the mother it removes the need for the mother to clasp both the child and the pillow whilst breast and/or bottle feeding.

The Widgey really has longevity as it's uses are as follows:

- Can be used in pregnancy for back support

- Is used for nursing baby, it hugs round mums body and provides a raised support for baby to rest on as they breast or bottle feed.

- Once your baby is 3 months old he can be rested within the confines of the pillow to aid digestion of his milk

- And lastly once your baby is around 6 months old and attempting to sit up unaided the Widgey can be positioned around the baby so he will be supported if he falls backwards.

So you see it really is worth it's weight!

I've found this cushion really handy now I'm breast feeding, it raises Noah up a bit so that I'm not bearing all his weight on my arms and as I use a different position to feed him on each side it works in both instances. I'm also looking forward to using it to support Noah when he's starting to sit up as I like the fact that it will surround him and it is quite a firm pillow so he wouldn't fall over.

The Widgey has a RRP: £29.99 and is stocked at: www.thebabycatalogue.com, Mothercare, John Lewis, Boots,Toys R Us, Asda, Tesco, Amazon.

I was sent a Widgey free of charge in order to write this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Authentic Review of The Birthing Shirt!

When I was given the chance to try out the Bamboo Jersey Birthing Shirt made by The Birthing Shirt Company I was really pleased as I'd not found something to wear in hospital that would make me feel comfortable before, during and after the birth. I wanted something that would give me good coverage but that would also be good for when our little man arrived and I could give him immediate skin to skin and let him feed.

When I had Isla I was wearing my OH's Ramones t-shirt! Sounds quite funky, but in reality it was a stupid thing to wear as I had the IV in my hand, so I couldn't get it off and to have skin contact with her I had to pull the whole thing up. It didn't do much for my modesty either!

So as soon as it arrived I packed it in my hospital bag and when the day arrived for my induction, and I'd got comfortable in my room I got changed into the Birthing Shirt. When my OH first clapped eyes on it he questioned why was it in such a dark colour, shouldn't it look a bit prettier than it did? Er, no, I don't think a pretty pink shirt will look nice once it's got all kinds of labour and birth nasties all over it, the colour is perfect to disguise all of that!

I can only say positive things about it!

Firstly, it really does allow you to move during the whole labour process. It isn't restrictive at all, allows you to get into whatever positions you find comfortable to give birth. It's roomy and comfortable and has two slits up each side which makes it easy to move your legs around and pull it up and down as necessary when having examinations and also when the baby is about to arrive.

The front buttons right down to your midriff meaning you can have skin to skin immediately your baby is born without any struggle. This is also perfect when you're wearing it to breast feed baby. I'm making good use of it now I'm home, as it is the most suitable thing I have to wear in bed as I can give Noah a feed in a jiffy .

The fabric keeps you cool, which is great for during labour as it's a hot and sweaty process!! It is made from Bamboo grass, and is much softer than cotton (like cashmere). Bamboo grass also needs less pesticides to grow so it is far more eco friendly too.

All in all, I really am so pleased that I was given the chance to try the birthing shirt. I know some people may ask is it really necessary but once you've got one and you use it during labour you'll see what a great design it is and how fit for purpose it is. It is also brilliant for breast feeding.

The Birthing Shirt is available directly from The Birthing Shirt Company  website , retailing at £35.99 and there is free delivery until 31st August and also from the NCT online shop

I was given a birthing shirt in order to write this review.