I’ve been spending a little time on my YouTube channel recently. I ignored YouTube for years but have recently realised how much I love watching and making my own videos. I’ve uploaded a few of my favourite videos of the children when they were little, as well as some of their favourite toys in the hope they will help other parents. Buying toys for my children when they were toddlers was such a minefield and it’s strange seeing how quickly things change in the parenting world. Parenthood can be overwhelming and if you’re not surrounded by friends and family it…
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A while ago I pinned a pretty picture of wool hearts. I wanted to try them with my son but the metal heart (made from floral wire) was too fiddly for him to hold and wrap at the same time. Instead we tried using some chunky heart-shaped cookie cutters which were much easier for him to hold. Toddler-friendly Valentine craft – wrapped wool hearts I covered the outside of the cookie cutter in double-sided sticky tape, then he had fun wrapping each one with red wool. When he had finished I tied a knot in the wool at the top…
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Many moons ago I signed up to host the BritMums Carnival and my time has finally arrived! Today I bring to you some brilliant posts from the best parenting bloggers about ….. potty training! Forgive me for the theme but potty training is currently headlining at the gingerbread house and I am in need of tips, advice and useful products to help ease the transition from nappies to big boy pants for my reluctant toddler. The parenting blogging community have generously shared some brilliant posts. Whether the potty years are far behind you or you are in need of some…
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I’ve had an idea about making a bunting blanket for a while, using a vintage blanket and scraps from my stash. Vintage bunting blanket I love experimenting with dye so tried dyeing part of an old baby blue cashmere blanket with Dylon Sunflower Yellow handwash dye. It didn’t look pretty during the process and I wasn’t too sure about colour mixing rules either. Anyway, I rinsed it and left it to dry and in the daylight it looked nice, a kind of faded green/yellow. From my stash I used some previously dyed vintage wool blankets which had been dyed with…
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If you ever ask the toddler what he wants to do he’ll answer painting. He absolutely loves sticking paper to the table, choosing a pot of paint and being creative. Hand print and thumb print animals are his current obsession so what better than hand print Easter bunnies for Easter gifts? You will need: paper, paint, black and red marker pen First of all stick your paper to the table, we use washi tape, to ensure the corners stay down. Choose which hand you want to use and sponge paint over the palm and fingers. Carefully press down the palm…
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My little toddler comes home every week with a different germ. He’s at nursery on a Monday, picks up a germ and shakes it off just in time to go back to nursery on Thursday. Of course, he’s also kind enough to share his germs with the whole family, so our medicine cabinet overflows with remedies! We’re all currently battling through a cold. Did you know children get on average 10 colds a year – three times as many as adults, so it’s no surprise that the children are always ill. We’ve found a couple of products which have really…
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My toddler is quite a chatterbox. At one stage I wondered if he would ever talk, and of course, now he never stops. I’ve realised how I tune out to him (bad mummy). The other day we were in a shop and the sales person was talking away to me and I wasn’t listening. I apologised when I realised and knew it was because I have to tune out to my son, otherwise I would go mad. The toddler is 34 months and has a great vocabulary. He’s inquisitive and very chatty and I can understand what he’s trying to…
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I’m not sure if it’s the long break from nursery over Christmas but my poor toddler appears to be bored and not tired enough to sleep. I know writing that makes me look like the worst mother which is why I’m trying to do something about it. This week is Operation Tire the Toddler. I’m going all out to physically exhaust him. Monday was soft play, Tuesday was a trip on the tube and the London Transport Museum, Wednesday was rhyme time at the library (which included a long walk there and back), Thursday he’s back at nursery for 4…
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A couple of weeks ago the children and I were invited along to the Rainforest Cafe to find out more about four new toys in the Elefun & Friends range aimed at preschoolers from Hasbro. The toddler had his face painted like a giraffe (his favourite animal) and they both had a lovely time, playing with the toys and making lots of new friends. The motorised Elefun blows colourful butterflies through his trunk and kids have to use their catching skills to grab them with a special butterfly net. The toddler absolutely adored this game and has been having lots of…