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There is always a great buzz around The Baby Show at the NEC, Birmingham but is it really worth going? 

I have been a the show for the past 4 years, in support of businesses, as a pregnant mum, as a new mum and today as an "expert" on the Mumsclub stand. The one thing I noticed this year was that there were more big brands at the show, than in previous years, in particular Asda had a big presence but the whole show had an overall great feel to it.

It is not always cheap to attend exhibitions like The Baby Show but there have been lots of offers around for reduced ticket prices, try the Mumsclub site for 40% off. Once inside the show, it is probably best to have a plan, otherwise you will quickly realise that you are missing some amazing stands and great deals.

Despite the fact that the floor plan isnt always clear to follow, the actual aisles are extremely spacious with lots of pushchair room, even while some of us (this may have actually been me) stood in the aisles chatting. So where are the top places to visit?

The Natal Company - The Natal Company is made up of MummyNatal, BabyNatal and DaddyNatal and they will be running classes across all three days of The Baby Show. Their ethos is to support families to have a confident, empowered and enjoyable experience into parenthood. This resonates so clearly with our own daughters birth that we highly recommend paying them a visit!

Tommee Tippee Feeding Area - This is a great space in the one corner of the show and has a private breastfeeding area and free baby food. It also has a seated area (and let me tell you, your feet will be grateful of this after a while).

Mimijumi UK - Now on the subject of breastfeeding, we found an amazing concept from Mimijumi UK. The bottle is unlike no other we have seen and as a mum who struggled to make the transition from breast to bottle, it is certainly a consideration for mums in the same situation. Replicating a mother’s nipple and breast, the innovative teat design is a key factor which creates a natural feeding and latching experience for a happier & healthier bottle fed baby. It may have raised a few eyebrows but if you are mum, you know you will try anything!

Baby Changing Area – We have all been to grotty changing rooms but the Baby Show has a large area with free nappies and free wipes ..... what is not to love??            

The Fisher-Price Crèche – The Baby Show is obviously about our beautiful little ones but we all know that sometimes it is easier (and quicker) to zoom around the stands we want to go to, without worrying about a blanket or toy falling on the floor! The Fisher Price Creche looked extremely popular today though with lots of toys and things to learn whilst playing.  All the staff are fully trained nursery staff and are CRB checked but our word of warning would be to book in advance or at least as early as possible!!

In terms of the stores and stands available there is a great mix from pushchairs, clothes, bibs, furniture, so if you are a pregnant mum, new mum or an experienced mum, there is something for everyone. 

Our advice, make a list of what you need and "try" and stick to it!

Oh .... and maybe take some snacks as the queue for food was huge!!

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Making a choice about leaving your child with someone else is one of the most heart wrenching, emotional and difficult decisions you can make, especially when they are a baby. I have always been really lucky in terms of having parents, family and close friends to look after my babies when I needed them to but quite recently, due to circumstances, had to look at alternative options.

First and foremost the official stuff, you need to ensure that any childcare service is registered. All those in England should be registered and and inspected by Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills) at least once every 3 years. This means that they meet the relevant standards of care and as a mum; we always think that no one is capable of looking after our babies like we do, but having set standards certainly helps to ease your worries.

I love a list, so I firstly drew up a shortlist of the childcare providers in my area and then arranged to visit them. Prior to the visit, I wrote out a list of questions, questions about the meal times, first aid, activities, hygiene standards, working hours (early drop off and late collection or only 9-5?) adult/child ratio, security and structure. They are looking after the most precious thing in your life, so you are entitled to ask these questions.

Once you have made a decision, ask for references from other parents who have sent their children to that nursery / child minder. Another parent will give you an honest opinion, which is ultimately what you are seeking.

I personally struggled with the whole separation anxiety of leaving my daughter with someone who didn’t know her and her routine, which is why having my best friend as a child minder worked perfectly for me. It meant that she had one to one attention and could develop a bond.

Leaving your child in the care of another is always a hard but often necessary decision for a parent but it doesn’t have to fill you with worry.

Give yourself time to find the right setup that works for you and your child and instead of worrying about leaving them; you can look forward to them running in for a cuddle when you collect them!

 

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You know when you think you do something really well and have that "it will never happen to me" attitude? Well I have to admit that I was that "smug" driver! I have been driving for some (ahem) 15+ years and always thought that I was a confident and competent driver, unfortunately for me that didn't help when another driver pulled across the road in front of me a while back!

If you have ever been in a car accident you know just how shocking and unpleasant it can be. Even if it is just a small shunt, the shock can really affect your confidence  on the road. The jolt of an impact can cause injury and panic and if you don’t respond in the correct way, the consequences in both the short term and long term can be very damaging. I vividly remember my daughter looking at me and asking "mummy, did we just crash?", thankfully we were both okay.

Three stages

Having dealt with the motor fleet of previous companies I have worked for, I do know what I should have been doing but even I needed a reminder. Essentially, the things to do after an accident can be broken down into three stages – immediate, short term and long term. In the immediate aftermath of an accident you should try not to panic. Don’t move suddenly or try and get out of the car unless it is necessary or you have made sure you are ok to do so. Remember that shock may take over and you might not realise the extent of your injuries and always tend to yourself before checking on others.

Get out of danger

If it is safe to get out the car, check on the well-being of other people involved and call the police and an ambulance. It is always better to err on the side of caution. Remove yourself and any other people from any danger and stand well away from the car or road. (we had to get the air ambulance out to us as we were in a rural area, which was more embarressing for me than it was actually needed)

Swap details

In the short term you need to swap insurance details and make sure the police have a full account of what happened. You may need to try and get statements from other witnesses as these could come in handy later on. Make sure you get the details of all involved. Names, addresses, numbers, license plates – any information you can get may be useful. It may also be a good idea to take photos of damage to any cars. Try and build up a complete picture of the incident as best as you can.

Establish blame

In the longer term you need to try and assess what happened and who was at fault. You will need to involve the relevant insurance companies and establish a claim if you were not at fault. The payment we received for this post, will help go towards next year's car insurances :-)

Don't forget that all the information gathered from witnesses, police and photographic evidence at the time of the accident may be useful. It is always a good idea to use specialist lawyers like http://www.injurylawyers4u.co.uk if you think you are entitled to a claim as they specialise in these kinds of cases.  

If like me, you follow all these steps correctly, you can get the best possible outcome from any accident but I do hope that you genuinely never have to use them.

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Today is my beautiful daughters birthday and whilst she may drive me nuts at times, I am thankful for her every single day. It may seem odd to say that but you may remember a while ago, that we did a post about a fellow blogger who found her baby girl forever sleeping on the 2nd February 2013. Matilda Mae was one in 600 babies who die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in the UK each year. I have been in awe of Jennie's strength and dignity and she has articulated their tragic journey so carefully, emotionally and beautifully, it makes me want to hug my own children a little tighter and be grateful every day.

Matilda Mae will never be forgotten by her family, the blogging community and every single person her story has touched and that is why we want to share the details of The Lullaby Trust. The Lullaby Trust funds research into SIDS so that families like Matilda’s can be supported and try and find the answers they so desperately need. The Lullaby Trust also guides and supports families in making the first steps towards growing their family once more, with their Care of Next Infant program. They also provide a bereavment support service and help to educate parents on the importance of safe sleeping.

Jennie has been approached by many companies offering support, so an auction is due to open tomorrow, May 11th and will run until May 20th. It is being run by Tots100.

We genuinely hope that you will show some support for the auction, even if it sharing this post with your friends on Facebook or Twitter or maybe even placing a bid yourself.

Thank you for reading x