Blog : Little Lilypad Co

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The Little Lilypad is a lifestyle blog mostly written by a mum to two beautiful, cheeky and entertaining daughters. It is sometimes written by the Man on the Pad or by one of our baby bloggers. Occasionally we accept guest posts too. There is frequently talk of sustainable living, saving money, lifestyle and travel. It is hopefully helpful, sometimes funny and always honest.
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Category: News

  1. Do you give to charity?

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    Do you give to a charity? Whether it be cleaning out your wardrobe and giving to a charity shop or a monthly direct debit to your charity of choice, there are lots of different ways to give. I know alot of people believe charity begins at home but what if you were unable to support your family at home, wouldn't you hope that there was someone there to offer support?

    The Lilypad have supported various charities such as Save the Children and Caudwell Children but we have only been able to do so in a small way, so it is really refreshing to hear about small UK based company, Michiko and Me,  commiting their support to Action Against Hunger, an international humanitarian organisation committed to ending child hunger. Michiko and Me will provide year round support by making a generous donation on each product sold to Action Against Hunger.  Donation amounts will range from £1 to £5 per product and to celebrate the launch of the partnership, Michiko and Me will apply this donation across their entire product range.

    Michiko and Me images

    Nicky Lumb, founder of Michiko and Me says, “Our Michiko and Me designs are based on a principle of growing as the child grows. This notion of our children growing happily and healthily is a privilege that we often take for granted. Most of us are fortunate enough to be able to feed our children but this is not the case for all families around the world. Knowing you cannot feed your child is so painful, which is why Michiko and Me wanted to back a charity that supports children and families in the struggle against hunger. Action Against Hunger’s work includes saving malnourished children’s lives and improving families access to food and clean water for the future, making them the perfect charity for us to partner with.” 

    We have no affiliation with Michiko and Me, purely admiration. 

    For more information about Action against Hunger please visit http://www.actionagainsthunger.org.uk/get-involved/corporate-partnerships/our-corporate-partners/michiko-and-me/

     

  2. Is it worth going to The Baby Show?

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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!!

  3. Matilda Mae Memorial Auction

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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

    Matilda Mae Memorial Auction

  4. Can mum's make money from switching their bank accounts?

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    We have talked quite alot about finances on the Lilypad lately but this is important to growing families, with ever reducing budgets due to the rising cost of living. So can changing bank accounts save you money and how easy can it be to change?

    I have changed utility providers before and have always used online comparison sites but I think sometimes we open a bank account and never look to see if it continues to provide us with the best deal and options for our money. (I am guilty of this, as I still have the bank account that gave money boxes for savings goals as a child!)

    We don't claim to be financial experts but in the words of Martin Lewis "Switching CAN make you £100s. While banking is 'free', this only applies if you're in credit. Most banks pay a pitiful 0.1% interest on your money then loan it out as overdrafts at 20%. So, even if you like the service, if it's so good, are you willing to pay £100s in lost benefit?"

    There are lots of options available and we are not here to suggest anyone in particular but to serve as a reminder that changing your bank account or indeed loan or mortgage could save you hundreds of pounds. Using a comparison site or budgeting tool, like the one we found on family friendly site MyFamilyClub definately helps to reduce the search. 

    Budgeting for a family can be a juggling act, whether you are living day to day or saving money for your children's future, so it's great to know that we can save money by using a simple budgeting tool to make simple changes. At this point, I usually make a comment about saving money means I can buy more shoes but the rate my daughters are growing, I think it will be more shoes for them instead!