Category: Baby Blog

1. Lifestyle Changes New Dads Can Make to Be the Best Parent They Can Be

   Posted on 12:00pm Monday 4th Mar 2019

   There is a lot of support and even documentation out there for mothers. Fathers, on the other hand, have less. This is likely due to the shifting relationships at home. In the past, fathers were socially expected to work and make money while the mothers would stay home and raise the children. Now both parents will often have careers, and parenting is a job you must share and be in together.

   

   This share of responsibilities is key to a healthy home, but for those dads out there who have felt they have begun to lose themselves or are doing this all on their own, here are a few suggestions on how to turn your life around:

   Lifestyle Changes to Make for Yourself

   Some lifestyle changes you need to make for yourself to stay healthy and happy include:

   Make Time for Yourself

   Being a parent is all consuming, but if you don’t put effort into maintaining who you were beforehand and the relationships you cared about, you risk not knowing who you are once your children grow up and move out. That is why you need to take time for the things you care about. Don’t let your sense of style slip; instead, try to buy better quality clothes that will help you look great and put together no matter how little time you had in the morning. Invest in the right mens glasses that suit your face shape from Mister Spex. Treat yourself to a nice briefcase to take to work. Encourage your partner to do the same.

   
   This also applies to the hobbies you have and seeing your friends. Try to make time for them. It doesn’t matter how tired you are, losing those friendships or forgetting those passions will make you regret things later in life. Your children need space to grow up, and if you can show them how you can juggle it all, they will grow up to be well-rounded individuals.

   Commit to Date Night

   Just as you need to make time for yourself, you also need to make time for your partner. Make date night a weekly event. The routine will work with your children (especially if you hire the same babysitter), and you and your spouse can get some quality alone time. You don’t even need to do anything particularly fancy. If it is warm, you can just go and sit on a park bench. So long as you are spending quality time together, it doesn’t matter what you do.

    

   Lifestyle Changes to Make for Your Kids

   Some lifestyle changes to make for your kids include:

   Be Consistent in Your Schedule

   Get back from work at the same time every day. Do homework with them every day after dinner. Make routines so that your kids can thrive, bond with you, and know when to expect you day after day.

   Find an Activity to Do with Your Kids on a Regular Basis

   Some great activities include: 

   • Teaching Them How to Cook
   • Going on Bike Rides Every Saturday
   • Playing Tennis

   Don’t Make Mum Play the Bad Guy

   Work together as parents. Don’t make your partner the bad guy who always has to say no to fun ideas like ice-cream for dinner. Work out rules you want to enforce together and equally lay down the law. This way you can share the responsibility, and no one becomes the “fun parent” while the other takes the brunt.

    

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2. Zapf Baby Annabell Brother | Review

   Posted on 12:00pm Monday 18th Jun 2018

   There was recently the birth of a new baby prince and it became very apparent in our "baby collection" that we had rather a lot of girl babies and not many boys. Fear not, we were delighted to be given the opportunity to review the Baby Annabell brother doll, which was perfectly timed following the birth of Prince Louis of Cambridge! 

   We adore Baby Annabell and have tried and tested many of the products in the range from the swimming doll to big sister, not to mention the Baby Annabell bedroom. And if I am honest, it makes for a refreshing change to have a baby boy in the house! 

   

   The key things to note about Baby Annabell's Brother are:

   • You can cradle him in your arms and he will yawn and his eyes will close (this is actually adorable)
   • You can tell how well he's feeling as his mood changes when you stroke his cheek or pat his back. (again adorable)
   • He can now really wet his nappy & use his potty!
   • It says that the Baby Annabell brother is suitable for three years and up and we have a six year old so it is definitely made to last. Please note: 4 x AA batteries are required (not included).

   First impressions of the Baby Annabell Brother, or "Baby George" as he is now affectionately known in our house (the 6 year old wasn't convinced on the name Louis, but lets not tell William and Kate) was sheer delight at firstly having a new baby to look after but secondly, and more importantly, that it was a boy. 

   

   I know that I have stressed this a few times but the fact that it is a boy is a big deal. We have a great deal of "pink" in our house and if you go into any toy shop, the pink baby girls ALWAYS outweigh the number of blue ones. It is proven that from cognitive and motor development to social-emotional growth, that no other single toy comes close to the impact that dolls can have. So having a "boy" doll may inspire more opportunities for boys to play, explore and experiment with different choices, personalities, and responses.

   

   The Baby Annabell Brother is soft to the touch but his face moves with a sucking motion when he has his dummy or bottle. This is possibly my favourite feature of the doll (although we are not allowed to refer to him as a doll - he is a baby of course). lf you him flat or pat his back, baby goes back off to sleep. The sounds he generatees are varied, from crying to a sucking sound and a cute “happy” sound along with snoring whilst it’s asleep. Baby Annabells brother is suitable for ALL children and can assist them to learn skills of nurturing, empathy, and caretaking through doll play.

   The new Baby Annabell Brother is available from around £50 which seems a lot for a "doll" but when it is suitable from 3 years of age and we are happily playing with it at the grand old age of 6 and a half, this makes it a gift that will stand the test of time. (oh and it is adorable too!)  

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3. BABY Born Interactive Sister : Baby Born Rain Fun Shower Giveaway

   Posted on 9:00pm Monday 30th Apr 2018

   There is no doubt that we are huge baby doll fans, in fact you are not allowed to call them dolls in our house, they are babies! Most of the babies that we have are not interactive, so you can imagine the delight when we were given the opportunity to review the Baby Born Interactive Sister doll. 

   

   BABY born Sister doll has six functions and ten accessories for fun interactive play, including lovely long hair that you can brush and style. She may be a little older than BABY born, but is the same height meaning they can mix and match their outfits. Our very own baby doll fanatic loves changing their outfits so often, she has found that tiny baby clothes can also fit her too. 

   

   The Baby Born Interactive Sister looks more grown up and she is able to stand on her own and bend her knees, can drink water, cry real tears and is fully bathable. If you check out our Instagram feed here, you can see how she cries! Her crying ability reminds me of a baby doll I had when I was younger, so it is a timeless classic in the making that never gets old. 

   My youngest daughter is naturally the cute little sister so she loved being in charge of the Baby Born Interactive Sister. She is particularly fond of the way her legs move, this is a great feature as many dolls have solid legs. Having movable legs mean that she sits naturally in a chair, so very often joins us for dinner! 

   Whilst being able to change the clothes of the Baby Born dolls, my daughter also appears to have more naked dolls than anything else (I can't be the only one whose daughter insists on getting all her dolls naked), so the addition of a shower to the range is perfect!

   

   The BABY born Rain Fun Shower (RRP £42.99) mean that BABY born and BABY born Sister can now enjoy a real working shower with opening doors, an adjustable shower head, water flow regulator, harness to keep them safe, and towel.

   As many baby dolls are not suitable to take in the bath tub, it is great that play time doesn't have to stop when it is bath time for the children (although as it has batteries, we are not recommending that you take the shower in with you too!)

   The shower is suitable for children aged 3+ but there is definitely some parental supervision needed for assembly. Putting all the pieces of the shower together initially is not difficult but a little tricky and as there is water involved, I always feel the need to supervise or at least ensure it is not on a carpet anywhere!!

   

   The shower requires 4 x AA batteries and you need to follow the instructions to make sure everything fits together and the water is filled to the correct levels but once it is, then the shower works like a dream. (although recommend a towel close by .... just in case) 

   So if you have a little one who would love to try the Baby Born Rain Fun Shower, the kind folk at Zapf Creations are giving one lucky Lilypad reader the chance to do just that. All you need to do is enter below. 

    Baby Born Rain Fun Shower Giveaway

   The Prize: Baby Born Rain Fun Shower
   The winners will be chosen at random by the random winner generator on Gleam and notified within 7 working days by email
   By entering this competition, you understand that your details may be retained for future mailings. You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time.
   There is no monetary equivalent.
   Little Lilypad Co take no /responsibility for loss or damage in the despatch of prizes
   If the prize is unclaimed within 7 days we reserve the right to redraw the winner.
   End Date 26/05/2018 at 12am

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4. To bounce or not to bounce? Are baby bouncers harmful to your child's development?

   Posted on 12:00pm Wednesday 24th Jan 2018

   Being a mum to two girls, there’s no better feeling for a parent than seeing their children wiggle and jiggle and having the best time of their life. However, in more recent times baby bouncers have become a rather controversial piece of equipment, criticized by many for potentially creating more harm than fun. Whilst my girls are past the baby stage, I still have lots of friends becoming pregnant and having little ones, so before purchasing anything for a baby, whether it is baby bouncers, car seats or toys, it is important to do your research – so here is some helpful advice for you!

   

   Feature image credit: FamVeld/Shutterstock

   Are baby bouncers harmful?

   Like any other piece of equipment, a baby swing or bouncer can potentially be dangerous if not used properly. Most accidents happen due to human misuse, and all parents are advised to read and follow the instructions.

   One mistake most parents do is leaving their children in the bouncer for a long period of time. While it’s nice to have your hands free for a minute, leaving your child in the bouncer for too long could potentially be harmful. The bouncer is designed to secure the baby in a half-lying, half-sitting position, and experts are warning that this may lead to him or her developing positional plagiocephaly, also known as ‘flattened head syndrome’. This is a condition which results in part of a baby’s head becoming flattened due to sustained pressure on one spot. This can be easily avoided by limiting use to 20-30 minutes, and never let your child sleep in the bouncer.

   What the research says

   A study that examined 43 infants and their motor development when using play-assist equipment has left many unsure about the safety of these items. The results revealed that the children using the equipment the most would score lowest on infant motor development, in comparison to those who rarely or never use such equipment. Because there were no other tests to support this study, parents are encouraged to only allow moderate use of such equipment within the home, to ensure healthy child development.

    

   Credit: didesign021/Shutterstock

   When is it time to stop?

   Whilst you may never want your baby to grow up, they eventually will, and there will be a time when they will be too big for the bouncer. The majority of baby bouncers will only be good if your baby weighs between 18 and 30 pounds. A general rule is that, if your child is big enough to sit on his or her own, then he or she is too big for the bouncer. This usually happens at the age of 6 months. If you want a piece of equipment to last you a little longer, there are some multiple-purpose baby seats that will be suitable for a wider age range. Do your research thoroughly and make sure you only buy products from authorised sellers.

   Conclusion

   Let ‘em bounce! But never for longer than about 30 minutes, and make sure you are there to supervise them. Never purchase any piece of equipment without doing your research and always follow safety and operation guidelines. Choose the highest quality for your child, and buying equipment that will suit their age and needs will keep your baby safe and happy. 

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