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You may remember a little while ago, we changed our Twitter and Facebook avatar to a Star. This was in memory of a little girl called Matilda Mae who was found sleeping earlier this year. I never knew Matilda Mae but her mum Jenny, is a fellow blogger, and is both loved and respected in the blogging community.

In the weeks and months since Jenny found Matilda sleeping, Jenny and her family have been working closely with FSID who today have changed their name to The Lullaby Trust. The charity’s new logo, website and materials were unveiled today after a year-long rebranding exercise. The changes are part of its strategy to halve the number of deaths from sudden infant death syndrome by 2020. About 300 babies in the UK die suddenly each year.

‘The Lullaby Trust’ communicates warmth, trust and compassion. It is a simple name which is easy to remember and illustrates their commitment to promoting safer sleep for babies to every family.

The Lilypad family have no comprehension of what Jenny and her family have gone through but we do think that FSID changing the name to The Lullaby Trust is a positive move for FSID. All parents sing a favourite lullaby for their little ones and mine has to be Hush Little Baby. We often tailor it to Mummy (not Daddy) or Big Sister likes to try and find other options for baby but the traditional is always my favourite. 

Hush, little baby, don't say a word,
Daddy's gonna buy you a mockingbird.

And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Daddy's gonna buy you a diamond ring.

And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Daddy's gonna buy you a looking glass.

And if that looking glass gets broke,
Daddy's gonna buy you a billy goat,

And if that billy goat don't pull,
Daddy's gonna buy you a cart and bull.

And if that cart and bull turn over,
Daddy's gonna buy you a dog named Rover.

And if that dog named Rover won't bark,
Daddy's gonna buy you a horse and cart.

And if that horse and cart fall down,
You'll still be the sweetest baby in town.

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The Lilypad blog is usually a fun, engaging and generally "fluffy" place but sometimes important issues are shared. With most of our readers having families, family law is important to us all. We are therefore delighted to share the following  information from Irwin Mitchell.

If you’re dealing with a family-related legal issue, it’s important to keep apprised of the recent changes that have been made in family law. Under the new Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Bill, public aid has been cut for many family-related legal issues. Find out what you need to know about these recent changes in the following article:

1)    The LASPO bill does not affect those currently receiving aid.

The new LASPO bill took effect on April 1 of this year. As such, if you applied for (and were granted) legal aid by the March 31 deadline, you will not be immediately affected by the new bill. However, it is important to be aware that if your current aid runs out or your means change, you may be assessed under the new rules (see below) and end up having to pay out-of-pocket for legal fees. 

2)    New applicants may have to take a means test to determine eligibility.

As for the rest of us, the new LASPO bill promises to drastically change the legal aid system forever. Under the new bill, only those with a household income of £32,000 or less will be eligible to receive public aid in family law cases such as divorce proceedings and child custody battles. Those who earn between £14,000 and £32,000 will be asked to take a means test to determine eligibility.

3)    Legal aid for divorce cases that involve domestic abuse will remain in-tact.

Fortunately, legal aid will continue to be made available to victims of domestic abuse or violence who are seeking a separation or divorce. However, they will need to prove evidence of domestic violence in order to receive aidhich will inevitably mean that many will be left without protection. Police reports or a letter from a domestic violence organisation or GP may be considered in determining eligibility. Others who may continue to be eligible to receive aid include those who are already in mediation or are applying for an injunction. 

4)    Disability, benefit, and welfare entitlement are affected by LASPO.

As well as divorce and custody-related cases, changes to disability, benefit, and welfare entitlement have been made under the new LASPO bill. Instead of keeping with the rate of inflation, welfare benefits will rise by only 1% per year. Beginning April 15, there will also be a cap placed on welfare benefits, and disability living allowance will be replaced with the personal independence payment (PIP). 

5)    Legal aid for medical negligence cases will be limited.

Under the new LASPO bill, legal aid for medical negligence cases will suffer major cuts. Only families with children who have suffered neurological damage during their mother’s pregnancy, the birthing process, or in the first eight weeks of life will be eligible to receive aid. This paints a bleak future for a variety of other claimants, including those who have suffered from misdiagnoses and botched operations; they will likely have to turn to “no win no fee” agreements to pursue claims.

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I used to love poetry at school, especially the type that rhymes, which is possibly why I like Julia Donaldson books so much but never get chance to write or read it these days. So this is a poem for my eldest daughter. 

Only a few years ago,
When she seemed so very small.
As I walked to school beside her
Her so tiny, me so tall.

Today as she took her place beside
the other children in her class,
It made me realise how all too soon
Those first years can pass.

In my memories are the times when,
She first learned how to walk.
Or those words only we knew
When she first began to talk.

My beautiful girl so creative
When learning how to write.
But I am sure that it was only a blink of an eye
And she was a "big" girl overnight.

So as she grows older, past those infant days and more, I have to accept my eldest baby girl, is not a baby anymore.

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Love it or loathe it, one of the most popular family activities is still the good old car trip. Since the very early days of motorised transport people have made the most of the ability to pack up, hit the road and discover new places. And although today’s cars are more comfortable and reliable for such trips, boredom and arguments in the car still arise. We recently went to Devon for Easter bank holiday but it took us 7 hours to get there and with two children in the back of the car, it was definately  a challenge at times. As we are part of the Sainsbury's blogger network, we were therefore more than happy to host this guest post from Sainsbury's to ensure your family car trip goes as smoothly as possible.

The top tip has to be take time to plan your journey. It may seem more like organising a military operation at this stage, but your efforts can be rewarded with a more peaceful day out.

Where to go?

Start by deciding where to go. Each member of the family will have their own preferences and it can be tough to find somewhere that pleases everyone. Try to focus on places that offer all sorts of different activities. A day at the beach means sun-seekers can sit back and relax with a good book, kids can swim and play to their hearts’ content and walkers can explore the seaside town.

And don’t forget that you will pass other places on the way to your main destination, so you can arrange various stop-offs too. 

Map or GPS?

The tatty-edged road map has become something of a relic, as many families now use GPS technology to find their way around. Whichever option you go for, be sure to assess the optimum route before setting off so that you are aware of the nearest rest stops and potential detours in the event of a traffic jam.

Keep the troops happy

Keeping the kids happy and entertained while on a long car journey can be challenging.

Again, the key to a happy car trip is in the preparation.

Ask the kids to get a selection of their favourite books and toys together before heading off. Make sure any electronic gadgets they have are fully charged and bring extra supplies of paper, crayons and batteries, etc. 

At some point in the trip, a 'cargument' might emerge - and not necessarily between the kids! Try to keep calm and be objective about what it is you disagree on. Have a time-out plan of a silly word you all shout to relieve tension. You’d be amazed at how this trick works. 

The must-haves

Before any long car trip, you should check your vehicle is ready for the journey. This means checking tyre pressure, oil level and ensuring there is enough washer fluid. Of course, it goes without saying that you must have adequate car insurance cover in place from a reputable company such as Sainsbury's, breakdown cover, a valid MOT and tax disc. 

This guest post was written on behalf of the Sainsbury's Bank blog. It offers handy tips, not professional financial advice and should not be used as a basis for any financial decisions. Sainsbury's Bank accepts no responsibility for the opinions of external contributors and the content of external websites included within this post. All information provided was correct at date of publication. No compensation or payment has been received for this post.