I know there are lots of mums who cant, wont or simply choose a different option to breastfeeding their baby and I always maintain that it is a personal choice but its fantastic that we can celebrate breastfeeding, not just nationally but across the world.

World Breastfeeding Week runs from the 1st -7th August 2012 and there are events running across the world with the Big Latch On. They are hoping to break the record for the most women breastfeeding simultaneously on Friday 3rd August & Saturday 4th August.

For those that dont know, "The Big Latch On supports communities with identifying and growing opportunities to provide ongoing breastfeeding support and promotion. The key to the Big Latch On's success is allowing communities to hold their Big Latch On events, empowering them to create an event that relates to the people of their community, while still taking part in a worldwide event.

For those that read my very personal post during National Breastfeeding Week, you will know that my little one is now fiercely independant and I sometimes wonder if the comfort was as much for me as it was for her. So unfortunately we wont be able to "physically" take part in the Big Latch On this year but support every mum and their baby in raising awareness and celebrating nature at work. I hope you do too!

The Lilypad Team are very proud to be British, we do our utmost to stock UK products made by hard working British craftsmen and women. So I was really surprised last night to see some disdain on both Facebook and Twitter about taking pride in the Olympics and Team GB.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Olympics opening ceremony (although I have to admit to watching alot of it on demand this morning as I couldnt keep my eyes open) and I thought its depiction of Britain through the ages was a unique adaptation, made into an amazing spectacle.

London was on centre stage and it didnt dissapoint us but what was dissapointing was those that chose to represent Team GB, but not to sing the National Anthem. There seems to be a shame in being proud of your heritage and whether you are English, Welsh, Scottish or even from Hogwarts, shouldnt you take pride in being part of your country's legacy?

There has been significant talk about the cost to this country and according to the Metro, David Cameron commented yesterday that "This is a time of some economic difficulty for the UK but look at what we are capable of achieving as a nation, even at a difficult economic time"  Its true that the Olympics has been more than a little expensive (cough) but the revenue and platform it has given to companies and the country will surely outweigh this. The fact that Stratford, Worcestershire and Warwickshire were the highest attended Torch relay events (some 74% of the population) demonstrates our pride and commitment to these games and what it symbolises to the UK.

Its very easy to get caught up in our day to day lives and become consumed with the little things that surround our lives but the Opening Ceremony last night showed what Britain has come through over the years and this little Island is still here, standing proud. We have survived World Wars, gone through severe recessions but in the end, 15,000 people volunteered to be part of last night and that just shows that it is the people of this country that make Britain great!

When you think of baby safety, Lindam has to be one of the most recognised names in the industry so we were delighted to "road -test" two of their most popular stair gates against the perils of our little stair climber! At 10 months old, she is showing all the signs of a regular mountain climber so we needed to stop her in her tracks, the decision then is do we go for style over safety or can you really have both?

Lindam Pushloc Stair Gate

The Pushloc Stair Gate is easy to fit and features a nifty push-to-shut closing. It's one-handed opening is perfect as if you are anything like me and usually have your hands full, doing things one handed becomes second nature. It can be secured with the pressure fit or to be even more secure, it can be screwed to the wall. We particularly liked the fact that the bottom bar isnt too big, so you dont trip up or down the stairs over it!

The Pushloc is reasonably priced at £29.99 and whilst it is never going to win any style awards, it is safe, practical and affordable.

Lindam Numi Extending Aluminium Stair Gate

Lindam says that the Numi is "Appealing to those with an eye for aesthetics as well as for security, the Numi Extending Aluminium Safety Gate displays a combination of fine design, advanced technology and unparalleled safety" So can we really get style and safety in one place?

It makes claims of being Easy to Install and whilst my other half may not agree entirely with this statement, it was possibly more time consuming that difficult. If you want to preserve your walls, this may not be the stairgate of choice but what you gain from a few small holes in the wall is a beautiful design that is simply quite striking.

With the Numi retailing at £60.00, it is not the cheapest stair gate you will find but when you combine in safety and style, can you really put a price on that?

Lindam launches Safety Day campaigning for fewer accidents in the home
“The Difference A Minute Can Make.”

Lindam, the UK’s number one home safety brand is launching Safety Day to highlight to parents the number of accidents children are still having in the home. Today, more accidents happen in the home than anywhere else and, shockingly, more children die annually because of accidents rather than illnesses, such as meningitis. Lindam is committed to reducing childhood accidents in the home and is launching the first national Safety Day on September 6^th 2012. This year’s theme is ‘The Difference A Minute Can Make’ and looks at how time pressured parents could be risking their child’s health.

Startlingly, a million children attend casualty departments every year due to accidents in the home and the majority of these are easily preventable by taking steps to ensure the home is the safest environment for a child. 

The Difference a Minute Can Make ..... can you spare a minute?

We all know how stressful the summer holidays can be for mums. In fact, 4 in 10 mums dread them and almost one third of parents say that their main worry is the pressure to come up with new and exciting things to do with their kids.  That’s why Frankie & Benny’s have put together some top tips to help lift those worries and provide some ideas on keeping the kids entertained:

1) Meltdown Avoidance!
Make a wall planner to keep things organised. Having something small written in each day is enough to keep things exciting - don’t put the pressure on yourself to entertain from dawn till dusk!

2) Pick a Flick

Why not wile away an afternoon and head to the cinema or see a matinee theatre production? To stop the kids filling up on sweets and popcorn, why not pop to Frankie & Benny’s beforehand for a spot of lunch. You can get one course for £5.95, two courses £8.25 or three courses for £9.25 - including unlimited refills of Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Schweppes Lemonade or Fanta when you buy a regular drink for an additional £2.45!

3) Family Pow Wows

Children can be creative little creatures and have their own ideas about what THEY’D like to do during the holidays. Why not sit the family down at the start of the holiday and see if they have any exciting ideas for things they’d like to do this summer.

 4) Keep the Routine Rolling

Letting your household routine unravel during the summer holidays will only make you feel more overwhelmed by it all. Keep on top of the usual chores and hey! why not use having the kids at home to your advantage - put some music on and get them to help out!

5) Don’t Forget the Grub!
A hungry child is an irritable child and that is something we want to avoid at all costs this summer! The great news is that at Frankie & Benny’s, children can eat breakfast for free when an adult breakfast is purchased. Plus every child gets a fun activity pack with games and puzzles to keep them busy and stop that dreaded table time fidgeting.

 6) Get Outside Between Downpours

If the rain does decide to hold off at any point before September then take full advantage! Whether it’s camping in the garden, walks round the park or turning you patio into a chalk hop scotch, the fresh air will do everyone some good and give you a chance to breathe

7) What’s Cheap and Local?

While you are searching the net trying to plan something special, the likelihood is that great stuff will be happening right on your doorstep. Check local libraries for summer reading challenges, see what’s going on at your local museum and scout out any summer festivals. There are sure to be loads of free workshops and sessions taking place!

8) Take to the Stage

With this summer being all about sport, why not get your kids to join in and unlock their star potential. Whether it’s showcasing their sporting talents, coming up with a play or making musical instruments out of all that recycling, your living room could be transformed into THE stage of 2012. Plus you get a chance to take a load off your feet and watch them.

9) Scrapbook your Summer

A great way of keeping the kids occupied, as well as remembering everything you have got up to together, is to keep a holiday scrapbook. Stick in tickets, leaflets and photos along with drawings and little descriptions to create something that not only takes up time, but will be nice to look back on in years to come!

10) Allocate time for yourself

In the hustle and bustle of pleasing the kids, don’t forget to take time out for you. If it’s possible, arrange for the grandparents or a friend to look after the kids’ for an afternoon so you can grab a few hours of ‘me’ time. Whether you treat yourself to a bubble bath, a nap or a spot of shopping, a few hours to yourself is just the ticket to feel refreshed again!

We love Frankie & Bennys on the Lilypad and with FREE breakfasts for children, with a paying adult this summer, I think we might just love them a little bit more!

Disclosure: This is a guest post for which compensation was received.