Naptime Natter

Pumping made easy with Lansinoh – Single electric breast pump review

Pumping made easy with Lansinoh – Single electric breast pump review

Breastfeeding has pretty much dominated my life for the past 3 months. While I do love cuddling up on the sofa and giving my little man a feed, having a baby demanding milk every 2 hours or so can be pretty exhausting. Thanks to breast pumps, babies are still able to have the breastmilk they love and us Mums can get a break too – yay! I have been using a manual pump on and off since Alex was born but I just wasn’t getting on with it, the effort it took to get 4oz of milk out just didn’t feel worth it. I was delighted when the lovely people at Lansinoh sent me their single electric breast pump and some feeding bottles to try. Lansinoh are my all time favourite brand for breastfeeding products so I was feeling hopeful that their single electric breast pump would not disappoint. Here is what Alex and I thought of our new feeding time friends. View Post

Beautful personalised gifts from Arty Apple – Taggie blanket review

Beautful personalised gifts from Arty Apple – Taggie blanket review

When it comes to buying people gifts, I am a sucker for anything personalised. Nothing shows you have really put thought into buying a present than a gift that has been given a little personal touch. Arty Apple is an online store selling beautiful fabric personalised gifts for babies and young children. If you are looking for a special gift for a baby shower, new baby or Christmas present then it is definitely worth checking out their website. We were sent a gorgeous taggie blanket to celebrate Alex’s birth, beautifully handmade by Amy, mumpreneur and founder of Arty Apple. View Post

My nappy bag essentials – featuring Sudocrem Care and Protect review

My nappy bag essentials – featuring Sudocrem Care and Protect review

It is no secret that once you have a baby your home becomes inundated with baby related paraphernalia. Wipes, baby grows, knitted blankets, bottles, cotton wool buds and so much more, every room of your home is littered with the stuff. When you decide to venture out with your little bundle of joy you will have to take quite a lot of stuff with you, essential items to help you and baby make it through the day in one piece. But what to pack in your all important changing bag? Pack too much and you end up with a sore shoulder and a bag bursting at the seams. Don’t pack the right things and you can find yourself facing a poonami without the correct tools in your survival kit. Packing a nappy bag is all about trial and error and after making several errors when Leo was a baby, I now feel I have learnt from my mistakes and know exactly what qualifies as a nappy bag essential. So, here it is, a list of changing bag must haves especially for you parents-to-be or those of you with a new baby who are still packing everything bar the kitchen sink in your changing bag.. View Post

Baby’s first bath with HiPP Free From range

Baby’s first bath with HiPP Free From range

Ahh, don’t you just love the feel of a newborn baby’s skin? So soft and silky and perfect. With skin so delicate and sensitive it is no wonder us Mums can be a bit fussy when it comes to the products we decide to use on our baby’s skin. Unfortunately, Alex was born with seriously dry and flaky skin, it was so bad on his hands and feet that it was all scabbed and sore. The midwife banned us from using anything on his skin (not even water) until it had cleared up. After a couple weeks of no bath time, once Alex’s skin was better I couldn’t wait to get him in the water and try out the new Free From range from HiPP, a selection of baby care products free from all nasties and perfect for use on newborn skin. View Post

A walk in the rain with my new Lighthouse coat

A walk in the rain with my new Lighthouse coat

It is that time of year again. The hot days and warm evenings of summer are becoming a distant memory as the evenings become shorter, darker and much much colder. Flip flops have been swapped for boots and sun dresses are now hibernating in the wardrobe while we all don our chunky knit jumpers instead. Although I don’t relish this cold weather, I do love autumn time. With all the fallen leaves turning the outdoors into a beautiful place bursting with colour, autumn is a great time to get outdoors and enjoy some fresh air. My family and I love going for walks in the woods whatever the weather but I am always the one left soaked after our adventures as I never have a decent rain coat. This year though things are about to change, no longer will I be the one with a sopping wet jacket and ringing my hair out after getting drenched in the rain and this is all thanks to Lighthouse. View Post

The Joker, Deborah A Stansil – A book review

The Joker, Deborah A Stansil – A book review

It has been quite a few months since I last wrote a book review. It’s not because I haven’t been reading, I have been reading lots but I just haven’t managed to actually make it to the end of any books recently. Nothing has managed to keep a hold of my attention, no story has drawn me in so much that I physically struggle to put the book down. No book, that is, until I received a copy of The Joker  from blogger turned author Deborah Stansil. Some of you may know Debbie from her blog My Random Musings or you may have read her collection of short stories, Twisted Tales. The Joker is Debbie’s first novel and if you like a taste of the supernatural, this is one not to be missed. View Post

My Big Tree – children’s book review

My Big Tree – children’s book review

Regular readers of my blog will know that my boy Leo is a very active toddler. He is always on the go, running all over the place and it wouldn’t be unfair to describe him as a bit of a handful. Although Leo loves to be outside exploring and using up his heaps of energy, one of his favourite past times is to snuggle up with me and read some story books. I was delighted when children’s author Maria Ashworth got in touch asking if Leo and I would like to have a read of her new story, My Big Tree. View Post

The Great Dragon Bake Off – children’s book review

The Great Dragon Bake Off – children’s book review

I have said it time and time again on this blog, Leo loves reading. My boy is a complete book worm and when he’s not causing chaos (which, admittedly, he is most of the time), Leo loves being read a story or looking through his books himself. When I was given the opportunity to become a Boolino Friend and review children’s books regularly on my blog, I was so excited! Leo and I just love curling up on the sofa and reading and when The Great Dragon Bake Off by Nicola O’Byrne came flying through the letter box, we couldn’t wait to get cosy and have a read. Here is what we thought… View Post

BellyBuds review

BellyBuds review

It is only 9 weeks until baby boy’s due date and I can really feel a strong bond forming between us both already. I love feeling him kick and wriggle around in my belly and often find myself rubbing my baby bump with a smile on my face. Oli and Leo are bonding with baby boy too, Leo likes to sing to my belly and Oli loves having a chat with his unborn son. For non immediate family though it can be a bit more difficult for the baby to get to know their voices before he or she arrive into the world. This is where the awesome BellyBuds sound system comes in, the baby friendly speakers allow you to safely play recorded messages from loved ones as well as music to your baby while he or she is still in the womb. I have been testing out some BellyBuds myself and I think they are a really great idea and a fun little product to have as part of your pregnancy journey. View Post

A very cakey day at The Cake College

A very cakey day at The Cake College

I love cake. I mean, what’s not to love right? Cakes look amazing, taste amazing and there is no way you can be in a bad mood if you’re eating cake. Gosh, I love cake so much I even revealed my baby’s gender by baking cakes! When my Mum said she had booked to go on a celebration cake decorating course, I asked if I could come to as, although my bakes normally taste good, I wouldn’t ever describe my cakes as pretty. So last Saturday morning we got up bright and early and headed off to The Cake College in Berkshire for a day full of cakey fun. View Post

Belly Bandit Preggo support tank top review

Belly Bandit Preggo support tank top review

When it comes to buying maternity clothes, I am all about finding pieces that look good but, most importantly, are comfortable. During this second pregnancy I have purchased a few key pieces of maternity wear and have also been buying regular clothes in a bigger size. I am now in the third trimester and any clothes that can offer my ever growing bump some support get a big thumbs up from me. When the team at Belly Bandit contacted me and asked if I would like to review something from their maternity range, I jumped at the chance. If you read my pregnancy updates you will know that I am feeling massive this time around and my bump is only getting bigger! View Post

Kidloland children’s app – Review and giveaway

Kidloland children’s app – Review and giveaway

Being nearly 3, Leo is at an age now where his brain is like a little sponge. He is absorbing new information all the time and learning new skills pretty much every day. At the minute Leo enjoys reciting the alphabet and trying to count past 10 and, as his Mummy, I love to see him learning and I try to help and encourage him in any way I can. When Kidloland, a nursery rhyme educational app for preschoolers, got in touch I couldn’t wait to see how this app could help with Leo’s learning and development. View Post

Pregnancy milestone cards from Babyblooms

Pregnancy milestone cards from Babyblooms

I have mentioned before how much I am enjoying documenting my second pregnancy. I love writing regular bump updates and taking lots of photos of my rapidly growing baby bump. Pregnancy is such a special time and I know from experience, that once it is over, it can be forgotten all too easily. Maybe writing a pregnancy blog isn’t for you but there are lots of fun ways you can document your pregnancy. When Babyblooms got in touch and asked if I wanted to review their pregnancy milestone cards, I said yes straight away, I couldn’t think of a more adorable way to record all those important moments that happen when you have a baby on the way. View Post

Bumpbix – The BEST pregnancy snack ever

Bumpbix – The BEST pregnancy snack ever

When it comes to biscuits and sweet things, I am a teeny tiny bit addicted. I am that person who doesn’t stop at just one biscuit, if I have opened a packet in the morning there is a very good chance I will have scoffed every last one of them by the time bed time comes. Pregnancy has not suppressed this love of biscuits, I would say being pregnant has actually exacerbated my sweet tooth.  Instead of craving weird things like lumps of coal or whatever, my dominant pregnancy craving has simply been all the sweet things.

I try not to act on these cravings all the time as I want to make sure baby boy is getting the best possible food and I am not turning him into a baby made of cookies and chocolate.  When I stumbled across Boobbix on Instagram and they offered to send me some of their Bumpbix cookies, specifically made for pregnant ladies, I could not have been happier. I can eat biscuits and they are actually doing my growing bump some good? It was like a dream come true for my inner biscuit junkie. View Post

Me before you, JoJo Moyes – A book review

Me before you, JoJo Moyes – A book review

Before Me before You became the must see romantic film of 2016, it was a beautifully moving novel written by JoJo Moyes. Me before You is a love story like no other I have ever read and although a tearjerker at heart, the comical moments and lovable characters entwine together to  make this book a really enjoyable read. View Post

Where to next?