I have an article up on iVillage aboutthe government'sproposed plans for maternity leave: What are your views on this? http://www.ivillage.co.uk/leave-our-maternity-leave-alone/148793![]()
"I have this and it's a really great travel cot. It's suitable from birth as there is a bassinet for newborns. That fits inside the cot on top of the usual mattress. There is also a changing mat that can be secured to the top and a play arch to keep little ones entertained, which is a nice touch and something you don't usually get with a travel cot. It can also be used as a play pen, which is really handy if you need to pop out of the room for any reason. As with all Cosatto products, the moon unit is bright, funky and fun to look at. Its also reasonably priced and has wheels to help move it from room to room easily. It is a fairly heavy product but in my mind that proves it is sturdy and likely to last longer. It also took a while to set up first time but once you get the hang of it it it does get easier!"
"I have this buggy and I have to say that it is one of the best light weight umbrella fold buggies we've had. We use this for day trips and holidays because its so easy to carry and folds really flat in the boot of the car. It also reclines so is suitable for younger babies, but we have only used from 6 months. Another great aspect of this buggy is the fact that it comes with rain cover, foot muff and a really decent sized basket too. The foot muff especially is really cosy and well made. As with all Cosatto products, the design of this buggy is super cute, but I don't think it is too girly. Yes, it has dolls on it but they are quirky rather than girly! All in all this is a fab product and I would highly recommend it!"
"This is a fantastic bag. It has loads of compartments, including bottle carriers.It also comes with a changing mat and a secret weapon- a baby carrier! One of the compartments on the side has a piece of fabric tucked in, which you can pull out and clip on to the appropriate fastenings. This makes a seat for older babies to sit on! Its a genius idea and one that has come in very handy for me since I got the bag. It's very strong and is now being used for baby number 2 with no signs of wear at all. The bag itself is very stylish in a record bag kind of way. It can be worn over the shoulder or across the chest and is actually bigger than it looks-ie, it fits in more than you would think. Now that I have this bag I see no reason to buy another changing bag to be honest. Highly recommended!"
"We've used this blind since my eldest (now 8) was a baby and we swear by it! The fabric is thick enough and dark enough to block out all sunlight and the adjusters mean that it will fit any window at all. Originally, we bought a really expensive black out blind that was fitted into the wall but it didn't actually stand up to the early morning summer sunshine. When we switched to the gro anywhere blind we were amazed. The blind fits directly onto the window with suckers that can be moved around as you like. This is great as there is no need for tools etc. You simply place the blind up to the window, fix with the suckers and that's it. For smaller windows the blind can be drawn in and for larger windows it can be extended to fit. The gro anywhere blind also comes with a travel bag for ease of travelling. It really does block out the sunlight and has been essential in getting the babies to sleep in summer and during the day. I honestly can't think of a bad thing to say about it!"
"This is honestly one of the best things I bought for the baby. It arrived two days before she was born so she went straight into it as soon as we brought her home from the hospital. As I had a section, this bed proved to be such a necessity. I was able to simply slide her from her bed to mine, feed her, then slide her back again. This reduced the chances of anyone else waking up when she did and she settled a lot more quickly too. #tamsyn Now that she is 7 months old, she has outgrown this bed but we still use it! She comes in with us to feed and the baby bay provides peace of mind as i know she roll over and still stay safe. The baby bay can be used as a seat or a play pen when your baby grows out of it which is a fantastic bonus. It is so easy to set up, attaches to any bed and adjusts to any height. I would highly recommend this bed if you are thinking of co-sleeping,breastfeeding, or if you had a section. Top marks from us!"
"I love these babylegs! Especially great for this kind of weather where it is too hot for lots of clothes but not hot enough for bare legs! They're also great for babies who are learning to crawl- we leave Isobel in her nappy and put the babylegs on to protect her knees. They look fantastic with her baba and boo nappies too. These babylegs are elasticated to stay up and easily washed. They look great and are reasonably priced too."
"In my opinion,this is the cream of the crop when it comes to baby monitors! I wasn't using a baby monitor as she was co-sleeping but since she has been spending some of the night in her own room, I realised she was a lot quieter than her brother had been and a monitor was a necessary purchase. This monitor comes with a sensor mat that you place underneath the baby's mattress, a baby unit which stays in the nursery, and a parent unit with the video screen on. This can be moved from room to room so that you can always keep your eye on your little one. The best thing about this monitor is that you have peace of mind when they are in their own room. The sensor mat alerts you if there is a problem with the temperature or it detects no movement from baby. At first I was concerned that the monitor could make me feel a little paranoid and I have to admit that I spent the first night anxiously watching the screen, checking she was ok! Now though it is lovely to be able to see her and there is no need to disturb her by going in to check on her. The monitor also has a nightlight and a talk back feature. I would thoroughly recommend it."
"We bought a bumbo for my son and to be honest we weren't that impressed with it. He seemed to sit quite uncomfortably in it and leant to one side. In addition, he always tried to get out and ended up screaming in frustration. However, my youngest loves it! She likes to be able to sit upright and we've been using it to feed her. It is easy to clean and quite compact so it doesn' take up too much room. For my youngest, the bumbo seat is a much loved chair and I would thoroughly recommend it. I would bare in mind though that some babies may find it a little restrictive and perhaps uncomfortable.It could be a good idea to try before you buy."
"I was bought this book when my son was born and I still use the principles today. Tracy Hogg was a mother herself which means that a lot of what she writes about comes from personal experience. She advocates a gentle parenting method which suits me well and has lots of invaulable tips and advice for parents. I particularly found her chapters on feeding and sleeping really useful as my son suffered with reflux and was a terrible sleeper. The baby whisperer does not tell you to leave your baby to cry, instead she recommends other techniques to help your baby to sleep. This book is,to me, a parenting must have!"
"I've just got this steamer blender and I have to say I am really impressed. I was looking for something to make purees as we only had a chopper and my baby was spitting out the lumps in her food! I love the fact that you can steam vegetables and then blend them in the same pot. It can also be used for just steaming or just blending too. Its easy to use and clean and so far has been working really well. In my opninon this isn't just a steamer/ blender for babies as you can use it for pretty much anything- the toddler has enjoyed banana milkshakes and I have used it to whizz up a hidden veg pasta sauce too. I would thoroughly recommend this product and as it is Philips Avent you know you are getting a good quality item too."