This week is national breastfeeding week. I have breastfed both my girls and I am still feeding Ophelia. I absolutely adore it. One thing that can be very confusing is how much to feed whilst weaning.
I didn't have a routine or any kind of structure when it came to breastfeeding Ophelia. I fed her mainly on demand so I did worry that I may end up overfeeding her when we started weaning.
Fortunately, through Babymoov's #stresslessweaning campaign, I was given some wonderful advice from nutritionist Julie Wolman to help guide me through our feeding journey. This advice applies to both formula and breastfed babies and is a guide only.
First Foods:
All milk feeds should continue as normal during the first stages of weaning. Start by allowing your baby to have one meal a day which is a puree This meal should be about an hour after a milk feed. There should be at least 4 milks feeds a day during this stage. Once baby is happy having one meal a day, increase to 2 meals.
We started by giving Ophelia breakfast. This was her one meal a day. When she woke up in the morning I would breastfeed her and then about an hour later, we would all have breakfast. She would then want another breastfeed about an hour after breakfast. She has managed to get herself into this routine and this is now her everyday routine.
Stage 2 6-9 months:
Once baby is on 3 meals a day, gradually drop one milk feed, usually this is the mid morning feed. At least 3 milk feeds are required a day. Once baby is happy eating 3 meals a day the night time feeds (after 7pm) can also stop.
At around 7 months old baby should be having 3 meals a day. Give baby mashed food and also offer finger foods. Once they are eating 3 meals a day, start to offer them a desert at lunch and dinner. At this stage you can also offer a variety of foods such as protein, pulses, dairy etc (unless advised otherwise by a dietician).
Ophelia has just turned 7 months so she is currently eating 3 meals a day. She doesn't tend to have any deserts or snacks at the moment. She is also still having her mid morning and night time feeds. I think she enjoys these as they help to send her off to sleep.
She has got herself into a routine with when she likes to have a breastfeed which has allowed my body to adjust to her needs. I don't find I leak anymore as my body has adjusted to her routine.
Stage 3 9-12 months:
Gradually drop another milk feed, usually the mid afternoon feed. By around 12 months babies should be having 2 milk feeds a day, usually morning and night.
Continue baby with 3 meals a day and snacks if baby wants them.
I've placed all of Julia's advice in this handy table for your reference.
So far our weaning and breastfeeding journey is progressing well. It can sometimes be confusing as to whether Ophelia is actually having a good milk feed during the day or if she's after a bit of comfort but either way she is now pretty much in her own routine. I am letting Ophelia lead the way with weaning and breastfeeding and along with my relaxed approach, we are both happy.
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Since having 2 children, I constantly feel that my hands are either full or tied. You would normally see me carrying a bag with one hand, holding Eva in the other whilst trying to juggle pushing a pram.
This was all way too stressful so I tried carrying Ophelia in a carrier to see if that helped free up my arms. Nope that didn't work either. Trips anywhere with the 2 of them were becoming somewhat of a nightmare.
I'm a self proclaimed bag addict so as you can imagine my changing bag was always a statement piece of arm candy. I had a bag that I could carry on one arm that looked great but wasn't practical with 2 children in tow. I was beginning to realise that my only option would be to get a rucksack. The word alone put me off. Rucksack sounds so boring and plain. I trawled the internet to look for rucksack changing bags and nothing caught my eye that I thought would be big enough.
Luckily I was asked if I would like to review some items by toTs by smarTrike and guess what?! They had a rucksack changing bag that I actually liked. I chose to receive the Infinity bag in grey. It comes in 3 other lovely colours which are beige, blue and purple and costs £64.99.
It arrived just in time for us to take it to Disneyland Paris. I thought this would be the perfect place to test it out as I would need a jam packed changing bag for travelling and everyday essentials for 2 little ones.
The first thing that impressed me was how nice the bag actually looks. It's quite elegant looking with a simple but fashionable quilting pattern on it. The colour I chose matches all my outfits (I know what you're thinking but I like my bag to match my outfits). The fabric has a water repellent coating which is rather handy to say the least.
This bag is like a tardis or a modern day Mary Poppins bag. It is deceptively big and holds so much stuff. It honesty carries everything for Eva, Ophelia and myself, with room to spare. It also has lots of hidden compartments which I love. Nothing makes me happier than organising stuff so this change bag helps to fulfil my passion. I can keep things in separate sections making them easily accessible.
There is a section at the back of the bag on the outside which is perfect for carrying laptops or documents in as it is the size of the entire bag.
The bag also comes with an insulated bottle holder and a separate pouch/bag. I use this bag as a mini change bag. I carry the changing mat, nappies, wipes, cream and nappy bags in it. This allows me to just take this smaller bag with me when changing a nappy. It is so handy. It's simply grab and go.
To me the bag isn't that heavy to carry. It's extremely lightweight when it's empty. As i've perviously mentioned I carry all of Ophelia's things (change of clothes, food, nappies etc), Eva's (change of clothes, drink, snacks) and mine (purse, phone, keys, diary etc) and it isn't uncomfortable to carry.
On more than one occasion I have carried Ophelia in a baby carrier on my front and had this rucksack on my back. You've seen me, I am a far cry from a bodybuilder so it really is easy to carry without any discomfort.
The bag has a few different clips on it which allow you to clip the bag onto your pram. I must admit I don't tend to use this feature but my hubby does.
As you can tell I am in total adoration of this bag. It has honestly helped me out so much. It's such a well thought out design. It's been everywhere with me, Disney, soft Play, camping, literally everywhere. I don't know how I ever coped without a rucksack. I would love to see it released in some more colours and especially black. I would also like to see a bigger changing mat. The one that comes with the bag is quite small especially in width.
I was also sent a lovely knitted blanket by the brand. I chose to have pink (you've seen my daughters, they are girly girls, so pink was the first choice). The blanket is made of 100% cotton.
I must admit I had my doubts about what the quality of this blanket would be. After all the brand are the geniuses behind the smartrike so why were they now doing linen? Upon arrival I was proved wrong.
The blanket is very soft and cosy. Ophelia loves being snuggled in it and Eva often sneakily steals it. It washes very well at 40 degrees.
This is definitely a brand to watch and I can't wait to see what the come out with in the future.
This was all way too stressful so I tried carrying Ophelia in a carrier to see if that helped free up my arms. Nope that didn't work either. Trips anywhere with the 2 of them were becoming somewhat of a nightmare.
I'm a self proclaimed bag addict so as you can imagine my changing bag was always a statement piece of arm candy. I had a bag that I could carry on one arm that looked great but wasn't practical with 2 children in tow. I was beginning to realise that my only option would be to get a rucksack. The word alone put me off. Rucksack sounds so boring and plain. I trawled the internet to look for rucksack changing bags and nothing caught my eye that I thought would be big enough.
Luckily I was asked if I would like to review some items by toTs by smarTrike and guess what?! They had a rucksack changing bag that I actually liked. I chose to receive the Infinity bag in grey. It comes in 3 other lovely colours which are beige, blue and purple and costs £64.99.
It arrived just in time for us to take it to Disneyland Paris. I thought this would be the perfect place to test it out as I would need a jam packed changing bag for travelling and everyday essentials for 2 little ones.
The first thing that impressed me was how nice the bag actually looks. It's quite elegant looking with a simple but fashionable quilting pattern on it. The colour I chose matches all my outfits (I know what you're thinking but I like my bag to match my outfits). The fabric has a water repellent coating which is rather handy to say the least.
This bag is like a tardis or a modern day Mary Poppins bag. It is deceptively big and holds so much stuff. It honesty carries everything for Eva, Ophelia and myself, with room to spare. It also has lots of hidden compartments which I love. Nothing makes me happier than organising stuff so this change bag helps to fulfil my passion. I can keep things in separate sections making them easily accessible.
There is a section at the back of the bag on the outside which is perfect for carrying laptops or documents in as it is the size of the entire bag.
The bag also comes with an insulated bottle holder and a separate pouch/bag. I use this bag as a mini change bag. I carry the changing mat, nappies, wipes, cream and nappy bags in it. This allows me to just take this smaller bag with me when changing a nappy. It is so handy. It's simply grab and go.
To me the bag isn't that heavy to carry. It's extremely lightweight when it's empty. As i've perviously mentioned I carry all of Ophelia's things (change of clothes, food, nappies etc), Eva's (change of clothes, drink, snacks) and mine (purse, phone, keys, diary etc) and it isn't uncomfortable to carry.
On more than one occasion I have carried Ophelia in a baby carrier on my front and had this rucksack on my back. You've seen me, I am a far cry from a bodybuilder so it really is easy to carry without any discomfort.
The bag has a few different clips on it which allow you to clip the bag onto your pram. I must admit I don't tend to use this feature but my hubby does.
As you can tell I am in total adoration of this bag. It has honestly helped me out so much. It's such a well thought out design. It's been everywhere with me, Disney, soft Play, camping, literally everywhere. I don't know how I ever coped without a rucksack. I would love to see it released in some more colours and especially black. I would also like to see a bigger changing mat. The one that comes with the bag is quite small especially in width.
I was also sent a lovely knitted blanket by the brand. I chose to have pink (you've seen my daughters, they are girly girls, so pink was the first choice). The blanket is made of 100% cotton.
I must admit I had my doubts about what the quality of this blanket would be. After all the brand are the geniuses behind the smartrike so why were they now doing linen? Upon arrival I was proved wrong.
The blanket is very soft and cosy. Ophelia loves being snuggled in it and Eva often sneakily steals it. It washes very well at 40 degrees.
This is definitely a brand to watch and I can't wait to see what the come out with in the future.
This month we have seen a complete u-turn in Eva and Ophelia's relationship which has been amazing to see. Ophelia is a few days from turning 7 months old so this turn has been a long time coming. If you follow me on my social media you will have seen pictures of them together laughing and smiling but believe me, these moments were a rarity, until this month.
This month the dynamics have changed. Ophelia has always idolised her big sister but the feeling was never really reciprocated. I must admit this really upset me and for a long time I wondered if we'd made the wrong decision with the age gap that we have between them.
Eva has now started to properly interact and play with her sister. She has been including her in everything and it is melting my heart. It is such a joy to watch. She comes home from nursery and runs straight to her. She now will sit with her and talk to her. She even enjoys playing with games and toys with her. I can't begin to tell you how much of a relief it is to finally see this bond between them.
I'm wondering whether it's because Ophelia has now become a lot more interesting to her sister. Ophelia now rolls around everywhere, sits up, laughs constantly and chats for Britain in her own little way. They eat at the table together and bath together. Perhaps, Eva has now realised she's not as boring as she was when she used to just eat, sleep, poop, repeat.
This month they have experienced some family firsts together. At the beginning of the month we went to our very first festival together and Ophelia had her first taste of camping. The girls had a great time.
The following week we headed to Crealy in Devon for our first family experience of glamping which was amazing. Whilst at the theme park, Ophelia tried her first ever ice lolly, which of course was a mini milk.
We also popped to Exmouth beach. The way they interacted with each other there will stay in my heart forever. Seeing them giggling together was just so precious. I sat there and watched them feeling very grateful.
We also popped to Exmouth beach. The way they interacted with each other there will stay in my heart forever. Seeing them giggling together was just so precious. I sat there and watched them feeling very grateful.
So far this month has been wonderful in terms of siblings and family outings. I'm hoping the rest of the month will be the same.
Have you got siblings? How long did it take for their bond to properly develop?
This week we had to visit Eva's school that she will be attending in September. I have such mixed emotions about this. It's an exciting time but it all seems to be happening so quickly. Sitting in the school brought back lots of memories for me especially listening to the teachers talk about how you can help prepare your child, homework, examinations etc.
I know so many people with children at exam age at the moment and it can be such a stressful time for the whole family. I remember the days when I was going through it. I was always more of an interactive learner than someone who could just sit and read from a book.
I was recently introduced to Education Quizzes which have revision quizzes from key stage 1 to GCSE level and is available to pupils, parents and schools on a subscription basis. The quizzes were designed by teachers and are all in a multiple choice format. There are lots of different subjects in each key stage level to choose from and within those subjects there are plenty of quizzes to use.
Even though Eva is out of the age range for the website, we still did a few of the quizzes together which she enjoyed. It helped me to understand what type of things she would be expected to know for Key Stage 1. We did a 2D shape quiz in the maths category. There were images of certain shapes and patterns and then multiple choice answers. I read the questions out and Eva answered them. She surprised me on how well she did.
We then did a geography quiz about the counties of the world. This displayed various flags and you had to answer with what country they belonged to. Even though she didn't know any of these, it was a great way to teach her (any myself).
My cousin is now in high school so I will be recommending this website to my aunty. He is very much like me in that he doesn't like to sit down and read from a book to revise. This would be the ideal solution for him as it is fun and interactive.
Access to the quizzes is through a monthly subscription which costs £7.50. It can be cancelled at any time. This is quite pricey, however I think when it comes to education, i'm happy to pay for something that works and is enjoyable.
The website has recently become available to schools. Schools can sign pupils up at a reduced cost. The more students they sign up, the cheaper it becomes. This could be so beneficial for schools as it's a great resource for teachers and especially supply teachers. If children are having fun whilst learning and improving their grades, then that means better school reports. A winner for everyone involved.
Overall this is a great website that is designed to help all children increase their knowledge and revise for exams through fun quizzes. They are great as you don't even realise how much you are learning because the quizzes are so enjoyable. Eva has been asking to do the quizzes all day and she is only 3.5 years old. It's also a wonderful way for parents to spend time with their children and get involved in their education.
How do you help your children prepare for exams?
••This is a collaborative post**
I know so many people with children at exam age at the moment and it can be such a stressful time for the whole family. I remember the days when I was going through it. I was always more of an interactive learner than someone who could just sit and read from a book.
I was recently introduced to Education Quizzes which have revision quizzes from key stage 1 to GCSE level and is available to pupils, parents and schools on a subscription basis. The quizzes were designed by teachers and are all in a multiple choice format. There are lots of different subjects in each key stage level to choose from and within those subjects there are plenty of quizzes to use.
Even though Eva is out of the age range for the website, we still did a few of the quizzes together which she enjoyed. It helped me to understand what type of things she would be expected to know for Key Stage 1. We did a 2D shape quiz in the maths category. There were images of certain shapes and patterns and then multiple choice answers. I read the questions out and Eva answered them. She surprised me on how well she did.
We then did a geography quiz about the counties of the world. This displayed various flags and you had to answer with what country they belonged to. Even though she didn't know any of these, it was a great way to teach her (any myself).
My cousin is now in high school so I will be recommending this website to my aunty. He is very much like me in that he doesn't like to sit down and read from a book to revise. This would be the ideal solution for him as it is fun and interactive.
Access to the quizzes is through a monthly subscription which costs £7.50. It can be cancelled at any time. This is quite pricey, however I think when it comes to education, i'm happy to pay for something that works and is enjoyable.
The website has recently become available to schools. Schools can sign pupils up at a reduced cost. The more students they sign up, the cheaper it becomes. This could be so beneficial for schools as it's a great resource for teachers and especially supply teachers. If children are having fun whilst learning and improving their grades, then that means better school reports. A winner for everyone involved.
Overall this is a great website that is designed to help all children increase their knowledge and revise for exams through fun quizzes. They are great as you don't even realise how much you are learning because the quizzes are so enjoyable. Eva has been asking to do the quizzes all day and she is only 3.5 years old. It's also a wonderful way for parents to spend time with their children and get involved in their education.
How do you help your children prepare for exams?
••This is a collaborative post**
As you know we are a travel loving family. We've been all over the world, had UK breaks and we love camping. However, one thing we hadn't experienced was a festival. In our heads, festivals weren't family friendly.
We were offered a chance to go to Wychwood Festival which takes place at Cheltenham racecourse. After checking the website and seeing how family orientated it was, we decided to bite the bullet and go. The festival ran from Friday - Monday morning but we were only able to attend from late Friday evening to early Sunday morning as we had other commitments.
We arrived about 8pm on the Friday evening (note to selves to arrive earlier next time so we don't get so stressed erecting the tent). The camping was on the racecourse itself and there were a few areas to choose from such as family and quiet. We opted for the family area which was the furthest away from the festival but the walk wasn't too far. The grounds were all flat which was a huge bonus. We were able to park the car near to where we were camping but it then had to be moved to a separate car park after unloading the car.
The camping grounds and facilities were lovely. Not how I imagined facilities to be at a festival. It didn't feel cramped and overcrowded. The toilets were actually clean all weekend. There was only a couple of times that we used them and they didn't have toilet roll, which over a few days is very good.
At night you could hear the music at the festival but nothing too loudly which was ideal for a family area.
There was a fabulous bakery stall in the camping area which served hot drinks and breakfast goodies. The coffee was amazing, so much so that we couldn't be bothered to make our own at the tent, we frequented here instead. They also baked all their own breads etc on site.
We ventured into the festival itself on Saturday morning, just in time to see Justin Fletcher. This was definitely the highlight of the weekend for Eva. In fact every time someone went onto the main stage she was hoping it was him again. His act lasted for at least half an hour and was enjoyed by parents and children alike. I did think the main stage area needed a bit more room in front of it. It was situated in the middle of the festival area and I do think it should have been at one of the ends to allow more space for people to enjoy it more and be able to sing and dance.
There was lots of things to keep children entertained. We partucalrly enjoyed having a wonder into all of the stalls. There were lots to view such as clothing, sweets, bubbles, tattoos etc.
There was a circus tent area which Eva thought was fantastic. It was filled with all circus themed things for the children to play with. I think this was the area in which we had the most laughter.
There was also a craft themed tent where children were able to design and make their own tote bags, do painting etc. Annoyingly we didn't have time to make a bag which we were gutted about.
Eva thoroughly enjoyed the bouncy castle area. There was a huge inflatable slide which made her day. It was £2 for 5 goes which is pretty good value for money.
One area that I loved was the baby feeding and changing tent. This was such a lovely touch and the people running it were super friendly. I breastfeed Ophelia so it was nice to be able to have some privacy and some shelter from the sun. Plus there was water and cake in there. What more could a mum want.
Waterstones were involved in the kids literature festival. They had a tent which was a book shop and there was also an area where authors were reading their books. We couldn't get Eva to sit and listen to anything as she was far too hyper and wanted to be on the go enjoying everything outside.
She took part in a belly dancing class. This was super cute to watch. If she'd had her way she would have stayed in there all day.
We were really impressed by the amount and variety of the food stalls. There really was something for everyone. Eva had a children's meal at one of the stalls which was £5 for a hot dog, chips and a drink. The portions were large so we thought this was really good value for money.
Overall, we had a fantastic time. The campsite was easily accessible, clean and not too far to walk to. The food was all yummy and reasonably priced. There were plenty of activities for the children to keep them entertained. All the staff were very friendly and approachable. It certainly felt like a very safe place to be. The atmosphere was infectious. By the time we left we were immersed in bubbles and floral crowns and planning our next festival trip asap.
I would've liked to have seen a few more children's acts on the stages throughout the day as seeing Justin Fletcher was Eva's favourite part of the weekend.
We would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting a safe, enjoyable family festival and we would go again next year. Advanced tickets are already on sale for 2017. You can get more information about local events here, http://www.whatsgoodtodo.com
**We were gifted a weekend camping ticket with festival passes in exchange for our honest opinions**
We were offered a chance to go to Wychwood Festival which takes place at Cheltenham racecourse. After checking the website and seeing how family orientated it was, we decided to bite the bullet and go. The festival ran from Friday - Monday morning but we were only able to attend from late Friday evening to early Sunday morning as we had other commitments.
We arrived about 8pm on the Friday evening (note to selves to arrive earlier next time so we don't get so stressed erecting the tent). The camping was on the racecourse itself and there were a few areas to choose from such as family and quiet. We opted for the family area which was the furthest away from the festival but the walk wasn't too far. The grounds were all flat which was a huge bonus. We were able to park the car near to where we were camping but it then had to be moved to a separate car park after unloading the car.
The camping grounds and facilities were lovely. Not how I imagined facilities to be at a festival. It didn't feel cramped and overcrowded. The toilets were actually clean all weekend. There was only a couple of times that we used them and they didn't have toilet roll, which over a few days is very good.
At night you could hear the music at the festival but nothing too loudly which was ideal for a family area.
We ventured into the festival itself on Saturday morning, just in time to see Justin Fletcher. This was definitely the highlight of the weekend for Eva. In fact every time someone went onto the main stage she was hoping it was him again. His act lasted for at least half an hour and was enjoyed by parents and children alike. I did think the main stage area needed a bit more room in front of it. It was situated in the middle of the festival area and I do think it should have been at one of the ends to allow more space for people to enjoy it more and be able to sing and dance.
There was lots of things to keep children entertained. We partucalrly enjoyed having a wonder into all of the stalls. There were lots to view such as clothing, sweets, bubbles, tattoos etc.
There was also a craft themed tent where children were able to design and make their own tote bags, do painting etc. Annoyingly we didn't have time to make a bag which we were gutted about.
Eva thoroughly enjoyed the bouncy castle area. There was a huge inflatable slide which made her day. It was £2 for 5 goes which is pretty good value for money.
One area that I loved was the baby feeding and changing tent. This was such a lovely touch and the people running it were super friendly. I breastfeed Ophelia so it was nice to be able to have some privacy and some shelter from the sun. Plus there was water and cake in there. What more could a mum want.
Waterstones were involved in the kids literature festival. They had a tent which was a book shop and there was also an area where authors were reading their books. We couldn't get Eva to sit and listen to anything as she was far too hyper and wanted to be on the go enjoying everything outside.
She took part in a belly dancing class. This was super cute to watch. If she'd had her way she would have stayed in there all day.
We were really impressed by the amount and variety of the food stalls. There really was something for everyone. Eva had a children's meal at one of the stalls which was £5 for a hot dog, chips and a drink. The portions were large so we thought this was really good value for money.
Overall, we had a fantastic time. The campsite was easily accessible, clean and not too far to walk to. The food was all yummy and reasonably priced. There were plenty of activities for the children to keep them entertained. All the staff were very friendly and approachable. It certainly felt like a very safe place to be. The atmosphere was infectious. By the time we left we were immersed in bubbles and floral crowns and planning our next festival trip asap.
I would've liked to have seen a few more children's acts on the stages throughout the day as seeing Justin Fletcher was Eva's favourite part of the weekend.
We would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting a safe, enjoyable family festival and we would go again next year. Advanced tickets are already on sale for 2017. You can get more information about local events here, http://www.whatsgoodtodo.com
**We were gifted a weekend camping ticket with festival passes in exchange for our honest opinions**
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