Bugaboo Donkey Review

Following on from my post Do I need a double pushchair for a toddler and a newborn? I'm going to share my thoughts and feelings on the Bugaboo Donkey, which was our choice of pushchair for a newborn and a toddler. 

What were we looking for in a double pushchair?

First up, here's a quick reminder of what we identified as our top priorities for a double buggy. 

1. It has to have a proper carry cot for a newborn. A reclined toddler seat with straps is not an option. Neither is a soft, cocoon type carry cot. We want something that a baby could sleep in comfortably during the day for long periods of time, and even be used as a carry cot for an overnight sleep, just like the carry cot on our Joolz Day.
2. The toddler seat has to recline. The only place that Bobble still naps is in the pushchair, so there has to be somewhere for him to sleep during day time naps.
3. It has to fit in our (estate!) car, by having a fairly compact fold.
4. It has to handle as nicely as our Joolz Day, so we're talking a smooth push, good handling up and down curbs and a good length extending handle.

After a fairly extensive review of the market for doubles, we realised that the Bugaboo Donkey was the only pushchair out there that met our criteria.

THAT price tag

Let's start by addressing the elephant in the room. The cost. Each time we did the sums, this was the one thing that would cause us to go back and start questioning our needs to buy a double at all. If you're not familiar with this, brace yourself. The price tag for the Donkey is £1000 (give or take a few quid either way depending on offers and your need for extras). Yes. I know. You can buy a secondhand car for a similar amount. But here's the catch - there are no other pushchairs on the market that offer the same features as the Bugaboo Donkey. It is unique, and an extremely clever piece of engineering. But wait! Don't stop reading because you think this is a crazy amount of money to spend on a pushchair. Further down the page I am going to share some secrets about how you can knock off several hundred £s from this price tag. I promise you that we did not pay anything near this amount for our brand new Donkey.

10 highlights

The Donkey has many fantastic features - here's a quick list of the best ones.

1. You can use it as a single pushchair or a double - it takes less than a minute to convert from one to the other.
2. In double mode it is only 74cm wide (14cm wider than single mode), which means it fits though all standard doorways.
3. The two seats operate independently - your baby can face you, or the world. Your toddler can face you, or the world. The seat units when facing inwards recline fully flat.
4. The carry cot has a mattress suitable for using overnight.
5. The underneath basket is massive. In single mode you have tonnes of storage space with the underneath and side basket.
6. In spite of initial appearances, you can comfortably fit a 3 year-old in seat unit.
7. The handlebar has a huge extension so it's suitable for parents big and small.
8. It's light and smooth to push on most terrain.
9. You can recline the seats recline with one-hand - same goes for removing the seats.
10. There are lots of different options for personalisation - a range of different colours exists for everything from the base fabrics, hoods and aprons to seat liners and footmuffs.

10 lowlights

Of course there are some imperfections - here's a quick list of the ones that niggle me the most.

1. The rain covers are ridiculous. They are designed to fit so tightly that you practically break your fingers trying to get them on. With a footmuff on, it is virtually impossible to get it on at all. Furthermore, because the seat units sit so closely, the rain covers start sticking together when you're trying to stretch them on. **Note - Bugaboo have since released a new version of the rain cover which I've been told is much easier to get on.
2. All side by sides feel a bit like you're pushing a tank, some shops and cafes will simply not be accessible any more.
3. At a quick walking pace all Donkeys are known to start vibrating at the front wheels until you slow down again. It seems to be a bit of an engineering problem, Bugaboo really should investigate it.
4. Trying to pack it into a car, even a spacious estate feels like a mission.
5. Having a foam rather than a leather handle on a pushchair that costs around £1000 seems a bit crazy to me. Because this is a wide pushchair in double mode you're much more likely to catch it on things and tear it. Also, foam bumper bars look like huge teething toys to babies and toddlers.
6. Why oh why oh why does the bumper bar not pivot so that you can leave it in place when you take your child in and out? Madness. There are rumours that this is one of the improvements coming on the 2015 model.
7. Some people report problems with the strap length being an issue for older children - we've had no problems here with our average size 2/3 year old.
8. It's impractical to hang a changing bag off the handle - but the ample sized basket means you have plenty of space for all of your clobber underneath.
9. Hasn't been an issue for us - but in twin mode with 2 car seats on it's too wide to go through a standard size door.
10. In single mode the side basket is not covered in the rain.

How to buy a cheap Bugaboo Donkey

That's my low down on the pros and cons, now what about the price. As I said, there are definitely ways that you can avoid paying full price for a Donkey. We managed to make a saving of 23% off the price of our brand new Donkey (that's well over £200) - here's how.

John Lewis brand new in box returns
Our local John Lewis (in Cambridge) had in its warehouse a brand new in box Bugaboo Donkey. It was a duplicate item that had gone to a customer, but wasn't required. As it had the customer's address label on the box, they weren't able to sell it at the RRP. This seems a little crazy doesn't it? The box had never been opened, so the contents were in perfect condition. And we were able to buy it at a 23% discount. Of course, these deals are not advertised, it was just a very lucky coincidence that came about through a phone call to the store. But it's definitely worth calling your local shop to see what they might have in - you never know!

Second hand but hardly used
The other route you can go down is second hand. Of course there is good old eBay, but if you don't want the stress of bidding why not consider Facebook? There is a very active Bugaboo Donkey Loves UK page full of people talking about Donkeys, and selling whole pushchairs and accessories. You have to apply to join the group (it keeps out some of the spammers trying to take money for pushchairs they don't own and are pretending to sell) but once you're in you can try and grab yourself a bargain. Many sellers are prepared to post items if you can't find one for sale near to where you live. The admin very helpfully provide an up to date price list so you know whether what's being advertised is a fair price.

• Donkey Mono v1 silver: £400-450
• Donkey Mono v1 black: £500-550
• Donkey Duo v1 silver: £600-650
• Donkey Duo v1 black: £650-700
• Donkey Mono v1.1 silver: £500-550
• Donkey Mono v1.1 black: £600-650
• Donkey Duo v1.1 silver: £700-750
• Donkey Duo v1.1 black: £800-850

Of course prices will vary according to the condition of the pushchair, so make sure you find out exactly what is being sold before you commit to buying. Also expect to pay postage and PayPal fees on top of these prices.

What's the difference between a Donkey v1 and a v1.1

Just a quick note about the difference between v1 and v1.1. V1.1 has two buttons to fold, and the frame folders flatter, and therefore smaller than v1. There's rumoured to be a new version coming out in 2015 but don't expect major changes other than the things I've mentioned above (pivoting bumper bars and a more practical rain cover).

Disclaimer
I'm obliged to add that this review was not sponsored by Bugaboo. We forked out our own hard-earned cash to buy our Donkey. All thoughts and opinions above are my own. Other double pushchairs are available - but you ain't going to find anything else as good as the Donk!

Finally, a little note about that picture... Little H was only 4 days old which is why I look so FAT!

 

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10 things I've learnt about 2 year-olds

I mentioned in a recent post that Bobble is only a few weeks away from turning 3. So as the so-called terrible twos draw to a close, I thought I'd make a handy little list of everything I've learnt about 2 year-olds.

1. Sleep battles

Sleep regression hits big time at 2 years. Don't be mistaken into thinking that this is the end of naps, it's just a phase! It's exhausting and frustrating in equal measures, but don't let the daytime nap go. Regression usually takes the form of night-time awakenings (for hours on end... sorry about that) or refusing to nap. Ride it out and keep offering naps until it really impacts on the time they go to sleep at bedtime.

2. Shouldn't they know this by now?

At some point during this year you will compare your child to another child. You will worry that they don't know their colours, they can't count to 10 and their sentence structure is never going to come together. There is little point stressing about this. One day, everything will just fall into place.

3. Tantrums without tiaras

Repeat after me. The emotional and behavioural meltdowns do not take place because your child hates you. Your child is simply struggling to manage their emotions. It can be embarrassing and frustrating. But it's not personal.

4. And breathe...

During these meltdowns the best thing for you to do is to offer cuddles and reassurance. You're going to have to fight every instinct on this one! But shouting at your toddler is not cool and does not make you feel like a good person. Leave the room and take a breather. Or scream into a pillow. Whatever makes you feel better.

5. Mute button?

Can't wait for your toddler to become more vocal? Just you wait. By the end of the year you will be desperately looking for an off button for this little chatterbox!

6. Mirror, mirror on the wall

Two year-olds are curious about everything and absorb so much detail day in and day out. Before you know it, your language, behaviour and habits will be reflected right back at you. So prepare for your language and the way you do things to be repeated in public!

7. Fun in the unlikeliest of places

Two year-olds make excellent companions. Their enthusiasm and boundless energy for what you might have classed as the mundane is a revelation. Adventure can be found anywhere.

8. This one, or this one?

Opinions and control are big currency to a two year-old. Make life easy by offering two options for everything from what they eat, what they wear and what they want to do today.

9. Bribery without the corruption

It's time to bring out the lawyer in you. Negotiation, manipulation and compromise will be required, as well as a willingness to pick your battles. There is also no shame in offering stickers and chocolate buttons in exchange for all manner of things!

10. Simple creatures

Above all else, two year-olds want nothing more than to feel loved, to make you laugh, to be able to communicate their needs and to play.

Bring on the big 3!

On the whole, I've enjoyed the twos. Sure, there have been challenges and moments when I've been a few clicks away from giving Bobble away on Gumtree... But it's been a fun year. It's a shift from toddler to little boy. The end of the horrors and catch-all scape-goat that is teething. And the true blossoming of a personality - full of quirks and jam-packed with loveliness. I can't wait to see what happens next.

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Feel-good giving - From a Mother to Another

Yesterday an email popped into my inbox from JoJo Maman Bebe that really caught my eye.

 

Hate landfill, love giving

The headline was 'Give something worthwhile this Mother's Day'. In the email there was mention of the fact that a third of UK clothing ends up in landfill. A third! I hate this kind of waste. In fact, I hate the thought of anything still in working order simply being chucked in the bin simply because you don't know what to do with it. I also dislike clutter too, so regularly have the urge to purge! You might remember this from an earlier post when I spoke of my love of Freecycle.

For clothes, I regularly use the clothing bank at our recycling centre. When it comes to baby clothes, now that Little H is racing through the different sizes, I've tried a few different ways of getting rid of them by selling bundles on Facebook or Gumtree, or passing on to friends with younger babies. The main problem I've found with selling clothes is that it's an awful lot of effort for only a few pounds. Facebook is full of selling groups, and everyone has baby and toddler clothes to sell. It's a crowded market. Plus the time it takes to photograph and list everything... well I'm just not sure it's worth the effort.

From a Mother to Another

This is where the email from JoJo really struck a chord with me. They hate waste, and have set up a campaign in conjunction with Barnado's to ensure that these wasted clothes don't end up in the bin, but go to vulnerable families who need them. I love this idea. A part of me has been pondering for a while how easy it would be to ensure that my old stuff went to a good home. And by this I mean where it's really, really needed, not just to someone who loves a bargain or a freebie. But who could facilitate such a thing? Well it seems that JoJo Maman Bebe and Barnado's have done it.

It couldn't be easier to get involved. All the information you need is on a page on the JoJo Maman Bebe community website. But before you leave my page and go and read theirs, here's a quick summary:

1. Sort out a batch of clothes for a specific gender, size and season and put together 6-12 items which would make up 1-3 outfits. The clothes should be folded, clean and in good condition.
2. Download a special label and attach it to the bag of clothes.
3. Drop it off at a JoJo Maman Bebe shop before the 30 April.
4. Receive a gift voucher for £5 to spend in store for your troubles.
5. Take a photo of you with your donation and use the hash tag #mothertoanother

Ready to get involved?

So there you have it. I know for sure that I am going to prepare a donation. I reckon I can easily put together a summer bundle for a baby boy, and maybe a winter one too. Of course I will still sell and pass on some of our other baby clothes, but that's the beauty of this campaign. You can do both. But by taking part in #mothertoanother you get to enjoy that wonderful warm feeling of know that you have made a difference.

Disclaimer - I have not been asked to write about this campaign by JoJo Maman Bebe. I just happen to think that this is a blooming good idea and I wanted to share it.

Coincidentally a package from JoJo arrived through my letterbox yesterday too - a lovely polarfleece scarf to keep Bobble's neck warm during this Arctic spell that we seem to be having at the moment. The scarf is lovely and very fairly priced, as always with JoJo stuff. And, get this, they offer free delivery to all UK addresses - how good is that?

Logo credit: JoJo Maman Bebe

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The ultimate highs and lows of parenting

In 5 weeks, my oldest son - my first born, my baby - turns 3. Wow. It's such a cliché that the weeks and months and years slip by so quickly with children. But it ain't half true.

This time 3 years ago I was just a month away from my due date. It's such a weird time, that pre-baby waiting. And this time of year always makes me think of it. The cold, biting wind of January. With
all hope and optimism firmly fixed on the arrival of Spring. I was lugging my huge bump around this town that I hardly knew. My diary was free, apart from the every-other-week midwife appointments, and a once a week attendance at a Bumps and Babies group. I simply couldn't imagine how my life was going to change. I remember studying all of this baby equipment that now filled our house and tried to imagine putting it into use. But I just couldn't imagine what it was going to be like. It was too much of a leap into the unknown.

And yet here we are. Almost 3 years later. There are two little boys sleeping upstairs. My living room has been taken over with brightly coloured toys. My laundry routine has gone from a twice weekly affair to an unconquerable mountain, that is never under control. My kitchen cupboards are full of a variety of plastic plates, bowls and cups that become a leaning tower of Pisa on the draining board day after day. And our Tesco food bill? It's out of control. How are we going to feed them when they're teenagers?

Ringing in the changes

Paraphernalia and changes to domestic routine aside, I've often thought about the changes that parenthood brings. And I've wanted to document them. Because like so much that's associated with having babies and raising children, you forget. I think it's nature's anaesthetic. And while I think that's fabulous for childbirth and the hideousness of the months of broken sleep. I think it would be a great shame to forget the other stuff.

The highs and lows

I don't think there's anything else that can bring you such soaring highs, and crushing, sinking lows. Well maybe there is. But I've not experienced them. I'm also going to acknowledge the fact that my children are still only almost 3, and less than 1. What the next 5 or 10 years will bring, I simply don't know.

The good stuff

Oh my. This is easy. Those first smiles, the second smiles. All the smiles. I am not a morning person, but my heart lifts every morning when my little people, fresh-faced and unencumbered with the troubles of yesterday greet me. For the record, if I am greeted by these faces before 6am, none of this applies.

The request for a Mummy Cuddle. Bobble made us wait almost 2 years before he started to willingly offer out cuddles. Even today he does not do kisses. He frequently tells me that my kisses are 'no good'. So cuddles carry more currency. He asks for one when he feels worried, frightened, tired, or sometimes, just when he realises that he hasn't had one all day. There's a caveat with this one too. On a clingy day, when he wants nothing else by Mummy Cuddles and I'm actually trying to do something my patience is stretched super thin.

The pride. These little people give you more pride than you ever thought was possible. I'm not even sure that pride was that much of a big deal pre-children. Sure, a good exam grade or a nice bit of feedback at work would make me feel proud. But this is different. This is a warmth, a clap your hands in delight, and puff your feathers out sort of feeling. But it comes from the tiniest thing. I've felt it with every first milestone that the boys hit, but it reached new heights when I saw what kind of big brother Bobble was going to be.

Which leads me neatly on to my last point - siblings. I'd like to talk more about this in a future post, but watching the relationship develop between your two children is magical. When they look into each other's eyes, or laugh together, or the big one gives the little one a toy and tells him that every thing is ok... it's awesome.

The bad stuff

If your children haven't had you in tears over something or made you scream with rage (inwardly or outwardly!) then I don't think you have truly experienced parenthood. Is it wrong to speak about this stuff? Absolutely not. Because without it, those sweet, magnificent highs would not taste as good.

The tortuous lack of sleep. I don't know a lot about interrogation or torture, but sleep deprivation is always one of the weapons. Whether your baby fights every nap, whether they wake up 8 times a night or they only sleep for 20 minutes at a time, you and I know that a lack of sleep makes you feel broken. Insane. Incapable of anything. I've lost count of the number of times I had laid in bed and cried when one of my children has woken up AGAIN (and by this I usually mean for the umpteenth time that night, usually when I was under the impression that they had in fact gone back to sleep). Nothing can prepare you for it. And from this point forward you will become obsessed with sleep.

Frustration. A lot of life as a parent is frustrating. Not getting enough sleep is frustrating, but you do sort of expect that. But this is a different sort of frustration that comes from not being able to control your little person because damn it, they're an individual with thoughts and opinions of their own! They don't like this food. They don't want to join in with the singing at the group you go to even though they know all the words. They get scared when a bigger child comes near them in the playground. They cling to you like a limpet at soft play because they're not feeling that out going. They won't cooperate with getting dressed even though you're already mega late. They point blank refuse to read a new book and choose the same bedtime book every night for 3 weeks. Pass me the pillow, I need to scream into it.

Shame. You shouted in a rage at your toddler. Your baby's inability to sleep fills you with an unjustifiable anger. You daydream of a day off. You miss your old, uncomplicated, carefree life. A lot of mums speak about guilt. I personally don't get this. I have made these choices so guilt is a wasted emotion. But I do feel ashamed sometimes. I am a responsible adult, who should be in control. But I am also a person who is doing what I consider to be the hardest, most challenging job that I have ever done. I am only human.

Riding the rollercoaster

So what does it all mean? Well I guess that without the bad times you wouldn't appreciate the good times. The high points only feel so high because the low points take you down so deep.

It's one hell of a bigger dipper isn't it? What would be on your list of highs and lows?

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Introducing Crafty Bird - creator of beautiful homemade personalised baby name pictures

Earlier this year I stumbled across a lovely lady making and selling wonderful things from her shop on Etsy. This site is a treasure trove of gorgeousness, isn't it?

At the time I was looking for something personalised to go on the wall in Little H's room. When Bobble was born we were inundated with so many presents! I think it's quite normal for baby #2 to not receive quite the same quantity of presents. After all, most people quite rightly expect you to recycle as much as you can from your first baby. Far from being ungrateful (gift horse, mouth and all that), I simply took it as a opportunity to buy him a little extra present from us.

The Crafty Bird's shop window on Etsy got me very excited! Her personalised felt name pictures were SO sweet. There are about a million different personalised pictures for babies available to buy online, but I'd never seen anything like this before. And priced at just £30 plus £7.50 postage, I thought that they were fantastically well priced too.

I got in touch with Sharon, owner of The Crafty Bird, via her Etsy shop and asked what animals she could do for Little H. She suggested either a hedgehog or a hippo. We chose a hippo and left Sharon to go away and come up with a design. Within a day or so, she came back to me with some colour swatches for everything that was going to be in the picture, including the big letter H. Once the colours were agreed she worked on the design. I can't quite remember how long it took, but Sharon kept me informed all the way through the process. She showed me the picture as she created it in stages, and got me to approve the final version before she stitched it all in to place. Less than 2 weeks after I placed my order, the finished piece was hanging in Little H's room.

Here's Little H's hippo - isn't it just the cutest thing?

And guess what, we loved it so much that we ordered Bobble one for his room. On Christmas Day, he unwrapped his very own Orangutan!

So, if you're looking for a homemade, utterly unique and personalised present for a new baby, I can highly recommend The Crafty Bird. Visit her Facebook page to see some more of her beautiful creations.

Note - I sourced and paid for this pictures of my own free will. No animals were harmed in the making of these pictures.

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Do I need a double pushchair for a toddler and a newborn?

When we found on that baby #2 was on the way, it didn't take us long to start thinking about what new baby equipment we could reuse, and what new things we might need to buy. It was exactly the same as when I was pregnant with Bobble, our first initial searches online were about pushchairs.

As I said in my Joolz Day review, it's such an important purchase to get right. Transporting your children around is something you have to do day in and day out. If you buy a pushchair that is badly made and not fit for purpose, every trip out with your baby will be spoilt. I don't think I'm being dramatic here. Or maybe it's just me. I equate it to putting on some clothes that don't fit quite right, or are a bit itchy, or that you constantly have to readjust. They bug you all day, and spoil your mood.

Do I need a double pushchair for a toddler and a newborn?

I don't know how many times I typed this phrase into Google. Or how many different pages of results I read. It's not a new dilemma by any means. But if you have an age gap of less than 3 years, I think it's something that everyone who is expecting their second child ponders. We went right the way around the houses for a while, thinking about this. We would have a gap of 2 years and 4 months between our boys. I'm going to share our thinking, and also our opinions on the different options that are out there. Spoiler alert - we bought a Bugaboo Donkey. A full review of this pushchair will be coming up soon!

 

What's the age gap?

As I said, there would be 2 years and 4 months between our boys. In many ways this made the decision harder. If there's less than 2 years between your children, I personally think you'd be a bit mad to not buy a double pushchair. So if you have a gap of 2-3 years, how do you decide whether you're going to need one or not? So here's what I think it boils down to...

Your toddler

1. How far can your toddler walk before they get tired?   

If you've got the type of child that is going to frequently ask to be carried, chances are you are going to need a seat for them in a pushchair.

2. How fast can your toddler walk? 

So they like to walk everywhere? Excellent. Consider what will happen when you're running late (unless you're Super Mum, this will be a common occurrence when you have two children!) A buggy board might be a good solution, so they can hop on for a speedier ride.

3. Does your toddler still nap in the day?  

On a long day out, if they don't have somewhere to sleep, are you going to end up with a grouchy toddler if there's nowhere for them to rest or sleep?

4. How trustworthy is your toddler - do they run off frequently or are they fiercely independent?

Being able to 'contain' your toddler is often cited as being important to mothers of those spirited and independent children. If you don't trust them to stay safe near roads, or to not jump off a buggy board mid flight, you'll need a place to keep them strapped in and safe.  

Your lifestyle

1. How often do you use your current pushchair?

If you're still using it on a daily basis, will it be fair or practical to suddenly require that your toddler walks or rides on a buggy board from now on? If you only use it occasionally, think about those occasions, and whether you can just get away with a walking toddler or a buggy board.  

2. Do you mostly walk, or travel by car or public transport?

If you mostly walk, you need to imagine doing all of those outings with a walking toddler or toddler on a buggy board. If you mostly travel by car or public transport, size matters. Double pushchairs, whether they're side by side or in-line are big. They will either take up significantly more space in your car boot or make it trickier to get on the bus or train.  

3. Have you got a place to store a double pushchair?  

Again, size matters. Maybe you don't keep your current pushchair in the house and instead choose to keep it in the car boot or a garage - will a double fit in there? If you do keep it in the house, measure up and see if there's space for a double.

 

The right choice for you

I don't think we really justified our choice until about 6 months after Little H was born! Before then, we were about 70/30 on a decision in favour of getting one. But it was only going to be day to day life that proved whether or not we had made the right decision. I know plenty of people that faced a similar decision and have quite happily managed without one. Likewise, I have friends who have ended up going out to buy a double after their second baby has arrived.

The bottom line for me was that I wanted to make my life as simple as possible. Having two small children to look after was going to be anything but simple, so if another piece of equipment might help, then I would like to have it.

What are the options for double pushchairs?

Doubles come in two styles - side by side, and tandem or in-line (one seat in front of the other). The style that you prefer is completely personal. Both have their advantages, which I'll talk about in more detail below. But now is a good point to mention one very important word - COMPROMISE. Double pushchairs are all about compromise. Searching for the perfect one for you is nothing like the search for your single pushchair. There is always a really big compromise. You just have to decide what that compromise will be for you!

Side by side double pushchairs

Why you will love them

• Equality - both children get a great seat from where they can see the world, rather than just the pavement or the seat in front of them.
• Bonding - your two kids can sit side by side, hold hands, chat to each other and have some quality bonding time!
• Options - many brands come with options to have a carry cot in one of the seats, so your newborn can truly lay flat from birth.
• Toddler comfort  - if your toddler still sleeps in the day, they may well need a seat that reclines, this is almost guaranteed with a side by side.

Why you won't love them

• Wide load - there's no escaping the fact that this is a wide buggy. It may not be double the width of a standard single, but it is significantly wider.
• Frame size - these beasts don't fold down that compactly.
• Tank - take a side by side for a spin around a shop and it will feel like you're driving a tank!

What's the compromise? 
The biggest compromise is this - a side by side is not a nippy little pushchair. You will be able to get through most standard doors, but some shops, cafes and forms public transport are going to be a struggle.

 

Tandem double pushchairs

Why you will love them

• Compact - they are no wider than a standard single pushchair. You will still be able to access all your favourite places without worrying about not fitting through a narrow gap.  
• Conversion - many in-line doubles can easily convert from single to double. This is much harder to find with side by sides.
• Balance - second child not there? This pushchair will handle just as well without the weight of the second child.

Why you won't love them

• The second seat - often just inches from the pavement, there's not much of a view down there, particularly when your baby is older than 6 months and wants to sit up and look out.
• Newborn options - very few have the options for a newborn to sleep in a rigid, traditional style carry cot.
• Sibling bonding - the antithesis of the side by side, your two children can't see each other or communicate.
• Curb appeal - while side by sides are wide, in-lines are long and can feel heavy and awkward when going up curbs.

What's the biggest compromise?
The biggest compromise is this - this pushchair does not offer two equally good seats. One child is stuck with a restricted view.

Our choice

In our search for the ideal double buggy, we decided that these things were deal-breakers:

1. It had to have a proper carry cot for a newborn. A reclined toddler seat with straps was not an option. Neither was a soft, cocoon type carry cot. We wanted something that a baby could sleep in comfortably during the day for long periods of time, and even be used as a carry cot for an overnight sleep, just like the carry cot on our Joolz Day.
2. The toddler seat had to recline. From 19 months onwards, Bobble would only nap in the pushchair, so there had to be somewhere for him to sleep during day time naps.
3. It had to fit in our (estate!) car, by having a fairly compact fold.
4. It had to handle as nicely as our Joolz Day, so we're talking a smooth push, good handling up and down curbs and a good length extending handle.

Who makes the best double pushchair?

I'd like to say upfront that I haven't conducted an exhaustive review of the whole double pushchair market. I didn't see all of the models in person, but gleaned a lot of the pros and cons from online reviews. And remember, we were looking for something that could offer everything I've listed above. Your own needs may well be different to mine. I dismissed any kind of umbrella fold style buggy outright - it couldn't offer the newborn carry cot that we wanted, and I'm not a big fan of that type of lightweight pushchair for anything other than holidays.

Side by side double pushchair brands

Baby Jogger City
A carry cot is an optional extra. However, from 6 months your baby has to face outwards as the seats are fixed. I've only heard good things about Baby Joggers. People say that are light weight, very manoeuvrable and have a very compact fold.

Bugaboo Donkey
Mega bucks. But a unique and massively convertible design.

First Wheels City Twin
The only design out there that comes close to the Donkey. I didn't see one in person, but have read that it's very wide (wider than the Donkey and won't go through a standard door) and very heavy. 

Mountain Buggy Duet
We liked the handling and options of being able to have a carry cot, but it didn't seem that comfortable for Bobble. The fabric of the seat and the way it reclined felt like a big down step from the Joolz.

Out and About Nipper 360
I didn't try one of these in person, but know a lot of people that rave about them. I didn't like the lack of carry cot, or the very reclined seating position.

Tandem

Baby Jogger City Select
I think this is a great option for twins, but of all the 16 different seating options, there wasn't one which had the carry cot at the top facing me, and the toddler seat facing outwards.

Babystyle Oyster Max
I really thought this could be The One. Until I took it for a test drive. It felt heavy and due to the short handle (or my long legs!) I was constantly kicking the carry cot on the bottom. I wasn't too keen about the fact that the carry cot had to face outwards as well. 

Britax B-Dual
Like the Babystyle Oyster Max, I really wanted to like this... but I hated it. It weighed an absolute tonne, without any children in it! Beside that, it didn't have a rigid carry cot either. 

iCandy (Apple to Pear,  Peach Blossom, Pear)
I had liked iCandy when we were shopping for a single, but one look at the seat size of their doubles and it was obvious Bobble would have to be squeezed in. I think these are best for twins rather than different aged children. 

Joolz Geo
Wasn't available when we were shopping, and I've not seen it in any shops since it has been released. 

Phil and Teds (various)
None include a solid carry cot for the newborn. To be honest, I was really disappointed by this when we were shopping as I really thought this would be a great option for us. 

Uppababy Vista with rumble seat
Although it has various seat configurations, none provided the carry cot at the front (preferably facing towards me) with the toddler in a seat facing outwards, in a seat capable of reclining.

If you want to read more about these pushchairs and other options, I can highly recommend this website www.bestbuggy.co.uk

 

What are the options if you don't want to buy another buggy?

Many people manage perfectly happily without a double. Carrying your baby in a sling and keeping your toddler in the pushchair works for a lot of people. Buggy boards are also fantastic (although you will keep kicking the blummin' thing) and most toddlers love riding on them. Or a simple pair of reins on a toddler that loves to walk everywhere will keep them safe, and be less stressful for you.

 

Conclusion

Double nap time - my favourite time of the day!

So there you have it. This is the process that we went through when we decided whether we needed a double pushchair or not. You might conclude that we are hugely fussy, or just have money to burn (so far from the truth!) but I wanted to find a pushchair that would make my second child just as comfortable as my first.

As I said, we ended up buying the  Bugaboo Donkey. A review of this is coming up shortly. I will also be sharing a few secrets and tricks about how you can buy one for well under the quite frankly, scary £1000 price tag.

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Weaning your baby - Home cooked vs Jars

There's a story in the news today that caught my eye - it turns out that the factory produced jars and pouches sold to help parents wean their babies, aren't as nutritious as home cooked food. Seriously. No schizzle Sherlock!

Baby weaning foods found 'lacking'

I'm not going to wax lyrical about why home cooked food is better for your baby. It's just so obvious isn't it? Food cooked at home from scratch is going to taste better than something mass produced in a factory and created to have a long shelf life. It doesn't warrant a news article does it?

What I think does warrant a news article is the fact that these manufacturers are misleading parents into thinking that this stuff is just as good as home cooked.

Weaning is such a emotive subject. Nothing but milk before 6 months? Baby-led vs purees? Jars vs home cooked? Everyone has a strong opinion about these things. It's such a minefield. But for what it's worth, this is my two penneth.

1. Start weaning when you think your baby is ready for food.
2. Choose baby-led, purees or a combination and find the one that suits you and your baby best. 
3. Even if you think you really can't cook, try to make your baby some food from scratch. A bit like breastfeeding (eek, another dynamite topic!), I think that everyone should at least try it. If it's not for you then fine, but I think that giving it a go is the least you can do for your baby.

Give home cooked food a try

In the spirit of giving something a try, and the spirit of my blog which is to help out others by giving some tips, I want to share my tip for making weaning easy. Annabel Karmel's wonderful book, Top 100 Baby Purees was given to me by my lovely sister in law. Having successfully weaned her two girls using these recipes, it came highly recommended.

There's lot to love about this book:

• The recipes are split into sections based on your baby's age to take you through from first tastes at 6 months, moving on from first tastes at 6-7 months, second stage weaning at 7-9 months and finally 9-12 months. You don't need to worry about what age your baby can eat certain foods, you just work your way through the book.
• You don't need to know anything about cooking as the recipes explain everything in simple steps. 
• Nearly all of the recipes are suitable for freezing, so you can batch cook and defrost different meals as you need them. 
• There are recipes for all meals, including breakfast and pudding. 
• A lot of extra information is provided about the principles of weaning and food allergies etc. 
• The recipes really are delicious. I would quite happily eat everything that I've cooked from this book.

My other tips for making weaning fun, enjoyable and successful

• If you're not a great cook, why not use weaning as an excuse to get better? Learning to cook really isn't that hard, and it can really make a big difference to your health and lifestyle. Speak to your health visitor about the places where you can get support.
• Give jars and pouches a try and see what you prefer. They definitely have had a place in my kitchen purely from a convenience point of view, but I prefer to make Bobble nearly all of his food as I have the time to do so. 
• If you have a friend who is staring weaning at a similar time, why not share the cooking? You both cook a new recipe but make a double portion to share and swap with the other person.

Buy Annabel Karmel's Top 100 Baby Purees from Amazon

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I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike

A couple of months ago, around the time that the prices in the car parks of my local town were increased (again!), I made an ebay purchase. I bought a barely used Hamax Kiss bike seat to go on the back of my bike. As well as saving money, I thought this would be a great opportunity to dust off my old bike and have some gentle exercise at the same time.

What a bargain!

As I side note, ebay once again proved to be a great place for picking up second hand bargains. I paid £26 for the seat. The RRP is £60, but I have just spotted that you can get the same seat in Halfords for £47.99. So at the very least, I saved £22 by buying second hand. Yippee!

Getting back in the saddle

After getting used to riding a bike again after at least 2 years out of the saddle, and getting the hang of loading and unloading Bobble, I was ready to start putting my best leg forward. Initially I used the seat for trips to the park and toddler groups - it was strangely liberating not having a pushchair! Bobble loves being in the seat as he gets a whole new perspective on the world. I'd also add that the extra weight really isn't noticeable. The hardest part is getting on and off the bike as you have to handle it completely differently to prevent it from tipping over.

A family peddle around Rutland Water

Recently, when we had family to stay, my biking-mad brother suggested that we join them for a ride around Rutland Water. I'll admit to being slightly apprehensive. I'd only ever done very short trips and wasn't sure that my legs would stand up to a longer distance. But with a husband who is also biking-mad, I knew that he would enjoy it too, so we agreed to join them.

I've never been to Rutland Water before, in spite of passing it about a million times on drives up and down the A1. I had no idea that it's one of the largest artificial lakes in Europe and is Anglian Water's drinking reservoir. In spite of its very functional purpose, it's actually rather pretty and is a globally important wetland site. There are loads of things to do there. Apart from riding a bike, you can take a walk, go wildlife spotting, try out any number of watersports, go rock climbing, or even take a trip out on the lake.

We had a great day out there, so I thought I'd share the details to inspire you.

What we did on our day out

We arrived in Witwell and ate our picnic on the grass alongside the lake before setting off on our bike ride. We took our own bikes, but you can hire them from £9.99 for the day for a child's bike. You can also hire a child seat for a bike from £3.99 for the day.

A complete circuit of the lake is around 15 miles. We had several mini breaks on the journey and a longer rest at the award winning Horse and Jockey pub in Manton, just as a few spots of rain started to fall.

During the first half of the ride the road/paths are a little bit set back from the lake and there are a few hills to huff and puff your way up. But the second part brings you much closer to the lake and is very pretty. We passed through a couple of Rutland Water's other visitor centres, as well as a couple of well positioned ice cream vans, so there are plenty of places to rest/pop to the loo/scoff an ice cream.

All in, we cycled for 2 hours, but we gone for almost 3 hours with all of the breaks. The majority of the route is on very safe roads and paths within the nature reserve. There is a very short stretch on a quiet road, and another section on cycle paths running next to the road.

Along the way we saw loads of families out on their bikes. Call me old fashioned, but I got a lovely warm feeling seeing so many people out enjoying such a simple and healthy activity.

Find out more

Rutland Water has its own website www.rutlandwater.org.uk but for details on bike hire, this website gives much more information www.rutlandcycling.com.

Finally, for planning a family day out this website is the best place to begin www.discover-rutland.co.uk

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Introducing Joolz Day - A great pushchair for tall parents

Before I tell you about why we went for the Joolz Day and why I love it, let me describe what we were looking for in a pushchair. In no particular order, this is what was on our must-have list.

Top features we wanted in a pushchair

1. Carry cot and toddler seat - either two separate parts or something that would covert. I personally don't like seeing tiny babies in anything other than a lay flat carry cot, and for as long as possible.
2. An easy fold. I wasn't fussed about being able to do it with one hand, I just wanted something easy.
3. Solid and well built, balanced with a frame that isn't ridiculously heavy.
4. A basket big enough to contain a rain cover, and preferably more.
5. Adjustable handles that come up nice and high - we're both fairly tall (5ft 8 and almost 6ft).
6. Not costing the earth - preferably under £500. 
7. Tough enough to take on rougher terrains, not fully off road, but should be able to cope with grass and paths that aren't completely smooth.
8. Ability to put a car seat on the frame.

Features that we weren't fussed about

Things that weren't important to me...

1. Size. Our car is an estate, so while I obviously didn't want it to fill the car, it didn't have fold down really small either.
2. Designer brand - quality is much more important that the 'right' name.
3. Available in blue or pink or other crazy patterns and colours. Ugh. I hate this. Sorry! 

Late additions to the must-have features list

Funnily enough, after using a pushchair for the last 16 months, there are some things that I've come to realise are important, which weren't on my original list. I would definitely include these features on my must have list for any future purchases.

1. A seat unit that faces both ways (i.e. parent and outward).
2. A seat unit that has several positions including lay flat and fully upright.
3. A good sized hood that offers good protection from the sun.
4. 4 wheels rather than 3. When you hit a curb, a single wheel at the front often spins and puts itself in a sideways position, making it hard to get over the curb. 4 wheels just feels more stable.
5. A high seat unit that enables you to use the pushchair as a highchair, and brings your baby nice and close to you when they're parent facing.
6. A mattress in the carry cot suitable for overnight stays.

Taking the Joolz, and Bobble, for their first walk

Why did we choose the Joolz Day?

Ok, that's enough lists for now! So how did we end up buying the Joolz Day? It was quite a long process. After shopping around and reading lots of online reviews and watching online demos, we fancied the features and looks of the Bugaboo Cameleon and the iCandy Peach. But retailing at almost £1000 when you tot up the cost of all the kit, these were budget busting. For a while I was determined to buy one or the other second hand, but they both hold their values well and it seemed that we would be paying around £500 for something that was going to look 'well used'. I've no issues with buying second hand, but I drew the line at something that was going to look tatty and faded. Also, after another try of the Cameleon, I found that I really couldn't get the hang of the fold.

Then one day we came across the Joolz Day. Designed in The Netherlands (where the Bugaboo range comes from), it's USP was the 'DAY' - Designed Around You. In short, its design is ergonomic, with benefits for parent and baby.

These benefits are...

• Very high adjustable handle - great for tall parents.
• Very high position for the carry cot and baby seat - less bending down for you.
• Suspension on all 4 wheels - extra comfort for your baby and easy pushing for you.
• A centre of gravity that means the whole thing won't tip over with a large bag on the handle and no baby in the seat.

Why we fell in love with it

I loved the look of the Joolz Day, and in terms of all of my other 'wants' it pretty much ticked every box.

• Carry cot and seat all included for one price.
• Overnight mattress on the carry cot (no need to take the moses basket away on those early trips to see grandparents).
• Big rear air-filled tyres making it extremely easy to push across a variety of terrains.
• Easy fold and the ability to go fairly small and flat with the wheels off (even the carry cot collapses).
• Compatible with Maxi Cosi car seats.

Money money money

Let me out!

Joolz is one of those brands where they don't like to display their prices online (so annoying! I don't understand this at all!) but all in (excluding accessories) expect to pay between £550 and £650. This was a little more than we were hoping to spend, but being a smart shopper, I managed to buy an ex display model via the eBay store of a nursery shop for £480. The seat unit hadn't even been taken out of its wrapper and everything else was good as new, complete with a full warranty.

Thoughts after using it for 16 months

Plenty of space for pram gymnastics

By now, I think I've given my Joolz a full road test, goodness knows how many times I've used it! I can safely say that I'm not going to stop using it and switch to a basic umbrella fold stroller as a lot of mummies do at this stage. When we've used one on holiday, we really miss the Joolz! However, there are some slightly less than perfect things that I would also like to point out:

• My rain cover tore in several places after less than a year's use - Joolz have since replaced it for free.
• The black frame does mark very easily. The scuffs (and they are these rather than scratches) can be rubbed off with a little elbow grease.
• My rear tyres have suffered punctures on two occasions.
• The seat unit is started to look a little faded where Bobble's legs sit.
• I wouldn't buy from a shop not local to me again. It's been a pain where we've had issues with things such as the rain cover and an issue with locking the front wheels. Any money that we saved by buying online has probably been spent on petrol!

However, all in all, I would definitely recommend this puschair. I think it's a great compromise if you like the features and looks of the pricier Bugaboos and iCandys, but want to spend a lot less. I hope to get several more years of use from my Joolz Day.

 

Where can I buy it?

The mecca of baby shopping, Kiddicare, sells the Joolz Day instore, but not online. Visit the Joolz website to find a retailer local to you.

Now this little boy looks like one very satisfied fan of the Joolz Day!

Disclaimer: As ever, all thoughts and opinions are my own and no money has exchanged hands in return for the writing of this post.

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The secret to sitting down comfortably after your baby is born

As I write, the Duchess of Cambridge is at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, in labour. I can't help but feel a little bit sorry for the poor gal. We opted to only tell immediate family when my labour began. No such privacy for Kate, she has the whole world clammering to know the minute-by-minute details of her labour. For her sake, I hope her birth is easy, uncomplicated and that the baby is healthy.

So today I wanted to share a tip specifically for postnatal women. If you've had a natural birth, no matter how well things went, the chances are that you'll be feeling a little bit sore. Especially sitting down! Bruising, tears, grazes, stitches... ouch, ouch, ouch. It's not fun. But there is something that you can buy to make you feel a little more comfortable.

You'll probably have been advised to take plenty of baths after the birth. But did you know that there's something magical that you can put in your bath? Badedas has been around since the 70s (see this seriously questionable ad alluding to what happens to a woman after a Badedas bath! Horse-related? Not sure that's legal!) Dodgy woman-horse relationships aside, midwifes and new mums have been recommending Badedas Rich Bath Gelee for years. Containing horse chesnut, the gelee smells delicious and a little goes a long way.

I'm afraid I don't know why it works so well on postnatal women, but it really does. Without going into too much personal detail, I can hand-on-heart say that using this in two baths a day for two weeks after Bobble's birth really did help me. And I needed a lot of help! Unlike other home remedies for easing the ouch, it doesn't sting, and the scent is really relaxing. It's also safe to use before your baby is born, when long soothing baths are also to be encouraged.

The only downside is the price, it's over £6 for a 300ml bottle. But as long as you keep it away from the rest of your family, one bottle should see you through more than one baby!

It's available to buy from Superdrug, Boots and some large supermarkets.

So if you're looking for a great gift for a baby shower, why not grab a bottle of this? Let's hope that William has got some on standby for Kate!

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Family-friendly gite in Normandy

Mont St-Michel

We recently enjoyed a lovely two week holiday in France. In a rather spooky case of history repeating itself, my very first trip abroad was to northern France, when I was 15 months old - the same age Bobble was during this holiday. My parents were a little more ambitious than us however, as they opted to camp and they also had my two year old brother to keep entertained too! My mum also likes to remind me that this was also the days before disposable nappies were widely available! We went for the slightly easier life and decided to have a week in a gite in Brittany, followed by a week in a gite in Normandy.

Finding the right place

There is a plethora of holiday cottages and gites available in northern France. We didn't book until fairly late (2 months before) and found that availability was still very high. The biggest issue we found was that the two bedroom places that we were looking at hardly ever seemed to have baths, providing a shower instead. It seemed that Bobble was at a slightly awkward age. Too old for a baby bath (many places offered these along with cots and highchairs) and still too young for a shower. It might have just been a coincidence, but the two places that booked both had baths and both had English owners. Maybe relaxing in the bath is more of an English pass time than a French one!

Another tip related to availability... As you can usually see online how booked up the accommodation is, if it's still got lots of free weeks and you feel confident enough, why not see if you can negotiate on the price?

5 good reasons to stay somewhere family-friendly

After spending a great week in Brittany, we moved on to our base in Normandy. While our gite in Brittany was lovely, I was excited about our second week in Normandy as we had found somewhere that was very catered towards families with young children. I'll tell you why this was great.

1. We only had space to take a small number of toys with us. After 1 week, Bobble was getting a bit bored of these, as were we!
2. When there's lots of things to do at your accommodation, it's a bit like being at home in the sense that you don't feel the need to rush out in search of entertainment. You can relax while your child plays and has fun too.
3. There is usually equipment available for you to borrow, freeing up a bit more space in your car which is probably already packed to the rafters.
4. It is very likely that the owners have children of their own. If they're close by (ours were in the house next door) they'll be on hand with ideas of days out and help if you need it. They might even have children of a similar age, providing instant playmates for your own children.
5. The accommodation will have been prepared with children in mind. This not only means that stair gates and other safety measures will be in place, but I think it also means that the owners will be a bit more relaxed about general wear and tear, which is more relaxing for mum and dad too!

Kestrel Cottage, Le Hamel Roger, Normandy

 

Kestrel Cottage is a former cider mill that has been converted into a four bedroom gite. It's found in the calvados region of Normandy and is a little over 20 minutes drive from the large town of Vire. The very friendly English owners, Angie and Danny, have been there since 2007. They have six children (yes, six!) aged between 1 and 12, who were really friendly, polite and incredibly well behaved.

Quick list of the gite's features

• Four bedrooms, but the gite can sleep between 2 and 12 with additional beds and cots
• 2 bathrooms - 1 with bath and shower, the other with just a shower and loo
• Large kitchen including washing machine, dishwasher and all the kitchen essentials you could wish for
• Large living room with plenty of seating, a DVD player, TV with English channels and a log fire for cool evenings
• Large upstairs gallery landing area/play room with lots of toys and a second television for watching films
• Outside seating area including a bbq.

Kestrel cottage

The really large garden

The big selling points: family-friendly extras

• Next door, there is a play loft stacked with toys for all ages. Ball pools, ride on toys, dressing-up clothes, toddler roller coaster (Bobble loved this!), mini pool table, air hockey, table football (we loved this after Bobble had gone to bed!) and much more!
• The large garden, as well as giving lots of running around space, provides even more toys including a trampoline, swings, slides, basketball hoop. Oh, and a solar heated above ground swimming pool!
• The list of baby and toddler equipment that is available to use or borrow is huge! As well as the usual things like highchairs, cots, steriliser, spoons and bowls etc. they also have bigger things like an off-road pushchair and baby carrying rucksack.
• The price you pay includes all bed linen and towels and the end of stay cleaning - this is unusual for France, where you are usually asked to clean before you leave to avoid losing some of your deposit.
• Angie runs a weekly music class which we were invited to attend. Unfortunately we couldn't make it as we already had plans, but it would have been great to do some singing in English and French!

What is there to do nearby?
Here's how we spent our week - I've included driving times.

• Viaduc de la Souleuvre (20 minutes) - a great afternoon spent watching people way more adventurous than us bungy jumping, zip wiring, riding a luge or on a completely insane swing that takes you from 0-120km in 3.5 seconds!
• St Sever Forest (25 minutes) - good place for an afternoon walk in a mysterious and brooding forest.
• Mont St-Michel (1 hour) - France's third most visited attraction and for good reason! Unlike it's English equivalent, you don't need to go by boat or rely on tides.
• Arromanches - one of the D Day landing beaches (1 hour). Packed with history and home to a museum and 3D cinema.
• Honfleur (1 hour 25 minutes) - my favourite place! An enchanting little town with a gorgeous port, a lovely park and lots of interesting streets for pottering along.
• Bayeux (35 minutes) - go and see the tapestry and enjoy wandering the streets.
  

A few pictures from our week

Find out more

Prices (2013) start from £350 and go up to £690 per week depending on the number of guests and the time of year. You can check availability online or contact Angie directly bookings@lehamelroger.com

Visit the Kestrel Cottage website

*Our week at Kestrel Cottage was paid for by us and I have not received any compensation for this review.

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The mega bib

It's been a while since I posted as, lucky old us, we've been away on holiday. More about that, and lots of tip sharing in future posts.

In the meantime, I wanted to share one of my ultimate, best-ever, do-not-look-any-further baby shopping tips - the bib to end all bibs!

It's called the Ultrabib and is made by Bibetta. Frankly, if you're not sold on simply the name of the bib and the company that makes it, then I doubt I'm ever going to win you over!

Bobble demonstrating the Ultrabib in action

Bibs? Kinda boring topic isn't it? Why is it important to buy a good one?

Since the good old days (aka when we were all babies) bibs have changed from uncomfortable plastic 'pelican' bibs, to something more comfortable, and that little bit more stylish. Many have sprouted sleeves, and most have become more stylish. Hard plastic is out too, and replaced with something a little softer. The style factor, I can leave or take as ultimately this garment is only going to get plastered in food. But practicality in the form of sleeves? Love that. And a comfortable baby nearly always equals a happy baby.

During weaning food goes everywhere, and not just in a small circle below the baby's chin so bigger is definitely better in the case of bibs. Food stains are not cool, especially when adorning an outfit that you took great pride in dressing your baby in that morning.

Another element of the food-going-everywhere scenario is that with 3 meals a day to get through, that's a lot of bibs. And yet more washing for the ever growing pile.

You get the picture, there are a few important things going on here:

1. Cover up your baby's clothes and therefore prevent major food staining.
2. Don't add to the growing pile of things to wash.
3. Ensure your baby is comfortable.

So yes, while they're not as exciting as a toy or a cute outfit, I think that buying the right bib can Make Your Life Easier.

So why buy the Ultrabib and not something else?

1. It's made of neoprene (sleeves are splashproof nylon) making washing it a dream as it dries almost instantly and doesn't stain at all. Many shops offer plastic backed cotton bibs with sleeves but trust me, these are not as good. They stain after 1 meal and will need washing constantly.
2. It fits babies from 6 months to 3.5 years - elasticated sleeves help for when your baby's arms are shorter.
3. It's soft and comfortable against your baby's skin.
4. It has a fold out pocket at the bottom for catching food if you have a really mucky pup - and who doesn't!
5. It covers the whole of their top half beautifully.
6. It comes in three colours. I wish that two of them weren't the dreaded pink or blue, but at least green is an option!

Downsides?

Yes, the price. At £8.99 this is expensive compared to other bibs. But in my opinion, other bibs are cheap imitations. I know because I tried them. Buy two Ultrabibs and you have one to wash and one to wear.

Where can I buy one?

I bought mine from Kiddicare.

Last words

This isn't a sponsored post. I bought these bibs through personal choice and have not received any compensation for this review.

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Down on the farm

In need of something to do this Sunday (9 June) that's fun for all the family, costs nothing and comes with a large dose of fresh air and (cross them tight) sunshine?

Then why not head down to your nearest (participating) Open Farm Sunday? 

I must now confess that I've never heard of this annual event before, even though it's been running since 2006. And even more shamefully I know that we can't try it out this year either! However, I thought that it sounded like such a good idea, I couldn't help but want to share it.

I hope that you will be able to get along to a local farm to meet some animals, find out what it means to be a farmer and be inspired by finding out more about where your food comes from. 

There's a handy tool on the website that helps you find participating farms in your area, while the rest of the website explains a bit more about what Open Farm Sunday is and why it was started.

Find your nearest participating farm

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Making Mummy friends - my top tips

Help! I'm a first-time Mum and I don't know anyone else!

For many people (me definitely included) one of my biggest worries, aside from how on earth was I going to look after a baby having had no experience or training, was whether I was going to spend my maternity leave as a billy-no-mates, or whether I could find some new friends. Actually, I'll admit, this wasn't something that I spent ages worrying about. I had some blind hope and optimism that things would work themselves out. But I reckon that for a lot of people, this fear is up there among with the usual ones about coping with the lack of sleep and stink of endless dirty nappies.

I wanted to share my experiences about making mummy friends in the hope that someone else will benefit from my thoughts, tips and suggestions.

I thought I'd start with a few things that it's worth remembering...

1. Unless you and your best friend happened to get pregnant at the same time, most other mums are in the same boat and are also looking for a new social network.
2. For me, this is the biggest and most important thing - people are all different. You will not get on with everyone you meet.
3. You will have to put in some effort if you want to get the rewards.
4. Don't put all your eggs in one basket and don't give up at the first try.

These last three points are quite tough aren't they? And if you've never had to make new friends before, or you're shy, the whole thing can seem like a bit of a mountain to climb. Just keep the first point in mind - you are not alone.

So where to start? Here are a few places that I've found can be good for meeting potential new friends. I've listed what I think are the pros and cons of each place too.

NCT antenatal courses

I know a lot of people that have made new friends this way. In fact, I'd guess that for about 80% of people, they do an NCT antenatal course in the hope that it provides an instant social network.

Best bits

•  It's a chance for both you and your partner to meet other couples in the same boat - most other social events after the baby arrives don't involve dad
•  A very good friend of mine lives within walking distance of her entire group.
• It's great to have a support network in place before the baby arrives - people sharing the waiting game with you and suffering from the same end-of-pregnancy aches and pains. 
• The nature of the course - learning and discussing - provides ample opportunities for getting to know one another.
• You'll be put together with up to 7 other couples - chances are, you'll find you have something in common with at least one couple, hopefully more!

Worst bits

• The courses are not free (I paid over £160) and they get booked up quickly.
• Your group is thrown together by chance - I don't live within walking distance of anyone from my course. Only 2 couples live in the same town. The other 6 are 25-45 minutes drive away, which just hasn't been practical for meeting up regularly.

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Bumps and Babies group

My local children's centre runs this group on a weekly basis, I believe that such groups are fairly common across the UK.

Best bits

• If you have time, try to attend the group before your baby arrives, it will take away the stress of going once you have your baby in tow - and you'll get to meet other pregnant ladies due at a similar time. Simple things like knowing where it is and what happens are one less thing to worry about in those first few weeks when just leaving the house is hard.
• It's a great place to try breastfeeding in public for the first time.
• It doesn't matter if your baby cries or has an exploding nappy, the entire room is on your side!
• They're usually a drop-in, so you can arrive and leave when you like - so no stress about being late.

Worst bits

• Most people (in my experience) at the group will have already had their babies. You might feel a bit like the odd one out if you're still pregnant. They're busy discussing sleep, nappies and feeding which are totally alien topics until you've had your baby.
• They're not usually structured sessions, so you do need to join in and chat to the other mums and mums-to-be.
• I've heard people complain that they can be cliquey. Personally I don't buy in to this. What I think can happen is that people that go regularly make friends and chat to their friends there. For new people, it can seem hard to break into existing friendships. Just remember though, these friendships are likely to still be very new, so it's never too late to join in!

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Aquanatal and other prenatal classes

See whether your local leisure centre runs these classes, usually involving swimming or yoga.

Best bits

• Another place to meet other pregnant ladies before your baby arrives.
• Gentle exercise is great for preparing your body for labour.
• Swimming in particular is great for the end of pregnancy, making you feel weightless and easing some of your aches and pains.

Worse bits

• Class sizes can be quite large and intimidating.
• The nature of these classes means that they don't usually involve any kind of ice breaker. So you might end up with that old British way of everyone just sitting in silence with no one willing to speak first!
• You might not have time to attend these classes before your baby arrives.
• The drop-in nature can also mean that you don't see the same faces each week, especially as due dates approach.

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Baby massage, baby yoga, first-time-Mums & other groups

My local children's centre run these courses. In my area, they were free as well - bonus!

Best bits

• Places are usually limited to less than 10 mums and babies, which I think is a manageable amount of people. Big enough to include lots of different personalities, but not so big that it can be overwhelming.
• The skills and knowledge that you'll pick up will be invaluable.
• Meeting on a weekly basis can be a great way to slowly build up friendships.

Worse bits

• The first-time-mums type of groups are usually suitable with a newborn. Others such as massage and yoga are probably better when your little one is 3 months+, so not something you can go to immediately if you're ready to get out of the house straight away.
• Fitting courses in around naptimes can be tricky. And if you're paying, you want to be sure that you can attend the whole course which isn't always possible if you've had a bad night or your baby is poorly.

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Singing, signing and rhymetime groups 

Your local library probably runs a singing group, but singing classes and other singing groups might well operate where you live either on a fee basis or through your local children's centre.

Best bits

• The groups are great from the very beginning. The only problems you might face with taking a newborn is the relentless feeding in the early weeks!
• Singing is a great soothing tool for babies of all ages - it lulls newborns and distracts older babies.
• Unless you've been working with young children recently, your repertoire of nursery rhymes and songs is probably quite limited at first - these are great places to refresh your memory!

 Worse bits

• The format of the group doesn't usually allow for much mingling (in my experience anyway), especially if it's run in a library or another public space. But it can be a good place to bump into familiar faces from other groups, which can be a good ice breaker.
• My local rhymetime only runs in school term time and is on every other week, leaving long empty stretches during the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays.

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Buggy bootcamp and other postnatal fitness groups

Postnatal fitness groups can be found across the whole of the UK. Don't be put off by the word 'bootcamp' - they are not usually taught by Army instructors wearing camouflage! If you had a normal delivery, you are usually given the greenlight to start exercising again after your 6 week check with your GP. The cost per class probably varies, but mine cost £5 a session.

Best bits

• Being able to start exercising again and not having to worry about what to do with your baby is perfect.
• The classes are tailored to postnatal women and the exercises can be adapted according to how recently you gave birth, limiting the chance of damaging your still fragile body.
• The endorphins released during exercise will give you a boost which can help compensate for being sleep deprived, or if you're just feeling a bit rubbish about any extra weight that you're still carrying.

Worst bits

• I first went to one of these classes when Bobble was 8 weeks old. Although it is perfectly possible to exercise and breastfeed, I must admit that I didn't find it particularly comfortable. It was also tricky fitting the class in around feeds, especially during growth spurts.
• If your baby needs feeding or settling, you will need to stop exercising and sort them out. On an off day, this could lead you to missing a lot of the class, which can be frustrating especially when you've paid.

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Baby clinics and breastfeeding support groups

Most doctors surgeries run baby clinics at least twice a month giving you a place to drop in and get your baby weighed and chat through any concerns or questions you might have with the nurses and health visitors running the groups. Breastfeeding support groups might also be run by your surgery or another organisation such as La Leche League.

Best bits

• Your health visitor will advise you to get your baby weighed fairly regularly during their first year, so you will find yourself attending these clinics at least once a month.
• Breastfeeding support groups are a fantastic place to go if you're suffering from any kind of difficulty with breastfeeding, or if you simply want to check that you're doing it right.
• If you're nervous about feeding in public, either of these places is the ideal places to start.

Worst bits

• Personally, I didn't find that the clinics I attended provided much of an opportunity to sit and chat to other mums, but things might be different where you live.
• With no fixed agenda and being of a drop-in nature, it might be difficult to get chatting.

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Facebook groups

I didn't come across these until after Bobble was born, but where I live there are a couple of 'secret' Facebook groups for Mums and Mums-to-be.

Best bits

• The groups are for asking for advice on everything from feeding to weaning, potty training and beyond - a complete fountain of knowledge to be tapped into at any hour of the day.
• Once you get to grips with motherhood, you'll be able to share your own knowledge and advice with other mums.
• Not all the discussions are baby related, you never know what you might learn about your local area!

Worst bits

• The groups can be enormous, and because all the conversations are taking place online, discussions can become heated and personalities can clash. People do not always observe the same rules and manners online as they would do face to face.
• Groups are not necessarily formed around making new friends, so there might not be much chance to make the jump from online to face to face.
• You have to be invited to join 'secret' groups, so you'll need at least 1 friend who is in the know to begin with.

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Other places to make new friends

The places that I've listed above is by no means an exhaustive list of all the places that you might be able to make new friends - it's just a list of the places that I've experienced. I'm sure that websites such as Mumsnet and Netmums can also provide opportunities for meeting people in your area, not to mention one of the many Internet forums for pregnancy and beyond.

Final word - will you be my friend?

So how do you go from chatting at a group to taking things to the next stage, eeeek! I think it's a lot like dating. It's been a long time since I dated (in fact, my dating experience pre-dates mobile phones...) but I think the same rules apply. Don't be shy, chances are, the other Mummy (or Mummy-to-be) wants the same thing! Just try asking one of these things:

1. Find out what other groups they go to, and arrange to meet up at one.
2. See if they fancy meeting up for a walk or a coffee.
3. Swap numbers and arrange to meet up at the park or for a play date.

Good luck! I hope you make lots of lovely new friends. If I've left anything out, or you have any more tips to share, feel free to leave a comment.

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