‘Have you got everything ready for the baby?’​

It’s one of those questions that everyone asks expectant parents towards the end of pregnancy. And there seems to be an almost blanket acceptance that not only do babies need a lot of stuff, it’s also going to be really expensive! Then there’s all this pressure to make sure it’s all environmentally friendly too. It’s important to look after the planet, which obviously means the cost is going up even more, because handmade wooden toys and custom-made cots built from reclaimed timber and ethically sourced organic cotton baby grows don’t come cheap...!

 But what if I told you there are awesome ways to do all this in a more sustainable way, reduce waste, respect our planet and make it more cost effective? Well, that’s exactly what I’m going to do, because that’s what this blog is all about. Now I’m not knocking all those lovely things I just mentioned, however, as beautiful as they may be, and environmentally friendly as they might claim to be it’s still extra ‘stuff’ into the waste system. Being more eco-friendly is all about diversion away from the waste system, and I’m going to talk you through how you can use the waste hierarchy (a bit like Maslow’s Heirarch of Needs but all to do with avoiding throwing things away) to make more planet friendly choices about the things you choose for your new arrival. 

Q: My toddler has been getting angry and biting my 6 month old baby now for the past few weeks and I just don’t know what to do about it.  I have tried withdrawing attention from the toddler, ignoring the bad behaviour, taking the baby away to another room to have fun leaving toddler behind, getting toddler to explain why it was wrong and to say sorry to baby, and recently I have been sending toddler to his room as I am just too angry to cope with him any more.  Whatever approach I have tried seems to have no effect at all.  My toddler can explain why biting is wrong and apologise, and then five minutes later he bites again. What do I do?? My toddler is usually a loving kind boy, and the rest of the time he seems to really love his baby sister, and is very proud of her. 
​What is wrong with him? I am at my wits end!

Your arrival in this world felt dramatic and decisive. It was as if, once you’d decided it was time, there was no stopping you. Finding out we had a daughter was exquisite and terrifying, all rolled into one. And you’ve been a blessing ever since. ​

“Oh, here we go” you’re thinking, “here comes someone else judging me for my parenting choices!” For taking a few moments to yourself or enjoying a rare uninterrupted conversation with a friend while your child runs off some steam at the soft play centre.

​Don’t worry, it’s not what you think! I promise.

​I completely get the need to have some you time while a brightly coloured, foam-padded steel frame entertains your child for a bit. I’m a full-time stay-at-home mum to a very boisterous 2-year-old boy and a headstrong 1-year-old girl who doesn’t like being pushed around by said 2-year-old boy. I’m with you 100% in needing a break…..