Author / Karen

by Karen

Reading Eggs – A Reading Tool for Children

Reading Eggs is a website that endeavours to help children to read quickly, in a fun and engaging way.

I’m sure that most parents, of a primary school aged child, will appreciate the pressure that is on children to learn to read.  My son, J, started reception in September, unable to read and barely able to write. However, by July, he will be expected to read well and be able to write a sentence or two. Frankly, to me anyway, this is scary stuff.

Now I am a complete bookworm and very keen for my boys to discover how fantastic reading can be. As a result, I had been curious about Reading Eggs but had never gone as far as to try it. I was excited to be given a years free access to the site and the Mega Book Pack to really explore and see what it was all about.

I will be completely honest. J is knackered, and still getting to grips with his full days at school. I will admit to being a little hesitant at giving him more school type things to do in the evening. However, in the name of research, I was willing to give it a go, as long as he wasn’t too tired or resistant.

On browsing the Reading Eggs site, I was very keen to get J on there to see his first impressions. The site itself is very engaging, bright and friendly. As his computer skills are just emerging, it was nice to see that everything is very user friendly and self explanatory. He only needed a little adult guidance in the beginning. Each of the initial levels concentrate on one letter at a time. These letters, and the sounds they make, are studied thoroughly, but not to the point of tedium, before moving onto the next level.

Reading Eggs J1Reading Eggs J2

J really enjoyed his time on the Reading Eggs site. He was giggling when the marshmallow mouse came out,  at the end of the first level, and at various other things. In the end, we spent a lot longer than we had planned to spend on there. J was very put out when I insisted it was very much time for bed!

After bed time, I came down to find an email from Reading Eggs with suggested homework. The homework focuses on the most recent lessons learnt, and easy ways that this can be supplemented at home.

Two weeks on and he is still hooked. I love the fact that J also has his own personal Avatar for the site. This is something that he really enjoyed making, and he gets excited to see, every time he switches on. J loves Reading Eggs, most days asking ‘can I do my eggs Mummy’ whilst his little brother goes to bed. It’s really nice to spend this time together, knowing that he is learning in a way that is fun to him.

Reading eggs are currently offering a four week free trial to the online subscription. Please click here if you would like to register. Offer is available until the 31st March 2017.

by Karen

Nonabox – November

Receiving my November Nonabox delivery definitely helped to get me in the mood for December. I was also very happy to see some lovely sweet relief in there, this is great because up until then it had most definitely been one of those days!

Nonabox

Inside this months Nonabox:

Gumigem – Jewellery. O is already showing signs of teething so I’m getting my army of products at the ready. This necklace is great as it looks like a normal item of jewellery and means that I can have something permanently to hand for him.  The necklace comes in a variety of colours and designs.

Lindor – Milk Chocolate Truffles. Always a favourite with me. It was only a small box so the chocolates were gone fast (oops!). But a very nice treat.

Mumkind – Nutritional Bar. This is a nutritionally balanced bar for pregnant woman and mums. It was very tasty, it reminded me of a cereal bar, and didn’t feel too naughty.

Sleepytot – Baby Comforter. This item has been an absolute godsend! O has just started to show an interest in his dummy but gets frustrated when it falls out of his mouth. With the Sleepytot rabbit comforter he now has more control. He loves snuggling against the rabbit and can now take the dummy in and out of his mouth as he pleases. It is now his favourite toy!

Yoomi – 5oz Bottle. This is a bottle and warmer in one. It is a great idea but such a shame that the warmer needs to be purchased separately so I was unable to give it a whizz!

Ella’s Kitchen – Spinach, Apple and Swedes. It was great to receive a different flavour of these to try out.

Sleeptot

Once again, there was a nice balance to this box and a good mix of old favourites and products that I’d never heard of. As mentioned above I was especially delighted with the Sleepytot rabbit and have already been recommending it! I worked out the approximate value of the box to be around £38. Nonabox is £24.95 a month, including delivery.

I was sent a selection of products for the purpose of review – all opinions are my own and honest.

by Karen

Nonabox – October

I was very excited to receive my Nonabox October delivery and see what new surprises it had in store for me! I forgot to mention that my September Nonabox also contained a cute activity for you and your child to do. Last month were adorable animal book marks and this month was a very cool monster mask!

Nonabox

Inside this months Nonabox:

Aden + Anais – Swaddle. This giant muslin was a surprise to me. I wasn’t impressed when I first received it thinking the size was impractical but now I love it! It has a multitude of uses and weirdly dries much faster than O’s other muslins… great job for my super sickie baby!

Water Wipes – Travel Pack. Though pricier than your highstreet brands these wipes are a must for babies with sensitive skin. They smell a little ‘clinical’ for my liking but there is no denying they do an awesome job on baby’s delicate skin.

NUK – Bottle. I have to admit to not knowing much about NUK so it was great to receive one of their bottles. I am a mega Winnie the Pooh fan so was very impressed with the cute design on the bottle.

Hampton Brands – Bennett’s Baby Bum Creme. Always handy to have and I’m always keen to try different brands. This one smells nice, a little goes a long way and it spreads nicely.

Chillipeeps – Teats. This 3 in 1 teat set can be used on the likes of water bottles and formula cartons and is a brilliant idea. I’m genuinely delighted I’ve discovered this brand.

Cheeky Rascals – Belly Belt. I am so gutted I am no longer pregnant as this belt would have gone a long way to extending my pregnancy wardrobe. Definitely something to mention to newly pregnant friends.

Aden + Ana

I worked out the approximate value of the box to be around £34. However I am, generally, pleased with the selection of the products. It’s a shame about the belly belt as I would have loved the opportunity to use this but all other products are highly appropriate. Nonabox is £24.95 a month, including delivery.

I was sent a selection of products for the purpose of review – all opinions are my own and honest.

by Karen

Nonabox – September

Nonabox is a company that I’ve only recently discovered. For £24.95 a month, including delivery, the company will send you a monthly box with products tailored to you and your bump/ child. Anyone that knows me well knows how much I love surprise gifts and trying new things out. As a result I was very excited when Nonabox sent me some boxes to show me what they were all about!

Nonabox

Now firstly I have to apologise for my Nonabox reviews being super, super late. A newborn and severe internet issues do not make a good combination! On the plus side I’ve had bags of time to receive and enjoy these lovely products!

I was very excited to receive my first Nonabox. The presentation box is gorgeous and makes you want to dive inside.

Here’s what I received:

Snooze Baby – Sweet Dreaming Natural Brown. This is a furry comfort toy with labels attached for babies to explore. O seems to really enjoy the soft material and is curious about the labels. I love this gift idea and think it would make a wonderful present, especially for a baby shower.

Paper Shaker – Postcard. Included was a mock up birth announcement card and money off should you decide to purchase. This was OK, was nice to see the options out there but not something I would personally pursue.

MAM – Feeding Spoons.  These may be simple but I loved these. These spoons made for the perfect travel companion as they come with travel lids.

Green People – Toothpaste. I was a bit sceptical about this certified organic toothpaste as it contained no Flouride! However after putting it to the test and doing some sneaky research I was pretty impressed. Little man loved it too!

Ella’s Kitchen – Blueberry and Pear Baby Brekkie/ Carrots, Peas and Pears.  I’m a massive fan of Ella’s kitchen and was great to receive these to try. I’ve put these aside for O but unfortunately Little Man has already nabbed the Baby Brekkie for himself!

Shea Mooti – Mama’s everything body balm. This was very luxurious and I love that Nonabox thinks of mums too! This product smells like you’re in a luxury spa and feels great… especially on my neglected mummy skin!

Nonabox contents

I worked out the approximate value of the box to be £33. I really liked the fact that baby, toddler and I are all thought of with the contents of the box. Looking forward to next month!

I was sent a selection of products for the purpose of review – all opinions are my own and honest.

by Karen

CoziDry

I was at a tumble time session when I happened to get talking to a lady who worked with a company called CoziDry. CoziDry is a company that was set up by mum Emily Godson. Having had much experience of baby dribble, she wanted to come up with a product that was not only effective at absorbing the dribble but was kind to baby’s skin. CoziDry bibs have been midwife approved and washes up to 300 times at 90 degrees.

CoziDry bibs

My eldest son was a notoriously sicky baby, as a result I wasn’t holding out much hope for my youngest. Unfortunately my suspicions have been proven correct and every day is a bit of a fashion parade! I have tried a lot of different bibs in my time as a mum and have to admit I was dubious about CoziDry and its absorbing properties. The main reason for this is the bib feels so thin! However I was encouraged, by the company, to squeeze water onto the bib to demonstrate that the back stayed dry. I thought I’d give it a try and I have to say I was very impressed. Not only did the bib hold a surprising amount of liquid, it also dried fairly quickly. I found it to be even more effective with sick and dribble.

The reason these bibs are so fabulously absorbent? CoziDry bibs are eucalyptus based and made with a material called Tencel. Tencel is soft, which makes it ideal for sensitive skin. It is also super absorbent, 50% more so than cotton, making it a brilliant material for bibs!

 CoziDry 4CoziDry by Sealz

I love these bibs, the only two sticking points for me are the lack of designs and colours available and the price. Anyone that knows me well will know I love a bit of colour on a baby. Admittedly newborns would be my exception to the rule as, lets face it, as babies get older the stains get more colourful. As a result I like to make the most of putting them in white whilst I can! However, it would be nice to see a few more colours available rather than just the pink or blue seals. With regards to the price, there is not getting away from the fact that the bibs are pricey, at least to me anyway! However, it is important to bear in mind that the more expensive than average price would be down to the superior materials used, which is the reason for the CoziDry bibs super effectiveness.

How did I find them? Great! When we go out I normally have to pack a good few bibs. The super absorbancy of the CoziDry bibs meant that I only really needed to bring these two so my poor changing bag was able to zip a little easier! The designs are also easy to coordinate with Os ridiculously vast wardrobe (it always bothers me that my children own more clothes than I do!).

This is a lovely quality product that anyone would be delighted to receive as a gift. The two bibs tested can be found for £16.50.

I was sent a selection of products for the purpose of review – all opinions are my own and honest.

 

by Karen

Funky Giraffe

Funky Giraffe is a lovely company that I’ve only recently discovered. They specialise in items such as bibs, socks and burp cloths. Funky Giraffe aim to produce gorgeous items that function well for families.

I was lucky enough to be sent a selection from the Funky Giraffe bib and burp cloth range. As you can see from the picture the designs are ever so cute! Check out their website for more.

Funky Giraffe - Bibs and burp cloths front

On receipt I found the bibs to have a thin cotton front and a thin fleecy type backing. The backing is so soft and feels like something that would be very gentle to a baby’s skin. Both materials are thin and consequently feel like something that would dry super quick….. a must with a potentially sickie baby.

Bibs and burp cloths back

I’ve never owned a burp cloth before, having always been a muslin kind of gal. With my older son being a ridiculously sickie baby, this consequently meant that our collection is huge (40 muslins easily!!!!). This means I was very curious about the cloths and whether they’d be a better option and, lets face it, a cuter one. The cloths remind me somewhat of a mini oven glove, without the glove part. They are thicker than the bibs but with the same lovely fleecey backing.

Burp cloth back

The bibs are a great size, they fit little one really well and should last for quite a while. I really like the burp cloths too. The only comment I would make with these is that, as the cloths cover less width area than a muslin, you would need to be careful with placement. However I’ve had no issues with placement myself and love that these are a much more attractive option than my boring old muslins. We’ve not had any major vomiting yet but what we have had has been soaked up well by the bibs and cloths. On washing the designs are of high quality, have stayed firmly attached and show no signs of shifting any time soon.

I have to say I love these products. On checking out the website the selection they offer is excellent, all with free postage over £7. The bibs and burp cloths I tested are £4 each. There are also great deals on too with 5 bibs for £11.25 and 10 for £20, all so incredibly exciting I had to tear myself away! I have a number of baby showers coming up and Funky Giraffe would make an excellent present option and is something I would thoroughly recommend to anyone.

I was sent a selection of products for the purpose of review – all opinions are my own and honest.

by Karen

Animal Noises/ Animal Opposites by Nicola Killen

Animal Noises and Animal Opposites are delightful ‘lift the flap’ board books by author Nicola Killen. They were released on the 29th August by Egmont.

Animal Noises and Animal Oposites by Nicola Killen

After a shaky start  Jacob, now 23 months, is beginning to really enjoy being read to. It wasn’t always easy, only until a couple of months ago he’d throw his soft toys at me whilst I was trying to read to him. But persistence has truly paid off! He now likes a multitude of flap, touch and feel and slightly longer books. In fact, I am always on the lookout for something new!

Animal Noises gives clues to the animal hiding under the flap by giving said animals typical characteristic and noise (‘this wise bird goes TWIT TWOO’). Animal Opposites does exactly what it says on the cover showing big and small, on the ground and in the tree etc. These books are beautifully illustrated with a subtle use of colour.

After a hectic week on my behalf it was actually hubby that got the pleasure of a first read of these books with Jacob. Matt is normally the first to complain if he doesn’t like something, so I was pleasantly surprised that he had nothing but good things to say! On reading the books with Jacob myself I found them to be interactive, encouraging little one to make the noises, Jacob had lots of fun joining in. I also loved that the pictures were clear and simple, helping him to focus on the animal in question.

The other day I left the books downstairs, whilst going to get something, and was thrilled to find Jacob having a good look. He was very entertained with what was going on and enjoyed lifting the flaps.

Animal Noises and Animal Oposites by Nicola Killen

These books are on sale for an RRP on £5.99, which I think is reasonable price. These books are educational, aimed at 2 years plus, and a pleasure to read. To see more books by Nicola Killen, please click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Karen

Lindam – Easy Fit Plus Deluxe Baby Gate

I think I must be the only person I know that doesn’t own a Lindam gate. This is not surprising when  4 out of 5 gates sold in the UK are Lindam gates, impressive stuff. Lindam is the UK’s number one safety brand, so I very interested to give them a go!

I was sent the Easy Fit Plus Deluxe baby gate to test. The gate is designed, amongst other things, for easy one handed opening, triple opening action, double locking action. It also has an extra wide walk through section that can open one or two ways for extra flexibility and a frame specifically designed for easy fitting.

Lindam 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The gate arrived well packaged and I was glad to see that there wasn’t too many little bits to fiddle around with. Now I am absolutely terrible at instructions, mainly because I am very impatient and hate reading through pages and pages of stuff. I’m one of those that would much rather spend ages playing around with the various pieces and try and work out what they do, not very productive, but still. Now this is where I have to say the Lindam instructions are fantastic. They are brief and user friendly, this is great because it means I actually read them and as a result found the gate really easy to install.

I love the fact the gate gives you the option to either fix by screws or sticky pads, this is great for renters or indeed anyone who doesn’t want a permanent reminded of their baby gate!

Once up, the gate was very sturdy and attractive (as baby gates go!). My only two niggles were that it took a little practice to eventually open the gate one handed, though arguably this could be because I am so used to my other gates. Also, as a bare foot family, I found the flip lock at the bottom a bit stiff to open, though am sure this would loosen up with use. The gate is very good quality and sturdy and I am confident it would stand up to a lot of abuse, even from my little one!

I would highly recommend this product. The gate can be bought for an RRP of £29.99 from a wide variety of stockists and is designed to fit openings from 75cm to 82cm, though it can extend up to 138cm with separate extensions purchased.

I was sent this item for the purpose of review, all opinions are my own

by Karen

BundleBean – Solar Travel Cover

The BundleBean travel cover was invented by a busy Mum of two, overwhelmed with the amount of ‘stuff’ that was needed for her little ones, she came up with a ‘one product for multiple use’ item that would make life easier for parents.

BundleBean Solar 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only recently available, the BundleBean Solar is a summer version of the BundleBean Go. It is much thinner and has been designed to provide UPF 50+ protection for the areas of body that it covers. Like the BundleBean Go this product is versatile and can be used for buggies, car seats, bikes or slings. The product also comes with a handy quick dry hooded beach wrap which has the ability, via poppers, to be attached to the BundleBean to provide extra warmth for when it gets a bit more chilly.

On opening I found the travel cover to be made of a super thin material, similar to the sort of tops that joggers wear. The beach wrap is smooth on one side and has a beautifully soft fleecy feel on the other. The main cover has zippers on the side. The zippers are attached to elastic round the bottom of the cover and pulling the zips up tightens the end so that they can be fitted on a variety of different travel equipment, making it really easy to use.

BundleBean Solar 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

The product is only available in white, presumably as this is a cooler colour. The only issue I had with this is that it gets dirty easily, especially as Jacob insisted on rubbing his feet all over it. However this is not too much of a problem as it doesn’t take up much space so it is easily chucked in with the usual washing load. What’s more, the product washes well and dries really fast. What I also liked is that the cover can be easily attached when little one is sleeping to minimise disturbance.

The BundleBean Solar is a fantastic idea, especially for younger babies and holidays. However, it is important to bear in mind that sunscreen will still need to be added if baby is coming in and out of the cover. The fact that there are two different sections is really useful as it further extends the products uses.

The RRP for this product is £34.99. I believe this is a great investment if bought when your child is very young as it has a great variety of uses. Once little one is in and out of the buggy more the uses may be more limited but is still a great little product to have to hand, especially for long journeys.

I was sent this item for the purpose of review, all opinions are my own

by Karen

MAM – Learn to Drink Cup

I’ll never forget the first time I saw a MAM bottle. What struck me straightaway was how pretty they were. Usually ‘first’ bottles seem to be very boring and practical, whilst these were colourful and had lovely designs on them.

MAM 4

 

 

 

 

I had by that point invested in baby bottles, sterilisers and such like, so didn’t have the need to get any more. However, I was keen to hear what other people thought of them, which always seemed to be very positive.

I was sent the MAM Learn to Drink 190ml cup to review. The cup has the very handy options of ‘free flow’ or ‘non spill’ all the with the help of a removable attachment.

At 19 months Jacob still has one bottle of milk in the evening after his dinner and before bed. We plan to wean him off this in the very near future but for now it’s a comfort to him and a  great way of topping up his calcium. We have tried to move him on to beakers and whilst this has worked with water since he was six months old he has remained very stubborn with his beloved milk. This is where I have found the MAM cup to be amazing. Out of curiosity one evening I gave him his milk in this cup and he drank it as normal… something that has never happened before (normally it ends up with him screaming, throwing said cup and refusing to drink from it). I tried it the next night to make sure the previous night wasn’t a fluke and he drank it again. I believe this is very much to do with the cup looking like a baby bottle and having a softish spout. All I can say is I wish that we had discovered this cup sooner as it would have proved very useful, something to bear in mind for next time maybe?

MAM 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think this product is great and only have two minor quibbles. Firstly within 10 minutes of drinking from the bottle there were already little teeth marks in the spout. Not necessarily a problem as such, as one would expect a certain amount of wear and tear when there is a soft spout, but did make me wonder how long this would hold up against my little terror. Secondly it is a shame there is no measurement guide against the side. This isn’t the end of the world as most sippy cups don’t but it would be nice.

Those little niggles aside I would highly recommend this cup, especially as a transitional ‘bottle to cup’ product. The cup retails at £5.99, which I believe it good value, and extras such as handles also fit this product so it is easy to mix and match.

I was sent this item for the purpose of review, all opinions are my own