Aldi's kitchen helpers range

On Thursday 20th of October Aldi will be releasing their kitchen helpers range which includes on-trend Marble Effect Pans and Kitchen Accessories. The products will be sold in store and online while stocks last.

 Stay on trend with Aldi’s marble-effect cookware featuring large, medium and small pans (ranging from £6.99 to £12.99) as well as a Bread Bin (see below,£9.99) and Tea/Coffee/Sugar Canisters (£9.99). These attractive essentials are the ultimate style update for any kitchen.

The range is released on the same day as the Aldi Christmas baking range so head to Aldi to get your bake on! and update your kitchen essentials in time for the festive period. 

Packing Your Swim Bag

Blake has been having Swimming Lessons for eight months now and there are some essentials for going swimming with a baby. Blake loves his weekly lessons and its such a delight to see his excitement when getting in the pool. One thing is that he hates with passion the changing rooms. He will scream and cry until we are out of there. 

Anyway on to the essentials. 

Nappies and Swim Nappies

We take a couple of Huggies little swimmers with us which Blake wears under his splash about cloth nappy. Its always good to make sure you have a few your regular nappies with you for after swimming. 

Swim wear

For you and for baby. Blake wears a splash about wrap in the pool to keep him extra warm. 

You can also purchase swimming costumes for both boys and girls. 

Towels

One for you and one for baby for keeping warm and dry after being the pool. 

We use a regular towel but you can also use hooded towels for babies. 

Coin for lockers

We have forgotten our pound coin for the locker once but was lucky that the pool was able to give us some change. We now make sure we always have one with us. 

Changing Mat

We like to use our own as the changing table at our local pool is very hard and cold for Blake to lay on. You can buy special swim ones too but we have chosen not to. 

Snacks

After swimming your baby is going to be most likely hungry. We keep snacks in our bag to make sure if Blake is hungry after we don't have to rush to a shop. 

Do you pack anything else when you go swimming with your little one/s?

Essentials Mummies Need To Get Through The Day

There’s no two ways about it, being a mum is hard work. Especially when it’s to a baby or toddler, lack of sleep on top of everything else doesn’t make getting from day to day any easier. Don’t get me wrong, being a mum is the best thing that you could ever do, but, and it’s a big but, it’s seriously hard work.

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The good news is that while being a mummy can be stressful at times, there are ways that you can make life easier for yourself. I’m talking little things that you can do to make getting through the day that little bit easier. So here’s my list of all the essentials that us mums need to make life that little bit less stressful.

Breakfast and a cup of coffee

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Being a mum requires a lot of energy, so it’s crucial that you always have breakfast and a cup of coffee to start the day. I know when you’ve got to keep both eyes on your little one, making breakfast and coffee can be tricky. However, skipping your morning energy boost is a big no-no.

Prepare your breakfast the night before and then all you’ve got to do is concentrate on eating it. Overnight oats are healthy, filling and packed full of energy, so are ideal for us mums. All you need to do is mix some oats, yogurt, chopped fruit, seeds and nuts into a container and place it in the fridge. Then, come morning, you’ll have a delicious breakfast to enjoy. Or, if all else fails, a banana makes a fantastic breakfast. Just make sure that you eat something, even if it’s just a piece of fruit or a cereal bar.

As for your morning coffee, why not treat yourself to a state of the art coffee machine? Or for a more affordable option, what about a coffee dripper, like the Hario v60? This works a bit like a cafetiere, brewing the coffee freshly for you. All you need to do is add the coffee and some boiling water, wait a few minutes, and you’ll have lovely fresh coffee to enjoy. (While your coffee’s brewing you could be dressing your little one.)

Healthy snacks for your little one

Kids get grumpy when they’re hungry, so it’s important always to keep their tummies well stocked up. While this is easy at home, when we’re out and about, often chocolate and sweets seem to be the only option. Instead of giving yourself a hyper child - every mum’s worst nightmare, pack snacks and drinks before leaving the house.

Chunks of apple, carrot and cucumber batons, and sliced grapes all make ideal on-the-go snacks for kids. Dried fruit is also ideal, as are mini bags of vegetable crisps and organic baby crisps. Pineapple sticks and mango chunks also make great snacks. There are plenty of healthy foods that make ideal on-the-go snacks for kids, you just need to find the ones that work for you.

Wet wipes and hand sanitizer

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Kids get messy; it’s a fact of life. If you want to keep yourself and your little ones looking half presentable, carrying wet wipes and hand sanitizer is a must. Sticky hands, spilt yogurt, questionable substance on your child’s hands, all you need is a wet wipe. Oh, and maybe some hand sanitizer too.

A tablet  

You know those moments where you just need a couple of minutes to yourself? Well, that’s what tablets are for - why else would they make special tablet covers for kids? Every mummy needs a tablet packed full of children’s games (educational, of course), movies and TV shows. You probably don’t want your little ones sat glued to a tablet 24/7 but a few minutes a day won’t hurt. Plus, it’ll give you a few much-needed minutes of relaxation time.

There you have it, the essentials that us mums need to make it through the day. Have I missed anything - what are your mummy survival items?

*Guestpost

What I Really Needed To Buy For My Newborn

Having a baby is so expensive. It can be really easy to get into a lot of debt just buying the essentials. What I didn’t realise was that so much of it can be spread out. Not all of it is needed straight away. And Grandparents are wonderful! They will often insist on buying some of the bigger items for you. If you’re about to have your first, put the credit card down. Here’s what you really need for your first month. Get the rest later:

Moses Basket

A Moses Basket is the only place your little one needs to sleep for the first six weeks. You want to be able to move your sleeping baby around the house easily without waking him up. That way he can always be with you. He’ll need to sleep in your room, so you don’t have to rush into another room when he wants a night feed. And it means you can hear when he stirs. That way, you’re more likely to let yourself have a good sleep too.

Newborn Nappies

Whether you choose cloth or disposable, you’re going to need a lot of nappies. They aren’t cheap. It might be best to wait until the birth before your partner nips to the store and buys them. That way you’ll be sure to get the right size! Babies can lose weight straight after birth, so buying nappies that seem small probably won’t be. Only use moist cotton wool to clean a newborn. Creams and wipes come later.

Baby Grows

Grandparents, friends and family, will undoubtedly buy dozens of gorgeous outfits. What you need are the little onesies with press stud fastenings. This makes nappy changes easier. You’ll need two or three a day at first because newborns are messy little things. If you’re buying them in advance, buy white, so they’re not gender specific.

Car Seat

To get home from the hospital after birth you will need that car seat installed. Some pushchairs are part of a complete travel system. This means you get the car seat and other handy bits and pieces. Grandparents usually like to buy the pushchair, but if you get a say in it, see if the car seat can be included.

  

Nursing Pillow

Breastfeeding is stressful enough at first without you getting aches and strains trying to hold your newborn in position. Use a nursing pillow to prop your baby up to the right height and spare your poor arms. You’ve done enough carrying for the last nine months!

Once you have these bits, you can manage for a little while. As you get to know your baby, and you become accustomed to Motherhood, you will find there are plenty of other products that can help make your life easier. Things change every week. But spreading the cost carefully can help make raising your child a little more affordable.

Even nursery furniture can wait until about six weeks after the birth. Of course, the nesting instinct may have you shopping for everything you’ll ever need well before it happens. Making a list can help you prioritize and budget for what you may need.    

Essential Items for a New-Born Baby

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Prior to your new baby's arrival, you will have a to-buy list as long as your arm. Indeed, the amount of things a little person needs is remarkable! To avoid becoming overwhelmed by it all, focus on the top priority items first. The other bits and pieces will follow once a baby arrives.

Cot

Help baby get a good night’s sleep with a cosy cot. Baby cots from Cuckooland and other such suppliers have a host of designs from which to choose your bed. Pick a colour to fit the décor of your nursery and a size that suits the room too. Decide if you want a cot for the baby stage only, or whether one that converts into a toddler bed is a worthwhile investment.

Moses baskets and bassinets provide a delicate bed for the daytime. Place your baby in a cot at night to get them accustomed to the feel and space of this restful place. Affix mobiles to promote better sleep and purchase cot bedding to keep your baby warm at night.

Car Seat

Another essential item to buy before baby arrives is a car seat. Car seats need to be upgraded as children grow so pick one that you can use for a while. Car seats are manufactured under strict safety standards. Always buy a seat from a reputable supplier who can prove the meet all the legal requirements. With lots of choices in terms of styles and colours, pick the most suitable for your car.

When picking your car seat decide whether to buy more than one. Although expensive, two-car families may find it more practical in the long run to have one in each. Continually fitting and refitting a seat for different journeys will take time and effort to do. Having two negates the need to keep swapping cars or fitting seats every time you go out.

Pram

When you’re feeling ready and confident, you’ll want to take your new baby outside. A pram is an essential piece of kit to enable you to do this in comfort. While babies are light and small, you may prefer to carry them in a sling or similar device. However, to help your posture and to give your body freedom, a pram is ideal.

There are a vast array of prams on the Highstreet and online. Each has unique features to make life for new parents as easy as possible. Some designs are multi-functional, including prams that double up as carry cots. Lightweight frames make pushing a baby in the park effortless. Robust and durable, prams are ergonomically designed to turn corners effortlessly.

Clothes

Keeping a baby warm is essential. Choosing the right clothing will hold in the heat and keep the chills away. Layers of clothing are ideal for a new born baby. As babies can’t regulate their temperature, use clothing to aid their comfort. Cardigans are easily added and removed to accommodate fluctuating climates. Vests are a baby staple; so too stretch suits and socks. Hats and mittens are perfect for winter walks while sunhats provide essential protection on sunny days. Add a cute set of booties outdoors and a shawl for cold days.

Enjoy your new arrival and be fully prepared for anything!