How To Get Gorgeous Hair Without Any EffortRead More Concerned about how you’re going to style out that mum bun? As mums, we want little effort and maximum effect, I mean we haven’t got much time to play with… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 1 June 2021 How To Get Gorgeous Hair Without Any Effort Concerned about how you’re going to style out that mum bun? As mums, we want little effort and maximum effect, I mean we haven’t got much time to play with here! Yep, we hear you! We’ve gotten used to having messy hair that only the postman sees and then panic when it’s time to go out because we don’t only have to get ourselves ready anymore. Don’t worry, we have got you more than covered with some quick and easy hairstyles, and who better to teach us than Clairol’s UK Ambassador, Michael Douglas. Follow his expert tips to look less like a swamp monster and more like a MILF. Your easy-peasy (polished) pony Michael says spending a little more time preening your ponytail will make ALL the difference. • “Blast some dry shampoo in at the roots and a short burst of Silvikrin hairspray into the middle part and ends of your hair”. • “Loosely pull your hair backwards and tie-up. Then take a comb and gently tease the ponytail to give it added volume and gently smooth it with a soft brush”. • “Finish with a light burst of hairspray to hold the style in place”. Don’t wash your hair hack Keep applying your dry shampoo in a hurry and ending up with huge white patches? Yep, been there. Apply the product at night, rather than in the morning. This enables the powder to evenly distribute throughout your locks as you toss and turn in bed. The result? You wake with hair that looks freshly cleaned and has a fabulous bounce – no washing required! Wonder waves in minutes No time to curl every strand and section? Michael’s speedy styling trick will save you. • “Style your locks into a middle parting, so the hair is equal on either side, then cover the two sections in flexible hold hairspray”. • “Take one of the sections and twist it like rope taking it backwards away from the face until it starts to fold onto itself and pin in it place. Do the same on the other side”. • “Put a hairdryer on a low speed but high heat, then warm both sides up for about 2 minutes each, and leave to cool”. • “Once cooled, remove the pins and let the twists fall out”. • “Tease the twists with your fingers and use some dry shampoo and hairspray to add extra texture”. *Pro-tip: If it feels too wavy. Michael says, “Blast the style with a hairdryer on a high temp, as this will help to relax the kinks and give a more undone look”. Michael’s best tip for styling in-between washes Unwashed locks can seriously lack volume. “Add in some texture via tongs”, says Michael. No time to get ready in the morning? Create a few waves the night before, then use dry shampoo to reinvigorate your style when you wake up. Quick colour fix Can’t get to the salon? Try a semi-permanent colour wash instead. They’re novice-friendly and take minutes to take effect. A fail-safe way to reinvigorate your locks and make you feel human again.We like:*Takes 3 mins: Maria Nila Colour Refresh, £24*Takes 25 mins: Clairol Natural Instincts Semi-permanent Colour, £6.99 Tags 5minuteread, Yournaptimeknowhow
TMC Talks To Tiffany Salmon Founder Of ScientiaRead More Let’s face it being a mum is a big enough job on its own. It’s a full time commitment with no pay and mad hours! So adding ANOTHER full time… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 26 May 2021 TMC Talks To Tiffany Salmon Founder Of Scientia Let’s face it being a mum is a big enough job on its own. It’s a full time commitment with no pay and mad hours! So adding ANOTHER full time job to the mix is not only very impressive but also massively inspiring. We recently spoke to Scientia Founder Tiffany Salmon to find out how she manages it all.. Explain what you do in a sentence? Creative Director, product innovation expert and brand founder! How long have you done your job? I’ve been working for my family’s cosmetics business for 15 years now, helping create beauty brands for some of the biggest retailers in the world. Then, just over two years ago, we decided to start creating brands for ourselves, setting the wheels in motion to launch 4 brands within one year! Scientia, Glow Hub, Tiffy & Tallulah (my daughter and I’s namesake!) and Soak Sunday. What’s the coolest thing about it? Having an idea and then however many months later seeing it on the shelf. Hearing people talking about and loving your brand and products, it’s such an incredible feeling. What does your day or week entail? Being Creative Director for my family company and the founder of our brands, every day and week looks different. From Zoom calls with the team, to press interviews, creating social content to visiting my family’s production site to sign off on production of a new product, my days always vary. Today I’ve been immersing myself in research, tapping into current global trends, finding new ingredients, and listening to our consumers to help guide future product launches. It is very possibly my favourite part of the job, but ask me again tomorrow when I’m working on something else that’s equally exciting… Where did you start out? Like I said earlier, I was extremely lucky that my family business was in cosmetics. So, after many years of supplying other influential brands and retailers worldwide, yet still having so many ideas I wanted to see come to life, paired with the ability to manage the whole life cycle from product to shelf, my family and I decided to bring brands direct to consumer and it’s been a whirlwind ever since! What has been your biggest challenge? I’d say having children and not wanting to feel the pressure of losing touch or being out of the game. The beauty industry changes so fast and so do children, it’s definitely a balancing act keeping up with both! What piece of advice would you give to someone hoping to do the same? Not everything will always go to plan and that success doesn’t happen overnight. You’ve got to take the knock backs, learn from them and then carry on pushing forward to get to where you want to be. Something you’ve learnt that is crucial to either your job or to success: You have to be passionate about whatever it is that you’re doing. The product, the job – if you don’t love it and aren’t completely invested in it, how can you persuade anyone else to feel the same? How important is it to switch off? Very! It’s so important to stop, switch off and recharge. I found that separation of home and work life especially tricky during lockdown, so it’s super important to make an effort to truly unwind. It was actually the inspiration behind a couple of my brands… Soak Sunday is a sensorial, sustainable and indulgent bath & body care brand, telling stories through thoughtful design and indulgent experiences. Launched in the midst of a pandemic, I wanted Soak Sunday to be about more than just a simple soak. We all felt the need to touch base with nature, to ground ourselves and elevate our usual routines, I turned to self care to soothe mind, body and soul, thus Soak Sunday was born. Then there’s Scientia, the supercharged skincare brand and ultimate glow giver, blending power natural extracts with cutting edge science and technology to bring you products that deliver maximum skin health, all whilst boosting wellbeing. The act of sitting down and applying a carefully chosen routine each morning, the feeling you get when your skin looks flawless. Grabbing a glass of rosé after a long day… Investing in yourself – that’s all about selfcare and switching off, so it was important for me for Scientia to also be about feel-good rituals, giving you your glow from the inside out. How do you manage your work / life balance? Honestly, I find it really hard. Having 4 brands, some involving my kids, means that often my work does sneak into my home life. You’ve got to make a conscious effort to work at it, acknowledge when you’re not quite right and need to take a step back. I try to make sure to keep weekends free of work, embracing those small special moments with my family. How do manage mum guilt? It is really tricky! I want my children to see me as a hard-working woman, proving that you don’t have to choose between motherhood and career. However, getting that balance can be hard, making sure you don’t miss out on those everyday moments, the good parts and the not so good! How did you get over the feeling of missing your baby when you went back to work? It’s definitely a struggle for all Mums, but I think it’s just getting used to it as time goes on. For me I just threw myself into work, my days are so busy and full it kept my mind and myself busy before rushing home to see my babies. There’s no greater feeling than getting home from work to your amazing kids waiting for a cuddle.
Cheap Family Meal Ideas For Under £10Read More Anyone else feel like they’re spending a fortune on food at the moment? Tbf, it is one of life’s greatest (and sometimes only) pleasures. “Hey, we totally needed that truffle… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 26 May 2021 Cheap Family Meal Ideas For Under £10 Budget doesn’t have to mean boring Anyone else feel like they’re spending a fortune on food at the moment? Tbf, it is one of life’s greatest (and sometimes only) pleasures. “Hey, we totally needed that truffle cheese.” Or maybe you need to slim down your spending and be more thrifty in the kitchen. Either way. The following recipes will inspire you to get your food finances in order. Cheap family meal ideas for under £10 Mushroom and butternut squash risotto A warming veggie hotpot that will please even the biggest of meat-eaters. Recipe Sausage whirls with apples and mash Who says dinner has to be dull? Your kids will love this fun, swirly meal. Recipe One-pot creamy pork Cook this once and you’ll want to keep making it for the rest of the month. Ready in 20mins, full of veg and mega yum. Recipe Sweet potato enchiladas These are SO good, that we want to hide in a cupboard with a glass of wine and eat them all to ourselves. Recipe Giant potato rosti Yep, we know, you’re already drooling. Crispy potato and carrots topped with cheese, eggs and some obligatory veg = our new Friday night fave. Recipe Oh my! Cottage pie There’s nothing more comforting than this traditional dish. Actually, there is. It’s called second-day cottage pie. Recipe Vegetable and goats cheese bake Walnuts and goat’s cheese has got to be one of our all-time favourite flavour combos. Add in some sweet potato and it’s a win win from us. Recipe Tags newDesign
TMC Recipe of the week: Breakfast Banana-SplitRead More We’ve partnered with Zenia Deogan, Nutritionist and Chef @thesensorykitchen to create some super easy, super speedy recipes of the week. Breakfast never looked so pretty. A delicious mid-week or weekend… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 24 May 2021 TMC Recipe of the week: Breakfast Banana-Split We’ve partnered with Zenia Deogan, Nutritionist and Chef @thesensorykitchen to create some super easy, super speedy recipes of the week. Breakfast never looked so pretty. A delicious mid-week or weekend breakfast treat. Ingredients 1 banana 2 tbsps Greek Yoghurt Granola Mixed Berries ½ tsp Chia Seeds 1 tsp of honey Method Peel the banana and split down the centre. Place on plate, dollop Greek yoghurt, scatter granola, sprinkle chia seeds, add the berries and finally drizzle honey.
What We Use To Get Our Babies From Bath To Bed In The WinterRead More Oh, how we love bath time. Not only does it mean we’ve (almost) completed another successful day of parenting but also… how nice are clean-smelling babies in tiny pjs? Here… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 21 May 2021 What We Use To Get Our Babies From Bath To Bed In The Winter Oh, how we love bath time. Not only does it mean we’ve (almost) completed another successful day of parenting but also… how nice are clean-smelling babies in tiny pjs? Here are the items that get our babies from bath to bed, for the best night’s sleep. We always use bubble bath and wash that’s tailored to sensitive babes, even if our kids’ skin is resilient enough. Given the choice, why not go gentle? Moo Goo £15.50 Liewood £23 Lush £2.50 We dreaded having our hair shampooed when we were little, now it’s practically a spa break. For us. Yup, working through their knots with a Tangle Teezer and some detangling spray is as meditative as it gets these days. Fortunately, the kids don’t mind it either. My Little Coco £5.99+ Liewood £37 Tangle Teezer £12 While there are lots of lovely alternatives, there’s nothing quite as soft as bamboo cotton. When they graduate from onesies to proper pjs, slip some socks over their feet in the winter. It’ll keep them warmer, and you’ll feel like you’ve got your tiny baby back for a moment. Mori £88.50 Jojo maman bebe £35 Jellycat £24.99 Controlling the environment is a huge part of prepping bébé for a good night’s sleep. When there’s not a peep of light in the room and the air doesn’t feel too dry, you’ve got a fighting chance of both sleeping through. And there’s nothing more dreamy than that. Babymoov £79.99 Gro £25.99 Marpac £64.95 Tags newDesign
How To Find The Perfect School For Your Child.Read More For more information, head to www.goldencircletutors.co.uk, Tatler or The Good Schools Guide. Post author By The Mum Club Post date 20 May 2021 How To Find The Perfect School For Your Child. Gah! Another big parent decision! Take the stress out with some advice from Golden Circle Tutors. 1. Profile your ideal school Consider the different types of schools available and what will be suitable for your family, location and finances. Decisions to take include boarding school vs day school, independent vs state school, single sex vs co-ed and religious vs non-religious? Other factors which may influence your decision-making include the school run and transport options, catchment area, extracurricular clubs and SEN support. Be practical about what the next 5 years may hold and whether this criterion will still work for your family in the future. 2. Do your research online Resources such as the school’s website, prospectus and Ofsted reports offer only a snapshot of information. Use The Times Parent Power to discover the highest-performing schools in your area and gain insight into the average English and Maths attainment at each school. The Good Schools Guide or Tatler Schools Guide both provide trusted, candid and in-depth school reviews. Make a shortlist of the schools that you feel will be a good fit for your child. Each school has a different ethos and philosophy, which will influence their approach towards academia, sports, arts, and social and emotional development. As a parent, you are best placed to understand the type of environment that your child will flourish in. 3. Reach out to other parents Harness the power of local networks! Use The Mum Club, local Facebook groups or Nextdoor to discuss details with parents of children at your shortlist schools. Ask the questions that are important to you – are there any scholarships available, how many students are there per class, what policies do they have on peer-to-peer support and anti-bullying, does the school nurture students that are gifted in sports, arts or music? 4. Attend an open morning Visiting prospective schools will give you the most accurate understanding of day-to-day life at the school. In addition to viewing the facilities, it gives you a feel for the atmosphere, leadership style and teaching calibre. Feel free to ask the staff plenty of questions about the school’s values, the curriculum, extracurricular opportunities and their teaching approach. 5. Prepare for applications and admissions tests Create a spreadsheet for your school choices detailing application deadlines. For state schools, follow your local council’s application process. For independent schools, follow the instructions on their website. Independent schools may require you to register your child 1-2 years in advance and use an admissions test or interview for children aged 4 and over. At age 4, there is nothing to worry about! The 4+ exam assesses a child’s social skills and their ability to follow teacher instructions. At 7+, 8+ and 11+ level, start preparing at least 12 months in advance. A ‘little and often’ approach often works better than a last-minute cram! Finally, trust your instinct on where your child will be happy. When you visit a school, it’s likely that you will have a feeling about whether you can envisage your child and family integrating into the school community. It’s a really exciting milestone and adventure that you and your child will embark on – we wish you the best of luck! For more information, head to www.goldencircletutors.co.uk, Tatler or The Good Schools Guide.
Perfectly Acceptable Parenting Lies We All Tell Our KidsRead More Honesty is the best policy; until your 4 year-old asks you where babies come from… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 17 May 2021 Perfectly Acceptable Parenting Lies We All Tell Our Kids Honesty is the best policy; until your 4 year-old asks you where babies come from… ‘It’s Bedtime’ (at 5.30pm) We’re all for kids learning new skills, but the day your child comes home from school with the ability to tell the time is, quite frankly, one of the most devastating days of our parenting lives. ‘You hide and I’ll count’ A.K.A ‘you hide and I’ll sit here flicking through Instagram for the next 10 minutes shouting arbitrary numbers and pretending I can’t hear you giggling behind that chair.’ ‘You wouldn’t like it, it’s spicy’ If you had a turd in a bag your kids would want half. Repeat after us: ‘MUMMY DOESN’T SHARE FOOD!’ ‘And they lived happily ever after, the end’ Losing your mind reading the same book over and over again? Skip a page or seven. THEY WON’T FUCKING NOTICE. Honestly, there’s really no need for the Gruffalo to meet the fox, the snake AND the owl. It’s total overkill if you ask us. ‘It’s closed today darling’ We have a sneaky suspicion that post-lockdown the park will be closed for a very, very long time. ‘You ate them all sweetheart’ READ: I ate the entire bag watching Line of Duty last night and give absolutely zero fucks. ‘Wow! I love it! What is it?!’ About 30% of being a parent is lying to your kids about how good the crap they make looks and/or tastes. ‘The alarm sensor means Father Christmas is watching’ See also: ‘if you don’t behave the policeman will come and arrest you’ and other mild threats we make on the daily. ‘The car wont start if you don’t put your seatbelt on’ SAFETY FIRST. Tags 2minuteread, Parktimestrollandscroll
TMC Family Recipe Of The Week: Baked ZitiRead More There is everything to love about this baked ziti, I think of it as an easier version of lasagne. A true family winner and comforting on all levels. Serve with… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 14 May 2021 TMC Family Recipe Of The Week: Baked Ziti There is everything to love about this baked ziti, I think of it as an easier version of lasagne. A true family winner and comforting on all levels. Serve with a mixed Italian salad, a glass of Italian red wine and you’re almost transported – just for a second. Bliss. Ingredients 1 onion 500g lean beef mince 300g Mushrooms 1 tsp dried oregano 1 tsp dried basil 1 tsp thyme 2 tsp minced garlic 3 tins of chopped tomatoes 400g rigatoni pasta 250g ricotta cheese Grated cheddar, parmesan and mozzarella for topping Method Chop onion and fry for five minutes on a medium heat before adding the mince beef and cooking until brown and mixing throughout to ensure there is no big clumps of meat. Add minced garlic and herbs and cook for 2 minutes more before adding the tins of chopped tomatoes. Simmer on a medium heat. Cook rigatoni according to packet instructions (usually around 11 minutes). Once pasta is cooked you can assemble the ziti in a large dish. First pasta, then mince, then dollops of ricotta, more mince, pasta, ricotta finishing with generous amounts of grated cheddar, mozzarella and parmesan.
How Long Do You Have To Wait To Have Sex After Birth?Read More Whether you were a bit frisky during pregnancy or you sat in the camp of ‘Get the F away from me!’ we can guarantee that post-birth, you’ll confidently reside in… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 11 May 2021 How Long Do You Have To Wait To Have Sex After Birth? Whether you were a bit frisky during pregnancy or you sat in the camp of ‘Get the F away from me!’ we can guarantee that post-birth, you’ll confidently reside in the latter. Honestly, the thought of having S.E.X. couldn’t be further from our minds. But what if you’ve started to worry if you will ever want it again? And when can you actually do it? Read on to find out… Why don’t I want to have sex after birth? Whatever labour you had, you’ll probably be viewing your body a bit differently right now. It’s completely normal to feel disconnected from any sexual thoughts. Readjusting your mind to see your bits and boobs as sexual entities feels almost impossible—especially when you’re breastfeeding, and your tits are your baby’s feeding station. But try not to worry. This opinion will change with time. Is it ok I don’t feel like having sex? Anyone else just feel a bit numb down there? “This is very normal for women after birth”, says Clare Castell, founder of Blossom Antenatal. She adds, “Hormone changes can impact your libido, cause dryness and affect how you feel. Never mind the fact you have a newborn baby to take care of!”. You might also feel a bit body conscious, which can play a huge part in sexual confidence. But don’t worry, like everything, it will slowly return, in whatever time frame is right for you. When can I have sex after birth? Usually, doctors say that it is ok six weeks after delivery. After this, it is entirely up to you and your partner. But mainly YOU. Please don’t ever feel like you have to rush. Do it in your own sweet time! Will I want to have sex ever again? It might not feel like it now, but @midwife_pip assures us that “You will! Please don’t put pressure on yourself. If you’re struggling and your partner has commented that you keep pushing him away, then talk to him and share your feelings.” In the meantime, enjoy intimacy in other ways like hugging, kissing or having a nice meal together. You have been through a lot, and you need to allow your body and mind time to recover and adapt to your new role as a mother”. If it starts to become a problem, you can speak to organisations like Relate. But usually, patience, time and a supportive partner will help. Will it hurt to have sex after birth? Whatever birth you had, there will be an element of soreness down below. Pregnancy puts a considerable amount of pressure on our bodies and our pelvic floor. You may experience some vaginal dryness, and If you feel tense, it will affect your ability to feel pleasure. So, try and relax, and get yourself some lube. It’s also worth being prepared that you may have to stop things in their tracks on the first few go’s until you’re ready. If it’s too painful, then don’t just carry on. It’s frustrating, we know, but your partner will understand. Check-in with a physio to see if there’s any damage Book in for a post-natal MOT to find out if you have any internal damage. The specialist will be able to advise you if you’re ready to have sex or if your body still needs some time to repair. Often women find that they are in a much better state than they think. Nervousness can play a part in getting back into things, so seeing a specialist might give you the boost you need. Will I leak urine during sex? If you’re experiencing leaks, then it’s probably due to stress incontinence, which is the same thing that causes you to leak if you cough or sneeze. This can be improved by doing your pelvic floor exercises, and if you feel like you need extra help, it is worth speaking to your GP or a pelvic health physiotherapist or specialist. If you leak during an orgasm, it could be because of urinary urgency, where the bladder muscles spasm when they’re not supposed to. Either way, if you’re worried, then speak to someone. Will my vagina feel bigger after birth? Our bodies are incredibly resilient. You only have to look at your post-pregnancy stomach to see how far it stretches out and back in. It will take a bit of time, but pelvic floor exercises will help tighten the muscles and make your vagina feel firmer. 4 ways to get your libido back after birth Increase your self-care Even just a long warm shower, bath or an extra bit of sleep can boost your mood. Ask your partner to take the baby out for a walk without you. Having an hour or so to yourself will help reignite your mood. Amp up the romance. Did sex use to follow a drunken night out? Or take place hungover when you were lounging in bed the next day? Well, if that’s no longer happening, you may need to switch things up and pour in some cheesy romance tactics like a rose petal bath or a candlelit dinner. Get some space. Ask a family member to take the baby for a few hours. Crack open some wine, play some music and order in some tasty food. You will feel so elated to have the house to yourselves (and to feel like two people who aren’t just parents) that the endorphins should spur on some nooky. Introduce a maintenance shag If it’s been a long old time since delivery, you may have to just go for it. We’re habitual creatures, and if we get used to not doing something, it can be daunting to get back into it, but once you do it, you’ll probably increase the likelihood of it happening more often. Tags 10minuteread, Bedtimebrowse
TMC Recipe of the week: Chocolate Avocado MousseRead More We’ve partnered with Zenia Deogan, Nutritionist and Chef @thesensorykitchen to create some super easy, super speedy recipes of the week. Chocolate mousse done right! Whizz up a healthy, yet indulgent… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 10 May 2021 TMC Recipe of the week: Chocolate Avocado Mousse We’ve partnered with Zenia Deogan, Nutritionist and Chef @thesensorykitchen to create some super easy, super speedy recipes of the week. Chocolate mousse done right! Whizz up a healthy, yet indulgent and silky mousse in minutes with this easy-peasy recipe! Ingredients (makes 4 glasses) 1 medium ripe avocado 2 bananas 1 can coconut milk 2 tbsp good quality cocoa 4tsp honey/maple syrup 1 tsp vanilla essence Raspberries/strawberries/pomegranate – any gorgeous fruit that’s not going to let this lovely pot of joy down! How to make it: Blitz all ingredients in a blender and just make it look pretty with fruit of your choice. Store in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving – enjoy!
An Experts’ Guide To Juggling Mum-Life And CareerRead More Navigating motherhood is a journey to say the least. One big part of that journey for many is juggling the world of work, while caring for your kids. It’s not… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 7 May 2021 An Experts’ Guide To Juggling Mum-Life And Career Navigating motherhood is a journey to say the least. One big part of that journey for many is juggling the world of work, while caring for your kids. It’s not easy. But it doesn’t have to be impossible either! We spoke to Tobi Asare from My Bump Pay to share some of her expert advice. How to manage mum guilt when you go back to work Going back to work fills you with lots of emotions. A big part of working means that we are stepping into a big change from being with our children for long periods of time to now spending more time away from them. Remember you’re why. Why are you heading back to work, for many it is for financial reasons and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. A lot of women also like working and can’t see themselves as a full time mum. And that’s ok too! Remind yourself you are heading back to work for a reason. Secondly, I always encourage parents to embrace the fact that retuning back to work means that you won’t be able to be there for every moment with your child, but you will certainly be there for a number of important moments. It will mean that weekends become time where you can really invest into spending time with your family. And just because your time is now split, don’t forget to schedule in important time to yourself also. That’s just as important and you should never feel guilt over it. How to tell your boss you’re pregnant Be sure to set up an online meeting (in person if possible) and have a conversation. These things are hard to discuss over email. Do have some facts at your fingertips? For example your due date and your initial thoughts about maternity leave? Get Right On The Money – A Guide To Pre-School Funding For Parents READ NOW Whether you have a baby on the way, or have a little one already, we’ve compiled a list of all the money that is available to you if you are a UK resident. Read on, so you don’t miss out. How to change career when you’re a mum First, I would advise to draw upon your tangible achievements. Write down a list of what you have achieved in your current role and any other recent roles. Be sure to document your achievements in numerical form e.g. saved the business £x over x months. Recalling your achievements is a great place to start because it will help you to assess your tangible transferable skills. In addition to this it will help you to communicate your value in applications and interviews. Secondly, I would be sure to connect with your network. This could be people you went to university with, former colleagues, friends and family. Speak to people you think are doing interesting things in sectors that you could potentially find exciting. From those conversations try to glean what their industries are like, what you need to succeed in these roles and if your skills could transfer. Connecting with your network is a powerful step, as a high percentage of roles are never advertised and are filled through personal networks. Thirdly speak to other parents. Find how well their sector or organisation supports working parents and if it a culture where you will be able to thrive. If you’re scared to take a break from your career to become a mum Having a baby is an incredible time of learning and growth where you gain new transferable skills. It also brings a tremendous amount of clarity that can work in your favour when it comes to not giving up on our careers. Remember how long you take off for maternity leave is totally your choice and you don’t have to take off the full 52 weeks. Secondly you can maintain in communication with your network and or colleagues to help you feel a part of what is happening in your industry. This will help you feel less like you have taken a pause and help you to keep your finger on the pulse. Lastly, I always encourage women to prepare for their return before they go on maternity leave. This will help you to put your career in the best position possible before taking off for maternity leave. Above all this is such a special time so, soak it all it and take lots of pictures because it goes by so quickly. How to strengthen your career when you’re on maternity leave There are some really simple things that you can do you help strengthen your career on maternity leave. The first could be to set up google alerts for your industry and have the emails go into a separate folder. Now and again, you can read through the emails to stay abreast of key changes in your industry. Book a keeping in touch session/day. More and more these can be done online and more flexibly than previously. You can discuss breaking up a full day into a number of sessions. Keeping in touch sessions are incredibly useful to stay in touch with the business or even do additional training. It is also more than ok to be vocal and communicate your career goals that you have even whilst on maternity leave. Doing this helps to ensure you are top of mind when decision are being made at work that have an impact on your career. If you would like to benefit from any of the resources that My Bump Pay has to offer to help you on your motherhood and work journey, then sign up the to My Bump Pay mailing list here – www.mybumppay.com to be the first to hear about the My Bump Pay Masterclasses. All Mum Club Members will receive 15% off using the code MUMCLUB15 Your Back to Work Breastfeeding Routine READ NOW Still breastfeeding but it’s time to go back to work? Read our guide on how to make the transition go as smoothly as possible.
How To Stop Your Baby Waking Too EarlyRead More If this isn’t high on your Google searches already you are one lucky mother. There’s nothing more exhausting or infuriating then a baby who wakes early and refuses to go… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 3 May 2021 How To Stop Your Baby Waking Too Early If this isn’t high on your Google searches already you are one lucky mother. There’s nothing more exhausting or infuriating then a baby who wakes early and refuses to go back to sleep – though the unsolicited advice that comes with it (‘put them to bed later… let them nap/don’t let them nap… have you tried dipping them in butter and rolling them in breadcrumbs’) is also high up on our list of things not to love about the early years. We’ve combined the tips we’ve picked up along the way with words of wisdom from expert Kate Cohan Founder of @Sleep.Time.Baby. And if none of these work for you, our advice is to buy a Sage Barista Coffee Machine and fire up the iPad… TMC: How do I know if my baby has woken too early? Kate : Tough one. But go with your gut on this – the guidance is for them to have 12 hrs of daytime and 12 hrs of night, but it’s often more like 13/11hrs. The earliest I would say is okay to wake is 6am and the latest is the latest time that you can fit your daytime naps in and still get to your normal bedtime – normally around 8am. TMC: What makes a baby wake early? Kate: The main cause of early rising is overtiredness! An overtired child will find it harder to have a more settled night’s sleep, leading to waking in the early hours. Then we can look at factors such as too many/too little naps during the day, is it dark enough, does hunger or noise wake them too early, are they cold or has it become a habit, and can they self-settle? So basically lots of things! TMC: What can I do to stop my baby waking early? Kate: Address the possibilities listed above. I would suggest trying an earlier bedtime for five days to check for over-tiredness, and then later for five days to see if either makes a difference. Then you might need to tweak their daytime routine or night-time environment, give them more nutrition, look at how they’re settle or consider a ‘wake to sleep’ model before they wake up themselves. TMC: What can we do to get them back to sleep again? Kate: Early rising can take some time to alter, so consistency is key. Keep them in their room until as close to 6am (or your ideal morning time) as possible. You can comfort them and offer support to settle, of course. TMC: Is there anything we can buy that would help? Kate: White noise is great! I recommend the Mar Pac ones (https://yogasleep.uk/collections/all and use code Sleeptimebaby for 15% off) Dark is is essential so black-out curtains and a travel black-out blind can be very helpful; the Gro Company ones are good. Your Early Waking Checklist • Move bedtime to 6pm for five days to see if this works. • Make sure their bedroom has complete black out (easier in the winter months) • Check their nightwear suits the ambient temperature of their room (see our guide here). Add a pair of socks, vest, or switch to a long-sleeved sleeping bag. • Try giving them a banana, porridge or oat cake just before bed to stop hunger waking them up. • Take habit out of the equation. Set your alarm for one hour before they usually wake to stir them slightly and break their sleep cycle; they should go back into a deeper sleep for a few more hours. • Consider encouraging them to settle themselves to sleep, so they don’t wake in the night wondering where you are (because that’s how they drifted off). Tags 5minuteread, Yournaptimeknowhow
9 Skills Motherhood Can Add To Your CVRead More Maternity leave isn’t without its career worries. Will your job still be there when I go back? Will having kids affect your chances of promotion? How will you juggle childcare… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 3 May 2021 9 Skills Motherhood Can Add To Your CV Maternity leave isn’t without its career worries. Will your job still be there when I go back? Will having kids affect your chances of promotion? How will you juggle childcare with your career? And the biggest anxiety of all… after nine months of broken nights and zero adult interaction, does baby brain ever really go away? So let’s reframe: you’ve learnt some bona fide transferable skills on that year-long ‘break’ (and don’t get us started on that one). Don’t believe us? Read on… Military-style Organisation Mums achieve more before breakfast than most people do all day. Kids up and dressed, laundry on, lunches prepped, unscheduled morning bath due to unprecedented poonami, house tidied… and you still managed a flash of mascara while simultaneously breastfeeding the baby and helping your partner find his keys (where he left them; always). A good mum thinks ten steps ahead at all times – you can’t say that’s not transferable. Negotiation Tactics Whoever said ‘never negotiate with terrorists’ has clearly never dealt with a toddler; getting a vegetable past one of these requires the skill set of a highly trained FBI agent. “Just smell the broccoli sweetheart, then have an ice cream”. Bargaining, persuasion, bribery: you name it, you’ve mastered it. Communication Skills After a year of juggling multiple WhatsApp groups (including three different configurations of the girls from NCT) your comms management is on fire. Not only can you run seven conversations in tandem (“looks like just a rash babe, but I’d get it checked anyway”) you’re managing a weekly diary more complicated than your average CEO’s. Relationship Building Walking into a dusty church hall 15 minutes late with leaking boobs and a screaming new born used to be unnerving. Now? You can flash a boob at a stranger without missing a beat of your carefully honed small talk. In fact, you’re instant mates with anyone old enough to string a sentence together. Teamworking There’s no better feeling than handing a clean, dry and well-fed babe to your other half when they get home at the end of the day… and tapping out for a bath/essential online shopping/a very slow walk around the supermarket. Working together is tricky, but on the days you nail it you’ll feel like the dream team. Multi-Tasking We love dads, we really do, but it’s no secret that when they’re ‘looking after the baby’, they’re just… looking after the baby. By the end of mat leave you’ll have 12 things on the go at any one time, all meticulously completed while you rock the bouncer with a spare foot and catch up on Netflix. Problem Solving Sally has 12 minutes to do the Aldi shop before the school run. The baby has fallen asleep in the car seat, she’s forgotten the pram, it’s raining, and she doesn’t have a pound coin for the trolley. Discuss. Financial Planning Anyone who’s attempted to get by on statutory maternity leave for six months has serious fiscal skills. You fed your family, kept them (and yourself) entertained 24/7, and switched gas and electricity providers more often than Kim K posts selfies. Stick that in your YOY. Creative Thinking No toys, no problem; there is no scenario you can’t make a game out of. Dried pasta and a colander are the new soft play and you are Mary Poppins in activewear. Tags 3minuteread, coffeebreakcatchup
First Baby Vs… Every Other Kid After ThatRead More You can’t jump in the same river twice, and that’s never more true than in pregnancy. The romance, the glow, the putting-your-feet-up-at-the-end-of-the-day. Yup, you don’t get that back after the… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 3 May 2021 First Baby Vs… Every Other Kid After That You can’t jump in the same river twice, and that’s never more true than in pregnancy. The romance, the glow, the putting-your-feet-up-at-the-end-of-the-day. Yup, you don’t get that back after the first (it was romantic, right?). And that’s not the only thing that changes; here’s how… The Announcement First Child Each individual reveal carefully rehearsed and fully documented, with especially purchased ‘You’re going to be a Grandma/Grandad/Auntie/Niece/Cousin/Next Door Neighbour’ cards containing scan photograph and handwritten note. Then, the whole lot filmed and edited into an emotional video montage (to the soundtrack of that sad song from Twilight) and uploaded to a box fresh Instagram channel with baby’s newly secured handle. Second Child After stalking you on Insta, your best mate texts you ‘pregnant or fat?’ to which you reply: ‘oh, yeah. Due in June’. The Nursery First Child Gender neutral jungle theme, featuring hand-painted orangutans on wallpaper sourced painstakingly from Paris. Matching cot, changing table and wardrobe, packed with tiny, twice-ironed outfits, each with coordinated shoes and accessories. All completed and ready at three months to go. Second Child You scream at your husband to ‘get the Snuz Pod out of the loft’ as you mop up your waters from the kitchen floor. The Hospital Bag First Child TENS machine, lavender oil, make-up, three matching ‘coming mome’ outfits, baby shoes, oil diffuser, hair straighteners and kindle. Second Child A onesie for them and the pyjamas you were wearing when you went into labour. The Labour First Child £200 in hypnobirthing birthing classes, 12-step birth plan featuring fully-considered ‘pain ladder’ featuring precisely zero drugs. Second Child You train your husband to bark ‘EPIDURAL’ at every medical professional he sees. The Name First Child After filling two purpose-bought notebooks with potentials, you settle on two middle names only, and mark the decision with a hand-embroidered blanket for the nursery. Second Child Six weeks into calling them ‘baby girl’ you let your older kid pick out a name from the less obnoxious characters in Peppa Pig, on the night before you’re due to register the birth. The Nappies First Child You change them the second the line changes blue, including four times a night for a reliably dry bum. Second Child You remember to change them when they waddle past with junk like Kim Kardashian. Bathing First Child Every. Single, Night. Followed by a massage with organic coconut oil (until they’re six months old, when you can choose something in a nice bottle from Space NK). Second Child Twice a week. Swimming pools and rainwater count. Sterilising First Child Everything. All the time. Constantly. Second Child *Googles ‘does spit clean stuff’* Weaning First Child Seasonal produce, puréed in state-of-the-art baby food maker. Annabel Karmel eat your (organic) heart out. Second Child If it doesn’t come in a jar or a pouch the kid doesn’t believe it’s food. Screen Time First Child Never. Montessori-approved wooden toys chiselled by Hungarian monks, thanks. Second Child Has his own Netflix account. Tags 3minuteread, coffeebreakcatchup
