The Best Restaurant Dinner KitsRead More Not much good came out of the pandemic, but one thing that did was at home fine dining via the UK’s best restaurants. Ok you still have to do a… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 11 November 2024 The Best Restaurant Dinner Kits Our Regular Just Eat Order just got an upgrade. The Best Restaurant Dine-At-Home Kits Not much good came out of the pandemic, but one thing that did was at home fine dining via the UK’s best restaurants. Ok you still have to do a bit of cooking but most of the hefty prep is done by top chefs and all you have to do is put it together and serve. Dishpatch – Nationwide Delivery Dishpatch, recently receiving rave reviews, brings the UK’s best restaurants to your home with exclusive menus delivered nationwide. Fully prepared by top chefs, these meal kits arrive on Fridays, ready to be finished at home. Dozens of high-end restaurants, including Angela Hartnett’s cafe, offer delivery boxes through Dishpatch, with ingredients included to complete each dish. Check the Dishpatch website regularly, as restaurant and menu boxes change frequently. Find out more Côte at Home – Nationwide Delivery Côte Brasserie, known for relaxed French dining inspired by Parisian bistros, now offers Côte at Home for nationwide delivery. With a minimum £40 spend and free delivery, customers can enjoy a wide selection of French classics and luxury boxes like Luxe Seafood, including limited edition boxes like the Lillet X Emily in Paris Box. Find out more Fortnum & Mason The Steak & Chips Box is the ultimate gourmet treat, featuring two Salt Aged Ribeye Steaks, triple-cooked chunky chips, and a rich Red Wine Jus to complement the flavors. To complete the meal, enjoy a bottle of Fortnum’s Rosso Piceno—a smooth red with notes of vanilla and ripe cherry. Dig in! Find Out More Home by Simon Rogan – Nationwide Delivery Simon Rogan, famed for his three-Michelin and green-starred restaurant L’Enclume in Cartmel, offers Home by Simon Rogan: three-course dining experiences and special seasonal menus. Customers can add extras like British cheeses and bespoke wine pairings, with all options including easy-to-follow preparation videos. Find out more Arabica London Enjoy a seasonal meze spread with hummus and spiced mushrooms, smoky aubergine with tahini, pickles, and spring tabbouleh. Then, savor slow-cooked Baharat lamb shanks with spiced raisin rice, toasted nuts, and cucumber labneh. This stress-free meal kit is complete with Baklava and fresh mint for tea to end your culinary adventure! Find Out More The One for the Morning After… Dishoom – Nationwide Delivery Dishoom, inspired by Bombay’s old Irani cafes, now offers its popular bacon naan as a nationwide home-delivery kit. The kit includes two naan rolls, bacon, tomato chili jam, an extra naan dough ball, chai spices, and loose-leaf tea for two. A vegan option is available. For each kit sold, Dishoom donates a meal to Magic Breakfast, supporting UK children facing hunger. Find Out More Tags 5minuteread, newDesign, Yournaptimeknowhow
Outfits That Make You Look Instantly Put TogetherRead More The ultimate casual school run outfit = A tracksuit. Because let’s face it we’d all live in them if we could! For a sleeker, slightly more polished look, adding a… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 23 August 2024 Outfits That Make You Look Instantly Put Together When you’re nursery or school run *NOT ready… Keeping it comfy The ultimate casual school run outfit = A tracksuit. Because let’s face it we’d all live in them if we could! Heavy Weight T shirt Arket £37 Relaxed Cotton Sweatpants Arket £57 Sporty Cotton Socks Arket £9 530 Trainers New Balance £110 Oversized Sweatshirt H&M £17.99 Looking like you’ve made more effort than you have For a sleeker, slightly more polished look, adding a trench coat over a black silhouette is the way to go. Chuck on sunglasses to cover up those tired eyes from the multiple wake-ups from the kids! Cat-eye acetate sunglasses Celine £340 Relaxed Jersey Hoodie COS £75 Samba OG Trainers Adidas £95 Power High-Waisted Gym Leggings Sweaty Betty £88 Single-Breasted Trench Coat & Other Stories £165 Ready for more than lounging If you want to feel a bit more dressed and less in activewear then jeans and a strappy top layered with a shirt are the perfect alternative. High Waist Jeans Zara £27.99 Arizona Sandals Birketstock £90 Strappy Top Massimo Dutti £35.95 Medium Hoop Earrings Missoma £119 Oversized denim shirt H&M £32.99 Could be doing exercise, could not be.. For a more Autumnal transitional outfit, you can’t go wrong with layers. Adding burgundy and browns to tie in with the changing seasons to add some interest. Oversized T-shirt Arket £29 Apple Watch Series 9 Apple £349 Highrise Leggings Adanola £45 SL 72 RS Trainers Adidas £90 Oversized Funnel-Neck Sweatshirt Adanola £59.99 All products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however, we may make a commission on some products. Tags 2minuteread, newDesign, Parktimestrollandscroll
What To Pack In Your Hospital Bag.Read More Not all essentials are made the same and we learnt that after the fifth pair of pants we purchased. But these were the best items we bought. They’re not a… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 19 August 2024 No Comments on What To Pack In Your Hospital Bag. What To Pack In Your Hospital Bag. With a million lists online it’s easy to get lost but these were the best things we packed. The Essentials Not all essentials are made the same and we learnt that after the fifth pair of pants we purchased. But these were the best items we bought. Full Briefs 5 Pack M&S £12 Maternity Bra 2 Pack M&S £30 Holdall Changing Bag Tiba and Marl £140 Hazelnut Bites Deliciously Ella £22 Waffle Dressing Gown Next £32 “I packed so many snacks but the one thing that was a saviour for stress and when I got a dry mouth was boiled sweets. I’d never eat them normally but they saved me in labour.” TMC Editor Lydia House Nipple Cream Lansinoh £8.99 Hard Boiled Sweets Ask Mummy and Daddy £6.50 Spritz for Bits my expert midwife. £18.50 “A water bottle with a straw is an absolute must and take waterproof sliders for the shower – especially great if you have a c-section and you need to wear compression socks.” TMC Designer, Jen Williamson. Tumbler Stanley £43 Slides Adidas £35 Silk Hair Ties Silke London £30 “Tena pants are so much better than the ones the hospital give you. I was also so thankful I packed lip balm as my lips got so dry. ” TMC Style and Content Creator, Luzaan Shaw. Detangle Hair Brush Manta £30 Pad Pants Tena £12.49 Lip Butter Balm Summer Fridays £23 “Forget perfumed washes, you need a gentle fragrance-free shower gel that’s kind to your skin. Baby washes are great for this. And take earplugs, then you can sleep while your partner listens out for the baby.” TMC Co-Founder, Lauren Webber Manual Breast Pump Haakaa £22.99 Noise Cancelling Earplugs Loop Earplugs £19.95 Gentle Body Wash Aveeno £4.73 Little Luxuries They’re not a spa break but these items will make you feel so much better after birth. “A soft large towel will feel like the biggest pamper post-shower. And treat yourself to a new nightie that’s soft on your bod and bits.” TMC Co-Founder, Jess Lawes Bath Towel H&M £9.99 Modal Short Button Up Pyjama Set Chelsea Peers £45 “Take in a few luxuries, like a new moisturiser or a nice dry shampoo. A face mist is also so good for hot hospital skin. The little things will perk you up post-birth.” TMC Marketing Manager, Charlie Rooney Youthbomb Repair Cream Beauty Pie £49 (Member Price) Dry Shampoo Living proof. £27.50 Mineralizing Thermal Spa Water Vichy £9 Things That Will Make you Feel More Comfortable “Take a portable fan in – no matter the weather! Because you will be hot! And I’d take in your pregnancy pillow, so you’re extra comfortable or for your partner to use in their very awkward visitors chair.” TMC Brand Partnerships Ast, Andi Venardos Handheld and Foldable Desk Fan Anyday John Lewis £12 Pregnancy Pillow bbhugme £133 Postpartum Recovery Kit Frida Mom £89.99 Eye Balm Refy £18 Pure Silk Eye Mask Slip £50 Long Charging Cable Apple £29 Going Home Get yourself some comfy going home clothes that make you feel good. A jumpsuit or loose trousers and comfy sliders for the win. Socks Amie £12 Frankie Jumpsuit Beyond Nine £119 Boston Soft Footbed Birkenstock £150 For Baby Forget buttons, zip sleep suits are by far the easiest style to navigate. Pack a soft blanket you’ll treasure for ever and a sh*t load of basics. Yes, you can go for prints but baby whites and creams will forever be our favourite look. Ribbed Zip Sleepsuit Mori £19.25 (Sale) Baby Blanket The White Company £34 Cotton Hats H&M £4.99 Stripe Sleepsuit The White Company £24 Nappies Size 1 Bambo Nature £5.78 Short Sleeve Bodysuits M&S £10 Tags newDesign
Things They Don’t Tell You About BreastfeedingRead More First things first, YOU get to choose. You carried your baby for nine months, and only you can decide how it’s fed. Get Help Here Post author By The Mum Club Post date 5 August 2024 Things They Don’t Tell You About Breastfeeding First things first, YOU get to choose. You carried your baby for nine months, and only you can decide how it’s fed. Breastfeeding Can Be Hard In The Beginning For something that is so ‘natural’, it can take a while for both you and the baby to figure it all out. So don’t be surprised if it doesn’t happen as easily as you’d expected. It Can Make Life a Lot Easier You don’t need to sterilise your boobs or worry that your milk is the perfect temperature. Once you’ve found your way, you can whack ‘em on the boob, morning, noon and night and you’re always good to go. You Might End Up Placing Cabbage Leaves on Your Tits Or sliced potaoes, or ice packs, or silver nipple shields. It’s a wild ride and can feel hard (excuse the pun) sometimes. But it’s so worth it. Your Baby Might Not Take the Bottle The dream is having a bit of both! Boob when it’s convenient and a bottle, so your other half can share some feeds. But the likelihood is your baby will probably prefer the boob and you won’t get much say in it. It’s Lovely Knowing That Your Body is All They Need to Survive Mother Nature is a boss. It Can Hamper Your Sex Life You can feel over-touched, have leaky boobs…. and one thing they REALLY don’t tell you; is that it can become very dry down there. *Natural organic lube is your friend – when you actually feel like it. Your Nipples Can Go Much Darker Than They Were Before Those meddling hormones are at it again. And we’ll save you the Google on this one. Yes, they go back. Some People are Uncomfortable With an Exposed Breast You might be too, which is totally fine (a huge muslin and some strategic layering will sort that out). But in our experience, trying to keep yourself completely covered up will stress you and the baby out, and practically guarantees you’ll end up exposing the nipple you were trying to hide. Just relax and remember it’s their problem. Your Nipples Might be Sore Sore and bleeding nipples can happen to a lot of women and will make the journey more difficult but you can get help. Get Help Here A Hot Shower Helps Relieve Blocked Ducts So does hand-expressing. You’ll feel like a cow but it’s strangely satisfying. It’s Not a Method of Weight-Loss Although those -500 calories are handy when you’re justifying a second slice of cake. It Doesn’t Always Ruin Your Boobs When you do want to stop, do it slowly and they’ll end up looking less like a pair of golf balls in socks. Babies Get Distracted There comes a time (generally when feeding in public) that the world is suddenly more interesting than your nipple. Cue an exposed boob spurting milk all over your flat white. When You Decide it’s Time to Stop, Your Baby Will Be Ok They might be a little upset, and most likely so will you. But they’ll get used to it. Enlist the help of your other half, be strong and we promise it will all be ok. You Can Have a Glass of Wine Pump and dump the milk if you’ve had a big night out. But if you want a glass of wine, don’t let that be the reason you move to formula. Don’t Feel Pressured to Put Them on the Bottle if They Aren’t Taking to it Straight Away There are some cases where your baby will need to be topped up. But if you feel strongly about breastfeeding, then persevere and you will get your supply up. Topping up with formula will just deplete it. Cluster Feeding is a Thing There will be a time when it feels like you feed for days on end. Set yourself up with a great list of TV (check our previous Hotlists), get some snacks in and nestle down. Just like everything else, it shall pass. You Won’t Lose the Bond The love is still there, whichever way you feed them. They will still need you for a million other things (trust us on this one). Whatever You Decide is OK! So what if your sister-in-law breastfed her son ‘til he was five, or your workmate didn’t even give it a go. We’re all in this together. Breastfeeding Help… National Breastfeeding Helpline: 0300 100 0212 Association of Breastfeeding Mothers: 0300 330 5453 La Leche League: 0345 120 2918 National Childbirth Trust (NCT): 0300 330 0700 The Breastfeeding Network supporter line in Bengali and Sylheti: 0300 456 2421 Bliss is a special-care baby charity that supports families of premature and sick babies across the UK. The Breastfeeding Network provides breastfeeding support and information. La Leche League offers 1-to-1 support with breastfeeding. Lactation Consultants of Great Britain: find a lactation consultant near you. Twins Trust: feeding twins and triplets. UK Association for Milk Banking has information about using donated breast milk if your baby is premature or ill, and how to donate breast milk. Tags newDesign
The Best Personalised Jewellery BrandsRead More Get 20% off here All products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however, we may make a commission on some products. Post author By The Mum Club Post date 10 July 2024 The Best Personalised Jewellery Brands Whether it’s a sentimental initial or name. Or it’s your own. We’re into them all. Personalised Disc Hoop Earrings Merci Maman £59 Gold Diamond Initial Bracelet Annoushka £650 Connect Letter Necklace Aurum & Grey £210 9ct Gold and Diamond Initial Liberty Signet Ring Liberty £510 Vermeil Personalised Name Bracelet Otiumberg £180 Build Your Own Charm Necklace Loquet London £3290 Initial Stud Otiumberg £80 Personalised Pearl Necklace Carrie Elizabeth from £130 Personalised Necklace Layering Set Edge of Ember £200 Initial 18-karat Gold Diamond Necklace Foundrae £1685 Solid Gold Signet Pinky Ring Dinny Hall £395 Curly Molten Initial Necklace Missoma £115 Initial Medallion Bracelet Oak and Luna £145 Talisman Initial Ring Oak and Luna £123 Cultured Pearl Initial Pendant Oak and Luna £164 Don’t forget The Mum Club Members get 20% off Initialled and Rachel Jackson Get 20% off here Tiny Diamond Initial Tag Pendant Otiumberg £280 Art Deco Mama Necklace Rachel Jackson £95 Mini Round Initial Bracelet Initialled £30 Initial This Gold-plated and Enamel Necklace Roxanne Assoulin £50 Personalised Signet Ring Merci Maman £49 All products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however, we may make a commission on some products. Tags 1minuteread, learnontheloo, newDesign
11 Black Swimsuits That Don’t Make You Feel MumsyRead More All products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however, we may make a commission on some products. Post author By The Mum Club Post date 27 May 2024 11 Black Swimsuits That Don’t Make You Feel Mumsy Swimwear is another of those things we didn’t expect to change irrevocably once we’d had children – and we’re not just talking about body shape. What passed for secure before there were tiny hands coming at us from all angles may as well be tied on with tissue paper, and even the most modest bikini feels inappropriate in a baby swim class (if you know, you know). A chic black one-piece is our new happy place. With pretty detail and shapes that are sleek but not necessarily sporty, the following are anything but basic. Vista High Neck Swimsuit Sweaty Betty £76 Tiffany Swimsuit Hunza g £195 Eva One piece Youswim £142 Una scallop Swimsuit Monsoon £50 Textured Swimsuit &Other Stories £55 Clovelly One piece Monday Swim £180 Ruched Swimsuit Arket £55 Scoop Neck One Piece Skims £69 Ribbed One Piece Solid & Striped £140 One Shoulder Swimsuit Ted Baker £59.50 Padded Scallop Plunge Swimsuit M&S £35 All products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however, we may make a commission on some products. Tags newDesign
Weaning: The Six Recipes We Used On RotationRead More Want your baby to try meat? When you’re ready, add 1/4- 1/2 a pack of cooked mince (lamb or beef). *Top tip: Boil an extra pack of the butternut squash/sweet… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 14 May 2024 Weaning: The Six Recipes We Used On Rotation Easy is our speciality Weaning can be so much fun. It’s so cute seeing their little faces tasting foods for the first time. It can also be bloody annoying. Especially when you’ve spent 45 minutes making elaborate quinoa patties that just end up on the floor. Plus, it’s a prime-time opportunity for Mums to be put under pressure. But just because Amy from NCT is making extravagant meals every day, it doesn’t mean you’re the Devil if lunch is served from a pack. Your kid. Your rules. However, If you want to give the cooking thing a go and don’t want to spend hours slaving over a stove, you might want to check out the following recipes. Butternut Squash Bolognaise From 6 months old Use these cubes to add flavour to pre-made packs and mix it into everything from couscous to pasta. It’s also tasty on top of toast or potato – sweet or plain. Step One Chop one onion and sauté in a pan with a smidge of unsalted butter. Step Two Add 1-2 cans of chopped tomatoes, a generous squish of tomato puree. One crushed clove of garlic. One tsp of Italian herbs and some pepper. Step Three Simmer for 10 minutes, then let the mix cool. Step Four Meanwhile, boil one pack of pre-chopped butternut squash/sweet potato until soft. Step Five Once cooled, mix, blend, and then transfer into large ice cube trays and freeze. Want your baby to try meat? When you’re ready, add 1/4- 1/2 a pack of cooked mince (lamb or beef). *Top tip: Boil an extra pack of the butternut squash/sweet pot mix and leave some out to mash. Decant into ice cube trays and freeze. It’s a great back up to increase the veg of any meal and also mixes well with avocado or banana. Pizza Toast From 6 months old Baby crying and doesn’t want to be put down? This is our go-to meal when there is zero time (or brain cells) left. Step One Cover one piece of lightly toasted bread with puree (We like: veg lentil bake or tomato and lentil bake from Ella’s kitchen). Step Two Finely grate mild cheese over the top. Step Three Grill until it bubbles. Step Four Cut off the crusts and slice into small portions. Step Five Serve with some leftover puree that you can spoon-feed. Leftover Porridge Muffins From 7 months old Constantly making way too much porridge? This recipe from Leading Children’s Nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed, is a great way to use up lefties. Step One Take porridge leftovers from the pan. Step Two Add more oats if it’s quite watery and stir through. Step Three Add to muffin cases or press into a greased tin. Step Four Bake in the oven for around 30 minutes for tomorrow’s quick or on the go breakfast. Peanut butter & Banana Cookies From 6 months old This recipe makes too many for your baby to eat before they go stale. Which sadly means you have to eat some – sorry about that. *Recipe adapted from https://babyledkitchen.co.uk/recipe/peanut-and-banana-cookies/ Step One Preheat your oven to 190C/375F. Step Two Mash 1 small banana in a bowl. Step Three Warm 1 level tbsp of coconut oil, then mix with the banana and 1 tbsp of desiccated coconut, 2 heaped tbsps of plain flour and 2 level tbsps of (unsalted unsweetened) peanut butter. Step Four Make about 12 balls and flatten into cookies. Step Five Place on a pre-lined tray, then bake for 15 minutes and leave to cool. Easy Peasy Brunch From 6 months old Breakfast for lunch or dinner, is a real saviour when you’ve run out of ideas on what to make. *Top tip: Always make extra, so you don’t steal their whole meal. Step One Scramble one egg and cook for 1-2 minutes in a pan. Step Two Add a squish of veg puree to a bowl or plate. Step Three Serve with avocado, either on small slices of toast or mashed up with a touch of lime and pepper. Freeze Me Fish Pie From 7 months old A great one to whack out in front of the Mother-in-Law. These make you look like a Supermum with hardly any effort. Plus, you can reduce the number of ramekins you make and steal half the mix for a grown-up dinner. Just add in more fish and smother some mash on top. Step One Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas mark 6 Step Two Melt 15g of butter in a pan with 1 finely chopped onion and 1 thinly sliced leek. Step Three Cut approx. 350g white fish fillets into cubes and fill the bottom of approx. 6-8 ramekins Step Four Stir in 1 tbsp of plain flour into the leeks and onion mix and then gradually add in ½ pint of full-fat milk. Step Five Stir in 50g of grated cheese, then spoon the mixture over the fish. Step Six Sprinkle a little more cheese on top of each one, then bake for 20minutes until golden. Step Seven Cool, cover with foil and then freeze. *To reheat microwave for approx. 2mins, stir and then let it cool. Serve with some veg. We like to use sweet potato mash or offer soft broccoli or carrots as finger foods. Tags newDesign
Your 3-Minute Guide To WeaningRead More It can feel quite daunting to start your weaning journey, but it’s actually SO fun! And of course (like everything), there’s tons of reading you can do. But these are… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 14 May 2024 Your 3-Minute Guide To Weaning Learn the basics over a cuppa It can feel quite daunting to start your weaning journey, but it’s actually SO fun! And of course (like everything), there’s tons of reading you can do. But these are the fundamental things you need to know. Oh, and remember the shed load of muslins you bought? They’re about to become reeeally handy… How do I know when my baby is ready to wean? Start at around 6-months old or when they can hold their head sufficiently, pick-up food, put it in their mouth and swallow it. How do you start weaning a baby? It can be very entertaining to see how your baby reacts to new flavours, which is why most parents start by offering a bit of their own food. Ready to do things properly? Build positive associations with mealtimes by creating a calm environment, play some music, make eye contact and give them big smiles. Don’t stress Milk is your baby’s primary food source, so don’t fret if they turn down your pea and broccoli mash-up. “It can take up to 10-15 times for them to like certain flavours, so let them play with food and don’t push them to eat”, says baby food brand Omami. Start with your greens? “Offering veggies first can encourage more of an acceptance of them later on”, says nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed. But don’t worry if you offer fruits too – you haven’t failed! Adding in a small amount apple to make peas more palatable is totally ok. Remember, fruits are still nutritious, just try to make sure meals aren’t overly sweet. What should I feed my baby? “Weaning is a golden time to introduce your baby to lots of different flavours and textures. It helps create a love of food that will hopefully continue through toddlerhood and beyond”, says Omami. What should you not feed a baby? No salt, sugar, honey, whole nuts, non-pasteurised cheeses, runny eggs, raw shellfish or rice drinks. How much should I feed my baby? They’re all different, and it’s entirely normal for them to change day-to-day. Appetites can be affected by lots of things like teething, tiredness or illness. Just follow their cues for when they’ve had enough. Pre-mades and packs are LIFE It’s SO frustrating when you boil and blend foods they refuse. Save yourself some time by trying out some organic pre-made baby food. Shop Here Baby-lead or spoon-fed? It’s totally up to you. Why not do both? Suggests Omami “Give your baby something to hold and chew on as you spoon-feed or have some meals as finger food and others as puree”. Want to do more research? Omami have loads of info on their blog and ‘How to wean your baby’ by Charlotte Stirling-Reed is available on pre order here. You can also follow Charlotte here. Tags 3minuteread, newDesign
10 Things New Mums Shouldn’t Worry AboutRead More It’s another of those undeniable truths no one tells you until you’re pregnant: the minute those two blue lines appear you’ll start to experience a low-level anxiety that lasts for… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 2 April 2024 10 Things New Mums Shouldn’t Worry About It’s another of those undeniable truths no one tells you until you’re pregnant: the minute those two blue lines appear you’ll start to experience a low-level anxiety that lasts for the rest of your parenting life. Becoming a mum can feel totally overwhelming at times, and it’s easy to obsess over the smallest of details. So save some time (and a little piece of your sanity) by checking off the stuff you really don’t need to worry about… Not Knowing What The F* To Do Repeat after us: I WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO. Yep, even if the total sum of your parenting experience thus far was holding your mates’ baby while she went for a wee, or 15 minutes of hide and seek with a mildly bearable four-year-old one Christmas. How will you know when to feed them? What if they are too hot/cold? What if you’re so knackered that you don’t hear them cry in the night? Right now the fact you’ll be allowed to leave the hospital with a tiny human and no previous experience makes zero sense… but trust us when we talk about instinct. Nobody knows your baby better than you do, and you’ll be an amazing mum. Keeping Your House Clean For the first two weeks your house will feel like Euston Station; a constant stream of family and friends all wanting to meet your brand-new bundle of joy and hear you tell birth story for the seventh time that morning. Lovely yes, but also really annoying, especially when you’re knackered and learning how to breastfeed. When you finally get five minutes to yourself spend it showering, sleeping or going to the toilet in peace. Not hoovering, not washing-up, and not putting the bins out. Oh, and send your dirty clothes to your mother-in-law. Not Reading Enough Baby Books Spoiler alert: your baby can’t read, so they don’t have a clue that Gina Ford says they should be sleeping 7pm-7am by 12 weeks old. Nor did they get the memo about being ‘happy’ or ‘contented’. Throw the book in the bin. We mean it. Other People’s Opinions Everyone has one and they won’t hold back, from your well-meaning mum to the old lady in Boots who tells you she doesn’t like the name. The health visitor hates the Sleepyhead, your auntie thinks babies sleep better on their fronts, someone at Baby Sensory doesn’t do dummies; people will be desperate to share what they’d do differently. Save yourself some time and ignore all unsolicited advice. Just smile, nod, and do whatever you think is best. How You Should Feed Your Baby This is a biggie. Nothing divides opinion more than breast Vs bottle, and nothing causes more mum-guilt, heartache or emotional strain. Your baby needs feeding, and as long as you’re not taking them to McDonalds for a happy meal at two weeks old, just how you do that is your decision and yours alone. Make your choice and feel good about it. You’re doing great. Losing the Baby Weight For us, the most effective way of getting past a post-partum body wobble is always this: whenever you feel a negative thought about your bod, pick up your baby. Look at their nose, their tiny hands and feet, their beautiful long eyelashes. You made those. Your body grew them from scratch. Nothing could be more amazing so eat the cake and give yourself a break. Hitting Milestones All babies are different and while it’s good to have a rough idea of where they should be, your baby doesn’t know they should be sitting up at six months. They’ll do it when they’re good and ready, so try not to compare to other kids or waste time worrying about why they aren’t walking yet. It’ll come. Making Friends Parenting is an amazing leveller; you’ll never struggle to start a conversation again. Find your tribe, whether that’s at NCT, a TMC event or even online. Even having one other mum to text during the 3am feed is a huge help… and if you’re really stuck, there are apps that can hook you up with someone to do exactly that. Losing Who You Are Becoming a parent changes your life; drastically at first. But after a while you’ll reach a new normal and find that you’re still you. With a bit of planning, you can party again, go to the gym, or wander around the shops for two hours without a pram. Your ambition’s still there and your career too; you can still feel attractive and be a good friend. Take the time to take care of yourself and you’ll be a better parent because of it, we promise. Changing the Nappy Immediately Now there’s a blue line that doesn’t have to change everything. Completely unnecessary. Unless it’s a poo. Tags 5minuteread, newDesign, Yournaptimeknowhow
Cheap Meal Ideas For Under £5Read More When you’re feeling the pinch, it’s really easy to become uninspired. But cooking on a budget doesn’t have to result in pre-made pizza and cheesy beans on toast. There’s a… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 22 January 2024 Cheap Meal Ideas For Under £5 And no, it’s not Maccy D’s When you’re feeling the pinch, it’s really easy to become uninspired. But cooking on a budget doesn’t have to result in pre-made pizza and cheesy beans on toast. There’s a vast array of options out there – granted a lot of them centre around eggs. But guess what? We’ve rounded up some truly delicious (and thrifty) recipes, to give you the lift you need. Enjoy! Tasty Toad in the Hole An easy win for hungry tums. Serve with lashings of gravy and homemade mash. Recipe 3 Ingredient Pea Soup Vegetable soups are a winner when it comes to saving cash, and this one tops the lot as you don’t even need stock. Recipe Batch it up Bolognese Unless you’re a family of 12, this recipe should see you through around 2-3 separate meals. Recipe Super Cheap Mac n Cheese With change left over to buy and add some bacon, it would be rude not to. Recipe Thrifty Frittata Not only is this cheap but it takes minutes to make, and it’s sooo delish! No beetroot? Peppers and tomatoes work just as well. Recipe Money-Saving Mushroom Risotto A simple, yet delicious dinner that is only £1.57 a serving. Recipe Tags 2minuteread, newDesign, Parktimestrollandscroll
How to Exercise When You Have Diastasis RectiRead More Around 60% of women experience it after birth. But how do you know if you have it? And how can you exercise safely? We spoke to Pre and postnatal fitness… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 21 August 2023 How to Exercise When You Have Diastasis Recti Around 60% of women experience it after birth. But how do you know if you have it? And how can you exercise safely? We spoke to Pre and postnatal fitness specialist, Hollie Grant of The Bump Plan, to get her expert tips. What is Diastasis Recti? Even though it sounds very technical, it is very common and natural and it is when the muscles in your stomach separate in order to make space for your growing baby. How do you know if you have Diastasis Recti? After you have had your baby, you can check the size of the separation with this simple technique. Lie on your back with your legs bent and your feet flat on the floor. Raise your shoulders off the floor slightly and look down at your tummy. Using the tips of your fingers, feel between the edges of the muscles, above and below your belly button. See how many fingers you can fit into the gap between your muscles. Ideally your doctor will examine you for DR in your six-week check-up, but it’s not unknown for this to be missed and it’s always worth checking yourself at home or book in with a women’s health physio for a post natal MOT and they will give you essential advice for recovery. *Advice from NHSUK How to Exercise with Diastasis Recti? Pre and postnatal fitness specialist, Hollie Grant says, “When you’ve recovered from birth, unless you’ve been advised not to, you can still move and exercise with a Diastasis Recti. Staying physically active is vital for our physical and mental health, so here are some tips on how to move safely with these conditions.” Tips for moving safely with diastasis recti Understand core pressure “When we move, we create a certain amount of pressure in the core, and how we manage that pressure can help us manage our symptoms. For example, if we are doing an exercise that causes lots of pressure to our Linea Alba called Doming (this may look like your tummy going pointy) we may want to regress the exercise a little until we can better manage that pressure.” Listen to your body “How does it feel after exercise? Do your symptoms feel worse post exercise? If so, you may be overdoing it or need to work at a lower intensity or shorter duration initially before gradually building your way up.” Work closely with your GP or Physio “It’s important you request support from your healthcare provider – staying active is so beneficial and they should be able to help support you in doing so.” Do your pelvic floor exercises “With the exception of those who have a tight (hypertonic) pelvic floor, most women will benefit from some pelvic floor exercises (also referred to as Kegels). These will help build strength in the pelvic floor, which can help with both DRA and Prolapse symptoms.” Learn to move well “I would say technique is really important for all activities, but particularly when working with a diastasis. Really think about how your body moves, when you feel pressure on your pelvic floor or Linea Alba, whether you are leaking during certain moves, how you feel afterwards, and how to maintain good form when exercising. It can really help to ensure we are managing load well and creating some good habits that are transferable to everyday life.” Tags body, Diastasis Recti, fitness, health, newDesign Stylish Solutions for Storing Your Kid’s CrapRead More No matter how long you hold out, the plastic will come. You think it won’t, but just like the iPad you said you’d never use in a restaurant, nothing ever… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 23 May 2023 No matter how long you hold out, the plastic will come. You think it won’t, but just like the iPad you said you’d never use in a restaurant, nothing ever works out the way you planned it. And if you don’t buy it. Then Grandma will. So here are some beautiful ways to store it. Aykasa £24.50 H&M £24.99 John Lewis £40 Ikea £50 Mustard Made £319 Zara £69.99 Edit 58 £85 Zara £69.99 Grimms £48.99 GLTC £88 (Sale) Play & Go £33 H&M £69.99 H&M £22.99 Buddy & Hope £21 Gimars £14.99 Little Dutch £53.96 Ikea £45 Graham & Green £38 Tags 2minuteread, newDesign Learnings From A Year As A First Time MumRead More Post author By The Mum Club Post date 20 July 2022 Learnings From A Year As A First Time Mum A Bedtime Routine Will Almost Break You (But Then It Will Set You Free) It’ll feel like Groundhog Day for at least twelve months, but once that babe is in a bedtime routine you’ll thank yourself for sticking it out. A year of routine for a lifetime of nights to yourself? Worth it. If They Don’t Sleep In The Day, They’ll Be Ok You’ll think everyone else has cracked it, but if your mum mates are driving around in their 4X4’s all day, it’s probably because the baby won’t nap without it. Seriously, don’t spend an entire day trying to get them to sleep. Get them up, play with them, do what you need to do and eventually they’ll conk out. A day here and there won’t ruin your routine, and it’s really not worth the stress. Baby TV & Toast Will Save You In Almost Every Situation Don’t fight it. It Will Take At Least A Year (maybe more) To Feel ‘Normal’ It’ll take at least a year until you feel like you’ve got your shit together. And if you don’t ever feel like you do, that’s ok too! Rely On Your Partner When You Can Learn to let go. Your partner will have their own style (which will probably send you wild) but everyone will survive and you’ll get some ‘me’ time (/sleep). Think Smart With Deliveroo We learnt this the hard way. When you fill in your order, ask your Deliveroo driver not to ring the doorbell but to call you on arrival instead. Sleeping baby and a fed mum. Never Underestimate The Power Of A Shower Whether it’s a restless newborn or a non-napping toddler, pop them in their cot with something to stare at for five minutes and jump into the shower. Drench yourself in hot soapy water, shake off whatever happened the night before and push the restart button. Do this every morning. You’ll feel great for it. No Housework Needs To Happen Right Now Really. Get Fresh Air Every Day, Even When It’s Raining Wrap up warm (but not too warm for you; walking with a baby works up quite a sweat) and get out, even if it’s just to the local Co-Op to pick up supplies for an afternoon in. Small goals, big wins. Never Be Without Calpol, Nespresso Capsules, Wine Or Chocolate Bulk buying these is your new survival skill. Baby Wipes Will Wipe Away Most Things You’ll miss them one day. They Don’t Need More Toys Buy yourself something nice and let them play with the packaging instead. Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff Again, really. COOK will save you For the days when you’re not feeling terribly Nigella, load the freezer with some smart ready meals (COOK even do them for babies). You’ll end the day with everyone fed and watered and if your MIL swings by, you can even pass them off as your own. You Will Forget The Birth Even if it nearly killed you, it will blur. Pay For The Help You Need It takes a village, and sometimes you have to pay for it; especially if there’s no family nearby. If you can afford it, get the help. You Will Never Know Love Like It Never have we loved (or been loved in return) quite like this – except by our own mums. Your heart will burst daily with unexplainable, unconditional love. Every tear, every hour of missed sleep (yours and theirs), every teething tantrum, every pregnancy ache and pain. You’ll look into their eyes and it will all melt away. The Internet Will Save You Netflix at 3am, WhatsApp at 4am and Instagram at 5am. This is the year the internet will help you more than you could ever imagine. You Will Gain A Whole New Perspective The trivial things you once worried about will vanish: your awful commute/bad tempered manager/broken coffee machine/chubby thighs (well they don’t vanish but…). You’ll start looking at the world in a much bigger picture – the things that really worry you will be the ones that impact your kids and their future, not which size pants you can squeeze yourself into. And somewhere in all of this is remembering to prioritise yourself from time to time, which is another great learning – and perhaps the most important one of all to hold onto. You’ll Love The First Year A Lot More Looking Back At It Can’t see why others celebrate that first year birthday so much? It’s because you made it! The celebration is for you not the baby. Tags Bedtimebrowse, newDesign Things We Wish We Had Discussed As a Couple Before Having a BabyRead More You might think that the decision to have a baby is the biggest one you’ll ever make. But you’d be wrong. Starting a family sets a multiple of other critical… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 15 December 2021 Things We Wish We Had Discussed As a Couple Before Having a Baby You might think that the decision to have a baby is the biggest one you’ll ever make. But you’d be wrong. Starting a family sets a multiple of other critical decisions in motion, all to be made before you’ve quite grasped the impact of the last. It’s important then, to make sure you’re on the same page as your other half – but this is a conversation to be had while you’re awake, lucid and not harbouring a motherlode of resentment (ie before you’ve even made that baby). It’ll hurt, but it’s worth it… Can We Afford One? It reportedly costs an average £150,000 to raise a child to the age of 18, and we’d estimate about 50% of that goes on nursery fees alone. Having a kid means sacrificing all of the nice things, like four city breaks a year and your pricey Net-a-Porter habit. Statutory maternity pay wouldn’t keep most kids in Ella’s Kitchen pouches, so it’s a good idea to think about how you plan to fund your new venture. Will You Go Back To Work? When you first give birth it’s impossible to imagine being parted from your little bundle of joy but give it seven months and you might find you’ve developed a nervous twitch every time you hear the first three chords of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Before your partner finds you camped out on the doorstep at 5pm desperately waiting for some adult conversation, it’s good to have a rough plan for if/when you’d like to go back to work. Which leads inevitably to the next question…. Who Will Look After It? Nursery? In-Laws? Au-Pair? Looking after a kid post-maternity leave is 10% parenting, 90% logistics. The weekly childcare schedule is like a giant game of Jenga, it just one brick to be taken out with Norovirus and the whole thing comes tumbling down. Unless you want to find yourself in a screaming match over whose afternoon meeting is more important, you’ll need a plan with more resilience than a nuclear power station. How Will You Discipline Them? Who’ll end up playing Bad Cop? We’ll tell you right now, it’s not the absolute charlatan who’ll let them eat ice cream for breakfast if they can watch Football Focus in peace. Where Will They Go To School? Someone will want them to have ‘the best possible education regardless of the cost’, someone will bring politics into the issue. It’s a conversation that could get personal so be prepared. How Many Kids Do You Actually Want? If someone else want a five-a-side football team, ask how many they’re planning to push out of their genitals. Start negotiations low with just one kid. Anything more than that seems like a win. How Can You Protect Our Relationship? It’s ironic that nothing can single-handedly destroy your relationship quite like producing a miniature version of yourselves. You’re stressed, you’re knackered, and your poor vagina has been through enough. Get a solid plan in place pre-baby and there’s a 50 percent chance you’ll keep your kid (and your relationship) alive. Tags 3minuteread, coffeebreakcatchup, newDesign Posts pagination ← Newer Posts1 2 3 Older Posts →
Stylish Solutions for Storing Your Kid’s CrapRead More No matter how long you hold out, the plastic will come. You think it won’t, but just like the iPad you said you’d never use in a restaurant, nothing ever… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 23 May 2023 No matter how long you hold out, the plastic will come. You think it won’t, but just like the iPad you said you’d never use in a restaurant, nothing ever works out the way you planned it. And if you don’t buy it. Then Grandma will. So here are some beautiful ways to store it. Aykasa £24.50 H&M £24.99 John Lewis £40 Ikea £50 Mustard Made £319 Zara £69.99 Edit 58 £85 Zara £69.99 Grimms £48.99 GLTC £88 (Sale) Play & Go £33 H&M £69.99 H&M £22.99 Buddy & Hope £21 Gimars £14.99 Little Dutch £53.96 Ikea £45 Graham & Green £38 Tags 2minuteread, newDesign
Learnings From A Year As A First Time MumRead More Post author By The Mum Club Post date 20 July 2022 Learnings From A Year As A First Time Mum A Bedtime Routine Will Almost Break You (But Then It Will Set You Free) It’ll feel like Groundhog Day for at least twelve months, but once that babe is in a bedtime routine you’ll thank yourself for sticking it out. A year of routine for a lifetime of nights to yourself? Worth it. If They Don’t Sleep In The Day, They’ll Be Ok You’ll think everyone else has cracked it, but if your mum mates are driving around in their 4X4’s all day, it’s probably because the baby won’t nap without it. Seriously, don’t spend an entire day trying to get them to sleep. Get them up, play with them, do what you need to do and eventually they’ll conk out. A day here and there won’t ruin your routine, and it’s really not worth the stress. Baby TV & Toast Will Save You In Almost Every Situation Don’t fight it. It Will Take At Least A Year (maybe more) To Feel ‘Normal’ It’ll take at least a year until you feel like you’ve got your shit together. And if you don’t ever feel like you do, that’s ok too! Rely On Your Partner When You Can Learn to let go. Your partner will have their own style (which will probably send you wild) but everyone will survive and you’ll get some ‘me’ time (/sleep). Think Smart With Deliveroo We learnt this the hard way. When you fill in your order, ask your Deliveroo driver not to ring the doorbell but to call you on arrival instead. Sleeping baby and a fed mum. Never Underestimate The Power Of A Shower Whether it’s a restless newborn or a non-napping toddler, pop them in their cot with something to stare at for five minutes and jump into the shower. Drench yourself in hot soapy water, shake off whatever happened the night before and push the restart button. Do this every morning. You’ll feel great for it. No Housework Needs To Happen Right Now Really. Get Fresh Air Every Day, Even When It’s Raining Wrap up warm (but not too warm for you; walking with a baby works up quite a sweat) and get out, even if it’s just to the local Co-Op to pick up supplies for an afternoon in. Small goals, big wins. Never Be Without Calpol, Nespresso Capsules, Wine Or Chocolate Bulk buying these is your new survival skill. Baby Wipes Will Wipe Away Most Things You’ll miss them one day. They Don’t Need More Toys Buy yourself something nice and let them play with the packaging instead. Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff Again, really. COOK will save you For the days when you’re not feeling terribly Nigella, load the freezer with some smart ready meals (COOK even do them for babies). You’ll end the day with everyone fed and watered and if your MIL swings by, you can even pass them off as your own. You Will Forget The Birth Even if it nearly killed you, it will blur. Pay For The Help You Need It takes a village, and sometimes you have to pay for it; especially if there’s no family nearby. If you can afford it, get the help. You Will Never Know Love Like It Never have we loved (or been loved in return) quite like this – except by our own mums. Your heart will burst daily with unexplainable, unconditional love. Every tear, every hour of missed sleep (yours and theirs), every teething tantrum, every pregnancy ache and pain. You’ll look into their eyes and it will all melt away. The Internet Will Save You Netflix at 3am, WhatsApp at 4am and Instagram at 5am. This is the year the internet will help you more than you could ever imagine. You Will Gain A Whole New Perspective The trivial things you once worried about will vanish: your awful commute/bad tempered manager/broken coffee machine/chubby thighs (well they don’t vanish but…). You’ll start looking at the world in a much bigger picture – the things that really worry you will be the ones that impact your kids and their future, not which size pants you can squeeze yourself into. And somewhere in all of this is remembering to prioritise yourself from time to time, which is another great learning – and perhaps the most important one of all to hold onto. You’ll Love The First Year A Lot More Looking Back At It Can’t see why others celebrate that first year birthday so much? It’s because you made it! The celebration is for you not the baby. Tags Bedtimebrowse, newDesign
Things We Wish We Had Discussed As a Couple Before Having a BabyRead More You might think that the decision to have a baby is the biggest one you’ll ever make. But you’d be wrong. Starting a family sets a multiple of other critical… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 15 December 2021 Things We Wish We Had Discussed As a Couple Before Having a Baby You might think that the decision to have a baby is the biggest one you’ll ever make. But you’d be wrong. Starting a family sets a multiple of other critical decisions in motion, all to be made before you’ve quite grasped the impact of the last. It’s important then, to make sure you’re on the same page as your other half – but this is a conversation to be had while you’re awake, lucid and not harbouring a motherlode of resentment (ie before you’ve even made that baby). It’ll hurt, but it’s worth it… Can We Afford One? It reportedly costs an average £150,000 to raise a child to the age of 18, and we’d estimate about 50% of that goes on nursery fees alone. Having a kid means sacrificing all of the nice things, like four city breaks a year and your pricey Net-a-Porter habit. Statutory maternity pay wouldn’t keep most kids in Ella’s Kitchen pouches, so it’s a good idea to think about how you plan to fund your new venture. Will You Go Back To Work? When you first give birth it’s impossible to imagine being parted from your little bundle of joy but give it seven months and you might find you’ve developed a nervous twitch every time you hear the first three chords of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Before your partner finds you camped out on the doorstep at 5pm desperately waiting for some adult conversation, it’s good to have a rough plan for if/when you’d like to go back to work. Which leads inevitably to the next question…. Who Will Look After It? Nursery? In-Laws? Au-Pair? Looking after a kid post-maternity leave is 10% parenting, 90% logistics. The weekly childcare schedule is like a giant game of Jenga, it just one brick to be taken out with Norovirus and the whole thing comes tumbling down. Unless you want to find yourself in a screaming match over whose afternoon meeting is more important, you’ll need a plan with more resilience than a nuclear power station. How Will You Discipline Them? Who’ll end up playing Bad Cop? We’ll tell you right now, it’s not the absolute charlatan who’ll let them eat ice cream for breakfast if they can watch Football Focus in peace. Where Will They Go To School? Someone will want them to have ‘the best possible education regardless of the cost’, someone will bring politics into the issue. It’s a conversation that could get personal so be prepared. How Many Kids Do You Actually Want? If someone else want a five-a-side football team, ask how many they’re planning to push out of their genitals. Start negotiations low with just one kid. Anything more than that seems like a win. How Can You Protect Our Relationship? It’s ironic that nothing can single-handedly destroy your relationship quite like producing a miniature version of yourselves. You’re stressed, you’re knackered, and your poor vagina has been through enough. Get a solid plan in place pre-baby and there’s a 50 percent chance you’ll keep your kid (and your relationship) alive. Tags 3minuteread, coffeebreakcatchup, newDesign
