Christmassy Food for Toddlers & Babies

Christmas - 'Tis the season of chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate. If you normally end up desperate for a nice crisp salad by Boxing Day or have little ones that won't need any additional help in the energy stakes, why not plan a few healthy snacks to go alongside the usual festive indulgence? They can still be Christmassy - it just takes a little bit of imagination!

We've gathered a few ideas to get you started...

(NB: Please be careful with some of the ingredients below - there can be a severe risk of choking especially with grapes, shallots and cherry tomatoes. Please chop in four lengthwise before giving to a baby or toddler)

Breakfast with Rudolph








We like things like this because it doesn't involve any specialist cooking - just a bit of 're-arranging'!

Santa Kebabs

   

These Santa Kebabs make the perfect mid-morning snack - just remember to be cautious of the cocktail sticks - we recommend removing them before your toddler starts to eat.

The Banana Santa uses a large marshmallow cut in half with a banana slice between them. (If you are not going to be eating these right away, dip the banana in lemon or orange juice to avoid browning). Top with a strawberry and small marshmallow. Use a couple of chocolate sprinkles for the eyes and a smartie or another piece of strawberry for the nose.

The Grape Santa's are similar, only with smaller marshmallows!

Vegetable "Gingerbread" House

How brave are you feeling??! If you've got the time (or the energy!), this vegetable snow lodge makes a fantastic impact and is a refreshing change from it's gingerbread counterpart. It looks like great fun to make and there's plenty of room for improvisation!

You'll need: 

Six 8" carrot logs (1 front, 5 back)

Eight 5" carrot logs (lodge sides)

Eight 3" carrot logs (front)

Eight 1 1/4" logs (by front door) 

Four 1 1/2" carrot logs (window opening)

Three 7" carrot log rafters

Sixteen 6" roof celery stalks

Foam core board gable measures 8"x 6" x 6"

Slice of turnip for window

Toothpicks & cream cheese mortar fasten cucumbers and celery 

Bamboo skewers to stack chimney mushroom "stones"

The Christmas Tree Centrepiece

Built from florists foam, some toothpicks and a selection of fresh vegetables, this Christmas Tree will be the talking point of the table - go on, give it a try - how hard can it be?!!

By this stage, you are either a complete expert at 'building with food' or you've given up and are busy ordering profiterole towers from M&S.  Either way, we hope you have a fantastic Christmas and are not too chocolated-out by New Year!

Recipes found on cleanandscentsible.com

Stuck for Gift Ideas? Discover Other Options at Born

Are you stuck for gift ideas for a friend or relative? Maybe they prefer to select their own present, or you'd like to get them something special but you're not sure about the specific items that they need?  We've put together a few ideas that take the stress out of searching for the perfect present!

Bristol Pounds: The Gift that Keeps on Giving

If your friend or relative lives in or near Bristol, why not present them with some Bristol Pounds? They can be spent in independent shops (including Born!!), cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants all over Bristol – and for Christmas they come in a limited edition Bristol Pound gift card.

When you spend Bristol Pounds, you’ll know that more of the money will stay in Bristol (up to four times more than pounds sterling). That’s a big boost for Bristol and makes your gift even more special!

Visit bristolpound.org to find out more.

Your Baby Your Way at Born

If you are buying for expectant parents, why not book them in for a one-to-one baby consultation service at Born, where they can receive expert advice on our carefully chosen parent and baby products and services. 

By booking a dedicated personal shopping slot with a senior sales person, you can guarantee a convenient and comprehensive experience.  We will go through the items they will need, and demonstrate the larger ones such as furniture and buggies. There will be time for a bra fitting, as well as the opportunity to make a 'baby list' for relatives and friends to purchase gifts, or contribute towards larger items. We charge a booking fee of fifty pounds, which is refundable at the end of the session or within 3 months, against any purchase made. A minimum spend of one hundred pounds is required.

Donation Packs for Baby Bank Network

The Baby Bank Network seeks to relieve poverty by providing good quality new and pre-owned baby items to families in need. Started and chaired by Born Founder Eva Fernandes, the Network strives to improve living environments for babies and children, reduce financial burden for families, improve mental health for vulnerable people and enable a focus on other aspects of home life rather than financial burden.

You can choose to donate a pack of essential items for a newborn (including nappies, wipes and cotton wool) or for a new mum (including breast pads, maternity pads and nipple cream). All donations go directly to the families referred by local social and health professionals.

Gift Vouchers

If you're still undecided about which gift would be best, or would like to give your friend or relative the chance to choose, you can't go wrong with a Born Gift Voucher, available to spend online at Borndirect or in our Bristol store.

Natural Christmas Crafts to do with Children

It's December 1st and time to get crafty! It's lovely to involve little ones in the preparations for Christmas, so we've scoured the internet for some great ideas of things to make with your toddler -  all using things that you can collect on a wintery walk through the woods...


1. Pine Cone Creatures

Pine cones look really effective covered in glitter and hanging from a Christmas Tree, but why not go further and create little animals, elves or snowmen? We love this reindeer, found at www.firefliesandmudpies.com - just add pipe-cleaners, a little pom pom and some googly eyes!



2. Mini Christmas Trees

These really effective mini Christmas Trees can be made using little sprigs of yew or off-cuts from Christmas Trees and a cork or two (great excuse to open a bottle!) - you will need to make a small hole in the cork, before giving it to your child to start creating! They can make whole forests which you could even cover with glitter if you're feeling brave!

Just remember not to leave your toddler alone with the corks or the sprigs - and when they're finished, put them on display somewhere where they can't be reached.



3.  Icy Candle Holders

These ice candle holders look beautiful and are simple to make:  

i. Find 2 freezable containers and put one inside the other so that there is a gap of about an inch all around.  

ii. Put leaves, twigs and anything else that you have collected into the gap before filling the gap with water. 

iii. Tape a stock across the top to keep the smaller container in place. Then place upright in a freezer to freeze! 

iv. When frozen, remove the containers (fill the inner one with hot water if you need to), and pop in a small candle or tea-light.

4. Twig Christmas Trees

What is it about toddlers and sticks?! If your back door constantly has a collection of favourite sticks that your little one has found, put them to good use and help them create their very own Christmas Tree! This is so easy to make and your child can choose to decorate them with leaves and moss, or things that they find in the house. 

If you're feeling really adventurous, why not have a go at this one...

5. Log Santas

Ok, so it's not often that you come back from a walk with 3 or 4 logs, but we couldn't resist including these sweet little log santas! If you have any cut logs, perch them up on end, paint the hats, beards and eyes, and glue on a round pom pom for the nose!

Send us images of any Christmas craft that you do with your children and we'll put it on our facebook  and pinterest pages!

Top Ten Gifts for New Mums

New mums are so often given gifts for their babies and while that's often useful and appreciated, gifts that nurture mothers can powerfully remind them that they matter too. That's why we've put together our "top ten" list of gifts for new mums, and with Christmas approaching, there might be some ideas for some not-so-new mums too!


1.

Mums Gorgeous Pampering Box by Natalia. All new mothers deserve a little luxury and should be encouraged to have a nice, unwinding bath regularly. Or try the New Parent Survival Box with some gorgeous massage oil that can be used on mum or the baby!


2.

An incredibly comfortable maternity and nursing bra - new mums need to live and often sleep in these, so a bra that is gentle and totally soft to wear will be appreciated!



3.

Some gift vouchers from Born. You can use these online to shop while sitting on the sofa feeding. Alternatively, you could make a home-made voucher booklet for gifts of time and energy, like an hour of cleaning, home-cooked meals, a good foot rub. This is a great gift for a close friend or sister.



4.

A supportive book about parenting. We like Imperfectly Natural Woman by Janey Lee Grace - a great read about how to maintain a healthy, greener lifestyle as a family whilst recognising our imperfections! We've got an offer on ALL parenting books at the moment, so when you buy two, you get a third free!



5.

A comfortable sling or wrap to help her get out and about without any hassle - there are some gorgeous wraps in our range including the Je Porte Mon Bebe Lightweight Wraps which have some great, funky designs.



6.

A beautiful blanket, to keep both her and her baby warm during night feeds. These are lovely for snuggling up with, especially on wintery evenings.



7.

Some herbal teas, plus a cute teapot to go with them - and some cakes! Or you could add a regular veg box delivery. It's more healthy than just cakes and if you chip in and get with a bunch of friends you can often get quite generous boxes that include eggs, milk etc.


8.

The ultimate gift - an Olliella chair. It will last forever and looks beautiful in any room.


9.

A great changing bag is useful. The Pacapod Changing Bags are a changing bag in disguise and can be used as a handbag once nappy-days are over!



10.

A cleaner. Many firms will do a big house clean or come for a few hours several times a week. This could mean more to the new mum in your life than you know!

Don't forget to look at our special New Parent Gifts section on our website for more ideas!

Dressing Your Baby for Cold Weather

With all hopes of that Indian Summer long gone, it's sadly time to put away your baby's shorts, sunhat and sunshade. But don't be too disheartened - Autumn and Winter are an exciting time, especially when you have a little one. You have Christmas back to being almost as fun as it was when you were a child, Bonfire night, Halloween and lots of lovely walks in the woods.

However, many new parents worry about keeping their baby warm enough as the weather get colder, and often a lot wetter too. How do you keep your baby snug without them getting too hot?


Indoors

A great rule that we often advise our shop customers is to use your own clothing as a guideline for dressing your baby – if you are wearing several layers, then your baby will need roughly the same number themselves.

Try to stick to natural fibres such as silk, cotton and wool as these are more breathable than synthetics and will, in the case of wool, regulate your baby’s temperature somewhat too.  Why not go further and knit your little one their own cardigans and jumpers? Knitting patterns have come a long way since the dowdiness of the 1970's and 80's!

For little babies, a close-fitting hat to keep their heads warm is a good idea as babies lose most of their body heat through their heads. They won’t need to sleep in these though.

Older babies and toddlers, especially once they are mobile, need layers that allow them to move without feeling too bulky - again, natural fibres allow little bodies to breathe whilst keeping them warm.

A close fitting hat can keep young babies warm during the day

Outdoors

When you are out and about, a good all-in-one is a fantastic choice. There's no need to add layers underneath and you can simply remove it when you’re back inside and not have to worry about your baby being overdressed. Some all-in-ones have mittens incorporated in the design, so little fingers and hands will stay warm too - if yours doesn't, make sure you take some mittens along too (it's worth having spares, as baby mittens seem to vanish in the winter, in the same way that baby socks do in the summer!).

You will want to keep their feet covered with either socks or booties, especially if you are carrying them in a sling. Baby Legwarmers are a brilliant idea for sling passengers too - they add extra warmth to your baby's legs without bulking them out and making them uncomfortable. They also make nappy changes so much easier!  Indoors and in the sling, Padraig slippers are a great choice and have been one of our best-sellers for over ten years.

Remove hats, gloves and coats as soon as you get inside to avoid overheating.

Waterproof Overalls are great for toddlers and older children

Night Time

At night, you may worry about your baby’s room getting colder and how to keep them snuggly without overheating. If you want to check if your baby is warm enough, feel their tummies; often their hands and feet will feel colder and this is completely normal.

A room thermometer may give you added peace of mind at night. If you are using a sleeping bag, don’t use a blanket as well. Sleeping bags are a great way to keep your baby warm at night and avoid them kicking off the covers.

What do you most look forward to doing with your baby as the weather gets colder?

Top Tips for Coping with Morning Sickness Naturally

Morning Sickness usually occurs within the first trimester of pregnancy, but it can last throughout the whole nine months with varying degrees of intensity. If you are struggling with morning sickness, what can you do to help alleviate the symptoms that is safe and risk free for both you and your baby? We asked the ante-natal teachers and doulas of Relaxed Birth and Parenting for their top natural tips for coping with morning sickness:

• A Ginger Drink: Take a piece of root ginger about 5cms long, hit it with a rolling pin, put it in pan with boiling water and simmer for 20mins with the lid on - allow to cool, and sip.


• Dry arrowroot biscuits


• Try roll on 'Morning Sickness Ease' by Natalia, a blend of Peppermint, Ginger and Bergamot essential oils to apply to your pulse points. 


• Ginger beer


• Ginger biscuits


• Preggie Pops - Naturally flavoured with essential oils, these lollipops and sweets help to naturally relieve nausea.


• Flat Lemonade


• Bath Olivers


• Acupuncture


• Reflexology


• Homeopathy  See a Homeopath or take Nux Vomica 6c (please make sure to seek advice from a practitioner before taking any homeopathic remedies).


• Cold showers


• Sucking on ice cubes


• Sniffing lemons


• Dry toast


• Digestive biscuits


• A Shot of Ginger Tincture:  This should be taken with water, as ginger tinctures are usually in about 90% alcohol (don't worry about the alcohol...you're only taking about 2ml of tincture in one go, probably even less as ginger is so strong)


• Eating frequently, and lots of rest and sleep


• Eating something before getting out of bed

Try the one that sounds attractive, see how you go and then move on to another if no relief - and remember, it will all be worth it!

Halloween Pumpkins for Babies & Toddlers

With Halloween approaching, we've gathered a few ideas of pumpkin activities that you can do with little ones who are too small to trick or treat. Whether Halloween marks for you the changing of the seasons or is simply a good excuse for dressing up, there are loads of ways to include toddlers and babies in the festivities.

Pumpkin Art

Get the finger paints out and get decorating! These hand print pumpkins are great, even for young babies. Just make sure you use baby-friendly paints, as not all the colour will end up on the paper!

Pumpkin Footprints

If your little ones are too young to get involved with the carving, let them make their marks in a slightly safer way - we love these ghost-footprints!

Pumpkin Printing

Cut the image of a carved pumpkin into a potato and get printing! Alternatively, cut an apple in half and dip into orange paint - the prints look like perfect pumpkins, especially when faces are drawn on afterwards! (We suspect that the examples below have been ever-so-carefully crafted by adults - your toddler's prints may not turn out quite so pristine, but we bet they'll have a great time doing them!)

Pumpkin Carving

This one is for adults only! A brilliant idea for celebrating your baby's first Halloween is to use their handprints and footprints as a template for your carved pumpkin face... Position their hands or feet, draw round them, REMOVE their hands or feet (ahem!!), then get carving!  We think it's really effective...

For more ideas on celebrating Halloween with a baby or toddler, visit our Pinterest page.

However you choose to celebrate, have a happy and safe Halloween, and we'd love you to send us any of your Halloween pictures - post them here, or on our Facebook page!  

Newborn Baby Gifts from Born - Unwrapped by Tigerlilly Quinn

This week, we were thrilled to be featured in the brilliant Tigerlilly Quinn blog, written by the award-winning blogger Fritha Strickland. Fritha is pregnant with her second child, so we sent her a gift box of special goodies for a newborn, including the floral pig from Best Years that proved very popular!

Fritha wrote,

"I'm teaming up with a local to me independent business today called BORN. I first started shopping with them when Wilf was a baby and I love just how much they care about the products they sell and the customers they sell them too. We bought our Ergo sling from BORN when Wilf was about 5 months old and I remember then thinking how good it was that they took the time to find the right one for us rather than trying to sell me the most expensive one.

What's good for you guys though if you aren't local is that they also have an online shop too. Eva the owner was kind enough to gift me with a little newborn package and we thought it would be fun to 'unbox' them."

You can read the full Tigerlilly Quinn blog at www.tigerlillyquinn.com

Here are the products that we sent to Fritha - what do you think of them?!

Natural Zoo Cotton Toy Pig by Best Years, £15.00

Natural Curve Nursing Pillow by Ergobaby, £59.90

Organic Cotton Reversible Bandana Baby Bib by Pigeon Organics, £8.20

Prenatal Bath Soak by Natalia, £8.25

White Mallow Baby Derma Nappy Change Cream by Weleda, £8.95

Muslin Long Sleeve Kimono All-in-One by Aden & Anais, £26

David Fussenegger Baby Blanket - see the selection

Cozy Organic Cotton Rattle & Comforter by Keptin Jnr, £10

Seven Secrets of a Joyful Birth by Dominique Sakoilsky, £12.99

Milestone Baby Cards, Miffy Edition, £12.99

Wool Baby Slippers by Padraig Cottage, from £21.00