Opening the Doors for Born to Grow

This year Born celebrates 16 years in business. We started in 2000 at a time when the term 'Green Parenting' hadn't been heard of and Fairtrade and the idea of shopping ethically had yet to reach the mainstream.

We are proud to have been involved in creating awareness about these issues and will continue to take them as our bottom line when sourcing the products to sell. Thankfully there are more of these available now than ever. Sadly however, there has been an increase in items that are not only harmful to the planet and to the people making them but also to us as users.  So our discernment when it comes to curating products has become even more invaluable.

Integral to the business is sharing information about conscious parenting. This is something that I feel just as passionate about and is something to which I want to dedicate more of my time and energy.  If you've been a follower of Born you will also know that I am involved in various other projects including Mums Say No to GMOs and the Baby Bank Network, and it's these causes and a few others (like the ones in the word cloud above) that I feel need a bit more of my attention.

With all this considered, myself and the other owners of the business have decided that now would be a good time to look at bringing in a business partner(s) who are also passionate about ethical baby products and want to build on the success the business has achieved so far both in the UK and on the world wide platform.

If you think this is something you have the time and money for, or just want to invest, we would love to hear from you.

Eva, Born Co-Founder

Parenting - Banishing the Winter Blues

by Guest Bloggers, Water Babies


Christmas is over, winter is in full force, and the warmer days of spring still feel a long way away. Here’s how Water Babies can help cheer you up.

The sun rises much later than small children, and it hides behind a blanket of cloud thicker than the duvet under which we wish we could stay! No wonder so many of us get a little down.

The ‘winter blues’ are characterised by the mild depression, lack of motivation, and low energy. Known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, it’s a recognised condition that affects adults and children. Luckily, there’s plenty you can do to help pick yourself up.

Get some exercise

As though improved fitness, help with shifting a few pounds and a better metabolism weren’t enough, exercise also releases feel good hormones. Any exercise will do wonders for your health and mood, but it can be hard to fit it in when you have a baby – unless you find something you can do together.

Unlike pushing the pram on a walk, swimming is one activity where you and your little one can both get benefits. Moving through the water is a brilliant cardio-vascular and strengthening workout for adult and child. In one Water Babies class, you can burn about 300 calories, and it helps improve your baby’s sleep patterns.

Get social

Friends are a wonderful tonic to feeling low. Planning time to relax and have fun together, even just have a chat over a coffee, will help lift you. For mums, that special support you get from other mums is so important that it even has its own word – mumpathy!

There are groups across Bristol and other towns and cities that have been set up to help mums meet each other. But taking part in an activity, group or class where you bond with a group of other parents is another great way to form lasting friendships.

The social side of meeting and swimming together is something many parents love about Water Babies. Wendy, mum to Charlotte, made firm friendships in their Water Babies class. “We always go for lunch at the farm shop after swimming,” says Wendy.

But it’s not just these blossoming friendships that’s so important, it’s also the bond between parent and child. Swimming with your baby is magical. For the time you’re in the pool together, you are completely focussed on one another, skin-to-skin in warm water. Afterwards you have a sense of having accomplished something; having spent your time well.

“Our Water Babies class is one of the most fun and bonding things I’ve done with my daughter,” says Charlotte, mum to Olivia. “The creative, playful atmosphere of the class has built her confidence and now we can’t wait for our weekly splash!”

We teach Water Babies classes in warm, private pools across Bristol, Bath and North Somerset. To find out more, please call 0117 946 6919.


www.waterbabies.co.uk