let's talk potty training... or not written across the floor of a bathroom

Why We Won’t Be Potty ‘Training’

When I was a first time Mum, I went along to quite a few baby groups, I listened to other parents advice, I watched how they did things and I mostly followed suit. So, when I saw them insisting that at the age of 2 we should be potty training, I just copied. I thought this was the way it was done. I very, very quickly realised that this was wrong. Jake wasn’t ready and after several attempts and lots of wet clothing later, I stopped pushing this challenge on him and left him to enjoy being a toddler.

Continue reading “Why We Won’t Be Potty ‘Training’”
Related Posts:
Why Southsea is a great day out for all the family
collage of southsea activities

I have lived in Hampshire all my life and spent a lot of my childhood visiting the great places it Read more

The Summer Holidays: Expectations Vs Reality
summer holidays expectations vs reality

Ahhhh, the summer holidays, the time of year when you get to spend more time with your kids, where routines Read more

Revive and Thrive: Strategies for Active Parenting Wellness
mum and child meditating

Active parenting requires energy, endurance, and resilience. Daily tasks involve physical activities that can strain the body, leading to discomfort Read more

Interactive Learning: Games and Activities for Children
kids colouring in

It's interesting how a simple game you played as a child could spark a conversation about effective learning today. You Read more

William my crazy toddler who is making me grey smiling at the camera very cheekily!

7 Reasons Why My Crazy Toddler Is Making Me Grey!!

When I had Jake I was shocked at how active and busy he was as a toddler. I mean I would go to these baby groups and watch the little girls sit and play quietly with toys, play acting, smiling sweetly at their Mums and then I’d look at Jake… That’s if I could find him! He was usually just gone. I mean he could walk at 10 months so what did I expect, eh? He had watched and learnt and decided that he wanted to walk before he could crawl (true story) and that is exactly what he did. Most of the time I’d find him at the door trying to escape from these playgroups which is why I stopped going to them. He liked the outdoors, he liked to run free and he knew his mind.

Continue reading “7 Reasons Why My Crazy Toddler Is Making Me Grey!!”
Related Posts:
It Is OK To Hate Pregnancy
pregnancy

On Friday Chanelle Hayes (reality TV star) went on This Morning to discuss her pregnancy. Having suffered with weight gain, Read more

When Should I Encourage my Baby to Socialise?
smily happy baby

*Collaborative Post Socialisation is an important part of life that has the power to open doors, allows us to make Read more

Our Favourite Wooden Toys
a photo of our favourite wooden toys in a nursery

* Affiliate Links As an eco blogger, I am often asked about wooden toys and which our favourite are. However, Read more

Your Cloth Nappy Questions Answered
you cloth nappy questions answered

*Affiliate Links Changing to cloth nappies has been a really positive move for us as a family. Not only are Read more

nursing box ideas

Nursing Box Ideas To Keep Your Toddler Entertained

*Affiliate Links

Preparing to bring a new arrival home from hospital is an important task and one area I have been thinking about is something that will help to make Jake feel included and entertained whilst I am nursing his baby brother; a nursing box. This will be a special box that he can go to at any time for when he is feeling bored or possibly left out and will keep him happily occupied whilst I am otherwise engaged. I know he will have a good understanding at his age but it will all still be very strange and new to him and as he has been the only child for 4 years I want him to feel as though his needs are also being thought about.

So, I have had a little hunt around on the internet to find items that will suit his needs and these are what have grabbed my attention and are going on my wishlist.

Continue reading “Nursing Box Ideas To Keep Your Toddler Entertained”
Related Posts:
Enjoying Your Garden This Autumn
apple on a tree in an autumn garden

*Collaborative Post Can you believe that the summer has been and gone already? All that time spent making sure that Read more

How to Support a Foster Child’s Transition into Your Home
a child with two foster parents

Embarking on the journey of fostering a child is a profound act of compassion that requires thoughtful preparation and a Read more

The Importance Of Teaching Your Kids About Internet Safety With Safer Kids Online
safer kids online workbook with a mobile phone, headset, tablet and game controller around it

*Ad As a parent of a primary school-aged child, I have recently started to worry more and more about how Read more

Your Cloth Nappy Questions Answered
you cloth nappy questions answered

*Affiliate Links Changing to cloth nappies has been a really positive move for us as a family. Not only are Read more

from nursery to toddler room in a few simple steps

From Nursery To Toddler Room In A Few Simple Steps

*Gifted Product

With a new baby on the way we felt it was time to put some focus onto Jake. We decided the best way to do this was to update his bedroom before we begin on the new nursery. His room has been kept almost the same since he was born and as he will be four this year we felt it was time for it to shift from nursery to toddler room. This is how we achieved it in a few simple steps…

BEFORE:

Continue reading “From Nursery To Toddler Room In A Few Simple Steps”
Related Posts:
How to Remove Damp Smell from Basement?
hand and cloth

Mould and mildew thrive in damp, musty environments, and basements are no exception. Standing water has a distinct stench, a Read more

How To Stay Hydrated This Summer
a glass of water

Summer is here, and it’s time to stay hydrated and cool in style! What better way to do that than Read more

9 Essential Tips for a Luxury Bathroom Remodel
luxury bathroom

Transforming your bathroom into a luxurious sanctuary is not just about elevating your home's aesthetic appeal; it's about creating a Read more

The Quiet Impact of Thoughtful Flower Gifting
flowers

There’s something deeply moving about receiving flowers when you least expect them. No milestone. No obligation. Just a quiet, thoughtful Read more

little house of science

Making Learning Fun with Little House of Science

*Collaborative Post

Back in the day, when I was at school, you were there to learn and this meant the classes were usually pretty serious. I always did well in the interactive classes– Music, Science, English– but I struggled with Maths from the start. For me, it was always explained in a very complicated way. If I can relate information I am given to practical situations and it seems logical to me I can take it all in and learn and perhaps if it had all been made more fun I may have been much more engaged. It wasn’t until I failed my Maths GCSE and had to re-do a year at college that I found a teacher who finally made it all ‘click’.

Continue reading “Making Learning Fun with Little House of Science”
Related Posts:
My baby is growing up
a baby

We all have those weeks where we tend to notice more changes in our bubba's, especially when they are very Read more

How to Teach Your Teen Body Positivity
teen girl standing in front of a coloured wall

*Collaborative Post We live in a world that’s very image conscious. You’ve only got to look at fashion magazines to Read more

Digital Marketing Mums on Finding a Balance Between Family and Business
digital marketing mums interview

*Guest Post How many times have you been described as a “budding businesswoman and loving mother?” I can venture a Read more

8 Fun School Holiday Ideas for Kids
kids doing crafts

School holidays are the perfect time for kids to recharge, have fun, and enjoy new experiences away from the pressure Read more

pre school days across 3 pictures of boy by door

Our New Routine: The Start of Pre-School

You may remember how just over a month ago I was upset at the thought of losing my little guy to pre-school for 12.5 hours a week and I wrote a tongue in cheek post about childcare to make light of it all. Well, here we are in the first week of February and I thought I would give you an update on how we are all coping with the changes and how the start of pre-school has affected us both…

Continue reading “Our New Routine: The Start of Pre-School”
Related Posts:
4 Ways To Get Your Children Ready To Start School
a child holding a handmade rocket

Even though summer break hasn't started yet, it's never too early to start thinking about the next school year. When Read more

Top Tips for Choosing a School for Your Child
a table of school items with a child sat behind

Choosing a school for your child is a big milestone for parents and can be quite an overwhelming experience. There’s Read more

How to Help Your Kiddo Succeed in School
child and building blocks

All parents want to see their children succeed in school. The key to helping your kid excel academically is your Read more

The Differences Between a Three-Year-Old and a Two-Year-Old
a two year old boy holding hands with a three year old girl at sunset

As a first-time parent, it can be easy to get swept along with the milestone charts, the opinions of others, Read more

album cover of belightful music

How We Have Been Tackling Bedtime With Belightful Music

*Gifted Product

As you are probably aware by now, Jake does not sleep well. The issues vary from refusing to go to bed, getting up several times once we have put him to bed to waking up at a variety times during the night. There is no rhyme or reason, the health visitor could not solve the issue by changing meal times, varying his food or by introducing a gro-clock and as he doesn’t do it at the same time every night so it isn’t a habitual issue. I have tried every trick in the book, even resorting to

Continue reading “How We Have Been Tackling Bedtime With Belightful Music”
Related Posts:
For First Steps Sustainable Toys Giveaway
for first steps logo and toys plus giveaway

*Collaborative Post 'For First Steps' is a brand new eco-friendly, ethically sourced, unique online shop which is brimming with beautiful Read more

How to Make a Mr Tickle World Book Day Costume
Mr Tickle World Book Day Costume

*Affiliate Links World Book Day is just around the corner and this year my child decided to really test my Read more

Review | Colour Chameleon Game From Jumbo
colour chameleon game

*Gifted Product, Amazon affiliate links I recently attended a blogging conference where I was fortunate enough to speak to lots Read more

Surviving Working From Home During The School Holidays
working from home during the holidays

If you are a parent that works from home you will know that once the school holidays begin your work/home Read more