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Find out about Conwy Breastfeeders Peer Supporters 7th March 2012

February 22nd, 2012

Conwy Breastfeeding Friends Peer Supporters have been nominated for the Pride Of Conwy Award and have decided to open their doors to those wanting further information about training to become a Peer Supporter.

Have you ever thought you’d like to help other mothers?  Have you breastfed your children for a 6 months or longer?  If so then come along to Princes Drive Baptist Church, Colwyn Bay, LL29 8LA on the Wednesday 7th March, from 10am-12pm.

You can ask questions about the training and what’s involved.  You can also find out about becoming a Breastfeeding Councillor too.  If you would like some Peer Support yourself, then you are welcome too.

There will be some filming for our awards clip but that won’t take up much time.  Tea and coffee will be available and some friendly faces and children are always welcome.

 

Posted in Breastfeeding | Comments

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Kids books about breastfeeding

By Lisa Lactivist, on May 9th, 2011

Sophie and the New Baby (Anholt Family Favourites)

One day, Sophie’s mum tells her some big, important news: there’s going to be a new baby in the family! Sophie is very excited but then, one winter’s night, the baby is born and everything changes . . . Young children and adults alike will enjoy sharing and talking about this much-loved classic picture book, with its perceptive, heart-warming and witty observations on the arrival of a new baby.

Near Mamas Heart

Near Mama’s Heart, with colorful photos of nursing babies and their families, describes the power of breastfeeding from a child’s perspective.
This one-of-a-kind book illustrates the beauty and importance of the most natural and precious gift a child can ever receive.

The Baby’s Catalogue

Mums and Dads, breakfasts and bedtimes, pets and toys and prams and swings – and lots and lots of other fascinating things!This charmingly illustrated, funny book presents a vast array of baby paraphernalia that should be instantly recognizable and absorbing to a young child. ‘A book which every child under three should have’

Topsy and Tim: The New Baby

Topsy and Tim visit Tony and his new baby brother Jack. They see Tony’s mum looking after Jack and watch him being breast fed, having his nappy changed and being bathed.

There’s a House Inside My Mummy

A gentle and tender story of a little boy waiting for his little brother or sister to arrive.  Told with humour and a simple rhyming text, this is the perfect picture book for all expectant brothers and sisters!

We Like to Nurse

Brilliantly illustrated, this book celebrates the wonder of breastfeeding in humans and animals. A lovely book for young children and mothers.

Biggest Bed in the World

Ben’s dad wasn’t getting much sleep. There were too many children in his bed. Not just Ben, but also his baby brother Billy. And then the twins, Beth and Bart, arrived. There was only one thing for it! Ben’s dad fetched his tools, and set to work building the biggest bed in the world. At last he had enough room to sleep comfortably, even after the triplets, Briony, Bella and Boris were born. But, unfortunately for Ben’s dad, he still had a problem. The biggest bed in the world was also the heaviest bed in the world and one night, in the middle of the night, it began to move! Lindsay Camp’s hilarious tale will delight pre-school children, who will love the rhythmic, patterned language and the outrageous idea of a bed on the move with a whole family asleep on top of it. AGE 3-7

May 9th, 2011 | Tags: , | Category: Parenting, Play | One comment

About Boobee Mamma Breastfeeding Sock Dolls

By Lisa Lactivist, on September 8th, 2010

“I am a nearly 37 year old mum with two children (Connor nearly 4 and Katie nearly 2). I gave up teaching in a primary school (which I loved) so I could look after my son and haven’t looked back. Although money is tight, my husband and I are content with our lifestyle choice which is just as well as we are going to home educate our littlies and so won’t be bringing in much money any time soon. :D

I like being creative, when I get the time, and I am not looking after children, cats, dogs or chickens. I enjoy cooking/baking, making jams and chutneys, making ring slings and clothes, making cards and my latest Sok Doodes. Sok Doodes were sock dolls that I made for my children but after I put photos on Facebook, I had lots of friends and family asking me to make them all kinds of creatures. My midwife loved them and asked if I could make a breastfeeding doll and I accepted the challenge as it was something that I had wondered about in the past myself and so Boobee Mamma was born!

As I posted the orginal photos on Facebook, a friend suggested I make a toddler as well as a baby so she could be a tandem feeding doll. Already she has created a lot of discussion at a family party and if I don’t get the opportunity to feed my daughter in my efforts to normalise breastfeeding (which to be honest, happen fairly regularly :D )  then at least I have something else to help the cause!

Boobee Mammas can be found on Facebook as well as my website www.lil-treasure.co.uk. If anybody wants to buy a Boobee Mamma, they can contact me through Facebook or email: boobeemamma@littleave.freeserve.co.uk

Tracey”

September 8th, 2010 | Category: Play, Things we like | Leave a comment

Like to WIN a BOOBIE BUDDIES Breastfeeding Doll set! NBAW

By Pip Wheelwright, on May 7th, 2009

With kind permission of Lisa,  MooMum, also see
“Things We Like” section, for more details:
run via Me – Pip aka Boobie Buddies Ltd &
Sharon Trotter – TIPS website,
to promote National Breastfeeding Awareness Week 2009.
WIN – WIN – WIN – WIN
A BOOBIE BUDDIES DOLL SET – for NBAW – May 2009 !!
visit Sharon Trotter – TIPS website
click on the “stop press area” and follow instructions!
1 x  Boobie Buddies doll set (of your choice) worth £40.00p
Winner drawn on May 22nd 2009!
Please spread the Breastfeeding word! –
feel free to browse my website for more information, and offers.
Kind Regards    Mrs Pip Wheelwright
Boobie Buddies Ltd.   The “NATURAL” way to role play!

May 7th, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Category: Breastfeeding Campaigns, Breastfeeding Events, Freebies, Lactivism, Play, Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and Weaning, Things we like | Leave a comment

Moomum’s mum’s vegan muffin recipe

By Lisa Lactivist, on July 11th, 2008

Great for breakfast, for a rainy day, for a picnic on a sunny day, sod it, who needs an excuse!

Here is the recipe-[don't be afraid to add extras-I iike them with chopped eating apple added,or dried apricots-]You need-
225g[8oz]self-raisingflour
225g[8oz]vegetable marg
100g[4oz] raw cane sugar
2tspns.vanilla essence
2 medium-sized ripe bananas.
Mix together the marg.,sugar and vanilla.-[I use the blender] then add the bananas,then flour.
Fill muffin cases well-[This makes about 8]and bake at gas mark 4 for 20-30 minutes until well risen and golden coloured
Enjoy !

We added food colouring to ours and iced them to stop them being so healthy!

July 11th, 2008 | Tags: , , , , | Category: Play, Recipes | Leave a comment

Rainy Day Ideas compiled from Baby Greenhouse posts by Lisa Cole

By Lisa Lactivist, on July 9th, 2008

I am always on the look out for things to do with a very active toddler when the weather is bad. This list is complied from loads of posts on the wonderful Baby Greenhouse Baby and Toddler forum.

creative/messy
  • baking (pre weigh everthing so all he has to do is empty into bowl mix and put in tin or cases)
  • painting
  • play doh
  • stickers
  • scribbling
  • gloop (cornflour and water)
  • watch a DVD/video where they make something and then do the same (eg in one of the Fimble DVDs we have they have a glitter theme.. do glitter picture sand make glittery biscuits)
  • Washing muddy stones from the garden
  • Make some coloured ice cubes, or ice cubes with things in (like raisins, leaves etc) and let her melt them on a tray?
  • Decorating biscuits?
  • Make some salt dough and shape and bake it, paint it and stick it on the christmas tree?
  • We had a fab time yesterday cutting up loads of magazines and those irritating flyers that fall out of newspapers along with old Christmas cards and then sticking all the bits onto A4 paper.
  • Make Snowflakes? (folding up paper and tearing bits out and she can decorate it with glitter/crayons/pens ect)

active indoors
  • make an obstacle course and do lots of running round and jumping
  • do some mad dancing to fun music
  • Trampolining (on the bed)
  • Put up a tent (or sheet over a table) and make a den for him and all his toys
  • Take all the cushions off sofas etc and build a huge obstacle course – you sit and watch while he climbs everything
  • Huge bubble bath, all his pots, pans etc.. and pop him in to “wash everything up”
  • Turn on the radio or play your fav CD and dance and sing?
  • Get some of your old clothes and take turns playing dress up.
  • building towers with lego/wooden bricks/stickle bricks etc
  • chase ballons around

active outdoors
  • brave the weather and go puddle jumping and come home for a nice warm drink and story time
  • Go to the library or a musuem
  • Bundle him up and go to the park – is there somewhere you can shelter (and have a coffee) while he runs around
  • Local soft play
  • Or into the garden with a bucket and spade to dig for worms while you supervise from inside with a coffee
  • Round trip on a bus (just for fun !!) (ditto train)
  • Supermarket – if you have a big one nearby go have a wander, play I spy, whatever
  • Local bookshop
  • Have you got a toy library nearby?
  • go for a walk and kick leaves
  • We also went out collecting Autumn leaves earlier in the week and have stuck them onto paper too.
  • have a pretend picnic.
  • playing baby with her doll (if she has one) give it a bath, feed it etc.

July 9th, 2008 | Tags: , | Category: Play | Leave a comment

Summer Holiday Activities by Arabella Greatorex

By Lisa Lactivist, on July 9th, 2008

Summer holidays are a wonderful time, lots of time for children to relax and unwind from the stresses of a long school year. It can also be an expensive time for parents as children demand yet another expensive toy to keep them amused.

Keep a holiday journal

Buy a scrap or notebook for each child to keep mementoes of the summer break in. The front can be decorated and the pages filled with drawings of things seen, stories of summer adventures, feathers, leaves, flowers collected on day trips, postcards of places visited etc.

Older children will enjoy writing about all the new things they have seen, reports on trips to the museum, or inventing stories about people they have met; younger children can draw pictures or make collages from collected items eg a tree made out of leaves collect on a trip to the park.

Make a holiday picture

This is similar to the above idea buts makes a pictorial memento instead. After each trip out, help your child to make a picture of the day, incorporating items found during the trip.

For example, collect sand, small shells and stones, seagull feathers, seaweed etc on a trip to the seaside, then use these to make a collage of the beach.

Dedicate a special space on the wall to show off these works of art.

Have a mini Olympics

Prepare a few stations in the garden in advance, based on your child(ren)’s ability – toddlers may need help the first time round.

  • Throw 3 balls or bean bags into a box
  • Walk along a piece of string
  • Jump in and out of a hula hoop 3 times
  • Catch a thrown ball 3 times
  • Stand on your head for 30 seconds
  • Stand on 1 leg for a minute
  • Run from one side of the garden to the other as fast as possible.
  • Kick a ball into a goal 3 times

Go on a bear hunt

Hide some toy animals around the garden (or in the house if it is wet) and see how many can be found. Older children will enjoy it if the animals are very well hidden, perhaps with clues to their location dotted around.

Organise a picnic

Get your child to help you prepare some simple food, sandwiches, salad, etc and turn a trip to the park into a special event. If it is too wet to go out, put a rug down in the sitting room and have your picnic there instead.

Rainy days

Children need exercise, so if it is too wet for a trip out, play Simon Says, ask for help with the cleaning, tidy the toys away together, put on that old exercise video you have had for ages and see how many exercises you can do together.

Musical Animals

Place several soft animals in a circle and turn on some music, When the music stops, each child picks up an animal then takes it in turn to act out the animal – think about how the animal moves as well as the noises it makes. This can be adapted for one or several children.

Make a book

For younger children, cut out lots of pictures from old magazines, toy catalogues etc and let your child stick them in a special book. Add in photographs of family and friends and make up simple stories.

Older children will like the challenge of writing their own book, so provide plenty of paper and pencils to the budding J K Rowling and lend a willing ear to the first reading.

Hold a puppet show

Make simple puppets out of old socks or a paper bag with a face or animal drawn on it. Act out a favourite book or invent a new story. Older children can make more complicated puppets themselves and be the puppeteers with you (and the teddies) as the audience.

Arabella Greatorex is the owner of www.naturalnursery.co.uk, an online store selling organic and fairly traded products for families including organic clothing and nappies, fairly traded toys and natural toiletries.

July 9th, 2008 | Tags: , , | Category: Play | Leave a comment

Cooking with a Toddler by Lisa Cole

By Lisa Lactivist, on July 9th, 2008

‘Cooking’ in our house is a broad term that basically means splatting the walls with cake mixture and stirring pancake mixture with bananas. That’s fine by me to a certain extent, most things are washable and I wouldn’t want to be accused of stifling my sons creativity, but I have developed a couple of strategies to make the whole ‘cooking’ process a lot less stressful for me.

Firstly I get all the ingredients out so he doesn’t have to find some other way to entertain himself while I look for something. I try to prepare a few things in advance too, like cutting the tops off onions ready for him to peel. He is getting quite good at stopping pouring now, but before he had that self-discipline I would measure out liquids before handing them over to him to add to mixtures. I try to clear the surrounding area of non-food items too, fridge magnets and cat crunchies do not cook well.

My 2 year old helps me with washing veg, pouring, measuring, cutting (heavily supervised), mixing, cracking eggs, rolling out, kneading, filling pastry cases or paper bun cases, stamping out biccies, icing, decorating and eating the end results. He would probably cook all day if he could. We have the odd argument about biscuits staying on baking sheets and them having eventually to go in the oven, but on the whole cooking is a good hours worth of entertainment. More if I get him to do the washing up afterwards. I don’t let him put stuff in or take it out of the oven yet though and I think he is too young to do cooking on the hob.

We make all sorts of stuff, he likes cutting mushrooms up and mixing chickpea flour, water and chopped up veg for pakoras. His biccy cutter of choice is the piggy and his bread kneading is spectacular, if unorthodox!

Bread ideas:

Most bread flours or packet yeasts have recipes on them, you need to let the dough rise first so unless you have a child that understands the concept of delayed gratification I recommend making the dough in advance. After it has risen the child can punch the air out of it and knead it again.

Sultana spirals: Roll dough into a rectangle, sprinkle with sultanas (and sugar if you like), roll up in a spiral and cut into thick slices. When put onto a baking sheet they will rise and join up.

Hedgehog bread: take a fist size bit of dough and roll into a ball. Pinch one end into a point for the face and snip into the ball with scissors to make the prickles. Add raisins for eyes.
Glazing with oil, milk or beaten egg is good fun too.

Biccy ideas:

As long as you are not too fussy you can make biccys with all sorts of random ingredients. You basically need twice as much flour as fat and a bit or sweet stuff and liquid.

something dry; flour, or oats,

something wet; milk or water,

something oily; oil or marj,

and sugar.

If you use normal flour it is easiest because the gluten in it makes the pastry stick together. If you use flour without gluten it can be easier to use if you chill it for half an hour before you roll it. If it can’t be rolled it can usually be pressed into a flattish shape.

Grated coconut (the type that comes in cardboard boxes), mixed with a little honey and hot water makes great and not too sweet icing.

copyright Lisa Cole www.lactivist.co.uk 2005

July 9th, 2008 | Tags: , | Category: Play | Leave a comment

The Party Starts Here! by Dawn Raymond

By Lisa Lactivist, on July 9th, 2008

If you have a child’s birthday coming up and the idea of organising a group of 20+ excited youngsters fills you with panic - then you’re not the only one! Those of us who have organised a kid’s party know they can be quite stressful and very often the mere thought can instil terror in the most able parent. Where to hold it, who to invite, how to entertain them, what to feed them….? The list seems endless.

So if you need inspiration on themes, food, games…or just plain old encouragement, then read on.

1. Where?

Deciding on the venue is often the first step in organising a party. This will often determine other factors, such as whether you need to provide the food, the entertainment, party bags..or whether the venue will cater for everything.

Soft play centres can be fantastic fun, and they certainly are a hit with parents as they do a lot of the work for you. However, they often prove expensive and mean you have to limit your guests. And they do tend to be rather repetitive if you are invited to a few each year. Possible alternative venues are:

village hall - community centre - sports hall - function room in a hotel or leisure centre - restaurant with a soft play area - home (the best, in my humble opinion)

Older children could have a fabulous smaller party at any of the following venues:

Swimming pool - bowling alley - cinema - restaurant

2. What?

Themed parties are great fun and also provide inspiration for entertainment. Some popular themes are:

Pirates - Princesses - Pirates AND Princesses - Superheroes - Fancy Dress - Dinosaurs - Teddy Bears Picnic

3. What?

Very often the most worrying aspect to the novice party organiser is what to do with them?
It’s amazing how many games you can come up with if you just put your mind to it. So if the thought of hosting party games to a bunch of hyped-up kids makes you feel faint, then read on!

Here are some age-old favourites:

Pass-the-parcel - Pin the tail on the donkey (or a variation thereof) - Musical statues/bumps/chairs - Blind man’s buff - Simon Says - Races - Sardines

If you don’t feel the urge to organise traditional party games, then it might be a good idea to invest in some other form of entertainment, such as:

Bouncy castle - Bubble machine - Disco - Children’s entertainer - Karaoke machine - Face painter - craft activities (with the aid of adult helpers).

4. Food?

Very often a cold buffet is the best option, or if the venue has cooking facilities it might be easier to engage the help of a willing adult and do a hot meal.

Here are some ideas:

Sandwiches (cooked meat/cheese/cheese spread/egg/jam/marmite/pate)
you can always cut sandwiches into shapes either with a knife or pastry cutter

French stick with butter and cheese/meat

Pitta bread - Breadsticks - Dips - Humous - Cucumber - Tomatoes - Celery sticks - Sausage rolls - Cocktail sausages - Samosas/onion bhajis/pakoras - Party eggs - Cold cooked chicken nuggets/mini pizzas - Savoury nibbles - eg. mini cheddars, wotsits, twiglets - Grapes – Apple and orange slices - Strawberries - Biscuits - Cookies – Fairy cakes - Marshmallows – Mini doughnuts

Or hot buffet ideas are:

Hotdogs and rolls

Chips with:
Chicken nuggets/dippers - Sausages - Fish fingers - Mini pizzas - Burgers

If you don’t have enough room for a big spread, or feel faint at the thought of clearing the mess and the wastage of food, we recommend individual party boxes. These can be filled with enough food for each child – and can be personalised.

They are especially useful for children with special dietary requirements, and they mean less mess!

5. Party Bags

No party is complete without some take-home goodies. Very often people are so busy organising the festivities that the party bags are left until the last minute.

You can buy pre-filled party bags, or if you prefer to find your own, party fillers are numerous in the shops and range from relatively cheap plastic items (parents seem to dislike these but for some reason, kids love a bit of bright plastic) to quality wooden items.

Here are a few ideas:

pencils/crayons/felt tips - notepads - puzzle books - bouncy balls - hair accessories - bracelets - necklaces - stretchy animals and insects - bouncing putty - stickers - balloons - pirate eye patches - temporary tattoos - board books - craft sets - noisemakers - whistles.

Hopefully the above ideas will have inspired any nervous novice party-giver. The main thing to remember is that the party is for the children and not the parents - so as long as they have a good time, your job is done!

With a little careful planning and a good dose of courage, you may even end up enjoying the party yourself!

copyright Dawn Raymond www.funkydorypartybags.co.uk

July 9th, 2008 | Tags: | Category: Play | Leave a comment

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