After all, babies demand every bit of your attention, and they’ll continue to do so for at least the next 16 years. You’re already thinking of all the trouble they might get into, and how many mistakes they might make along the way. You’re thinking about how they’ll get on at nursery, even though it’s still a long way off, and ultimately, you’re feeling equal parts worry and excitement for being a new parent. 

Surprisingly, that’s a good position to be in. It means you’re getting ready to bring the baby home, and to provide as much love as possible during the first year of their life. But aside from that, you’ve also got the chance to double check that you’re truly ready for baby to arrive. So, with that in mind, here are the last minute checks you’ll benefit from doing right now. 

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Make Sure The Nursery is in Order

If you want your little one to have their own room, now’s the moment to go through and ensure the room is up to standard. Make sure it’s been baby proofed, and there’s no way your child could get hurt in any way when they’re in there. Start with the floor and work your way up. Could baby stick their fingers in anything? Is there anything they could try chewing on? Could they even just pull on something in trying to make their way around and end up pulling something down on top of them? These are all considerations to think about from the beginning, nevermind waiting until baby can crawl and/or walk! 

Of course, you’re likely to have your baby sleeping in with you for a little while (usually the first 6 months), and it’s good to have an add-on mattress for your own bed as an option. However, one day they’ll have to upgrade to the nursery, and you’ll thank yourself for being this proactive right now. Start as you mean to go on! 

Double Check Your Shopping Checklist

Everyone who’s about to be a new parent has a shopping checklist that’s at least the length of your arm! And when you or your partner feel like you’re about to drop, it’s time to go back through the list and see if there’s anything you’ve missed. Now could be your last chance to make sure you’ve got it in ‘the back’ and that it’s ready to use when your baby needs it. 

Similarly, if you had a baby shower a couple of months ago, now’s also a good time to check your registry again and see what’s still left on it. If any of your friends and/or family didn’t attend or didn’t get you anything, now could be your moment to get in touch and ask if they’re in a position to help out. 

After all, maybe they could invest in Bespoke Baby Gifts for you, especially if they’re about to be a grandparent and want to make the experience special? But above all else, make sure any essential items, like a breast pump or a bottle warmer have been bought and are ready to use when the moment suddenly arrives!

Prepare the Car Correctly

You’re going to need to transport your baby to and fro every now and then, so you’re going to want to fit the car out correctly right now as well. Of course, you need to start with the car seat and ensure it fits snugly and securely, but your hard work doesn’t end there. You’re also going to want to keep in mind the general state of the car, and how long you can drive for with a baby on board. 

For example, you shouldn’t look to go any longer than 20 to 30 minutes with a baby in tow, thanks to just how uncomfortable baby can become when they’re sat in a car seat for too long. Similarly, always take your baby out with you when you stop, even if you’re just dashing out for a couple of minutes. 

Some parents like to invest in another mirror to attach to the headrest of the seat the baby is strapped into. In doing so, you won't have to turn around and take your eyes off the road in order to check on your baby. You’ll be able to see their face and what they’re up to whenever you do the standard check of your car mirrors, and eliminate most of the worry you feel on bumpy drives! 

Think About Making Your Own Birthing Plan

A birthing plan is what you put together when you decide what kind of birth you want to have. No matter what you see on TV or in films or hear about in the media, you’re the one in control when you’re giving birth, and it’s up to you how events will proceed. Not everyone takes time to put one together, and you can always walk through the possibility with a midwife first, but it’s good to get down in writing what you’d like to happen in an ideal world. 

And of course, there’s always a chance the birth will deviate from the birthing plan you put together. In knowing this, it’s a good idea to be flexible about what you’d be OK with happening during your birth. For example, your water birth plans may go out of the window if you suddenly go into labour when you’re out at the shops - try to have a ‘go with the flow’ attitude on time and place, but keep the little details (if skin to skin is a priority, will you attempt breastfeeding or prefer bottle, how you would like the lighting etc) set in stone. 

Thinking About a Name

Maybe you’ve already thought of one and both you and your partner love it? Maybe you’re still choosing between two or three you quite like? Maybe you have absolutely no clue what to name your baby, and you’re waiting until you meet your little one face to face to decide? No matter how you’re going about choosing a name for your child, make sure both you and your partner agree on the fundamentals. 

For example, are any names out of the picture altogether? Do either of you want the child to have a middle name? Will the baby end up with both of your surnames? Get these questions decided on right now for less hassle later on, especially if there are push relatives on either side of the equation! What you name your baby is up to you, and you need to know you’re standing firm in your decision. 

If your baby is about to make its way into the world, make sure you’re at a place (both physically and mentally) where you feel at peace with what’s going on. Stress is no good for you right now, and you want to have as pain-free a birthing process as possible, so get considerations like those above well out of the way. Bringing a baby home after the ordeal you’ve been through deserves to be a calm and collected time, so putting in effort now will make sure it is a smooth process!

Amina xx

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Sport plays a huge role in modern society and when I was young I never really had the passion instilled in me, or the confidence to competitively play. However I was aware of the benefits of taking part in sport and it is something I really want my children to get involved in. If your child is already showing passion for a specific sport, you will almost certainly want to encourage it. After all, the physical and mental benefits are huge while it also stops them from unhealthy habits. However, knowing that you want to support your child and actively doing it are two different things. Therefore I have complied a list of things that might help to make it happen.

1- Buy them the right gear

Looking good makes you feel good, and the right attire is one way for kids to be like their heroes. Having the right equipment makes them look the part but also gives them the confidence to take part too. Even if you do not have the funds for the latest items, discount sportswear is available. Meanwhile, most sports teams will run sales on their kits at the end of the season as they prepare for the next line of products. When supported by the right footwear and accessories, your child will be ready to perform. And it’ll often make them play more. If your children are still young and not quite ready to play professionally you can always buy equipment and clothing that is more suited for role play, that way you can get an idea of what they like before you invest.

2- Sign them up for a team

Playing as part of a team will help unlock the full potential of sport. Moreover, it helps children form friendships and create memories that last a lifetime. Finding a youth netball team, for example, can become one of the smartest steps you’ll ever take. The competitive fixtures and regular training sessions can become a major part of your child’s social life. On a side note, encouraging them to join school sports teams can be hugely rewarding. This is where I have personally started. School is an amazing free resource, so we should use it as much as possible.

3- Help them stay inspired

When kids love sports, it’s not just about playing. They will regularly look to the professional stars for inspiration. In today’s climate, parents can help kids stay updated with the latest news from around the world. From learning about All Blacks rugby to NBA basketball, the resources are in place. Books, video games, and a host of other media types can be used to engage them further. Kids need dreams in life, and sports often hold the key. Children are often spectators before they become players themselves so the quickest way to get them inspired is by watching sports from an early age.

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4- Look for sports days out

Even if you are not naturally a fan of the activity, seeing your child’s face light up can make sports a key part of your life. It can play an active role in your social lives by building days out around this. A picnic in the park with a football can work well. However, getting tickets to a game or a stadium tour can be even greater. These are the memories that will stay with your family forever. Be sure to take some great photos while you’re there. You’ll love it.

5- Integrate it with their development

Sports can play a significant part in your child’s life. But they shouldn’t be the only focus. The great news is that the activities can be used as a way to promote key skills. For example, making academic questions revolve around sporting scenarios can make a big impact. Playing sports can naturally aid a host of other key skills in communication and leadership. So, introducing those activities from an early age can be telling. You can create games with your child that include movement and counting for example, that way you are encouraging both their physical and academic development.

6- Think beyond one sport

Be More Eco-Friendly

Chances are, you’ve seen a lot on the news, in the media and on social media about climate change. When it comes down to it, human activity is having a seriously detrimental effect on the planet as a whole and we’re going to have to change our actions to ensure we leave behind a safe and sustainable world for future generations. There are countless things you can do to achieve this, but here are a few that you might like to start implementing into your day to day life.

Reduce Your Plastic Usage

Plastic is a huge issue when it comes to the environment. For a while now, we’ve been well aware of just how damaging plastic can be for the environment. But most of us continue to use plastic regularly, including purchasing single use plastic items that are used once and then thrown away. Most of use plastic bags to carry our groceries or other shopping home from the store. Most of us buy food that is unnecessarily wrapped in plastic. Many of us use plastic straws to drink from when we buy takeaway meals or dine out in restaurants. The majority of the population have plastic toothbrushes. These are just a few examples of items that we will use and will eventually end up in landfill, lying taking up space and not biodegrading. So, start looking into some of the alternatives out there. Actively avoid plastic wherever you can. Nowadays, more and more eco friendly options are becoming available on the market. Supermarkets like Co-op are also starting to introduce plastic packet recycle schemes which you can easily make use of.

Buy Sustainable Goods

Nowadays, we buy all sorts of products, day in and day out, that simply aren’t sustainable. Meaning they are not considerate of the environment and future generations. Whether that’s because they contain plastic that doesn’t biodegrade, because their manufacturing process pollutes waterways, they require the excessive breeding of animals which results in excessive methane production or anything else. Whenever you buy anything, make sure to take the time to look for the most sustainable option. This could be anything from a reusable tote bag over a single use plastic bag to eco friendly bamboo towels, reusable nappies and so much more.

Generate Your Own Green Energy

A lot of us simply use the energy that our property was signed up to when we moved into it. Alternatively, some of us use price comparison sites to find the best deal and will largely choose what supplier based on price. This is fine if this is the option that works for you, but you should definitely look into using green energy suppliers who can provide you with a carbon neutral energy supply. Another option that many people don’t even consider is generating their own energy. This is an option that is more accessible now than ever and is truly one of the best ways to help the planet! The most popular option is to generate energy using solar panels and sunlight. By installing solar panels on your home, you can generate your own energy for day to day use and you won’t be producing much detrimental waste at all. The panels are most often fixed to your roof or another sunny location on your property. This will reduce your consumption of non-renewable sources of energy, such as fossil fuels, and you can even sell excess back to the national grid!

Cut Down on Meat

Few people associate meat consumption with climate change, but believe it or not, farming animals is actually one of the main contributors when it comes to global warming. So, you may want to reconsider eating meat on a regular basis. The problem with a lot of animal agriculture is that cows produce huge amounts of methane, huge amounts of transport are required to transport live and dead animals to and from different locations, a huge volume of water is always used in the production process and various other environmental issues occur within the process of farming animals. So, why not try reducing meat in your diet, going vegetarian or going vegan? This will be a lifestyle change that is best eased into, but eventually (as long as you eat a healthy and balanced plant-based diet) you will feel all the better for it and the planet will benefit too! I myself have moved away from drinking cow's milk and now drink oat milk. We as a family have also decided to reduce our meat consumption and are moving towards a vegetarian diet.

Fight for Rights

Another area you may want to focus on to create a better world for your children to grow up in is rights. Everyone should have rights and you should advocate for them. Nobody should be judged for factors such as their race, religion, sexuality, gender, ability or anything else inherent to an individual. The issue is that prejudice still presides in most societies and we’re going to have to fight for equality to ensure our children can grow up in a world that is free from it. There are a number of things that you can do to help with this.

• Choose a Cause - it’s good to advocate for everyone and you should always treat people with respect and equally in your day to day life. But if you’re going to campaign for a cause, it’s a good idea to choose one that you can really dedicate your time and efforts to.There are countless causes out there, so do a little research and see which you want to support.

• Campaign - many people campaign for causes. This could be anything as simple as sharing posts on social media that raise awareness or anything as invested as peacefully protesting, petitioning and more. Make sure to always campaign in a safe and peaceful way.

• Charity - you can raise money for causes through charity efforts and charity work. Depending on how big the cause you’re supporting is, what you can do for the best impact will differ. Some people like to set themselves challenges and get sponsors. For example, running a marathon to raise money and awareness of a particular cause.

• Read and Learn - causes are constantly changing as we read, learn and grow. So, always be open to new perspectives, new information and new takes. Just make sure that what you are reading is verified. This will help ensure you are making informed decisions from sound information and data.

As you can see, there are a fair few things that you can do to make the world a better place. You don’t have to do everything at once. Instead, implementing a few changes really can make all the difference. At the end of the day, even the smallest change that will make the world a better place for your little one to grow up in will be more than worth the time, effort or money you’ve invested in it. It is our responsibility to make a change for the better.

Amina xx

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Hi guys, so I have been through this a few times now and am about to go through it all again for the third time. I know it can be scary when your child is due to go to nursery. It is a huge step and it means they are growing up fast and learning to become independent. That fear of letting them go and putting them in the hands of someone else can be a daunting prospect but from my experience I have learnt that overall it is really beneficial for them. Not only do they get to socialise and explore these new skills but it also means that you can get some time back to yourself.

Going out for a day trip with the family is always fun. Taking the kids to the beach, to the park, or for a day in the city can be great and a fun way to spend the day. If you are looking to plan some days out with your loved ones this summer, I have some items you need to pack before you head out and with the summer holidays right around the corner I thought now was the perfect time to list the essentials needed for a fun family day out! We can often get carried away with planning and having too much fun so I thought a list of those boring but necessary items would be helpful.  

Staying hydrated is incredibly important, and if you are to spend some time at the beach or on a hike this summer you need to pack plenty of water to keep everyone hydrated. Ensure the kids drink enough throughout the day, and this will keep everyone happy and healthy. A great way to store water is in water bottles dedicated to each person. This way you know how much liquid everyone is consuming.

Extra clothes 

It is very likely when you go for a full day out with the family that someone will need extra clothes. Whether you get caught out in the rain without coats, your child spills something on their top, or your child has a little accident - spare clothes are a lifesaver. Remember also to save space in your bag by rolling outfits up together to keep them compact! 

A towel 

A towel is essential if you have kids or dogs and you decide to go for a walk by a river or the beach. A towel will allow you to clean and dry your child or pet before they get back in the car, ensuring that you don’t end up with a wet dog smell on your way home! It's also helpful for any spillages that may occur.

A first aid kit 

One of the most useful things you can bring with you for a family day out is a handy first aid kit for babies and toddlers. A small first aid kit will include all of the things you need to quickly patch up and clean a cut while you are out and about. It is so helpful to have this with you at all times as it will give you peace of mind if any accidents were to happen and will keep the cut patched up temporarily before you can get home and look at it properly. 

So summer is finally here and that (hopefully) means more time spent at the beach enjoying the sunshine and cooling off in the sea. Some of you may have already made the most of what the UK beaches have to offer and I definitely plan on a few staycations once schools break up for summer holidays. That being said, I thought it was the perfect time to discuss beach safety. Kids love exploring the beach, looking for crabs, collecting seashells or building sandcastles, and it’s great to see them out there having fun and making memories, but there is no denying that the beach is home to many potential hazards from the rapidly changing tides to the potential of losing sight of your children. Therefore keeping your kids safe at the beach should be a top priority and hopefully these simple tips will allow you to be safe while still having fun.

Water wings

Whether your child is a good swimmer or not, when you’re hitting the beach, it’s a good idea to pack a set of water wings or arm bands for each child just so they can have that extra level of protection. You just never know when the weather is going to take a turn for the worse or the riptides are going to come along and pull you all further out to sea, so having water wings on is a great way to help the kids if they get into trouble. They are comfortable and the cute prints make them something children actually want to wear.

Avoid other inflatables

That being said, it’s probably a good idea to keep other inflatables like rubber rings and lilos away from the beach. Why? Because it’s really easy for them to be carried out to sea on a strong current or if the wind picks up. That is really the last thing you want to happen, so keep big inflatables to pools only.

Monitor them

This one might seem simple but it is easy to lose sight of them. Losing sight of your child at the beach is one of the scariest things you can ever encounter as a parent, therefore keeping them close by is a must. However if your child is old enough to have a smartphone and a little more independence, then you might want to invest in a waterproof case and have your child keep it on them instead of leaving it at home. You can also take it a step further by using monitoring software, which you can read about here in a guide by Family Orbit, to keep track of them. It might sound a bit much, but if you are unable to get through to them via a telephone call at least you will be able to quickly pinpoint their location and track them down.

Watch out for jellyfish

Jellyfish are really common on UK beaches, so it is important that you know how to spot them, and you teach your kids how to spot them too. To be honest I have mainly seen dead ones but they can still cause stings. It is also important that you teach the kids to stay calm if there is a jellyfish nearby, slowly moving away from the potential threat.

If they do get stung, then it is important that you don’t rub the affected area, as that will just make it worse,  but seek medical advice as soon as possible, Oh, and peeing on the sting won’t really help, so you can skip that too.

Get to know beach flags

Beach flags can tell you a whole lot about the safety of the beach you’re on, and what you should and should not do, so knowing them ultimately will help to keep you all safe. For example, a red flag means no swimming is permitted at all, and an orange windsock means the wind conditions are dangerous. These are just two examples - you should learn all of the flag signals before you head off for a fun family day at the beach as simple but deadly mistakes can easily be made.

Water and sunscreen

It should go without saying but if you are heading off to the beach with the kids, pack plenty of sunscreen and enough water to last you all all day, especially if there are no shops nearby where you can get a cool drink. Probably the biggest threats to kids on the beach are dehydration and sunburn or heatstroke, so this really is one of the most important things you need to do. It's a good idea to freeze some bottles of water or drink the night before and to take a cooler bag with you that way your liquids will stay cool all day long.

Spend some time in the shade

Spending some time in the shade at the hottest times of the day, in summer,  will help to prevent sunburn and sunstroke, so be sure to take some time out to find a shady spot or take along your own parasols to help keep you cool and keep the fun going. And of course try wearing a wide brimmed hat that keeps their eyes and neck shaded is a must.

Constant supervision

To be honest, probably the best way to keep your kids safe at the beach is to ensure that someone always has eyes on them. It only takes a second for them to wander off or for a wave to sweep your child under, so it’s important that you always have to eyes on them when they are on the beach.

Don’t let the potential dangers put you off visiting the beach - accidents are rare - and the beach is a great place to let off steam, just be careful! Some of my favourite memories have been made on the beach, the kids just seem to love the sun, sea and sand and I can see why, the combination of the warmth from the sun and the sound of the water is the ultimate relaxation treat!

Amina xx