SUGAR SUGAR SUGAR …. SUGAR EVERYWHERE ! Yes even in  BABY food! 

 I love sugar and anything that is sweet … It takes a lot of will power not to eat chocolate all day long every day. 

 I assumed that baby food, especially the one labeled : heathy, organic, no preservatives added  will have no sugar or just minimal amount of it … NEVER assume  anything ! I couldn’t be more wrong ! 

 I was shocked to see baby food from 4 months old having over 20g of sugar per 100g. What was even more shocking is that things which shouldn’t have any sugar had lots of it !  

 Don’t get me wrong I am all for healthy but balanced diet, I give my baby, baby biscuits but I don’t want my baby to be consuming lots of sugar especially not when she is so small ! Also giving then sugar make the weaning and feeding so much more difficult because they refuse to eat things which are not sweet!  

 I started to check labels very carefully and found product which are nice but don’t have lots of sugar which I will share. Oh and just to clarify product is high in sugar when it has 20g or more of sugar per 100g.

CEREALS

 There is a very small selection of cereals that don’t have lots of sugar in it, and only handful of cereals that have little or non sugar. My recommendation will be those 2 :

– Organix Multigrain Porridge (only 2g of sugar per 100g)

– Organic Mutligrain Mini Puffs (only 1g of sugar per 100g). I use the puffs to add to other porridges for the texture. I usually mix it with whatever porridge I make, especially with the flavoured ones. It’s great when you start to introduce texture to your baby’s food. 

  

– Good flavoured porridge is by Ella’s Kitchen (11.7g of sugar per 100g). I usually make it with multigrain mini creel puffs. 

  
– Organix Cereal Bannan & Rospberry (12g of sugar per 100g and believe me this is the smalles amount of sugar that I could find in the stage 3 cereals)

  
Bad boys:

– Cow&Gate Fruity Porridge – 40g of sugar per 100g !!!!!!! This should be illegal!

TREATS FOR BABIES : 

Rice cakes.

 It’s a great snack for babies from quite an early age (I have Chloe her first one at 5,5 months). They not high in sugar but even in this one snac the sugar level waries depending on the flavour (those are the Organix rice cakes) : 
– Apple rice cakes -14g 

– Berry rice cake – 10g

– Banana rice cake – 9,7g

– Strawberry rice cake – 6,7g 

Biscuits:

 Biscuits naturally have much more sugar than any other snack, but again I thought that because they are for babies the sugar level would be reduced …. Not always the case. There are healthier options like:

-Ella’s Kitchen Apple & Ginger biscuits 16,5g

  
-Ella’s Kitchen Milk and Vanilla biscuits 16,1g

-Ella’s Kitchen Hello-Copter Oat and spelt cookies 13,4g 

A bit less healthier but not too bad :

– Heinz Biscotties Banana 22g

– Heinz Biscotties Apple 20g

– Heinz Biscotties Mango 22g

 All of the others I found had 28g of sugar and above which is very very high so should be a treat from time to time only. 

CORN SNACKS

– Organix  Crunchy Sweetcorn Rings 3,5g

–  Ella’s Kitchen Melty Puffs Tomatoes & Leek 0,5g ( the Strawberry and Bannan flavour already has 7,4g which is a lot). 

  
– Ella’s Kitchen Lentil and carrot sticks  0,7g

  
– Ella’s Kitchen Cheese and Lentil Crunchy Wheels 0,2g

– Kiddylicious Blueberry Wafers 9,6g

– Kiddylicious Cheese flying Saucers 0,5g

Bad boys:

– Kiddylicious Passion Fruit and Peach Yoghurt Melts 45g

– most of the frut snacks like Bear Fruit Paws are high in sugar with 40g and more in 100g

– Organix Goodies Fruit Gummies Strawberry has 67g of sugar !!!!!!!!!

 I could probably write a book about contest of sugar in baby food … Don’t want to bore everyone so the only thing I will say is check the back of the package for information ! Don’t be influenced by the colour of the package, marketing etc…. And remember that fruit and vegetables are always best option sometimes just not practical 😀

 What is you experience, opinion? Do you have know of a yummy and healthy snacks/foods? 

OMG IT HAS HAPPENED !!!!!

I AM SO HAPPY, SO PROUD AND SO EMOTIONAL at this same time. My little baby girl at the age of 9 months and 28 days started walking !!!!!   

She did 1 or 2 steps before but today she just started walking !!!! It’s amazing how something just clicks in baby brain and they just start doing things! Chloe for a while now was walking with the walker, while holding to both of my hands and recently only one hand. She was also standing on her own for 3 seconds but as soon as she realised that no one was holding her/she wasn’t holding anything, she would sit down.  And then yesterday she started standing, just like that as if she always did it… Then today she just started walking …. It amazes me how it just happens …. I am such a proud mummy now. 

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER MEAL, ANOTHER OUTFIT ….

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER OUTFIT …

 Chloe is rocking today a casual look in this printed jumpsuit from LINEX. Look is finished with this cute headband from River Island Mini. 

  
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER MEAL ….

AUBERGINE CURRY

Ingredients:

– 1 aubergine (sliced)

– 1 small carrot (sliced)

– 1/2 a red pepper (sliced)

– 1 onion 

– 1 chicken/turkey breast (sliced or cut in to a small cubes if you don’t give your baby blended food)

– 1 tsp of mild chicken curry 

– 100g of rice 

– 400ml of coconut milk

– 1 garlick cove 

Cooking instruction 

 Cook your rice fallowing cooking instructions.

 Fry aubergine till soft and leave it to the side. Fry onion until gold then the add chicken and curry powder and garlic. Fry for a minute or two then add coconut milk.   

 Add you aubergine pepper and carrot and simmer fora round  15 minutes (making sure your chicken and carrot is cooked). 

 If you still introducing texture to your babes main meals blend your curry together  and add your cooked rice for texture.  If your baby eats solids make sure that all of your veg are cut in to small pieces (cut aubergine after frying it). 

 What is great about this recipie is that you can eat it as well ! For a grow up version don’t add carrot or pepper, add salt and season depending on how space you like it 🙂 

DESSERT

Fresh fruit selection, today grapes and blueberries . If your baby is smal remember to cut grapes in half as they are chocking hazard. 

   

YOU ALL NEED ONE ! 

 I must say before I got pregnant I didn’t know that nappy bins existed 😂 I have to say they are briliant ! I will advance everyone to get one ! They are handy, look good and what’s the most important  locks all of the smelly smells away !   You can gret one in white, pink or blue ! 

I have the Tommee Tippee Sangenic Nappy Disposal System – Pink. It individually seals each nappy away in seconds offering anti-bacterial protection from germs and odours. 
  
 

Thank god for Coffeeshops !! ðŸ˜Š

  
 I have never spend so much time in a coffeeshop as I do while on maternity leave. They bring normality in to my life! On the beginning before I meet my Mums gang I would go to one to be round people and so I cant see all of the stuff which need to be done at home. I would buy lots of magasines have a cake (we all deserve it !!!!!) and my decafe (breastfeeding) coffee (lots of it) while Chloe was sleeping (they do sleep a lot of the beginning) . 

  You know the time when they are still quite small (3 months or so)  and you are trying to establish a routine and they don’t want to sleep … Of we went in the pram for a walk and as soon as she would fall asleep I would head to a coffeeshop, we all know that you can’t go home because as soon as you open the door baby is wide awake !!!  

 Now is all about socialising.Yummy mummies with our perfect prams pushing our perfect baby stroll in to a coffee shop and take it over moving all of the tables and chairs so we can park 8 prams, and fit 8 highchairs on top of all of the space that we mums need – the customers and the owners hate us ! 

LUNCH TIME ! Some great accesories which I love ! 

 Weaning is so much fun and I love going out for lunch with Chloe; I recon Chloe enjoyed it more as she has food, lots of distraction and a lot of attention (the 3 things that she can’t live without). But you need so much stuff : wipes, antibacterial wipes, pot with main meal, pot with a dessert, pot with snacks, bib, water, spoon, lunch bag, some toys etc….. 

  
 I found lots of very good items out there which make the whole proved a bit easier or just a bum more fun. 

1. MAM spoon

  
 What is great about this spoon is that it comes with a cover! It’s such a smal but genius idea! You know that your spoon is clean and ready for your baby to use it, and once your lunch is over you don’t need to worry about cleaning it or the spoon staining your lunch bag. It comes in few different colours. 

2. MAM bowl.

  What is great about this bowl is that it’s separated in two so you can have your dinner and a dessert in one container. The way is seperated is very good as it doesn’t let one food lik in to the other part of the container. Saves a lot of space !  

3. Lunch bag

 There is so many amazing lunch bags out ther, choice is very big. My favourite one will be the one made by SKIP HOP. They do an animal range which is the cuttest ever. We have two now: a zebra one and unicorn one. They are beautiful and so much fun for kids. Chloe loves to play with her bag! 

   There is a very big choice depending on what you like or what animal your baby loves😊  
  
Do you have any great lunch gadgets or items that you cannot live without or just love ? Please share with me and others! 

BABY CHANGING BAG … WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR ONE?

Baby changing bag … We have there everything don’t we ? They weight a tone and there is so many things which we apparently need to carry in it and lots of “must have” gadgets without which we shouldn’t leave the house. I will tell you what in my experience you need and which gadgets I found very good!

  
1. Portable changing mat.
I have to admit that I got one as a present on my baby shower. I opened it and started saying how nice it is and pretty etc…. then had to ask … eeehhh and what is it??? I didn’t know that you can get or need a portable changing mat with all of those pockets for nappies and wet wipes. I didn’t even thing about how will I be changing my baby when out and about.
I have to say it was one of the best product ever and I have been using it from day one. I have everything in one place and when Chloe need changing I just take my little bag with me. I recommend very highly to get one of those.
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2. Wipes Case.
If you use wet wipes with a standard re-sealable top what you notice is that after having them in your changing bag the top stops sticking (there is just so much a packet of wipes can withstand :-)). Also trying to look for the packet of wipes 100 times a day in a changing bag which has everything is very challenging and frustrating.
 Wipes case is so good. It takes wipes inside and keeps in a light fresh inside a plastic case. It has sliding top so you can easily get to your wipes and it attaches in to your pram/changing bag etc. I have the Skip Hop Swipes Wipes Case.
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3. Change of clothes.
Always!!! Baby vomit A LOT, explosive poos leak very often ! Make sure you have it at all the time !! I always had a change of clothes on the beginning and then as the time was passing and Chloe was outgrowing her clothes I just stoped putting a spare one in… then while being on a lovely day out in a British Museum with my 8 months old sweetheart her nappy leaked … leaked a lot!

4. Antibacterial wipes.
I go through so many of them ! From the very beginning I was possessed with bacterial and Chloe not getting any of the gems ! So far with my antibacterial wipes and breastfeeding at 9 Months Chloe still hasn’t been sick .

5. Muslin cloth.
Do not leave the house without one. Its handy when it comes to everything and anything.

6. Antibacterial spray. 
The is this baby friendly spray. Its all natural so you can spray toys, dummy or anything with it and it will kill all of the bacteria without any chemical fast to it. Its 100% natural so its safe for babies. I bought all of the different wipes which were leaving chemical aftertaste, dummy steriliser which was so much hassle to use I have used it only once.
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7. Stain Removing Wipes
I discovered those very recently and I must say they are brilliant. Have you got use to being covered in vomit or fingers food stains? or having to throw away brand new cute baby top just because you can’t get this stain off ? With those wipes you can wipe the stain away or make is less offensive.

  
8. Calpol / Teething medications. 
Those are handy to have especially from around 4 months when lots of babies start testing.

9. Toys
Whatever keeps you baby entertained , whatever your baby likes. Something to distract your baby when it gets bored. I always end up with so many toys !!!!

10. Food 
Spare milk if you bottle feed and once your baby starts weaning food is necessary to have. You never know how long you can end up being out, or if your baby for some reason gets hungry though it shouldn’t (it happens quite often :-)).
Girls anything else you have and cannot live without ?? Anything you don’t agree with ?? How big/heavy is your changing bag ?😂

ITS NOT YOUR BABY FAULT ! Outrageous post … Mums don’t hate me ! 😊 

It prapobaly will be quite outrageous post, please other Mums don’t hate me, I just can’t listen to it any longer without saying something.

” Looking good while having new born baby ” if you are at home in your tracksuit covered in baby vomit with a greasy hair ITS YOUR CHOICE ! Yes it is possible to look good when you have a tiny baby! Yes it is much harder and requires an effort but IT IS POSSIBLE! 

Each of us make a a choice every single day : Will I was my hair ? Will I put a make up on ? Will I try to fit my bum in to those denims ? If you choose to be lazy (sorry for being blunt but it is laziness except some special circumstances) that’s fine. Honestly you don’t have to wear nice clothes or put make up on, it’s fine to live like that but DONT BLAME IT ON HAVING A BABY!!! It makes me so so so angry ! As I said it is much more difficult than before, and yes there are days where baby is to be blamed : didn’t sleep the whole night, been ill etc, but not every single day! 

As a mums we are all tired, we all have small babies who don’t sleep and cry, we are all sleep deprivated. Every single day we take a decision as to what we will do. I make the effort to get out of my loungewear and get dressed nicely, put my make up on, style my hair and go out!  Sometimes, usually after a bad night I choose not to do it and just stay in my pijamas doing the minimum that I have to …. But I don’t blame my baby !

I hear other mums say : you are lucky, your baby weight just disappeared ! Guess what ? Nothing just disappears !!! It’s not a fairytale. I have been working hard every morning making sure I go back to having my old body (or as close as I can get to it) every morning when you choosed to sit on the sofa I choose to work out. I hated it, I hated doing it, I dont want to do it and I don’t enjoy it; I knew that I wasn’t happy with my body and there was only one way to change it … Ps still can’t get in to my old jeans but it doesn’t bother me 😊

To recap : I don’t think that there is something wrong with not looking after yourself, I mean there is but it’s your choice and as far as you are happy it’s ok, but don’t blame it on  your Baby! 

Oh and it’s not the baby fouls that your house is a mess ! Not until they can crawl/walk and make a mess … Actually on the secon thought even then it’s not yet fault 😉 

   

  

AND JUST LIKE THAT I CAN SIT BABA BABA BABA

It’s funny how babies just start doing things. One day they can’t do it and the next one, just like that they do it, as if they knew all the time how to do it (maybe they are pretending that they can’t do it ? 😊) 

Me and Chloe have been practising how to sit for ages, with no real sign that she is getting better at it. Up until now the only way Chloe could sit for up to 10 seconds on her own, was when she was pretty much folded in half (she would lean so much forward). And then one day when we started practising she just sat and sat and sat. She can sit now !!! 😂

  

And just like that we went from saying or screaming aaaaaa or Aaaaaa or AAAAAAAA or AAAaaaAAAaaa to saying Ba Ba, Ba Ba. 

Did you notice that once baby discovers that it can do something it does it all of time? We went trough a faze of high pitch screaming for days no end, spitting for 3 days etc. Recently Chloe has had a small cough in the morning, once she discovered that she can cought she has been doing this pretend cough all the time !!! Eeegggghhhhh  eeeegggghhhh no Honey you do not have a cough !!!  ( and there is me going Yed Yes Yes my baby just learnt how to do a fake cough ! I am so proud of her, isn’t she clever ?😂) 

Buying a highchair …. Almost like buying a car !

Can’t believe that  I am talking about Chloe and highchair in this same sentence!  How did my tiny tiny baby grow so much that she is able to seat in the highchair?? ( yes yes yes I know ….by eating all the time)

 I never thought that buying a highchair will be so difficult ! It took me almost a month !!! 

I have reed about highchairs so much, and then a bit more. I draged my husband to shops to look at lots of different chairs and then at the ones I already have seen.  Looked at pros and cons ect. I am only buying a highchair for God sake not a car!!!! Actually, thinking about it I don’t think that we have done that much research before buying our car 😳

 I wanted something what will look good, won’t take up 80% of my living room,is comfortable for Chloe and easy to clean. 

I got it down to 3 chairs : Cassato, Stokke and Mamas & Pappas.

There are prose and cons which each of them but it seems like Stokke ticks most of the boxes ( though it’s ridiculously expensive)  withe the bonus of having it for life ! I love the idea that she can have it for the rest of her life.

Downside of Stokke is lack of tray and cotton cushion (cotton ? With baby? That will last only 5 min). But if Stokke can’t be practical someone else will make money on it :-). I bought tray designed for Stokke and a lovely laminated cushion which I can clean easily. 

Stokke is brilliant. I am so pleased with it.

“-“

-Yes it is pain in the bum to put it together. You attache one thing and discover Thant you need to unscrew it to attache the second bit etc. 

-As I mentioned it doesn’t have a tray which isn’t great but you can buy one online. I got one and it fits perfectly is big and easily attached. 

– Cushion is made of cotton which isn’t practical at all! Again you can buy cushions designed for Stokke which are laminated so you can easily clean it. 

“+”

– Stylish, small wooden chair in lots of colours.

– So easy to clean! 

– Comfortable for Baby and good for their spine.

– Grows with your baby.

– Looks really good 🙂

 First try