Baby & Children’s Market BLOG
Why Learning To Lower My Expectations Has Made Me A Happier Parent
I’ve lost count of the number of baby showers I’ve attended where the guests are asked to proffer a piece of parenting advice on a frilly piece of card for the mum-to-be. I always struggle with this; it takes more than a few lines of generic sentiment to share anything worth knowing about parenthood. Is there a catch-all piece of advice to make parenting an easier experience? Categorically not. But occasionally a light-bulb blazes within, something clicks and you think ‘Yes! I wish I’d realised that sooner!’ This article is a result of one of those epiphanies. It came about … Continue reading Why Learning To Lower My Expectations Has Made Me A Happier Parent
6 Things I Would Tell My Pre-Elf-On-The-Shelf Self
Four years ago, when a friend educated me about the whole elf on the shelf craze, I decided to give it a bash. A little house guest from the North Pole would be a simple and fun way to enhance the Christmas magic for my two young children, right? Anticipating that my sensitive daughter would be freaked out by the official version, I opted for two merry little plush elves – one for each of my kids. Charlie and Christina arrived on the 1st of December in all their green and red glory and were an instant hit. I didn’t … Continue reading 6 Things I Would Tell My Pre-Elf-On-The-Shelf Self
Christmas Fire Safety Tips
Christmas is the best time of the year for many reasons. Spending time with family and friends, the tree, the lights, cosy evenings by the fire, parties, presents and festive tunes are all reasons to adore Christmas. So, during this busy and happy time of year, we don’t mean to put a dampener on your Christmas celebrations by going on about the risks of fire. But, it’s important, so we’re going to. A fire could be totally devastating. It could be fatal. Of course, you already know that. Please read these important tips and make sure you and yours are … Continue reading Christmas Fire Safety Tips
How To Host Christmas On A Budget
What with all the gift buying, stocking filling and party hosting, it’s safe to say that Christmas is an expensive business. In 2016 the average family spent £174 on Christmas dinner – undoubtedly a hefty amount to add to your total Christmas price tag. If it falls to you to host Christmas dinner this year, panic not, we have some handy tips to help keep costs to a minimum. Get organised As with everything Christmas-related, planning is key. Make a list of everything you’ll need for your Christmas dinner, right down to the last Brussel sprout. When you’ve finished your … Continue reading How To Host Christmas On A Budget
How To Brighten Dark Winter Days
The days are drawing in, hats and gloves are out and frost is chilling on windowpanes – winter has well and truly arrived. For many of us, with the warmth and light of summer a distant memory, it’s depressing. Winter days are literally dark and for some (especially those suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder) figuratively so too. Winter has a habit of promoting lethargy and depression. Even with the excitement of Christmas on the horizon, it can still be a struggle. It can seem hard to get out of bed in the mornings and motivation can crash to an all-time … Continue reading How To Brighten Dark Winter Days
How to Have A Magical 1980s Christmas
Christmas in the 80s seemed to be a far less complicated affair. I don’t remember my mum running round like a headless chicken, hiding elves on shelves and making life-sized advent calendars stuffed full of homemade toys. She never had a to-do list as long as her arm and seemed completely nonplussed by the whole event. Her 1980s laid-back attitude towards parenting extended throughout the festive period with abandon. She was as cool as the Snowman, which in the absence of on-demand TV, we watched when it happened to on (unless someone had the foresight to video it.) When I … Continue reading How to Have A Magical 1980s Christmas
14 Essential Christmas Websites and Apps for Parents
With Christmas just around the corner, children the world over are beginning to feel the excitement as they eagerly await the big day. As parents, we want to make the festive season as magical as possible for our little people. Luckily, help is at hand. We’ve scoured the internet and found the 14 best Christmas websites and apps to help parents spread some cheer this festive season. 1. Portable North Pole Sprinkle a bit of Christmas magic with Portable North Pole. This clever website will create a personalised video message to your child from Santa for free. The video itself … Continue reading 14 Essential Christmas Websites and Apps for Parents
10 Christmas Money Saving Tips
With the average British household spending £753* on Christmas last year, many of us will be looking to save as much as possible on festive expenses this year. Now Halloween is over, the stores will be ramping up their Christmas displays and so the financial outlay begins… Helping families save money is our whole motivation here at Baby and Children’s Market. With this in mind, we’ve put together some Christmas money saving tips to help you get the most bang from your buck this festive season. 1. Make a list and check it twice When it comes to saving money, … Continue reading 10 Christmas Money Saving Tips
10 Inspirational Quotes From Children’s Books
Some of the greatest wisdom of all time can be found scattered between the bright and cheerful pages of children’s books. The stories we find ourselves reading over and over to our children often contain important messages for adults too. Here we’ve put together a list of our ten favourite inspirational quotes by A. A. Milne, Roald Dahl, J. K. Rowling and more… 1. By J. K. Rowling from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 2. By Giles Andrae from Giraffes Can’t Dance 3. A. A. Milne from Winnie the Pooh 4. By J. M. Barrie from Peter Pan … Continue reading 10 Inspirational Quotes From Children’s Books
Budget Halloween Ideas
My daughter announced last year that she likes Halloween more than Christmas. No pressure there! Unfortunately, our budget does not extend as far as I’d like it to. I want to make Halloween extra special for her but it also has to be done a shoestring. Halloween can be an expensive business, especially as it always falls around half term. Costumes, parties, days out and activities all mount up. However, there are ways to make it special without spending a fortune. If you’re also looking for cheap or free Halloween activities, crafts and events then here are some ideas to … Continue reading Budget Halloween Ideas
