The Mama Tag

August 13, 2018August 13, 2018 - cupsofcharlotte Leave a comment

Tags are something which used to be on my site a lot of the time when I first started blogging, These are something which I have not done in a long time now which makes me said as I think this is a good way to get to know bloggers who you read a lot. Today I have been tagged in the mama tag by the wonderful Claire here is my answers to the questions which means you can learn more about me which is always fun because who isn’t nosey and want to know more.

HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU HAD YOUR FIRST CHILD?

I had Jess when I was 20 but I would have been classed as a teen mum for the start of my pregnancy .

WHAT WAS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING PREGNANT FOR 9 MONTHS?

My pregnancy with Jess was pretty fast as some of you may know if you have been around for a long time. I actually only knew for about 14 weeks that Jess was on her way I did not find out till I was 26 weeks so of course it flew by. I think the hardest part for me was the fact that I had to adjust in this short period of time that I was going to be a mummy and of course this was very scary.

CAN YOU THINK OF ANY GOOD THINGS YOU ENJOYED DURING THOSE 9 MONTHS?

Again because it was not long I will not say that I did not love it however, I hated not been able to be as active as I had been.The adjust to now been heavily pregnant and showing was something which I struggled with I am sure if I had another child I would enjoy it a lot more than I did.

IN YOUR OPINION, WERE ALL OF THE THINGS YOU HEARD ABOUT CHILDBIRTH ACCURATE OR WAY OFF?

I had heard all the horror stories of course before I had Jess however, it was not too bad for me even though I ended up having an emergency C section. I think there were points which I became scared in but of course everyone has different pain thresholds and people think different thinks are scary, So childbirth is going to be different for every single Mama.

WOULD YOU HAVE HANDLED CHILDBIRTH DIFFERENTLY IF YOU COULD RE-DO IT?

I think that I would love to be able to have my partner at the next birth or if we could actually do this again. I think that I would love him as well as have been able to have my mum this I am sure is going to calm me down when I am feeling scared and stressed out. It is very unlikely that my mum would be at a next birth because someone will need to be on hand for Jess.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR SOMEONE WHO IS ABOUT TO HAVE A BABY?

RELAX do not over think it because of the fact that is the more you stress and worry the worse you are going to be. There is nothing you can do if you are going to end up needing a C section to become a mama this is going to happen it usually is only offered if it is the safest option. Things can change so fast and you can not do anything about them I am glad I did not worry too much about my c section because I had done some research about them previously.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A MUM?

I would say it is the work-life balance because as you will know I have been doing my degree alongside been an mum. I feel guilty when I am spending time doing work or when it is nice weather and she is in childcare so at the moment I can get things ready for moving house alongside actually trying to find a job. I know this is something which most mamas struggle with even if they are at home the guilt is real. I have a feeling I feel it more because there is weeks where I have to solo parent due to Joe’s job and at one stage she hated me leaving her in case I did not return as well.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST REWARDING THING ABOUT BEING A MUM?

I would say this is like watching Jess grow up because it is amazing watching her personality she has become a really cheeky but funny little girl with a hint of sarcasm. I love watching her face when she is on days out or experiencing something for the first time that sheer look of wow. It doesn’t even have to be big things it can include her just been able to have an ice cream, I am loving the toddler stage minus the tantrums.

WHAT WAS THE MOST SURPRISING THING YOU DISCOVERED ABOUT BEING A MUM?

How tired it is possible to become and this does not actually stop even when they become older they still can wear you out. Jess makes me so tired watching how much she files around the tantrums which she gives me even wears me out which is never great. I thought that I was tiered before when I was a student well I can tell you when your a mama there is only so many nights you can burn the candle at both ends.

WHAT IS THE BEST MEMORY YOU HAVE INVOLVING YOUR CHILD?

I think think it was when we actually became a family for the time when the drama has stopped and we could enjoy having Jess. This mixed with the first time I saw Jess once I knew that I had to stop her from been adopted because this had been the plan. I knew I could no longer go through with it and i wanted my daughter to be mine.

WHAT WAS THE MOST EXCITING MILESTONE?

I would say them all because they are so special in their own way. Talking or walking I would say are the big two but now we can not get her to stop running off along with the fact that we sometimes we would pay for a little bit of piece and for her not to be constantly talking. We want them to hit the milestones as soon as they can but sometimes we regret it when they can do things we really don’t want them to do.

WHAT IS THE WORST THING YOUR CHILD HAS EVER DONE?

Tell people I have broken her ankle when I have not done anything must be up there as one of the worse. If only more people heard I am sure that social services would have been quickly round to make sure I am not a bad parent. I also hate it when she has a tantrum in public but I know sometimes that she can not help it and that’s how she can communicate that something is wrong.

WHAT HABIT DO YOU WISH YOUR CHILD DIDN’T HAVE?

Getting everything out instead of just a few toys is one so the whole floor looks a complete mess rather than just one area of the room is one of them. Another one which she does is been so sarcastic things like when she says thank you very much sometimes I do not know if she is been real or taking the piss out of us. I know it is part of her personality but this can be so annoying.

WHAT HABIT OF THEIR MAKES YOU MOST PROUD?

I am proud of how polite she is she will say please and thank you without having to be asked which is amazing. She is so nice as well as will try and make everyone happy without you having to ask she will end up including everyone.

DO YOU SHARE ANY SIMILARITIES WITH YOUR CHILD? (BOTH PHYSICAL AND PERSONALITY?)

I think she is more like her daddy in personality but she can be stubborn like me. She is my double when I look at pictures of myself when I was her age I wish I had some of them I was Jess’s age to share with you.

WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR CHILD TO BE IN 10 YEARS?

I just want Jess to be happy and healthy that is all that matters to me.

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT HAVING A CHILD HAS TAUGHT YOU?

That the things which may have mattered so much to you before you became a mama maybe are not as important when you have children. You change and of course, have to put their needs ahead of your own which can be super hard sometimes but it becomes natural as a mama.

DID YOU IMAGINE YOU’D BECOME A MUM AT THE AGE YOU BECAME A MUM?

No, Jess was not planned and in an ideal world I would have waited and had her when I had finished uni and has been more settled. But I would not change it at all now I love being her mama.

DESCRIBE YOUR CHILD IN ONE SENTENCE.

Jess is a ray of sunshine, a bundle of energy and just someone I always want to be around. I am proud to say she is my daughter.

I am not going to tag anyone as everyone I can think of has been tagged however, if you have not done it and would like to I tag you to do the mama tag. If you do please leave your links in the comments I will be sure to check them out.

Charlotte xxx

Making Trips So Much Easier With Micro Trike Review

August 6, 2018August 5, 2018 - cupsofcharlotte Leave a comment

Jess is like any two year old who is closer to three she wants to be able to walk however, this is not always possible. Regular Jess will have a tantrum if we have to put her in the pram now she claims she wants to be a big girl. Recently we were lucky to be sent a micro trike to test out and promote.

Micro trike is something which we had so many questions about from people when we have been out and about with it. I think this is because it is so much different from a normal toddler trike this does not have pedals like a standard trike would have. Instead, it has a parent handle and you push your child like you would in a buggy and this is without the battle of them not wanting to go into the buggy. The Micro Trike is suitable from 18 months and up to a maximum weight of 20kg which is great. However, I know Jess is close to this weight so may only be able to use it for a few more months maximum a year.

The micro trike is something which we have taken on the nursery run when we want to get there fast. To be honest, we have been using it every day since we got it, Jess has been around outlets, shops and even Ikea on it. One of the bonuses is that it is so light so if Jess wants to get off the micro trike she can and we can either continue to push it until she wants to get back on or carry it. It does fold flat which is always a bonus one less bulky thing to carry. Also, this is good for storage as space when you have children can be golden ours lives in either the footwell of the set we do not use in the car or in the boot depending on how full the boot is.

The trike is so simple to put up and down all you need to do is one movement to push the seat to flatten, in order for your child to be able to sit on it. Then you have to extend the one-handed push handle one of the benefits of this been one handed is you still have on arm free. We have found it actually makes me walk to nursery a lot quicker because I can swing my arms. You could use the extra arm for carrying shopping bags or holding your child’s hand when they are not on it.

The push handle on the micro trike can be adjusted if you need it to be meaning different heights could push it. The footrest for the child can also be adapted however, this is something which we have not yet had to do with Jess.

We now have tantrums is we do not use the trike it is so easy to push just glides. It really is so easy to manoeuvre you just need to be careful if there are holes in the path not to get the small wheels caught. This has happened a couple of times to use and Jess has gone over the handlebars. I know I should really have the harness on but Jess wants to be a big girl and get on and off when she pleases. I will warn you as well about going on and off the pavement this can be a bit of a hassle and something you need to take care of doing.

Micro Trike claim that this could replace your buggy, for us it has at the moment but I do not think I will be in any rush to sell the buggy. The reason behind this yes at the moment we have had a lot of nice weather, however, when it changes there is no protection from the elements for your child. There is also the fact if your child does fall asleep a lot this is not really possible on this trike, we try and avoid using it when Jess is really tired.

Where can you purchase?

Micro Trikes can be purchased on Amazon for £80 and come in a range of 4 colours, Black , White, Pink, and Blue. I would recommend them and can see them been very popular in the next couple of months to a year, if the amount of people who have asked me about it purchase one.

Do you have a micro trike if so what are your thoughts on it?

Charlotte xx

We were gifted this Micro Trike but I was not required to write about it, I just wanted to share our thoughts as we are really impressed.

First Aid On The Go

July 30, 2018July 24, 2018 - cupsofcharlotte Leave a comment

Traveling is something which we spend a lot of our time doing or it feels like we spend more and more time in the car. Whether it be traveling to do things with the new house, which is like a 40-minute drive, going to see the grandparents or a day out.

I am one of those people who feels like something is going to happen. When you have a toddler it is easy for them to fall over and hurt themselves this is something which Jess does frequently. I swear her legs have more bruises on than anyone I know because she is always falling over. Because of the fact that Jess is always falling over, I thought that I would share with you what we have in the car first aid wise.

Calpol

I have added some elements into the first aid kit bits that I knew that I might need which was not included. The first thing which I added is some Calpol, well Morrison’s own brand this has actually been a help because once we needed it as Jess had bumped her head and was complaining about pain. Calpol can come in for a number of different problems such as teething or generally feeling unwell so it is always worth having it to hand.

Ibuprofen

The same can be said for ibuprofen I think we picked this up from Home Bargains. A headache is something which I can struggle with if I am in the car for too long. I sometimes end up hurting myself on a day out I have been known to have injuries so trying to the amount of pain I am in is always a bonus. These will also come in should I have any other pain the same could be said for Joe.

First Aid Kit

We do have an actual first aid kit in the car which is full of most of the things which we could ever need in it. It does have some first aid cream in which is essential for us because Jess seems to be having a lot of grazes and cuts. We also have the dressings in because you never know when you are going to need to cover a wound and we have a range of the sizes.

This also includes some bandages which if you remember at the start of the year I bruised my arm so badly I had to have it in bandages so these would have been needed. There is plenty of plasters there which we need. I actually ordered this from Amazon but unfortunately, they no longer sell it so I can not link it. I think this was about £9 and we can fill it should we need anything else in the first aid kit.

Anti Bite

Getting bitten is something which happens to a lot during the summer months. I must have tasty blood or something this is the reason why I have decided to add some anti bite stickers for to the first aid kit. It does not matter where I am at the time I can even be indoors and get bitten these are basically like plasters for your bites. These are something which I may remove from the first aid kit when the weather becomes a lot cooler.

Paw patrol plasters are a must if you have a toddler like us who is obsessed with the pups. Jess does like using plasters is there is a need for her to have one, however, we have found that it can be hard to get her ones small enough more so when she damages areas like her toes. We picked these up on offer and they seem to cheer her up when she has a graze.

Antibacterial Spray

The final item which we have in the first aid kit is one which has been a godsend to us. This is the Morrisons Sterilising and Antibacterial spray. This is designed to spray on any cuts which you have to make sure that they do not become infected. When Jess managed to cut her chin and it would have been able to put the cream on. This spray has actually meant that Jess has not go anything infected. If she now gets a cut even if we are in the house she will ask for the spray. This is something which I would recommend putting in your first aid kit.

What do you have in the first aid kit in the car? Or do you not actually have one?

Charlotte xxx

Review: Hopster TV & Learning App

July 27, 2018July 24, 2018 - cupsofcharlotte Leave a comment

There is a time when Jess wants a little bit of time when she has quiet time. Sometimes she will use YouTube but that does mean that she can access anything because I do not have any parental control on the app. However, recently we were contacted by Hopster who is a learning and TV app for children who are between the ages of 2-5 years.

Screen time has allowed Jess to be able to learn a lot of her numbers and colours . It also gives me a break when maybe she has been a little bit full on and I do not want her to push me too much or the fact that I need to do something which means she needs to actually entertain herself. Hopster is also a great app to download if you happen to be traveling this is something which Jess used so much when we used to commute.

We have been using Hopster for a couple of months now this has allowed us to form actual opinions. We have used previous apps in the past, however, even when you have paid for them we have noticed that it has still had adverts. This is something which you do not have on Hopster it is 100% advert free this does mean that Jess that on the app rather than actually getting on something else which causes her to get annoyed.

The app is far from basic they have so much on it including

Shows
Music
Books
Games
Create
Plus a themed area which changes regularly

The shows can be downloaded which means there is no need to use up your data when you out and about. This is something which I love because there is nothing worse than having no data left. The choices of shows on there include Pingu, Ben and Holly, Thomas and also Fireman Sam. I have actually downloaded some of them to my phone so that when Jess is losing her mind and needs to wait for something such as food I can give her this to ease the meltdown. I think there are around 800 shows which means that Jess should not get bored of the same episodes.

The books section is one which we love this is because Jess loves books and not always been at home means reading can be hard. There are some of our favourite stories on the app including the tiger who came to tea which is one that I have loved since my own childhood. There are also a number of books which I have not heard of on the app because it is always amazing to be able to find more books. Again there is such a good selection which means your child can not get bored with the books.

Painting is something which Jess adores but she is only able to do at nursery. This is because we do not have the space to be able to paint when we are at Daddy’s I can not wait till we can craft at the new house. Jess for sure loves to be able to paint and create artwork on Hopster regular I find Jess has saved pictures onto my camera roll. She even has used it in the car when I do not want Jess to nap because the trip is not too far. I think that this is great should you not be able to do traditional arts and crafts.

I have had a lot of fun on the games with Jess. A couple of our favourites on Hopster include the app where you have to collect the flies and feed them to the frog. I know this is one which Jess enjoys playing on as well. I know that another game which Jess loves on the game is the alphabet hotel which is where you have find the same letter as your playing on, trace the letter and make words using the letter. This is something which Jess can spend hours playing on and I think this is the way she has learned a lot of the alphabet along with attending nursery. I am glad to see that over the time which we have been using Hopster Jess’s knowledge has increased and I do put this down to the fact that she has been playing games which are educational.

Hopster is available via a paid subscription for £3.99 a month, £19.99 for 6 months or £34.99 for 12 months. There is no contract and you can cancel the subscription at any point. You do get 1 month free trail which means that you can see if the app is for you before forking out anymore for it. Personally I feel for the amount of quality content and the variety you get, the prices are great value for money. Once subscribed you can then access Hopster on multiple devices. This is something which I need to do but it on Joe’s phone so I do not always lose my phone to Jess.

Have you used Hopster with your child? If so what did you think?

Charlotte xxx

We were given a subscription to Hopster in exchange for review, however, all thoughts as my own.

2 Year Old Summer Essentials

July 18, 2018July 16, 2018 - cupsofcharlotte Leave a comment

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past 6 weeks at least you will know the UK is experiencing a heatwave. This is fun because it does mean that we can go on days out without having to worry about whether it is going to rain or not. However when you have a toddler it means that you have to take extra steps to make sure that they do not become too unhappy or unwell in the heat. Today I am going to share with you the things which we have been using this summer to make sure that Jess has the best time possible.

Canvas Shoes

The first thing which we have been using so much is the Jojo Maman Bebe canvas shoes. These remind me of the Clark’s doodles however, they are a fraction of the price coming in at the £15 mark which is about £5-10 cheaper than doodles. We have been using them for nursery because they are so comfortable for her to wear. They are lightweight which means that her feet are not sweating as much which is a bonus in the heatwave. These canvas shoes do actually dry really quickly if she gets them wet which is good because playing with the water is something which Jess really enjoys same with playing with sand this can easily be banged out of the shoes. They are so easy because Jess can even put them on herself which is a bonus because she wants to be such a big girl now.

Sun Cream

Sun cream is something which is essential because we never want our little humans to burn or damage their precious skin. In the summer applying sun cream is one of the tasks which I dread I think this is because of the fact sun cream is sticky. Applying it to a toddler can be like having to wrestle a crocodile to get it on however, with the Nivea sun cream which comes in a roll on is so simple. Jess loves to stand there and let me draw pictures on her with the sun cream which allows you protect her skin all summer long. Then we rub in the pictures so that it does not end up all over her clothes. I would recommend trying this we usually have one which lasts us all summer long. You can pick this up from the supermarkets for around £4. Another bonus is the fact it is factor 50 which means your child is protected from the harmful sun rays.

Summer Hats

These are something which we could not do without I think Jess owns like 5 summer hats. 3 of the are actually paw patrol which is because she sees them wants them sometimes we allow them. This does mean that she is not very far from a hat which is always a bonus because you never know when the sun is going to come out. Jess is a good girl when it comes to putting hats on this may be due to the fact nursery tell her she needs one on when the sun is out.

We have picked up the majority of the hats from the supermarket and they rarely cost us more than a few pounds. I would recommend having more than one in case you do actually lose the hat or something happens to it. Keep your eyes peeled as soon stores will be reducing them ready for the autumn ranges this is when I tend to pick up new ones and store them till next summer. I only do this if I think Jess will need some new ones next summer.

Sun Glasses

These are something which Jess could not be without she frequently put them on when she is in the car. I think Jess loves wearing the sunglasses in the summer because it is what me and her daddy do and she wants to be a grown up like us. I know that she is not going to hurt her eyes when she looks at the sun which is a bonus because nobody wants to hurt themselves. We actually picked them up from Morrisons which is place which we like to look in for Jess. These were about the £3 mark which is a bargain I have seen them for like £9 in other stores they might be reduced soon again as the weather changes.

Back Pack

In the summer months there is more trips out and days spent in the park which means you need to carry more stuff. This means that you need a good bag which is going to be able to take all of the weight meaning you have your hands free. This is a skiphop bag is actually the one which Jess has used for nursery for a couple of years now. We find that having a bag allows us to have hands free and still be able to take drinks, nappies and a spare change of clothes in case of any accidents. This bag is great because we can change the length of the straps so that I can carry it as well as Jess. I would recommend getting a good bag because it will last you for a number of summers as well as been able to use it for the rest of the year.

What are you essentials for a two year old in the summer?

Charlotte xxx

Tips For First Trip to Cinema

July 11, 2018July 11, 2018 - cupsofcharlotte Leave a comment

Going to the cinema is something which Joe and I love to do. We regularly go when there is a new marvel film out but trips to the cinema are less frequent since having Jess of course. This weekend saw Jess attend the cinema for the first time she actually went to see the new Thomas the Tank film, so today I thought I would share with you some tips to make sure that a cinema trip with a toddler goes as smoothly as possible.

1. Be Prepared

Cinema snacks can be expensive and your toddler will want everything. A tip which I would recommend no matter the age of your child is to take snacks and a drink. This is something which you allowed to do an can save you a small fortune. We did purchase Jess some popcorn and an ice blast because it was her first trip but we took some other drinks and sweets so she did not become hungry.

2. Start with a kids club showing

Many cinemas do kids club showings which occur at the weekend around 10am. This means that it is not nap time for toddlers like Jess meaning that they are not too tired and are going to fall asleep in the screening. Another bonus is that kids club usually are a little bit cheaper with some only been £1 for children which is a hell of a lot cheaper than a normal child’s ticket to the cinema.

3. Sit somewhere accessible

You will want to sit somewhere accessible this means should your child need the toilet during the film you can just pop out. It also means if your child wants to sit on the stairs they can this is something Jess did because I think she got a little bit restless during the film because she had been sat there for 2 hours, even though it was only a hour and half film.

4. Check if the cinema have booster seats

There is nothing worse than paying for your child to go the cinema and then them not been able to see. This could be due to the fact there is a tall person in front of them by your child having a booster seat this will allow them to see over the person or chair in front. If the cinema does not have the booster seats like the one we attended why not take a cushion or a pillow for them to sit on so they are raised up.

5. Don’t be afraid to leave

We all know that small children do not have an amazing span do not be afraid to leave. If your child is making too much noise and you feel like it is impacting other peoples cinema experience. If your child is really not enjoying the film what is the point of staying and forcing them to watch something which they are not enjoying it may make them think negatively of the cinema and they may not want to return. You never know that if your child is ready to go the cinema so do not be afraid if you do have to leave.

6. Pick the right film

Just because it is a children’s film does not mean that it is right for your childs. Of course, you know them best but some films can be too old for certain children for example I would not want to take Jess to a film which is over an hour and half. The reason behind this is I do not think that she has the attention span. I would not want to take her to a film which I think could be too sad for her for example something like the Lion King or Paddington.I know cinemas from time to time show films like Peppa Pig, Paw Patrol and Thomas these are good to give your a toddler good first experience. If you have taken them before and they did not enjoy it this could be a viewing to take them to next.

What are you tips for taking a toddler to the cinema?

Charlotte xx

Days Out- Hull Explorer

July 9, 2018July 5, 2018 - cupsofcharlotte Leave a comment

It is not often you get to be a tourist in your own city, recently I was contacted by East Yorkshire. Seeing if I would like to review their back for 2018 open top bus tour in Hull called the Hull Explorer. Jess and I actually managed to go on the bus on one of the hottest days of the year which meant she wanted to sit in the shade in order to make sure she was not poorly.

The bus tour lasts between 80-90 minutes depending on traffic of course, and it a hop on hop off bus service. You learn so much about the history of the city of Hull, see parts which you may never have seen even as a local there was parts I had not been to in a long time. Due to the bus been hop on hop off it does mean that you can get off for drinks or have a closer look at some of the sites of Hull. This is something which we did not have the option of doing due to the fact it was a training day we attended but this is for sure something which I would do if I went back on the Hull explorer. I think on a nice day getting of the bus and having some drinks down Humber Street and the Marina would be very nice and refreshing.

While you are on board the Hull Explorer you will have a very knowledgeable guide who will enlighten you about the story of Hull. Also some of the landmarks which it is home to. I actually learn so much on the bus, for example, the reason why the city is called Kingston upon Hull is that it was the second biggest port outside of London. So it was the king’s town upon the River Hull. I also learned that Hull has a statue to King Billy who is the one who brought Gin to England so I think we owe so much to him.

On the tour you get to see places such as Queen Victoria square which is home to the city hall, and the maritime museum. This is along with the statue of Queen Victoria who sits above the public toilets. This allows you to see some of the old buildings despite being in the city center close to all of the shops. This would be a great place to get on or off if you want to browse the shops or learn more about Hull’s fishing history.

Just around the corner from the Queen Victoria Square there are queens gardens as I said it was a very nice day there was a lot of people enjoying the sun. This would be a great spot to grab some lunch or having a drink. These are beautiful fountains and around the back, there is a huge pond which you could enjoy. This is close to be two of the old docks in Hull and close by in Beverley gate you can see some of the remains. The King was locked out of the city by the people during the start of the English Civil War.

High street is another place where you get to visit on the Hull explorer. This recently had been filmed as the streets of London in Victoria the hit tv show. This is still home to some of the old warehouses which used to be used by the fisherman when Hull was still a thriving fishing port. This is a cobbled street so it can be pretty bumpy when you are on the Hull Explorer.

The marina is another stop which the you will get to visit, this is very close to Humber Street. Both areas have been redeveloped as a result of the city of culture this is a thriving area with a lot of bars and restaurants. This for sure is an area which you should get off and spend some time around there is some amazing ice cream areas.

There are other amazing areas which you visit including:

Cenotaph
Wilberforce Monument
Museums Quarter
Hull Minster
The Deep

This year, Hull Explorer runs for every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from 7 July until 2 September. This means there is plenty of time this summer to explore more about the city of Hull. The Hull Explorer is not expensive with adult day tickets at £8, students and OAps’s £6 and children £5. Those who are under 5 are free and a family ticket can be purchased for just £21.

Conclusion

I would recommend visiting Hull and going on the Hull Explorer I learn so much on this tour. Jess enjoyed seeing some of the different cities around the city however, it may have been due to the heat that she got fed up. However, we she is only 2. I would recommend going on this tour even if you are a local because it is always good to learn more about your own city.

Have you ever been to Hull if so what did you think?

Charlotte xx

This post is in collaboration with East Yorkshire however, all views are my own

18 Summers Wishlist

June 27, 2018July 1, 2018 - cupsofcharlotte Leave a comment

It’s true when they are that time goes so much faster when you become a parent. I know for sure I can not believe how quick the last 3 years have gone. 3 Years ago I was pregnant with Jess and it is hard to believe that in less than 3 months she is going to be 3.

I was tagged in the #18summerswishlist post by Yammymommy which is a pledge list for yourself and your children, of things you want to achieve before their 18th birthday. Because you actually only get 18 summers before they turn 18 and if you are unlucky and have a teen who is too cool to hang out with their parents even less. I loved the idea of this tag and maybe if I am actually blogging still when Jess turns 18 we can see if we achieved the things on this list.

We have not actually managed to make a holiday abroad yet, this is something which we want to change. Travelling abroad is something which I have done a lot when I was a child and something Joe has managed to do in the past few years. Exploring different countries is something I want to be able to do with Jess.

2. Disneyland is somewhere which I would love to be able to take Jess. I was never massively into Disney as a child however, since they purchase Marvel it is a place I would love to visit. I really want to go when Jess is old enough to enjoy it and watch the movie however, I do still want her to be young enough to believe in the magic of the place. I do not think this is going to be a place we visit for several years to be honest.

3. Learn new skills if Jess wants to do something for example like one summer learn to ride a horse. If this is something which she wants to make a hobby I will help her by taking her places which enhance her learning because I want her to learn skills which she loves this could be playing an instrument, cooking or even playing sport.

4.To spend a lot of time to together because summer at the moment is a time when we all get a bit off and it can be used as quality family time.Some of the best memories which we have already created as a family have been as a result of the summer time because this is when we are more likely to be out exploring. This is something I want to continue as the summers go on that is not to say we do not have fun at other times of the the year as well.

5. To make memories and laugh as much as we can. I want the summers of Jess’s childhood to be special which may mean that when we look back when she is older these are the things which she remembers they do not have to cost the earth. They could be cheap days out or even fun in the garden when we do silly things like have water pistol fights.

I tag anyone who wants to do this to share what they want to achieve with there children before their eighteenth summer

What do you want to achieve before your child turns 18 in the summer.

Charlotte xx

Tips For Dealing With Cradle Cap

June 18, 2018June 20, 2018 - cupsofcharlotte Leave a comment

Younger Jess

Cradle cap is something which we all think of when having newborns and those who are usually under a year old. However, this is something which Jess still even at two and a half still can struggle with. For those of you who are reading this post who may not be parents and do not know what cradle cap is it is. Cradle cap is a very common condition, which affects the scalp of recently born babies, causing a patchy, greasy, scaly and crusty skin rash. Do not worry about it is rare that it is causing the baby any discomfort at all.

Seen as this is something which we have been battling this long I thought I would share with you my tips for dealing with cradle cap. I will admit it was harder when Jess was just born due to the fact she had this an not much hair which made the cradle cap visible to me at least however, you cannot see it as much now unless you are looking for it. This is due to her hair growing however, now must babies are actually born with hair. Anyway that is enough rambling on to the actual tips.

Wash their hair in mild baby shampoo

Cradle cap is not caused because of poor hygiene according to the doctors but one thing which we have found to be super helpful is making sure that we do not over wash Jess’s hair. As when you wash your hair you strip it of the oils. We found that if we wash it 3-4 days apart the oils were not striped as much. Also we did found that more larger chunks was coming out when we rubbed in the shampoo or brushed her slightly damp hair.

Don’t pick at it

I know there is a a high level of temptation to do so however, this can make it very sore for your child. As well as increase the risk of an infection which is something that of course you want to avoid. If your child has it when they are a little bit older you do need to make sure that they do not pick at as well. This is is not something which we have luckily struggled with Jess.

Coconut Oil

Another tip which we have found is to melt a little amount of coconut oil and then massage this on to the affected area.. We applied this for 15 minutes which allowed it to help break down it meaning that it is going to be able to easier to remove. What we did to remove this in the bath/shower. In the case of Jess this allowed chunks to come out and coconut oil is not expensive and something most parents have to hand anyway.

Avoid spraying close to the child

If you do like to put perfume on your chest and your child likes to lay on this area you might want to avoid doing this. This can be the same for air fresheners which you might want to spray to make the room smell better. This may actually get into the child and be harmful which could cause the cradle cap worse which is something of course we all want to avoid.

Massage their head when it is damp

If you give your baby a massage while there hair is still damp gently using your fingers this can cause chunks of the cradle cap to come away from their hair. Only do this when it is damp as then you are not forcing it to come away instead you are just assisting the cradle cap to come away faster that it normally would. This is something which Jess manages to allow me to do for a couple of moments this is the only time I ever really get to give her a head massage.

Have you struggled with cradle cap if so what are your tips for dealing with it?

Charlotte xx

The Baby Room At Symths

March 14, 2018March 14, 2018 - cupsofcharlotte Leave a comment

Symths is a shop when we think about it as typically a toy shop this is somewhere frequently we can be found browsing looking for Jess. However, how many of you knew that they actually sell a wide range of baby items including prams, car seats and everything else you need when you are having a baby?. This is for sure something which I did not know I am not in the minority here and Symths have listened and have relaunched The Baby Room which is the area which houses all of the baby essentials in store from the 16th March.

This is for sure somewhere which I would visit should I have another child in the future to have a look at the products. Due to the fact that they have a lot of the items out which means you can see their actual size and feel how heavy they are. This is something which is great because when we were looking for a new pram we wanted something lightweight. I was actually very lucky and invited to one of the Symths stores to have a look around relaunched Baby Room.

To celebrate the relaunch they have a new catalogue released especially; there will be a whole load of fantastic deals and offers one which is running is 20% off of car seats and travel systems which runs from the 16th-22nd March not to mention competitions and a fab Twitter party to take part in which takes place on Friday 16th March 1pm #thebabyroom. Where they are giving away £200 in vouchers and a Jolie car seat both amazing prizes to win.

Prams

All of the big brands are stocked within The Baby Room such as Graco, Joie, Tommee Tippee and Lamaze to name just a few. All brands who us parents are aware of and know are of high quality. If you are looking for a pushchair there are a large range which you would be able to push around to get a feel for them. They even have a buggy which folds up into a bag and weighs next to nothing which would be great for travelling. As well as 3 in 1 travel systems for under £200 which is a bargain.

Car Seats

If you’re looking to buy a new car seat you should head on down to your local Smyths as they provide free car seat fitting by trained experts all year round. They will even fit them into your car seat they are so knowledgeable about what seat is best for you if it is one with an isofix base, or if your car already has isofix so can use this. They know all the guidlines on the weight you have to be to be in different stage seats. I did not realise that Jess is close to the weight when she can use the seatbelt instead of the 5 piece harness. They also stock car seats that are suitable for children up to the age of 12 so not just baby and infant car seats. I wish I had known about this when we were looking at changing Jess’s car seat as this is something which I spent a lot of time researching. I was not confident I had made the best choice but it would have been nice to have a qualified expert to tell me.

I for sure will be checking out the baby room should we need anything for Jess even though she is two and half now I will be recommending to friends who have children or those who are going to be parents in the future

Did you know Smyths had the baby room?

Charlotte xx

This post is in collaboration with Symths however, all words are my own as always