Mother resting outdoor with daughter, showing with finger.

Hay fever, also called allergic rhinitis, occurs when your immune system overreacts to normally harmless airborne particles, causing symptoms such as a runny nose, itching of your nose, and sneezing.

Hay fever is seasonal; however it can last throughout the year if the allergens are present in the air throughout the year.

Spring and fall are the two main seasons for hay fever. It is unpleasant condition for everyone but for a small kids hay fever could be very distressing.

Watch out for these Hay Fever symptoms: runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, watery eyes, itchy, watery eyes, nose or throat, coughing, postnasal drip.

What you could do to relief the symptoms? – Here is our natural remedies guide!

Try to avoid the pollen; the worst times are in the morning and evening when the most pollen is released. Try not to take your kid into high pollen areas at these times. Splashing his face with cold water and bathing his eyes will help to wash away the irritants. Applying a barrier ointment such as BalmBalm or hand-made salve into the base of the kid’s nostrils helps to trap the pollen and prevents it from irritating the lining of the nose.

Diet and Nutrition 
Many symptoms may be brought under control through dietary change and/or nutritional support. It is advisable to have a food sensitivity test or Auyrveda test to see if anything in your kid’s diet is aggravating the symptoms.

Beta carotene rich foods, such as the red, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, are also rich in bioflavonoids and vitamin C. Hayfever sufferers require greater amounts of these nutrients. Try to find good quality food, organic if possible – the vitamin levels will be higher and it will be free of synthetic pesticide residues.

Dark green foods are also beneficial as they help to cleanse the bowel. They also contain large amounts of beta carotene. Choose dark green leafy salads like watercress or rocket, vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, freshly picked nettles, green beans and kale.

Sprouted seeds and bean sprouts are also very helpful.

Garlic helps to reduce excess catarrh, eat two raw cloves a day (have on toast or stir into food at the end of cooking) or take a garlic supplement. If child is too young to tolerate it fresh, try to cook it in a meal – it will still help.

Yoghurt is cooling and has a mild anti-histamine effect, eat plain unflavoured, organic acidophilus yoghurt in moderate amounts. If your child suffers from an excess of catarrh or have an intolerance to dairy, this may not be a suitable option.

Pollen (half a teaspoon a day) is said to help the condition – use for kids over 2 years old. Check for an allergic reaction to pollen in this form by taking one pellet before you try a larger dose. In the unlikely event that you feel any itching or tingling in the mouth, do not use.

Aloe Vera has mild anti-histamine properties. Give it to your child as a juice internally diluted in water. It is also good for the digestion and skin problems. Used externally (as a gel) it cools and soothes allergic rashes.

Oats feed and nourish the nervous system and contain significant quantities of B vitamins and minerals.

Food rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as Fish oil supplements (syrups are available for kids), flaxseed oil and walnuts.

Identifying Food Sensitivities

Children with lactose intolerance may notice that they feel more congested after consuming dairy products. Recent studies suggest that if children with allergies react to grass pollens, they may also react to tomatoes, peanuts, wheat, apple, carrot, celery, peach, melon, eggs and pork.

Herbal Remedies

Chamomile Tea is used to reduce duration of hay fever attacks
Eucalyptus: Used in steam inhalation to ease congestion
Ginger Reduces inflammation, antimicrobial
Liquorice Root Reduces inflammation, antiviral, antibacterial
Nettle Extract acts as an expectorant, reduces sinus inflammation

Aromatherapy

Essential oils that are suitable for Hay fever sufferers include: Lavender, Chamomile Roman orGerman (all calming and anti-inflammatory); Pine (strengthening and clearing); Cedarwood(good for chesty conditions); Rosemary (uplifting and clearing).
Be very careful when using aromatherapy in small kids and babies, always follow the guidelines.

Homeopathy

Allium Cepa: Where the nose and eyes stream, and sneezing is severe and frequent. For the person whose symptoms are worse in the morning, when indoors, when in contact with flowers.

Arsen Alb: Where the nose tickles violently and sneezing is also violent and painful with a watery, “burning” discharge causing sore lips and nose. The person may feel chilly and restless. May be pale, angry, anxious, depressed and irritable.

Euphrasia: Particularly where the eyes burn, itch and water Often with heavy sneezing, sore throat and a hard and dry cough. Nasal symptoms may be worse at night.

Gelsemium: Where there is violent sneezing and the nose tingles and streams, particularly in the morning. Face feels hot, eyes heavy, throat burns and swallowing causes pain in the ears. The body aches and limbs feel heavy. Fearful, sluggish, depressed but cannot cry.

Nat Mur: Where there is copious catarrh and sneezing, accompanied by cold sores or mouth ulcers. For the person whose symptoms are worse in the open air. Absent minded, angry, confused, depressed, introverted, irritable, sensitive. Tendency to repress emotions.

Nux Vom: Excessive irritation of the nose, eyes, face and throat with prolonged and distressing bouts of sneezing. The nose may feel stuffed up at night, and the person feels chilly and irritable. May be angry, stubborn and impatient.

Pulsatilla: Particularly where there is copious thick catarrh and sneezing. For the person whose symptoms are relieved in the open air. Changeable moods, clingy, depressed, irritable, shy, gentle, tearful and whiny.

Silica: Sinusitis with blocked stuffy nose. Symptoms often worse on waking. Restless, irritable, jumpy, sluggish, sensitive to noise and pain.

It’s advisable to consider a visit to a professional homeopath as homeopathic remedies treat the whole person – both physically and emotionally, and not only a specific symptom. There are also different brands available on the market – companies, producing their homeopathic remedies. The ones that I use for my whole family are from Helios Homeopathy – not only great remedies but also a very friendly staff happy to help and advice.

small girl looks out of the window tent

If camping has been your lifestyle Before Children (BC), you are probably wondering when it’s a good tome to go back to your favourite campsite… this time with your kids. You may want to wait until your baby is at least one, so it’s an enjoyable time for the whole family. Camping with kids is great and memorable; they love it, get more parenting attention, feel free to explore and learn new things about Mother Nature. However, there are more things to consider to make it safe and to keep the kids healthy.

Finding a campsite
Facilities-based or wild campsite – it’s your choice. But the beauty of camping is in enjoying nature, so make sure you find the place you’d love. Mountain or seaside? – Both could be eco-friendly and kids-friendly. If you prefer a wilder camping experience it is definitely worthwhile seeking out the more basic campsites, those that offer a real sense of tranquillity. The benefit is that these places are fairly easy-going in terms of rules and regulations, so even the facilities might be limited to the basics, you’ll probably be allowed to build a campfire.

Sometimes less promoted places recommended by friends might be the best choice for a serene, quiet family break. Just keep in mind that in England and Wales it is illegal to camp anywhere you like, while the laws are different in Scotland and in some areas wild camping is openly allowed. It is best to do your research before you go and definitely to obtain permission from the landlord in advance.

Choosing a tent
Sleeping under the stars is exciting, but having your kids with you makes your choice for a good, reliable tent extremely important. Particularly in wet weather (and summer in England might not be all sunny). So be prepared. My preferred tent is the Vengo Eco range. For a “green” family camping choose a tent that uses recycled material.

Vango have created an Eco range which use recycled components wherever possible. The flysheet, window covers, hanging storage areas, inner tents, and carry bag are all made from recycled plastic bottles.The benefits of plastic recycling include less used plastic going to landfill, less oil used for plastic production and less energy consumed to create the new product. Research shows that similar recycled products used only around 1/3 of the energy taken to produce a new product from virgin materials.

Tents are generally viewed as fairly low impact on the environment, especially a Vango tent as it will last you many, many years. To ensure that the quality of our product is not compromised, there are certain elements of the tent which at the moment cannot be made from recycled materials. These parts include the PE groundsheet, zip teeth and pullers and poles for example.

Should your tent come to the end of its life then you can play your part in the re-use process. Try and think of all the useful things that can be fashioned from the flysheet like car windscreen covers to kites! Tents in the Eco range include Green Tea, Greeen Bean, Green Wing and Green Leaf. I would go for either Vango Green Wing 500 or Vango Green Bean 350 as both are dynamic and flexible family tents for those wishing to reduce their carbon footprint. These ones is probably the top eco family tent budget-wise.

Getting there
It’s best to choose a low impact method of travel. Trains are one of the most efficient means of travel, and they offer quite an amazing experience if your kids can take the long-hours to travel. Considering you’ve selected a very eco-friendly way to spent your holiday, getting there by car might not be all bad. You will have lots of baggage to carry such as tent, clothes, sleeping bags, food… so adding kids to the picture may make any other transport method a bit difficult. If you choose get there by car, make sure your kids will feel comfortable and safe during the travel.

Good-quality car-seats are mandatory for kids under 12-years old and those under 135cm tall. My preferred car-seat is Graco Nautilus. It’s not only safe and easy to use, but being extremely comfortable makes it the best choice for a long-drive. It’s suitable for kids from 9 month to 12 years, so it’s cost-saving. The head-support helps your little one sleep more comfortable, and the bottle and toys-holder eases your life and make the trip less stressful and enjoyable for the whole family. You can now buy Graco Naulituls with 10% discount at Halfords.

Setting up camp
…It’s not easy for first-time campers. But if camping is your lifestyle, you already know how to do it efficiently and quickly. Following the instructions for newbies is essentials, so make sure you keep them with you. How would you like your morning – bright and shine so the sunlight wakes you up, or would prefer to stay in a shadow for another hour or so? Plan to arrive in daylight so can work out where the sun sets and rises and choose which way to face your front door.

When pitching your tent, remember that old phrase ‘high and dry’. You don’t want your tent to be flooded with the first rain, right?  And also don’t camp under trees in strong winds if you don’t want branches crashing down on you.

Making your camp feel like home (even for a few days) is essential for a great-time family holiday.  But rather bring decorations from home, look around you – there will be either wildflowers, tree leaves if in mountain, or sea-shells and stones if you are camping on the coast. You may take some of those with you when you go home to keep the memories as a “herbarium” from your holiday.

If you have brought some home-made jam jars with you, you can use the jars when empty for tea-light holders and bring some romantic atmosphere to your tent. These are great especially if you’re not allowed a fire and kids will enjoy them, too.

Camping essential – what to pack
It’s your choice how to decorate your tent, but there are some camping essential you must bring in with you, such as warm sleeping bags, warm-up bag for your kids, such as the Kipling Sleeping Monkey Charcoal Toddler Warm Up Bag, waterproof mats, extra pair of warm clothier despite the summer weather, a solar-powered camp lamp and torch, a knife set, stainless steal pans, plates and cups for easy-use, your natural First Aid Kit, organic travel-size face and body-care kits, a baby hammock if your kid is under one, kids stainless steal BPA-free drinking bottle, cooling bags, gas-cooker if fireplace is not allowed, safety matches. Hey, don’t forget the waterproof raincovers and wellington boots, you never know…

Sunny summer days are great, but the sunlight could be dangerous. Best quality organic sunscreens are a must-have for both kids and parents. I recently tried the Lavera SPF 20 kids sunscreen and it’s brilliant! It helps protecting little ones’ delicate skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays with this waterproof sun cream. The Lavera Baby and Children Sun Screen SPF20contains Organic Jojoba Almond and Apricot Kernel Oil to nourish and soothe your child’s skin. It protects babies and children from direct sunlight in very strong sun without irritating the skin.

My daughter has been testing it for a few weeks now and her extremely sensitive skin is fine! I am so happy as the product is 100% natural mineral sunscreen, so no allergic reaction, she is protected, it smells nice, it’s waterproof (well, we are planning to spend some time on a beach abroad, so this is important), and doesn’t leave white marks (not that she cares about the white marks, but I still think it’s a plus!). You can buy it online atUlula.co.uk.

Keep kids entertained
Don’t worry about kids’ toys and entertainment. Make the most of the nature and benefit from the free outdoor play. Help them explore the nature and learn, join them in their games and make if fun for the whole family. Collect some stones and leaves and keep them inside the tent in case of bad weather moments, so you can keep up with the joyful and quality family time. Try games as Hide & Seek,

Great campfire food
Choose organic ingredients and make sure your keep eating healthy and have a balanced diet. Get plenty of organic pulses such as dhal and peas and kidney beans, organic brown rise, wholegrain macaroni and couscous, fine oats, quinoa flakes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnip, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and keep the natural yoghurt, organic eggs, milk and some meat for the BBQ in the cooling bags.

Cooking and eating outside is probably the most enjoyable thing to do when camping, so get your family together and make the most if it. Explore the area where you are camping as see if there are any local farms where you can buy fresh organic food – it tastes much better! Take the opportunity to ask farmers to take you around and to show your little campers how the food grows.

Organix believes children deserve to eat well and that food for children should be healthy, tasty, and labelled honestly, so parents know what they are feeding their families.  They know it can be difficult to make good food choices and avoid the junk when the information can be confusing, so Organix helps make sense of it all with simple and clear information, practical advice and its range of Goodies – organic toddler foods with no unnecessary or artificial ingredients.

With the help of children’s food expert Lucy Thomas, who runs fun workshops encouraging children to love fruit and vegetables, and Dr Frankie Phillips, Nutrition Advisor to Organix and a registered dietitian specialising in feeding babies and toddlers, Organix is launching its Little Book of Good Food – Toddlers & Families. It’s packed with advice and tips for parents on providing a healthy diet for little ones as they continue their exciting journey with food through the early years and beyond.  You can download your free copy here: www.organix.com/lovegoodfood

Organix is also launching a series of Love Good Food short videos, with Lucy and a group of toddlers exploring, enjoying and sharing the wonderful world of fruit and vegetables, from broccoli to bananas, through play, rhymes, song and storytelling. You can watch them here: #lovegoodfood

Encouraging little ones to explore and enjoy fruit and veg

Just when you think you know what your toddler likes to eat, and you are confident they are eating a healthy, balanced diet, your little one’s growing independence with food means they might take matters into their own hands – perhaps refusing to eat at mealtimes, or becoming fussy about food!

Inspiring children to enjoy fruit and vegetables is Lucy Thomas’ passion. As author and founder of ‘Mange Tout’, her methods have been recommended by experts from Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Lucy says, “It can be challenging for parents to get their little ones to eat fruit and veg, however, toddlers are naturally curious about the world around them so helping them learn about the colours, the funny shapes, smells and textures of a variety of fruit and vegetables in a fun environment and away from mealtime can really help get them excited about food.

 “As parents we tend to think about food as just eating but we forget the simple pleasure that children can get from peeling their own banana, enjoying how it feels to pull down each piece of skin.”

Try these fun ideas from Lucy to help encourage your little one to explore and enjoy their fruit and veggies:

1. Encourage a wider interest in food, without asking them to eat or taste anything. Get them to smell, kiss, lick or crunch.  You can show your child how to smell strawberries and lick one to feel the bumpiness of the seeds on the outside.
2. Give them lots of opportunities to touch and handle fresh fruit and vegetables, whether out shopping, at home cooking or even growing food. This will help them be more relaxed and interested in food.
3. Get a little messy – let your little one squash a tomato or squeeze an orange while you are cooking. If they feel comfortable handling a food they are more likely to want to eat it.
4. Let your child explore different textures of food by juicing, blending, grating or mashing foods with your help.
5. Explore vegetables raw as well as cooked, it’s a great way to overcome a dislike of a vegetable. For example, small crunchy florets of cauliflower for dipping are delicious – and taste very different to cooked cauliflower.

Healthy eating for toddlers

Toddlers need nutritious foods to promote healthy growth.  Their early experiences with food affect their daily wellbeing and their long term growth and development, as well as the creation of healthy food habits.

According to Dr Frankie Phillips, Nutrition Advisor to Organix, encouraging and starting to make healthier food choices in the toddler years will make it much easier later on for children to eat a good balance of foods.

So what does a healthy diet for very young children look like and what’s the right portion size?  Dr Frankie Phillips suggests following these tips:

• Regular healthy meals and snacks – toddlers need to snack as their tummies aren’t big enough to take on board enough energy and nutrients from just three meals a day.
• Plenty of choice and balance – a varied diet containing a selection of foods will provide the essential nutrients they need.
• Each day aim for 5 portions of starchy foods, 5 portions of fruit and vegetables, 3 portions of dairy foods and 2 portions of meat, fish, eggs, nuts and pulses (3 if vegetarian).
• Lots of tastes in a range of different fruit and vegetables.
• Different colours, tastes and textures to add variety to the diet.
• ‘Me-sized’ portions. There’s no such thing as an ideal portion size for all children, as size, growth and physical activity levels vary.
• Not adding extra sugar or salt – too much salt isn’t good for toddler’s kidneys and sugary food encourages a sweet tooth and can cause tooth decay.
• Enough healthy drinks to keep them well-hydrated.

Healthy snack choices from Organix Goodies

For little ones growing up, Organix award winning Goodies toddler snacks are great for all occasions. There’s a variety of fun shapes and exciting flavours to discover, in just the right portion size for little ones of 12months+, all wrapped up in bright and colourful packs with activities to encourage play.   Choose from soft oaty bars, corn puffs, biscuits, crackers, rice cakes and fruit snacks, they all come with the Organix No Junk Promise, a commitment to never adding anything unnecessary or artificial and parents can check as the labelling on our foods is always clear, open and honest.

For lots more advice on toddler foods and tasty, healthy recipes for all the family please visit www.organix.com.  To download a copy of The Organix Little Book of Good Food – Toddlers & Families visit www.organix.com/lovegoodfood and you can watch the Love Good Food video at: #lovegoodfood. Join the conversation at #LoveGoodFood.

We’ve teamed up with Organix to give you a chance to pack some of their amazing snacks in your picnic basket. We’re giving away not one, but two bundles full of Organix goodies, each worth £25. For your chance to win, please answer this question:

Which are your favourite picnic destinations in the UK?

Please email your answers along with your name and postal address not later than 3rd July, 2015. The winners will be notified by 10th July, 2015.

The wide range of Organix Goodies foods gives toddlers plenty of fun shapes, textures and tastes to explore, and helps keep their energy and imagination fuelled.  As well as being tasty, the award winning Organix Goodies foods are just the right portion size for little ones.

A picnic doesn’t need to be a fancy affair to work its magic on children – any outdoor space is great whether it’s the garden, the park, the countryside or the beach.  We love picnics because:

• Eating al fresco is also an easy way to entertain your little ones.
• They’re great fun and little ones will love exploring the great outdoors.
• Eating outdoors and having a picnic can bring variety to meal times, so you might find your little one is more open to trying different types of food.
• They’re a fantastic opportunity for little chefs to get involved in picnic preparations.

For little explorers on the go, why not pack some of these Organix Goodies foods in your picnic?  All are suitable for toddlers from 12mths + and they come with the Organix No Junk Promise, a commitment to never adding anything unnecessary – so no junk, that’s no added salt, sugar, artificial sweeteners, colours or flavours.  Here are some of our favourites:

Organix Goodies Raisins – these dried fruit snacks come in handy little boxes so they’re great for little fingers, and they count as one of their five a day. RRP: £2.99 for 18 x 14g bags.

Organix Goodies Chunky Banana & Date Fruit Bar: 100% organic fruit squished together into chunky pieces, perfect for breaking off into fun bite sized chunks, and each bar counts as one of a child’s five a day. RRP: £2.49 for 6 bars.

Organix Goodies Raspberry & Apple Oaty Bars: these delicious barsare part of an award winning range, and baked using nothing but juicy fruit and wholegrain oats to keep little ones going. RRP: £2.49 for 6 bars.

Organix Goodies Carrot Stix: baked not fried and packed with carrot flavour and a delicious sprinkle of coriander. RRP: £1.99 for 4 x 15g bags.

Organix Goodies Mini Cheese Crackers: these tasty little crackers, made with fresh cheese, are perfect for little fingers. RRP: £1.99 for 4 x 20g bags.

Why not try one of the simple and delicious picnic foods from their Recipe Guide – it’s packed with delicious and healthy recipes that you and your little one can take with you.

The story is simple but charming. Pippa and Pelle wake up on a sunny summer’s day looking for an adventure. Exploring the meadow they meet new animal friends and learn about their homes — the snail in his shell, the frog in his pond and the beetle in his home made of leaves.
But as night falls they are grateful to return to their warm, cosy home in the strawberry patch.

Daniela Drescher’s distinctive style brings life to this colourful board book, which is perfect for little hands. Young children will love spending a day in the countryside with Pippa and Pelle.

I’d recommend it to all parents with young kids – it’s a great book with lovely illustrations, too.

—–

Daniela Drescher was born in Munich and trained in art therapy. She is the author and illustrator of twenty-four books for children including In the Land of Fairies, In the Land of Elves, In the Land of Merfolk, What’s Hiding in There?, Merlina and the Magic Spell, Little Fairy Can’t Sleep, Little Fairy’s Christmas, Little Fairy’s Meadow Party, and Lily the Little Princess (all Floris Books).

It’s not the oil fish only though, but the omega-3 in it, which could be found in non-fish oil, vegan supplements. The results showed that taking daily supplements of omega-3 DHA improved reading performance for the poorest readers (those in the lowest fifth of the normal range) and helped these children to catch up with their peer group. Children whose reading skills were in the worst performing 20 per cent improved their reading age by three weeks. Not only that, but parents also said their children had fewer behavioural problems when taking fish oil.

Knowing that I felt quite lucky to be offered a chance to try a couple of the Veridian Nutrition’s products ViridiKid Organic Omega-3 Oil and ViridiKid Multivitamin & Mineral.

I’ve always being very conscious of the sugar my 6-year old daughter. I spent hours in choosing her breakfast cereals ensuring there is no or very little sugar; she never eats chocolate and so far she’s never had a fizzy drink in her life. I am not paranoid; I just want her to eat nutritious, healthy food and avoiding sugar is one of my rules.

So it was really great to find out that the Veridian Nutrition have developed these two kid’s products which are easy for children to take, but without any nasties, including sugar or aspartame.

There is always a better (and safer) way to treat colds and flu in children than going on Calpol or antibiotics. I prefer to prevent it and to treat it naturally. First of all, try to boost your child’s natural body defense by good nutritious food and high quality supplements.

Super diet for super strong immunity. Food plays an extremely important role in fighting the colds and flu. To make sure your child would skip the flu, or even to prevent him from getting a cold, try to follow a diet, rich in vitamins and minerals. If you are still breastfeeding, make changes to your diet, too. Try to serve with every meal as much as possible fruits and vegetables, rich in Vitamin C (kiwi fruit, lemons oranges, peppers, potatoes, blueberries, mangoes), and Vitamin A (sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkin and butternut squash), as well as foods rich in zinc (turkey, red meat, oily fish, such as salmon, lentils, peas, and grains).

If your child doesn’t particularly enjoy citrus fruits and kiwis, you should aim for a good quality supplement of Vitamin C. Most of the vitamin drops in the pharmacy contain so many other chemicals and sugar, that you start wondering if it’s going to do more bad than good. I came across really good Vitamin C supplement, which is suitable for both adults and kids from one year old. It’s called Organic Acerola Vitamin C Powder by Viridian.

It’s got a pleasant lemony taste which both my one- and six-year old kids loved. A perfectly natural source of vitamin C from the acerola cherry. Certified 100% organic by the Soil Association. Can be stirred into juice or added to a smoothie. Includes the naturally-occurring synergistic bioflavanoids rutin and hesperidin. Approximately 900mg vitamin C per teaspoon means a six-year old would need just a quarter of a teaspoon, and a one year old – even half of it. This makes the 50g bottle go along way, so it’s actually quite cost effective. Apart from fighting colds and flu, Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation in turn supporting normal cartilage, bone, gum, skin, teeth and blood vessel function. Vitamin C is really important for the normal function of the immune system and boosts kids’ (and adults’) energy levels.

Once your child has a cold or flu, try giving him smaller amounts of food more often. Offer highly nutritious foods such as bananas, mangos, avocados, egg yolks, yogurt, dried fruits, and a spoon of wheatgerm with their breakfast. Try to include garlic in your toddler’s diet or yours, if breastfeeding – garlic has antibacterial and natural antibiotic properties. For babies you could make a “garlic tea” by simply adding finely chopped garlic into boiling water, but don’t give it to your baby; it’s enough if he can smell it.
Keep in mind that milk is mucus formatting, so you may want to exclude milk and milk products (except for a small amount of yogurt) while the child has runny nose, but not longer than a couple of days. Babies under 1 year will still need their usual milk.

Massages*
Massages are excellent cold and flu treatment. By massaging gently your baby or toddler’s back and neck, you will sooth his muscles, and will ease his pain. Massaging his chests will help him if coughing and will warm up the whole body. You may use pure lard or lard mixed with calendula oil (75% lard and 25% calendula oil) when massaging, which will warm the body even more. As massage oil you could also use calendula oil (100ml) with 5 drops lavender oil (do not use more that 5 drops lavender oil for every 100ml calendula oil).

*This massage techniques are not appropriate if the child has a fever or a raised temperature.

The best natural first aid kit for colds and flu

Chamomile tea bags. With its delicious distinctive flavour, chamomile makes a tasty tea. Gentle enough for children, chamomile has mild sedative, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It promotes relaxation, relieves indigestion and, when applied topically, soothes skin irritations.

Echinacea is a great immune remedy, suitable for children over 2 years old. Use it as herbal infusion or in a form of syrup for short periods only.

Thyme is a great herb for the respiratory infections. If your toddler has a sore throat or is coughing, make him a nice thyme tea around 30min before going to bed.

Vanilla extract. Rubbing a little bit on baby’s gums not only feels warm and calming. Vanilla is known as a soothing yet energizing agent that reduces anxiety and promotes feelings of well-being. Vanilla has long been used to cure stomach distress: a baby whose stomach is mildly upset may find vanilla soothing to the tummy as well as the nerves.

Propolis tincture. Bees create propolis by collecting a resinous sap from trees and then mixing it with wax back at the hive. Propolis has antibiotic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and antioxidant properties. Taken orally, it acts against viruses, which antibiotics do not. In a glass container mix one part of propolis with 9 parts ethyl alcohol and leave it in dark place for 20days, shaking it daily. You can give it to you child to take it orally: one drop of the tincture for every child’s year, 3 times a day. For example if your child is 2 years old, hive hip 2 drops x 3 times a day. This will straighten his immune system and will fight bacteria. This may help runny or blocked nose, too. Mix 10 drops propolis tincture in 10ml sea salt water. Use it as nasal drops.

Sea salt. For toddlers you may try to soak their feet in warm water with a handful of sea salts for 10min just before going to bed, then put on socks, and put an additional blanket over him. Check him in 30 min – 1 hour as it will be probably sweating. But this is great, as the body will eliminate the toxins through the sweat. Just wake up your child to change his clothes, remove the additional blanket and wish him good night. You could also use sea salt water in a form of nasal drops, simply by mixing ¼ teaspoon in small 100ml-bottle with warm-like water, shake well, and place 1-2 drops in each nostrils using a dropper from your local pharmacy.

So, now the little princess has turned one, her needs have changed, too. She is trying to feed herself from the plate, to drink from a drinking cup… Her cute little fingers grasp even the tiniest peas and somehow manage to put (most of them) in her mouth. So I was very happy when OXO sent me a few products from their OXO Tots range to try out.

OXO Tot Divided Feeding Dish

The OXO Tot Divided Feeding Dish is essentially a plate with two sections, each with 4 ounce capacity, which is just perfect for my little one. It’s a lovely design, mine came in white and green, and it’s made of soft, comfortable non stick base and gripping area. I would often put some finger food in this plate to accompany the main meal, such as peas (yes, I’m sure you guessed my princess loves peas), steamed carrot slices, pepper slices, fresh chopped tomatoes… and she would feed herself with ease. As kids (as we all) are eating their food not just by tasting it, but also by ‘consuming’ its colours, my aim is to have one colour food in the left plate section, and another colour food – in the right one.

Dips in the first one and vegetables in the other one also pair very well. Some ideas are avocado mash with carrot sticks, humus with celery stick (if the child doesn’t have allergies to sesame seeds or celery, otherwise you could prepare homemade humus with chickpeas only and substitute the celery with cucumber sticks).

The feeding plate is contoured to fit comfortably in the hand while feeding. If you’re serving mashed food, the upper ‘ring’ of the plate provides a lip to scrape off excess food. Removable lid pops on to store excess food.

OXO Tot Twist Top Water Bottle

This lovely bottle is 300ml and comes in a few colours; I chose mine to be green again. It’s dishwasher safe, it’s BPA-free (as all their products from the range), and it’s also phthalate and PVC free.

The OXO Tot Twist Top Water Bottle is a fun and easy to use water bottle and it’s suitable for all types of drinks. I started using it for water and freshly squeezed orange juice. I’ve got a juice maker so the next juice combinations to try out would be: carrots and apples, carrots, beetroot and orange, and the green one: celery, pineapple and cucumbers. I might try some myself (obviously in a grown-up cup).

I noticed the recommended age for this bottle was from two years, but my little one is currently training to drink from the straw. The straw is soft, made from silicone, and it feels very comfortable. The twist system is very clever:  Just a twist of the non-slip lid reveals this soft straw, and another twist would keep it clean when not in use. There hasn’t been any leakage, which is another plus for me. No accidents, happy mum, right? The way the bottle is designed makes it very easy to use it, to clean it and to carry it with us for those lunches on the go.

OXO Tot On The Go Feeding Spoon

When talking about ‘out and about’, over the last few months I’ve been struggling to keep my daughter’s feeding spoons clean and had to always carry them in little plastic bags (not quite eco-friendly, I know). So I was very happy to receive a lovely on the go feeding spoons, the new addition to the OXO Tot family. My first reaction was ‘oh, isn’t it a bit too small?’ but once we tried it, it was the perfect size for my one-year old. In fact, the OXO Tot On The Go Feeding Spoon prevents feeding your child too much food at once due to its size and shape.

It comes complete with a travel case which makes it an excellent food aid for taking out. The feeding spoon has a protective food-grade silicone coating which is gentle on your baby’s gums (especially when they are teething like mine). The soft edges of the silicone can be used to scrape food from the food container (I use OXO Tot food containers, which are safe to use in the freezer and microwave). The contoured handle is comfortable to hold and angled for easy feeding. The travel case conveniently stores the OXO Tot On The Go Feeding Spoon for meals out and about and it’s compact size is ideal for all size of changing bags and handbags.

Definitely five starts for these OXO kids products from us. If you want to purchase these or other OXO Tot products, go to: www.oxouk.com

Weaning is an important milestone in your baby’s development, and to help mums and dads Organix has introduced a new discover campaign with the launch of an online hub at:  www.organix.com/discover.  I was sent a great Discover pack to try with my little one, including lots of useful information on how babies and kids discover shape, texture and taste along with a few food samples.

The Organix Discover section online is packed with advice and creative resources about feeding your baby, lots of top tips and activities on shape, texture and taste to inspire you, food ideas to help you take your little one on a food adventure, as well as food planners and videos – there’s even a quiz.

The weaning window, from around six to 12 months, provides the perfect opportunity for your baby to discover a variety of tastes, textures and shapes as it’s when your baby becomes naturally open to trying new foods.

Shape

Shapes make mealtimes interesting and fun and help little ones develop the skills they need to feed themselves.

Finger foods come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, just perfect for getting little fingers moving, gripping, grasping, picking up and discovering a range of foods. Offering baby such a wide variety of foods to play with not only helps improve hand eye co-ordination and motor skills, and helps them learn how to bite and chew, it also develops an awareness of their actions.  It’s a chance to discover a full sensory experience – to squeeze foods, change their shape and break down foods.

Did you know?

•  Your little one can start discovering shape through finger foods when they can lift and support their head without help, sit supported, and reach out for foods.
•  Feeding themselves gives your baby control, independence and the chance to recognise when they’re full.
•  Your baby can still enjoy finger foods if they haven’t got teeth yet as they can ‘gum’ foods into small pieces.
•  You can offer finger foods from all of the major food groups – protein, carbohydrate, dairy, fruit and vegetables.
•  However, there are also some finger foods to avoid, such as hard and sticky foods that can cause choking, eg nuts, popcorn, marshmallows; and round foods whole, eg grapes or cherry tomatoes – of course you can cut them up into smaller pieces so they’re manageable and easier for baby to swallow.

Top Tips:

•  Use food as an opportunity to interact with your baby – it’s a great way to introduce them to new words for shapes and foods.
•  Cut family foods, such as pasta and meat, into small pieces, so baby can take part in the meal too.
•  In the Organix mum and baby tasting session, mums said:
• “The way I present food is definitely something I’ll be thinking about now, making it into a picture and something a bit more fun”
• “He really impressed me with how he was able to grasp things and put them into his mouth when they were so small ”

Texture

Discovering texture is important as we love food not just because it tastes great but because we like how it feels too.
Texture is more exciting than just lumps, and to prove the point Organix got a group of mums and dads to try a selection of foods whilst blindfolded.  One of the dads said: “You’ve had one of your senses taken away, it gets you to focus on the detail of food and makes it more intriguing, it’s like our little ones when it’s the first time they’ve tried anything – they’ve got it all going on!”

Frankie Phillips, Nutrition Advisor to Organix, recommends helping your baby discover as many textures as you can – juicy and fleshy, squishy, bouncy, melt in the mouth, grainy and bitty, crispy and crunchy, smooth and creamy, dry and crumbly.  For example, pieces of banana will let them safely experience different textures and foods breaking down in their mouths – banana pieces can be offered as early as six months.

Did you know?

1. Your baby needs to learn to get to grips with new textures and this can take practice, so he may spit out a new texture.
2. Your baby may move quickly from one texture to the next, or may take a little time to master it – everyone goes at their own pace so don’t worry.
3. Even if your baby’s teeth aren’t through yet, foods can still be chewed by their strong gums.
4. After starting with smooth purées, you can offer soft lumps and mashed foods as early as six months.
5. Introducing lumpy foods takes more effort for your baby as they need to learn to use their tongue muscles and their jaw to chew and then swallow.
6. When your baby no longer spits out soft lumps and seems confident eating lumpy food you can introduce chopped and minced foods.

Taste

Tasting new foods for the very first time is an incredible experience.  By adding interesting flavours to your baby’s diet you are encouraging them to become more familiar and open to trying new tastes as they grow older, which in turn will help inspire a lifelong love of good food.

In the Organix mum and baby tasting session, one mum said: “Little ones are more adventurous than you think.  We tried celeriac and kale and my little girl loved the grapefruit, I would try that at home now, yet before I would never have introduced it.”

Did you know?

• It’s important to offer a wide range of sweet and savoury dishes.
• Babies naturally prefer sweet flavours and all other tastes are learned.
• Frankie Phillips, Nutrition Advisor to Organix, says it can take up to 14 attempts before a baby learns to like a new food, especially more challenging foods – so don’t worry if your little one refuses a food during their first few attempts.

Top Tips:

• Don’t wait too long to start getting adventurous with taste – vary the menu.
• Offering two courses is a great way to offer your baby a wide range of tastes.
• Be brave and offer more challenging tastes, such as bitter and sour, eg. kiwi, oranges, pepper, spinach.
• Try not to mask challenging tastes with easier ones, so allow your baby to enjoy the real taste of broccoli rather than perhaps mixing it with apple purée.
• Rotating new foods with ones your baby already likes will give lots of chances to discover and enjoy more foods.

For more advice on weaning and great tips on how to discover shape, texture and taste visit www.organix.com/discover

Keeping my baby safe at home gets more challenging as she is becoming quite mobile. We know babies touch anything and put anything they can get their hands on in their mouth. So childproofing your home is essential to keeping your baby or toddler safe. Be prepared to childproof the nursery, bathroom, kitchen, fireplace – any area of your house that poses a threat to your little one.

Here are some things you can do to stop your baby being injured*:

• Change your baby’s nappy on a changing mat on the floor.
• Don’t leave your baby unattended on a bed, sofa or changing table, even for a second, as they could roll off.
• Don’t put your baby in a bouncing cradle or baby car seat on a table or kitchen worktop as their wriggling could tip it over the edge.
• Hold on to the handrail when carrying your baby up and down stairs in case you trip.
• Watch where you’re putting your feet while carrying your baby. It’s easy to trip over something like a toy.
• Use a five-point harness to secure your baby in a highchair or pram.

Once they learn to crawl, babies may try to climb onto things, such as sofas, which increases the risk of falling. So here is a list of some baby and toddler-proof essentials*.

Stair Gates

No need to stress the importance of installing a good quality stairs safety gates (ideally on both sides of the stairs) especially when the baby starts crawling. I came across a great one called KiddyGuard, which I have been offered to test by the UK distributor Cheeky Rascals.

I received a KiddyGuard Accent, which is suitable for doorways of up to 100cm (as mine). It comes in black or white and mine is in black, although the fabric is transparent and looks very stylish and sleek. It could be a great interior addition to both classic and modern-styled homes.

The first thing you’d notice is the unique design. It features a mesh screen which rolls out in a way very similar to that of a roller blind. The mesh screen rolls into an aluminium casing protecting it from dirt, wear and tear and ensures a smooth roll-out, every time.

You’d soon discover its many other benefits. I like the fact it’s easy to operate with one hand, meaning that if I hold my little one, it would take me a second to open or close the gate without any effort.

Only minimal space is needed, unlike most traditional safety gates. It essentially “disappears” when not in use. Its other benefits are:

• No bars across the floor = No trip hazard
• Easy to install , ONE handed operation
• Automatic locking – red warning button pops up if gate is not clicked into place correctly

It’s 80cm tall and can withstand up to 100kg, so it would provide safety for both babies and small kids.

It’s easy to install as well. I’ve been advised by the distributor that If you will be attaching your KiddyGuard to a wall with a skirting board, you’ll need a piece of wood, equal to the width of the skirting board to fit between the top bracket of the KiddyGuard and the wall.

The product retails at £99 and is available to purchase at www.cheekyrascals.co.uk.

Glass safety film

Low-lying glass panels can be a hazard – if you have existing doors that aren’t made of safety glass, you can cover the glass with safety film, which is designed to contain any loose jagged shards should the glass break.

You can also use it on glass-top tables. If you are fitting new glass in your home – such as glass doors to your patio – you must use safety glass.

Door slam stoppers

These prevent doors from shutting on children’s fingers and also stop children from shutting themselves in a room – essential once babies start walking. Some types of stoppers prevent fingers from getting trapped in one side of the door but not the other, so the hinge side might be protected but the door can still close.

Alternatively, a doorstop can prevent the door from moving at all.

Drawer and cupboard catches

Drawer and cupboard catches are designed to only allow a cupboard or drawer to open a few centimetres, unless an adult releases the catch.

Drawer and cupboard catches are essential once your baby starts crawling and exploring to keep baby fingers safe from sharp objects such as knives or breakables such as crockery and glassware.

Children will eventually learn how to operate them, but in the meantime they can provide a degree of reassurance.

Radiator guard

These prevent your baby from burning themselves on a hot radiator. Try a DIY or homeware store.

Baby safe appliances

If you’re replacing a washing machine, oven, hob, dishwasher or other household appliance, look for models with baby safe precautions, such as child locks or buttons and levers that are located out of harm’s way. Make sure you get appliances with child safety features.

Bath mats

Water adds to the risk of accidents, especially when young children see the bath as a fun play area and will want to stand up and mess around.

A simple rubber bath mat will help prevent your baby from slipping in the bath. Add a bath mat to the base when your baby starts sitting up and is able to pull up without your support.

Baby monitors

Baby monitors shouldn’t be regarded as a safety device – they are more for convenience, so you can hear your baby crying if you are in another part of the house or in the garden.

However, baby monitors can alert you to potential hazards such as your baby climbing out of the cot or bed.

Socket covers

There is currently a question mark over whether using socket covers is a good idea, but RoSPA, the Royal Society for the Protection of Accidents, does not consider it necessary to recommend the use of socket covers, nor does the Electrical Safety Council.

If you’re concerned, you might want to speak to a qualified electrician to seek further advice.

*The article refers to recommendations and safety guidelines from NHS and Which.co.uk.