July/August 2007 Newsletter
Greetings from TinyTotsAway.com!
In this issue:
Real nappies as bad for environment as disposables
What's in the News?
Real nappies as bad for environment as disposables
The Government have dropped the Real Nappy Campaign after a four year study showed they have as much negative impact on the environment as disposables.
The decision comes after a three-year campaign urging parents to use washable towelling nappies which has cost taxpayers at least £30million.
Speaking in the Commons last week, former waste minister Ben Bradshaw confirmed the Campaign over saying, "Reusable nappies may reduce demands on landfill but they still impact on the environment in other ways, such as the water and energy used in washing and drying them."
As a result of the findings, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs consequently dropped the Campaign, concluding that "there was no significant difference between any of the environmental impacts of the disposable, home use reusable and commercial laundry systems that were assessed".
The admission has prompted accusations from pressure groups that huge sums of money are being wasted under the pretence of saving the environment.
It is estimated that at least three billion disposable nappies are thrown away every year in the UK, creating a waste mountain which is costing local authorities more than £40million a year to treat.
Baby born with teeth
Teething troubles started early for a Worthing mum when midwives made a dental discovery on her newborn baby.
Beautiful Megan was born at 7.23pm on June 29, a healthy baby girl.
But doctors soon discovered she came with extras - at least seven teeth.
Mum Claire who was born with 12 teeth - said she was "a little bit shocked" by the news.
"At three days old, she'd already had two dentist appointments."
Claire has suffered from dental problems for most of her life since the teeth she was born with were removed when she was three months old. Many have never grown back and she is hopeful her daughter will not suffer the same fate.
"I'm hopeful she won't go through what I had to," said Claire. "I hope she should be all right."
Megan's front four teeth have been removed because they were loose and at risk of being inhaled, but the remaining teeth are solid and pose no risk.
Claire believed the odds of a baby being born with one or two teeth were around one in 2,000, but she had found no record of it happening elsewhere.
Dentist Martin Bean, a partner at the Grand Avenue dental practice, said: "It's unusual but not unknown.
"But it's difficult to say how often it happens."
Website of the Month
Travel ID
After piloting the service in various Spanish holiday resorts in 2006, Travel ID now offers its Child ID service in the UK. An important service providing a 24 hour Child Identification and Emergency Response Telephone Line to immediately reunite a family in case of a child being separated from their family or injured whilst on holiday or away from home.
Travel ID supply Identification Wristbands, Cards, Keyrings and Stickers, each of which displays a personal and unique ID number and the Telephone Number of the company's 24 hour Emergency Response Call Centre.
If a child is found or injured anywhere in the world, the finder or medical staff simply calls the 24hr Emergency Number and within minutes a senior Company Director will contact the family with full details of the child's whereabouts and condition. Travel ID doesn't rest until the family is fully reunited.
Buy now at www.travel-id.com
New Products
Trunki
Recently launched is the brand new posh Trunki - Towgo.
As award winning Terrence and Trixie - the world's first ride on travel luggage for children - celebrate their first birthdays, a new posh arrival completes the Trunki trio this summer to help relieve stress of travelling with children.
Posh, ride on Towgo suitcase launched on the 3rd July and is perfect for the discerning toddler. Crafted in bright, durable polypropylene plastic, Towgo features locking catches, teddy bear seatbelts (that's internal straps for grown ups), carry straps and even a secret compartment that's perfect for storing sweets and other goodies. Towgo is CE marked, has the EN71 safety certificate, is fully recyclable and even comes with its own passport.
The summer holidays are fast approaching and with them the thought of delays, stress and tantrums all too commonly associated with family travel. Towgo is hand luggage, carry-on approved and allows children to actively participate in the travel experience - tots can pack, pull and ride their Trunkis in stress free style while parents can relax before departure.
Buy now at the Trunki website.
A Short Guide to Babies' Sleep Patterns
We've added a new article to our Parent Guides. A short guide to babies' sleep patterns has lots of helpful information about bedtime routines, expectations in the first 3 months and beyond, and links to organisations who can help you cope with a crying baby.
Our other interesting and useful guides are: 'Keeping Safe in the Sun', 'Baby Passports', 'Making Up Formula Feeds Abroad', 'How Soon Can I travel with a Young Baby?', 'Airline Baggage - Travelling with an Infant', 'Airline Baggage Allowances' and 'What if my child is ill when we are away?'.
Recommended Reading
The Complete Sleep Guide For Contented Babies and Toddlers
Gina Ford
Sleep is probably the most misunderstood and confusing aspect of parenthood. Babies are supposed to sleep most of the time, aren't they? Well, some do, but an awful lot don't.
Gina Ford's practical guide helps parents understand their children's sleep patterns and gives them invaluable advice on how to solve or avoid common problems. Starting on the first day at home after the birth, she advises new parents to disregard any advice to let the baby's habits rule the roost. By creating a structure of regular feeding, sleeping and playing times, parents can help their baby to find a rhythm that will be comfortable for all concerned.
Among the questions this book answers are: how much sleep do babies need? What's the difference between a sleep and a nap? When can certain feeds be dropped? Gina Ford's blueprint for creating happy and rested babies and parents has been successfully applied over many years.
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child: A Step-by-step Programme for a Good Night's Sleep
Marc Weissbluth
In this completely revised and expanded edition, Dr Marc Weissbluth - a leading paediatrician - updates his groundbreaking approach to solving and preventing children's sleep problems, from infancy through to adolescence.
In "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child", he explains with authority and reassurance his step-by-step regime for parents for instituting beneficial habits within the framework of their child's natural sleep cycles. This valuable sourcebook outlines the best course of action for sleep problems: prevention and treatment; reveals the common mistakes parents make to get their children to sleep; helps stop the crybaby syndrome, nightmares and bedwetting and provides new material on: how to handle 'nap-resistant' kids and when to start sleep training; help for working mums and children with sleep issues; the father's role in comforting children; the benefits and drawbacks of allowing kids to sleep in the family bed; and much more.
Rest is vital to children's health, growth and development. "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" outlines proven strategies that ensure good, healthy sleep for every age.
The Baby Sleep Book: How to Help Your Baby to Sleep and Have a Restful Night
William Sears and Martha Sears
Drawing on considerable experience as both parents and professionals in the paediatric profession, the best-selling parenting experts Dr. William and Martha Sears have produced the definitive guide to the frequently fraught and troublesome topic of sleep.
The Sleep Book is designed as a practical and contemporary guide to parenting, ensuring you can get your child to sleep and making sure night time isn't dreaded. Containing the latest medical research, and providing informed and considered advice on all the issues, this book offers guidance and support to keep you and your child rested and refreshed.
Includes advice on all aspects of sleep such as: 8 infant sleep facts every parent should know; 31 ways to get your baby to sleep and stay asleep; Bedwetting; Hidden medical causes of night waking; Sleep trainers; Night weaning - 12 alternatives for the all-night nurser; Night terrors; 5 reasons why high need infants sleep differently; Sleep safety; SIDS: the latest research on how sleeping with your baby is safe; Co-sleeping: Yes, No, Sometimes.
An invaluable resource for parents of young children, The Baby Sleep Book provides guidance on how to get your baby to sleep, what to do if he wakes up to often, what to do if he sleeps too much. It also helps with moving the place of sleep, sleepwear, managing the sleep time of more than one child, and night time feeding.
Help Your Baby to Sleep (National Childbirth Trust Guides)
Penney Hames
Sleep is something all new parents want, both for themselves and their babies. This book offers background information and practical steps to help you establish a routine with your baby that will look after his or her needs - and yours, too.
New parents are given all sorts of conflicting advice when they have a baby on how best to get your baby to sleep through the night. For instance: Should they sleep in your bed, in your room? Should you leave them when they wake or cry?
Penney Hames here tackles every issue, including cot death, and talks about each technique. She examines the need for routine, a comfortable sleep environment and a baby's sleep patterns at different ages and stages. She also explores research into how a child's sleep pattern might reflect its character, wellbeing, health, even intelligence - debunking myths and extracting the truth.
The main message Penney Hames gives is that parents should make their own minds up and she offers advice on where to get help with addresses of sleep clinics and other support agencies.
Competitions!
Check out our competition page for the chance to win a Samsonite Pop-up Deluxe Cot worth £35 or a Trunki suitcase.
The Samsonite Pop Up Travel Cot Deluxe is extremely lightweight and compact and comes complete with its own carry bag for easy storage. Made from 100% cotton fabric with a padded mattress it is ideal for warmer climes especially as it has an integrated mosquito net.
For your chance to win, enter the Samsonite competition.
If you have previously entered this competition, there's no need to re-enter - you will be included in this round!
Closing date 31 August 2007.
Winner of the May Samsonite competition was Fern Yates from Leeds and winner of the June competition was Wendy Barbe, Milton Keynes
Would you like to win a Trunki suitcase for your little one?
Designed for family holidays, children can pack, sit-on and ride their own luggage, whilst parents can keep them in tow.
Trunki's light weight and durable design is hand luggage approved, with generous space inside for toys, games, books and spare clothes. Trunki is the ultimate travelling companion.
To be in with a chance to win just enter the Trunki competition.
Closing date 31 August 2007.
with kind regards,
The TinyTotsAway Team
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