I am moving on!

Saying Goodbye to Blogger & Saying Hello to Wordpress!

I have been writing this blog for almost 2.5 years. You could have read about my ups and downs, mostly about raising my daughter Isabelle who is almost 4.5 years old and soon will be starting reception in September. 

A few months ago I had a few problems and decided to make a big step to become self- hosted and move to Wordpress. It is still going to be me writing it, and I hope you will come and visit it soon and let me know what you think about the new design. I am planning a few exciting projects, so make sure you subscribe to my new blog address to find out about these!

Thank you for reading my blog and see you at

http://www.allbabyadvice-blog.com/

Mirka @Kahanka 

A Zeal of Zebras by Woop Studios!

I was sent a very interesting book, called A Zeal of Zebras. It is an alphabet book of collective nouns and not only you can learn some very interesting facts about many animals, how they live, work and play in groups, you will also admire beautiful illustrations and expressions Woop studios have used.

I am not sure if Isabelle will understand some of the expressions, or if she would be using them now as she is just 4 years old, but I am sure she that she can learn many new things about animals. For example did you know that....

There are always six ravens

living at the Tower of London,

a tradition that started in the

nineteenth century. Legend has it,

if the ravens leave,

the great White Tower will collapse

and a terrible disaster shall befall England...

"An Unkindness of Ravens"

Dino Bite game for the Dinosaur lovers!

We came across the Dino Bite game at the Christmas in July event. Isabelle admired the green monster and loved stealing the babies from him, and then we were sent one for a review. I took it with us on holiday as I knew that this could help us with entertaining our little daughter and stop her from being bored. At least I hoped so.

After installing the batteries, the creature started to make noises that were a bit scary and first Isabelle's reaction was that she didn't want to play it. I was a bit surprised as this wasn't the first time she saw it. Anyway, we told her she didn't have to play, and I continued playing with my parents, while Isabelle was walking around and pretending she wasn't interested in our game at all. But once it was her nan's turn and while she was trying to steal a baby from the Dino, the creature moved forward and my mum jumped. She didn't expect it at all. We all had a good laugh. A few days later when Isabelle's friend came for a visit, guess what game they were playing?

Game features:

• game for 2-4 players aged 4+ 
• the Dino will roar out loud and lunge forward, revealing his massive blade-like teeth - to scare them away from his prize
• Only they can save the Dino Babies - but they must avoid the Dino BITE!
• Each player takes it in turn to rescue an egg from the Dino nest with the tweezers
  supplied. With each roll of the coloured dice they’ll find out whether they are aiming
  for a certain colour, have free rein to pick any Dino baby within their reach, or
  whether they have to miss a go. Then it’s a case of gently, quietly does it… as they
  carefully lift the edge of the leaf, steadily move their tweezers into the nest, grasp the
  baby and lift it out to safety! Or it’s fine for younger players to use their fingers
  instead of the tweezers, if they like.
• The game continues until there is only one player left who hasn’t been caught out by the ferocious beast…and that player is the winner of the game!

Johnson's Baby nappy cream challenge!

Instant Comfort For Little Bottoms: The Challenge
Helping Protect Your Baby’s delicate nappy area. The challenge involved using the new Johnson’s Baby nappy cream for two weeks, which one of my friends happily helped me with.


JOHNSON’S® Baby’s top tips for avoiding nappy rash:
1. Prevention is better than cure: Apply a barrier cream after each nappy change, protecting the skin from irritation while allowing it to breathe. This can help prevent nappy rash from occurring in the first place
2. Thorough but gentle clean: Clean your baby's nappy area thoroughly using a gentle cleanser, such as JOHNSON’S® Baby Wipes. Check your baby's skin is clean and dry before putting on a new nappy
3. Getting some air time: Leave the nappy off as much as possible allowing your baby’s skin to breathe
4. Dry bottoms equal no more tears: Change the nappy as regularly as possible to prevent the skin having direct contact with urine and faeces whilst ensuring that you thoroughly dry your baby’s bottom by patting (not rubbing) it with a towel after washing
5. Weaning and teething: Take particular care to use a nappy cream at certain times- such as when your baby is teething or weaning, both of which can cause babies to develop painful nappy rash
6. Ask the expert: Finally, if you are concerned about your baby, don’t be afraid to ask your midwife, pharmacist or doctor for advice or log onto www.babycentre.co.uk/baby/health/nappyrash to get some more great tips on how to protect from the causes of nappy rash

Now our feedback:

After using the nappy cream for two weeks, we can say, we really liked it. It smellt great, the texture was very good, which meant it stayed on for some time, and didn't come off after a few moves of my friend's baby. Her son didn't develop any nappy rash during the testing period and am sure she will be looking out for this cream in her local supermarket. As I am pregnant again, I will definitely give it a go on our baba number two once it arrives.

The Gallery - Water!

 

 I chose the above picture of the "Heart" island (Australia, Great Barrier Reef) I took a few years ago. This week's gallery theme "water" means a lot to me. I love water. I have always loved it, since I can remember. When I was little, I used to spend ages in the pools or sea when on holiday and swimming has always been my favourite sport. When we lived in Sydney, we went diving very often, and that wouldn't be possible without all the wonderful salty water around. It just felt so wonderful under the surface, so magical. When I was thinking about giving birth to our daughter, I went for the water birth, as that is the most natural environment for me... Sometimes I think I used to be a fish in my previous life...

Don't forget to check out the rest of the gallery posts!

Win The Starting School Survival Guide - everything a parent needs to know!

Our Isabelle is starting reception in a few weeks time, and I am a bit nervous about it. I am trying not to show it when we talk about it with her, as I don't want her to see that and start worrying as well. I am so happy I got a copy of the new Sarah Ebner's Starting School Survival Guide for a review, as it is packed full of so many interesting fact and advice. I took it on our flight to Prague, and when I was returning to London 2 weeks later, I finished it and felt not as nervous about our daughter starting school as before. You can find there advice from many parents and parenting experts, and I am sure that it can answer all questions parents have when their child starts school.

Sarah Ebner is an experienced journalist and editor of The Times blog – School Gate, which has been named one of the ten best education blogs in the world by the Washington Post.

She has written for nearly every national newspaper and was a staff writer on the Daily Express and Daily Mail. She was also a producer and occasional reporter for BBC Newsnight. Sarah lives in London and is a mother of two.

Some of the issues covered in the book:

- How to find/choose a school in the first place: the kinds of

school available; finding your way around league tables and OFSTED reports; how to apply and

what if you don’t get in!

- Preparing your child before the first day: seven sensible and practical suggestions to make the

transition from nursery to school a little easier

- Seven sensible ways to help the learning process

- Leaving your child on the first day and what to do if your child finds it difficult to leave you

- Food at school – pros and cons of school dinners; the school ‘lunch box police’; allergies; after school snacks

- Time off school: real or pretend illnesses; being sent home from school; holidaying in term-time

- Coping with your child’s shyness; being bullied or if your child is the bully

- Special needs; behavioural issues

- Coping as a parent when your child leaves you alone at home!

- The next step - homework; tutoring; sport; preparing for secondary school

How to enter?

Sarah was so kind and donated one copy of her new book to one lucky All Baby Advice reader.

All you have to do is:

1. Leave a comment on this post, including a way of contacting you in case you win (e-mail address or twitter ID (compulsory)

and for extra entries (max 3) you can:

• click this button to show you like this competition
  
  and let me know you did so
• comment on one of my non- competition/ non- gallery posts and let me know which post you left your comment on
• mention this competition on Twitter including @Kahanka and the URL of this competition post in the tweet and come back here and let me know you did so, and leave your twitter name too.

Please use a separate comment for each entry!

Maximum 4 entries!

Only entries that have completed all the compulsory entry requirements will be counted!

Thank you!

Terms and Conditions:

• The closing date of the competition is 23/08/2011
• The winner will be chosen at random from all entrants.
• The winner's name will be made available on this page and on Twitter. If the winner does not respond to our request for a postal address within 5 days, a redraw will take place.
• Competition is open to residents of the UK and Ireland only.
• The prize is non-refundable and cannot be transferred. No cash alternative is available.
• The All Baby Advice decision is final - please don't quibble.

And the winner is:

number 18

Congratulations to @robynlclarke

Please e-mail me your name and address at allbabyadvice@yahoo.co.uk

The winner was chosen by Random Number Generator and only entries that completed all the compulsory entry requirements were counted!

Bladez Space POD review!

The Christmas in July event was great to check out so many new toys and one of them was definitely the Bladez Space POD.  Isabelle is just 4 years old, but she had a lot of fun playing with this flying toy. As we were off for our holiday soon, I was thinking that this would be just perfect for my 11 year old nephew.

Just a few days ago, we had a chance to see my brother's family and when we gave my nephew his present, he looked very excited. Isabelle was telling him all about how to use it, as she has used it before. Unfortunatelly it was raining, and we all were in one room at my parents'cottage. Imagine 3 families...like sardines. But that didn't stop us from testing the perfect flying toy for the beginner pilot.

As I was reading the instructions on the box, I knew I also had to pack 8 AA batteries, which were not included. The space pod was charged originally, but that lasted for 5-6 minutes, and then it needed charging. As the ceiling in the room wasn't very high, I was a bit scared it will get damaged, but after a few tries my nephew was controlling it really well. He loves it, and as it was quite dark, we all were admiring the different colours coming out of the toy. Isabelle was a bit dissapointed as she doesn't have one, and has asked me if she could get one for Christmas... We talked about it and agreed that we have to write it on the list for Santa.

Product Details:

• The Bladez Space Pod allows anyone of any age to enjoy the thrill of flight.
• The Bladez Space Pod is the first of the innovative miniature helicopters from Bladez Toyz.
• The Bladez Space Pod’s are extremely robust and can withstand nearly any crash with a durable and lightweight body.
• KEY FEATURES • Stable 1 channel flight • Counter rotating blades • Colour LED lights • Spares available • Suitable for ages 8 and above

Lite Sprite Toys finally in the UK!

Not long ago we were sent the new Lite Sprite toys, the Prisma and her wand and her friend Meadow. Isabelle is really into fairies these days, and these are just amazing. You will not only love their design, but once they are lit up and change the colours, that's when the wow comes into place. When we went to the Christmas in July event a few weeks ago, I shot a video to show you how they work together. We spent quite a while there, and Isabelle didn't really want to leave. I had to tell her that her Prisma was waiting for her at home. She was so excited, and when we got home I had to show her her new friend and she really loved playing with her. Once we received Meadow as well, Isabelle was able to share the colour among her two new friends. I can imagine that the tree of lite and the names of the 3 remaining fairies will be on her Christmas list. She just loves them!

Product features:

The amazing Lite Sprites are beautiful friends full of colour and light, which they can magically cast and share among themselves and their world. They live in the truly unique and enchanting world of Lite-topia, powered by imagination and illuminated by girls’ power to magically capture, transfer and share light and colour.

Lite Wand features:

Magical color and light displays

Lite-Topia SFX and audio guidance

Select color from the built-in library and share it with Prisma and the rest of Lite-Topia

Capture color from your world and share it

Receive color from another Lite Wand

Play built-in color games: Colour Hunt and Color Mix

Send spells to Sprites and playsets

Volume control

Prisma

Comes with special forest pod home

Includes 10 built-in "favorite" colors

Leader of the Sprites

Catches colors and spells from the Lite Wand, shares color with other Sprites

Interacts with playsets

Special Lite Sprites, Astra, Meadow and Brooke (£14.99 RRP), each light up with seven special colours which they can share and transfer between themselves and Lite Topia. Bleak (£14.99 RRP) mischievously steals colour, but the wand holds the secret to unlock the colours of her heart. All the Sprites come with a beautiful forest pod.

The Lite Sprites from WowWee are available from July 2011 and are suitable for ages 4+ and over.

Win Garofalo month's supply of the children's pasta!

Pasta for your little ones to enjoy. Look out for Garofalo’s La Giostra dei Bambini pasta, available from Ocado. Not content with luring grown ups to its premium pasta, Garofalo is launching its range of children’s pasta so that Bambinis in the UK can enjoy the same quality pasta as their Mama and Papas!

La Giostra dei Bambini children’s pasta comes in four different shapes for little ones to enjoy – Pazzielle – Little Toys, Dischi Volante – Flying Saucers, Motori – Car Engines and Anistelle

which are Moons and Stars. Garofalo’s Signature pasta, which is organic and made with only the finest durum wheat, is a firm favourite with the Italians and is winning the hearts of UK customers who have fallen for its unique flavour and its wonderful texture that helps the sauce ‘cling’ to the pasta for an improved taste.

How to enter?

For the latest competition I have teamed up with Garofalo and they are offering one month's supply of their new children's pasta ( 10 packs) to one lucky All Baby Advice reader. All you have to do is:

1. Leave a comment on this post, including a way of contacting you in case you win (e-mail address or twitter ID (compulsory)

and for extra entries (max 3) you can:

• click this button to show you like this competition
  
  and let me know you did so
• comment on one of my non- competition/ non- gallery posts and let me know which post you left your comment on
• mention this competition on Twitter including @Kahanka @pastagarofaloUK and the URL of this competition post in the tweet and come back here and let me know you did so, and leave your twitter name too.

Please use a separate comment for each entry!

Maximum 4 entries!

Only entries that have completed all the compulsory entry requirements will be counted!

Thank you!

Terms and Conditions:

• The closing date of the competition is 05/09/2011
• The winner will be chosen at random from all entrants.
• The winner's name will be made available on this page and on Twitter. If the winner does not respond to our request for a postal address within 5 days, a redraw will take place.
• Competition is open to residents of the UK and Ireland only.
• The prize is non-refundable and cannot be transferred. No cash alternative is available.
• The All Baby Advice decision is final - please don't quibble.

And the winner is:

Congratulations to @Dorothee77(Dorothee.Archambault )

Please e-mail me your name and address at allbabyadvice@yahoo.co.uk

Only entries that completed all the compulsory entry requirements were counted!

Our second week of summer holidays in the Czech Republic

The second week of our holiday went really quickly. We had a few days of rain, and then 3 days of sunshine. I am a bit sad, that the summers I remember from my childhood are gone. We used to have very hot summers, 2 months of heat and no rain. In winter we used to get so much snow, freezing temperatures, which we still get but not so much snow I would say. I feel sorry for the school kids who cannot wait for their 2 months summer holidays, and then they get this weather...

 Anyway, when the sun was out we tried to make the most of it. Just check out our visit to the local butterfly farm or our family open fire BBQ. The pool got also used, but I haven't been brave enough, as it is still too cold for my liking!