I’ve been using HelloFresh for quite a few years now, and I recommend it to anyone who is looking to make family meal planning easier, especially those with babies or small children who do not have a lot of spare time! I really enjoy unpacking all of the ingredients and discovering this week’s recipe cards. Visit the HelloFresh website and use code HELLO60AFF to get 60% off your first box and 25% off for two months!
Here are some of the reasons I think HelloFresh is great:
It is so convenient, and there is no need to think of/look up recipes
I find it can be hard to think of new and interesting things to cook that are healthy and that everyone will like. HelloFresh has so many recipes to choose from, and they can suit various dietary needs. Your plan can easily be paused when you are on holiday, too.
Everything you need for family meals is delivered, so there is no need to buy that tiny bit of obscure spice
Each ingredient you need is delivered, in the amount that you need. There is no need to hunt for obscure ingredients in the supermarket while your toddler has a meltdown (we have all been there!), or stock up on products that you won’t use again.
Meal plans are available for either two or four people. If you have a younger baby and there are two adults having dinner, a two-person plan could be the perfect option, giving you the opportunity to cook and enjoy dinner after your little one has gone to bed. For toddlers or older children, having a plan for more people is ideal. Any leftovers (depending on your little one’s appetite – we rarely have leftovers between us!) are perfect for lunch the next day.
It is sustainable and helps the environment
The majority of their packaging is recyclable. Produce is sourced directly by HelloFresh, meaning no detours. It is delivered straight to your door. This also means fewer trips to the shops for you. You are being given the exact amount of each ingredient, which eliminates food waste – great, as I can’t stand food waste!
I learnt new cooking techniques and lots of recipes that I can add to my repertoire
I have learnt a lot about cooking, such as how to make quick and easy Korean fried chicken or how to caramelise onions. Before, I didn’t realise that salt is better for caramelising onions than sugar!
Knowing that your family is getting healthy food is so great!
Each recipe card will tell you how many of your five a day of fruit and vegetables you are having, so you can relax and know that everyone is eating well!
I’m sticking with HelloFresh
There are so many positives – HelloFresh is an easy choice! My only minor grumble is that it can seem a little expensive, but overall, each meal is good value and there is no waste. I am always looking to save money. That is why it is a great idea to use our discount code! Visit the HelloFresh website and use code HELLO60AFF to get 60% off your first box and 25% off for two months!
To add to all that, I’ve found that the cardboard box your ingredients are delivered in is perfect for toddlers to play with… a great bonus!! (We have used it as a boat, a train, a fort; the possibilities are endless!) Making family meal planning easy takes a lot of stress out of the week. I can’t wait to try new dishes soon!
Want to get out and about, have fun with your baby or toddler, and meet other parents?
Search Happity to find everything that’s happening for the under-5’s in your local area – from music and singing classes, to messy play, arts and crafts, baby massage, gymnastics and more. Simply enter your postcode and child’s age to search, and then book your spot in a few taps. Enjoy dedicated fun time with your little one, watch their skills develop, and make friends at the same time. Mums, dads, grandparents and carers will all find something to love!
Introducing your baby to solid foods begins when they’re around 6 months of age, and for some parents, it’s a milestone they can’t wait to reach! Mealtimes can be lots of fun – as you watch your baby exploring different tastes and textures, discovering his or her favourite foods, and (more often than not) getting a lot of ‘messy play’ time into the bargain as well!
But weaning is a big topic and one that can also cause some confusion and stress for parents. Especially if it’s their first time around. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the different approaches to starting your baby on solid foods, as well as sharing Team Happity’s top tips.
“One thing I would definitely recommend is doing a baby first aid course. Choking was a huge fear of mine, and so having done a course made me feel more prepared for what I would do in a worst case scenario.”
Alex, Happity Customer Happiness Angel
When Should I Start Weaning?
But first, how do you know your baby is ready to start on solid food? According to the NHS website, your little one should be:
Around 6 months or older
Able to stay in a sitting position, holding their head steady (this helps them swallow their food safely)
Able to coordinate their eyes, hands and mouth, so they can pick up food and eat it themselves
Able to swallow the food that goes into their mouth, rather than pushing it straight back out with their tongue (although this one might take a bit of practice!)
It’s worth remembering that it’s totally normal for babies to gag on their food as they are getting started with weaning – even if the noises can be a little alarming!
“We let Lyra play with her weaning spoons before we introduced any food, so they weren’t completely foreign objects when we did start.”
Helen, Happity Growth Marketing Assistant
Should I Do Baby-Led Weaning, Or Offer Purees?
So, what’s the best way to start introducing solid foods to your baby? If you’ve been researching the topic, you might have heard about Baby Led Weaning (BLW). This is where you introduce finger foods right from the beginning of the weaning journey, and allow your baby to explore and self-feed, rather than offering puree or mashed food on a spoon.
Proponents of baby-led weaning will point to all sorts of benefits: saying it improves hand-eye coordination, reduces fussy eating, and boosts baby’s confidence in their own abilities. Plus, if you go for a baby-led approach, you won’t have to worry about pureeing or mashing foods. Instead, you’ll be preparing a single meal for the whole family. Which can be a massive bonus for those evenings when getting one dinner together feels hard enough! (Just make sure to watch the salt on your baby’s portion. Babies should not have salt or sugar added to their food, and many packaged or processed foods contain surprisingly high levels of both.)
“We did baby-led weaning with both our two. They say that BLW helps kids develop a love of food, and makes them less picky, and that certainly seems to have worked for us.” –
Gayle, Happity Partnerships Marketing Assistant
But there’s no denying that baby-led weaning can be MESSY, and – for some parents – can add to nervousness around choking. If you decide to start with spoon feeding, you may want to begin with smooth pureed food, before moving onto lumpier textures.
“I did find there was a lot of pressure to do baby-led weaning rather than spoon feed, as if spoon feeding was somehow lazy. Not great when you’re shattered and trying to keep yourself and your baby going. Sometimes you just need an Ella’s Kitchen pouch!”
– Becky, Happity Coding Alchemist
It’s also totally fine to mix and match your techniques depending on your family’s needs – offering spoon foods at some meals and self-feeding at others, or having a mixture of spoon and finger foods within each meal. As with most aspects of parenting, it’s best not to have too many fixed plans about how things will go, as your baby will likely have his or her own ideas too! Going with the flow and experimenting will make mealtimes a lot more fun for the whole family.
“I was very single-minded about baby led weaning with Lucy (my eldest), I remember getting quite cross with my mum for spoon feeding her! But with my second, I was much more flexible. There was no way I was going to get Oliver cleaned up after a bowl of self-fed porridge every morning, and still get my daughter to school on time! So he would usually have a spoon-fed breakfast, and then at tea-time he would feed himself, giving me more space to chat and interact with both children.”
– Lisa, Happity Head of Marketing.
“There’s no need to rigidly follow one path vs the other. I would often do a purée or spoon feed an evening meal when we were short on time.”
Sara, Happity co-founder
What Are Good First Foods For Babies?
If you’re offering finger foods, you’ll want to start with shapes your baby can easily grab and hold in a fist. This includes Broccoli and cauliflower florets, cucumber sticks, toast fingers, cheese sticks, cooked giant penne and miniature rice cakes. These are all great foods your baby could try as he or she is getting to grips with self-feeding.
For purees, you can try blending different varieties of vegetables. For example; courgette, pea and kale; broccoli and sweet potato; or spinach and roasted carrots. Some research suggests that it’s a good idea to make sure more sour and bitter-tasting vegetables are in your baby’s diet right from the beginning. Introducing them early will make the baby more receptive to these flavours later on.
“We started with veg rather than fruit (after baby rice) as I was told this would reduce the chances of a sweet tooth. I’m inclined to say this worked, as Oliver LOVED veg, and still does, and tends to eat sweet things in moderation. He’s never had any teeth issues either.”
Emily – Happity co-founder
What Foods Should I Avoid For My Baby?
The NHS advises parents to avoid the following foods for their babies:
Added salt and sugar
Foods high in saturated fat, like crisps, biscuits and cakes
Honey (until they are over 1 year old)
Whole nuts
Mould-ripened cheeses like brie and camembert, blue-veined cheese such as Roquefort, or ripened goats’ milk cheese.
Uncooked eggs – unless these are stamped as ‘British Lion Quality’
Rice drinks
Raw jelly cubes
Raw shellfish, shark, swordfish and marlin
Ready To Start Your Baby On Solid Foods?
We hope this guide has been useful as you prepare to start weaning your baby. It should hopefully help you to feel a little more confident if the whole topic made you nervous! Remember, your baby will get most of the nutrients they need from breastmilk or formula until they’re 1, so don’t worry about how much they are eating in the beginning. Instead, relax, keep trying different foods, and enjoy this exciting new stage in your baby’s development! Good luck!
Want to get out and about, have fun with your baby or toddler, and meet other parents?
Search Happity to find everything that’s happening for the under-5’s in your local area – from music and singing classes, to messy play, arts and crafts, baby massage, gymnastics and more. Simply enter your postcode and child’s age to search, and then book your spot in a few taps. Enjoy dedicated fun time with your little one, watch their skills develop, and make friends at the same time. Mums, dads, grandparents and carers will all find something to love!
Are you in the market for a new highchair but feeling overwhelmed by what to consider when purchasing one? We have all been there but don’t panic. You can close down the hundreds of tabs filled with potential options: we are here to help! Finding the right highchair is key to making mealtimes an enjoyable experience for you and your little ones, especially when your little ones are being introduced to food.
Here are the main 5 things to think about when buying a new high chair.
1. Your Child’s Safety
The last thing you want is to invest a chunk of money into what looks like a comfortable highchair, only to find it’s wobbly or there’s loose parts that could injure your baby. A high chair with a stable base and safety belt is key and helps give you peace of mind that your little one is safe in their new highchair (We don’t want any tiny fingers getting stuck!)
2. Comfort
Do you ever go to a restaurant and find that you’re constantly fidgeting because the seats are just too difficult to relax into? Well, it’s the exact same for babies! Being comfortable in their highchair can help to reduce adverse behaviours during meal time such as squirming around in their chair, it may also result in less dinners ending up on the floor!
3. Make Sure You Buy A Highchair That’s Adjustable
According to this article by Baby Centre, within the first 6 months your baby will roughly double their birth weight and grow by about 12cm in length! And their growth doesn’t slow down that quickly following that.
Buying a highchair that adjusts with your fast-growing little one (They grow in the blink of an eye!) will save you a ton of money in the long run. And will save you figuring out where you’re going to store your old highchairs too!
4. Ensure It’s Mealtime-Proof And Easy To Clean
Watching your little one explore with food is great fun but it is messy business! Your baby will grab food with their bare hands, splat their hands in it, fling it around, and giggle excitedly all while doing it! It’s cute. It’s somewhat frustrating. And it does add work to your day when they do it.
An easy-to-clean highchair will help remove some of that excess mess stress and save you time too.
5. Back and footrest support
Your baby is doing a ton of growing and developing at these early stages, and you need to make sure that you are protecting your little one’s posture at feeding times. The NHS recommends a 90-90-90 position for safe and efficient mealtimes, as seen in their super helpful leaflet here.
Plus, a good footrest may mean less getting kicked by little feed under the table. A savior for your little one, and for your knees!
Team Happity’s Recommendation: Stokke
Stokke highchairs use high-quality and long-lasting materials, combined with grow-with-your-child functionality and timeless design. Their famous Tripp Trapp Chair in particular is a crowd favorite and ticks all the boxes. Well-loved for its unique adjustability, comfort and stable design.
The Tripp Trapp Chair is used by members of the Happity team. Here is what Vince from the Happity team has to say about it:
“We had heard great things about the Tripp Trapp and have grown to love it even more with our two boys. The fact that it’s totally adjustable is a big win; our 4-year-old has been using the same chair (with different inserts) since he was 3 months and probably will use it until he’s 10!
The NeBorn Set was great at making dinner more social for the baby, rather than sitting in a bouncer on the floor, they were elevated to the table. The chair itself can be easily cleaned but found the straps were tricky to get spotless.
The adjusting of the chair every few months requires an allen key and takes about 15 minutes to get it right. A small price to pay for a chair that will last 10 years plus. Highly recommend it.”
Stokke Offer: For October and November while stocks last; Stokke are offering a free Baby Set if you buy a Tripp Trapp from them.
Disclaimer: Stokke have paid a fee towards this post. This fee will go towards helping more parents find classes and support near them.
Want to get out and about, have fun with your baby or toddler, and meet other parents?
Search Happity to find everything that’s happening for the under-5’s in your local area – from music and singing classes, to messy play, arts and crafts, baby massage, gymnastics and more. Simply enter your postcode and child’s age to search, and then book your spot in a few taps. Enjoy dedicated fun time with your little one, watch their skills develop, and make friends at the same time. Mums, dads, grandparents and carers will all find something to love!
It is always worrying when your baby gets their first cold. Especially as they can’t tell us verbally what’s wrong. Your baby’s first cold could make you a bit nervous, so it is good to know a bit of what to expect. Here are a few things to know, and a few things to keep an eye on.
Brand New Immune System
The NHS says that it is normal for babies to get colds. In fact, they can have up to 8 colds a year! This is because their immune system is brand new. They are getting used to all of the germs that they meet. Gradually they will get fewer colds as their immune system strengthens and they get older. Most colds get better within a week, but smaller babies can take a couple of weeks to recover. We know it doesn’t always take away from the panic of your baby’s first cold, but it’s reassuring to know that it’s fairly normal!
Baby’s First Cold – Watch Out For A Fever
A cold can sometimes turn into a fever. The NHS says that if your baby is under 3 months old and has a temperature of 38 degrees or higher (or is 3 to 6 months old and has a temperature of 39 degrees or higher), you should call 111 or your GP surgery for advice. So do keep that in mind when your baby experiences their first illness. And keep the thermometer handy just in case.
Here Are Six Things To Do For Your Baby’s First Cold:
Try not to worry too much. It is normal for a baby to get ill, and your baby’s first cold is going to happen eventually! But do ask your pharmacist, GP or call 111 for advice. They will be able to advise on the best course of action, taking into account any particular health conditions.
Drink plenty of fluids. If your baby is bottle-fed or breastfed, make sure to offer extra feeds to keep them hydrated. (If you have a cold and you are breastfeeding, the NHS says it is best to carry on breastfeeding. This is because the benefits outweigh the risks)
Reduce the spread. Make sure the whole family and all visitors wash their hands before and after cuddling the baby.
Try over-the-counter saline drops. If your baby has a blocked or stuffy nose, saline drops can be bought over the counter. This can loosen dried snot, and encourage your baby to sneeze. This will hopefully help clear their blocked nose.
Painkillers for babies. Liquid ibuprofen or other painkillers can be bought over the counter for babies if your little one has a temperature. Always read the instructions before giving them to babies. This medicine cannot be given to babies with certain health conditions or very young babies.
Be careful what you search online. We’ve all been there, looking up symptoms when we are poorly, only to come across false information that is worrying. It is best to stick to the NHS website or other trusted sources.
We always recommend consulting your GP or midwife when it comes to medication. Remember, they know what’s best for you and your child.
Helen’s Story – A Christmas Day Cold!
When my baby Lyra was about 4 months old, she got a cold. This soon turned into a fever of about 40 degrees! We phoned 111, who advised that we visit the hospital to be on the safe side, as she was very little and the temperature was very high. To add to the drama, this was on Christmas day! Fortunately, we were at home for Christmas and it was an easy journey to our local hospital.
We arrived at A&E and they directed us to the baby and child A&E area. This seemed calmer than the main A&E section and had toys to play with. The nurse soon saw us, and she did a few tests including putting a little band around Lyra’s foot to measure her heart rate. They advised it was nothing more serious than a cold with a fever. They sent us home with instructions on how often to administer baby ibuprofen, and to keep an eye on her temperature. As it was Christmas day, they were giving out toys to the children. We got a toy wooden car, something to keep her distracted and made us feel warm and fuzzy!
I found it very worrying to see my little one being ill, but I felt confident after seeking help. After keeping her hydrated and a few more days of baby ibuprofen, she made a full recovery. We still have the toy wooden car!
Disclaimer: We have researched and included robust sources to provide information in this article. However, we are not health or medical professionals and you should always seek medical advice if you are worried about your baby’s health.
Want to get out and about, have fun with your baby or toddler, and meet other parents?
Search Happity to find everything that’s happening for the under-5’s in your local area – from music and singing classes, to messy play, arts and crafts, baby massage, gymnastics and more. Simply enter your postcode and child’s age to search, and then book your spot in a few taps. Enjoy dedicated fun time with your little one, watch their skills develop, and make friends at the same time. Mums, dads, grandparents and carers will all find something to love!
How do you pick the perfect Christmas Grottos for your baby and toddler (and what are some key things to consider?
Christmas Grottos are a good old-fashioned tradition that helps get millions of families to get back in touch with that lovely festive spirit. It’s a lot of fun. But, these days, there’s a ton of pressure to make it absolutely perfect.
(And. more often than not, that pressure is something we put on ourselves!) How do you figure out the ideal Christmas Grotto for you? And what are some of the things you should be considering, especially if you have a little one?
We asked the parents of Team Happity to give their top advice and put together this handy guide. Enjoy!
Price Isn’t Everything
“Don’t assume more expensive means better!” said Lisa T, Head of Customer Support at Team Happity. “There are some fabulous grottos out there which are charity or community based that provide a lovely experience for a fraction of the price. Church fairs and school fetes also have sweet ones and so there is no need to go crazy and spend loads of money. The result for the child is the same either way!”
Your child’s level of happiness isn’t going to be based on how much money you’re spending. If you want to save money and go to a community-based Christmas Grotto, do it! Your child will enjoy it just the same.
Pre-Book your Christmas Grotto (If Possible)
Alex, Customer Happiness Angel on the Team, gave the top advice to pre-book your Christmas Grottos wherever possible. “If not get there for opening to avoid queuing for a while,” she said. “We didn’t book and went in the afternoon once and spent a silly amount of time in the queue to get in!”
When you’ve got a little one in tow, likelihood is they won’t have the patience to wait and wait and wait to meet the big man in red.
If you do find yourself in this situation though, be sure to bring something to keep them occupied while they’re in the line! A book, toy, or a game to help them pass the time. Or, try to time it around a point when they would normally have a nap. Let them sleep in their buggy in the queue, and then when you’re getting close to the front, that’s when it’s time to wake them up.
Figure Out If Your Little Ones Are Old Enough For The Christmas Grottos
While the excitement to celebrate your little one’s first Christmas is SO real (and we get the hype!) Lisa T’s advice is to check whether you think they’re old enough yet to enjoy it. “Chances are that kids under three will cry at the prospect of being thrust in front of a strange bearded man (sorry Santa!) and not want to go near him. So families should manage their expectations about getting that perfect photo!”
Lisa K, Happity’s Head of Marketing agreed. “I don’t think babies and little toddlers get much out of grottos. Neither of mine will go anywhere near Santa yet.”
It’s probably a good idea to keep expectations low for very little ones. And expect a few tears while you’re at it. At least then if it doesn’t happen then you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
Follow Your Child’s Lead
“Don’t put too much pressure on the whole experience,” added Sally, Happity’s Product Manager. “Especially if you have younger babies and toddlers. I think parents feel they have to do something amazing, build up to it being completely magical and then your little one isn’t in the right mood or the whole experience is too overwhelming and Santa makes them cry. Think about who the experience is really meant to be for and plan accordingly.”
Lisa T had a similar story to tell about her son. “We took Jack to see Father Christmas for his first Christmas. But the key is to take the child’s lead. If they don’t want to get close up to the main man and just want to say ‘hello’ from a distance then that is fine. At five year’s old Jack is happy to stand nearby and chat from there. We don’t do cuddles but Father Christmas always gets a high-five and a chat.”
Don’t Assume Christmas Grottos Are Just For Little Kids
We have so much eagerness to take the little one’s to meet Santa, that we sometimes forget that meeting Old Saint Nick is good old-fashioned family fun! Sara, co-founder of Happity, expressed how fondly she feels about Christmas Grotto’s as a familiar favourite.
“It’s given us, as adults, the opportunity to experience the magic of Christmas all over again,” she says. “Which is something I’ll treasure. That said, I think no matter which one you go to, it is something children will remember so all of them are special in that sense. At the very grown up age of 11 this year, my daughter actually asked if we’d be going to Chessington, because we’ve done it 3 times previously, and for her that feels like a Christmas tradition.”
Don’t Do Too Many Visits To Old Saint Nick
“Don’t go to too many!” advises Lisa T. “It might be the case that grandparents want to take them as well as the trip that you want to do but going to lots of different ones just confuses them and they can’t understand why they have to have the same conversation twice or three times.”
It’s good advice. All the family wants to join in on the magic, but with repetition it might lose its spark. Confirm with other relatives as to how you want to do it, and remember to keep the kids in mind first and foremost.
Check Out Christmas Markets, Farms, Local Garden Centres And Libraries
There was a few members of the team who started suggesting good environments to find your perfect Christmas Grotto. And usually these areas offer extra activities that are ideal for toddlers.
Lisa T suggested checking out your local Christmas markets. “Lots of Christmas markets have Grottos in them. And they can be free! So that is worth checking out. Farms also seem to have Special events and grottos too, so it can be part of a day out. An example here (Kentlife.org).”
“Our local library did cute storytelling sessions,” added Lisa K. “Santa came and read a story, all the kids got a book at the end and it was completely free. Also, last year Lucy loved going to the garden centre to pick out a few baubles for the tree, which is a much cheaper and calmer day out in my opinion!”
“Check your local garden centres!” Alex tuned in. “All of the grotto’s we have been to with Willow have been at a local garden centre which have been really reasonable priced.”
Follow A Light Trail As An Alternative For Little Ones
“We really enjoyed a light trail last year,” added Kate, Team Happity’s Admin Assassin. “And have booked to do one again this year. I think these are great for younger ones as they have no idea what is going on with Santa but get a lot out of these types of events. Hugh wasn’t sure about Santa last year (he was 14 months) but loved the lights.”
Keep in mind that your kids actually won’t understand the concept of Santa when they’re really little. But it doesn’t mean they won’t get any excitement out of Christmas-related activities. Like Kate suggests, a light trail might make for a perfect alternative!
Try Out Christmas Themed Classes To Feel The Spirit
“Check out Christmas themed classes,” suggested Sally. “A lot of them have a special class where Santa makes an appearance, which can be good as children are used to the environment already. Play groups, stay and plays and church groups are often most likely to have a visit planned.”
It’s great advice. And a lot of your familiar favourites, even if Santa doesn’t show, will be the perfect pick for your baby or toddler. You’ll already know ahead of time that you’re child will have a fun day doing something they love.
“Get a family member to dress up and do it for you,” suggests Lisa T. “Lots of people have Father Christmas outfits that they are willing to share.”
We think this is a brilliant suggestion. And it also helps to resolve the issue of all family members wanting to be involved with the tradition. Ask a grandparent, uncle, or family friend to dress up and get the festivities going at home.
In Summary: Do What Works For You
Lisa T puts it best in her final bit of advice:
“Whatever works in your budget, schedule and Christmas plans is what’s best. Reduce expectations, pressure and give your wallet a break at this really expensive time!”
You want your child’s first Christmas to be fun, and we know how much it will mean to you. But there’s really no point in spending past your budget and putting so much pressure on yourselves (and on your children!) The fact that you’ll be doing any celebration at all, and doing it as a family, will be special enough.
Want to get out and about, have fun with your baby or toddler, and meet other parents?
Search Happity to find everything that’s happening for the under-5’s in your local area – from music and singing classes, to messy play, arts and crafts, baby massage, gymnastics and more. Simply enter your postcode and child’s age to search, and then book your spot in a few taps. Enjoy dedicated fun time with your little one, watch their skills develop, and make friends at the same time. Mums, dads, grandparents and carers will all find something to love!
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