Tag: mum to be

4 min read

Motherhood Pregnancy

New Sibling: Preparing your toddler

Zoe

October 9, 2019 6:45 pm October 9, 2019

4 min read

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4 min read

The first time around, when you bring home your newborn, you are focused on figuring everything out together. Just you and them. The second time around is a little different….

The first time around, when you bring home your newborn, you are focused on figuring everything out together. Just you and them.

The second time around is a little different. As you have a toddler to contend with. You need to make sure that they are comfortable with the new addition to the family and they have an understanding on what is going on.

I’m no expert, but, Mole seems to be so content with her baby brother, that I thought u’d share with you some tips we did prior to Frankie’s arrival and how we introduced them both.

Tips to introduce your toddler to your newborn during pregnancy

Role Play

Whilst pregnant with Frankie, I gave Mole a baby doll to play with. We was lucky really as she really took to the doll. Together I would teach her how to care for the doll by feeding it a bottle and loving it with kisses and cuddles but most importantly being gentle. If Mole wasn’t interested in the doll that day, then I would pay no attention to it and just leave Mole to play with toys she wanted to instead.

Talking to my tummy

We would have fun and point at my tummy and say “baby” so Mole would get some understanding that there was a baby inside my belly. When Frankie was kicking, i’d let Mole feel his kicks and say “baby”. I doubt she truly understood I had an actual baby inside me but it was a fun bonding session.

Tips to introduce your toddler to your newborn

The first introduction

Personally, I didn’t want Mole present at the hospital. I don’t think its the place for a toddler running around, and I knew I would not have the energy to deal with tantrums if she played up. I wasn’t too sure on how my delivery was going to go too, so I made sure to have childcare in place. It was good to spend time with Frankie getting to know him and as the first few days of a newborn is demanding, I was able to give him my full attention. That being said, it was super hard not to see Mole for a couple of days because I rarely leave her.

Finding Baby

To make the introduction fun for Mole, we turned it into a game of finding baby. Frankie was asleep and settled in his bed so me and Mole went on the hunt for him. When she found him, it must have felt rewarding for her. turning the whole experience into a positive one. The main reason I did this was so she didn’t feel replaced as she might of if I was holding him when she first saw him.

Rewarding good behaviour

Whenever Mole was positive towards Frankie by kissing him or being gentle, we would be really over the top with saying “well done” making her feel like she was being a very good girl and giving her lot’s of attention for the right behaviour.

Solo time together

Mole was use to seeing me alone without Frankie. It had always just been me and her. I felt that it was still important to give her that same experience when possible. I would either do her bedtime one night just me and her or whilst Frankie was napping, we would read books together or do Arts and Crafts.

A lending hand

I really include Mole when it comes to changing Frankie. I ask Mole to get me his nappy or if she wants to sit and help. Obviously if she isn’t interested I would never force her, but she actually seems to find it fun and loves the responsibility.

On nights where i’m solo parenting, I bath Mole first and then bathe Frankie. During Frankie’s bath, I ask Mole if she wants to come and help wash him. Or ask her to choose a book for the bedtime story.

You will always have that fear during your second pregnancy if you will be able to give both your children the attention they need. The answer is yes you will. You will find your own way of making it work.

If your toddler seems to not be interested when you introduce them to their new sibling. Don’t force anything. Give them time and continue to stick to your routine and give them both praise and attention.

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4 min read

Wellness

A career break: can this be positive?

Zoe

August 7, 2019 1:35 pm August 7, 2019

4 min read

2169 views

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4 min read

When a pregnancy test result displays as positive, one burning question on the mum-to-be’s mind is “how will this impact my career?”. Whether you are planning to have 6 weeks,…

When a pregnancy test result displays as positive, one burning question on the mum-to-be’s mind is “how will this impact my career?”. Whether you are planning to have 6 weeks, 6 months or 6 years off, time out of work can appear daunting.

Although the financial strain of a family is a huge factor in starting a family. Many women feel that having time off from their job may destroy all what they worked hard for. For me, I felt that my career was finally taking off after years of studying. To take the break initially felt like a positive decision for my family but, a poor decision for my personal growth. I couldn’t explain how I felt to anyone. I didn’t want to be seen as ungrateful for being lucky to have time off from work to raise my family and that I didn’t bring in the most money anyway, so my job was not that important.

Focusing on the positives now, here are a few things to why taking a career break is positive:

Recharging your batteries

Taking time off allows you to rest. Being out of the office or where ever you worked will give you that mental space needed to focus on other things in your life and have a mental break from your job. As a teacher, I remember before I would go to sleep, I’d start planning starter activities in my head or begin thinking about all the books I needed to mark. It has been lovely to truly have a break from these thoughts and reset myself. Now, when I think about work, I become excited as I feel so refreshed and ready to dive back into it.

The unexpected results

When you go from working full time to suddenly not working at all, even as a new mum you will find yourself with a lot of unusual time on your hands. Many women take this opportunity to study something new or start up a business venture they have always dreamed of. I started this blog as a hobby in my spare time, simply documenting my experience as a mum, I never expected that I would end up earning from this. If I was working full time I doubt I would have taken the plunge to start a blog.

?It’s not necessary to think of being away as a way to start a business or go to a new career,?. ?The point is: What would you do if, for a while, you don’t have to think about making money??

New Skills

Work is the place where it has been drilled into your head: “this is where you develop skills and grow as a person”. As a new mum, taking time off, you actually gain an abundance of skills. For example, I have way more patience now than I have ever had in my life. Looking after a toddler, I have gained the skills of being extremely organised, resilient, level headed, punctual and my problem solving skills from figuring what she wants during tantrum have progressed too!

Time for a change?

Having a long period off work gives you the space to think if that was the career for you. Now that you are having time away, you will be able to see clearly if that job was making you happy and you could see great potential in progressing in that job.

Even if you decide that you love your job after having time off, it will be nice to go back with a fresh mind set that you are in the right place without second thoughts.

More appealing candidate

You may think that taking time off from will hurt your career. But, have you thought of this? Taking a well needed break, gaining life experience and being 100% committed to you again, will make you look like a more appealing candidate, in comparison to someone who may not know what they really want out of life yet.

Taking the time off can show that you want to further your skill set and try new experiences.

So when you feel that you may be hurting your career or you receive the comments “oh you don’t work?” or “you just stay at home all day.” look at the bigger picture. Remember that you have got this incredible time off raising your family whilst resetting yourself ready for your next step. If you decide never to return to work, remember that you are still gaining life experiences and developing skill sets as you would in the work place.

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3 min read

Travel

Planning a Day Out With Your Baby

Zoe

April 23, 2019 11:25 am April 23, 2019

3 min read

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3 min read

Previously on Pink Mole we talked about how to travel with your baby on a plane, and included advice such as making sure you always have your baby?s milk on…

Previously on Pink Mole we talked about how to travel with your baby on a plane, and included advice such as making sure you always have your baby?s milk on hand, and that you?ve packed enough soothers for your little one. A day out is much simpler (and much more common), especially if you?ve already planned ahead. If you have no idea what to bring on a family picnic or are unsure how to travel around the capital with a baby, here?s a checklist you can follow:

The best places in London to see with your baby

Many London attractions are for young children and adults. If you have a baby, parks are probably your best option. St James?s Park in Westminster is great for all ages as it has sand pits and swings. Coram?s Fields in Bloomsbury is also wonderful with its beautiful landscapes and variety of playgrounds.

London is also very baby and mother friendly. Visit London reports its perfectly legal and widely accepted to publicly breastfeed babies anywhere in the city. There are also baby-changing facilities in almost all shopping centres, museums, and major galleries. This means you can enjoy a day out and not be constrained by your baby?s feeding habits.

The baby bag

What you need to pack in your baby bag largely depends on where you and your little ones are going. However, there are a few essential items that should always be in your bag. Nappies are the most important?one for every couple of hours you stay out. Baby Centre also suggests that you bring an extra change of clothes for your baby and even a spare clean shirt for yourself. You also need to pack wipes, a bottle of hand sanitiser, a few changing pads and burp cloths, as well as some plastic bags for when you need to store dirty nappies or wet clothes. Bring some snacks for you and your baby too. The Bump adds that you should bring a small first aid kit with some medicine, along with some bandages and Benadryl.

Getting around hassle free

If you?re going to a park, a portable playpen or travel cot will certainly come in handy. For those travelling with more than one child, bring a really lightweight buggy or pushchair, as it?s the easiest way to get around without hurting your back or tiring out your children. iCandy lists the many advantages that come with buying a tandem pushchair, which includes being the same width as a regular buggy. This makes them convenient for public transport. Just make sure you download a tube map so you know where the designated areas are for buggies. Don?t travel during peak hours, either, as it may be difficult for you to get around with your baby bag and buggy (this is especially true of London rush hour). Bring some of your children?s favourite toys to keep them busy while they?re on public transport. Also note that children under five travel for free on all London public transport.

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3 min read

Motherhood

5 Things NOT to say to new mums

Zoe

April 17, 2019 8:00 am April 17, 2019

3 min read

1679 views

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3 min read

I had a good think back at what was said to me during pregnancy and after pregnancy and had a chuckle at some of the things I was asked or…

I had a good think back at what was said to me during pregnancy and after pregnancy and had a chuckle at some of the things I was asked or told. Admittedly, i’ve even said some of these to new mums and had an unwelcoming response.

Let’s see if you have ever received any of these comments!

Do not ever say to a new mum that you “feel tired“. I can tell you now, no matter how tired you are from an unusual late night or early start will be nothing compared to the tiredness that a new mum feels. Believe me, they are thinking in their head all of the reasons why you should not feel tired and they do.
“What is your babies routine?” I was asked this one so many time whilst Mole was a new born. I don’t mind the question so much now, but as a new mum, I felt it added a lot of pressure on to me to be perfect. It was also impossible to get Mole into a good routine with her reflux being so bad.
“What’s his/her name?” The majority of the time, Mole was always referred to as a boy. To be honest, I didn’t mind so much as it was an easy mistake to make. Babies all look the same when they are newborn. Mole wore unisex clothes and had no hair. However, I can see how other mums can take offence. There has even been times when Mole has been dressed head to toe in pink and still has been referred to as a “he”. I’m going to stick to questions like “What’s baby’s name?” or “What’s your name?” looking at the baby in future.
“Have you tried feeding her?” when your baby is crying. Oh my word. Am I the only one who has been asked this question? Of course I have tried feeding my baby! What do you think I have been doing all night! This was so annoying when Mole’s reflux was really bad. She would cry so much and I felt like I was being given an abundance of advice that I really didn’t need.
“It’s just the hormones.” Blaming my hormones on my right now is not exactly what I need as a new mum. I remember just thinking, “I don’t care if its the hormones, I need a hug and a little help around the house.”

So do any of those comments sound familiar? I think it is super easy to forget how intense being a new mum is. I’m 12 months on now, and due to me being pregnant with baby number 2, I’ve only just started to remember things.

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2 min read

Health Pregnancy

Eating For Two Calorie Myth In Pregnancy

Zoe

April 10, 2019 8:00 am April 10, 2019

2 min read

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2 min read

“You can eat for two now!” … hmmm not quite. This is a huge, common response when you announce you are pregnant. It’s like it is used as an excuse…

“You can eat for two now!” … hmmm not quite.

This is a huge, common response when you announce you are pregnant. It’s like it is used as an excuse to eat whatever you want and how much of that you want. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good treat, and have definitely been treating myself a lot more than I usually would when it comes to food. But, the whole “eating for two” is a myth. Any you may be shocked to find out how many calories it is that you actually need extra whilst growing a baby. The Guardian states that around 15-20% of pregnant women now are overweight or obese.

The old fashioned way

Talking to my mum or grandparents about pregnancy almost turns into a battle of different beliefs. It’s like you can’t mention that you had a work out in the gym to them without their jaw dropping to the floor and you get a lecture about how you should be taking it easy. I even find myself telling them that I only went on a light walk, when really I was squatting my near enough my own body weight on my back as a warm up.

When it comes to diet, they have a strong belief that you should be eating for two. I mean, my baby is currently the size of an avocado. Why would it need a full portion of food?

What you should be eating

According to the NHS, there is no need to eat for two during pregnancy, even if you are expecting twins or triplets. The original idea behind eating for two was to increase your energy.

There is no need to eat for two during pregnancy, even if you are expecting twins or triplets

During the first 6 months of your pregnancy you do not even need to only drink full fat milk, another common myth.

Only in the last 3 months of pregnancy do you need to increase your calories by 200 a day. When you work it out, that isn’t actually a whole lot extra. Most people consume more calories a day than recommended too, without adding in the extra.

It is recommended that you should do at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day. Swimming and walking are a great way to keep fit. If you already are a physically active person like me, you will have more of an idea on how to tone your workouts down. Obviously it isn’t advised that if you have never been inside a gym before to start now and complete a huge workout. You should start off with no more than three 15 minute workouts a week.

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4 min read

Motherhood

5 Boring Things I love Now I’m A Mum

Zoe

March 5, 2019 6:26 pm March 5, 2019

4 min read

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4 min read

Being a mum is the best thing ever right? but, it can be repetitive and exhausting. Having a battle with your constant baby brain whilst being sleep deprived makes it…

Being a mum is the best thing ever right? but, it can be repetitive and exhausting. Having a battle with your constant baby brain whilst being sleep deprived makes it almost impossible to have a normal conversation.

Personally, I don’t think being a mum makes you boring. Maybe my non mum friends will disagree. I feel I am a tired version of myself that loves to talk about nothing other than Mole. Ok, Maybe I am little boring then.

However, I will admit to things I would have previously considered to be very boring before having my baby and now I feel like I love them now I am a mum.

Let’s see if you are with my on these five:

My 5 top boring things I love

1. My cordless vacuum cleaner

This is a godsend. The way I can whizz round any room without having to faff about with plugging it in or making sure my baby isn’t swinging from the wire. The satisfactory feeling of seeing all the crisp crumbs getting sucked up one by one. The lovely white noise that plays from it drowning out the noise of my baby fighting her first 5 minutes of nap time. Bliss.

2. Drying the washing outside

How is there that much washing seriously? I swear Mole goes through outfits faster than me running to the snack draw. Before being a mum, I never realised the biggest battle I would face in life is my washing pile. It’s just SO big! As soon as the sun starts to shine, I dive outside with my wet, pile of clothes and hang them straight onto the washing line. Is it just me or does this feel like a huge sense of achievement that in England we are able to dry our clothes outside? Not to mention the fresh smell afterwards. I just love it.

3. Baby TV

Honestly, I was always one of those people who said “I’m never going to let my baby watch TV”. erm, how wrong was I? Not to mention judgemental. Now, when I hear that annoying Momento the Chef pop up on the screen and I see Moles face fill with joy, my heart gets so full. I can finally grab a drink without her clinging to my leg, or I can take a moment to think what to make for tea.

Even in restaurants (Mole hates restaurants) I can put it on my phone. I feel like it is my sneaky secret weapon to Jay and I enjoying a romantic meal in peace.

Before being a mum, the sound of any child related programmes would make my toes curl.

4. Early Nights In

Pre baby, I would be partying away the night trying to stay up all hours. If I was staying in, then I still would be close to doing an all nighter watching late night TV or in a YouTube worm hole. Now, I struggle to keep my eyes open past 9.

I secretly love sneaking off to bed early, diving into the bed feeling the cold sheets all to myself. having a few hours peaceful sleep before being woken up to horrendous snoring. I love the feeling of waking up early and thinking oh its only 11pm, and feeling like I’ve had a full nights sleep already.

5. Supermarket shopping

Before having Mole, I would leave the food shop till the last possible minute to the point where I would be on the brink of starvation and putting together whatever I would have left in the kitchen cupboard. One time it was rice and gravy ew.

Now, I’ll even go to a supermarket when the fridge is full. I’m not sure what I love about it so much. Sometimes it is whizzing Mole around in the trolley, which I find super cute when she holds on. Other times it is finding new food ideas for her to try. If I find the odd bargain well thats my night made!

What are your favourite boring things now you are a parent?

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3 min read

Baby

Moles 11 month update

Zoe

March 3, 2019 6:31 pm March 3, 2019

3 min read

1389 views

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3 min read

One whole year with my baby Mole is approaching fast! I thought it will be nice for you for me to do a little recap of her personality so far….

One whole year with my baby Mole is approaching fast! I thought it will be nice for you for me to do a little recap of her personality so far.

I feel like I say this every single time but, as time goes on I just have so much fun. Each day gets better and better!

Nursery

Mole attends nursery 2 consecutive days a week. Me and Jay both decided it will really benefit her social skills to be around other babies for a full day.

At nursery she has also learnt to eat finger food to the point now where she refuses pur?ed food. This has been a huge advantage as it’s been cheaper and easier to get her a healthy meal. It’s even fun ordering off the menu for her when we dine out.

Nursery send me daily updates with pictures of what she gets up too and how each activity she does helps her development.

Weaning

Moles favourite food now is pancakes, cheese crisps and anything else cheese related haha.

I still work on her eating her vegetables but when they are mixed into a pasta dish or cottage pie she’s great with them.

I get most of my food inspiration for her off BLW Instagram accounts, or I give her a little bit of my meal. Ella’s kitchen do a handy range of frozen meals which are perfect for a quick meal.

Mole drinks water with her meals out of a regular Tommy Tippe cup. Nursery stick to the same brand and type of cup which has made her consistent with her water intake.

Walking

Currently Mole can not take steps unassisted but I’m sure she will soon.

She loves to walk around the room as long as she’s holding onto something.

Talking

Mole can say a couple of words like “mama” and “dada”. I’m really trying to help her say “hello” as she loves to wave.

Personality

Mole has the best sense of humour. She loves to play peek a boo with the curtains and blankets. Her favourite places to visit are soft play centres, especially when there is a huge ball pool.

She doesn’t like going to restaurants and gets very irritated when she’s in the high chair. It can be a little embarrassing sometimes as she will throw a huge tantrum and throw her food everywhere. We are finding a balance of going to places where we can enjoy a meal out and she has somewhere to play afterwards. If not then we just put some fun videos on our phones for her to watch.

Sleeping

Mole goes to sleep for 6:30pm every single night. She sleeps all the way through but, I always leave a bottle in her cot in case she gets hunger and wants a feed. If that’s the case, she feeds herself and launches the empty bottle out of the cot and goes back to sleep.

She wakes up from 7:30am.

Favourite toys

Her current favourite toys are the ball pit, books and a shape sorter. For her birthday I have purchased completely different toys I would usually go for to see how she gets on.

Thanks for reading!

Zoe

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3 min read

baby product reviews

Safety 1st Highchair Review

Zoe

February 24, 2019 7:15 pm February 24, 2019

3 min read

5117 views

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3 min read

We were kindly gifted the Safety 1st Timba Wooden Highchair for a review. Even though this product was gifted, I want to stress that I still have given my honest…

We were kindly gifted the Safety 1st Timba Wooden Highchair for a review. Even though this product was gifted, I want to stress that I still have given my honest opinion.

Packaging

The Highchair arrived in a large cardboard box. For some this may not be a concern but as we only have a small household bin that gets collected every 2 weeks, the advantaging of having recyclable packaging is a huge bonus for us!

All of the parts inside were individually wrapped to avoid damage.

Assembling the Highchair

There were a few more pieces to put together than I first expected but what is new with flat pack items.

I had Jay to help me assemble the Highchair but, I could have done it on my own. It was just easier with him whilst I could film the process.

The Highchair took around 20-30 minutes to build as we came across a problem trying to slot the seat in. This meant we had to unscrew half of the chair to slot it in and put it back together again.

I thought I would be honest in including that part as I know flat packed products are not for everyone.

Luckily no extra tools were needed and the Highchair came with its on Allen Key.

https://pinkmole.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/medium.mov

Highchair Features

Above I have taken the features directly off the website.

My favourite part is that the Highchair is adjustable for the size of your child.

The Highchair we had previous to this one, was too big to attach the eating tray too, which meant Mole had to be against our kitchen counter to eat. I love how this Highchair feels is it build custom made to her size and she can have her own little tray.

The white shade matches perfectly with our kitchen and looks clean and modern in our photographs.

Price

The Highchair retails at ?70.00.

Do I think it is worth the money?

I would have liked it to have been a tiny bit easier to put together but for a wooden chair that is custom to her size I can’t complain.

Our previous Highchair retailed at ?450 and I can see clear advantages in the Safety 1st in comparison.

Final verdict

If you’re looking for a modern Highchair that looks sleek in your kitchen and blends in with the rest of the furniture (nothing bright and colourful) this is a great purchase.

My favourite part is how I can update the seating size for her until she is 10 years old so I won’t have to purchase another one as she grows out of it.

Mole looks super comfortable sitting in the chair and eating her food. There is also an option to purchase a cushion for extra comfort.

Another factor for me is the chair is wipeable. Cleaning it down after eating took less that 2 minutes .

Purchase yours here: http://int.safety1st.com/our-products/home-equipment/highchairs/timba-without-cushion.aspx

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1 min read

Weaning

Moles Chicken and Vegetable Mash | Baby Weaning

Zoe

January 15, 2019 3:51 pm January 15, 2019

1 min read

1431 views

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1 min read

Chicken is an excellent source of protein for your baby. Babies also tend to love the mild taste of chicken combined with the sweet tasting root vegetables we will use…

Chicken is an excellent source of protein for your baby. Babies also tend to love the mild taste of chicken combined with the sweet tasting root vegetables we will use in this recipe.

Root vegetables are great to use as they give you a natural creamy texture.

The Good Stuff

Moles Chicken and Vegetable Mash is high in beta-carotene, potassium and B vitamins including Folate.

Preparation Time

Preparation: 10 minutes

Cooking. 22 minutes

Portions

5 or 6 portions and can be frozen

Ingredients

1tbsp vegetable oil
110g carrots, peeled and chopped
85g parsnips, peeled and chopped
250g potatoes, peeled and chopped
75g chicken breast fillets, cut into chunks.

Method

Warm the oil in the pan, add the carrots and parsnips, saut? until softened for about 7 minutes.

Add the chicken and saut?. Keep turning.

Add the potatoes and cover with boiling water.

Cover for around 15 minutes or until everything is fully cooked and softened.

Double check chicken is fully cooked.

Blend to a pur?e or leave for older babies.

I like to use a masher so it is a textured pur?e.

Let me know your little ones favourite meal!

PLEASE LIKE SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE

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1 min read

Style

MOLES NURSERY HAUL

Zoe

January 14, 2019 2:58 pm January 14, 2019

1 min read

1305 views

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1 min read

WOW. Mole starting Nursery has come around far too quick. I am not sure I am even ready for my little baby to be cared for all day by another…

WOW. Mole starting Nursery has come around far too quick. I am not sure I am even ready for my little baby to be cared for all day by another person other than me!

I know her starting Nursery will be amazing for her development. Especially socialising with others. On her tester days so far she has really enjoyed herself and it is my worrying more than her.

To make the whole process of Mole starting Nursery easier, what I have done is worked on her clothing that she will wear there.

Now…I know that it is completely unnecessary to have a full new wardrobe, especially for a place where they are most likely going to get ruined. But, I have enjoyed picking out comfortable, affordable clothes with the odd fancy piece thrown in so she can still look presentable.

I hope you enjoy the video!

I would also like to thank the companies that got involved and wanted to gift Mole some beautiful clothes for her starting Nursery. She is one very lucky baby!

Link to items

Bag: https://www.vertbaudet.co.uk/penguin-shaped-backpack-for-girls-pink-light-solid-with-design.htm?ProductId=700010571&FiltreCouleur=6630&FiltreTaille=ONE%20SIZE&tool=recherche_partenaire

Knitted Jumpsuit: https://www.vertbaudet.co.uk/knitted-jumpsuit-for-newborn-babies-in-organic-cotton-grey-light-solid.htm?ProductId=702170251&FiltreCouleur=6429&FiltreTaille=12M%20-%2074CM&tool=recherche_partenaire

Anti Slip Sleepsuit: https://www.crawlerz.co.uk/?v=79cba1185463

Hat and Scarf: https://nellyandme.co.uk/

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