In a bid to try and make her own bed a more appealing place we have tried using new blankets (Ella's special 'blank' as she calls it), regressing slightly by giving her a bedtime bottle and reading a multitude of stories before she falls asleep. Admittedly all of these attempts have failed and call me a bad parent but I've had to leave her crying herself to sleep because otherwise she'd be up all night. It's really awful. It makes me feel like a failure, Fraser & I sometimes come to disagree because we are frustrated and all the while we have got a little baby to watch too. It's just a terrible combination. I often but it down to being lucky in all other aspects of the day & this is just my deserved dose of bad behaviour because it's only fair.

Although this is only a recent issue, maybe the past 4 weeks, it hasn't really translated to overnight stays at my mums house. My mum has her own bed time routine with Ella where she puts her to bed and uses her Sonos Music System (basically speakers integrated into her ceiling and operated by a base unit) to play lullabies and this really works to send her off to sleep. 

We looked into doing the same in our house and it was going to cost a fortune. We often thought about leaving our phones/tablets in the room too but then notifications from social media or if I have to do a little bit of work meant that wasn't the best option. Plus it would also involve having to go back later to take it out and risk waking her up - not one I was willing to take! 

Then I seen the Zazu Music Box and thought we'd found a cheap solution! We opted to get Zoe the Penguin, a cute little speaker that connects via bluetooth to your smartphone and plays your music. It's even compatible with your spotify playlists so you can create your own or use the handy pre-made Zazu Night Time playlist. 

If you're out and about you can take Zoe the penguin on the go and it even has an attachment to clip on to your pushchair meaning you won't lose it. The speaker has some pre-programmed music too including white noise, heartbeat, birds tweeting and many more. Ella's favourite is the lullaby which we have been playing for her the past few nap times/bed times and although there may be a few tears and tantrums, they're short lived!

The speaker also has volume control which I love! Most of these products only have one setting whereas at least you can turn this up and down dependant on the setting you're looking to accommodate. It works wirelessly and the battery life lasts forever. We haven't had to charge it in the week that we have used it and Ella has also been playing with it outwith napping.

I'm glad to see a product that  has actually adapted with the changes in technology and can fit in with a modern lifestyle but more than that I love that it may have brought us a solution to a stressful bedtime!

*ZAZU MUSIC BOX GIFTED IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW

I was invited along to the launch of what can only be described as an innovation in the consumer buying experience. The new store has mapped out each area of a new parent's 'to-do' list into easily digestible store segments removing that overwhelming feeling of being faced by a mass array of baby gadgets and not having a clue what you're looking for, something that is often experienced in that of their competitors.

At the impressive, modern entrance I was greeting by a friendly member of staff, a pertinent moment of the day I feel as I was welcomed inside and given the offer of help, should I need it at any point. In true Mamas and Papas style there was no expense spared and I was given a goodie bag, just like those who entered the store at the same time. It contained a couple of Bloom & Blossom samples (my fav!) as well as a vest, bib, information leaflets and a cute bunny rattle which Charlie just adores!

At the forefront of the store there's an extensive selection of the most beautiful and tasteful baby clothes split into gender sections as well as a central pod of neutrals. Mamas & Papas always get it right when it comes to their clothing. As most of you will well know if you follow my instagram (here) I dress both Ella and Charlie in a lot of their range. The colour hues are always perfect and the styles are so well crafted, I feel like I'm always getting quality value for money. One of my favourite things about shopping with Mamas & Papas is their transparency, I never feel like I'm being tricked into spending too much on something because even if you buy something, wear it and it goes into sale a week later you can just ask for the difference back in cash or on your card & they refund it without a quibble! What other stores do you know that would do that?! AMAZING. And as a result they get my custom time & time again.


Beyond the clothing section the store splits by a walkway into two parts. One side is Nursery/Home decor filled with bedding, nursery furniture, pillows, decorative pieces, wallpaper and everything else you would need to decorate a baby room. I loved their little cloud floating shelves for Charlie's nursery as I have a bit of a cloud theme so far so I'll be making a trip back to get those before I film the much requested Nursery Tour on my YouTube Channel. There's also really handy themes to stick to if you're unsure on how to style pieces together. You'll be able to find furniture, bedding & accessories such as lamp shades and curtains all in your chosen theme making it easy for even the most novice of interior designers! The natural colour schemes are cleverly selected to ensure you're going to obtain a timeless design in your baby's room, each of the themes also come with a co-ordinating sleep bag that you can buy too.


An 'easy to compare' electronics and gadgets section is in this area too, showcasing the newest products to the market making sure you're up to date with changes in technology. This is next to the bath time area where there are a few bath aids to chose from as well as some gentle products and essentials such as towels etc.


Moving on theres a feeding station showcasing the most beautiful highchair range available in store. This is a spacious are where parents to be can manoeuvre the products around and play around with how to assemble parts together. This ultimately helps new parents make an informed decision because I know myself that time & time again I have found I've bought items without a run through and it's not until I've got home and tried them out that I realise they're not fit for my needs.



One of the features of the store that I love are how many rest areas they have. This was ideal for me as I needed to feed Charlie often and need a seat initially to do so but I'm sure these were designed for the tired out husbands in mind when their pregnant better half can't make a decision on which colour scheme to go for!!


Located at the rear of the shop was what can only be described as a car show room of travel systems. Cleverly coordinated in muted tones sat an assembly of unified branded strollers all shapes, sizes and levels of affordability. I really love that Mamas and Papas have recognised the importance of presenting their strollers as a blank canvas and rather than having crazy tester colours in their pushchairs, most were grey, black, navy or sage, allowing the customer to see past the colour and look at the functionality of their potential pram. There was a spacious area of floor room where customers can take their prams for a test drive if you will so they can get the feeling for the product which I know is the case in most stores but where Mamas and Papas stands out is that they have a Mini Cooper car in the back of the store so you can have a demonstration of how to assemble your pushchair and how to put it back down again and into your car boot. This is such an important part of the shopping experience for new parents as I feel it eliminates the stress of just buying it and having to work it all out at home yourselves. Not only that but the car is also used as a demonstration for how to fit an isofix base and how to correctly strap in a carseat if you've opted out of an isofix. This is such a sensible move from the store as it helps minimise the chance of an accident.



And like all stores of this nature should do, there's also something to entertain the kids. Standing on a platform starts the screen moving and a whole load of woodland creatures appear. If they stand for long enough it reveals your childs height and weight making it functional for selecting a car seat or pushchair for the height and weight restrictions but also a fun distraction for the kids to enjoy while you're on your shopping journey.



If all of these combined factors don't make for a calm in-store experience then you can always opt for a personal shopper. There's a separate area for this too where you can have a consultation and discuss price budgets and preferences.

Next to a spacious cash desk is a host of fun 'playtime' mats and toys for babies of all stages, along with cards and other special gift choices. The gift wrapping service is also available giving that unique touch to a carefully chosen present.

Overall I came away feeling like I'd just been in a Flagship store for the brand. They really didn't leave any stone unturned. I was so utterly impressed that I returned for another visit the very next day with my mum to help her buy a baby gift and to buy all of the things for Ella & Charlie that I couldn't stop thinking about when I got home from the launch day. Expect a haul on my YouTube channel soon with all of the lovely bits I picked up, they had 25% off so how could I resist?!

Being a blogger I'm offered the opportunity to review products all of the time. Some that I don't even mention on my blog because they're just not even worth the time of a blog post to say how terrible they are. Plus I'm of the opinion that everyone is different & I would never cause a company repetitional damage just because I had a poor experience with something. I will be honest, I thought this would fall into that category, gifted away because it's no use. I know how much you value my opinion on things and as much as I would be completely transparent about the pros and cons about something, if I can't find anything nice to say then I won't say anything at all. It's a concept I've been brought up by. I love being able to try out products and tell you what I think and bring you solutions to common mummy issues. 

The Mee Light is the simplest and effective baby product I've used. Charlie, as you will know, is still breastfeeding. This means that he is still up every night to feed. Although we are now in Spring, the 'wee' hours in Scotland are still pitch black and therefore I need to turn on the light to feed Charlie. Fraser works shifts and I hate the thought of disturbing him during the night, the way I see it is at least one of us is entitled to a full night's rest, especially when he works crazy hours. 

We have wall lights and beside lamps. The beside lamps are too bright to turn on but our wall lights above our headboard are on a dimable switch so we can have them down low for night feeds. This is all very well but often the sound of the switch being turned on can unsettle Ella and wake her during the night, especially when she's at her light stage of sleep around 5/6am. I used to use my phone light to see charlie but it was too bright and even with the brightness level down it would time out and mean that I was doing everything singlehandedly too. 

The MeeLight attaches to your clothes offering a handsfree experience which is essential I'd say, especially since I already feel like I need another arm anyway when I've got a baby! It projects soft light on to the area you need to see and has 3 different levels of light setting. Not only this but if you're like me and tend to fall asleep when you're feeding then it has a 15 minute automatic timer that switches off to save battery life. The charging unit is neat and minimalist, as it the design of the light. Because it can stand alone too I often switch it on to go to the loo during the night too so I don't wake up the whole house with a bright light.

As I said before, it's a product I thought I'd never use but now, I wouldn't be without it! Worth it's weight in gold.

www.cheekyrascals.co.uk/meemoobaby-meelight

BellyBandit Original : www.bellybandit.com

This is what I thought I was going to categorise the 'Sleepyhead of Sweden' into - the 'Instagram made me buy it' file with all of the other nonsense that I purchased when I became a mum for the first time with Ella. Of course it looks beautiful & more importantly it looks comfortable for my baby, but is it really worth the £110 price tag? It seems a bit steep for 'just a pillow'.

My intrigue for this product grew throughout my pregnancy as I felt I could never escape it. Pinterest worthy photos of dreaming babes, rave reviews & happy mummies - it all seemed too good to be true! So when I was given the opportunity to find out what I thought for myself, I grabbed it with both hands.

What is it?

So what is the Sleepyhead? It's a snug pod made from breathable materials said to 'reinvent the womb' to give your baby a sense of safeness and security. The thick bumper around the side of the pod helps to reduce startle reflex. When babies feel too much space around them like they would do in a crib or moses basket as a newborn they often get a fright and shoot their arms and legs out and this wakes them. The sleepyhead provides the same sensation of being held so your baby is less likely to suffer from startle reflex and sleep for longer - win!

My Experience

When the product arrived I was impressed that it came in a protective cover/carry case, ideal for us since our baby, Charlie wasn't due for another few months and this kept it safe in storage.

Charlie is 6 weeks old and has been using his Sleepyhead since birth. We use it inside his bedside crib which really helps to pad out all of that extra space that he isn't filling right now. Considering Charlie is breastfed, he only usually wakes once during the night. We go to bed at around 10.30pm when I will give him his last feed and then he will wake at around 4am. We completely put this down to the effectiveness of the Sleepyhead because he is so comfortable, content and probably so unaware that he isn't being held anymore!

What I love about the Sleepyhead

There are so many more features that I love about the Sleepyhead.

It's portable. Ella is still in a travel cot when we stay overnight at my Mum's house so the thought of having to assemble 2 of them then find somewhere for them to sit would be a nightmare. Whenever I go to stay there I just take the Sleepyhead pod and put it in the bed beside me - it's great! There's also a carry handle at the top so when I'm making my trip from the car ladened down with 2 babies, a dog, a changing bag and an overnight bag I have a handle to loop on to a free part of my body!!

I also love the range of covers you can get it in, there's something to suit everyone. I opted for the classic white option because I thought this would work well for photos to get a nice simple background. The cover itself is such good quality. Charlie has been sick and weed all over his a few time now - it washes well and dries so fast. The only complaint I have is that the cover isn't the easiest to get back on again. We have the hang of it now but the first few attempts it was quite frustrating to get the cushion to fit and close the zip but I suppose this is due to the nature of the design, to feel snug and cosy.

How long does it last?

The Sleepyhead deluxe goes from 0-8months but there's also a next stage called the Sleepyhead Grande which is for 8-36months, I would love to get that one as he grows. We will be transitioning Ella from cot to toddler bed soon, something that I am really anxious about, primarily because I'm scared she will fall out and hurt herself so I think to help with this process we will need to look at the Grande for her.

Overall I am so impressed with this product and so glad that it wasn't just a fad! Not only is it sleek and luxurious looking but it actually lives up to it's dreamy sleep claims. If you're thinking about getting a Sleepyhead or are having a baby and haven't heard of them before then I would get it to the top of your present list because it's something we just couldn't live without now!

www.sleepyheadofsweden.com