Taking Care Of Your Babies Skin In Winter

I gave birth to my second baby in March and I still can't believe she's here. Both my children were born in the colder months, so both times I've had to be extra diligent when it comes to taking care of their skin. Having a newborn again has made me remember how delicate and sensitive their skin is and how important it is to take care of it from day one.

Back when Noah was a baby we didn't have many skin health concerns as he didn't suffer from any skin ailments, cradle cap or really any nappy rash either. We were very lucky with that but we did adhere to a strict skincare routine of not bathing him every night but skipping a day or two, using a very small amount of product in his bath and then using a natural oil to moisturise him with after he was dry.

This time around things are quite different with Ava. She's only been here for a few weeks but we've already had to pay close attention to her skin and really make sure we are using the best protection we can to keep her happy and healthy, for us it starts with a bit of a routine and our go to nappies - Pampers.

When she was only a few days old Ava started getting quite dry and flaky skin which I've been told is quite common in overdue babies, it's like she's shredding her skin. We've been combating this by being really careful about which nappies and wipes we use to make sure she stays as dry and as comfortable as possible. We are using Pampers premium protection nappies and Pampers sensitive wipes which I also used with my son because they are the only newborn nappy and wipes that are endorsed by the British Skin Foundation. This means that from the moment both my babies entered the world I felt confident that I was wrapping their bottoms in the best possible protection for their skin, and this time round with Ava, it’s proving especially important!

Of course lots of things change in the first few months especially, but we will be sure to pay extra special attention to her delicate newborn skin.

Do you have a skincare routine for your little one or do you have any tips that you would like to share? I'd love to hear them!

- This post was brought to you in collaboration with the Pampers Baby Board.

5 Ways To Make A Memorable Baby Shower

Baby showers are a celebration that the UK mums and dads has recently adopted from our American cousins and they've become all the rage over the last couple of years. They seem to grow in popularity every year and it's no surprise as to why. They are a great way to celebrate your pregnancy, they add to the excitement of the lead up to your new arrival, they are the perfect excuse to have a party with your friends and family, receive lots of thoughtful gifts and eat a truck load of indulgent snacks. What's not to love?

I had a baby shower when I was expecting Noah which you can read all about here. It was hosted by my mother in law and all my closest family and friends were invited. I was in two minds about having a baby shower at all, as I'm not one to be the centre of attention, but I'm so glad I did as it was a very special day for me and one that I remember fondly. I was surrounded by people that I love and I laughed so much that a few times I thought I may actually force myself into labour!

Not only did I have an incredible time at my baby shower but I also received some really useful gifts too. My favourites being a baby bath, baby towel and a whole hamper full of Pampers Sensitive Wipes and Pampers Premium Protection New Baby Nappies. I used both the nappies and wipes as soon as Noah was born as I knew they are the only newborn nappy endorsed by the British Skin Foundation, so would be kind and gentle on his newborn skin which was great for my peace of mind. It also helped me a lot as a new Mum, as I didn’t need to buy any wipes or nappies for the first couple of months. As lovely as baby clothes, shoes and toys are you can’t beat receiving the necessities and Pampers were just that to us. If you want to really treat an expectant parent to the most useful gift of all then I would recommend looking at pushchairs. A great idea would be for everyone to chip in and splurge on one - I know I would have really appreciated it!

If you’re thinking of having a baby shower or wanting to plan one for a friend, then I really can't recommend one enough. Today I thought I'd share a couple of tips which could help you create a baby shower to remember.

1. Invite the right guests

This could make or break a baby shower, it really could. Do your research on who your expectant mother would like to attend as you really don't want a sour face relative or arch enemy turning up for the event. She'll want to be surrounded by her nearest and dearest so it really is all about quality and not quantity when it comes to your attendees.

2. Be organised and prepared

When hosting, it certainly pays off to be organised and have some sort of itinerary to work with. You want the baby shower to run smoothly and avoid any stress which other guests or expectant mother may pick up on. You also don't want to be running around like a headless chicken and will want to enjoy the party yourself.

3. Plan lots of fun games

A highlight of my baby shower has got to be the games! There are so many fun games that you can plan for a baby shower, some are ice breakers, some bring out people’s competitive side and some are downright hilarious. A favourite of mine has got to be the chocolate nappy game where you add different melted chocolate bars to different nappies. They are then passed around and the guests have to guess what chocolate each nappy contains by sniffing it. The person who guessing the most correctly wins!

4. Provide lots of food and snacks

Imagine turning up to a baby shower and there being no food! There would be a lot of unhappy guests and well not providing food to a pregnant lady is just the epitome of cruel, how could you do that to her! Sacrilege! A buffet style spread would suffice but make sure there is lots and lots of cake!

5. A thoughtful gift or two

A good place to start are the essentials that any new parent will relish as a present – a healthy supply of Pampers nappies and wipes to get them started, it definitely helps having them on hand! A very personalised and thoughtful way to end a baby shower is to also present the expectant mother with a memento to mark the occasion. There are so many options when it comes to a thoughtful keepsake, especially online and most don't cost very much either. I was given a crystal heart decoration with a blue ribbon and it was one of the first items I put inside my son’s memory box. I still treasure it three years later.

For more tips and advice on throwing the best baby shower possible read this article brought to you by Pampers. Do you have any tips or ideas when it comes to hosting a baby shower?

- Wrote in collaboration with Pampers as part of The Pampers Baby Board.

My Trip to the Pampers Innovation Center

I've been a member of the Pampers Baby Board for the past couple of months and back in October I was invited to the Pampers Innovation Centre in Germany for the day. I was 20 weeks pregnant at the time and the thought of flying and travelling to another country on my own was very daunting. I have to admit that I was absolutely terrified but I'm so glad that I did it as it really was a once in a life time trip and I had such an amazing time. It's not every day that you get to fly to Germany and back in 24 hours!

Once we arrived at the Pampers Innovation Centre we were welcomed into a board room and were greeted by friendly faces and some well needed refreshments. After a brief break we were then given an in depth and interesting talk about Pampers. The discussion was all about the history of the brand and information and facts on how they continue to develop and improve their nappies.

Having used Pampers with my son I was already fond of the brand, but I learnt so much from the presentation. I was already aware of their commendable work alongside UNICEF, but what I didn't know is that Pampers are recommended by the British Skin Foundation. This gives me peace of mind as we will of course be using Pampers with our newborn when she is born next month.

After the presentation we then headed down to the testing area where we met Frank who is a principal scientist at the Centre. Parents bring their babies to the Innovation Centre on a daily basis to try and test out the products for research. It was great to be able to see these parents and tiny testers and you could really tell that Pampers really appreciated and valued their feedback and cooperation.

We were then given a tour of the entire Innovation Centre and what a large and impressive place it is. We visited various rooms which all had different purposes, the baby playgroup testing lab, the 3D measurement room where they make sure their nappies fit perfectly, the skincare lab and even the room where they produce the nappies which is totally top secret. It was really enlightening to learn what happens in each of these rooms and I was astounded at how much work and thought goes into every process. I was amazed at the fact that it can take up to ten years for them to develop a brand new nappy!

Pampers have recently improved their Baby Dry nappies, so a lot of our afternoon was focused around them. We learnt about the new technology which is now inside the new and improved Baby Dry nappies and how it works. Did you know they are now filled with three different channels of Micro Pearls which ensures that when your baby wets their nappy, it's absorbed and spread more evenly. This helps prevents unnecessary leaks and provides optimal comfort and dryness for our little ones. They are also designed to last up to 12 hours which make them the perfect night time nappy.

It was then time to leave and make the long trip back home to the UK. I left feeling totally in awe of Pampers because the brand is so much more than just a company churning out nappy after nappy. Believe me when I say that that Pampers really care about the health and well being of babies everywhere, not just here in the UK. They work tirelessly and strive to make the best nappies they possibly can and also do their part for many different charities. I'm very proud to be associated with Pampers and look forward to continuing to work with them over the coming months.

- This post was brought to you in collaboration with Pampers.