Pampers Active Fit Nappy Pants

Back when Noah was around 6 months old I noticed a change in his movements and how active he was and how nappy changing became quite a challenge at times. He didn't want to lie down at all and quite frankly didn't have time to have his nappy changed, he thought he was too busy for that! One of the tricks that he liked to do was wait until I had taken his nappy off and then he would try and crawl off at the speed of light!

When you think of nappy pants the first thing that springs to mind is potty training and the toddlers who are ready to make the transition. But actually what I have discovered is, they can be used so much earlier than that – and are great to use on your wriggly baby!

I missed the trick with Noah, knowing more about Active Fit Nappy Pants would have saved a lot of unnecessary wriggle time… no fiddly tabs to have to wrestle with, simply pull up and go, hey presto. They would have made nappy change so much easier that's for sure!

Pampers nappy pants are made the same way as regular Pampers, but with all round stretchy and easy to put on waist. I wish I'd have known back then because as you can see with the photo above I had one super wriggly baby! Nappy pants would have certainly made my life a lot easier but lesson learned, I'll be buying them for Ava this time around!

Have you tried Pampers Active Fit Nappy Pants?

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

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. 

Introducing the Pampers Club App

Being a blogger there are many exciting opportunities that come my way but possibly the best one yet came a few weeks ago. I was contacted on behalf of Pampers asking if I'd like to be on the very first Pampers Baby Board amongst a few of my fellow bloggers. I was delighted to take them up on their offer as Pampers have always been a brand we've reached for when it comes to disposable nappies and wipes as we've found them superior to their competitors.

This is my first post since joining the Pampers Baby Board and today I'd like to introduce you to the brand new Pampers Club App. This app is FREE, very easy to use and gives you rewards every time you buy Pampers products.

How it works

1. Download the Pampers Club app for free and register.

2. Open the app and take a photo of the receipt on which your Pampers product appears to earn points for the purchase. The receipt must be less than 30 days old.

3. For every £1 spent on a Pampers product, you will receive 10 points to exchange for gifts and for your first receipt you will even get a bonus of 500 points! This is a great way to get you started and give you a great head start for cashing in your first reward, whichever that may be!

4. Convert your points into a wide selection of rewards chosen with you, your children and your whole family in mind. You can put your points towards coupons off for more Pampers products through to magazine subscriptions and even baby toys. 

This is the first time a nappy brand has come up with a reward scheme and I think it's such a brilliant idea and one that I'm sure is going to be extremely popular with us parents. Not only do we spend a lot of money on wipes and nappies but we also spend a lot of time changing and cleaning dirty bums too! It's time we got rewarded for it, don't you think!?

You can download the Pampers Club App for free here and it's available for on the App Store and Google Play. 

What will you be spending your rewards on?

- Wrote in collaboration with Pampers. 

Win your little one a starring role with Pampers - #babygrooves

To celebrate the launch of NEW Premium Protection™ Active Fit, Pampers want to see your LO’s #babygrooves for the chance to win a starring role in their upcoming video!

Pampers have recently launched their latest, revolutionary new technology – Magical Pods. New Pampers Premium Protection™ Active Fit is the first and only nappy to feature Magical Pods- clever absorbent channels that help to distribute wetness evenly so the nappy stays up to two times drier and doesn’t sag like the next leading brand. Finally, Pampers will free babies from uncomfortable nappy sag and allow them to move to their own beat without restriction.

Pampers are inviting your LO’s to get involved -in their exciting new launch!

Dancing babies means happy babies and Pampers want their number one happy customers to show off their #babygrooves in their new Active Fit Nappies, for the chance to star in a Pampers video!

Your little one can also try new Pampers Active Fit for free as Pampers are giving away samples of New Pampers Active Fit – so your LO can see for themselves the difference it makes being sag free!

Visit www.pampers.co.uk today to claim your free sample and let your little one groove on thanks to new Pampers Active Fit and don't forget to enter the competition! 

To enter via Twitter:

To participate via Twitter, tweet a video of your baby grooving in NEW Pampers Active Fit, tagging @Pampers_UK and using #babygrooves

To enter via Facebook:

To participate via Facebook, post a video of your baby grooving in NEW Pampers Active Fit on the Pampers Facebook page using #babygrooves

Entries are being accepted until 5PM on April 1st.

Good Luck!!

- This post is in partnership with Pampers.

Pampers Unicef Campaign

As parents some of the most heartwarming, endearing and humbling moments have got to be watching your baby achieve their first milestones. From that very first smile, first roll and first steps there is literally no joy like it.

For the 9th year running Pampers have teamed up with UNICEF for the '1 pack = 1 vaccine' campaign. Since 2006 this campaign has paid for an outstanding 300 million vaccines! By doing so this eliminated Newborn Tetanus in not 1, 2 or 3 countries but 15. Last years campaign was very successful but there are still babies at risk in the poorest countries in the world. 

We need to team up together to help more babies reach their firsts. By simply watching this video Pampers will donate the cost of 3 vaccines to UNICEF. Do your part. 

To keep in with the theme of things I thought I would share some photo's of some of my Noah's firsts. Enjoy!

First photo

First day out

First time in town 

First costume 

First Christmas

First smile

First time crawling

First time standing unaided 

- I was not endorsed for this post. I simply wanted to support this fantastic campaign. 

What's in my changing bag. Part 2

When Kiddicare contacted me asking if I would like to team up with them on a changing bag project they are running I was very excited to do so. I'm a self confessed nosey parker so there's no wonder why I enjoy reading those "What's in my handbag" or "What's in my changing bag" blog posts so much. A couple of months back I wrote all about the contents of my own changing bag (see here) and I really enjoyed blogging about it. Now that Noah is almost six months old (in 4 days time!) I have found that what I pack now is very different to what I packed two months ago. 

Here is what you will find in my changing bag;

Bottles - I NEVER leave the house without a bottle! Even if you are popping out for 5 minutes, the chances are if you don't pack one then your baby is going to want a feed. If we are out for the day I tend to pack three or four 6oz bottles of boiled water to use as and when Noah wants them. 

Milk Dispenser - The milk dispenser holds 3 measures of 3 feeds. Which is ideal for popping into your changing bag when you are on the go. You simply pour the section of formula into the cooled boiled water when your baby wants a feed.

Thermal Bottle Bag - To keep one bottle of water as warm as possible. 

Food Pouch - We are weaning Noah and he absolutely loves his food. I try to make the majority of his meals from scratch but find premade pouches are a godsend when out and about. 

Dish and Spoon - For his food of course. 

Snack - I sometimes pack a banana to mash up for Noah as a snack or a pudding after his tea. Banana's are his favourite but I am trying to limit them at the minute cause they tend to make him a little constipated. 

Dummy and Dummy Wipes - Noah has a dummy for nap time and bed time. I always make sure I pack a spare dummy and a pack of dummy wipes. 

Nappies and Wipes - Pretty obvious! I try to pack a full pack of wipes each time as Noah has a tendency to have multiple "poocidents" on days outs! 

Lotions and Potions - I always make sure I am carrying a pot of Sudocrem and a tube of Bonjela. My changing bag staples. 

Teething Rings - He is teething but dealing with it really well. He always has something in his mouth to gnaw on and he is just starting to understand what teething rings are for. 

Change of clothes/PJ's - A change of clothes is vital for your changing bag, one of the items I wouldn't leave without packing. His nappy could leak, he could be sick all down himself, he could be a bit messy at tea time. You need that spare change of clothes. I usually don't need it but I can guarantee the day I don't pack it, I will need it! I usually just pack a babygrow as not only can it be used as a quick change of clothes but it can be used as PJ's too. Sometimes if we end up visiting family and stay a bit longer than planned I will dress him in his PJ's before we set off home. I do this to prevent disturbing him if he has fallen asleep or is really crammed on the way home. 

Bibs - Noah is currently teething and being weaned so I now need to pack numerous bibs. Dribble bibs, bandana bibs, feeding bibs, velcro bibs.. you name it, I pack it. If he isn't soaking a bib through with drool within the hour he is slopping his dinner down it instead. We go through so many bibs in one day. 

Jacket - It's a bit hit and miss is the weather lately so if he isn't wearing a jacket when we leave the house I will make sure I pack one.

Blanket -  Again with the weather changing on a daily basis I tend to pack a blanket just in case. I used to just pop one over him when in his pram but on the warmer days he doesn't need one. It's always best to have a lightweight one just in case. 

Comforter - I can't leave the house without one of Noah's many comforters. I think he would be okay without it but having one on hand helps soothe him and settle him when he is ready for a nap. 

Toys - Now that Noah is older he is harder to keep stimulated and entertained. He is really into his toys at the minute and where as I used to only need to pack one or two to keep him occupied I now need to pack half a dozen. I have half a toy store in my bag! 

What are your changing bag essentials?

What's in my Changing Bag?

I've seen dozen's of these changing bag posts and they have always fascinated me. Even before I had a baby I used to love having a nosey at what was inside other people's handbags and changing bags. Via blog's of course, I've not been rooting through people's belongings! So you could say I'm a big nosey parker. These posts are great because you can see if you have missed an essential that you can add to your bag or discover a new innovative product that you didn't know about. 

So here is what is inside my changing bag-

First of all I first have to say how much I love my changing bag! I was lucky enough to win it before Noah was born and at first I thought it was too posh and too dressy for an everyday changing bag but how wrong was I. I bought two other different changing bags but ended up selling them as I am obsessed with this bag and I don't want to use any other. It is a Storksak changing bag from Babes with Babies.

Bottles - I always carry a couple of bottles of freshly boiled water in our bag. Depending on how long we will be out determines how many I pack. I carry more bottles than we need just in case we decide to go on a spontaneous day out. We use MAM anti colic bottles and they are perfect for Noah. 

Milk dispenser - In the early days I was carting formula around in tupperwear, which was a nightmare! It was only recently that I discovered the Avent milk dispensers which are perfect for storing your scoops of formula when you are on the go. They have 3 sections for 3 feeds and it's very easy to use.

Thermal bottle warmer - I keep the water in his bottles warm until we need them by using thermal bottle warmers as Noah does prefer his milk warm. 

Dummy & Dummy wipes - Noah is a dummy lover and we always carry a spare in a steralised container just in case we lose the one he has in. On our trip to Babies R Us last weekend I spotted Dummy steraliser wipes which I thought were a great idea. I haven't used them yet but I have packed them for when we need them. 

Nappies & Wipes - We alternate between Mamia and Pampers nappies. They both fit Noah great and both last throughout the night without leaking. I like the look of Pampers more than the Aldi ones but they both feel soft and we've had no issue's with nappy rash either. We use a lot of different brands of wipes. Favourites being pampers, huggies and mamia. We usually carry 4 or 5 nappies in our bag and 1 pack of wipes. 

Sudocrem - Noah has been relatively rash free but I do like to carry it just in case we see a little flare up. Any red mark and I slather it on as a precaution. He has always had really good skin though. 

Change of clothes - If we have an accident whether it be sickcident or a poocident it doesn't matter because we always have a spare change of clothes. I pack a spare vest or two and a babygrow. This is also good if we are out late and I want to dress him for bed before we get home. 

Hat - As it is still chilly he always has a hat on when we are out and about. If he hasn't got one one at the time or if we are in the car I take it off and put it in the bag as he does get a sweaty head very easily! 

Bibs - Never one, we need a couple of bibs stashed in there. Noah is sometimes sick a little after his feed but he has also become a bit drooly so he tends to always have a bib on at the moment. 

Muslin Cloth - Another great item that takes up literally no space in your bag, muslin cloths. Great for mopping up sick, drool, spilled milk etc. I also use them for a changing mat if I forget to take my travel one and is also nice for a comforter, if clean of course.

Sophie le Giraffe - The most famous giraffe in the world! Noah is always chewing his hands and has a new found love for Sophie. He has figured out he can shove her in his mouth and have a good gnaw on her. Not only is she good for teething but when he is being cranky I give her a squeak and he seems to snap out of his mood and begins chatting away to her. So adorable. 

Logan the Lion - We have a collection of Lamaze toys now but Noah's favourite is Logan the Lion. If Logan isn't clipped onto the car seat or pram he is usually being carted around in my bag. We love Lamaze. 

Comforter - Noah has a dozen comforters and absolutely adores them. When he is sleeping or taking a nap he likes to have one against the side of his face, he finds it so soothing. He also likes to play with them. I will put one on his chest and he will grab it, pull it up to his face and try to eat it.

You have probably noticed that I don't pack any of my things in his bag. I seem to travel light now that I have a baby. My essentials; purse, phone, keys I tend to carry in my big coat pockets.

I hope I haven't missed anything off the list. What do you carry in your changing bag?

Review: Pampers Baby-Dry

Ever since Noah was born I have been on the hunt for the perfect nappy. I am obsessed with trying out as many nappy brands as possible and I am gradually turning into a nappy snob. You name it we have tried it and Pampers are a firm favourite in this household. Pampers were kind enough to send me a pack of their new Pampers Baby-Dry nappies for Noah to review. We hadn't tried this type before so we were looking forward to testing them out.

Pampers Baby-Dry sizes run from baby through to toddler but would be ideal for the younger baby. When Noah is more active I probably would switch to Pampers Active Fit and use the Baby-Dry for night time dryness.

 I found the nappies to be softer and lighter than other brands but this did not effect the absorbency level in the slightest. They easily last throughout the night without any leakage and with no funny smell. They fit like a dream and we had no issues with nappy rash. The elasticated waistband is soft and very stretchy which looked very comfy for Noah to wear. Noah will get red marks on his belly where the waistline has rubbed when using other brands but we haven't had this problem with any type of Pampers so far. 

Pampers are a bit more pricey than other brands but it's well worth paying that little bit extra especially when using Baby-Dry through the night. There are baby events on at the moment too at ASDA and Tesco where you can save money on multipacks of Pampers and there are dozens of money off vouchers online.  

We were extremely happy with the nappies and since reviewing our pack have stocked up as I feel fully confident putting my baby's bottom in Pampers Baby-Dry.

- I was sent a pack of Pampers Baby-Dry for the purpose of this review. However all opinions are my own.