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Contents

Disclaimer The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of NCT or the Editor. The information in this newsletter is for the use of NCT members only, in connection with NCT activities, and may not be used for any commercial purpose. The conditions of the Data Protection Act may apply.

© NCT North Cheshire Branch 2014

Contents 3

Introduction from the Editor 4

Hello from the Branch Chairperson 5

What’s on in our branch? 6

NCT antenatal courses 6

North Cheshire Events 7

What our groups mean to you 8

Little Bundles – Update 10

Thank you to our sponsors 11

NCT At Just So 12

Babywearing – by Rachael Cunliffe 15

Babywearing & Keeping Fit 18

Spooky Halloween Crafts! 21

Toddler Friendly Holidays - Bluestone 28

Local breastfeeding support 32

About NCT 36

Advertorial 38

Advertising 39

Thanks to our gorgeous Halloween cover stars Logan (cutie pumpkin!) and Albert (scary devil!). If you would like to see your child on the cover in a future issue then keep an eye on our Facebook page for themed requests!

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Introduction from the Editor

Welcome to the Autumn edition of In Touch – the local newsletter for the NCT North Cheshire branch. We hope you

enjoy it, whether you’re an existing NCT member or a first-time reader.

As usual you’ll find details of our weekly social groups on the ‘where to join in’ guide on page 7. With winter weather setting in, our friendly groups give mums and mums-to-be a great reason to get out of the house and meet other parents or parents-to-be in the area. They really are a wonderful way of meeting new friends and sharing parenting experiences and are open to both NCT members and non-members.

The issue includes an insight into what the branch’s volunteers have been up to in recent months – growing the Little Bundles project and organising the recent Nearly New Sale. Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped out before and on the day to make the sale another great success. Hope many of you went along and managed to grab a bargain or two!

Pages 15 to 19 feature an insight into the world of babywearing (sling wearing) with advice and guidance from local babywearing consultant, Rachael Cunliffe. And if you thought having a baby was a good excuse for not going to the gym, then you need to read page 18 to hear about babywearing fitness classes in the area – now there really is no excuse!! (and sounds like lots of fun too!)

We are always keen to receive any contributions for the newsletter from local parents on any parenting issue. In this issue we’re delighted to include tales of some fun summer experiences from local members Helen Barrance and Gemma Wagner on pages 12 and 28 – will make you wish summer days were here again!

And of course no Autumn issue would be complete without some reference to the scary season! Pages 21 to 25 include some craft ideas to amuse the little ones over Halloween.

Happy half-term to those of you with school going children. If you’re stuck for ideas to keep them amused, it’s worth checking out www.mumsintheknow.co.uk for a complete guide to what events are on in the locality. Pumpkin carving at Kenyon Hall Farm and searching for the Gruffalo at Delamere Forest are on my list!

If you enjoy reading this newsletter, please pass it on to a friend or neighbour who may not be aware of what the NCT offers. If you’re not already a member, please consider joining NCT or consider volunteering at one of our groups or events – it’s fun, rewarding and a great way to make new friends and help the charity.

Thanks for reading!

Mary-Rose maryroseahern@yahoo.com

Hello from the Branch Chairperson Is it just me that turns the clock back 20 something years and really enjoys kicking and messing about in the leaves at this time of year? I hope not! Having little ones is the perfect excuse to let out your inner child and so hopefully lots of us mummies and daddies will be enjoying having some autumn fun with our

families over the coming weeks! This issue of our newsletter is packed with information and ideas to inspire you over this transitional period – the end of summer and the prequel to the run up to (dare I say it) Christmas! We have just had one of our most successful Nearly New Sales to date. Thank you to everyone that bought and sold with us. The money raised makes a real difference to our reach as a branch but also nationally through the proceeds that go to NCT head office to distribute amongst less fortunate branches. Watch out for the details for our next one to grab yourself some top bargains! I hope that you find lots to entertain you in the pages that follow and maybe it will get you thinking about coming along to our events or even joining our team of volunteers – we would love to meet you! Equally, if you have any ideas for events you would like to see us set up or articles in future newsletters, please get in touch!

Helen helennctmail@gmail.com

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Big Yellow storage further supporting NCT Nearly New Sales

NCT North Cheshire was given free storage at their local Big Yellow Liverpool store last year. Stock for our Nearly New Sales is totally secure and pin code entry gives us easy access whenever we need. Big Yellow Self Storage is the UK’s leading self-storage brand and provides secure, affordable, do-it-yourself storage rooms for domestic and business customers for as long or as short a period as required, plus NCT members can save an extra 10% off their storage when they quote NCT either in store or at www.bigyellow.co.uk.

What’s on in our branch? We have a range of regular social events in the branch and are keen to add more, so if you have any suggestions for future events then please feel free to get in touch – or better still, volunteer to organise it! We are always on the lookout for new volunteers, as they are the life blood of the branch, and it’s a great way to make new friends in the local area and keep your brain functioning as well.

All our events are open to members and non-members alike, and there’s a voluntary suggested donation of £1 per family attending.

Our Bumps & Babes events are for pregnant mums and their partners and those with babies up to a year old and are a great way to meet people and start building a support network. We also run

Babes & Beyond groups, for those whose children are outgrowing Bumps & Babes. The Warrington group meets at Fun2B soft play in Warrington on Monday mornings (discounted entrance fee payable).

We have a Facebook page which is a great place to keep abreast of NCT events and local news and a Yahoo! group open to both members and non-members which is a great place to buy and sell second-hand nursery goods, or share tips with and ask for advice from other local parents.

You can also find information on all our courses and other services on our website.

Please see overleaf for a handy summary of our events and contacts – perfect to cut out and keep on your fridge or pass to a friend!

NCT antenatal courses

NCT antenatal courses are open to all parents and parents-to-be, including young parents, women without a partner, same-sex couples and surrogacy couples.

Our informal, friendly courses let parents-to-be learn together. Each course covers pregnancy, labour, birth, relaxation techniques, breastfeeding, and the needs of a new baby, providing parents with the knowledge to make informed choices. They are also a fantastic way to meet other parents-to-be from your local area who are due at the same time as you and to start building that all important support network.

The courses run several times per year and are currently held at Winwick Leisure Centre. Places are limited and so early booking is advisable. See http://www.nct.org.uk/courses for details and to book your place.

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North Cheshire Events

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What our groups mean to you As mums return to work or their babies outgrow the various groups we regularly rely on new volunteers taking over the responsibility for running the various coffee mornings (welcoming new attendees, setting out toys and playmats and looking after the NCT donation box). One such new volunteer is Becky who looks after the Stockton Heath group along with Sally. Becky shares her experiences of the group below. I started attending the NCT group in Stockton Heath when I was 8 months pregnant with my daughter Poppy and was immediately welcomed by the other parents and their little ones. I found the group friendly, relaxing & a good opportunity to get out of the house! Each week we meet for a chat and a drink at Jenny Wrens. It starts at 10am but lots of parents don't make it till a bit later and we are often there till about 1pm. On the second Monday of each month we meet at Pizza Express at 11am. Pizza Express offer a discounted meal deal for us so most of us make the most of this and stay for food. Lots of our babies are beginning to enjoy their first tastes so this is beginning to get a bit messy! I have made new friends through the group and it has been enjoyable to watch our babies grow and develop their own personalities. Poppy is now 6 months old and no longer the 'baby' of the group! The group is for babies up until about a year old but I still keep in touch with some of the mums who have moved onto other groups or returned to work. We have a really good mixture of ages in the group at the minute and it makes me realise just how much Poppy had changed when I see her next to the newborn babies. It is lovely to be able to welcome new parents and their bumps/ babies into the group and either myself or Sally (often both of us!) are there each week to welcome any new comers. We don't just talk about babies but it's often the main topic of conversation, alongside cake and coffee! I have found reassurance and support from the other parents and would definitely recommend the group to others.

Sally (left) and Becky

with their babies Lunch time at Pizza Express!

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Over at IKEA on Thursday mornings Clare and Ruth ensure everyone is welcome. Clare explains below what the IKEA group is all about. It’s not all meatballs and tealights at Ikea! Every Thursday morning between 10.30 and 12.30

it plays host to the NCT Bumps and Babies group. In a quiet corner of the restaurant prams

are parked and babies gurgle away while mums and dads slurp their never ending coffees

(free with an Ikea family card) in a relaxed atmosphere. There’s room for babies to kick about

on the play mats provided and high chairs available too. The group is, as the name suggests, a

great place to come from pregnancy onwards. It’s a good place to meet other parents who

understand your new found dilemas of whether to sleep or clean, go to the toilet or feed the

baby, to name a couple. It’s a really informal group and is a great starting point for finding

out about what’s going on locally as well as sharing with other mums and dads. So if you

fancy joining us on a Thursday morning it’d be really good to see you there.

What mums say about the IKEA group:

“I found this a really great place to meet up with my NCT antenatal group”

“I starting coming when I was pregnant and it has been such a good group for getting tips

and advice from other mums”

“I look forward to Ikea every week, my baby loves seeing and playing with other babies and I

love being able to chat with other parents”

“The main thing I'd say is that the ikea group is a great way to get to know other mums who

are going through the same things you are and can offer a second opinion, share advice or be

an ear to listen to when you've been up all night with an unsettled baby.”

“I always look forward to Thursday mornings because it's a chance to chat to other mummies

with babies similar ages who are going through the same milestones as me and James."

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Little Bundles – Update Our Little Bundles project was set up earlier this year to help local families in the area who are in need of baby clothes, toys and equipment. The project works with the local social workers/sure start centres to help provide to those in need. The project is continuing to grow nicely - we've had lots of donations and 5 referrals over the past month of which we have been able to fulfil 3. Unfortunately we couldn't help with a double pushchair or stairgates. We also have a small team of volunteers coordinating collections and deliveries. Overall we've now helped 12 families with deliveries of clothes, toys and baby equipment.

What we need:

- Stairgates- nearly all our referrals ask for these and we currently have none in stock

-Pushchairs- we have had two referrals for pushchairs and currently have none in stock

- Volunteers! We desperately need more volunteers to help collect, deliver, bundle and organise the project! Our team of three just can't keep on top of everything and the project is at risk if we can't find more help!

If you think you can help by volunteering or donating then please contact northcheshirelittlebundles@yahoo.co.uk

Group volunteer Clare (3rd from right) with other mums and babies at the IKEA group

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Thank you to our sponsors We would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to the venues which continue to support and host our Bumps & Babes and Babes & Beyond events, as well as providing much-appreciated complimentary refreshments!

Jenny Wren’s is a ceramic arts studio and coffee house in Stockton Heath which hosts our South Warrington Bumps & Babes event on Monday mornings. There is a play area for little ones and they also do children’s parties and sell a range of gifts. Visit www.jennywrensceramics.co.uk for more information.

Fun2B in Warrington is an adventurous activity centre which combines fantastic play facilities with a healthy cafe. It has dedicated baby and toddler areas and offers free activity sessions every day included in the entrance fee. Fun2B hosts our Babes & Beyond group on Monday mornings.

The Sanctuary Café in Lymm is staffed by volunteers from local churches. They have an extensive and well-priced menu, including children’s options, a play area and a small Christian bookshop. They host our Lymm Bumps & Babes group on Tuesday mornings.

The Swedish furniture store needs little introduction! The Warrington store was the first shop which IKEA opened in the UK and it’s been supplying cheap, stylish furniture and homewares ever since. IKEA is the venue for our Bumps & Babes group on Thursdays.

Pizza Express in Stockton Heath hosts the South Warrington B&B event on the second Monday of each month. They pride themselves on being a truly family friendly restaurant, with a dedicated healthy children’s menu and highchairs available.

Forget-me-not Toys & Bookshop in Culceth is the venue for Wednesdays’ bumps and babes group. The pretty store sells books, toys and has a lovely café with a small childrens playarea.

Our groups are a great way to start to meet other parents in your local area and are open to all, so please do come along and meet us and tell your friends about our groups.

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NCT At Just So The Just So festival takes place every year in August at Rode Hall in Cheshire. This was our first year and I was lucky enough to go as a volunteer on behalf of the NCT. In return for 6 hours of my time each day we received free tickets for myself and my husband and Jacob was free as he's under 2. We arrived early on the Friday and helped to finish setting up the baby area before the first visitors arrived. The festival is set over a huge wooded area and split into distinct areas. We were based in the Peekaboo area which had everything a family with little ones could need! From a reusable nappy service, free sling hire, feeding and changing areas with free nappies and wipes provided and baby bath time every night! There was so much to do it was impossible to do everything- we focused on the things in the baby and toddler area first- clay babies was our first activity where Jacob loved watching the potters wheel and having a go at adding bits of clay to pots, then it was time for Cello babies where we joined a group of babies and toddler who were entranced by a lovely lady and her Cello.

The festival is very much arts orientated - we watched amazing theatre and dance shows and there was plenty of lovely live music too. Our favourite was probably the 'imaginary menagerie' which Jacob watched twice and loved every madcap minute! There were plenty of things to fill in the gaps between shows- an amazing mirror maze in the woods, a shipwreck on the lakeside complete with sand deckchairs and mermaids, bubble time on the

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lawn and even a chance to meet the Gruffalo himself! Around every corner there were new things to see and do.

Part of my volunteer role was to set up and run baby bath time- a tent full of baths, bath toys, hot water and free baby bath products provided by Weleda. Every evening from 6-8pm we opened up to a stream of Mums and Dads coming to bath their babies and toddlers. The Just So festival is a perfect festival for anyone with children of any age. From the clean toilets to the free nappies and even facials for parents, it felt like every little thing had been thought of. The festival felt friendly and welcoming for children of all ages - the only thing I would say is that although the food at the festival was lovely and there was a huge choice, it was pretty expensive so we took along a picnic lunch and then treated ourselves to tea each night whilst we watched the live bands play. All in all it was a fabulous and magical weekend and I would recommend it to anyone! Top tips: • Take drinks and at least one meal along with you - food can be expensive • Dressing up is part of the fun at the festival- Jacob made a very cute owl! • The festival is accessible by pushchair but a sling makes it much easier - we borrowed a free sling from the sling library at the festival and Jacob even had a nap in it! • Try to pick a few things you really want to do each day • But leave time for just wandering! With thanks to Helen Barrance for sharing her experience at Just So

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Babywearing – by Rachael Cunliffe I am Rachael, mum to Celia, my rarely-worn-now no-longer-a-baby six year old! I have used a sling since she was born after finding out about them during pregnancy. My weighted demo doll (Grimma) and I have now completed two courses training me to teach babywearing - Trageschule Foundation and Advanced. I am insured and am also a member of the professional organisation for babywearing instructors (BABI) and follow their strict code of conduct. I run sling meets (for hiring slings or just meeting other parents!) in Warrington, Wigan and St Helens, but also offer private lessons in my own home in Newton. You can find details/dates/prices on the website www.wawishslingmeet.co.uk . . Slings/carriers can be hired from the sling meets (or out of hours) at just £3 a week, again for more details see the website! I have been asked to write an article on the benefits of babywearing. There's a few ways I can do this, I could tell you statistics about how babies worn in slings tend to cry less and how it helps them to develop a more secure attachment to their care giver. I could tell you about my own experience with a dairy allergic child who cried constantly except when she was in the sling, or how slings helped me form a bond with my daughter when illness made that difficult. Instead though I thought I'd ask the mums from my sling library who use slings right now, why they chose to do it, and this is what they said: Most mums talked about the closeness and the cuddles, bonding and magic sleep powers. Lots noted that public transport became easier, and many have ventured into places that pushchairs fear to tread like the CrockyTrail! It also seems I have some housework loving mums! "Housework! Hands down or should I say hands free the top benefit for me!" and "Hands-free so I can continue my housework” (I'm assuming that's a benefit, I try to avoid all housework) But Dawn, mum to an 8 month old, had a different view,"2 hands free to get "stuff" done!" She did clarify to me that "stuff" meant eating, sometimes even a dirnk in one hand, food in the other but mostly eating! Dads got in on the action too, Andy, who is a devoted Daddy to his little boy said that as he couldn't breastfeed using a sling helped him bond. Many people I speak to fear the baby will get too clingy; I put this to the sling meet mums. Elaine, a mum of two toddlers says "Luke was worn almost every day until recently to enable

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to me to have free hands for Adam - now when I leave them anywhere I give them a kiss and say bye bye - they both kiss back and wave me off - no tears - nothing." And another mum Hayley agrees "I've found babywearing has helped my boys feel more secure in their independence." As a trained sling/carrier teacher I try to make sure everyone has the correct safety advice, when used correctly slings/carriers are extremely safe. Always follow the T.I.C.K.S. advice available from me (see next page) and if in doubt I am always contactable. I could go on for longer but I'd like to leave the last word to Charlotte, who is trying very hard not to become an addict "Oh, and the wraps are flipping beautiful!" Well, there is that! To find out more, or see some beautiful wraps, visit www.wawishslingmeet.co.uk (Photos taken by Hazel Hughes Art And Photography)

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Babywearing & Keeping Fit Warrington mum, Emma Dixon, shares her experience of working out with a baby attached! Before having my son Jacob, I used to try get to the gym twice a week for a work out and to socialise with friends. When I moved from Liverpool to Warrington to be with my partner, I didn't know anyone, and when I became pregnant I found I felt very alone. When Jacob was born I had every intention on going back to the gym and meeting new people, but the thought of leaving him with anyone really upset me. I loved being with my son and wasn't prepared to leave him just for a workout. When Jacob was 6 weeks old I heard about a class called FitTogether. I had never baby worn before or ever imagined being able to work out with my son, but I thought this would be a way to get out the house, have a work out and meet new people. The class couldn't have been more fun and the people more friendly. So much good advice was given on all aspects from baby wearing to any questions I had about Jacob and his needs, it felt amazing to be out, exercising and socialising with other mums. Jacob also benefited from the class as it relieved his colic and he always had an amazing nap whilst I got to work out. And now at 23 weeks Jacob loves the class and has a good giggle as I exercise, I have met some amazing people and made very good friends as well as helping shift my baby weight all whilst having a great time and lots of fun. I would recommend mums who are wanting to workout, meet new people and have fun to give FitTogether a go. Alison Mc Neil of Fitogether We started the class for so many of the reasons that Emma has experienced. For us it was when we had our son, Archie; I didn’t feel I could call my parents over every time I wanted to pop out for an hour to the gym and I didn’t want to leave Archie in a crèche. Or, if I could take him with me what if he needed feeding? What would I do if he cried? Would he sleep so I could do the class? Even reading this now feels exhausting, so it felt easier to do nothing! Yet, I wanted to look after myself, and I knew that I would feel better doing something…so where did that leave me. FitTogether gives you the opportunity to exercise WITH your baby in a baby carrier. Helping boost energy, relieve tiredness, improve self-esteem, reduce depression, improve posture and lower stress…all with the often talked about happy by-products of weight loss and changes in body appearance. The carriers are specially chosen, and provided by us for use in the class. Babies love being carried and this gives them multiple benefits… babies in slings cry up to 40% less, find relief from reflux, spend more time in a quiet, alert state (when they are most receptive to learning) and the world makes more sense to them as they pick up on your cues and

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responses. FitTogether classes help strengthen the bond between you whilst providing your baby with the rich & stimulating environment of movement, music & touch. Andy & I are passionate about relationships, connections and being active and the difference all these can make to our health and happiness and that of our children and the next generation. This comes together in our Social, or “profit-for-purpose”, Enterprise HealthEase – Catalysts in Communities CIC (www.healthease.org.uk). Our mission is to support health creation for everyone; aiming to increase the health & happiness of all people, families and communities. We use the profits to develop and deliver services and FitTogether is one of the services that we offer to help everyone achieve sustainable health and happiness. Contact details are alison@fittogether.org.uk www.fittogether.org.uk 0333 777 3022 Fb.com/FitTogetherUK Classes run in Altrincham, Didsbury, Salford, Warrington & Wilmslow. A single session costs £6.50 and we do Pay as you Go or we offer block bookings of 8 for the price of 7.

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Spooky Halloween Crafts!

Egg box spiders Materials: Egg box Googly eyes or stickers with black spots on Paints or felt tip pens

String 4 pipe cleaners per spider Scissors A bit of preparation from you first: 1) Using scissors separate one cup from the egg box 2) Use a pencil or a sharp pair of scissors to make 4 holes on each side of the base of the egg

cup and one on the top if you wish to hang the spider up Now it’s safe for your child to take over: 3) Paint or decorate the spider 4) Poke a pipe cleaner through from a hole on one side to the other (these form the legs) 5) Add eyes and a face 6) Thread string through the top of your spider if you want to hang it up

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Pumpkin mosaic

This is a nice activity as it is one of the few that you can do with really small children. It mostly involves tearing paper, something that most will happily do for hours! Materials: A pile of magazines that you no longer need. Free ones are good - e.g. Argos catalogues and brochures that come through your door Glue Scissors Sugar paper or card (the colour doesn’t matter as it will be covered up) Black paper or card cut into small triangles for the face 1) First cut the paper or card into a pumpkin shape. I usually fold the card in two and draw a

C shape. Open it up, smooth out the shape a bit and a stalk and cut. 2) Now you and your child need to tear up lots of pieces of paper into mosaic type pieces.

You need to try to find mainly oranges, reds and yellows for the body and a little bit of green for the stalk. The size doesn’t really matter and often depends on the colours of the image. For smaller children it’s a good idea to find pages with the right colours first but older children will be able to find the colours themselves. Don’t worry about a bit of colour variation, this adds to the effect.

3) Once you’ve done lots of tearing you can start to glue the pieces onto the template. Cover it all with but remember to use green for the stalk.

4) Glue the black triangles on to form a scary face.

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Biscuit decorating

Materials: Halloween shaped (you can buy special cookie cutters) or round biscuits prepared in advance Smarties / hundreds and thousands / decorations etc Icing – those squeezy writing ones are best Aprons!

1) Help your child to put on an apron and allow them to decorate their own biscuits.

Pumpkin faces are particularly good (and easy!) 2) Eat them up!

Halloween Cards

Materials: Black card folded in half Halloween shapes (foam ones work really well but you can find other stickers or cut shapes out yourself if you’re artistic!) Glue Scissors Crayons (these work best on black card) A4 white paper for inserts 1) Prepare the inserts. Fold the white paper in two and on the inside bottom half write “To

_________ , Happy Halloween, Love from _________”. Alternatively prepare these on the computer and you can add a Halloween clip art picture too.

2) Let your child decorate the card with the Halloween shapes and colouring. 3) Help them to fill out the insert and glue it inside the card 4) Leave to dry

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Pumpkin hunt This is a good activity for a Halloween party but can be done just for your children. Materials: Orange circles of foam, card or paper (the pumpkins) Prizes or rewards Pegs (optional) Loot bags or other container for storing the found pumpkins 1) Play this outdoors if possible as it uses up lots of energy! 2) Hide the ‘pumpkins’ (hundreds as they find them so quickly!) around the garden. Pegs are

useful for pegging them to the hedge or at different heights. 3) Children are given their loot bags and are released to hunt for their pumpkins, storing

them in their bags. 4) Pumpkins can then be “cashed in” for prizes – we had lots so 5 pumpkins equalled one

prize and 5+ equalled two.

Other ideas for a Halloween party Musical Trolls/Monsters (musical statues) Apple Bobbing Pin the tail on the cat/Pin the nose on the witch Fill a surgical glove with water, seal and freeze. Float in a bowl of fruit punch (lots of

cranberry juice makes it suitably bloody looking) Count the witches & skeletons. Have lots of witches and skeletons included in your

Halloween décor and ask the children to count how many they can find. Try to make it a little tricky to avoid a draw.

Memory game. Place a selection of Halloween items on a tray, e.g. spiders, bats etc – you’ll probably get some included in any decorations you buy. Cover the tray with a tea towel, uncover for one minute for the children to remember the items. Divide the children into teams. Have an adult accompany each group to write down the items that they remember - whichever team remember the most items wins.

Pass the parcel. When wrapping alternate each layer with a trick or treat and use orange, red, green and black paper for the layers to be Halloweeny. Use spooky music – Halloween CDs are available in the supermarkets.

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Pumpkin Pie

By Sarah Martin, Mum to Amelie & George.

Ingredients 4oz/ 100g shortcrust pastry or ready prepared pastry case 2lb/ 900g fresh pumpkin 2oz/ 50g butter 4oz/ 100g caster sugar ½ level teaspoon salt ½ level teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ level teaspoon ground nutmeg ¼ level teaspoon ground cloves 3 eggs lightly beaten 5 fl.oz/ 150ml single cream If you don’t have the individual spices then they can be substituted i.e. 1 teaspoon

mixed spice. Method 1. Pre-heat the oven to 200ºC / 400ºF / Gas mark 6 2. If using fresh pastry, roll out to line 8 inch pie dish or flan ring. Set aside. 3. Scoop out any seeds from the pieces of pumpkin and cut away the outer skin. 4. Chop the pumpkin into small chunks and place in a saucepan with the butter. 5. Put on a low heat, cover with a lid and cook gently until the pumpkin is soft and

resembles mashed potato. 6. Take the lid off near the end of the cooking as the pumpkin releases lots of fluid

which needs to evaporate. 7. Blend the pumpkin in a food processor or simply mash it to make a smooth purée. 8. Add the sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, eggs and cream then mix well. 9. Pour the mixture into the pie dish and place in the oven for approximately 40

minutes, or until the mixture has set. 10. Serve warm or cold.

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Please call Jan on 01925 860 459 or email

jan.ratcliffe@caterpillarmusic.com to book your free trial Call Jan on 01925 860459 or e-mail

jan.ratcliffe@caterpillarmusic.com

www.caterpillarmusic.com

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Toddler Friendly Holidays - Bluestone

I first read about Bluestone in a magazine somewhere, and instantly thought that it sounded perfect for me and my family (me and my husband, plus two boys under the age of two). We decided to make this our main holiday this year and booked a week long stay the first week of June this year. The resort offers travel cots, high chairs and safety gates in all accommodation, an ‘adventure centre’ with lots of dry activities for children plus a water park catering for all ages. There was also a spa which my husband and I liked the sound of and plenty of outdoor activities for older children. Lots of extra activities were available at reasonable prices including baby sensory classes, messy play and toddler sensory classes These cost £7 each. It sounded a lot like centerparcs, but with more to do for very young children. There were also regular crèche sessions lasting three hours for £21. Accommodation We stayed in a three bedroom ‘Skomer’ lodge which was one of the larger cabins. The accommodation was huge, the boys loved all the space they had to run around, and free access to the garden where it was easy to keep an eye on them through the French doors in the living room. The Adventure Centre This was where most of the indoor activities took place. In here were two soft play areas, a bouncy castle, crazy golf, a Lego room, and a large climbing frame for slightly older children. All of this was free to use for people staying on the resort. We did the baby sensory class with our 11month old boy who loved it. The class was really well run and very calming for him. We did messy play with our 11 month old and 23 month old which wasn’t quite so successful, purely down to my eldest boy’s obsession with lifts. There was a lift outside the messy play room and he refused to stay in the room – getting muddy chocolatey water all over the corridor outside!

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Messy play fun! The Water Park This was very busy whenever we went, but also very good for children even as young as ours. There were some rock pools with small waterfalls in that the younger children could sit in and climb into all the different pools. Also, a traditional baby pool with a slide in the middle of some shallow water. The main pool had a very gradual slope at the entrance to the pool so small children could play in the big pool, and join in when the waves were going. Helpfully, the tiles at the entrance were a different colour to the ones where the water got about knee high, so it was easy to see where the water was shallow enough for our children to play quite safely. There was another pool with lots of fountains and waterfalls which was shallow enough for my children to play in, but there was a lot of spraying water so I think you would have to have quite an adventurous child for them to enjoy this. Spa I was expecting quite a basic spa, not much more than a sauna and steam room but I was surprised by just how much was in there. We didn’t have any of the treatments and went to use the thermal rooms only. The best part for me was a series of about eight saunas/steam rooms/ice room which you did in a circuit with the saunas getting hotter and hotter finishing with a very welcome sit in the ice room. There was an outdoor spa pool, with bubble jets and waterfalls plus plenty of relaxation areas. After finishing my visit with 15 minutes in a darkened relaxation room with cosy blankets to throw over yourself on the loungers I was feeling extremely relaxed! General comments about the resort The resort is in Wales and it is quite hilly so if you are not feeling particularly fit, I would consider hiring one of the golf buggies they rent out (it is a car free resort). The resort has all the usual facilities you would expect – pubs, restaurants, grocery store, bakery, gift shop etc. However I thought that the grocery store shut a bit too early, at around 8pm. Plan what you need to buy for the evening or you have a trek off the resort to the local town! I would highly recommend this resort to anyone with small children. There is so much to do here I couldn’t list it all, so I’ve focused on what they have available for preschool children. There is also a vast range of activities for older children. We walked, we cycled (and I pulled two children up and down hills in a cycle trailer!), swam, ate really nice, good quality food, but most of all relaxed and had a fabulous holiday as a family with something to do for each of us. We came home feeling very fit, healthy and relaxed. Our holiday cost us around £1000 self-catering for a week in a Skomer lodge at the beginning of June. During the same week, cheaper Caldey lodge accommodation cost around £500 for the week.ith thanks to Gemma Wagner for sharing her holiday experiences

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Local breastfeeding support There are lots of ways you can find support in the North Cheshire area if you are breastfeeding, whether you are looking for information and support regarding a particular breastfeeding issue or you just want to meet up with other breastfeeding mothers.

The branch has a qualified Breastfeeding Counsellor whom you can telephone for information and support on any aspect of infant feeding. Please contact us on northcheshirenct@yahoo.co.uk for information on how to contact her.

There are also a number of local breastfeeding support groups you can access, usually run by local midwives, health visitors or other breastfeeding supporters. These are very relaxed and informal drop-in groups where breastfeeding mums meet and chat about breastfeeding and other issues and can be an invaluable resource for new mums who are having difficulty in establishing a breastfeeding routine as well as a great way of making new friends.

We try to keep an up to date list on our website (see www.nct.org.uk/branches/north-cheshire/breastfeeding-support-warrington-and-around). Current details are given below, but please ring before visiting as dates and times do change, often without much notice.

Monday 10.00-11.30 Sankey Valley Children’s Centre, Dorchester Road, Great Sankey, WA5 1XE, 01925 572153

Tuesday 10.00-11.30 Sandy Lane Children Centre, Sandy Lane, Orford. Tel: 01925 425580 or 01925 852910

Tuesday 13.00-14.30 Golborne Sure Start Children’s Centre, Talbot Street, Golborne, Wigan WA3 3NN. Tel: 01942 777620

Tuesday 13.00-14.30 Our Lady’s Children Centre, Clinton View, Widnes WA8 8JW. Tel: 0151 495 5079

Wednesday 10.00-12.00 Orchard Children’s Centre, Hilden Road, Padgate, WA2 0JP

Wednesday 13.00-15.00 The Woodlands Children’s Centre, Admiral Road. Tel: 01925 852910

Wednesday 12.30-14.30 Kingsway Children’s Centre, Victoria Square, Widnes WA8 7GD. Tel: 0151 495 5079

Wednesday 12.00-14.00 Halton Women’s Centre, Pendennis Court. Castlefields., Runcorn WA7 2SW. Tel: 0151 495 5079

Thursday 10.00-12.00 Westy Children’s Centre, Tinsley Street, Latchford. Tel: 01925 570870

Thursday 10.00-12.00 Warrington Road Children’s Centre. Naylor Road, Widnes WA8 OBS. Tel: 0151 495 5079

Friday 10.00-11.30 Westbrook Medical Centre, Westbrook Way. Tel: 01925 654152

Friday 9.30-11.00 Breast Friends, Newton-le-Willows Children’s Centre, Patterson Street, Newton-Le-Willows WA12 9PZ. Tel: 01744 672 036

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About NCT NCT wants all parents to have an experience of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood that enriches their lives and gives them confidence in being a parent.

Mission statement of NCT

NCT is a charity which exists to provide new and expectant parents with information, services and support. We are the only UK charity to provide new parents and parents-to-be with a place to meet others in the same situation, share experiences and help them settle into their new life as a parent.

Every year, NCT antenatal teachers, breastfeeding, counsellors, and postnatal leaders support over 100,000 parents directly. We reach many more – in fact over a million people each year – through our website, books, Bumps & Babies magazine, information leaflets and locally organised

branch events like informal get-togethers.

Network and support

NCT’s network of local branches exists to reach and support all parents and parents-to-be during a time of change in their lives via a wide range of social activities and events to enable local parents to meet other parents and access valuable support. Local branches also fundraise to train specialist workers and fund projects.

Support services

NCT offers a range of support services for parents. We are most known for our antenatal education and breastfeeding counselling, but we also run courses for new parents to help them adjust in their new role as parents.

Our services are open to all parents. We charge for services like our antenatal and postnatal courses in order to cover the cost of organising courses and training our teachers and facilitators to an exceptionally high standard, but we also offer discounted rates to parents on low incomes (see www.nct.org.uk/branches/north-cheshire/parents-low-income for more information).

Campaigning

NCT are also involved in campaigning on behalf of parents throughout the UK. Campaigns which are currently running include campaigning to improve postnatal care, to make sure all

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women in the UK have the choice of where to have their babies and to save independent midwifery.

NCT is also a member of the Campaign to End Child Poverty.

You can find out more about these and other campaigns and get involved at www.nct.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns.

Research and evaluation

NCT works on a wide range of collaborative research projects which enable services and information for parents to draw upon high quality evidence from both quantitative and qualitative research.

For more information on any aspect of NCT’s work, please see www.nct.org.uk/about-us.

A few NCT facts that you may not know:

NCT has been helping new parents since 1956

We have 100,000 members with more than 1.9m visits to our website every year

NCT has branches right across the UK - 317 in total

Our website is a comprehensive, easy-to-use source of information on every aspect of

pregnancy, birth and beyond

We support parents through a vast network of 10,000 volunteers

Healthcare professionals see us as a valuable source of impartial, evidence-based

information

NCT Shared Experiences Helpline supports parents who are experiencing specific

difficulties, problems, worries or other issues during pregnancy, birth and early parenthood

by putting them in touch with someone who personally understands.

If you or someone you know needs the support of the Shared Experiences Helpline, call 0300

330 0700 on Monday - Friday from 9am – 7pm. You can leave a message outside of these

hours and someone will call you back.

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Advertorial

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Advertising

In Touch is published three times a year (roughly April, July and December) and is distributed widely throughout the North Cheshire area, to children’s centres, libraries, doctors’ waiting rooms and other family specific distribution centres, with a readership of approximately 900. If you wish to advertise in future issues, please contact us at nctadvertising@yahoo.co.uk.

Our current rates (excl VAT) are as follows:

Full page – £37.50 (b/w)/£50 (colour) one issue, £102 (b/w)/£135 (colour) three issues (one year)

Half page – £25 (b/w)/£35 (colour) one issue, £68 (b/w)/£95 (colour) three issues (one year)

Quarter page – £15 (b/w) one issue, £41 three issues (one year)

Back cover – £60 (colour) one issue, £162 three issues (one year)

Inside cover– £50 (b/w)/£55 (colour) one issue, £135 (b/w)/£148 (colour) three issues (one year)

Feature in our next issue..............

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