Our Weaning Adventure with the HiPP Organic #WeanTeam

11:27 Pippa Ainsworth 0 Comments

Weaning is something that I've always approached with trepidation. It's a time that is really exciting balanced with a good amount of anxiety about how well your baby will take to it, and concerns around allergies and their approach to food. Parents have so many mental questions as they approach those important first tastes -

  • Will your child enjoy food?
  • How much to give?
  • When to begin weaning?
  • When to introduce different foods and textures?
  • Will your baby be allergic to any of the ingredients?

As Little E is my third baby I'm quite experienced with weaning but I find that the feelings don't fade. Every baby is different and every weaning experience is different. With all three of my children I have used a mixture of baby led weaning and spoon feeding and it's been really successful with both Bud and LM. I've adopted the same approach with Little E and we're doing well so far. 

I've always used a mixture of homemade food and shop bought but only really trust a couple of brands. One of these, that I've bought since Bud began weaning, is HiPP Organic and that's why I'm delighted that Little E and I will be working with them as #WeanTeam members throughout 2016. 

HiPP Organic #WeanTeam

A few weeks ago Little E and I (with Ian and LM too) went to Birmingham to meet the rest of the WeanTeam and the lovely HiPP Organic ladies. We had a full introduction to the brand and had the chance to meet the people we will be working with over the coming year. As well as some tasty food for the grown ups, the little ones had some yummy HiPP treats to try and we had the opportunity to speak to Helen Gardiner, HiPP's nutritionist who will be helping us along our weaning journey. It was also a lovely opportunity to meet up with a few of the bloggers who I spoke to a lot during my pregnancy, and introduce the babies to each other. Little E and Isla from My Mummy's World were so sweet together.

HiPP Organic #WeanTeam

We had a lovely time at the event but I think Little E found it rather tiring by the end!

 HiPP Organic #WeanTeam

Although I'm familiar with HiPP as a brand and know how well it meets our needs, I was surprised to see the full extent of the range and to hear the history of the company. They are family run and were founded in Germany in 1899 by Joseph Hipp after his wife needed support nursing their twins. Over four generations the company has expanded further and came to the UK in 1999. There are now 150 products in the UK HiPP range for all stages of weaning, including cereals, jars, pouches, pots and tray meals. The brand is fully committed to offering 100% organic products, with organic fruit and vegetables grown on dedicated organic farrms.

 HiPP Organic #WeanTeam

We've been sent a fantastic range of HiPP products, alongside some treats to help out along our weaning way. 

 HiPP Organic #WeanTeam

Little E has been trying HiPP porridge, jar, fruit pots and pouches over the past few weeks and I'll be telling you more about the products in future Wean Team posts. 

 HiPP Organic #WeanTeam

I'm really looking forward to documenting Little E's journey into food over the coming year, with the support of HiPP of course.

Teletubbies Toys are Here - Review

15:18 Pippa Ainsworth 0 Comments

Last week I shared an exciting Christmas delivery with you. We received an intriguing large white box which was covered in stickers featuring the Teletubbies characters.

Teletubbies toys secret delivery

LM loves the Teletubbies. She was introduced to the old series a while ago and was super excited to see them arrive with an all new series on cBeebies last year. Back in the late 90s when Teletubbies were brand new, their toys were the source of lots of parental panic at Christmas when the four characters were the 'must have' toy so we were very interested to see what their updated range was like.

New Teletubbies Range of Toys

We received six toys from the range and have been trying them out over the past couple of weeks. LM has been my chief tester for the toys as she's such a fan but Little E got in on the act too.

First up the plush toys. 

New Teletubbies Plush Toy Reviews

We received two small plush teddy versions of the Teletubbies - Dipsy (green) and Tinky Winky (purple) in our case. These are really sweet tlittle teddies. The plush fabric is beautifully soft and the Teletubbies faces are made from a fine flocked fabric to make them look really accurate. They measure around six inches tall which is a lovely size for both toddles and are very detailed. I love the polka dot finish on the Teletubbies' feet. LM very quickly decided that Little E 'needs to look after Dipsy' and he can regularly be found snuggling up with him. The toys are priced at £6:99 which seems spot on for this sort of toy. I think we may well be looking to add Po and Laa-Laa to our collection.

Small Teletubbies Plush toy in Dipsy

The larger of the three plush figures is a nine inch talking figure,we received Laa Laa, LM's favourite character (because she's yellow!). Just like the smaller plushies, Laa-Laa has all of the detail you would expect and beautifully soft plush fabric. She has quite a range of phrases which you will hear when you push her tummy, she also giggles which LM and Little E find hilarious. The lovely softness of Laa-Laa makes her very cuddly and I can often find LM snuggling up with her. She does take her to bed too so you often hear Laa-Laa phrases coming from LM's room. They aren't loud enought to wake her thankfully!These are priced at an RRP of £9:99 which, again, seems to be good value for a toy of this type.

Teletubbies Large Plush Talking Laa-Laa

Next up is one of the collectible figures range. We received Po, complete with his scooter and helmet. These are priced at £3:99 so the perfect price for pocket money or treats. The figure is fully moulded and suitable for children aged 18 months and over. The packet describes it as 'Collection 1' so I think that this range may be renewed over time. He's a fun. bright little character which LM has incorporated into her small world play. He's visited her toy castle and dolls house so far and has been very popular with LM. I can see these being very popular with little ones wanting to collect the range. 

Small Po Collection 1 Teletubbies moulded plastic figure

The fifth toy we received is the Teletubbies Tickle and Glow Laa-Laa (RRP £14:99) This is a six inch tall moulded plastic figure which lights up and makes sounds when you tickle her chest. 

Teletubbies Tickle and Glow Laa-Laa

This one took a bit of getting used to when playing as LM automatically touched the screen showing all four Teletubbies on Laa-Laa' tummy to make her talk. This doesn't work, you need to press the chest area. When you press this area she will giggle, talk and her tummy screen will light up. The toy requires 3xAAA batteries (not supplied) to get her going and you will need a small screwdriver to undo the panel to pop the batteries in. Laa-Laa' arms move and she' stands on her own too. I'm always pleased to see an on/off switch on battery powered toys and this has one on her back. This range is available in Laa-laa and Po and is suitable for 18m+.

Teletubbies Tickle and Glow Laa-Laa

I've saved LM's favourite toy in the range until last. She really loves a toy phone so I was delighted to see the Teletubbies' take on this when we opened our parcel of toys. This is the Teletubbies Tubby Phone (RRP £9:99) and is something quite new. 

Teletubbies Tubby Phone toy

Upon opening the packaging you are met with a mirrored rectsangular phone with four buttons. Press one of the buttons and the Teletubby of the corresponding colour will appear in a corner of the screen with accompanying phrases and sounds. The buttons will also light up once pressed. Each button has the shape of each antenna too, which adds to helping your child recognise each character.

Teletubbies Tubby Phone toy

LM is really taken with this phone. She really enjoys pressing the buttons to make the teletubbies appear and looking at herself in the mirrored panel on the phone. She presses the buttons and says which character will appear as she does so. If you leave the phone alone, after a while one of the teletubbies will 'call' and your child can then answer the phone.

Teletubbies Tubby Phone toy

The Tubby Phone requires three LR44 batteries (included) and you can access the battery panel using a small screwdriver when they need replacing. It's a solidly built toy (with the bonus of an on/off switch to save battery life) and is suitable for children on 18 months upwards. LM really loves it and I would say she has played with it every day since it arrived. 

We've been really pleased with the range of Teletubbies toys. They are good qality, well made toys at reasonable prices and are a great way for fans of the show like my LM to play with the characters at home. All of the toys we received are suitable for children of 18 months and upwards which makes them very accessible to the age group that the show is aimed at, I'm sure Little E will be very interested in them when he is big enough too.

To find out more about the collection of Teletubbies toys please visit the Character Online Teletubbies page.

A Secret Christmas Delivery

11:47 Pippa Ainsworth 0 Comments

On Christmas Eve we received a rather secret delivery, not from Father Christmas, but from a courier with a very exciting box. It contained some top secret toys from Character Options that we're going to be telling you about very soon.

Do you remember the Teletubbies? They were huge in the 90s when my little cousin was a big fan. I still remember panicked parrents trying to secure the toys as Christmas approached and they were that year's must have. LM and Bud were introduced to the old version of the show a while ago, via Netflix and YouTube and LM was delighted to see them reappear on cBeebies in 2015.

A Secret Christmas Delivery from Teletubbies

Next Monday (11th January) I'm going to be unveiling the contents of this very exciting parcel and showing the brand new Teletubbies range of toys to you. We're very excited. Check back then to see what we think!

Have you been watching the new series? Who is your favourite character?

A Secret Christmas Delivery from Teletubbies