Farmyard Fun with the TOMY John Deere County Fair Wagon

Farm toys have been popular in our house since Bud was tiny and began his love for animals and now LM wants to be exactly like her big brother she's a big fan of anything farmyard when choosing toys. When TOMY offered to send across the John Deere County Fair Wagon, from the Johnny Tractor and Friends range, for LM to try out I knew that the toy would be well received in our house.

Farmyard Fun with the TOMY John Deere County Fair Wagon

John Deere are an iconic British agricultural company and they have officially licensed TOMY to create a range of toys with their name, which means tractors of course! The County Fair Wagon sees a John Deere tractor pulling two trailers, one which transports three pigs, and one which features a hay baler with three surprises - a horse, cow and sheep pop their heads out - as it rotates. It's a push along toy and the wheels rotate freely. If you press the tractor roof then the toy plays a range of carnival and animal sounds.

Farmyard Fun with the TOMY John Deere County Fair Wagon

The tractor has a soft, rubberised covering which is perfect for little hands and LM has loved pushing this around the garden in the last few days. The little pigs jiggle around in their trailer and the rotating hay baler make it even more interesting. She's been a little frustrated that the animals can't be removed, especially the pigs but is now used to that and I don't think it has lessened her enjoyment of the toy. The toy is aimed at children from eighteen months to three years and LM, at two years, nine months is right in the middle of the age range. I think it's pitched perfectly at this age group and a great toy for little hands. I'm sure Little E will be a fan when he's a bit bigger and I've even caught Bud playing with this, he really liked that it was a John Deere tractor as, in my five year old's opinion, they are the best tractors!

Farmyard Fun with the TOMY John Deere County Fair Wagon

We've been using the toy to encourage LM with her knowledge of animals and the noises that they make and she loves pointing to each animal in turn, saying their name and making their sounds. She's also enjoyed 'driving' the tractor around the garden, stopping off at various points to turn the hay baler.

Farmyard Fun with the TOMY John Deere County Fair Wagon

This is a really high quality toy and one that would entertain any child with an interest in wheeled or farm toys, It definitely gets the thumbs up from LM and the rest of us.

The John Deere County Fair Wagon is available from all usual stockists, including Amazon, with an RRP of £25.

Disclosure: We received the toy for review purposes

Sensory Play for Babies

Today I'm welcoming one of my best blogging friends with a guest post. Anna blogs over at In the Playroom, her tremendously successful blog shares her life with her three beautiful boys and has a wealth of play and craft ideas. If you're not familiar with it (although I'm sure you are!) head over and take a look now! I'm definitely going to be trying some of these ideas with Little E.

Hi! I'm Anna. I love to share sensory play ideas over on my own blog intheplayroom.co.uk, so I'm happy to be bringing you this selection of sensory play ideas for babies here at Red Rose Mummy. Children of all ages learn through experiencing and doing, and babies in particular rely on exploring with their senses to help them make sense of the world around them. Feeling different textures and sensations, and exploring different sounds, smells and sights are all engaging to young babies - especially since everything is still so new to them! Home made sensory play toys and materials can offer hours of fun, and if you have older children they would probably enjoy making them together with you for their little baby brother or sister to play with. Here are a few simple sensory ideas for your baby.
  Simple and engaging sensory play ideas for babies

Loom Band Sensory Bottles : If you do have older children, grab some of their spare loom bands to make this colourful and engaging sensory bottle. Your baby will love watching the colours move and float around

DIY Baby Sized Rain Sticks : Let your baby explore sounds with these DIY rain sticks to shake and roll.

Fabric Scraps in a Wipes Box make a fun sensory activity, while baby explores the different fabrics and colours. You can mix and change the fabric scraps from time to time to keep the activity fresh and exciting. Or you could use your fabric scraps, and other materials, to make one of these DIY sensory boards.

If you're ready to introduce your baby to messy sensory play, try this baby safe cloud dough recipe which is made from ingredients that are safe to taste, just in case baby wants to explore with his mouth!

Bubbles is a really simple sensory play activity that rarely fails to impress. Babies love these and they are never to young to enjoy watching the bubbles float by!

Mirrors are another item that offer a lot of enjoyment to young babies, and are always fun to explore together.

Making a treasure basket is a great way to offer your baby lots of different materials to explore, with a variety of textures and sounds. If you're feeling creative you could go with a theme, or just gather up interesting items from around your home. You can usually find ideal treasure basket supplies in the kitchen!

You might also like this post on sensory play and why it's important, which gives you a checklist of different materials and ideas by age too.

Thanks so much to Anna for sharing her idea. I'm definitely going to be trying these out with Little E. 

Changing Nappy Changing With WaterWipes

Over the past few weeks Little E and I have been trying out WaterWipes during his nappy changes. For those unfamiliar with the brand, WaterWipes are somewhat unique in the disposable wipes market as they contain only two ingredients - 99.9% water and 0.1% grapefruit seed extract. They are the only wipes endorsed by Allergy UK and can be used to alleviate symptoms of sensitive skin and nappy rash.

For brand new babies parents can often be reluctant to use other main brands of wipes, preferring to use cotton wool and water in the early days. WaterWipes are suitable for use straight from birth and kind to newborn skin.

WaterWipes Chemical Free Baby Wipes


I've been using the wipes with Little E over the past few weeks and have been pleased with them. They have a pleasant, mild fruity scent and are thick wipes which cope easily with newborn nappies. The pack is sturdy and resealable so it's great to pop in to your changing bag alongside clean nappies. I find the packs heavier than my usual wipes which I've been putting down to the high water content in them.

Ready for a nappy change

The wipes are a good size in the hand and I usually find two or three wipes enough for the average nappy change. As with all children they've been employed in cleaning dirty hands and faces too and have dealt with this job well too. I've even used them to remove my make up and I enjoyed the way the wipes felt against my skin when I did so.

WateWipes have an RRP of £2:99 per pack of sixty wipes, which represents my only problem with the wipes. I have two children in nappies, and three children under six, so we get through a lot of baby wipes. I simply can't justify paying four times more than my usual brand for these wipes. I'm lucky that none of my children have sensitive skin, if they did I think I would strongly consider using these wipes for them. It would be reassuring to know that there are no chemical ingredients in the wipes if you have reason to be concerned about your child's skin reacting to other products.

I am a member of the Mumsnet Bloggers Network Research Panel, a group of parent bloggers who have volunteered to review products, services, events and brands for Mumsnet. I have not paid for the product or to attend an event. I have editorial control and retain full editorial integrity.

My Pink Lining Hospital Bag Checklist

Three babies in I think I now have a clear idea of what you really need to take in your hospital bag when you head in to give birth, or if you're packing a 'just in case' bag for a home birth.

My Pink Lining Hospital Bag Checklist

First up, the bag. With Bud and LM I used a small suitcase but it's amazing how bulky they are. This time the lovely people over at Pink Lining sent me their beautiful Navy Bows on Cream Holdall (exclusively available at Mothercare) to use as my hospital bag this time around, which made packing lots more fun!

Pink Lining Navy Bows on Cream Holdall Blog Review

I'm a huge fan of Pink Lining and still love my Queensdale Tote which also featured the Pink Lining iconic bows, although they were multicoloured. In many ways I was expecting the Holdall to be similar to the changing bags but it isn't really. It's very definitely a holdall, an item of luggage, rather than an outsized changing bag. Dimensions measure L55xW30xH33cm and you'll find a pouch pocket, an inside pocket and one on the outside too, alongside a solid cream and red striped shoulder strap which gives you the option of carrying the bag over your shoulder or using the two shorter carry handles. The bag is made from laminated lightweight canvas so it's wipe clean too.

This bag was really perfect for hospital as it's softer structure meant it could be tucked away much more easily than a traditional case. It received lots of comments from other mums and the midwives, one in particular was very taken with it as she didn't realise that Pink Lining had a wider range than their changing bags. It's worth pointing out that the large interior compartment of the bag can sometimes make it a little difficult to find things in a hurry so I used little cotton bags to separate the contents into different sections - my toiletries bag, for labour, for the ward, for baby, snacks and drinks etc - which made it easy for Ian to locate things when I was asking for them. The interior pockets were a useful place to keep smaller items like my phone, hair bands and loose change where I could easily find them. The bag was large enough to include everything we both needed for a one night stay in hospital following Little E's birth and I was so pleased with it.

Pink Lining Navy Bows on Cream Holdall

As you'd expect from Pink Lining you'll see all of their usual design features in the bag. The trademark hot pink lining is there alongside the woven handles and carry strap and cute little stitched heart details. It's a high quality, chic holdalll.

The Pink Lining Navy Bows on Cream Holdall really is a super stylish bag for travelling and I'll be using it the next time we go away in the car. I think the only way it could be improved would be the addition of a handle and wheels to pull it along as an option, as I think I would struggle to carry it on my own if it was fully loaded. I am a bit of a weakling though! I think I could probably pack both mine and Ian's belongings for a weekend away in there.

I thought I'd share the contents of my hospital bag with you. The Pink Lining holdall contained all of these items in style (except the Infant Carrier of course).

What to pack in your hospital bag checklist

Remember to pin the list for future reference.

I stayed for two nights following Bud and LM's births so I packed for two nights this time and was very pleased to escape after one. It's worth not over packing though as your partner can bring in any additional extras from home if needed. I always try to send home items that are no longer needed in the hospital as they go home each evening, especially if you are staying longer than a night. This will help you to keep your bed area tidy and reduce the risk of items going astray. Baby gifts from visitors, especially, can usually go straight home. Your partner can bring in going home clothes and the baby's infant carrier towards the end of your stay too.

Is there anything else you would add to my list? Did you take anything unusual with you when you went in to hospital to give birth?

The Pink Lining Navy Bows on Cream Holdall is exclusively available from Mothercare, priced at £75.

Disclosure: I received the bag for review purposes
Tried and Tested

What Little E Wore - Rubi & Boris

A brand new baby in the house means our thoughts have turned back to vests and sleepsuits and all of the essential items that a baby's wardrobe requires. Obviously Little E is a boy and most of his big Sister and Brother's clothes are long gone so we've had to start from scratch. Rubi & Boris offered to send us something from their collection for Little E to try out and we were pleased to accept.

Rubi and Boris childrenswear


Rubi & Boris has two main collections - their signature product is their range of front fastening, organic cotton babygros. I discovered the front fastening vest when LM was a baby and can't believe more companies don't sell them. It's so much easier to take off and put on a babygro that fastens in this way, instead of taking them over your baby's head. The company have also launched their 'Little Lady' collection which features beautiful dresses to make any little girl feel special. They have glitter, lace and frills, in fact everything LM loves!

Little E was sent the 'Superstar' Sleeveless Bodysuit. I'm a huge fan of organic cotton which makes me feel confident that the layer next to my baby's skin is comfortable and soft. The bodysuit has been the perfect outfit for Little E in the very hot weather we have been experiencing this week. He wore it with just a nappy on Wednesday, the hottest July day on record, and stayed cool and happy in it all day.

Rubi & Boris Superstar Sleeveless Bodysuit

The simple 'Superstar' logo is printed in a funky orange design and provides a cute design feature that sums up Little E well! We received size 0-3 months for Little E and it fits well with a good amount of growing room for the next few weeks.

Rubi & Boris Superstar Sleeveless Bodysuit

The advantage of front fastening is that the bodysuit can lie flat and your baby placed on top of it to dress them. All you have to do is to put their arms through the holes and then fasten at the front and between the legs, again this was far more comfortable for Little E on a hot day than having to be manhandled into an envelope neck vest. I've washed the bodysuit a couple of times now and the organic cotton feels even more soft than it did originally, with no fading to the logo at all.

Superstar Bodysuit Vest Rubi & Boris

Rubi & Boris sleeveless bodysuits are supplied in their own organic cotton bag and have an RRP of £10, they are available in size Early Baby up to 6-12 months. For more information like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

Disclosure: We received the bodysuit for review purposes.

Little E is One Month Old

Last week Little E turned one month old. In some ways that's an impossibly short period of time but in other ways it feels like he's always been here and none of us can really remember what it was like without three little people ruling the roost in our house!

#RedRoseBaby is four weeks old today. I'd really like time to slow down please? #babyspam #babiesofinstagram #4weeksold

A photo posted by Pippa Ainsworth (@redrosemummy) on


We're gradually getting into the swing of life as five. We're back on the school run, albeit with a little help from Grandma and Grandad in the mornings and Little E has met almost all of the important people in our lives now. He's been showered with gifts and I've been astonished really. So many people warned me that third babies really don't get much of a fanfare but I've found completely the opposite, possibly because of the new friends I've made since the arrival of LM. but he's been welcomed by so many people.

Someone is wide awake today. Four hours so far! #redrosebaby #Babyspam #babiesofinstagram #4weeksold

A photo posted by Pippa Ainsworth (@redrosemummy) on


Since my last Little E update we have attended Britmums Live together. I had a lovely weekend with some of my best blogging friends and Little E was a superstar. Everyone was so delighted with him and it was a real pleasure to introduce him to some really important ladies to me and for them to spend time with him while he's still tiny. He really couldn't have been better behaved and I've never been so pleased that my baby was asleep than when I supported Jenny as she read her post during the Bloggers Keynote.


Like the rest of the country we've been baking in the heatwave this week. Like so many other mums of newborns I've been concerned about keeping Little E cool and he's been wearing a simple vest and nappy. Sadly he had to attend his first funeral this week as we went to support our friend in the loss of his Father but, again, my beautiful boy behaved perfectly, sleeping throughout the service on the hottest day of the year.

Little E is staying cool in @rubiandboris today. Review coming soon. #redrosebaby #babyspam #babiesofinstagram

A photo posted by Pippa Ainsworth (@redrosemummy) on


Feeding is now going well. We were discharged by the midwife when he was 23 days old after he had stormed past the magic milestone of his birth weight and leapt up to 4.66kgs. This was an increase of 300g in the ten day gap between weigh ins. We haven't been to weighing since but I know his weight is increasing nicely. He's a milk monster. At the moment we're in the middle of a growth spurt and he's feeding all evening. I'm trying to sit and enjoy it and give him the time he needs but it's easy to be conscious of what you're not doing, especially with three children to look after.

We're seeing some smiles but he seems to be saving them all for his cousin, especially the biggest.. This is quite a turn up for the books as both Bud and LM have been terrified of him (he's very tall and dark haired), Little E seems to be his biggest fan though! I'm hoping to be on the receiving end of a proper smile soon.

Time is passing so quickly, I'm trying to hold on to every second of these baby days and looking forward to sharing his next update with you soon.

5 Things My Toddler Can't Leave Home Without

LM is a little diva, with strong opinions about everything. A simple school run can turn into quite a excursion as she runs around the house making sure she has everything ready. I thought I'd share the five essential items for any outing with my mini fashionista...

1. An Awesome Bag, or Two



LM loves bags, and shoes. She's amassed quite a collection since she could walk with donations from mine and Grandma's collections, and some she has been bought for herself. If we're shopping you can guarantee that she'll find a new little bag to tote around while we look, which can sometimes lead to... disagreements about our planned purchases at the checkout! If one bag won't contain all of her treasures then she has no alternative but to add another. She always has a willing slave in me or her big brother to carry them if she gets tired and she's very adept about stashing her accessories in the pushchair shopping basket.

I've never known a little girl with such a strong sense of style and I'm having to adapt my purchasing decisions as she will simply refuse to entertain wearing or using something that doesn't meet her high standards. She loves everything Princess, pink and Hello Kitty and I know she'd love the Damsels and Unicorns rucksack from one of my favourite brands - Pink Lining.

2. Her Favourite Toy



This fluctuates between her Frozen dolls and Hello Kitty at the moment. You know your daughter has too many Hello Kitty toys when it's the sixth attempt to place the right one in bed with her that is correct! If more than one toy is essential she adopts alternative methods to carry them. Yesterday she emptied all of her Gruffalo's Child skittles out of their bag and used the bag to stash her Elsa and Anna dolls. Neither dolly looked terribly comfortable in this!

3. Something Pretty



LM loves beads and bangles and pretty things for her hair so this can take any form. Sometimes it's a simple bow in her hair. Sometimes she rocks a tiara, wand and four or five pieces of jewellery. It depends on her mood and that day's need to sparkle. If she's been able to cover herself in glitter while crafting then so much the better! Again, if a change of mind takes place then the essential bag is needed to stash any items which are no longer required to complete her look.

4. Snacks


Open up LM's bag of the day on an outing and you'll always find a little snack. I'm not sure if she doubts my ability to keep her well fed or if she just likes to be prepared for all emergencies but, from a fruit pouch to a wrapped biscuit or pack of raisins, it's always there. If the bag is big enough to stash her bottle of water then I'll usually find that too  She does like to be prepared for all eventualities!

5. A Big Smile



For all of her diva tendencies LM really is the happiest little girl and she charms everyone she meets with her cheeky grin and happy 'hello' to everyone she meets. Her collection of treasure and the necessary luggage to include it are a small price to pay to be accompanied by such a happy little girl.

What can't your toddler leave home without?

This is our entry into the Pink Lining Ambassador Search
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