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DID you know that more than half of parents would stop their child from playing with another child displaying an obvious skin condition because they fear it’s contagious?

Sounds shocking, but as parents we do our best to protect our children from harm, not always thinking things through before we act.

The research by Aveeno Baby came as the skincare brand launched their latest product, Dermexa Moisturing Wash.

A self-confessed fan of Aveeno Baby I was delighted to be invited to join celebrity mum Izzy Judd and dermatologist Dr Stefanie Williams to learn more over breakfast.

Not only was it a refreshing change from the school run, it was a chance to quiz the pair on how mums like me and my children could benefit from using the new product.

The launch coincided with National Eczema Week and Izzy – former member of Escala, married to McFly drummer Harry and mum to Kit and Lola – explained how her daughter Lola suffered an outbreak of eczema last year.

An Aveeno Baby ambassador she has now been using the products for three years – and hasn’t looked back.

She acknowledged the pressure felt by parents when it came to taking care of their kids’ skin – over a third surveyed admitted they would be embarrassed about their little one’s appearance during any flare up.

I’ve been using the new Moisturising Wash for a couple of weeks now and have no complaints.

Dr Stefanie also gave a few tips on the day which included applying moisturising cream to damp skin to help lock the moisture in.

Also a warning not to use skin-friendly products like Aveeno, only to go and give your child a bubble bath, which will undo all your hard work!

When I heard the latest news today that a pilot scheme is being planned in parts of Sheffield and Chesterfield to encourage more mothers to breastfeed their babies – I held my breath and listened out to hear what would be the latest way for new mums to feel even more pressure to live up to the often used adage ‘breast is best’.

So, wait for it…. – £200 in shopping vouchers if you breastfeed for the recommended six months. Oh great, brilliant. Or rather slightly condescending and/or patronising… thinking that the chance for a bit of retail therapy can form the basis of someone’s decision as to whether or not to breastfeed their child. And sometimes the choice to breastfeed is simply a decision that’s taken out of your hands. So what would happen then? Surely it would  be as if that parent was being penalised.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for breastfeeding, but what horrifies me is the pressure us mums are put under – by both our peers, elders and organisations – to consider it as the only option.

I was lucky – (when I say lucky, I still had initial problems getting my daughter to latch on and throughout breastfeeding, Lansinoh was a regular addition to my shopping list!) but sometimes it upsets me to think about, and witness, the stress and difficulty some mothers (and of course their partners looking on) go through getting their babies to latch on / breastfeed – made only worse by judging comments or the feeling that they’re simply giving up or not trying hard enough.

Only time will tell if this pilot scheme works – happy babies aren’t just the result of simply being breastfed. A happy home goes a long way too.

Above all, surely education and support is the best way forward, instead of what appears to be a case of pure bribery?

Rant over.
Normal service (ie celebrity chat etc) will resume shortly!

Have I ever told you how much I love karaoke?

Well, those who know me well enough have long been in on this not-so-secret secret. So, when I got an invitation to the relaunch party for the Smithfield branch of Karaoke Box it was one I couldn’t accept quick enough. Come on cocktails, food AND karaoke – heaven!

Having roped in some colleagues and friends we headed to the venue near Smithfield meat market and took our pick of one of the 16 private karaoke rooms, which range from catering for groups of up to four and 30 people.

The rooms circle a spacious cocktail bar, but if you get too carried away with picking the next Nicki Minaj track you’re going to rap along to, then waitress service is available at the touch of a button.

Trust me, it is so easy to get carried away, with over 9000 tracks to choose from and being among your friends, there’s no big show or fear of making a fool of yourself in front of strangers.

One of my friends who came along is already planning our next visit back, as the great thing about the private rooms is that even people who don’t fancy taking the mike can still join in with the giggles!

 

12 Smithfield Street  City of London, EC1A 9LA

020 7329 9991

www.karaokebox.co.uk

The love of a parent is a strong thing, so strong that you're prepared to shell out 22 odd pounds for a ticket to LolliBop billed as 'The big bash for little people'. Set in Regent's Park, catering for toddlers, those under 3ft and the 'tweenies' age group, TV favourites such as Dick and Dom, Mister Maker and the ZingZillas were among those billed.

I spent just over four hours there with my two year old and I'm sure I was more exhausted than her as we made the trek back to the station..! She was more than happy to be surrounded by fire-breathing mechanical dragons, storytelling by Poppy Cat, a six foot tall Dora the Explorer and Stavros Flatley - oh wait a minute, think that was me who enjoyed their hilarious double act which saw them joined by some randoms to perform the Blues Brothers' Everybody Needs Somebody to Love!

Activities to take part in during the day included hula hoop workshops, cookery sessions, baby ballet, Moshi Monsters and a science lab - to name but a few. My only complaint, as the mother of a HUGE Dora the Explorer fan, was that her appearance on the main stage was billed as a 'singalong' but was nothing more than advertising for the forthcoming Dora the Explorer live show. That and the £6 helium balloons that were being sold on the grounds.

So all in all not a cheap day out unless you manage to bag some deal or free tickets! But for the amount of activities on offer, a fun family day out and brilliant for children slightly older than two years old, as I think my daughter was slightly too young to appreciate all that was on offer, or in other words, her attention span not long enough to stay interested!

Keep an eye out for early bird tickets for next year!

http://www.lollibopfestival.co.uk