The Tommee Tippee Active Straw Cup & Snack n Go Pot Review

When it comes to toddlers and moving on to beaker cups to provide them with water or juice as an alternative to milk, it can be a mammoth task to find the right one.

It took Leo and I various attempts with many a different beakers in order to narrow it down to one that was user friendly for him, and one that he was happy to use.

We eventually narrowed it down and found a tippy cup and a sports bottle that Leo was very happy with, and finally our daily dilemma of getting something other than milk into him was solved.

Now though Leo is coming up to 15 months old, and he needs to start learning how to use a straw. I already know of babies Leo's age who have mastered this task, but I didn't want to rush him, as ultimately it is only Leo who can decide when he is ready for the next step.

Tommee Tippee very kindly sent us their Active Straw Cup to try out, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to see how Leo got on with a new cup.

The Tommee Tippee Active Straw cup retails at £3.99 and comes in 3 different colours.

This cup is designed to help babies and toddlers from the age of 12 months learn how to drink through a straw, which may seem like a simple task to you and I, but to them it is a whole new skill.

The straw is made out of soft silicone and features a flip lid top so that the straw it's self stays germ free and clean while out and about. The cup is insulated and designed to be non spill and leak free, I have to admit that we can confirm this. We have had no annoying spills or even little leaks, and it has done us proud.

After our initial palaver in finding the perfect cup for Leo, I was expecting a little reluctance on his part. And true to form on the initial introduction that is exactly what I got. I presented Leo with his new cup, popped up the straw and handed it too him. Leo point blank refused it and soon threw it to the floor for the first time. I left it and decided to try him again with it the next day, and that was exactly what I did.

Leo's attitude seemed to have completely changed and he was now actively attempting to give his new cup a chance. Granted he still thought he had to tip the cup up to get any out, but he was at least trying. Leo did manage to hurt his lip on the pull up lid, but that was just because of the way he was drinking out of the cup. I think he soon learnt from his mistake as he has not done this since.

He can now drink out of the straw like a little pro, and the Tomme Tippee Active Straw cup is now our first choice when ever he requires a drink. Not only can Leo drink out of his straw cup but he can even drink out of an everyday straw, I know this as the little monkey decided he wanted some of my drink and succeeded.

Tommee Tippee were also kind enough to send Leo their Snack n Go pot. This pot is so useful as it promotes independent feeding, without the usual added mess that comes with it. Of course I am not claiming for one second that there is no mess as that is just crazy talk, but you will see what I mean...

The snack pot has a very easy to access soft lid, that is so very inviting for little hands to push through and get at the food that is just sitting there ready to be grazed on.

The great thing about this snack pot is that when tipped up the soft lid keeps all of the food safely locked away in the pot. The lid is made up of soft individual folds that separate for your toddler to get his hands in, and bring out some of the goodies you stock it up with.

The possibilities are endless, you can really put in whatever you like. Fruit, veg or in Leo's case... Cheerios.

I was not sure what Leo would do when presented with the snack pot, at first he looked a little puzzled. Then he cried until I got him a few out, and he even had a little cry when he got frustrated. I could see his mind working over time trying to find a solution to the problem that was currently standing between Leo and getting what he wanted.

Within minutes Leo was holding the handy handle on the side of he pot and putting his hand into the pot and retrieving the goodies that were once just beyond his reach.

The Snack n Go Pot retails at £4.99 and really is a fab way to encourage your toddler to feed himself independently. I have found it great taking out and about with us so that he can have a little snack in his pushchair without making the same usual mess that accompanies Leo most days.

Of course the Snack n Go Pot can not be there to save us at every turn in the road, and there will be days where there is no stopping Leo making a mess. I mentioned his love for breakfast cereals, mainly Cheerios. And when Leo's Auntie leaves boxes of cereal lying around, we really are asking for trouble.

I was on my hands and knees laying out his baby grow to get him ready for bed, when I suddenly hear the bounding of little feet. Size 4/12 H feet to be precise. In the next instance I hear the rush of something falling to the floor. I turned my head to find Leo pouring Cheerios every where. With Leo's desired result accomplished he began shovel them into his mouth, his eyes growing at the thought.

All my little monster's tactics aside, we got on really well with both of these fab Tommee Tippee products and I am pleased to give them a big thumbs up. As you can see, Leo has really got the nack of them both now.

Disclaimer: I was sent the Tommee Tippee Active Straw Cup and Snack n Go Pot for the purpose of this review. However all views and opinions are completely honest and my own.

A Bottle Of Milk...

Recently the same old question seems to be popping up.

'Is Leo still having a bottle of milk to go to bed with?'

The answer to this question is yes, Leo still has a bottle of milk to go to bed with. 

Up until this week I didn't think there was any harm in this at all? Leo has been cutting down on milk intake all on his own, he has cut out all of his feeds during the day and this has been replaced with his juice cup, which he absolutely loves. 

I figure that he will let me know when he no longer needs a bottle of milk to go to bed with. He is only just coming up 15 months old and I am not about to rush him into something that he is not ready for. 

People's main concern seems to be Leo's teeth and how they may alter if he continues to drink from his bottle. I could understand this if maybe he was having every drink out of a bottle, but this is not the case.

He is simply my baby boy, who enjoys a relaxing bottle of milk before he retires to bed for the night. 

Is there anything really wrong with this? And what is the guideline age that a baby/toddler should no longer have a bottle of milk on any account? 

Until Leo let's me know otherwise I will continue to give him this little luxury. But then maybe it is just me clinging onto those few little signs that my little baby, is still my little baby.

It does beg the question though, what age were your little one's when they stopped drinking from a bottle and how did you aid the transition? 

A Small Comfort

I can remember that one of the first things I purchased for my expanding baby bump was something that he would have no real need for right away.

It is something that I know lot’s of Mummy’s to be give quite a lot of thought, and that is a comforter for your baby.

All parent’s want to know that their baby has everything they need, and can snuggle down in bed at night with that one very special toy that they have had since they entered the world.

I had a visualisation in my mind’s eye about the comforter that I wanted to bestow upon Leo, and it was a Lion. You see ‘Lion’ is my pet name for Luke, so it seemed like the perfect personal touch for our baby boy. The visualisation came into my head before we had even agreed on a name. In fact we were so far away from Leo’s name at this point, that when I did eventually find the perfect Lion comforter, with its bright colours and taggies. It very almost had a completely different name embroidered on the front.

The name we had both been favouring for the majority of my pregnancy was ‘Dylan’ and it was only a week before Leo actually arrived that we finally decided on the name for our beautiful baby boy. Ironically it is very fitting that we did eventually fall in love with the name ‘Leo’ which actually means ‘Lion’.

I hunted high and low for the perfect Lion comforter and it was so much harder than I had anticipated. Funnily enough there are not very many Lion designs out there, eventually I found a line that had been discontinued, and I finally found the comforter for Leo after trawling the Internet. For the many months before Leo’s due date, this little Lion slept in our bed, in the hope that it would pick up our scents and act as a soother for our baby.

I used to sit and hold the comforter as it made me feel close to the baby that I was yet to meet, and looking back I think it may have been more for me than it was for my little man.

When the day came to finally meet the baby boy who had given me consistent jolts to the ribs and multiple bouts of heartburn, Luke and I both completely forgot the comforter that we had all ready for our impending Blue bundle. We were in such a daze getting everything together and out to the car that Lion was completely forgotten.

It was only when I got the hospital and had settled into my birthing pool, that I realised that Lion was no where to be found. I had really wanted to have him with us in the hospital so it could be there as a source of consistency for Leo from the very start. Lion was soon brought in by Leo’s Granny and it was the very first gift presented to Leo.

As the months went on I thought that Lion was going to be a big hit with Leo. It was one of the first toy’s that he grasped and he used to love suckling on his nose. When I put Leo down at night I would make sure that Lion was located in Leo’s arms so that he was there to offer safety and reassurance. Soon though Leo was not interested in Lion at all, and I thought that he may be like I was as a child and not actually need a comforter.

We introduced the cot duvet quite early on, I would say probably back around January when Leo was 6 months old. I didn’t notice the bond that Leo was forming with it at the time, but looking back it is crystal clear now. Leo was using his snugly duvet as his comforter. The duvet that has now earned it’s self the name ‘Blankie’.

Blankie is there for nap time and bed time, we bring it down stairs and snuggle up together in the middle of the night if Leo is being a terror and not wanting to go back to the land of nodd right away. It even provides a source of play, and Leo loves it if we both sit underneath it.

It is safe to say that Leo absolutely loves his blankie, he buries his face into it taking in the scent, a scent that must make him feel comforted and safe. It was only back in June I realised just how attached Leo was to it, when we travelled to France for a week. Leo would not sleep due to the un-familiar surroundings and change to his routine, but his blankie offered the consistent reassurance of home and all that he knows.

We take blankie with us religiously now if we are staying away from home, I wouldn’t like to think of how he would be without it. Luckily he does not seem to mind when I wash it, which is great as he is always managing to spill his milk over it. I did worry that he may not take to it after I had blitzed it through the washing machine, but he took it back straight away.

After all the thought that went into finding the perfect comforter for Leo, it really wasn’t necessary. Babies will find comfort in any way they see fit and Leo was no exception to this rule. He took to his blankie as it is always just an arms throw away and as long as my little man feels contented, I don’t mind where he places his loyalties, be it with blankie or even Lion.

As for Lion he still lies in Leo’s cot with him, keeping an eye on my sleeping baby. He may not be Leo’s most treasured possession but he really did keep me company while I awaited the arrival of my beautiful baby boy.

Do your little one’s have any special comforters?

Silent Sunday

Toddler See, Toddler Do - Week 6 & 7

I am starting to see more of a understanding in Leo. He is beginning to recognise more words and even attempting to say them. You can ask Leo a question and although he does not have the words needed in order to reply, he can still demonstrate his understanding.

I asked Leo where his head was, and I was completely taken a back when he tapped his head in response. I asked Leo where his hair was and he pulled up a handful of hair to demonstrate his understanding. Leo also knows what and where his teeth are. He will bare his little tooth pegs at you like a lion. Leo can tell you where his shoes are when they are being worn, if you ask them where they are, he will look down at his feet.

Leo really is a little sponge these days, taking in every little bit of information and detail. He may not use it all right away but the knowledge is there so that he can one day put his learning into action.

Back in July we completed our baby signing course, and since returning to work we have been very slack and un-consistent in our signs. At dinner last week I happened to ask Leo whether he would like some more yogurt and dropped the sign in for good measure. Leo then verbally told me 'more' and attempted the sign back at me. The sign was such a great attempt on Leo's part and the only difference is he taps his hand instead of his clenched fist.

 After that he kept on doing it, followed by his new word 'more'.

Over the last couple of weeks Leo has discovered he can portray a fake laugh. He will put on his little laugh if he hears us laughing and quickly steals all the attention away for himself. It is a sure way to grab the audience's attention and let him perform. It is safe to say that Leo has no problem playing to his crowd!

Last week Leo went for his jabs, and after his jabs he was right as rain. He even went as far to say yet another new word. Tractor. This word has come from his Granny when they have been out for a drive into the country side and is actually a rather tricky word to pronounce, so I was very impressed when I heard him saying it.

We have had the word Granddad out of Leo as clear as day too, his vocabulary is certainly picking up now!

 I am also pleased to report that we are in receipt big kisses that Leo will smother you in if you ask him nicely enough, and depending on his mood of course. These big kisses are often accompanied by big hugs that he will bestow upon you when you least expect it. They usually coincide with a running jump at you, where he will open his arms expecting you to catch him and hold him tight.

My affectionate little man.

I have mentioned before how I have such a hard time trying for find Leo shoes in his size. He is currently a 4/12 H and although we can get them in a 4/12, we struggle finding any in a H. Leo truly has big round feet. I visited Clarks with him last weekend as the shoes that he does have are geared more to the summer, as these were the only shoes in his sizes! 

So I took Leo shoe shopping in the hope we could purchase some practical shoes that would see him through the Autumn weather. Luckily they had one pair in his size, and they were perfect. They measured Leo's feet again and Leo stared at the woman with a look of wonder on his face, when the new shoes were brought out for him to trial, he looked so excited.

If you are a regular at The Life and Times of The Working Mum, you will know that mess seems to follow Leo around. 

It comes as no surprise to me that Leo like's to make a mess...He started the week by pooing in the bath and to finish off the week here is Leo turning the hall way floor into a cereal bowl...

What have your little one's been up to this week?

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The Vampire Diaries Season One Review

At the end of a long day at work, and when I have got home and finally completed my Mummy duties, I like nothing more than sitting back and watching a little bit of television (blogging duties aside of course!)

Warner Bros. recently sent me the Vampire Diaries Season 1 to sink my teeth into. I had caught snippets of the show when it had been shown on the television but had always missed the time slot, so I was very happy to finally be able to see what it was all about.

The Vampire Diaries introduces the audience to the small town of Mystic Falls and Elena Gilbert. Elena is grieving the loss of her parents and is finally picking back up the pieces of her life in a bid to find an assemblance of normality.

Elena feels a huge responsibility to her younger brother in the wake of all that has happened since the tragic car crash that claimed both of her parent's lives and does everything possible to prevent him any further heartache.

Elena is soon introduced to the delectable Salvatore brothers Stephan and Damon. Stephan and Damon are not your average brothers, they harbour a life long secret. They are actually vampires who were around when the town was first foundered back in 1859.

Elena and Stephan are soon drawn together, and a passionate relationship starts to un-fold. It is not long before Elena senses that something is not quite right, could it be that distinct look in his eyes? Or the sudden animal attacks that are haunting Mystic Falls?

You will have to tune in to find out...

You see the reason Stephan is so drawn to Elena is because she is the spitting image of his past love Katherine. Katherine was a vampire who both the Salvatore brothers held a flame for many, many years ago.

With the arrival of Damon into Mystic Falls comes all of the sibling rivalry and drama that lead to them eventually going their separate ways for 15 years. Now they are face to face once again everything begins to unravel in a fast moving, action packed, blood sucking season one.

I began to watch the Vampire Diaries last week, and it has resulted in many a late nights as I have become so engrossed into what may happen next, that I decide to watch one more episode...and then one more.

It is a very fast moving drama that really will keep you on the very edge if your seat, in anticipation of what will happen as the series progresses. I am now on the Fourth disk and looking forward to see how they conclude the many exciting twists and turns of the first season, but it is safe to say that I will me be watching the next series.

Season 3 has actually just been released for those of you who are up to date, but for those of you who love a supernatural mystery and have let the Vampire Diaries pass you by, then this really is a must watch.

You can purchase season 1 on Amazon for £12.00 and I am sure you will not be disappointed with the goings on in Mystic Falls.

Disclaimer: I was sent The Vampire Diaries Season One for the purpose of this review, however all views and opinions are completely honest and my own.

Fly high...

The world can be a beautiful place and it sometimes takes my breath away, it could be the sunset or the first time Leo beamed his gummy smile at me. Those magical moments that make every moment count, and you thank your lucky stars that you were there to witness it.

Sometimes though the world can be a cruel and heartless place to exist. Sometimes it turns someones life upside down for no real reason at all.

Shortly after I returned to work I discovered the happy news that a colleague was pregnant with twins. She looked so happy, and was completely over the moon. Over the weeks I saw her tummy grow and grow, her Two little babies becoming stronger with each passing day. 

This week was her Twentieth week of pregnancy. The half way point where the finishing line was just visible on the horizon. Only this moment was over shadowed by the sun that was now setting, and those little babies began their ascent to the sky. 

Last night I logged onto Facebook, and the first status I saw was this:

'Sleep my beautiful angels, 

on your pillows in the sky,

Angels are forever.....

So we'll never say goodbye'

Those words said it all, and I suddenly felt like I had slipped into her shoes and I could actually feel her world crashing down. I could feel my eyes welling up, how can something like this happen? I sat there trying to find the words to express how sorry I was, but there are no words. There is nothing I could say, and nothing I could do.

I worried myself while I was pregnant with Leo, and got checked out by the maternity triage on at least 3 separate occasions. I can not imagine how I would feel having to give birth to my baby and then say goodbye. This thought shakes me to the core.

Today as far as I am aware, she was admitted to hospital where she will meet her beautiful little babies for the first and last time. Such a bitter sweet moment that should have been the start of their beginning as a family. 

I keep thinking of her and what she is having to endure. Something that no Mother should ever have to go through. Life really is so un-fair. 

The womb is meant to be a safe place, where our babies grow to be big and strong to come and meet us. How can something like this happen? 

She would have been an amazing Mummy. 

I can not imagine her grief, the feelings she will have on not seeing her babies open their eyes for the first time to study her face. The windy smiles before the real ones come in and everything that I feel so privileged to have been gifted.

I wish I could change this nightmare outcome for her and put the world to rights. 

But I can't.

Fly high little angels

Last night I held Leo tightly and breathed in his baby smell. I held on a little longer than I usually would, realising just how lucky I really am. I am incredibly lucky even on those sleepless nights where he just winds me up to the point of distraction, I am lucky that he is there to wind me up and in the next instance have me in fits of giggles.

We all have those worried moments in pregnancy, but those worries extend past that and never ever go away. In fact they magnify as your baby grows, the dangers and worries of things that could potentially happen get dreamed up in your head as you try and find ways to protect them.

I still check in on Leo to make sure he is still breathing soundly and tucked up in his cot.  I over think every little detail. I see danger at every turn and I know that as he get's older I am going to worry more and more. On the news just this week I heard about a Mother who lost her son to a stabbing at a party, and a bus that killed 3 people. How am I supposed to trust anyone with my baby? 

I dread the thought of Leo going on school trips, just in case something happens. I know that this is way off yet and the chances are slim, but the chance is still there.

Being a Mummy is such an exhilarating, scary and emotional job in this beautiful, terrifying world. You never know what is just around the corner, and even when you try to foresee what will next be bestowed upon you and your family, you never quite know.

And the un-known just makes it even more scary.