Introducing the Snoozle Maternity Slide Sheet!

Posted on

logo

As I’ve thudded into the third trimester, I’ve all but given up on a proper night’s sleep. I’m now on my third brand of maternity pillow (finally settling on the Theraline - review HERE) and am up around fives times a night to empty my bladder. We’ve also now upgraded our double bed to a super king - this wasn’t even up for discussion, I just went ahead and ordered it at 4am after a particularly bad night a few weeks back. Craig’s face was an absolute picture when he came home and discovered I’d taken a sledgehammer to the bedside cabinets and bought smaller ones in their place. I simply couldn’t cope with another elbow in my face and now need at least the width of a double bed to myself to toss and turn in my sleep.

When I spotted that Snoozle were looking for pregnant women to road test their maternity slide sheet, I thought I’d give it a go. The website is full of claims it’s helped women with painful night-time maneuvers. It’s said to help with a zillion different pregnancy ailments including SPD and Sciatica (two things I’ve regularly whinged about during both of my pregnancies), and also non-pregnancy related arthritic pain or easing the discomfort of those recovering from back surgery.

So what is it?

It’s a 75×75″ ‘tube’ made from kind-to-skin cotton on the outer layer, and a satin inner fabric that is designed to slide comfortably with your every move. It’s incredibly simple, but often these are the very products that work the best. It’s a concept that’s worked a treat for Icelandic midwives for years and has now been recreated by Snoozle for all to benefit from.

The theory is that it makes your movements smoother and faster so you don’t need to put in as much effort when you toss and turn. This means you won’t use as many sore muscles and move as many painful joints. It’s ideal if you’re bed-sharing as it only goes on your side of the bed and is designed to be completely noiseless so as not to disturb your other half. Reportedly, it also makes rolling out of bed in the mornings that little bit easier.

086

It’s highly recommended during child birth when you’re struggling to change position (don’t worry, it’s washable at up to 60 °c), and equally useful if you’ve had a c-section and are struggling to sit up in bed to breastfeed.

So what did I think?

First up - I love the simple packaging. It came in a really pretty box which is handy to tuck away in your hospital bag if you’ve bought two.

I was sent a pink Snoozle (but it is also available in blue or grey) - the design is as simple as I’ve suggested above but I’m really impressed with the quality. The logo is embroidered so it doesn’t irritate you when in contact with your skin, and the outer layer (that you sleep on) is soft to touch.

snoozle bed

You simply pop the sheet on the bed (on top of your regular bed sheet) with the satin trims beneath your shoulder and thighs. It’s very generously proportioned so you have plenty of room either side.

There’s no denying my movements were MUCH faster and smoother with the Snoozle. I’m also making far less noise when I toss and turn. I used to moan and whimper a bit as it was so painful. It’s also completely noiseless and hasn’t disturbed Craigy in the slightest. Having used it for the past 5 nights, I’m happy to report I feel much more rested in the mornings and my symptoms are better throughout the day as a result. If I have a bad day and Mini Madam pushes down on my sciatic nerve one too many times, I simply have a nap on my Snoozle and gain a few hours respite.

My only niggle (not a criticism of the product at all as this is completely unavoidable) is that after several turns from side to side, the Snoozle inevitably gets twisted underneath you. This shouldn’t wake you up at night, but does mean you’ll constantly have to straighten it out when you get back from every one of your many trips to the loo!

060

But that’s it! I can’t think of anything that would prevent me recommending the Snoozle maternity slide sheet to anyone who is struggling with sleep in pregnancy. It’s had a huge impact for many mums-to-be and is only a tiny £24.00. In fact, so convinced is Snoozle’s founder Lilja that it’ll help you, she offers a full money-back guarantee if it doesn’t!

DISCLAIMER: I was provided with a Snoozle for the purposes of his review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Linking to Tried & Tested by the lovely Kate at Family Fever and Colette at We’re going on an adventure.

We're going on an adventure

National Geographic Kids Magazine Review

Posted on

I might love my new Google Nexus 7 for e-reading, but sometimes you can’t beat the feel of paper between your fingers. I’m one of those old-school people who still get their newspapers delivered and love relaxing with a magazine when Craig insists on watching Match of the Day. Dexter might only be tiny, but he’s definitely inherited my love for the printed word - he’ll trample all over an expensive pile of toys to get to his board books and loves curling up with mum to look at the pictures of pregnant women as I’m flicking though Pregnancy and Baby Magazine. When I was offered the opportunity to get a subscription to National Geographic Kids, I couldn’t resist seeing how he’d respond to a magazine of all his very own!

National Geographic Kids’ mission is to entertain children while educating them about their world, using superlative photography, dynamic graphics and compelling storytelling… National Geographic Kids takes a sneaky approach to teaching, delivering interactive, bite-sized information that gets children discovering the world around them. Our readers are having so much fun they don’t even realise they’re learning!

We received our first copy just before Christmas and it’s been read to death by Dexter (with a little help from various family members!) over the last few weeks. I’m definitely impressed with how colourful these magazines are, and ratio of written word to illustration. Clearly these magazines are aimed at children well beyond Dexter’s age, but the reporting and information is timeless and will be relevant for him when he’s much older - until then I’ll let him use the pictures to learn about the natural world beyond his front door.

He’s definitely intrigued about animals as he’s often pointing at pictures of those he hasn’t had the opportunity to see yet (giraffes, monkeys, hippos etc) and watching us mouth their names and the noises they make. Daddy does a mean goat impression that I must record for YouTube!

Each magazine comes with a free toy or mini activity for children and is crammed with articles, interesting facts, pictures and information about the natural world. Our first issue (November) also had in-depth articles on Buckingham Palace, flying foxes and volcanoes - so a real mix of things to discover and read about.

Regular features include:

What’s Up?

Which is effectively a round-up of the latest television shows, films and books (both educational and entertaining) and is littered with pop-up trivia.

Mini Histories Comic Strip

November’s issue showed a time-travelling mouse, Max, meeting the founders of the Football Association!

Posters

Each edition has a pull-out poster section, some of which are double spread. There’s everything from mammals to insects all shot beautifully.

Prize Planet

Opportunities to win age-appropriate prizes by solving easy puzzles or answering multiple choice questions.

Make it!

A monthly make section shows children how to make craft items out of everyday materials. I love how each stage of the make is represented by a picture diagram making it easy for kids (and parents!) to follow.

Junior Reporters Page

This, for me, is what makes this magazine. Kids can send in letters or emails with their special reports of places they’ve been, or fun facts they’ve uncovered for a chance to appear in the magazine. We’ll definitely be encouraging Dexter to take part when he’s old enough. There’s something very special about seeing your child in print!

***

Overall the subscription would make an ideal birthday present for a child, or a little good luck gift for those just starting primary school. They’ll get excited when it lands on the doormat and it certainly helps nurture a love of learning away from the internet.

The NGKids website is well worth checking out for games, videos, facts and photos for slightly older children (I’d plump for 6+), and there you have the opportunity to subscribe to the magazine for £28 for a year - this will entitle you to 12 editions usually priced at £3.30 each (a saving of almost 30%).

Disclaimer - Dexter was given his very own 12 month subscription in exchange for mummy’s thoughts


Vintage & Retro Gifts - Spoilt Rotten Gifts

Posted on

Capture

Spoilt Rotten Gifts is an online gift boutique for unique gifts with a retro twist.

Coming from a beautiful Yorkshire village, owner and Textile designer, Nichola Watson had to do all of her shopping in Kingston Upon Hull, famous for its fish trail and the House Martins and definitely NOT its boutiques! That is where Spoilt Rotten Gifts came in….with a background in buying at John Lewis and an eye for the unusual, Nichola sourced an ever expanding range of online gifts from Norwegian lunch boxes, to Californian cartoon jewellery pendants including a popular range of accessories from Disaster Designs, all to be sold in the eye-catching wibbly wobbly world of Spoilt Rotten Gifts.

Christmas is the perfect time to discover new online gift shops. If you’re anything like me and have a really hard time choosing that perfect gift for your in-laws, you’ll often end up trawling the internet looking for something you wouldn’t find in boring old Boots (I’m definitely not one for hitting the 3 for 2′s buying bath oil sets that will no doubt gather dust in someone’s bathroom for years to come). The best gift shops have items you just can’t find elsewhere and will make someone’s eyes light up upon receiving it; Quirky items that will transport someone back to their childhood, offer a practical solution to something they’ve often whinged about, or something so undeniably pretty you’d be delighted to receive it yourself. This is true of simply everything on Spoilt Rotten Gifts.

index

When Nichola got in touch to see if I’d like to treat myself, or a member of my family, to something from the site, I must admit I didn’t give any of my loved ones a second thought. There was simply so much I wanted, I had to treat myself. As I’m due to move in just a week’s time (eek!) and will have a brand new nursery to deck out - I plumped for a very sweet cushion that will keep Bump’s crib warm until he or she is ready to sleep in it - The Freya Dream Big Cushion. It’s very cute and I can’t think of a better sentiment for a peaceful nursery; “Dream Big Little One, Tomorrow You Will Move Mountains“. I have a funny feeling however that Dexter’s will be cuddling up to this until D Day though as he’s forever cuddling and squeezing it.

DisasterDesignsBagOuter

Having lugged the essentials for Dexter’s birth to the hospital in a Tesco carrier bag (he came early and we left the house in an almighty panic), I also fancied something infinitely more lovely this time around. Spoilt Rotten Gifts has tons of roomy weekend bags that looked just perfect so I also plumped for fabulous overnight bag designed by Jan Constantine exclusively for Disaster Designs. With it’s very British / Irish theme and appliqué union jack heart, I’m hoping it helps me embrace the whole ‘Keep Calm’ mantra when I walk into the Royal Berks Maternity Unit in just a few months time.
.
Determined not to be caught off guard this time around, it’s now crammed full of deliciously cute newborn outfits, water wipes, cotton wall balls, spare knickers, and other not so attractive birthing essentials. With two internal pockets (one one handy zip pouch) and generous pccket on the outside, there’s plenty of room for everything I need. I’m having to remind myself daily not to empty it and swan around town with it!
DisasterDesignsBag
.
Inside, the lining is a printed fabric covered in ‘Love’ which is very cute and would make for a perfect change bag as it won’t show up any indiscretions. The outer bag is leather look PVC but smells and looks just like the real thing. It’s so very pretty, I’m delighted with it.
.
Delivery, and postage and packaging was better than Santa himself could manage. My gifts arrived within days, lovingly wrapped, and with a mini packet of Love Hearts squirreled away within the folds of the parcel. Perfect.
.
Yet not confined to gifts for hormonal women and babies, there’s also plenty there for the man in your life, for the home and exclusively for Christmas. Here are some of my favourite bits:
index
Clockwise (left to right): Disaster Designs Beatles Ticket to Ride Satchel, Magpie Wildlife Owl Apron, VW The Original Ride Campervan Satchel, Magpie Wildlife Otter Cushion, Gisela Graham Summer Garden Gardening Bag, Disaster Designs Moomin Woodland Flask
.
If you’d like to find out about more gifts available on the website, there are simply tons of reviews from fellow bloggers to read:
.
  • Mrs Shilts reviewed (and is giving away) a very gorgeous Baby Reindeer Gift Set (baby sleepsuit & shoes)
  • The Crazy Kitchen received a very beautiful teapot and owl cushion if homeware is more your thing
  • And the very awesome Jen from Love Chic Living has fallen in love with her new wash bag set

If I’ve only gone and made you more intrigued about Nichola’s wibbly wobbly world of Spoilt Rotten Gifts - why not pop over to her little shop, or show her some love on Pinterest or Twitter? - I dare you not to fall in love with something. And if you’re feeling lucky and are lusting over a gorgeous Disaster Designs bag of your own, there’s a Facebook competition to win this equally stunning matching wallet and satchel from their adorable “Once Upon A Time” range.

SpoiltRottenGiftsFacebookComp

 

DISCLAIMER: I was sent these lovely gifts free of charge in exchange for my thoughts. How lucky am I?!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...