As you know, we’re working on a series of reviews on family travel by train with Network rail. Well, we’ve had a heads-up on the promotion National Rail are running next week in conjunction with The Sun – an amazing 2FOR1 offer on a huge choice of destinations across England, Scotland and Wales.

The theory we are testing with the reviews is that taking the train is one of the easiest, most relaxing and greenest ways to get out and see the country – especially with children – and with this 2FOR1 offer, when you buy one adult rail ticket, you get to take another person (adult or child) with you absolutely free!

All you have to do is collect FOUR differently numbered tokens that will be appearing in The Sun from Monday 2nd February until 7th February, then go to The Sun’s website to book your 2FOR1 rail tickets.

You must book your tickets online between 5th February and 5th March 2009 and at least seven days in advance of your outward journey. All outward travel must be completed between 12th February and 5th April 2009.

Wow. How very exciting and amazing and utterly terrifying! I often stand in awe when I see people coping with twins. Just the thought of dealing with EIGHT wailing new babies at once makes my brain ache. I know the babies are expected to stay in hospital for two months, so there’s time to plan… but even so! And well done the mother for planning on bf all of them – I’m guessing any help they can get will be worth it. So far the prospect is good, all of them are breathing by themselves, despite being 9 weeks early.
And how sweet were the doctors doing the news conference? Clearly just SO excited about how well it has all gone, and thrilled with the surprise eighth baby!

My favourite quote was from the parents of the previous live octuplet birth – now the proud owners of SEVEN ten year olds (brain. hurting. again). Did they say ‘you’ll be exhausted’? Did they say ‘get help!’? Did they say ‘start saving now’? No! They said:
“Just enjoy it. It’s a blessing.”
Fab advice for ANY parent, I’d say :)

The two latest reviews are both on bibs, both sent to us by Hamill Baby. you Couldn’t get two more different bibs if you tried.. and yet, they both work brilliantly!
Oh, and this is Pink showing off her favourite Big Wipe Off Bib in ‘Red Wagon’ -

far too interested in a rare treat of a biscuit to pose nicely for me.

And this is the beautiful girl showing the other review bib, the Wash & Wear Bib -

Showing how girls can really rock the 'Groovy Blue' look

Okay, these bibs are the complete other end of the spectrum to the Big Wipe Off Bibs we previously reviewed for Hamill Baby. Where they were spectacular in their sheer chunky sturdiness, these Wash & Wear bibs are brilliant in their sheer… sheerness! Made of 100% pure nylon, they don’t just roll up to fit in your changing bag. Oh no. These babies are so thin they will literally fold up so small they will fit in your PURSE. Honest. I know, because I’ve done it. I’ve also screwed it up into a jeans pocket, which it also fitted with ease.

On top of all that, it’s very strong, totally waterproof, has bags of growing space as its so roomy and has an endlessly adjustable velcro neck fastening, it has an efficient crumb catcher pocket, and to top it all off – it can not only be thrown in the washing machine, but the tumble dryer too!

AND it comes in a range of funky, fun and adorable prints.

Wow. what more could you ask from a bib? Oh, a great price tag too? And done.

:)

Any experienced parent will know that all bibs are not created equal. There are many different sizes and shapes, and many different uses. But the fundamentals remain the same. They need to actually work – they need to stop your toddler dribbling their spaghetti hoops down the front of their new cream jumper.

The Big Wipe Off Bib is so perfectly named. In essence it is exactly what it says – Very very big, and with a heavy waterproof front that simply needs a wipe off to be ready to use again.

The first thing you notice about this bib (once you are past the beautiful packaging from the wonderful Hamill Baby) is just how thick it is. I’ve used some bibs in my time, but this one is far and away the thickest. Backed by a very soft plain cotton, the front is bright and colourful, and covered in a really heavy duty vinyl.

The neck fits snugly (no lost spaghetti hoops can find their way down there), and the shoulder parts are lovely and wide, covering Pink’s 2-yr-old shoulders perfectly. I wouldn’t put such a large bib on a weaning baby, it’s probably too big for that. But a wriggling toddler who is feeding himself just *needs* one of these – I simply keep it in the highchair, and use it for every meal.

The crumb catcher pouch uses poppers to close, so you can open it flat to clean, which is a big improvement on the sneaky crumb-hiding seams in normal fold-up bibs.

If you’re looking for a serious food protection bib, this is the one for you. And on top of all that practicality, it also comes in a gorgeous array of non-baby-like colour schemes, and each one can be co-ordinated with a whole range of stylish, quality baby textiles – all designed to be eminently practical, but also oh-so-pretty :)

At £11 it’s not cheap, but it is oh So worth it. Fact.

Three Bags Full are the brilliant company who have taken our favourite merino wool and added style. With fun and timeless prints on their classically simple-styled clothing your children will not only look gorgeous, but feel comfortable too.

The lovely people at Three Bags Full are having a MAHOOSIVE January sale, and have sent us the code to share with you: All you need to do is enter the code JAN09 at the shopping basket stage when ordering to receive a whopping 40% discount – on absolutely everything!

You can read our review odf the Three Bags Full merino tops for toddlers over on LittleStuff

Pol, our latest pregnant tester (currently 10 weeks so a long way to go yet!), has just received her jeans in the post – I think she quite likes them already:

“they are amazing jeans, so comfortable and trendy! I didn’t think you could get trendy maternity clothes!
Seriously, they fit me perfectly, I love them, and they are great even now with the material bit rolled down”

:)

London maternity wear specialist Pretty Pregnant and Devon-based organic aromatherapy and skincare pioneers Vital Touch have announced a special partnership specially designed for Valentine’s Day, 14th February 2009.
Every spending customer purchasing items from any Pretty Pregnant boutique for a total value
of £50.00 or more, will receive a complimentary organic massage oil provided by Vital Touch.
Pretty clothes and a spot of pampering – what more could you ask? Well, roses, actually – and Pretty Pregnant are giving those out too!

Renowned for its unique maternity and nursing collections as well as top customer service, the
Pretty Pregnant spacious boutiques are located throughout London. Consultations and bra
fitting service available at all stores.

Vital Touch is a collection of natural and organic products for pregnancy, birth and babies
created by leading massage and bodyworker, Katie Whitehouse in South Devon in 1999.
Katie’s unique experience of working with hundreds of pregnant women and new born babies,
and the experience of her own children, gave her the knowledge to develop a range of invaluable products using only the purest 100% natural ingredients.

We’re back, and the sun is shining and we’re feeling rested and relaxed after our fabulous break. You know you’ve been working too hard when 3 weeks at home with 4 children and the mentality of Christmas feels like a much-needed holiday!
So, we’re back, and working very very hard back behind our desks where you can’t see us – the new site is nearing completion and we’re oh-so-very excited! But oh-so-behind now… so we’ll be keeping our heads down and working extra hard, and next month the super-deluxe-all-singing beeYOOtiful new site will be here for everyone to feast on. Can’t wait!!!

May 2009 bring you all you hope for, and be filled to the brim with fun, sunshine and lots of laughter.