Baby Led Weaning

We hadn't heard of Baby Led Weaning (BLW) until a friend mentioned it before I was pregnant with Bird, and the more I researched it, the more I liked the idea of it.

Essentially, it means not bothering with purées and just allowing your baby to feed him or herself with their hands.

It may seem like another "trend" but there are actually lots of benefits to it:

• Baby learns how to chew properly, which is critical for their speech development

• Your whole family can eat the same thing - for example, if you make pasta sauce from scratch, just take a portion out for your baby before seasoning it (babies shouldn't have more than 1 gram of salt per day before 12 months)

• Baby learns to eat safely - I've seen friend's babies struggle with solids later on because they're used to just swallowing purées and not chewing, making it harder for them to learn later

• It helps babies to identify and recognise specific foods

• Baby decides when they are full - with spoon feeding, babies can be easily over-fed, consuming extra calories and causing production of too many fat cells

• Hand-eye coordination is improved as baby learns how to take food to their mouth

• It helps to increase self confidence and independence as baby is able to feed him or herself

We waited until exactly 6 months before we started weaning, as this is the recommended age. If you plan to wean before 6 months (not recommended), you mustn't use this method of weaning and it is not safe.

Some of Bird's favourite "first foods" were boiled or steamed broccoli, avocado cut into sticks, scrambled egg (not too scrambled, leaving pieces big enough to hold), halved cherry tomatoes and sticks of cheddar cheese. These are all foods which she still loves now.

Before we started weaning, I ordered The Baby-Led Weaning Cookbook" by Gill Rapley and Tracey Murkett. I absolutely love it - it has two sections. The first part of the book has lots of information about BLW and the second part has loads of really great recipes. Our current favourite is banana muffins, which I have adapted by adding in a handful of blueberries. Bird also loves the cheese and spinach muffins with red onion, and we sometimes add a few other chopped veggies in too, to pack them with extra nutrients.

Batch cooked banana and blueberry muffins, cheese and spinach muffins, bolognese, tomato and chunky vegetable pasta sauces and chicken in white sauce - a freezer full of quick and easy meals = happy Mummy!

Something I love about BLW and The Baby-Led Weaning Cookbook is that loads of the recipes are freezable, meaning I can batch cook. Being a mumma means rarely having lots of extra time, so if Bird takes a long nap, I take the opportunity to make big batches of things. A freezer full of pots is extremely satisfying! I buy 3 pots for 99p in our local 99p shop.

The muffins can be frozen, which is perfect if we have to pop out unex[ectedly or if we're in a rush - I just pop one in the microwave and into Bird's lunchbox and it requires no cutlery or equipment, she can just get stuck in wherever we are. Very handy!

BLW is a real confidence game. It can be terrifying at the beginning, but there is a difference between gagging and choking. The gagging reflex is a natural safety measure. Choking is much more rare, however it can happen, so always watch your child very carefully during mealtimes and never leave the room. It's advisable to do some research on this before starting.

It's also a very messy game, so I would recommend investing in a "splash mat" of some sort - we bought one of those plastic tablecloths from G&Ts for a few pounds and it works perfectly. It's easy to wipe clean and fold away neatly afterwards, leaving the room as good as new.

We bought the Ikea Antilop highchair and absolutely love it. It's easy to clean and comes with an inflatable wedge if, like me, you have a small baby who doesn't quite fill the highchair yet. It's also great if your baby isn't sitting unaided yet because it props them upright.

It was a bit nerve-racking in the beginning, but also really exciting and I'm now really glad we went down the Baby Led Weaning route when it came to introducing solids. I'd definitely recommend buying The Baby-Led Weaning Cookbook, available here, to learn a bit more about it and to give you some ideas for breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, soups, sauces, breads and puddings!

Thanks for reading :)

Love, Gina Xx

Bird's Autumn Fashion Haul!

I was out walking with Bird in the carrier last week and despite the beautiful sunshine, I noticed lots of red and yellow leaves on the ground and that familiar, lovely smell of Autumn.

So now that Summer is out of the way (sob), I decided it was time for the dresses, shorts and playsuits to go and the leggings, trousers, jumpers and knits to come out instead. I've started to stock up on Bird's Autumn wardrobe and thought I'd show some of her new pieces here.

Two of my favourite trends for the colder months are jumper dresses and chunky knits, and this little number from Primark is both of those things, so I love it... I also love that it was actually Steve who chose this. It has a chunky knitted pattern down the front and is lovely and snuggly. It came with the tights shown in the picture - red with white polka dots - although I think I'll probably team it up with navy tights or leggings instead. It was £8 for the set which I think is really reasonable.

Primark - £8

Another of my favourite new sets is this green starry hooded cardigan and harem style trousers by Cath Kidston. I am obsessed! I usually dress her in either the cardigan or the trousers, not both together as it's quite a "loud" set. I love the little floral elbow pads and hood lining. I think the top was around £14-£16 and the trousers were £10. Because little ones tend to grow so quickly, it's quite rare that I'd spend around £25 on one outfit but I just couldn't resist this one.

Cath Kidston

The grey guitar leggings were actually in the boy's section of H&M - although I generally dress Bird in girl's clothes, I'm not a fan of gender stereotyping and usually have a look in the boy's sections of shops - there's almost always a handful of things I would consider "neutral" as opposed to just for boys, so I like to double check. I love these leggings - they're a bit big around the waist, but I can't wait until she can pull them off. They came as a set of two, the other pair being plain black (which I also love).

These khaki green chinos were also in the boys section of H&M. They don't fit her yet, but I think the colour is quite autumnal and will look lovely with a plain long sleeved top or jumper when she's big enough to fit into them. They're also available in pale blue and navy blue.

Leggings (2 pack) - £6.99 and  Khaki chinos - £5.99 both from H&M

This jumper is also a favourite, although it was actually a hand-me-down from Steve's cousin and his wife, who are also very close friends of ours. Their daughter was born 9 months before Bird, and she's a little fashionista! This was originally bought from the F&F range at Tesco. I love the little zip at the back and the lace. I also think the colour suits Bird well. It's a lovely fine-knit jumper.

F&F at Tesco

These little black and white leggings are another H&M purchase and I love them! They're quite thick, so perfect for chillier days. They look as though they have pockets and a zip, but these are not real/functional. Again, they're quite "loud" so I team them up with a plain coloured top. I can't remember the price but think they were around £5-£7.

H&M

I LOVE THIS gilet my Auntie bought for Bird when she was little - she's a dinky little thing so it still just about fits, despite being really small. It's perfect for days when it looks like it's going to be sunny but could change at any moment. I also love owl patterns so this is a definite favourite. It was from Sainsbury's TU range.

Sainsbury's TU

The leggings on the left here are black with white horses, and unfortunately my brother sent them over from New Zealand, so I don't believe they're available in the UK, but I just had to share them. I think they're so cute - they don't fit her yet but I can't wait to see them on her when they do. The harem trousers on the right are from George at Asda, and I don't usually like leopard print on children but I'm more accepting of these because they don't feature bright orange! They have a little bow at the top which is difficult to see in the photo, and are really baggy with gathers at the ankles. Again, too big at the moment but I'm excited to see Bird wearing them when they fit.

Horse leggings from Zeb (New Zealand) - Harem trousers - George at Asda

These soft, thick leggings are from Primark again and they're not something I would usually choose for Bird, but I have to say I really like these. Teamed up with a jumper dress I think they'll look lovely.

Primark

With a wide selection of bright and interesting trousers, plain long sleeved tops are a must have. I bought two sets of four from Mothercare - the girl's section contained one white, one grey, one pale pink and one light purple top, with ruching at the shoulders and two poppers. In the boy's section, I found a set of four including a bright mustard yellow, a dark green, a bright orange and a bright red, without any ruching but with the two poppers on one shoulder. These are all colours I am more than happy to dress my daughter in, so I bought both sets.

Mothercare

I have another two-pack of leggings from H&M which I adore - one pair is plain grey, and the other is navy with little white anchors. I absolutely love the nautical theme and have always thought Bird suits wearing navy. These are currently in the wash but here is the photo from the website - I'm sure they were in the girl's section in the shop but on the website, they're in the baby boy's trousers section (here). These are £5.99 for the pack of two.

H&M - £5.99

Not the best photo but here she is wearing the anchor leggings - LOVE!

I discovered JoJo Maman Bébé around the time I got pregnant and became addicted to it. All of their clothes are incredible quality and you can tell from the look and feel of them. I've always loved their leggings but Bird was born in October, and spent most of the first few months in sleepsuits, so this Autumn is her first opportunity to wear snuggly woollen leggings. I've wanted some of these for ages and now that the weather is getting colder, I had to indulge! These are £10 per pair, with £5 if you buy two pairs (so naturally I couldn't leave the shop with just one!) - they have some different styles and colours, suitable for boys as well as girls. They also do a range of "extra thick" leggings which I really wish they did in my size because they are SO snuggly! They're really lovely and thick. Those ones don't come with the animals on the bottom though, and I couldn't resist a little owl and an elephant. Despite these not being part of the extra thick range, they're still really cosy. I love the cuffs at the ankles which fit really nicely around Bird's little legs.

JoJo Maman Bébé - £10 per pair or two pairs for £15

Another favourite from JoJo Maman Bébé is this 2.5 tog sleeping bag. Bird has outgrown all of her 0-6 month ones always kicks off her blankets or wriggles away from them, so these sleeping bags are the perfect solution. They have a vast range of colours and patterns. I was torn between this one and a lovely blue floral one that looked very "Cath Kidston" - that one also had detachable arms. I chose this one in the end because it just seemed so fitting for my Birdy. These come in 0-6 months, 6-18 months and 18 months - 4 years. This one cost £28 but I know it will last for a long time due to the length and quality. I really love it.

JoJo Maman Bébé - £28

Another buy from my Auntie is this gorgeously cosy onesie from Gap's baby range and I am so upset that Bird will be growing out of it soon! It's absolutely perfect to throw on over the top of an outfit if we have to rush out or if it's a bit cold and it looks beautiful. Cuteness overload with the little ears on top and it's so lovely and snuggly, with fleece on the inside. The zip goes from the left foot all the way up, making it really easy to pop on in a hurry and it has built in scratch mitts for extra snuggliness! LOVE it.

Lastly, anyone who knows Bird and I will know I love to accessorise an outfit with a headband of some sort. During the warmer months, it was either no headband or maybe a narrow band with a little flower. Now that it's colder, I'm all about the headwrap type bands, with much wider bands to cover her little ears and keep them warm (she doesn't have much hair to do that yet!). I particularly love the ones which tie at the top, all of which I bouth on Ebay. They're surprisingly cheap, at around £3 each including postage. They don't actually tie at the top, they are a stretchy band with another small piece of material tied around them - I assume this is a safety measure, and it's actually a really good idea in my opinion. Most of the headwraps I have for Bird have some very soft wiring in the knot part, so it doesn't go floppy and holds its shape. LOVE THEM!

I hope you've enjoyed this post! Follow me on Instagram (here) to keep up with any new finds we come across for the coming chillier months.

Love, Gina Xx

Babywearing

"Babywearing is the practise of wearing or carrying a baby in a sling or in another form of carrier. Babywearing has been practised for centuries around the world." This is Wikipedia's definition of babywearing.

The idea of "wearing" a baby in a sling or carrier has always appealed to me, even for years before I became pregnant.I was one of those girls who stopped in my tracks and went "ahhhhhhh, look!" if I ever saw a baby or toddler strapped to its caregiver. It just looks so bloomin' cute and cosy!

So, when I found out I was pregnant, I began researching different types of slings and carriers.

My research revealed to me a whole wealth of information I'd been completely unaware of, which made me fall in love with the idea even more.

I quickly discovered that aside from just looking all sweet and snuggly, there are actually lots of benefits of babywearing, to both the caregiver and child.

Some of the benefits I've learnt through my research are as follows:

• Mums have reported fewer tears when babywearing

• Babies are able to develop trust and security

• The ideal learning state for a baby is when they are "quiet and alert" - instead of looking upwards from a crib or being low enough to just see people's legs in a pushchair, they can see the world as you do

• Breastfeeding can be made easier (and more frequent to help baby gain weight)

• It encourages bonding (and increases cuddle time, yay!)

• Babies are reported as falling into deep sleep when babywearing takes place

• Makes travelling easier

• Keeps both of your hands free, making it easier to multi-task

• Can reduce reflux, fussiness, colic and gastrointestinal issues

• Enhances sleep at nap times and at night

I could continue but I'd be here all day. These are only some of the benefits of babywearing.

I would advise looking for a local "sling library" where you can try on and hire different slings and carriers until you find one that suits you and your baby.

Always follow the "TICKS" rules to ensure safe babywearing:

Found on babyslingsafety.co.uk

Babywearing has been a lifesaver for me - it enables me to get things done, it pretty much guarantees to get Bird to sleep if she's fighting nap time, it allows me lots of extra cuddles and kisses, and it means that Steve gets to really bond with her too.

Contrary to popular belief, it's easier on my back than pushing the pram around. I only take the pushchair out these days if I know I'll be out all day or if I might have lots of shopping bags with me - even so, I usually keep carrying Birdy and use the pushchair to carry the shopping bags.

Stay tuned for Product Reviews on the different slings and carriers I have, along with pictures and top tips!

Love, Gina Xx

Great Little Baking Co - Product Review

July was pretty rubbish for our family. We had some bad news regarding Steve's health and we were quite down in the dumps for a few days whilst we tried to absorb it.

The following week, an unexpected parcel arrived on my doorstep. I had no idea what it was, or who it was from.

I opened it and inside was a metal box, protected by lots of little polystyrene peanuts. The box had ribbon tied around it and looked gorgeous, and a little card was secured on top.

There was a handwritten note attached:

Some of our closest friends, Briony and Will, had ordered us a box of brownies from Great Little Baking Co and they were so, so yummy! They hadn't ordered from Great Little Baking Co before but after visiting their website, I can see why they chose to.

They offer a large selection of brownies, biscuits, shortbread and cake pops, suitable for all sorts of occasions. They all look delicious and I'm confident the only problem I'll come across with them is choosing what to order.

The brownies were packaged beautifully and really did taste amazing.

Receiving such a beautiful gift really did make our day. What a lovely way of letting somebody know you're thinking of them!

Everything about the presentation, quality and taste was perfect. I love that they hand-wrote the little note instead of just printing it out. I find that little details like this really do make all the difference and add a lovely personal touch, which is unusual with companies who post further afield than just their local town.

The website is immaculate and really easy to navigate, so is very user-friendly.

I would highly recommend Great Little Baking Co and will definitely be using them in the future to send lovely gifts to friends and family.

Love, Gina Xx

PTSD After Birth

This is a sensitive one for me and one I know I'll find a bit difficult to write, but this is something I think is important to bring some attention to.

Bird's birth didn't go according to how I'd planned it and initially, I was fine with this. I remember feeling guilty when friends would ask about the birth and I had to admit it hadn't gone as I'd hoped, but other than that, I didn't even really think about it for two or three weeks.

But once Bird started to sleep for slightly longer periods at night, resulting in me doing the same, I started to have nightmares and would wake up sweating and panicky.

My nightmares were more like flashbacks. I kept reliving what had happened; the horrendously delirious feeling Pethidine gave me and how out of control I felt, which is one of my biggest fears. I felt so helpless and my nightmares were so vivid and realistic.

I didn't once feel depressed. From what I understand, post natal depression is quite a lot more common than post traumatic stress disorder following birth, but I never felt low and I certainly didn't struggle to bond with Bird.

The nightmares didn't happen every night, and when they did, I usually recovered relatively quickly from them.

I had some friends who were due to have babies after Bird was born, and I started to find that every time one of them gave birth, I couldn't help feeling extremely emotional and getting teary. I was remembering my own experiences and would feel disappointed in myself, like I'd let my daughter down because it had gotten so stressful. I would question whether it was my fault she had a hard time breastfeeding in the beginning, even though we cracked it eventually and we're still going strong now.

I felt upset at the way I was spoken to by some of the midwives - one refusing to believe that my waters had broken at all, let alone that they contained meconium, before the birth, another acting like I should just know how to breastfeed after the birth and making me feel like a time-waster when I asked for her help, the fact that I felt so powerless and unimportant during labour and that the side effects of Pethidine weren't explained to me (I never would have accepted it had I been aware that it could make me feel so out of control - some women may like it for this reason, but for me this was terrifying).

Don't get me wrong, I was always so happy for my friends and their new babies, but I just felt guilty and disappointed at my own experiences.

I never went to my doctor about this because I honestly didn't think anything of it until recently. It wasn't an everyday occurrence. The nightmares lasted 6 or 7 weeks and I rarely thought about it.

It's only now that these feelings have subsided that I've realised I was probably experiencing a bit of PTSD. I don't consider it to have been severe, and I'm definitely past it now. I know that I am absolutely not to blame for the things I thought I was.

I also know that there wasn't anything particularly uncommon or unusual about Bird's birth, and to most people it may sound pretty standard and uneventful, but if somebody feels that an event they experienced was traumatic, then it was, and nobody has the right to belittle those feelings, regardless of how it may look to them from the outside. Things that may not cause upset to one person, can cause extreme upset to another and this is no different.

I don't feel put off of having any more children, although it's unlikely we will be able to due to Steve's ill health. However, for some ladies, PTSD is enough to discourage them from having any more children, and can cause lifelong anxiety and other issues.

No matter how long or short labour is, whether it's done naturally, with assistance or by C-Section, drug-free or not, we are all mothers and the way our babies come into the world does NOT define our abilities as parents. Some things are beyond our control and we should be empowering each other, not belittling other women based on the sort of birth that they had.

If the feelings I experienced resonate with anyone reading this or if you feel you may be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder or post natal depression, I strongly advise you see your GP. There are options available to help with these feelings.

Apologies for the heavier post this evening but I want this blog to be open and honest, and I felt this was a necessary topic to discuss.

Thank you for taking the time to read.

Love, Gina Xx

50 Facts About Me

I've seen this a lot recently and thought it would be fun, so here goes! :)

1) I was born in Swindon, Wiltshire, but moved to Devon when I was 6 months old. I moved back to Swindon at around 1 year old with my mum when my parents separated, and was there until I was 2 and a half. I don't remember it at all.

2) My dad was born in Lusaka, Zambia, which is in the South of Africa, He moved to England when he was 7.

3) I have an older brother called James who is 27 and lives in New Zealand with his wife-to-be Kristine and their son, Marley (almost 3 years old).

4) I was called Georgina because my dad wanted me to have a traditional English name and my mum wanted to give me either a "quirky" name or a boy's name. I was either going to be Georgina/George, Charlotte/Charlie, Francesca/Frank etc. I've never been known by Georgina or George - everybody has always known me as Gina.

5) My middle name is Francesca, after the midwife who looked after my mum and brother when he was born.

6) I couldn't say the word "remember" until I was about 5. I thought it was "bremember" and was really sad when I learnt the proper way to say it.

7) I lack confidence in a big way and have even had hypnotherapy sessions to help me to overcome the issue.

8) I went to an all-girls secondary school.

9) From the age of 2 and a half, I lived with my dad and my brother.

10) I still love Disney films and secretly want to be a Disney princess.

11) I was born on 25th October 1990, making me a Scorpio.

12) I've only been away from Bird about 5 times in total since she was born, and only for an hour at a time apart from for a friend's wedding where I spent around three hours away from her. She's my best friend and I can't stand not being with her!

13) I have A-Levels in English Literature, Sociology, and Criminal and Educational Psychology. I didn't go to uni because I have no idea what I want to do for a career.

14) My first pet was a cat called Marble, although I don't really remember her.

15) My guilty pleasure is watching Keeping Up With The Kardashians - I can't help but love it!

16) I'm the most sentimental person I know. I keep cards, letters, and anything else that's given to me. I have a large white wicker basket full of Bird's first things - a size 1 nappy, her first outfits, both of our wrist bands from the hospital, all of the cards we received, my scan photos - I've even deflated the foil helium balloons people gave us and kept those. I just can't bring myself to get rid of things.

17) Despite having a huge lack of confidence, I have had "run-ins' with several doctors when it's come to Steve's health issues if I've felt things aren't moving in the direction or at the speed that I feel is necessary.

18) I did kickboxing classes for around 7 years and it's one of the only sports I enjoyed. I also love swimming.

19) I very rarely drink alcohol as I cannot stand the feeling of not being in complete control. Boring, I know, but I just don't enjoy it! (My 18 year old self did enjoy it though, a lot).

20) I am extremely snap happy and always have a camera close by.

21) I really didn't like myself as a person until I met Steve. I was pretty much exactly the same as I am now, I just didn't think much of myself, but he's gradually increased my confidence and helped me to feel better about myself. Thanks hubby! :)

22) I had chicken pox as a baby and again when I was 11! It's unusual to get it twice, but it's possible!

23) I have 5 tattoos and I regret 4 of them. I rushed into them when I was younger and am really not a fan of them anymore. I do have plans for another one though and have put a lot of thought into it.

24) I love making cakes but I don't love eating them.

25) My favourite motto is "this too shall pass" and I think it's relevant in pretty much every tough situation I've come across! :)

26) I'm a bit too obsessed with Pitch Perfect...

27)... and my party trick is playing the cups to "When I'm Gone" like Anna Kendrick does in the film!

28) Something that really bothers me is people who are rude or mean for no reason! What's the point?! Be nice!

29) My favourite colours are orange and dark blue.

30) We have two cats called Bobby and Boots.

31) My first job was in a hairdressers when I was 15. I loved it.

32) I have nine peircings - my tongue, my belly button, 3 in my left ear and 4 in my right ear.

33) I absolutely love green tea and drink about 7 cups a day.

34) My favourite flowers are oriental lilies.

35) Looking at my baby girl still makes me cry sometimes, 11 months on. She makes me so happy and proud all the time and pregnancy/becoming a mum have made me a very, very emotional person!

36) I used to love sad/emotional songs and films but since having Bird, I can't listen to or watch anything sad without bawling my eyes out.

37) Caterpillars and moths REALLY freak me out... I can't explain it, they just do. I'm not a fan of most creepy crawly things but these really give me the shivers.

38) Speaking of shivers, I'm constantly cold.

39) I used to wear fake eyelashes everyday and now I can't stand them.

40) I've never tried smoking and have never understood the appeal of it.

41) Italian food is my favourite. Yum.

42) I don't cope well with other people being upset.

43) I would love to buy an old run down house and make it beautiful and then live in it.

44) I'm fascinated by sharks and watch way too many documentaries on them (why are we shocked when we go into their environment and then get attacked?!)

45) I love matching outfits with Bird. I just think it's so cute!

46) I really wish I could speak another language but I don't have the patience or attention span to learn one.

47) My dad still owns the house I grew up in and I love going back there. It's in a lovely little village in Devon where there's a cute little village pub and a real wishing well. It's such a pretty place.

48) I get so over-excited at Christmas and go way overboard with decorations and presents.

49) I usually know the words to a song once or twice after hearing it and it will stay in my head for days, even if I don't like it.

50) I'm very excitable and struggle to hide it. I go high-pitched and squeaky and annoy myself with it.

I hope you've enjoyed reading my 50 Facts About Me, and if there's anything else you'd like to know, leave a comment or contact me on Instagram! (GinaShergold1) :)

Love, Gina Xx

What's In My Changing Bag?

It's taken me a very, very long time to come to terms with the fact that taking EVERYTHING minus the kitchen sink with me whenever I leave the house, isn't easy, and apparently, isn't necessary.

I used to pack my handbag with whatever would fit - alongside the usual stuff, I'd take a bottle of deodorant, a bottle of perfume or body spray, a full sized hairbrush, sometimes a second pair of shoes - it was ridiculous.

Bird's changing bag started off the same way when she was born. It was always completely full - I packed loads, including my full makeup bag, into the changing bag. Obviously, it didn't take long for me to realise this was not going to work.

So I've managed to wean myself off of some items, and have only what I believe are the essentials in the changing bag.

The changing bag I'm currently using is called the Koto changing bag and I am obsessed with it! I just love everything about it. This is the 4th changing bag I've had since Bird was born... Yes, I know... I'll be doing a separate review on all 4 changing bags at a later date.

So first, here is my beautiful bag in all its glory:

I'll get stuck in with the contents now.

Changing mat - most changing bags come with one. The Koto bag has one with a green floral print which matches the fabric on the inside of the bag and pockets. I always put this down if I'm changing Bird at someone else's house, and I use it on the plastic pull down things in toilets and changing rooms.

Nappies! One of the most important things, obviously. We use Tesco Ultra Dry, currently in size 3. We've tried loads of different brands but have always come back to these as we find they fit Bird the best. Plus, they have a super cute little owl on the front, and I love owls!

Wipes. We usually go for Pampers because they're thick enough not to stretch and fall apart, but don't have a horrible dry feel we've experienced with some other brands.

Nappy bags. We're not fussy on the brand, and usually go for the shop's own brands because, let's face it, does it really matter what sort of bag you're going to use to dispose of a dirty nappy?

Nappy cream. I'll either use Sudocrem or the store brand from Tesco. I think they're as good as each other. Sudocrem is thicker whereas the Tesco brand has more of a "mousse" consistency but that does help it to wipe on more easily. Both last a really long time so we've only ever had to buy about 4 tubs in the space of 11 months.

A "messy bag" - again, some changing bags come with one of these, and what a brilliant invention! This has come in extremely handy whenever there's been a "poo-splosion!" I use it to keep dirty clothes or bibs. It's a simple plastic bag, with either a zip or zip lock seal. Love it!

Spare clothes. I always make sure I have a spare vest, two spare babygrows (or one and a top and bottoms), a cardigan in case it gets cold whilst we're out, and a spare pair of socks because my little madam loves to pull her socks off. Having two extra outfits may seem over the top, but TRUST ME... There will be times when you need them!

Bird's Personal Health Record Book. Again, this may not seem necessary, but I know I'd forget to grab it on the way out the door for check-ups so it's easier to always keep it tucked in the bag.

Factor 50 sun cream. The weather here is so temperamental, I find it's best to be prepared for all eventualities.

A sun hat. Again, the likelihood of needing it throughout the year may be slim in the UK, but I'm obsessive and would much rather be prepared.

Hand sanitiser. I found an alcohol-free one called Mucky Mitts in Sainsbury's and it's great. It's in a spray tube and was made for kids, so I can use it for myself and Bird without worrying that it'll damage her sensitive skin or that she'll put alcohol-covered fingers in her mouth!

A muslin. Preferably brightly coloured so it can be easily found amongst everything else in case of a poo/wee/sick related incident!

Personal belongings. I keep my phone, purse, keys, miniature diary and pen in the changing bag, along with some hair ties, a mini hairbrush, a mini perfume, some handcream and some paracetamol. It sounds like a lot, but at least I don't keep a mini dry shampoo in there anymore! (Yes, I used to do that).

Some small toys. These are my saviour sometimes. I change them up regularly so she doesn't get bored, but I usually take one or two little books and a few handheld toys for Bird to play with.

My breastfeeding cover by Bebe Au Lait. . This was lent to me by a friend and I really love it. Now that she's older, Bird tends to wriggle about under it, although she breastfeeds much less frequently now that she's on solids so I rarely need to feed her when we're out and about, but at the beginning it was great. I felt securely covered up but was able to look down and see my baby as I fed her due to the boned part at the top.

So there you have it, the contents of my changing bag!

I hope this was helpful/enjoyable.

Love, Gina Xx