In a world where branded mass-market toys light-up, sing and pretty much play all by themselves; it is easy to see why making toys for your little one is becoming popular. Not only is it friendly on your bank balance, recycling those unwanted household items into toys is good for the environment too. Less waste, more fun! There is also a huge sense of…

Are those blissful days of leaving your baby asleep in their Moses basket while you pop to make a hot drink long gone? Do you now dread needing to use the bathroom? For many parents, there comes a time when their baby cries each and every time they leave the room. With hindsight this is…

Modern life has never been so busy, our time has never been so in demand and our technology has never been so brilliant! With tablets now becoming a normal part of school life and many apps designed for babies and toddlers, our little ones are destined to be technological whizzes before they are out of…

Has your slow cooker been banished to the back of a cupboard? Forgotten about amidst the summer heat? Is it patiently waiting for those cold winter nights before it can star once again on your kitchen worktop, churning out soups, casseroles and Sunday roasts? Think again! Slow cooking is perfect for family life all year…

Summer is here! Our thoughts naturally turn to fun in the sun, holidays and quality time outdoors. For mums, dads and anyone caring for a child though, the sun is just another item on our never-ending ‘dangers to overcome’ list. So how do we keep our precious babies safe during these hot summer months? Planning…

If water isn’t on your list of regular baby and toddler activities then you are missing out on something amazing. Free, fun and fantastically versatile, water can draw out chuckles from even the tiniest of tots. Most water activities can be adapted to suit all stages; great if you have more than one child at…

Finding activities to keep your children occupied during the holiday when the ‘Great British Weather‘ strikes (think torrential rain, and snow in June!) can be a seriously draining experience. The combination of boredom and cabin fever can make even the most well-behaved children turn into screaming monsters and trying to placate them is enough to…

Tips on How to Eat Seven-A-Day I’m sure you’ve read that the latest government guidelines for healthy eating state that we should eat seven portions of fruit and vegetables every day. If this seems like a difficult task to incorporate these into your diet, we’ve put together our favourite “secretly good” recipes to help you…

The Education Minister, Liz Truss would like school nurseries to open from 8 am – 6 pm. Michaela gives her views on this suggestion. “At Bumpkins we start our day at 7.30 am and we don’t close our doors till 6.30 pm, so I would like to think Liz Truss would be very happy with…

First Days at Nursery This is a guest post from a mummy who has recently settled her child into our nursery. Leaving your child at nursery for that first day can be really nerve wracking for many parents. You may have spent a full 12 months with your child and that feeling of handing them…