Bristol cafe & changing series: #1 Bocabar

As a new mum I find myself in lots of cafes during the week, so I thought I'd let you know what I think of them in relation to how baby friendly they are and the changing facilities available. I'm not reviewing food/drinks as I generally only have a diet coke or tea! 

First in the series is Bocabar at Paintworks, Bath Road, Arnos Vale, Bristol. 

Cafe area - 4/5 (one point taken away due parking issues)

This cafe is great, especially if there are quite a few of you with buggies. I generally meet my NCT friends there. The cafe is large and has loads of room for buggies. There are a lot large sofas which makes whiling away a few hours too easy! It also makes breastfeeding really comfortable and they are breast feeding friendly. There is also a good selection of yummy cake! 

On the downside every time I've been its been a nightmare to park. There are lots of offices/units close by which makes the car parking is quite confusing. The visitor car park is always full and its not always obvious where else you can park. However, having been a few times now I think I've cracked it. I turn left by the Dentamagic sign and you can park down the end of this row by the river. 

Changing facilities 2/5

My son had a poo explosion last week whilst I was there and he required a full change. It was a cold day (about 2 degrees) and the changing room was freezing. It's on an outside wall and not heated and as a result my son screamed the place down. 

It has one of those pull down plastic tables, however I think the strap might have been broken but I wasn't looking that closely due to the screaming!

On the plus side it was clean (if a little scruffy) and there was an adult toilet in there too. I prefer changing facilities with a toilet in them because if you are on your own it makes going yourself so much easier! 

Summary
Great pushchair friendly, comfy cafe. Brilliant for whiling away afternoons and even better if you live in walking distance. Changing facilities adequate but probably nicer in the summer! 

Post partum weight loss journey

So, its been 5 months since Reuben was born so I thought an update on my post partum weight loss was due. 

My pre pregnancy weight was 144lb, so not huge but not exactly skinny. I put on 32lbs during my pregnancy (I did go two weeks overdue), so ended up at 176lb. Here is a photo of me at about 41weeks (excuse the double chins!). 

I lost the majority of the weight relatively easily, having a 8lb baby was a good start and I think that breast feeding really helped. I got down to about 150lb but then stagnated. However, I was eating a lot of cake! 

At Christmas (3months post partum) I stopped breast feeding. Reuben had started to refuse to feed and was losing weight so we made the difficult decision to move to formula. I then realised I couldn't continue eating cake all day so decided to diet to lose the remaining 6lb. I did this by using the myfitnesspal app on my phone. It's basically just calorie counting but you can scan in all your food so it makes it really easy. It look me about 3 weeks to get back to 144lbs.

My ideal weight would be about 130lbs (I'm 5ft 4in tall) but I'm not sure how realistic this is.  I've stopped using myfitnesspal but I'm trying to eat healthy and do some exercise. I do an aerobics class twice a week and yoga once a week, and run round after Reuben the rest of the time.

I don't know if I'll ever make it to 130lbs (I'm currently 142lbs) but its always good to have a goal in mind to stop me from eating all those cakes...yum yum.

Reuben's 5 month update

Weight: 15lb 4oz (last weighed Mon 11 Feb)
Reuben is tracking well on the 25th centile.  Last week he got a cold and was just refusing to feed and literally just screaming any time the bottle went near him.  I didn't realise it was a cold at first and got a bit worried (we even went to the doctors) but once his cold came out his feeding improved.  Me and Rob then got the cold and felt awful so poor Roo must have been feeling pretty bad.

Height: 67cm (approx not offical measurement)

Clothes: generally 3-6 months, but 6-9 month vests and a couple of tops and trousers.

Feeding: 100% Formula (Aptamil First Milk with a scoop of comfort milk), around 25 -30oz per day.  I tried Roo on purees at around 18/19  weeks and he really enjoyed the tastes but then he got constipated so I got a bit scared about giving him too much so we got some comfort milk to help him poo.  I'm going to start the Gina Ford weaning plan from today, so this morning he had one teaspoon of baby porridge.

Development: Holding feet, he generally prefers his right foot but he can hold both feet.  He has started waving his arms up and down frantically and all the better if he happens to have a toy in his hand and can hit himself with it.  He can manage a couple of seconds sitting unaided.  Really reaching for and interacting with his toys.  He had a week of rolling from his back to his belly but has now got bored with that.  Blowing bubbles and making farting noises.

Activities: I'm still doing my exercise class twice a week and Roo is still enjoying lying on his Lamaze mat and watching mummy.  We have taken him swimming a couple of times which he has loved.  Other than that I meet up with friends and go to coffee mornings/walks.  I tried to do my own mini photoshoot at home (as worried about him pooing/weeing on the bed though - here is my favourite photo)

Favourite things: giraffe, blanket bear, dummy, Fisher price bouncer chair, M&P snug seat, activity gym, Lamaze travel mat, large puzzle toy, caterpillar, mirrors, At the Zoo singalong CD

Poo: We had a week of 7 a day (we got through so many nappies!), then he got constipated and now we are averaging 1 to 2 a day.  

Nicknames: Roo, Little Roo, Sausage, Saucisson, poppet, mommy's monkey

Routine:
7am get up and feed (he takes anything from 50ml to 140ml) then activity gym/tummy time/sitting in chair.
9 - 10/10.30 -sleep in cot. Last week he was doing 1hr 30mins at this nap but then not sleeping well at lunchtime and waking up at 4am so from this week i'm going back to Gina and just going to do a max of 45 mins
10.30 - top and tail and dressed for the day
11 - feed (anything from 70mls to 150mls) and from today 1 teaspoon of baby porridge
12/12.30 - nap - his lunchtime nap isn't going well and he only does about 30/40mins but will then have another 30mins at 2pm
2.30/3pm - feed 120mls-180mls
3-5 - play/activity gym/out for walk
5.30 - I start to prepare bath stuff, room for sleeping, formula etc Roo sits in his chair with Cbeebies on (i particularly like Grandpa in my pocket)
6 - feed - usually about 110mls
6.20 - bath
6.40 - remainder of feed - about 100-120mls
6.50 - story
7pm - Euan sheep on, night lights on and sleep!
We are no longer feeding in the night but he still wakes up around 1.30 and 4am and needs settling.

Purchases: highchair - we got the Joie Mimzy, wetsuit (from Two Bare Feet), Ikea hoodie towels (his newborn ones were too small), bowls/plates/bibs for weaning

Places we've been: West Bromwich Albion ground for my Uncles 60th (Roo did a wee on the carpet in one of the executive boxes as there wasn't a baby change facility and we didn't manage to catch the wee in time!), Brixham for a mini holiday over Valentines, Walsall and Burntwood to see my family (first overnight stay with my brother and sister-in-law), Portishead

Roo and Mummy in Brixham

Other milestones: Roo moved into his own room last night and slept well!

See you at 6 months!

February Glossybox: what I got...

In addition to loving my boy I also love beauty and make up.

I've just signed up to a 3 month subcription of Glossyboxes.  I had money left over from my birthday and Christmas and wanted to treat myself.

My first box arrived on Saturday and I was so excited.  The packaging is beatutiful.  I don't know if it is always pink (February is the Valentine edition) but I loved it.

This is how it arrived

These are the products close up

Helen E Cosmetics - Moisurising lipstick in Raspberry
Anatomicals - You need a blooming shower - Rose scented shower gel
Docteur Renaud - Raspberry soft cream facial moisturiser
Micabella Cosmetics - Mineral Blush Poweder in Terra Cotta
Modelco - Eyeshadow duo in Bronzed Goddess



The three month subcription was £35 including postage.  I think it is value for money as the products are a good size.  I'm hoping it will take me out of my comfort zone when it comes to make up.  You can set up a profile on the Glossybox site so you should get products which are tailored to your needs. I'm going to see how I get on, but I might sign up for the rolling monthly subscription :-)

Look out for a review at the end of the month to see what I thought of this months' Glossybox.

Travel system/pushchair review: UppaBaby Vista

Firstly, I want to start off my stating that I absolutely LOVE my UppaBaby Vista. There are a couple of improvements they could make but I would 100% recommend this travel system to any new mum. 

What do you get? Pushchair base, bassinet, pushchair seat, 2x rain covers, 2x mosquito nets, adapters for Maxi Cosi car seat.

The pushchair comes in a range of colour options.  Mine is Jake Black on the black frame.

Optional extras, Rumble seat (to add on an additional child), snack tray, snug seat newborn insert, cup holder, foot muff.

What you get (sorry about the quality of this photo)

This pushchair is not cheap. It retails around £569 to £629.  I managed to get 15% off mine with Kiddicare with voucher codes I found on babycentre. Kiddicare generally offer 5% off with the code Morrisons most of the time. You can also buy it at John Lewis at Cribs Causeway in Bristol and Trendy Baby in Clevedon.

What I love about it
It has a HUGE basket, great for shopping/carrying baby stuff around.  Its the largest basket of all the pushchairs I've come across.  Also the design of the axle means you don't kick your foot on the back of it when walking (or running!). I put this in as my friends will tell you I try and avoid running.

The pushchair seat can be parent and forward facing (can only be folded when seat is forward facing).  Its really light and easy to attach.  The seat is roomy, has a 5 point harness and the canopy can be lifted up to give more room as your child grows. 

There is a great peep through window in the top of the canopy which allows you to see your little one when the seat is forward facing.  I have friends who don't have this and they have to keep stopping and walking in front of the pushchair to check on their child. 

There is an inbuilt SPF50 sun canopy (see below in silver) which is great for the sun and to provide extra darkness if you are trying to get your baby to sleep. 

It is recommended the pushchair be used from 6 months but I've been using it with Reuben from 4 months as his head control is good and he wanted to be upright and look about.  You can buy a 'snug seat' insert to use from birth. 


Shows forward and rear facing, sun shade, rain cover and bug cover.



Large peek through window with magnetic closure on canopy.

The bumper bar can be removed and replaced with a snack tray which can be bought as an addition.
The handle is adjustable.  I use it on the lowest setting (I'm 5ft 4inches) but my husband extends it as he is 6ft so it is perfect for both of us.

It comes with a large bassinet.  I used this (and still do) as a moses basket downstairs for sleeping and for walks when I want Reuben to sleep.  It can be used for overnight sleeping or as a travel cot as it is fully ventilated.  It also has the built in SPF 50 sunscreen into the hood.

The pushchair is so easy to steer (which is good as it is on the larger side).  It has no pump wheels which are great over rough terrain and snow. We had a lot of snow last month and my Uppababy was brilliant.  It went through the snow like a dream.  I went talking with other mums and the snow was building up in their wheels stopping them from turning and their wheels were sticking - we had no such problems.

It comes with Maxi Cosi car seat adapters (you don't have to buy these separately).  The positioning of the adapters also means that your baby is quite high up and close to you when the car seat is attached which I loved.

Car seat not included in price.  I have the Maxi Cosi Cabriofix bought from Boots.  However the rain cover which comes with the UppaBaby does fit over this car seat.

Things that could be improved

When you have the bassinet on its really hard to get in the basket. It would better if the bassinet fitted in the Maxi Cosi adapters so that it was a little higher. 

I don't know if its just my pushchair but the break sometimes doesn't work first time.  The designed its not obvious to see if it is on or off.



Close up of break, puschair frame free standing when folded, Mothercare Universal footmuff.



Sometimes when I unfold my pushchair the process of unfolding locks the front wheels.  I'll go to turn a corner and then have to reach forward to unlock the wheels. I'd say this happens about 1 out of every 4 unfolds.

The raincover is designed for the pushchair (I think) but you can use it with the bassinet but there is nowhere to tie it into place (on the pushchair or bassinet). See close up, am i missing something?

The official footmuff (Babtyganoosh) is very expensive so I opted for a Universal Mothercare one.  I'm sure it's probably not as good (i.e it's not waterproof) but the Babyganoosh was around £80 and on maternity pay I just could justify this extra expense.

The pushchair is large and heavy (11.5kg) but i suppose this also makes it sturdy.  Its sometimes not the easiest to get through doors or between tables in cafes but you can't have everything!  I don't have a problem lifting it but I did have to get a bigger car as it didn't fit into my Peugeot 206 unless i popped off the back wheels.

The fold isn't the most obvious and you need two hands.  When we first looked at this pushchair in John Lewis we couldn't figure it out, then a lady walked past who had the pushchair and she helped us out!  Once you know how to do it, it's fine.  You need to hold a button on the left hand side of the pushchair with your left hand, the squeeze the handle with your right hand and push down to a white line on the right hand side of the pushchair (this is all so much easier if you have the break on).  I've folded other pushchairs (like the BabyJogger) and they are so much simpler and one handed.  I think UppaBaby could improve this element of the design.

I'm not sure I'm going to have much use for the bug covers in the UK.  Personally I think it would be better if it came with the snack tray instead.

However I 100% love and recommend this pushchair!