Blog

To help you manage these important early moments, there are small steps you can take as a parent to ensure that your toddler continues to feel supported and loved through this big change in their little life. 

What’s better than one bouncing baby? Two! While double the number of tiny fingers and toes also means double the joy, twins can be a little difficult to shop for. Whether you’re shopping for Christening gifts or celebrating a special birthday, you’ve not only got one mini personality to cater for but two.

Research shows that whilst babies sleep routines are naturally sporadic, they can be just as affected by changes in timezone as adults. Then, if you are travelling somewhere where your little one may experience jet lag, we advise making sure you are clear on how to minimise their symptoms when you arrive. Here are our top tips…

Here at My 1st Years, we see thousands of names being personalised onto beautiful baby gifts every day, meaning we can see the latest trends first hand. We know that becoming a parent is a truly special moment but it’s not one without a lot of decisions and worry – and a big one is what do you call your new bundle? If you’re welcoming a new arrival with the new season then we have 10 beautiful summer-inspired baby names, to help you make your decision, and we think you will love them!

We all love Easter, it’s a time of new beginnings, half terms and of course chocolate! But although we love to eat a sneaky chocolate egg or 5, the thought of our little ones filled up on sugary treats isn’t as appealing! With that in mind here at My 1st Years we have come up with a selection of gifts that look adorable, can be personalised and do not contain sugar. So let everyone else gift your tots the chocolatey treats whilst you gift them something a little more special this Easter Sunday.

Some tots love feeling comfortable and secure in their car seats. For others, getting settled in for a car journey will be a constant battle. As a parent, listening to your child cry or squirm around in their seat can be heartbreaking, not to mention super distracting when you’re trying to concentrate on the road. So, what can you do when your baby hates the car seat?

Warm Nights = Restless Babies! Here’s How to Cope. Ah, summer. After waiting months for it to rear its beautiful head, we metaphorically melt the moment temperatures reach an intolerable 25 degrees. But what about our little ones? Having possibly only known wind, rain and the occasional dull grey day since they were born, bubbas are bound to be shocked by the sudden increase in temperature which could cause more than a few sleepless nights… Here are our top tips for keeping little ones cool during this (no doubt fleeting) warm period: SLEEPWEAR  – Starting off with an obvious point, you should always dress your baby in weather-appropriate clothing – which also applies to night time. For temperatures between 20-23 degrees, a short babygrow or shorts and a t-shirt with a nappy or 1 tog sleeping bag should be fine; for nights of 25 degrees and over just a nappy and thin cotton vest will be dandy. – Bedding is just as important as clothing – make sure to use cotton bed sheets and avoid any waterproof mattresses. These retain heat and will only make your baby sweat more in the night. – Remember that temperatures will drop during the night, so don’t make them so scantily dressed that they’ll become chilly once the sun has set. (We know, it’s a minefield.) Enough thin layers and checking on them before you go to bed are usually enough to give peace of mind. LOTS OF AIR– There’s nothing like a cool breeze on a humid night, and you can easily summon them into your home with a little ingenuity. Opening all the windows on one level will create a pleasant wind tunnel throughout your home; if you have a loft hatch open that as well to allow hot air to escape through the roof. – If baby has an electric fan in their room, place a large bowl of ice or some frozen water bottles in front of it when it’s going. These will help cool the air that the fan will blow around the room, preventing a gust of already-warm air making them even more flustered. TEMPERATURE CHECKS  – A quick lukewarm bath (not too cold) will help freshen up your baby before bedtime, and prevent any unwanted clamminess. – After this is done, you should keep an accurate thermometer in their room so you know what temperatures you’re dealing with and what actions to plan and take. – For an accurate gauge of baby’s temperature, feel the back of their neck or use another thermometer – hands and feet do get colder than the rest of the body, so these aren’t quite as reliable.  KEEP A COOL HEAD  – Last of all, try and stay calm and collected during warm summer evenings. Everyone has a tendency to get a bit flustered when they’re hot, but babies will be fine as long as they’re kept reassured and offered plenty of cool toys to play with. (In both meanings of the word.) How do you cope in the warm summer months? Let us know in the comments below.FOLLOW USFacebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram Google+

The Best 1st Birthday Gift Ideas The 1st birthday is by far the most important, they may not remember the celebration in years to come, but it is a truly magical milestone for friends, family and of course the parents. If you don’t have your own children or it’s been some years since you have, picking the perfect present for a first birthday can be a challenge. Fear not, the gifting experts here at My 1st Years know the best gifts to buy for a 1-year-old, that they’ll not only love but even treasure! From toys to furniture all of our birthday gift ideas come personalised for free, making it an extra special present that the whole family will adore.   BEST 1ST BIRTHDAY GIFTS: A BACKPACK  Whether they’re starting nursery or having more adventures outside now, a backpack is an excellent gift idea for a 1-year-old. At My 1st Years, we have a huge backpack selection including fun characters, stylish prints and simple designs, that are all personalised at no extra cost. We know that many people don’t like using a full name on a backpack, and we understand so why not get creative? You can personalise our bags with anything why not add their initials or nursery class name? BEST 1ST BIRTHDAY GIFTS: A WOODEN TOY As a baby turns one they start their journey into toddlerhood, they’re likely to be finding their feet around this age and becoming more independent. Between the ages of one and three, children develop immensely and this development is largely aided by lessons learned through play. We have a host of wooden toys available at My 1st Years that little ones love to play with as they sail through each development phase. From puzzles, stackers and pull-a-long toys to imaginative play kitchens and instruments for when they get bigger. Of course, you can buy toys anywhere but our beautifully crafted wooden toys are all personalised making them more gift-worthy than the ones you find at the supermarket. BEST 1ST BIRTHDAY GIFTS: A LITTLE EXTRA FOR THEIR ROOM From playtime to sleep time, from the age of 1 little one will start to spend more and more time in their own bedroom. That is why our beautiful collection of home accessories and personalised storage solutions are a great gift for a first birthday. If you know a popular baby who is likely to receive tonnes of new toys Mum and Dad may appreciate the extra storage space of a toy chest or storage bag, while the birthday boy or girl will grow to fall in love with seeing their name written in their bedroom or playroom. We don’t just have storage but you can find cushions, prints, teepees and so many more room accessories, all of which are perfect for a birthday treat!  BEST 1ST BIRTHDAY GIFTS: THEIR 1ST SET OF WHEELS Ok, we don’t really suggest buying them their 1st car when they hit one! We are talking about one of our ride-on toys or rockers, they’re one of our most popular first birthday gifts and are a toy that little one will play with for years to come. We know that having a toy that large in the home means it has to look nice, which is why all of our ride on toys looks as great as they are fun! BEST 1ST BIRTHDAY GIFTS: A SOFT TOY Many people think you can only buy small babies a soft toy as the only ones that are treasured are the ones baby has had since birth, but that is simply not true. As little one enters their toddler years their soft toys often become their best friends, and they will start to use them not only for comfort but imaginative play too. We have a huge selection of soft toys from mischievous monkeys to dreamy dolls all available to personalise! However, did you spot Stacey Soloman gifting her son Rex one of our best-selling bunny soft toys on his first birthday, proving it to be the best gift ever! BEST 1ST BIRTHDAY GIFTS: A PERSONALISED OUTFIT Whether it’s one of our cosy tracksuits for nursery days or an item from our denim range, a personalised outfit is always a sweet birthday gift. Here at My 1st Years we know that for toddling babies comfort is key, so all of our clothing is comfortable and made from soft materials, perfect for baby’s delicate skin. What’s more our denim range comes finished with stylish motifs including: Lightening bolts, rainbows, bears and butterflies, meaning you can tailor the outfit to the little one’s interests. Don’t forget what makes our clothing so special is that it can be personalised with a name or initials for an extra special touch!  We hope this helps you on your search for the perfect first birthday gift for a truly special little boy or girl in your life. Don’t forget My 1st Years is always being updated with new products to fall in love with.  With love,  My 1st Years x FOLLOW USFacebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram Google+go back top

Tips on Introducing Baby Number Three to the Family With the excitement of this week’s royal birth in full swing, it had us thinking about how much Prince William and The Duchess of Cambridge’s life is about to change! Whether you currently only have two and are considering baby number three or are pregnant with your third, our friend Leonora Bamford, Editor of Mybaba.com, tells us all about having a third baby and shares her top tips for making it easier for everyone.   I can’t count how many people told me not to go for a third child! As my older two grew and got more and more independent, friends told me I’d be mad to even think about it. They all said the same thing, ‘Why would you want to go back to nappies and sleepless nights?’ I had a 7-year-old son and a 6-year-old daughter and life was suddenly so easy. We could jump in the car without thinking about it, go on holiday and stay out later for dinner and things just seemed to work, we were a great family unit.  But I always felt there was just one little person missing, as we all piled into bed on the weekends to watch cartoons, I could imagine another little one sandwiched in the middle.   @mybabainsta My husband and I talked about the massive jump from two to three babies for what seemed like years and finally decided that it was now or never. Our other two were really pushing for a sibling and one night I sat next to a friend who didn’t tell me how mad I was. He said that his parents had waited and had another baby years later. He said that he couldn’t in a million year imagine life without his brother and that the world was a better place with him in it. Well, that was reason enough for me!   @mybabainsta Number three has just turned one and I wish I hadn’t listened to a single person telling me how hard it is with three children and how crazy I was to even think of it. After having two children early into our marriage and very young, to wait and then have a little miracle seven years later is just that, an absolute miracle. He has brought us nothing but joy and even with the sleepless nights, reflux, allergies and all those nappies, it is the greatest joy in the world. It’s also so much easier than I thought it would be. I found this time I have been much more relaxed and at ease. Things that worried me the first time around, I now wouldn’t give a second thought and I look back at the suitcase sized nappy bag I used to lug around with me and smile as these days I pop a micro sized little pouch with essentials in my handbag. My older children are my helpers and after 12 short months, can’t remember life without him.  He is so much a part of our family and we all feel blessed. We’re now complete. If anyone tries to put you off having a third, try not to listen to all the negatives. It’s just true what they say, ‘If only you could have your last one first!’.   @mybabainsta  @mybabainsta TOP TIPS FOR MAKING BABY NUMBER THREE AND EASIER TRANSITION:Make your other children feel part of the journey. Courtney Adamo who has five children, wrote a brilliant book called Nine Months that you can read as your bump grows and it answers many questions for all curious little people.I took my children to a scan late on in the pregnancy and told them that it was going to be a boy. I knew my daughter was going to be furious but the scanning lady told her how lucky she was, and that she was still the only princess in the family. This absolutely did the trick and my daughter left feeling on top of the world and my son, who was desperate for a little brother, was thrilled.Accept help, whether it is from friends, family or outside.  You can’t do everything, but with a bit of support you have time for all the important bits. I was still determined to take my older two to school and pick them up. It’s not easy in the early days with demanding feeding schedules but with a bit of help you can do anything.Routine is key for me. I know I thrive on it and I think children do too.Try not to coo over the new baby in front of your others. Plenty of visitors will be doing this and it’s natural for them to be jealous. When I introduced them for the first time, I popped two little teddies in his Moses basket as a present from the baby to his siblings and they treasure them.Remember the first three months are the hardest and then suddenly things seem to fall in to place.Last but not least, don’t forget your husband!FOLLOW USFacebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram Google+go back top