NurseryValue store

Thank you all for your feedback on facebook regarding your reworked pushchairs. After our meeting this afternoon with the Customer Service Manager and Repair Manager, I’ve concluded that we’ve only actually had 1 complaint (so far 0 returns) regarding the black lime quality (2 if you include the query regarding the authenticity of the blk/lime zias), and 2 on other colours over the last 7 days against sales of over 100 over the same period. This indicates that there are no quality issues regarding black lime Zia’s with only a 3% exception across the entire Zia range.

We feel our biggest challenge is managing our customers’ expectations on these reworked items. Whilst receiving glowing recommendations on their “as new” condition is great, they do however raise expectations of follow up purchases and of those other customers who read these comments, which given the varied levels of quality of a reworked item is impossible to maintain. We will therefore do a better job of explaining that “as new” reworked items are not to be expected and will be stronger moderating comments on reworked, both positive and negative.

However, hygiene is the most important aspect of our reworked items. Those that feel they have received an unhygienic product will be entitled to a free collection and replacement/refund with our apologies. Contact our Customer Service via email to arrange a collection. Please also take photos of the dirty areas and forward onto info@nurseryvalue.com if convenient to do so.

refurbished pushchairs

There are many reasons to register your child after it’s born including signing on with the NHS so you have a doctor and receiving child benefit.

Registering your child couldn’t be easier so we’ve put a couple of points below to answer some of the common questions that are often asked.

How long after the birth do I need to register my child?
• In Scotland it is a legal requirement to register the birth of your child within the first 21 days.
• In England, Northern Ireland and Wales the legal requirement is to register your baby within 42 days.

Where do I register the birth of my child?
Your child must be registered with the local District Council where the baby was born. You will likely be given the option of registering your child just before you leave hospital after giving birth. Alternatively, you may need to visit your local registry office.

Who can register the birth of my child?
The parents is the obvious answer, but in a situation where the parents are unable to register the birth a nominated person can do it on their behalf.
Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland rules all differ slightly, but in general the following people are authorised to register the birth of a child:

• A direct relative of the mother
• A direct relative of the father if the couple are married
• A professional who works full time in the hospital where the child was born
• Anyone present at the birth
• The legal guardian of the child

The father that isn’t married to the mother can only register the baby in his own name if:

• The couple sign the register together
• The couple sign a declaration confirming the parentage of the child
• A court finds that the dad is proven the father

What information will I need to bring with me to register my baby?
Again there are slight variations between the different countries in the UK but in general:
• The certificate issued by the hospital
• The marriage certificate of the parents if applicable
• Full name, sex and date of birth of the baby
• Name of the District Council of birth
• Full names, addresses, occupations, and dates of birth of the parents

What do I get after I’ve registered my baby?
After you’ve finished registering your baby you should receive the summary birth certificate and a registration card which requires you to fill in and take to your local GP, without this card you will not be able to register your child with a doctor.

With the summary birth certificate and doctors’ registration card you will also receive an application to apply for a full birth certificate. The full birth certificate is important for a number of reasons such as claiming child benefit. The full birth certificate currently costs around £9 and will need to be included with your filled application form.

We have put together a check-list of optional and essential items that you will want to have with you as you prepare to go to the hospital for the birth of your child.

For mum
(Essentials)
• Nightgown or shirt to wear during labour (You might not want to wear the gown provided by the hospital)
• Dressing Gown
• Socks
• Slippers
• Comfy pyjamas (If breastfeeding consider nursing pyjamas)
• Spare bras (Again think about nursing bras if you plan to breastfeed)
• Spare underwear
• Varied toiletries which would include toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo and deodorant. (Further items are also recommended)
• Hair clip enabling you to pull hair back during labour
• A comfortable and loose fitting going home outfit
(Optional)
• Sweets are favoured by some parents to help keep your mouth moist during labour
• An activity book or small console/smart phone to keep busy during early labour 
• A baby book (These are used to record all the details of the delivery and your baby’s first moments)
• Cord Blood Collection kit
• Beauty products such as lipstick, make-up etc to help you look and feel better after labour
• Address book so you have everybody’s contact details when spreading the news
• A gift or several small gifts to show your gratitude to all the helpful nurses and midwives that have helped throughout

For partner
(Essentials)
• All relevant insurance information 
• The chosen hospital preregistration information 
• It’s also handy to bring your own change of clothes and toiletries
(Optional)  
• Things to be used during labour: soothing music, something to be used as a focal point, tennis ball, rolling pin or lotion for massage, watch, paper/pen, snacks 
• Book or magazine for reading 
• List of people and phone numbers to call 
• Camera/film camera

For baby 
• Clothing including t-shirt, socks, hat
• Going home outfit
• Coat or jacket (especially important during the colder months)
• Receiving blanket (and a heavier blanket if it's cold)
• Car seat/Travel System (This is a legal requirement for taking the baby home)

Each parent will need to weigh up the risk and benefits of vaccinating your child. While all medicines have side effects, vaccines tend to be among the safest, and in most cases the benefits far outweigh the side effects.

It’s important to make the decision that’s right for your family, but it’s also important to also consider your social responsibility in the importance of removing these epidemics from our communities so future vaccinations may not be necessary for your childs own children. Take smallpox for instance. This nasty disease has now been completely destroyed as a result of proactive vaccination.

The side effects?

Each vaccination is very different and the full information is available from your GP or calling the NHS hotline. In most cases, the side effects from vaccinations are quite mild, ranging from swelling or redness around the area of the injection, but is short lasting. Babies are likely to get more symptoms ranging from a slight temperature, or irritability but again the effects are short lasting, lasting in most no longer than 2 days.
In some very rare cases (less than 1 in 1million) your child may suffer an anaphylactic reaction soon after receiving the vaccination; thankfully the medical staff giving the injection are fully trained to spot the signs of reaction and will remedy the effects promptly.

What are Vaccines?

Vaccines work by triggering a response in the body to generate the required anti-bodies to fight a specified disease without actually infecting the patient with the illness. This is called “active immunity”. When the vaccinated baby comes in contact with the disease the infection is recognised and the relevant anti-body can be deployed before any damage is caused. Interestingly many new born babies are already temporarily protected from a number of common diseases such as measles, rubella, and mumps because of the anti-bodies passed onto them from their mother, assuming the mother has been vaccinated herself. This is called “passive immunity” and only lasts between 2 weeks and 1 year depending on the disease.

When should I vaccinate my baby?

(Please contact your GP if you are in any doubt, the information was provided by the NHS)

At 2 months
• diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and hib  Part 1: This vaccine protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Haemophilus influenzae.
• pneumococcal infection Part 1: This vaccine is the first of a 3 part programme that protects against pneumococcal infection, which can cause diseases such as meningitis, septicaemia and pneumonia.

At 3 months
• diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and hib  Part 2
• meningitis part 1: This vaccine protects against Meningococcal group C, a type of bacteria that can cause meningitis and septicaemia. There are 3 parts of this programme, the third part combing another vaccination

At 4 months
• diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and hib  Part 3 (final)
• meningitis part 2
• pneumococcal infection Part 2

At 12-13 months
• measles, mumps, and rubella part 1: Also known as the MMR, this vaccines protects against measles, mumps and rubella. This is part 1 of a 2 part programme
• pneumococcal infection Part 3
• Booster: hib, meningitis C (Part 3)

At 40 months
• Booster: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio
• measles, mumps, rubella part 2

At around the 6 month mark you will start to notice that your little one is ready to consume more than just milk. This will be around the same time that s/he is holding their head up easily and independently. Now would be the time to start trying to feed your baby ‘solids’.

Now, when people say ‘solids’ they don’t actually mean that same sort of solid that you or I would eat, in fact ‘solids’ in this case still aren’t really all that solid. That term at the 6 month mark, really refers to mashed or pureed fruit and vegetables; in a sense, easing your little one onto solid food bit by bit.

To start with, it is suggested that you try serving up a couple of spoonfuls of mashed or pureed vegetables or fruit like potatoes, carrot and banana. Another option would be to try gluten free cereal like maize and blend it with baby’s’ milk. There are plenty of other examples of vegetables and fruit that are worth trying like butternut squash, broccoli and cauliflower. One of the most popular modern dishes for babies is a sweet potato.

Once your baby is comfortable eating fruit and veg you can then try to move them onto other foods from the main food groups, these include such things as: bread, dairy, pasta, meat, fish, eggs and beans. At this stage, it is best to vary your little ones diet; the greater variety in flavours in this early time will help in stopping your baby from being a fussy eater later in their childhood.  Also, make sure that they have a good amount of sweet and savoury meals so they don’t develop a sweet tooth.  

In part 1, we discussed what tax credits are available to new families and low income parents. In part 2, we’ll be discussing how to make those funds go further.

It’s hard times out there at the moment - wages are down; food and goods have gone up in price. But not to fear, for generations, parents have brought up healthy, content and intelligent children using the bare essentials – and there’s no reason why you can’t do the same!

Before the recession it was far too easy to replace parenting with purchasing. We’ve now got the opportunity to entertain our children by connecting to them, by reading, painting and other crafts, rather than buying superficial toys. These options are much cheaper, improve both social and motor skills, and offer unlimited playability limited only by your imagination.

“It’s easy to spend money on our kids by stockpiling toys, gadgets, and the latest gizmo. But finding ways to enjoy being together without spending increases joy. When the focus is on spending time together, rather than money, the creative juices really start to flow.” – “Eat, Nap, Play”

Here are some other great ideas for cutting down:

• Drop the premium nappies. Your little one is unlikely to care what brand he’s wearing, and neither will the bin men. You might also want to buy in bulk from your local warehouse store.

• BREAST FEED! Not only is this the best source of nutrition for your little one, it also saves on buying expensive formulas. Buy a milk expresser so you always have a supply for when you’re not around, or when baby stays at the grandparents.

• The most obvious option is to get toys and clothes from other parents. Children grow up so fast they’ve normally outgrown any item of clothing within a couple of months, so why not see what your friends have, in most cases you may never need to buy clothes or toys as every item needed is passed down. In return, always look for someone to pass your goods onto to continue the circle.

• Once your child is capable of eating solids (approximately 6 months) avoid buying expensive pre-made baby meals. Instead, blend some vegetables, potatoes and soft meats from your own meals into a puree and use those. Just make sure they aren’t high in sugar and salt.

• Like clothes and toys, prams can be obtained from other parent friends who often will be more than happy to part with it for much less than you will buy brand new. Alternatively, you can try eBay, or something that’s becoming increasingly more widespread is the use of factory outlets. These manufacturers use these outlets to re-sell their returns. These returns are often refurbished to a very good standard and often as cheap as second-hand found on eBay.

nurseryvalue factory outlet

Following my article yesterday about some of the anxiety brought on by the financial burdens of moving to a single income; buying baby furniture clothes, food and nappies etc, we’ve decided to create a summary post on some of the help a new family are entitled to, and how to reduce the costs of bringing up a child.

In part 1: tax credits, I shall describe the tax and credits available to a new family.

Child tax credit – Child tax benefit is intended for families with a combined salary of £58k or less (£66k if you have a child under 12months). The actual amount you will receive is based solely on your household income and neither parent needs to be working to claim this benefit.
The credit is paid directly into the primary carers’ bank or savings account and is paid on a weekly or monthly basis.

Working tax credit – Work tax credit is intended for people who are employed or self-employed and on a low income. The only criteria for claiming are that you work more than 16 hours a week and are over the age of 16. The amount you will receive is determined on the amount of hours a week you work and the income earned. On top of this you can apply for up to 80% of your childcare costs to a maximum cost of £175 per week (£300 for two or more children) but you must use registered childcare services.
You can choose to receive working tax credit on either a weekly or monthly basis and is paid directly into you bank or savings account. If you qualify for childcare costs the credit will also be paid to the claimant.

For more information on child and working tax credits and how to apply visit: http://taxcredits.hmrc.gov.uk/Qualify/WhatAreTaxCredits.aspx

Child benefit – Child benefit can be claimed by any parent responsible for looking after a child right up to the age of 16 (longer if your child stays in education). Child benefit works out at £20.30 for the first child and £13.40 for each additional child.
Child benefit is paid directly into a bank or saving account and is normally paid every four weeks. You can request a weekly payment if you are getting income support.
Child benefit claim form:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/index.htm
Or call 0845 302 1444

In part 2 we shall be discussing the best places to look for baby bargains.

A lot of people ask if Dads can suffer from postnatal depression (PND). The answer is absolutely. Approximately one in ten dads suffers from PND which is likely to develop in the first six months following the birth of the child.

Post natal depression in dads though, is not like PND suffered by mums. PND in mums is mainly caused by the rebalancing of hormones, as well as the psychological stresses of carrying a child to term and giving birth.

The primary factors for PND in men are:

• Anxiety about the responsibilities of being a father. This includes self-doubt that they will be a good dad, and the pressure to live up to the same standard of parenting given by his father when growing up. Alternatively, unhappy memories may be triggered from his childhood by the birth of his own child.

• Financial concerns also play an important stress factor for new dads. The prospect of moving down to a single income or working more hours to support the family may be concerning him.

Mens natural unwillingness to discuss their feelings may lead to many cases of PND to go undiagnosed. However there are a number of symptoms that can help indentify PND.

• Does he look exhausted or anxious?
• Is he irritable or easily frustrated?
• Has he taken more interest in the household finances recently?
• Is he struggling to sleep or struggling to get up in the morning?
• Is he spending less time socialising with both friends and family, and spending more time on his own?

If you notice any of the above symptoms it’s best to try and encourage him to talk to you, or one of his friends or family members. Many new dads will find talking to their own father very comforting; after all, they’ve experienced many of the same emotions and may even be able to offer advice or support in some way.

If the symptoms do not dissipate after the first 12 months then you should encourage him to contact his GP who may be able to offer professional help, or medication.

NurseryValue has an excellent opportunity for at least one new parent to work from home. We hope to recruit the services of a to-be-new parent to help by writing an article each week on pregnancy, and later giving birth and looking after a newborn. You will be expected to write approximately 500 words and provide photos as required. You will also be given one product each month to review and test in addition to your weekly diary. You will be required to communicate with your reader’s comments, and maintain a daily twitter feed. No formal qualifications required.

This excellent opportunity is ideal for any mum looking to kick start a career in marketing or journalism and work alongside a leading brand. In addition, we are also offering a fixed monthly retainer of £150, and be able to keep some of the tested products and prototypes.

If you are interested in joining our growing marketing team please save the below questionnaire and email it to Paul@NurseryValue.com. Please also supply with the email an approximately 500 word typed document about yourself and what you can offer.

http://www.nurseryvalue.com/gfx/ul/pub/questionaire-v3.pdf
Make sure you save a copy after filling it in. And send it to: Paul@NurseryValue.com

Deadline is 31st August 2011

Living in Britain, we like to make sure we take advantage of the 5 or so days of sunshine we get every year, and I’m sure you want your little one to join you outside soaking in the glorious weather. However, you have to be very careful as at early age, the sun can be very damaging to baby’s skin and overall health. It is advised that when he/she is still tiny it’s best to keep them out of the sun altogether, only once they get a little older should you let them join you out and about in the nice weather. Even so, it is best to keep their skin fully protected, and make sure they’re wearing a nice big sun hat to keep cool. Even with these measures in place, it is not recommended to take your little one out in the sun while it is at its hottest (11am-3pm). 

When purchasing sun cream there are a couple of things to remember; firstly, you should apply sun cream that is at very least factor 25, and also make sure that it has a broad spectrum with a 4 or 5 star rating. (That will make sure it covers UVA and UVB protection). When applying the sun cream try to use much more than you would on yourself, a big dollop usually does the trick, making sure to cover all areas of skin not covered by clothes or a hat. Try to apply at least 30min before contact with the sun, and remember to re-apply every few hours. 

When out and about try to keep your baby in the shade as much as you can, perhaps under a tree or take a large sun canopy with you to the beach. The best types of clothes for this time of year are lightweight closely woven fabric items such as cotton; these will allow your babies skin to breathe easier and help to keep them cool. 

Sunglasses are a must for your baby as they will help protect their growing sensitive eyes. There is no need to purchase expensive glasses, but ones that work well and are durable are most recommended. 

If using a pram/pushchair while you are out, remember to use the sun canopy to block out any intense rays, also try to get a sun parasol to attach to the pushchair, this will help to block out further sun rays that the canopy itself misses. Most pushchairs have parasols available as accessories, or you can buy universal ones that attach to most pram bodies.

Pushchair Parasols