REVIEW: Infantino Explore & Store Baby Gym (Jungle Buddies)

I love this baby gym! Some baby items I find hard to get excited about, particularly as this is my second time with a newborn so I have racked up some serious playtime before now; however this baby gym – I love!

Taylor giving the Zebra a good telling off lol

Aptly named Explore & Store, from a parent’s point of view, it really is easy to clean and put away. I have had so many toys, games and the like in the past which claim to be easy to store (and are shoved down the back of the sofa in a misshapen heap nine times out of ten) but this one is. A convenient storage bag with velcro closers and a carry handle make it easy to transport so that you can take it Grandma’s (or wherever your play is located that day) and keeps the gym fresh, clean and tidy ready for the next use. We did the cleaning test (Taylor threw up on it) and caught quickly enough it does just wipe down.

Ideal for ages 0-5m, with bright colours, a soft feel and gorgeous jungle characters to capture his imagination, this is the ideal playtime mat for Taylor. Three brightly coloured jungle animals hang down, encouraging Taylor to reach up and grab – developing his hand/eye co-ordination and keeping him engaged and entertained. There are also teething shapes which hang down from the animals though Taylor can’t quite get to these yet.

More information on the rest of the range is available on the Infantino website, and you can purchase now from Amazon.

Taylor loves his baby gym and play-mat and already we have enjoyed hours of fun, whilst I can be confident he is playing safely and that his sense are being stimulated.

I would have been very pleased to receive this as a gift. The Cawood family recommends!

Review: Fabulous Bakin' Boys – Fruit & Oat Slices

If you have a child at school or starting school this year, or ever visit any parenting forums online you will no doubt hear parents complain about packed lunches and what to put in them. Schools are quite prescriptive about not allowing certain foods/sweets etc (most of which I agree with), but it can make finding new things to put in the boxes more difficult.

Luckily I just happened to have the kettle on when these arrived!

When I was asked if Kieran would like to test the new Fruit & Oat slices I thought these would be ideal, and I wasn’t wrong! These are a filling snack, packed wuith fibre and each snack contains the equivilent of one portion of fruit. Healthly info aside, they really are delicious.

Obviously being Kieran’s Mum I had to test at least one bar first to make sure they were of the usual quality you’d expect from Fabulous Bakin’ Boys – and I am happy to report they are (luckily as well as being yummy these are also only 4 points on Weight Watchers (strawberry ones) so my mini-gorge wasn’t at all naughty although it felt pretty indulgent!).

Taste Test Child #1: Kieran loved these, he calls them his “grown up cereal bars” and they have taken pride of place in his packed lunch. Cereal bars are accepted snacks in packed-lunches but I find them so dry! These are anything but, being moist yet still firm.

Taste Test Child #2: Roy (yes the long-suffering husband) has also nabbed a few slices for his packups! I thought these would be a bit small for him but he assures me not, although for those who would like to see a bigger slice, these are being launched in the strawberry and apple flavours in the near future.

Mums Test: Well they taste great, are convenient, aren’t overly costly (£1 for 5 slices as an introductory price, rising to £1.49 for 5 slices, still being cheaper than many branded cereal bars), and have additional health benefits so it’s a big thumbs up from me.

My only problem with them…. keeping them in the cupboard long enough to make it into the lunch boxes!!

Kieran "rescuing" the slices from me. Humph!