It is a good idea for parents of young children to be aware of a few strategies that can be considered so that sleep is minimally disturbed at this time. It can take a few days and as long as a week for the body, both adults and children alike, to adjust to a different mood lighting caused by the change and the fact that our natural body clock is being challenged.

Firstly, ensure that your child is well rested in the run up to this weekend.  Achieving good naps if age appropriate and uninterrupted night time sleep wherever possible, to ensure that their body is optimally rested in advance. There are a number of approaches you can choose from:

• Do nothing. You and your child can immediately follow the time once the clock changes. If your child historically wakes at 7am and goes to bed around 7pm, the day the clock changes it will say 6am, but it is no different to the day before. Stick to the same schedule and put them to bed when the clock says 7pm, but that will really be 8pm. For babies and toddlers who are not sensitive to being over-tired and highly adaptable, they adjust within a few days and re-settle into the same schedule they have been on previous to the change.

• The second option is to slowly change your child’s schedule over the course of a few days before the time change. For example, you could start today, 4 days prior to the time change, by putting your child to bed 15 minutes later than normal in the hope that they wake 15 minutes later in the morning. This is determined by our internal clock, so may not always happen. Also, offer naps 15 minutes later. For the next few days put them to bed 15 minutes later each night until the night of the time change and you will be back to your normal timetable and no further adjustment are required.  You will know your own child best and if typically they are “slow to adapt” this gradual approach may be the preferred option for you.

• Finally, you could consider sticking to your normal schedule up until the time change and once it kicks in, be flexible and alter the schedule as much as your child can handle. I often find that splitting the difference between the “old” time and the “new” time works well; on the first night they would go to bed at 7pm and this would have been 7.30pm on the day before, so 30 minutes beyond their typical bedtime and then adjust the rest of schedule accordingly.

Whatever you decide to do, acknowledge that it can take about a week for the body to get used to any kind of change in sleeping habits and as a result you can expect your days and potentially your nights to be a little off.

Here are some other important points to consider ahead of the time change:

• Decide on which option suits your family unit and child’s temperament best to help with this transition
• The time change can have a more significant impact, regardless of the strategy on children who are not well-rested to begin with resulting in crankiness, early morning waking, night waking and short naps
• Continue to pay attention to your child’s tired signals and act accordingly, being unafraid of an earlier bedtime if necessary
• Ensure that the room is dark enough at both bed-time and on wake-up and also for naps.  You may need to use black out blinds if you are not already
• Have a consistent response if they are struggling to sleep and avoid ingraining inappropriate sleeping habits that you may need to address in the future.

Good luck and don’t be disheartened if things are a little off-kilter next week!

Pediatric Sleep Consultant and Best-Selling Author Lucy Wolfe joins the Baby Elegance team as the First Official Sleep Ambassador.

At Baby Elegance we have been designing and manufacturing baby mattresses for over 35 years and are leading the way in mattress technology to make our mattresses as safe and comfortable as possible for your baby.

We are delighted to have teamed up with Lucy Wolfe to share her sleep expertise and experience in the parenting sector in order to create mattresses that tick every box.

Starting at the core of the mattresses we want to ensure the structure and stability of the mattress which your baby needs to help their bodies develop as they sleep, but also the mattress needs to work actively to help in the prevention of allergies, overheating & much more. Lucy has joined the Baby Elegance team to promote their mattress line as well as share exclusive top tips and techniques to help parents establish positive sleep habits and tackle sleep problems.

With Lucy’s qualifications, training & knowledge combined with the strength of the award-winning Baby Elegance product line, we are hoping to improve the sleep patterns of babies, infants and children nationwide.

On her ambassador role, Lucy comments:

I am delighted to be joining with the Baby Elegance team.  A family run and Irish owned business. Family values are at the core of both our philosophies-supporting parents, helping them make informed decisions and understanding that quality, safe and rested sleep begins with a quality mattress.

We are family, helping your family achieve great sleep and enjoy parenting life!

Lucy Wolfe has recently released her best-selling book The Baby Sleep Solution which shares techniques on how to gently foster healthy sleep habits.

The aim of the ambassadorial relationship is to open the conversation on sleep issues and create a support network for parents with useful advice to combat the problems before and after you buy a mattress for your baby.

About Lucy Wolfe:

Full time sleep consultant and mum of four young children and author of The Baby Sleep Solution, specialising in infant and child sleep problems that parent’s experience and need assistance in solving. Lucy Wolfe has completed the Gentle Sleep Consultation Program (USA), additionally she holds as certification in Child Sleep Consultancy accredited by the OCN (UK) and has attended the Naturally Nurturing Sleep Clinic, (UK). Lucy also holds a certification in Post Natal Depression accredited by OCN (UK). Further current studies includes H.Dip in Parent Mentoring and Relationship studies (UCC).Former European Director of the Association of Professional Sleep Consultants; a member of The International Association of Child Sleep Consultants and the Irish Sleep Society and student member of the Irish Association of Relationship Mentors.

Here at Baby Elegance we like to celebrate Friday's. To help with this we run a competition every Friday for products across our whole range. Make sure to check in weekly and see whats on offer.

This weeks Free Gift:

Building Blocks

There’s nothing better than a great photo of your baby. One that captures a lovely moment in time.

We are looking for photographs of your precious moments – shots of your baby or babies – whether they are beautiful, funny, sweet, meaningful or even meaningless!

The shots we like most will appear in a montage in the Baby Elegance Catalogue 2017. And the best shot will win a €100 Baby Elegance voucher.

Who knows? It could be start of their international modelling career!

What we are looking for:

We are looking for pictures of your 'precious moments' with your baby.

We aren’t really looking for the professional studio shot - just a photo that engages us, makes us smile, or makes us our heart melt.

The shot doesn’t have to be new – you may have a brilliant one from a year or two ago – but your baby cannot be over 5 years of age by 30/11/2016.

You can be in the shot yourself, or not. In the car, in the creche, in their buggy or at the beach – wherever, whenever.

The Prize:

We don’t have a set number of shots that will appear in the catalogue – that will depend on how many great shots are sent in. But we guarantee that a selection will appear – either on the cover, back cover or an inside page.

There will also be one winner of a €100 Baby Elegance voucher that can be spent online or in any of our stores in Ireland. This will be awarded to what the judges feel is the shot that best captures a ‘precious moment’.

How to enter:

Just email your photo(s) to mybaby@babyelegance.com before 5.30pm on Tuesday 6^th December 2016.

Judging:

A Baby Elegance judging panel will review the initial batch of entries and narrow them down to a shortlist of shots that will be posted on Baby Elegance’s facebook page on Wednesday 7^th December. The photos will be voted on by the public until 5.30 pm on Wednesday 14^th December. The photo with the most votes by then will be the winner of the €100 Baby Elegance voucher.

Terms and Conditions of entry:

 Competition is restricted to photographs of babies aged below 5 years old only.

It is not necessary that photos submitted are new – they may be photos taken some time ago, so long as the baby is under 5 years at the time of the photograph.

Photos will be judged based on the beauty/emotion/fun captured in a precious moment.

The number of photos that BABY ELEGANCE selects for public voting is at their own discretion and no correspondence will be entered.

BABY ELEGANCE reserves the right to publish the winning photos on the front cover, back cover or inside page of the BABY ELEGANCE 2017 Catalogue.

Participants in the competition understand and consent that BABY ELEGANCE may use the photos received for promotional purposes.

The €100 BABY ELEGANCE gift voucher will be for use at any BABY ELEGANCE store or online purchase.

There is no limit to the number of photographs that any one individual submits for consideration.

Prizes are as stated and are non-transferable.

Promotional copy forms part of the terms and conditions.

Directors, officers, employees, contractors or agents of BABY ELEGANCE Limited and its subsidiaries, affiliates, or advertising or promotional agencies and members of their immediate families are not eligible to participate.

The winner of the competition will be notified by BABY ELEGANCE by public message on the Facebook competition page post on Thursday 15.12.2016, and will be asked to furnish their full name, date of birth, address and email address. In the event that the winner cannot be contacted or does not respond to the winner notification within 7 days of notification, the runner-up in the public voting will be deemed to be the winner.

Notwithstanding that a winner has been declared, if BABY ELEGANCE discovers before the distribution of the prize that for any reason under these terms and conditions a winner should have been ineligible to enter the competition or if the entry should have been declared invalid, BABY ELEGANCE reserves the right to determine that a winner is disqualified.

BABY ELEGANCE accepts no responsibility for entrants taking part in the Competition and they do so at their own risk. BABY ELEGANCE bears no responsibility for any/all liabilities howsoever arising in relation to this competition, including without limitation any direct or indirect loss or damage arising from this competition or for any loss or damage, howsoever arising.

BABY ELEGANCE may not be held liable for any breakdowns, accidents, faults or technical complications in relation to this competition. BABY ELEGANCE does not accept any responsibility for late or lost entries due to delays or malfunctions of the Internet; misdirected entries; any problems, delays or technical malfunctions of any telephone, broadband or other network or of lines, computer online systems, servers, computers, or other equipment or software; failure of any entry to be received; or any damage to the entrants or any other persons computer, other equipment or software resulting from participation in the competition.

BABY ELEGANCE reserves the right to amend, withdraw or terminate the competition or alter the specification of the competition prize without prior notice. BABY ELEGANCE reserves the right at any stage to extend the promotion period.

Safe Sleeping….

Your baby will “hopefully “spend a lot of time sleeping in the first few months so you need to ensure the mattress you use is as safe for your baby as possible.

This is why we at Baby Elegance have created the range of HealthCare Anti Allergy fibre mattress.

Starting at the core of the mattress we wanted to ensure not only do the mattresses have the structure and stability your baby needs to help their bodies develop as they sleep, but also the mattress needs to help prevent allergies.

Our healthcare fibre has a range of amazing features:

Breathability

The fibres are weaved together in layers to create a structure that allows micro flows of air through the mattress to help keep your babies body temperature regulated while they sleep. Prevention of overheating for your baby is very important not only to get a good nights sleep but it helps prevent baby from moving around too much in the night with the possibility of ending up on their tummy which is not the ideal sleeping position. The constructions of the fibre create the perfect ventilation system for the mattress to breath through the night.

Firmness

Your babies mattress needs to be nice and firm in order for your babies body to develop however there is a fine line between being too soft that can have a negative effect on babies growth and a mattress that is too hard and can cause cases like flat head.  It is for this reason we have developed our Heatlcare mattresses with 2 pads of healthcare fibre in order to give the mattress the strength it needs whilst offering the comfort and support your baby needs to grow.

 And lastly and the one we are most proud of at Baby Elegance…

Anti-Allergy

Our Healthcare fibre is created using “wellcare protect”. The first step is to take care of dust mites entering your baby’s mattress. “Wellcare protect” renders environment unsuitable for dust mites inhabitation and reproduction. Dust mites depend on moisture in order to survive so we naturally dehydrate our fibres eliminating this possibility.

The mattresses are Biocide-free and create a permanent protection to the proformance fibre that is wellcare.

It is for these reasons that the fibres have received the official seal of approval from Allergy UK.

Allergy UK is the leading national charity dedicated to supporting the estimated 21 million allergy sufferers in the UK.  We provide a dedicated helpline, support network and online forum for those with allergy and intolerance.

When you see a product with 'Seal of Approval‘ logo on it, you have the reassurance the product has been scientifically tested to prove it is efficient at reducing/removing allergens from the environment of allergy and asthma sufferers or the products have significantly reduced allergen/chemical content.

The testing is carried out by an independent laboratory to protocols which have been created for the Seal of Approval by leading allergy specialists, specifically to benefit the sufferers of allergy, asthma, sensitivity and intolerance.

Win a Health Care Fibre Mattress

But the truth is that there are countless variables when it comes to these products; from gender, to material, to age range, to colour and design, and right down to the tiniest detail like how much liquid flows from the end of a bottle.

What’s more, every parent’s taste and preferences are individual, plus you don’t know what somebody else has bought them or if they have too much or too little of any one product. (They might be inundated with onesies, for instance.)

Add to that the problem of babies growing at an astounding rate and the seasonal nature of clothes, and the process gets even more complicated.

Don’t panic! We’ve put together some guidelines for buying little bundles for your friend or relative’s little bundle.

General Advice

Here are some rules of thumb for buying baby clothes: If in doubt, buy a big size; as mentioned, they grow at an astonishing pace, so it’s no harm at all to give a garment for three-month-olds to parents of a new-born.

Look for soft fabrics, clothes that are easy to remove (babies have more outfit changes in a day than a Beyoncé concert!) and that are elasticated instead of dependent on belts and buttons.

It’s also important to avoid choking hazards: Most modern clothes don’t have removable bows and badges, for instance, but older clothes or ones made by smaller manufacturers still do.

If you’re Getting Specific

Generally, the smaller a child, the more paraphernalia they’ll need. Parents will have to accumulate a lot of gear for keeping their child comfortable and safe in those precarious first few months, and they’ll be grateful for a dig out with a practical gift.

They are guaranteed to need a Moses Basket, a buggy and a cot, for example.

Some people prefer to give a surprise gift, but if you are getting them a specific item (which they’ll only need one of) just check with them or a close relative to make sure that they didn’t already buy or receive it.

If Cash is King

Obviously cash is the most versatile gift, but it’s also the most impersonal. Gift vouchers say that you care, and give new parents a chance to buy the baby gift of their choice. Also, you can decide on the amount you want to spend, from €25 all the way up to €1,000.

If you want an All-Rounder

Another versatile choice is to gather a mix of practical with the fun in a collection of small gifts – a sort of supermarket-sweep of small and medium size baby gifts.

Some like to browse through gifts in store or online, and again, it can be as modest or extravagant as you choose. Hampers are available for different genders, and with inclusions and exclusions decided upon with a simple click.

If you don’t know the gender

It’s advisable to try to discover the gender, but if you can’t, there are still plenty of options.

Accessories should be gender neutral, in our opinion. Yes, a cute pink changing bag will look nice if the mother is taking the little girl out for coffee; but dads will be helping out too! So take into account what either parent might like.

For instance, a saddle bag in turquoise look just as at home whether mum is meeting friends for coffee or dad is at the pub for lunch.

Gender neutral colours would include green, orange, brown and cream (like this bumper set). 

And finally…

Remember to have fun with baby gift shopping, and if possible, give yourself plenty of time (buying online will also buy you time, if it’s in short supply).

Try to imagine the baby with the gift, whether they’re safe and sound with the right equipment, wearing their adorable new clothes or playing with their first ever toy.

Buying a baby gift is not just for the parents – it’s the first favour you’ll do for a brand new little friend.

Summer is finally here, and with it comes the opportunity to explore, travel and unwind in the sun with your little ones. Whether it’s taking a baby to visit relatives; bringing them on a long drive; or going further afield by sea or plane, you want your children’s summer to be safe, secure and happy.

We can’t guarantee you peace, but with a few steps, we can give you a little more peace of mind. Here are some essential tips for travelling with an infant this summer…

Local Holidays and Driving

Holidaying at home is understandably popular with young families – you can put your baby (and their many accessories!) into a car and not have to worry about passports, air cabin pressure or troubling too many other passengers.

The car safety EU requirements are well-known, but in case you’re not familiar, there’s a handy list of rules and regulations available on the Road Safety Authority site. These include: Rearward-facing child car seats must never be used in the front passenger seat of cars with an active airbag; always use safety belts (in conjunction with the appropriate seat) and children’s seats must be reverse-facing until the child is 6 months old.

On a less formal note, take the time to familiarise yourself with the car’s baby seat, how it works and the location and function of every strap and buckle. (Some parents to be even practice strapping in a seat before their baby comes along!) Our own Group 0, 1, 2 Car Seat is a comfortable, sleek and award-winning device.

Flying

If you’re already a parent, you’ll know that even a trip down to the local shop requires planning. Here’s what you need to prepare in advance of a flight:

1. Harnesses and/or seats: Most airlines will provide these, but make sure to check on their website before you travel. Is it first come first served? Can you request it when booking tickets?
   
   
2. With carry-on luggage, again, planning is essential. Make sure to bring every item for changing, feeding and any medicines with your carry-on (i.e. not checked-in) luggage. Soft toys are recommended for flying too. Remember, electronic devices can’t be used when taking off, landing or even approaching a gate. While there are liquid restrictions for carry-on baggage, they’re more relaxed when it comes to baby food, but again, check with the individual airline.
   
   
3. We hate to say it, but if you have a toddler, it’s not recommended to sleep on a long haul flight if you have an unrestrained child. It’s best to nap only when they nap, and while they’re restrained.

Ferries, cruises and boats

Raising a baby is no picnic, but it is easier in some ways than looking after a toddler. This is especially true if you’re travelling by sea and your child is too young to crawl or run.

However, regardless of whether your child is a baby or toddler, we would recommend booking a cabin for long journeys – a quiet private place for your child to sleep, get changed and play is worth the extra money.

You should also take note of lifeboats, exits and baby facilities the moment you board. Then you’ll have more peace of mind when you find the deckchair with the best view!

Other Little Tips

Yes, we know that excess baggage can be cumbersome and costly, but regardless of how far you travel, it’s advisable to pack everything you need. For instance, that cute B&B or apartment complex might not have appropriate sleeping facilities for your little one. Make sure to bring a foldable travel cot mattress and carry cot.

Similarly, whether disembarking from your own car, a ferry or a plane, it will be reassuring to have your own buggy and equipment: and many, like the Cupla Travel System, have plenty of space for storage.

Travelling with a baby can be a challenge, but just a little care and preparation will make your travels safer, more relaxed and (yes) even more fun.

We are delighted to be nominated this year in 5 award categories. We are up for Baby Store, Travel System, Sleep product, Travel Gadget and this year the Baby Bundle is up for Innovative Product of the year. We would love if you would take the time to offer us your vote :-)

Click Here to Vote

Now in our ninth year, the Boots maternity & infant Awards celebrate the very best products, services and crèches in the industry as well as the unsung heroes of today who go that extra mile to support families.

Please help us with our continued support for Temple St. by purchasing a reusable shopping bag and help create awareness for this amazing hospital:

Click here to buy

You can also help show your support with our fitted sheets. With every 2 pack fitted sheet we sell Baby Elegance will make a donation to Temple St.

Click here to buy

The Temple Street Foundation have been raising funds since 2000 to enable Temple Street Children's University Hospital to continue to provide world class care to Ireland's sickest children. Our one important goal is to help save the lives of critically ill children in Ireland, now and for generations to come. Everyday parents place their trust in our amazing doctors and nurses to make their brave little ones better. We work with the hospital to make sure every child gets the future they deserve. It is only with the help of our wonderful supporters that we are able to buy state of the art equipment, fund research and put life back into tired old wards. So far we are very proud to say, the Temple Street Foundation has successfully raised €40 million to help tackle this. However, our struggle is ongoing. Many of our sickest kids depend on machines donated by you to stay alive. So we urge you; please keep helping us help them.

Every year we raise funds to redevelop hospital wards, fund vital equipment & services and invest in research, to stay at the forefront of paediatric healthcare. But this year we are continuing to work hard on most ambitious project yet – and we need your help. Temple Street is the national centre of excellence for paediatric Neurology and Renal Dialysis & Transplantation. The expert care in these units is a life-line for children all over Ireland – but our facilities let our patients and their families down. The doctors and nurses in Temple Street try their best to look after children in the current environment but that’s not what they need. The requirement is very different. The truth is the facilities are completely inadequate.

The Neurology Unit specialises in the diagnosis and management of children with complex disorders such as Meningitis, Stroke and Brain Tumours; and every child in Ireland who presents with kidney problems is referred to Temple Street for diagnosis and treatment 

At the beginning of 2015, we set a two-year goal to raise €5million in order to build a new Renal and Neurology Outpatients Unit that enables our doctors and nurses to care for critically ill children in an appropriate environment. This new unit is long overdue – it is not a compliment or a luxury – it is a necessity and a foundation that is needed for optimal patient care.

Key Issues:

• Space – The service has grown exponentially over the last 12 years. More than 101 kidney transplants have taken place in Temple Street since 2002 and the current facilities are not fit for purpose. In Neurology, at any given time there could be 80 staff, patients and family members on the ward pressing upon  very limited and exhausted facilities.

• Cross infection – A lot of the children that attend the Renal Outpatients Unit are post-transplant and therefore are vulnerable to infection. They should be treated in Isolation but currently we do not have the facilities to do this, therefore they are at risk every time they attend the hospital.

• Accessibility – Most of the children who attend Neurology are wheelchair users and there is only one small lift servicing the department – when it breaks down parents have to carry children up 80 steps. There is one tiny bathroom which is not wheelchair friendly.

It is thanks to donations and our amazing supporters that, for the past 15 years, we have been able to help the hospital care for thousands of sick children every year. But we are far from finished.

There is so much information online, in magazines and from your doctors there's a lot to take in......

Choosing products for your baby can be an overwhelming task but we want to help you! We are on the go for the past 30 years designing and developing the safest products for your baby. We have a store in dundrum and blanchardstown and we supply over 300 stores all over the country and worldwide.

We want to help you every step of the way....call into us for advise on buggies, car seats, mattresses, bedding, bathtime and feeding time! Or you can email us enquiries@babyelegance.com 

What separates us from the rest....we are a family run company and we design our products around your baby. 

Why are they expensive and are they worth the investment?

The reason a TS is more expensive than a pushchair is that you get a lot more with it. 

• The frame is normally designed to a higher quality than a pushchair
• It normally includes a carry cot which in some cases is suitable for overnight sleeping which eliminates the need to buy a mosses basket and brilliant for on the go with baby to enable them to lie perfectly flat.
• A travel system will normally come with an infant carrier car seat which is suitable from 0 – 13kg 
• It will also come with a seat unit which tends to be suitable from 6 months up to 15kg

 If it is your first baby and you need a car seat and a pushchair then a travel systems offers great value on buying them separate and it normally makes life very easy when it comes to use.

What sort of things should a parent-to-be consider when choosing a travel system?

There are a few key features to look out for when choosing a TS:

• Comfort and safety is always most important so always look for a travel system that has a carry cot or a seat unit that can go fully flat. Either of these will do however a carry cot adds more comfort. It is really important for baby to be flat during the early stages so this is key.
• The car seat is an important one. If you want isofix then make sure the system you choose is compatible or has a base available. Your best way to check is to drive to your local store and they normally have someone qualified to check your car for the different options.
• The frame should fold small enough for storage or to fit in the boot of the car and leave room for other things. It should also be light enough for you to carry when not in use.
• Ease of use is vital. You don’t want to be stuck in a car park messing around with adaptors and removing wheels. A system that the parts easily clip onto is vital.
• After sales service – Your buggy will go through a lot of use and you need to know that the back up is there from your retailer / manufacturer if and when its needed.

 Does expensive = better quality?

Certainly not! Nearly all of the systems available in Ireland these days meet the EN1888 safety standards. These standards really put the buggies through their paces and ensure the systems are built to a high standard. There are loads of different options out there to meet any budget so be sure to shop around for one that meets your needs and budget. 

 Is there any benefit in buying second hand?

Although buying second hand lmight save you money in the short term, you may find it more expensive in the long run. 

Firstly I would never recommend buying a car seat second hand as you compromise on your babies safety as you don’t know if the seat has been involved in an accident or not. You might then find that the car seat is more expensive when bought separate.

You also don’t know how the system was used previously and was it looked after. When buying a second hand car you have a mechanic look over it, with a pushchair that’s not going to happen. Buggies that are not looked after can in time have issues with the wheel bearings and adaptors etc. Most brands come with a manufactures warranty however this is normally used up by the time the second user has bought it and having these parts changed can be expensive. 

I would leave the second hand items to the non-essentials like bouncers and high chairs.