AD – This Clearabee review is in exchange for a complimentary service
I have a confession to make. I am a bit of a hoarder. I love to keep everything and anything that might help recall memories in later life, but as a result, a little like my jeans, our house has been stretching at the seams. We are limited on storage space, the loft is full to the brim, and our house is always a little bit of a mess.
As a blogger, I also receive a LOT of parcels, most of which come with their fair share of cardboard and polystyrene packaging. As a result, our side passage had started to accumulate a huge pile of stuff ready to go to the tip and we were well in need of a good clear out.
When we were asked if we would be interested in carrying out a Clearabee review, we loved the sound of the UK’s largest man and van style rubbish clearance company, that offer both man with a van same day collection services, and Beebags (skip bags) of various sizes, Mike literally couldn’t have been happier. The reality is, it would’ve taken him at least three trips to the tip to clear out the mess using his car, and with our local tip being around 30 minutes drive away, that’s all valuable weekend time that should have been spent enjoying time with his family.
We couldn’t wait to put the service to the test – Mike in particular!! 🙂
Why choose Clearabee?
Clearabee is the UK’s first and largest nationwide on-demand rubbish removal service which will pretty much take any rubbish from almost anywhere, at any time, whether it’s bulky furniture, white goods, electricals, building waste or garden waste. The company only employs 100% in-house staff, and in 2017 the company removed over 20,000 tonnes of junk from homes across the UK.
Clearabee is an ideal service for busy parents wanting to chuck out household junk as it offers a same-day home rubbish collection service and large skip bags that you can fill at your own pace.
Clearabee’s man and van service can reach most UK locations within a matter of hours. With 100% fully trained in-house staff you have complete peace of mind that a Clearabee branded van and employee will come to your door to remove and dispose of your rubbish legally. There’s no risk about illegal fly tippers.
Finally, completely environmentally friendly, Clearabee recycles or upcycles 90% of the waste it collects and offsets all of the CO2 from its vehicles.
What services do Clearabee offer?
Clearabee offer two main services:
Beebags (Skip Bag) – These come in 4 main sizes – Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, and can be ordered in advance with next day delivery and same day collection. You can leave them outside for collection making them ideal for busy professionals. The largest bag is the same size as a large skip.
A man and van. Same-day booking. Book online or by phone and a Clearabee man and van will come at an agreed time and take care of the disposal for you.
Our Clearabee Review
After discussing the best options for us, we decided to order a Large Beebag, offering us the opportunity to clear the side passage at a pace that worked for us. With some dry weather at the weekend, Mike decided that this was as good a time as any and mentally prepared himself for the mammoth task!! 🙂
We placed our order and the Beebag was sent the same day via Amazon in a flat parcel which you can arrange to be delivered on a date to suit you, or left in a safe place with Amazon’s collection service if you aren’t going to be around.
The Beebag comes folded and flat packed, meaning that if you aren’t ready to start sorting straight away, it is simple and easy to store until you’re ready. With Clearabee, you actually have up to 12 months to arrange a collection, not that Mike would have EVER have let me wait that long, but this is useful to know if something comes up that means you have to change your plans. Once folded out, the large Beebag is big enough to fit up to 10 washing machines, around the same size as a large skip, so offered plenty of room for all of our junk.
When we were ready to get started, Mike unfolded the Beebag and put it in place on the corner of our drive. As long as there is reasonable access for the Clearabee staff to come and empty your bag, the Beebag doesn’t need to be right next to the road. We placed ours at the end of our drive behind the hedge.
Mike started filling the bag with all of our items, and noted that there was more than enough roof for everything that we had. Clearabee recommend filling up the sides first, and then throwing in the rest once the sides are built up. Mike said that this worked really well, ensuring that we made the most of the space available in the Beebag. There are some items which do require a surcharge (including TVs and Mattresses) but other than a very small number of exceptions, we were able to put in all of our items including electrical items like our old hob and our old broken down vaccuum (my first ever from 2001 – rest in peace!). Mike did have a couple of questions about the contents of the bag, and rang Clearabee customer services who were extremely helpful and clarified his queries in no time at all.
When we were ready (having filled the bag over the weekend) we simply ring up Clearabee to arrange collection for the Monday, less than 24 hours after we had filled it. Having used a skip service before and waited over 48 hours for collection, having the ability to have our waste removed so quickly was a real positive.
You do not need to be at home for the collection to happen (although as it happens I was in when they arrived!) The Clearabee team simply arrived without disturbing me, and proceeded collect our items, sorting them into their van ready for recycling or upcycling.
Our Verdict – Clearabee Review
Overall we found the Clearabee Beebag service extremely straight forward, with the whole process being straight forward from start to finish.
The customer service at Clearabee was excellent, with very quick delivery, superfast collection after our call, the team being happy to answer any questions we posed, and the staff collecting being very pleasant and polite (I went out to say hello!).
Clearabee allow you to retain the bag if you wish for future collections (at a reduced fee), which is ideal if you would like to use the service on a regular basis.
Unlike a skip which sits on your drive unsightly until you are ready to use it, the Beebag is set up only when you are ready, reducing the amount of time you have it on your driveway, and reducing the liklihood of other passers by dumping their items in when it’s hanging around.
Overall, we can’t fault the service and would definitely use Clearabee again, and if Mike has his way, it probably will end up being sooner rather than later! For now however, I can revel in the joy of my tidy side passage – we couldn’t get much clearer than that! 🙂
*This is a collaborative post. We were sent a Large Beebag from Clearabee for our Clearabee review free of charge, however all thoughts and opinions are my own*Â
AD- Maxi Cosi RodiFix Air Protect Car Seat gifted for review
Children grow up pretty quickly, and before you know it the baby carseats are being handed down to expectant friends, and they are progressing to ‘big girl’ car seats. Blink and you miss it.
With two family cars and two children, we now require four car seats between us. Erin is now 5, and now that her baby sister is getting bigger, we decided to pass down Erin’s old seat to Neve and treat Erin to a new stage 2/3 car seat; one which in theory would see her out until she no longer requires a car seat at all. Quite a sobering thought!
We have always been huge fans of Maxi-Cosi, a brand that we know and trust. We were given the opportunity to put the Maxi-Cosi RodiFix AirProtect to the test – here’s how we got on!
About the Product
In the words of Maxi-Cosi – Travelling is about the fun of taking your child to see places and create memories. The Maxi-Cosi RodiFix Air Protect® is about getting you there safely and back, without a worry.
The AirProtect® technology is specially designed to provide your child with the best side protection possible, so that if you were unlucky enough to be involved in a car accident, the risk of your child suffering head and neck injury is reduced by 20%. With a one-click ISOFIX installation system and unique belt guide, installing the RodiFix AirProtect and securing your child is super quick and easy. Additionally, the Maxi-Cosi RodiFix AirProtect has simultaneous height and width adjustment and 2 recline positions meaning your child will always be comfortable and safe as they grow.
Key Benefits include:
Isofix Installation – isofix anchorage for safe and easy installation in the car.
Extra protection of your child’s head using patented AirProtect technology
Quick and Easy buckle up – using the cars seatbelt system to fasten your child.
Seat reclines for additional comfort
Adjustable in height, with an easy to adjust head rest to adapt to your growing child (suitable from 3.5 years up to age 12)
Our RodiFix review
We reviewed the Maxi Cosi RodiFix Air Protect in the Nomad Grey – with 11 different colours and deisgns to chose from (including a special edition Star Wars one) this is the hardest part of making our choice. We felt that the Nomad Grey was the most practical and matched our car’s interior, without being as simple as a plain black design.
My first impressions of the seat were very positive- the car seat looks very comfortable, appears sturdy and solid, and even on first sight it is clear that the seat would offer high quality side impact for Erin’s head and neck in the event of a collision.
Installation of Maxi Cosi RodiFix
The Maxi Cosi RodiFix Air Protect comes with isofix installation, making it incredibly easy to install. It simply clips into the isofix ports in your car, and then it is a simple as threading the seatbelt through a safety catch to hold the belt into place and securely away from your child’s neck. The whole process of installing took less than 10 minutes, and unlike some seats, I would be reasonably confident doing this unassisted. There is another version of this seat available for those who don’t have isofix ports in their car, although most modern cars now have them. There is also a car checker tool on the Maxi-Cosi website so that you can check whether your car is compatible with the seat, and on which seats of your car you are able to secure it.
The Maxi-Cosi RodiFix Air Protect is also very lightweight (weighing just 6.2kg), meaning that I was comfortable to carry it to and from my car myself. I am far from the strongest person in the world, but found this very comfortable, so believe the majority of people would find this very portable and straightforward.
Securing Erin
Erin looked happy and comfortable in the seat, and we were able to raise and lower the headrest using a small button – simply pressing and pulling up, with the head rest adjusting accordingly. This was very simple and straightforward to do, and it was great peace of mind to know that the height of the head support could always be adapted to meet her current height. Rather than some seats that are limited to particular age groups, this feature makes the Maxi-Cosi RidiFix AirProtect something which can easily grow with your child.
The Maxi-Cosi RodiFix Air Protect uses the cars built in seatbelts to secure your child. The seatbelt is securely clipped in to a hook behind the headrest to the right of her neck, so there is no snagging or agitating her skin, and to fasten her in her seat, I simply have to lean across and plug her seatbelt in to the central seat belt clips in the middle of the car. This is probably the most fiddly part, but I am a bit height challenged, if I was a little taller this would be no issue what so ever!
Recline Positions
The Maxi-Cosi RodiFix Air Protect has two recline settings, and although Erin no longer sleeps in the car (or very very rarely) it is reassuring to know that I can recline the seat to make her more comfortable, particularly on longer car journeys where she may be worn out from a busy day. It is easy to alternative between the two inclines, and Erin looked very comfortable when the back was tilted even trying to convince me that she had nodded off (she quite clearly hadn’t!!).
Size
Whilst the carseat may look big outside of the car, it was great that it didn’t take up too much space, unlike some other seats that come with large isofix bases. This is always a positive for drivers who have long legs and like to have their own seats a little further back.
Overall we are really pleased with the Maxi-Cosi RodiFix AirProtect – it is easy to fit, comfortable, portable, and fully adjustable, offering great peace of mind when we travel.
Pros:
Very straight forward to fit using isofix ports.
Lightweight and easy to transport if you need to swap vehicles.
Offers good support around the neck and torso.
Very easy to adjust as your child grows, with the head rest being easily raised (or lowered as necessary) using a small handle on the back.
Cons:
No obvious negatives at this stage – with the exception of too many colours to choose from!!
The Maxi Cosi RodiFix AirProtect retails at £180 and is available at Mothercare(currently on offer for £150).
*Disclosure – We were sent a Maxi Cosi RodiFix AirProtect free of charge in return for our honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own*
*AD – Sebamed Baby Products gifted for review. This post contains affiliate links
Sebamed Baby Products Review
Sebamed Baby Cream is a hugely popular baby skincare brand and the wide range of Sebamed baby products, specifically formulated for a babies’ delicate skin have recently become part of our bath time routine. When you talk to other women about their babies, one of the first things they say is usually something to do with the smell of their hair and their soft delicate skin, with an ooh or an ahhh thrown in for good measure!
We recently made bath time an important part of our bedtime routine, with the hope of getting a good night’s sleep. Our baby’s skin is so delicate and precious, that finding the right baby lotions and potions for them is an important part of the care you give as a Mother. I have spent longer picking out a body wash for my baby than I did picking out all of the toiletries for my partner and I. I wanted to make sure bathtime was safe.
At first I used products I had heard of and that had been around and tried and tested for years, one being baby oil. I couldn’t believe it when my son (then just a few weeks old) came out in a prickly rash all over his legs after supposedly ‘locking in moisture’ after his bath. From then on I became very cautious about any skincare products he would come into contact with.
As an RMR network blogger, I was asked to carry out a Sebamed Baby Products Review with my son. At first I was a little hesitant to change the skin care products I knew were safe for him, but on receiving the range I instantly got the message loud and clear that it would be safe for him. It states on all the Sebamed Baby packaging (including the Baby Sebamed Shampoo and the Sebamed diaper rash cream) that these products are made ‘for delicate skin’ and ‘ideal for ph 5.5 healthy skin’. I first tested the products on my own skin, and felt they was extremely mild and safe, so continued to try it during my little boys bath time/ daily cleaning routine.
The products:
Sebamed Baby Wash – a tear free formula, the baby wash provides protection from irritation and is 100% soap and alkali free for daily use. It is even recommended for certain types of eczema.
Sebamed Children’s Shampoo – offering extra mild cleansing of hair and scalp, naturally moisturising to prevent dryness.
Sebamed Baby Cream / Sebamed Baby Lotion – supports the skins natural balance, camomile soothes irritation, and makes the skin soft and smooth.
Sebamed Baby Bubble Bath – extra mild cleansing formula, with natural moisturising agents to protect against dryness.
Sedbamed Diaper Rash Cream – offering rapid relief, effective and soothing, and contains panthenol to stimulate the healing process.
The packaging of Sebamed products, specifically the Sebamed Baby range is very appealing and there is no mistaking this is a baby product, with it’s white box and pastel pink and blue logo. The box itself has very informative details of the product, ingredients and clear directions for use. It goes one more step to take it from a general baby toiletry to that of something that is medicated and has been formulated with a sole purpose of being mild, gentle, and help balance restore and repair delicate skin. Each product also has a leaflet inside explaining more about the company as well as more details regarding ph balance and the full product range.
Where can I buy Sebamed products online?
The products can be bought online at Sebamed or are available from independent pharmacies. Prices range from £2.95-£4.59.
You can also check out the majority of the Sebamend Baby Range including the baby cream, Sebamed cleansing foam, Sebamed cleansing far and Sebamed care cream now at Amazon.
Our experience in the Sebamed Baby Products Review
First we started with the Sebamed bubble bath – my baby loves bubbles. The directions state to use sparingly so put a couple of drops as stated. As we no longer use a baby bath support and have a couple of inches of water in the family bath I immediately saw the need for more squirts of liquid instead of drops.
There weren’t many bubbles even after frothing the water to encourage more.
My little boy splashes around and gets so excited in the bath so I can definitely say that the Sebamed Bubble bath is definitely a no tear formula. He didn’t mind the taste either, as some went in his mouth whilst he was chewing on his rubber duck! In two weeks of using the bubble bath our 200ml bottle is nearly empty but we would definitely use again.
The Baby Sebamed Shampoo lathered up beautifully on my sons hair, and left it soft to touch and clean smelling when dry. It was a good consistency to rub into his hair, not too thick, or too runny like some other products we have used. As tends to be inevitable, the product went into his eyes as we washed it off, but there was no irritation or signs of discomfort from him what so ever.
The Sebamed baby wash was also a good consistency and wasn’t too runny, it lathered up nicely when a good amount was applied and again it was definitely no tears. There is hardly any fragrance, but then this is what you would want from a medicated non irritable wash. In my novice opinion I’m sure all the fragrances and additives are some of the elements that may lead to irritation, particularly for babies with sensitive skin.
The Sebamed baby cream lotion is lovely, again hardly any fragrance but it’s very light on the skin. It sinks in well and doesn’t create a greasy texture on the skin but leaves the skin nice silky and supple.
We didn’t get to use the diaper rash cream to treat nappy rash, lucky for my boy but not so much for this review. The baby cream from Semabed however is a nice consistency and application is easy. It does sink into the skin easily too.
Pros
Reassurance on the box, bottle and leaflet that the Sebamed products are safe and mild enough for the most delicate skin
Aesthetically appealing packaging
Bottles are easy to open and dispense product
Suitable from birth, and for moms too.
Non irritant, and no tears even when got into babies eyes.
Cons
Little to no fragrance, but then again this is what you would expect from a medicated product
Generally more product is required than is stated. It doesn’t go very far.
More expensive than other products on the market, particularly as they normally benefit from Mother & Baby events. However, you are paying for quality, and I personally would be prepared to pay extra to ensure my baby’s skin was protected.
You can learn more about the products featured in this Sebamed Baby Products Review including other items in their range here – Sebamed Baby
FYI – Sebamed also do a fabulous range for adults, including the Sebamed Anti Dandruff Shampoo and our personal favourite – the Sebamed lip balm! Perfect for preventing chapped, dry lips on those Winter days when you’re moving between central heated rooms and the great outdoors!
Thankyou to RMR Network Blogger Lucy for this review.
*Disclosure – Lucy was sent a number of products from the Sebamed Baby range in return for her honest review. All thoughts and opinions are her own*
Back in my twenties, before I had children, I always imagined the type of mother I would be. I had it all planned out in my head. I would be the Mum who enjoyed playtime and craft, who spent hours making fantastic creations with the children, and at weekends, the Mum who would bake, the smell of freshly risen bread or a cooling Victoria sponge on the counter top making our home all warm and welcoming. Those of you who read my blog regularly will know that is not quite how my motherhood experience has panned out. Whilst I do LOVE baking, I never seem to have the time, and everything seems to be just that little bit complicated.
With Valentine’s Day (and Galentine’s Day!) fast approaching, AO.com got in touch to remind me that Valentine’s doesn’t just have to be about couples and love, but also a perfect excuse for treating yourself or someone close to you. They paired me up with another blogger – Sarah at Run Jump Scrap to do just that, treat each other to one of AO.com’s top selling products, putting it through it’s paces with a review. We were sent a list of products from AO.com and asked to select an item we felt our friend would love – I knew for a fact that Sarah was desperate for a new vacuum – so chose for her the fab Shark vacuum cleaner. She obviously paid attention to my dreams of being a master baker as the amazing Kenwood Chef XL Elite turned up on my doorstep today.
Here’s what we thought…
The Kenwood Chef XL Elite really is a bakers dream – not only is it aesthetically pleasing with its stainless steel finish, smooth lines and large bowl, but is absolutely packed full of innovative features making it a doddle to create doughs, breads and cakes with ease.
The Kenwood Chef XL Elite comes with a huge 6.7L large capacity stainless steal bowl perfect for making larger portions or for entertaining. If you need a bigger bowl then this, then you seriously need to question whether you are making too much cake!! 🙂 The bowl is deep rather than wide, so despite its size, it doesn’t take up any more counter top than a regular mixer bowl.
The Kenwood Chef XL Elite has an easy change electronic speed control with a range of speeds – and a light clearly showing which speed you are on. The speed can be changed in an instant with a basic turn of the dial, great for starting off a mixture at slow speed and then raising up to maximum speed to get the most air into your bake.
It comes with three attachments in the box, the whisk, k-beater and dough hook.
For cake making – it is recommended you use the K Beater – I will be honest here, with the first set of cake mix I made using the Kenwood Chef XL Elite I used the whisk, before reading the instructions properly and realising that this actually wasn’t recommended and could damage the whisk which was more suited for lighter mixes such as meringue, creams or egg yolks #bakingfail.
That said, I have to say it still worked very well blending sugar and soft butter – but probably not recommended for long term use or with butter straight out of the fridge due to its more flexible nature. On my second bake I found the K-Beater worked well for making my sponge mix silky smooth, and getting lots of air into the mixture as it twisted and turned.
For more adventurous bakers, the Kenwood Chef XL Elite also comes with the dough hook for perfectly kneeded dough without the effort or strength required to do it by hand.
The best part of the Kenwood Chef XL Elite is that its opportunities are endless. There are 20 different attachments available to purchase separately, attaching to different parts of the main product. The high speed outlet on the top of the mixer can be used to add on items such as food processors and a fruit blender, where as at the front, a low speed outlet can be used to house a pasta making attachment, meat grinder or salt and pepper grinder. For someone who enjoys cooking and baking, this really opens up the Kenwood to a wide range of end users. In our house, I love to bake, and Mike loves to cook, so this really is the best of both worlds!
I used the Kenwood Chef XL Elite today to mix up some mini Valentine’s cakes for Mike as a little treat – nothing fancy, just a basic Victoria sponge with butter cream filling and sprinkles on top.
The Kenwood is super easy to set up, with no long winded instructions to get your head around. The attachments are very easy to add and remove, with a simple push/pull and twist to secure them in place. The Kenwood Chef XL Elite also comes with a removable splash guard which is really handy when mixing up liquid heavy ingredients, and is helpful to avoid it flicking out over your worktops. With a cake mix, I didn’t feel the need to use this, but I loved the fact you could add further ingredients using the lift up flap without needing to fully remove the guard.
Compared to other mixers we have used the noise wasn’t particularly loud, but the unit does vibrate whilst in use so how noisy it is will to a degree depend upon the surface that the main body is sitting upon. The bowl does twist and click into place before use, so the bowl itself is securely fixed and does not move.
I was impressed with how quickly the ingredients blended together, the 1400 watt power of the Kenwood Chef XL Elite becoming really apparent when used on maximum speed. The best part was that it was super quick and easy to clean. I HATE washing up, but with dishwasher safe parts too there really is no excuse.
Overall, whilst the Kenwood Chef XL Elite has been in my life for less than 24 hours, I can honestly say I’ve fallen in love with it a little already!! I am now back to my dream of being the perfect housewife, and planning on attempting a marble cake later in the week. Bang goes the diet.
I don’t have much to critique on the Kenwood so far, but as always, here are my pros and cons.
Pros:
Comes with three different attachments included- for whisking, baking and dough making.
Huge range of additional attachments for cooking and baking.
Powerful with high speed making blending ingredients super quick and easy.
Aesthetically pleasing to look at!
Splash guard to protect kitchen from unwanted ingredient spatter!
Relatively quiet considering the scale of the product.
Cons:
The stainless steel material whilst it looks great does tend to show up the finger marks a little more than a coloured metal or plastic design. Whilst baking you can inevitably expect the odd butter or flour mark to hit the base unit, but it is easy to clean. I guess you can’t really say you are a proper baker unless you have a little mess to show for it.
Being a tad picky here but the lead length is not particularly long which is fine for smaller kitchens but might prove a challenge where you are limited on plug accessibility.
Finally the Kenwood Chef XL Elite (clues in the name) is BIG. We have a very small kitchen and as such it is not something we could keep out on display which is a shame as it is SOOOO pretty to look at. There is a smaller version available which may be more appropriate in a smaller kitchen environment.
I am far from being a master baker but the Kenwood Chef XL Elite definitely made my life a lot easier, no excess force needed to mix it by hand, and super easy to clean afterwards, meaning cake making a real doddle.
Erin has already eaten one of the cakes, (Mike better be quick if there are to be any left in the morning!) and has now asked for a Moana cake for her birthday. After last years Elsa creation, I am hoping I will be able to whip up something a little more successful with the Kenwood in my home!
*Disclosure – We were sent the Kenwood Chef XL Elite free of charge from AO.com for the purpose of this review however all thoughts and opinions are my own.*
I hate travel cots. Quite a bold way to start a review post right, but generally, up until using the Baby Bjorn Travel Cot Light this has been true.
I have always found travel cots a NIGHTMARE to put up, and despite the instructions making out that they are easy to use, I seem to spend at least half an hour just staring at a half dismantled travel cot wondering how the hell I managed to get it into the packaging. I then have a slight panic that we will never make it home and that I will have to squash it into the boot in its current half up state. We’ve all been there right?
Now that Neve is a bit older we are starting to take the odd trip away, and I love being able to have a change of scenery with the girls and do some exploring.
I always dread bedtime however, Neve isn’t a good sleeper at the best of times, so add in an unfamiliar environment and a different bed it is always going to be a challenge.
Having reviewed a number of Baby Bjorn products in the past, including the Baby Bjorn High Chair and Baby Bjorn Bouncer Bliss, we have always been really impressed with both the quality and the user friendly nature of their products. When I heard they had a travel cot that appeared to be easy to construct and looked like there was a hope in hells chance of Neve actually sleeping in it, I was keen to give it a go. We were given the opportunity to complete a Baby Bjorn Travel Cot Light Review and I jumped at the chance.
Is there such thing as an easy to assemble travel cot??
What makes the travel cot Baby Bjorn have created different? It’s light, durable, easy to fold, and comes complete with it’s own carry case.
With a compact fold and practical carry case the Baby Bjorn travel cot takes up the minimum of space and is easy to take with you to relatives or on holiday. The adjustable design features generously padded shoulder straps (making carrying on your commute a lot more comfortable) and a waist belt. This updated take on the classic design also includes full mesh sides, meaning you can see everything baby is getting up to.
In one quick and simple movement, the travel cot pops open, ready for use. Then all you need to add is the mattress, which conveniently folds into the carry bag. The sturdy mattress keeps the crib firmly on the floor, ensuring it’s safe and secure and it features inward sloping sides to create a snug and cosy environment, with soft fabrics suitable for young and sensitive skin.
Developed with pediatricians, The Baby Bjorn Travel Cot Light provides the right support for your growing child’s head, hips and spine. Both the mattress cover and cot fabric are removable and can be machine washed using a gentle detergent.
We conducted our Baby Bjorn Travel Cot Light review when we went away to visit family during the half term holidays.
The first thing to point out is that although not small, the Baby Bjorn travel cot is very easy to carry, and little touches like the padded carry handle really do make a difference to your break – especially when you are staying in an attic room and need to climb up the stairs with the cot in tow.
The cot comes with instructions, however to be honest, it wasn’t really even necessary to use them. Upon opening the zipped outer packaging, you simply remove the mattress (which is neatly folded around the cot itself)
The cot literally pops up into place when you pull the sides apart, and is ready to use in seconds, with the only assembly required being popping the mattress into its base, and hooking on some safety fasteners to ensure it stays firmly in place.
When it comes to dismantling, there is a simple handle to press and fold the cot back in on itself, before folding the mattress back around and popping back into the carry bag.
When in use, I absolutely loved the mesh sides, as I was able to see what Neve was up to. I still use a baby monitor even when we are on holiday, and even though we were in the same room as her, having the monitor set up meant that I could still see through the mesh sides whether she was asleep or moving around.
One thing to be aware of is that this travel cot doesn’t have a bassinet and as such, the baby sleeps quite low to the ground. Now that Neve is bigger this isn’t a problem at all, however if I had been using this when Neve was a newborn it would have required me to bend down quite a distance to pop her inside. Having had a c section, this would have been a little trickier so I would have probably had to ask Mike to help me. Now that Neve is 1, I didn’t find this an issue at all.
The cot looks great, and whilst it is not small, it is relatively compact and takes up limited floor space. The mattress is firm but comfortable, and despite Neve being a terrible sleeper, her sleep was no worse (nor better) than when we were at home. As this was a strange location for her, I take that as a win! 🙂
I couldn’t do a Baby Bjorn Travel Cot Light review without mentioning the price – it retails at £215, so it goes without saying, there are cheaper alternatives on the market. I previously paid around £80 for a travel cot however I absolutely HATED it, so if you can afford the additional cost and want an easy life when travelling, I do definitely feel it is worth paying that extra, particularly if you are a regular traveller and can use it until your child is three.
Baby Bjorn travel cribs do really focus on the finishing touches, and even little things like the fact the instructions have their very own storage pocket in the case really show they have thought of everything!!! No excuses for losing them or leaving them behind!!
Pros
Compact and easy to store
Lightweight and easy to carry
Assembly really is a doddle! (and putting it down again!)
Small footprint means you can use even in a fairly small space. Perfect for a crowded hotel room or if your child needs to be in with your when visiting family.
Mesh fabric on the sides allows you to see them easily without waking them. Also great if like us you like to have a monitor set up.
Cons
Mattress is quite firm, which may be different to the cot at home. That said, it felt comfortable and Neve slept well.
Obviously there are cheaper alternatives on the market, but in terms of ease of use and compact / portability this product was a real win.
You can learn more about the Baby Bjorn Travel Cot Light on the Baby Bjorn website.
*Disclosure – We were sent the cot free of charge in exchange for our honest Baby Bjorn Travel Cot Light review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links*.
Even from a very young age, Erin has always had a powerful imagination. From around 18 months of age she started to act out little scenes and role play – a box would become a house, the sofa become a boat and the floor was red hot lava. It was great to watch, and as she has grown older, her mind has become more and more creative! 🙂
We were recently approach by Kiddiewinkles to see if we would like to review one of their stunning hand embroidered 100% Cotton playhouses, and needless to say, I didn’t take long to respond with a resounding yes.
Who are Kiddiewinkles?
Kiddiewinkles sell a range of play houses to help children’s imaginations run wild – from princess castles to enchanted gardens, space stations to fire engines, these hand embroidered and 100% cotton playhouses stimulate hours of creative play.
Kiddiewinkles also offer a coordinating range of room accessories including toy baskets and bedside organisers that make the perfect finishing touches for bedrooms and nurseries.
For that extra special touch, all items can be personalised with your child’s name, nickname or a message of your choice.
About the Product
The Enchanted Garden and Fairy Woodland Playhouse is perfect for little fairies. The house has a door on both sides, and can be turned around to display the scene of your choice – all inspired by fairytales of flower fairies at the bottom of bluebell filled fields and gardens.
To make the playhouse extra special it can be personalised with a child’s name(s) or a phrase of your choice, beautifully embroidered on to the door.
The Enchanted Garden and Fairy Woodland Playhouse comes in its very own storage bag, can be packed away for easy storage, and is easy to assemble with a sturdy metal frame.
Our Experience
We were sent a Enchanted Garden and Fairy Woodland Playhouse from Kiddiewinkles which we opted to get personalised with the girl’s names. Now that Neve is getting bigger, she is really fascinated watching Erin and really wants to play with her big sister. I loved the idea of this playhouse being something that they could enjoy together as they grow up.
The playhouse arrives neatly packed away in it’s own large storage bag with handles, meaning that it can be dismantled and kept in storage when not in use. This was a real positive, as due to it’s size it is not necessarily something we would opt to have assembled in the girls bedroom all of the time.
Inside the storage bag are two smaller bags, one with all the poles in, and the other with what I would call brackets or connectors, ready to piece them all together. The fabric for the house is folded neatly inside in a protective bag.
The assembly instructions were very straight forward to follow, and bringing the house to life took very little time at all (less than 10 minutes). The poles are all clearly labelled with letters, and as such, it is very easy to figure out what goes where, quickly put the poles in place and get the frame constructed, ready for the cover to be placed over the top.
The fabric cover comes with Velcro tabs all along the bottom, meaning that they can be wrapped around the base poles to hold it securely in place. I did have to crawl inside the house to do this, but to be honest I didn’t take much persuading! 🙂
Unfortunately the fabric does get a little creased in the bag, and as such, I would want to perhaps give this an iron before using the house, particularly if it was going to be kept up for a longer period of time.
First Impressions
My first impressions of the house were that it is a really beautiful piece. It is clear that a lot of thought and attention to detail has gone into creating this product and the quality of the embroidery and applique characters is very high. Each of the windows comes with its very own little set of curtains, each with tie backs so they can be easily opened or closed according to the child’s preference. There are two doors (one on each side) and the embroidery of the girl’s names was in a neat high quality font – Erin was really chuffed that she was able to spot both their names. The embroidered trees and fairies with sparkly wings on the sides were just adorable, as well as the large apple trees on the other side.
The girls were very excited to get inside, and Erin had soon dragged Neve in (almost literally) along with a dolly and a potty chair (obviously) for a little bit of role play. Soon enough, the Fairy House had come a dance studio, and Erin began practising all her favourite gymnastics moves inside whilst belting out her favourite song.
The house is big, so this is something to bear in mind – if you are short of space then this probably isn’t going to be something your room can easily accommodate. In order for the girls to access both doors, we had to pull it slightly away from the wall, meaning that it required a good X metres square playing space.
Erin loves peaking through the windows and surprising her sister below, and I love the idea of adding some cushions or pillows and a throw inside to make this a bit of a reading nook, perfect for those bedtime stories before bed.
The house is easily big enough for Mum or Dad to crawl into as well, unlike a tepee which can be a little more restrictive when they want you to join them for playtime. There is lots of headspace, meaning no cricks in your neck when your children insist you come inside!
At £210 the Enchanted Garden and Fairy Woodland Playhouse is obviously quite an investment, but the girls have had so much fun in recent weeks, and every day a new adventure begins when Erin’s imagination comes in to play.
Overall we were really impressed with Kiddiewinkles, and if your nursery is big enough, feel these would make the perfect addition to any children’s room.
Pros:
Very easy to construct and dismantle as required, with clearly labelled parts and a large bag for easy storage when not in use.
Big enough for parents to climb in too, without hurting your back or neck, as well as siblings to share.
Beautifully designed with stunning intricate details
Perfect for encouraging role play, imagination and creativity.
Personalised option makes the playhouse that extra bit special.
Cons:
The first thing to point out is obviously the price, this is not a budget item and at £210, this is quite an investment. However, you are paying for an item which has been made by hand and is fully personalised, and hence I would expect to pay a small premium for the intricate detail that has gone in to this fairy house.
It is rather on the large side, so some families simply wouldn’t be able to accommodate such a large item in their home.
When first removed from the packaging it can be quite creased, and to fully enjoy the aesthetic of the design, I think it would require an iron or steam clean before hand.
You can learn more about Kiddiewinkles and their full range of hand made play houses, nursery products and accessories on the Kiddiewinkles website here.
*Disclosure – we were provided with the Kiddiewinkles Fairy House free of charge in return for our honest review, however as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own*
Hi, I’m Lucy, a thirty something mum of two from Birmingham. A memory maker, tradition keeper, stationery addict and Mr Men fanatic. HR Advisor by day and sleep deprived Mama by night!
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