Smart Sprogs

Category: Money Making & Saving Tips

  • Day out with the kids: 20+ cheap or free things to do near me

    At weekends or in the school holidays, most parents of young children will be wondering ‘Are there any cheap or free things to do with kids near me?’ Entertaining the little ones without spending lots of money is a real challenge for many families, so we’ve put together a quick guide for you. 

    Free family days out
    Are you wondering ‘Are there any free family places to go near me this weekend?’ Look no further for some great free fun days out

    The seaside -the most classic of all free days out

    A day at the beach is the BEST idea when it comes to finding things to do on a sunny day with no money. If you’re lucky enough to live in a seaside town then you won’t even need the petrol money to get there!

    Dig out the plastic buckets, spades and fishing nets from the back of the shed (or borrow a neighbour’s!) and head to the sea and sand for a day building castles, paddling and exploring rock pools. 

    A walk in the countryside – free days out with the kids who enjoy nature

    Free things to do with children don’t come much better than a nature trail in the fields, hills or woods. My kids loved collecting leaves, twigs, fallen flowers and pretty stones. Once home they would make chunky collages with their treasure and lashings of PVA glue. 

    A picnic – free days out with kids who love to cook

    Most young children love to eat. Empty your cupboards and let them use their imagination to plan the picnic of their dreams. You might just end up with baked bean sandwiches and orange squash but when it’s spread out on a picnic blanket at a local beauty spot it will taste delicious! 

    The garden centre -free days out for kids with green fingers

    Local garden centres are HUGE! The range of plants and flowers will fascinate small people if you chat to them about the different colours and textures. 

    If you’re lucky you might just find small animals, reptiles, birds and tropical fish for sale, a freebie mini zoo! 

    The Park – great free days out with toddlers and older kids

    Parks come in all styles and sizes. From large green spaces with Japanese water gardens to fantastic adventure playgrounds. Make the most of the parks near you to keep both toddlers and teenagers happy. Take a football, a picnic, sun cream and a bat and ball to make the fun last all day. 

    Cheap family days out near me – ideas to do with kids on a budget

    Looking for cheap things to do with kids under 6? A big day out full of laughter and memory making doesn’t have to cost the earth. You have two options, either Google ‘cheap family days out near me’ or have a read of our inspirational list. 

    Boats on the river

    Rowing down the river crashing into grassy banks and laughing till your sides hurt is the quintessential British day out. You don’t need to be a sailor to enjoy messing about on the water. Just make sure that you have life jackets, sun cream, snacks and a collective sense of adventure.

    A local museum

    When you’re wondering what to do with kids who are bored, look to your local museums for exhibitions aimed at children. Dinosaurs, space, a history of toys and nature are just some of the themes that will engage the young. 

    An animal farm

    Girl feeds the goat at the zoo

    The fun things for kids to do near me include a fabulous animal farm that costs around £25 for a family of four. Watching a chick hatch, cuddling a lamb and learning about where their bedtime milk comes from would make a fun and educational day out. 

    The National Trust and English Heritage Properties

    Your list of things to do with kids near me should include some of these beautiful old properties and areas of historic interest. The grounds of many of them are free to enter and provide adventure playgrounds, wide open spaces to run around in and ‘fun days’ during the school holidays. 

    The Art Gallery
    A search for ‘Fun activities for kids near me’ might surprise you. Art galleries love welcoming children and encouraging the next generation of creatives. Craft activities, kid friendly talks by artists and painting lessons will delight children who love to draw and paint. 

    Fun events for kids near me  

    Free activities for children in your local area might include some of these great ideas. 

    Events at your local library

    Fun things for kids near me will absolutely include events organised by your local library. It’s so important to use the facilities on offer at libraries and story time, reading challenges and poetry workshops are perfect for kids who love to read. 

    School fairs 

    Free things to do with children are often organised by their playgroup or primary school. During the summer holidays and at Christmas the school fair is a wonderful place to be. 

    It might cost you a fiver in tombola tickets, lucky dips and ice cream but it’s worth it to help your kids feel part of their community along with their school chums.

    A Village Show – free kid’s activities near me that take place at the end of summer

    Your village show is a classic on the list of free things to do with kids over the summer holiday. Contact the show committee for a list of the prize categories and enthuse your small people will a little competitive spirit. 

    Dog, pet shows and open days at rescue centres

    The parent of a child who adores animals should find lots of options for things to do with the kids near me. 

    Cat’s Protection and the RSPCA both have annual summer open days with educational talks, competitions and exciting games.

    Dog shows are plentiful in a nation of dog lovers. Encourage your children to bathe, groom and beautify your furry friend and see if you can win ‘Prettiest Pooch’.

    How to find out about things to do with the kids
    So, how do you find out about the things to do for free with kids in your area? 

    • Join local Facebook groups – receive relevant notifications and reminder of free activities for kids near me.
    • Search engines – a search for ‘Things to do with kids in Reading’ will help the local in that area to find free and cheap days out.
    • Read local news and media. Read your local newspaper, the newsletters which pop through your letterbox and the local link magazine. The answers to your questions of ‘the things to do near me with kids’ will definitely be in there. 
    • Adverts. Watch out for posters and leaflets in the window of your newsagents and post office. 

    Sunny days at home – things to do with kids for free

    Paddling pool

    Fill it with bubble bath one day and ‘bath slime’ the next. Watch your kids as they are playing for peace of mind and hours of splashy fun. 

    Messy play

    Do you hate Play-Doh? Ohhh, me too! Finding the sticky stuff from hell in your carpet is a nightmare. Let your tiny sculptors loose on a plastic sheet covered patio, drive or lawn for lots of glorious mess for the tiny tots with less stress for you.

    Sand play

    Bring the seaside home with a sandpit full of buckets, spades, dumper trucks and collection of the seashells you collected on holiday. Make sure your sandpit has some form of lid to protect the sand from cats!

    Gardening

    Planting up tubs with pretty flowers is a lovely thing to do with kids on a sunny day. Let them dig in the fresh compost, smell the blooms and pick their favourite colour combinations. 

    ‘Painting’ the fence

    Top of my list of things to do outside when bored toddlers are driving you crazy is THIS! Give them a big fluffy paint brush and a bucket of water and let them ‘paint’ your fence. It sounds crazy but watching the posts change colour as they ‘helped’ around the garden kept mine occupied and happy for hours.

    Rainy days at home – ideas for fun with the kids when the weather is bad

    Drama – things to do today with kids who are budding actors

    Raid your wardrobe for glitz, bring out the dressing up box, drape your living room in tablecloths for stage curtains and provide an old white sheet to design the background scene. 

    Spark their imaginations with character ideas and story possibilities and watch as your tiny theatre actors create a show fit for the Edinburgh fringe. 

    Puzzles and games – free activities for kids can be found on educational websites. 

    • Classic board games such as Junior Scrabble and Snakes and Ladders. 
    • Simple maths puzzles and word games.
    • Boxed games like Connect 4 and Balloon Lagoon. 

    Baking

    Looking for things to do when you have nothing to do? Bake! Biscuits, buns and traybakes are all easy to make for toddlers and young children. 

    Cooking is perfect. You’ll have fun with the kids and provide a delicious, healthy pudding for the rest of the family. 

    Drawing and craft – things to do today with kids who enjoy creating art

    What you will need:

    • Flattened out cardboard boxes, scrap paper or a giant roll of brown paper bought for £2 from the Post Office.
    • The biggest box of felt tips you can afford. 
    • Items from around the house to draw around such as cookie cutters and ornaments. 
    • Potatoes, your cutting skills and a tray of poster paint for printing. 
    • Imagination from the child. 
    • Patience and enthusiasm from you. 

    Ways to make days out free or cheaper

    Memberships/subscriptions to organisations such as ‘Historic Houses’ or The National Trust

    Finding fun things to do with your kids can be expensive, especially for a large family. Invest in a membership or subscription and you can then visit your favourite places as often as you want for free. 

    A ‘Local Resident’ discount card

    Listings from local authorities entitled ‘Things for kids to do near me’ will often mention residents discounts. Have a look at your local council’s website and see if and how you can register. 

    Often having ‘proof’ that you live in the area will entitle you to family days out for free or at a lower price than tourists. 

    Pay once and then get entry free 

    Paying once at a museum, gallery or attraction may mean your next visit or visits there will be a free day out. Look carefully at the ticket to see if this is the case for your favourite place. 

    Repeat visits to much loved places are great for very small children who enjoy the familiarity. Free things to do with toddlers are like treasure when their most used word is ‘again!’.

    Groupon or TravelZoo

    Useful websites to look at when searching for new things to do for kids near me are Groupon and Travelzoo. They often have fantastic deals on family days out. You won’t find free things to do with the kids, but you WILL find discounts on special days such as trips to a theme park or safari park. 

  • Four ideas to build a business while on parental leave

    Parental leave from work to have a baby is a precious time. The weeks before the birth of a first baby should be about rest, relaxation and self-indulgence. I adored those few weeks. I ate my (ever-increasing!) body weight in afternoon teas and had several gorgeous sessions of bliss at the expert hands of my reflexologist friend. 

    Once your little one has arrived, those first couple of months will be full of joy, fear, confusion and love. There will be very little headspace to concentrate on anything other than the wants and needs of your growing family and that’s exactly as it should be. 

    Eventually, the baby haze will lift and the ability to think beyond the next feed will return. The knowledge that parental leave isn’t endless will start to niggle and thoughts of “What next?!” are going to start getting louder and more insistent. 

    Most new mothers are keen to maintain a sense of ‘self’ beyond their new role. A career you love can give a fantastic feeling of identity and pride. Creating a new business that will blend into your new life is the perfect way to spend a proportion of your parental leave. 

    Will I have time? 

    Building a business while caring for a tiny baby requires balance. You need to be gentle with yourself. Don’t set ruthless targets, deadlines and time frames. Yes, you’re an entrepreneur and a badass woman who can handle anything. You’re also human and tired and at the mercy of tiny, tyrannical CEO. 

    Nap times, bedtime and the hours when baby is with your partner, family or friends, these are your golden hours of opportunity. HOWEVER, they are also times for rest, chilling with a glass of wine and maybe even a workout. 

    An hour or two a day on your business is more than enough when you’re a new mother. Each moment spent on your fledgling career is a solid building block and you should be proud of them instead of berating yourself that there haven’t been more of them. 

    The choice is, of course, entirely yours. A new business needs to make money, but it should also be something you enjoy. Here’s a list of general ideas that can be made specific to your own interests and skills. 

    Be a sales representative for a product you love

    When her children were little, my friend started to sell Usborne books and it’s something she has continued to do. It was a perfect fit. She’s a lover of literature and was determined to pass this passion down to her children. Usborne children’s books are gorgeous and they were a product she was proud of. 

    The highs and lows

    • Flexibility. Orders come in via email and text from friends and family. She sells at craft fairs and summer fetes on the weekends which suit her family. Usborne provides each sales partner with their own website. 
    • The children can get involved. Her older children have provided beautifully funny book reviews for the website and have always been enthusiastic salespeople (think Del Boy from ‘Only Fools and Horses’ in a pink dress and unicorn wellies!) 
    • It doesn’t make a huge amount of money. The ‘wage’ is based on commission from the books sold. It has paid for holidays and treats and has always been a great way for my friend to top up maternity leave pay and her salary from a part-time job. 
    • Freebies. Her house is like a library and that’s a wonderful thing for a family home to be.
    • Storage is key. My friend is lucky, she has a garage and no car so plenty of space for boxes of books. 
    • This is a good option if you enjoy your job and want to go back to work. 

    Create something beautiful or quirky and sell it

    Creative and crafty people should rejoice as this is a fantastic way to build a business that will fit around a young family. Think gifts, decorations and themes for your product and research potential selling platforms such as Etsy and Ebay. 

    At a Christmas Fair I once came across a gentleman who was selling mini LEGO figures in frames. He personalised them for each customer with pretty calligraphy on coloured craft paper. He was charging £45 for each one and they were selling in huge amounts. Simple, clever and unusual. A great gift!

    • Pride and happiness. Creating something unique that people love is a happy thing indeed. Enjoying making that product is a huge bonus and it won’t feel like work. 
    • Time. You can create whenever you have the time and energy. A website or selling space on a platform such as Amazon will do its thing once the photos and descriptions of your products have been uploaded. Packing and delivery needs to be done in Post Office hours but can be organised at night or in the early mornings. 
    • Money-making potential. The world is your art gallery! A beautifully hand-made gift that is perfect for the person in mind is worth paying for even if the amount it cost to make is minimal. 
    • Space and storage. A dedicated working space is ideal but not an option for everyone so finding room and avoiding mess in an already toy-filled home might be a challenge. 
    • Creating and selling your product can be done alongside your existing job or part-time job. Just make sure you don’t burn out trying to do it all. 

    Learn a new skill and create a business around it 

    Becoming a mother will introduce you to all kinds of new experiences. Baby Yoga, Tumble Tots, Music sessions for toddlers. There are so many options and none of them are free. Many of these baby-friendly activities are franchises and there is money to be made. 

    Love music? Want flexible hours? Research companies such as Jo Jingles or Music Bugs. They have centres across the UK and provide parents like you with the opportunity to deliver their fun programmes to other Mums, Dads and babies and get paid for it. 

    • Investment. The training course and/or cost of the franchise is unlikely to be free and you are taking a leap of faith. Make sure there is the space and interest within your community for the class before signing up. 
    • Renting space. You’ll need to deliver most classes in a large space such as a village hall or community centre. Check on the costs and administration involved to make sure it won’t become a headache. 
    • Your little ones can come to work. Teaching a baby, toddler and child-friendly class is a great way to make money in the years before your children go to school. 
    • Flexibility. Teach your classes when it suits you and in locations close to home.
    • This is a long-term business that may be tricky to run alongside your current career. 

    Use your existing skills and go freelance

    This is, of course, dependent on your skillset and your existing career. A journalist could become a freelance content writer and a graphic designer could work from home, but what would a nurse do?!

    Think carefully about your skills and how they could be used to create your own business. It doesn’t have to be connected to your career. What are you good at? How can that be developed? 

    This option is something that can be researched while on parental leave. Depending on what you choose to do it could work alongside your existing role with a view to leaving once established. 

    My sister-in-law studied Spanish at University. She then became an air hostess and only ever used her language skills on holiday flights to Spain. After my niece was born she wanted a job with flexibility and found inspiration in her degree. She now teaches Spanish to toddlers and primary school children from her home. 

    • Choose your own hours. As with all the business options we’ve included, flexibility is key here. Work as many hours as time and baby allow and increase the number as your child grows. 
    • Minimal training costs. Using existing skills means there is not necessarily the need to re-train. My sister-in-law doesn’t have a teaching degree but her knowledge of Spanish, an innate ability to communicate with children and a long list of glowing reviews from parents has helped her business flourish. 
    • May require taking the plunge and leaving your job.

    Where can I find help and inspiration?

    If the idea of becoming a business owner appeals to you then research is vital! Baby napping? The ironing can wait! Get yourself a comfy spot, grab your laptop and a notebook and head to these useful resources. 

    www.gov.uk/working-for-yourself

    www.moneyadviceservice.org 

    https://www.motherandbaby.co.uk/money-and-work/work-and-maternity/making-money-on-maternity-leave-the-rules-you-need-to-know   https://www.franchisedirect.co.uk/

  • Mothercare closing. Genuine bargains not to be missed?

    It’s the end for Mothercare. After almost 60 years of existence, Mothercare has announced plans to put its UK business into administration.

    Mothercare was unable to find a buyer. They are now looking at closing over 140 shops, putting in jeopardy over 2,500 jobs in the UK. 

    The shops have announced a total clearance. It’s been reported that there were queues of people, waiting hours to grab some deals. So I went to the Warrington and Chester branches to see it with my own eyes and report on the best deals

    There were no queues there. The shop was still quite full of items. It may have been because it was a Monday morning but theme weren’t that many people there.

    Concerning the deals, everything is between 10 to 15% off. Let’s see if it’s worth it!

    Babybjorn Baby Carrier One

    On the Babybjorn website it’s £139.99. It’s the same price in Mothercare. If you add the 10% discount it’s £125.99. You’d save £14. However if you head over to amazon you can find the carrier for £112 So the Mothercare deal is still £13 over the best Amazon prime price.
    Not worth it

    Sleepyhead Deluxe Plus Pod

    In Mothercare I found the Sleepyhead Deluxe Plus pod with silver lining for £140. With the discount it will cost you £126. On Amazon it’s currently priced at £140. Mother care deals saves you £14.
    Worth it

    Medela products

    Swing flex

    It’s £139.99 in Mothercare, which makes it £119 after the 15% discount. On Amazon I was able to find it for £99.99. So despite the discount it still £19 more expensive in Mothercare
    Not worth it

    Swing Flex essential pack

    This essential pack is 144.99 in Mothercare. After discount you’d pay £123.25. On Amazon, today (11/11/2019) you can purchase it for £119.99, it’s £3 cheaper.
    It’s a tie

    Swing Maxi Flex

    The maxi Flex is 249.99 in Mothercare. The discount brings it down to £212.50. You can find the same pump on Amazon for £179.99, which is quite a good deal and £32 cheaper than Mothercare.
    Not worth it

    PersonalFit Breast Shield, X-Large

    It’s £13.99 in Mothercare, costing £11.90 after the 15% discount. On mazon you can find it for £14.99. Buying it at Mothercare you’d save £3.
    Worth it

    Breastmilk Storage Bags

    It’s both £7.99 in Mothercare and Amazon. However with the 15% discount you’d only pay 6.80 in Mothercare, saving £1.19.
    Worth it

    Tommee Tippee closer to nature newborn starter kit

    It’s £34.99 before discount, which make it £29.74 at the till at Mothercare. You can find the same kit, clear, for £12.99 on Amazon.
    Not worth it

    Tutti Bambini CoZee bedside crib

    It was initially  £185.00 in Mothercare. With the 10% discount you only pay £166.50, which is the same price than the one I found on Amazon.
    It’s a tie

    Silver Cross prams

    It’s hard to compare prams as they offer so many options in terms of colour and materials and some options are only available in some retailers.

    Silver Cross pioneer

    The Silver Cross pioneer brompton pram and pushchair in grey is £787.50 after discount (£875.00 initially). If you want this exact colour it’s not a bad price, however if you’re not too bothered, you can find it in different colour for £60 to £200 cheaper at some Baby centers and Amazon.

    Silver Cross Wayfarer

    The Camden one is £697.50 after discount (£775.00 initially). Similarly to the Pioneer, if you’re not bothered by the colour you can find cheaper deals £100 cheaper at Samuel Johnston

    Cybex cloud-z car seat

    It’s £202 after discount in Mothercare. It’s a better price than the £246 on Amazon, but still slightly over the £199.00 you can find right now at Natural Baby Shower.
    It’s a tie

    Snuz SnuzKot Mode Cot Bed

    I found it at £349 in Mothercare, which after discount bring it to £314. Which is £35 cheaper than all the other retailers online.
    Worth it

    Are some deals 100% worth it?

    Mothercare brand and Early Learning Centre branded items are the one you won’t find cheaper anywhere.

    This set of furniture: Lulworth collection 

    It is only sold in Mothercare. You save £29 on the bed, £33 on the changing unit and £39 on the wardrobe. Unfortunately the toy chest is not available anymore.

    The Early Learning Centre toys:

    Most of them are exclusive to ELC and Mothercare. Still check Argos and Debenhams as they offer some better prices for a small amount of them like the Pull-along building bugs

  • Save up to £300 per year on baby formula

    Raising children is an expensive business. The most recent ‘Cost of a Child’ report published in 2018 estimated it at an astounding £75,000 from birth to 18 and that’s not including childcare!

    Parents of babies and toddlers are a prime target for designers, manufacturers and retailers. The instinct to provide a much-loved child with the best of everything they could ever need and want is, frankly, mercilessly exploited. 

    The manufacturers of baby formula milk tap into our wish to give their child the highest quality nutrition. Their marketing suggests that their milk is ‘as close to breastmilk’ as it is possible to get and ‘offers the best start in life’. 

    This leads parents to buy expensive formula over what they perceive to be ‘inferior’ budget brands.  I am one of those parents. I try to give the very best to my baby and tend to not buy the cheaper brands.

    But I’m wondering if it’s worth it when it comes to baby formula.

    How much should you spend on baby formula

    There are several brands of baby formula, some fancy some more generic. Your formula budget will depend on the brand you choose.

    Let’s crunch the numbers. We’ve compared a premium brand with a budget brand.

    The prices are from September 2019

    The ‘Premium Brand’

    • Aptamil 1 First baby milk from birth £10.99 for 800g
    • Aptamil Hungry baby milk from birth £10.99 for 800g
    • Aptamil Follow On milk from 6 months £10.99 for 800g
    • Aptamil Growing Up milk from 1-2 years £9.99 for 800g

    The ‘Budget Brand’

    • Sainsbury’s Little Ones First Infant Milk Stage 1 from birth £7.00 for 900g
    • Sainsbury’s Little Ones Follow On milk from 6 months £7.00 for 900g 

    The sums

    The prices look very close to each other, only £4 difference by tub. But if you look at the capacity of the Aptamil tub and the Sainsbury’s tub, you realise that they are not the same size. You get smaller tubs with aptamil.

    For the comparison to be fair we need the price of each brand for the same quantity of formula. So let’s work out the price per kilogram. The Aptamil is £13.7/kg while the Sainsbury’s one is £7.8/kg.

    The Aptamil milk is almost twice as expensive as the Sainsbury formula

    Let’s calculate a budget per year. You’ll need approximately 8kg of formula per month.

    It brings us to a total budget of £656 for a year buying the Aptamil formula compared to £374 if you buy the Sainsbury’s one. That a staggering difference of £282 per year. 

    Is that £282 extra justified? Is the premium formula better?

    What is the best baby formula?

    We often say “you get what you pay for”. Is it the case for the baby formula? Do you get better quality or more nutriments with more expensive baby milk?

    I’m not the only one wondering. Earlier this year, Channel 4 ‘Dispatches’ programme studied the claims made by the makers of baby formula and their investigation was very revealing.

    They asked Shel Banks, an advisor to the NHS on the feeding of infants, to explain which baby formula was ‘best’. She responded with the following statement: 

    “There are very clear European Standard Guidelines on the maximum and minimum level of everything – the proteins, the fats, the carbohydrates – there’s nothing to choose between them in terms of nutrition at all.” 

    So long story short they are all the same.

    The law is very strict in terms of baby formula composition. All the ingredients of proven benefit are the same across all the baby formula in the UK. Any additional ingredients advertised on the packaging have not been proven beneficial. If they were beneficial, the EFSA (The European Food Safety Authority) would amend the law to include it in the mandatory ingredients for baby formula.

    So the question is why are some formulas more expensive than others?

    Is it worth buying expensive formula?

    Most of the lists reviews milk based on the packaging, the ease of opening and how you removed the powder from the tin or tub. Few mentioned the ingredients other than to say they were ‘nutritionally complete’ and it would be illegal to sell a milk that wasn’t so this is not a valid part of the review.

    It seems that ‘big brands’ such as SMA and Aptamil are charging more than supermarket labels like Sainsbury’s ‘Little Ones’ simply because of their bigger marketing and branding budgets. 

    The expensive brands will try and justify the extra cost of their milk by talking about ‘added ingredients’. Aptamil, for example, has packaging which claims it contains “A breastmilk substitute with our unique blend of ingredients’. In fact, the ingredients will be the same as all other milks. The only difference will be slight alterations in proportion. 

    The British Specialist Nutrition Association are the representatives for the formula milk industry. They told the Dispatches investigation that the makers of baby milk can add: “varying levels of ingredients”, “beyond the legal minimum requirements”. 

    This is a weak argument for charging up to £4 more for a smaller size of tub. In reality should Aptamil contain an extra ingredient, such as Omega 3, which is proven to be beneficial to babies then the law states it must be added to all the other formula milks on the market too. 

    This extra ingredients have not been proven beneficial and therefore probably useless. Purchasing these formula with extra ingredient is a waste of money.

    Baby formula marketing forbidden in the UK

    Advertising “first infant formula” is not authorised in the UK. You’ll never see an advertisement for formulas that substitute breast milk. Breast Milk Action explain the law in details.

    To try to circumvent the law, formula companies advertise their follow-on milk for babies 6 months and older trying to hook you with their fallacious arguments their formula is better. Implying their formula will make your baby a ballerina or a maths genius, I’m sure you know exactly which advertisement I’m referring to.

    Their strategy relies on brand recognition. If you know that brand and you think their follow-on milk is the best for your baby, then you’ll think their first infant milk is also the best. It’s their way to persuade you to buy their first infant formula they can’t advertise.

    The social, safety and economic impact of expensive formula

    The cost of formula milk and the suggestion that ‘expensive is best’ can have a huge impact on families. These groups are particularly vulnerable. 

    • Low income families.
    • Single parents. 
    • Parents of twins or triplets. 
    • Parents of both babies and toddlers. 
    • Parents of babies with allergies or digestive issues. 

    At the UNICEF Baby Friendly Conference in 2018 an All- Party Parliamentary Group on Infant Feeding and Inequality discussed concerns over the cost and marketing of baby formula.

    • Poverty caused by the cost of formula milk. 
    • Parents not feeding themselves so they can afford to feed their babies and toddlers. 
    • Unsafe practises such as the watering down of formula to make it last longer, adding cereal to feeds or skipping feeds. 
    • The unfair and misleading marketing campaigns of certain formula brands. 

    The following commitments were made:

    • The UK should ban the advertising of breastmilk substitutes to the public. 
    • Public Heath communications are required to make plain to parents that there are no significant nutritional differences between each brand of formula. 
    • Research into the unsafe formula feeding practises needs to occur urgently to provide a solution. 
    • The impact of the cost of formula milk to a family should be considered at all stages of the health and social care, welfare, immigration and benefits system. 

    Save your money, buy the cheap formula

    To sum up, when choosing a brand of formula milk for your baby or toddler pay little attention to the brand and marketing nonsense that they throw at you via advertising and packaging and instead consider:

    • The age of your baby. 
    • Your baby’s nutritional needs such as difficulty with digestion and allergies. 
    • The price. 
    • Minimal packaging. 

  • 6 Great Sleepyhead Alternative Baby Pods That Won’t Break The Bank

    You don’t need to hear about how much Sleepyheads pods are amazing. It’s everywhere. But with that comes a high price tag. Is it really worth it or can you find a Sleepyhead alternative for half the price?

    We’re looking at other suitable baby sleeping pods and comparing them to the well known Sleepyhead pod. We review the feature, material, design and price…

    Best cheaper Sleepyhead alternatives:

    Cheaper Version of Sleepyhead under £80

    While the Sleepyhead is a great product, it may be a bit pricey for new parents who are already having to spend hard earned cash on diapers, wipes, formula, etc. There are products that offer some of the same benefits as the Sleepyhead without emptying your wallet.

    Purflo Nest vs. Sleepyhead

    Babymoov Cocoon vs Sleepyhead

    CleverMama vs Sleepyhead

    Tiny star pod vs Sleepyhead

    Sleepyhead alternative under £40

    Babymoov Cosydream vs. Sleepyhead

    The babymoov cosydream is another much cheaper version of the Sleepyhead.

    Luchild Nest vs Sleepyhead

    Poddle Pod vs. Sleepyhead

    One cheaper version of the Sleepyhead is the Poddle pod. The breathable Poddle pod is a fraction of the price for a Sleepyhead and is also available online for purchase. The concept is similar though the shape is just slightly different.  The contour, rather than an oval, is a rounded off square.

    This shape allows for a little more room for play time on the Poddle pod than on the more expensive option. However this also means a little more room for rolling if the baby is a newborn or very tiny. Still, this version is equipped with elevated side bumpers to keep your baby from rolling out of it. The Poddle pod is designed for 0-36 month babies. Unfortunately it’s out of stock in the UK. We’ll update you as soon as it comes back in stock!

    Should you go for a cheaper baby pod or stick with Sleepyhead?

    If you’re reading this article it’s probably because like a lot of parents you like the idea of a baby pod but you find the price of the Sleepyhead a bit steep. And I agree with that. 

    The big question however is : is the Sleepyhead that much better than the other pods introduced above?

    There is no cut answer however there are a few things we can go through to help you make the decision to invest in the expensive sleepyhead or to buy a more affordable baby pod.

    Why is the Sleepyhead baby pod so expensive?

    It’s not a secret the Sleepyhead is expensive, and not just a little bit. It is 6 times dearer than some of the options introduced above. 

    It’s a bit crazy when you think about it, a little pod made of cotton and foam is more expensive than an electric breast pump or a car seat. Surely the material and technology of the pod is not worth that much!

    My personal opinion on that is that, while the pod itself is not that expensive to produce, when you buy a Sleepyhead, you don’t just buy any pod, you buy in the brand.

    I bet you never heard any of the names of the alternatives like Babymov or Luchild… But you’ve heard of Sleepyhead. Everyone knows the brand. 

    It’s like the Mulberry of bags or the LandRover of cars. You could get something similar for much cheaper but it wouldn’t be the same unbranded.

    Building such a strong brand and recognisable name takes a long time and requires a lot of money, hence the price.

    Is the Sleepyhead still a good choice?

    I can understand that at this point you’re thinking “I don’t want to over pay just because they have a big marketing strategy”. But it’s not all about marketing. 

    One of the most important things for a big brand such as Sleepyhead is their reputation. They will work really hard to keep it top notch. So you can count on them to control the quality of their products and offer excellent customer service.

    Their pod is comfortable, very well designed with a feel of luxury and durable. For all these reasons the Sleepyhead is still a great choice.

    Should you invest in a second hand Sleepyhead or a cheaper alternative

    You can find a lot of cheaper Sleepyhead sold online on eBay or Facebook. Buying it second hand sounds like a great deal: lower price saving up to £100, same quality, you’d just need to thoroughly wash the cover or buy a new one.

    However I would warn you that it may not be a great idea.  The Lullaby Trust advises against using second-hand mattresses. Research has brought to light that there might be a link between higher rates of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and second hand mattresses. Depending on how it was used and stored some mattress may contain some mold, dust mites and bacteria, which presents a big risk for your baby. The risk is slim but still there so why risk it when there are other great alternatives that will fit your budget better?

    The best pod at the end of the day is the pod that is in your budget. If you can afford the Sleepyhead, then go ahead it’s an excellent choice. But if your budget is tight then one of the alternatives above will do just fine.

    Wrapping up

    The decision you have to make is deciding which one fits your needs. There are several options to choose from ranging in color choices, accessories available, and the price that is in your range.

    If you’re still not convinced by the alternatives then maybe the Sleepyhead pods are for you. Head over here to read our complete review of the Sleepyhead pods.