Last week to recycle old shoes, save money on new ones AND save tiny lives!

Anyone looking for a good excuse to revamp their shoe collection after the winter months can get a helping hand from Brantano – and in turn give baby charity Tommy’s a helping hand to save tiny lives.

The campaign, ending on Sunday 25^th March, asks people to give shoes they no longer want to their nearest Brantano store nationwide from Monday 27^th February to Sunday 25^th March. Brantano will donate 20p to Tommy’s for every pair of shoes handed in, to help fund the charity’s research into pregnancy complications such as miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth.

Model, TV presenter and mum, Nancy Sorrell, is backing the campaign and asking everyone to follow in her own – very colourful – footsteps. She says: "I’m sure we’re all guilty of hoarding lots of shoes we never wear – I know I am! But anyone that’s had a complication in pregnancy will know how valuable Tommy’s is, and the work they do in helping more people to have healthy babies is so important. By handing over your shoes to Brantano stores you can help the charity’s research into pregnancy complications, and help other mums to become mums.”

Furthermore, customers who bring in their old shoes will also receive a £10 off voucher to redeem against any purchases of £40 or more at Brantano Footwear – giving you further help when it comes to kick-starting your spring wardrobe.

Tommy's funds vital research into pregnancy complications, in the hope that fewer families in the UK suffer the trauma of losing a baby at pregnancy or birth.

Unfortunately pregnancy complications - such as premature birth, miscarriage and stillbirth - are more common than people think:

• 1 in 4 UK women lose a baby at pregnancy or birth
• Every day in England and Wales alone, around 290 women experience a miscarriage, approximately 149 babies are born prematurely and 10 babies are stillborn.
• In Scotland, about 25 women experience a miscarriage and 2 babies are born preterm every day, and one baby is stillborn every second day.

This is why Tommy’s funds internationally-renowned research into pregnancy problems. The charity also provides a free information service to educate all parents-to-be about health in pregnancy, and offers bereavement counselling support for anyone that has lost a baby during pregnancy or birth.

‘New for Old’ will be running from Monday 27^th February to Sunday 25^th March 2012 in all Brantano stores nationwide. For more information visit www.tommys.org/newforold and for your nearest store go to www.brantano.co.uk.

Pregnant? Interested in being on TV?

HiPP Organic Mini Pots

We have kindly been sent the new HiPP Organic Mini Pots for Leo to have a taste of, this fab new line was launched just last month, and they are perfect for the initial introduction to solids as they can be used from 4 months onwards.

HiPP says:

Mini Pots will be positioned in the market as the perfect format for introducing solid foods to babies. Made from the finest organic fruits, picked at the peak of ripeness and blended with a ‘little bit of organic yogurt’, they are available in two flavours; ‘Apple and Pear’ and ‘Banana and Peach’.

Mini Pots are available in packs of 6 and the 'little bit' of yogurt makes the whole taste experience smoother and the taste milder to suit a younger baby's developing palette.

We started weaning Leo a few months ago now, he was a hungry baby and began to really love his food. We started off with baby porridge and as the weeks progressed we started to introduce Vegetables and Fruit. These new Mini Pots would have been a brilliant way to start Leo off, he is now on 3 meals a day, and as of today he has been enjoying HiPP Mini Pots as snacks after his meals.

Leo has given the HiPP Organic Mini Pots a BIG thumbs up, and when we have eaten our way to the bottom of the pot...he has smacked his lips readily together and searched for more! These pots happen to be conveniently sized in 50g pots as HiPP have listened to our Mummy voices and reduced the sizes to avoid wastage... I am sure I am not alone in feeling annoyed when there is lots of food wasted during the weaning of a baby.

HiPP says:

Whilst an abundance of 100g fruit pots are readily available in the baby food market, research has revealed that consumers find the product size too big for first time tasting experiences. HiPP Organic recognised this untapped demand for a smaller serving, which led to the launch of two Mini Pot variants of pureed fruit ‘with a little bit of yogurt’ in 6 x 50g pots.

My rule of thumb is not feeding Leo anything that I would not eat myself. Which I think is fair game. So I of course try anything and everything that I intend to put in my baby's tummy. I personally LOVE the fruit and yogurt combined in these new Mini Pots...now I just have to remember...they are for Leo...and not myself. **licks lips and slowly puts down the pot.....**

What I really REALLY love about the Pots are the fact they do not need refrigerating! I am one of those Mummy's that is always on the go and packing Leo's lunch into his changing bag and heading out of the house for the day!

This makes it easy to keep the food fresh, provide Leo with a healthy organic treat, and also get Leo's 5 a day in him!

Mini Pots are the latest addition to a full and yummy range, if you are interested in finding out further information you can visit www.hipp.co.uk. HiPP Organic Mini Pots are available in Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose and Boots right now. So if you fancy a wholesome yummy treat that your baby (and you....) will enjoy, then give them a try today!