 click here to enter the brand new TIPS competition
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Welcome to our fourth issue of the TIPS newsletter. Our aim is to give you a flavour of what TIPS has been up to since last time we met, which product testing has been completed and forthcoming trials already planned.
I am thrilled to announce that we now have over 130 parent testers (as well as many more members); a number that continues to grow by the day, so my dream of an online community really is becoming a reality.
Thank you so much to all of you who have already been involved in a TIPS trial and good luck to those who have yet to get started. The largest test so far (over 250 products) is finally complete and the results of the Baby skincare/nappy cream category will soon be posted online. Plans are also well underway to get the 2007 nursing bras/tops category out to testers and cup feeding is also out to testers (see featured event).
I must say a big thank you to all the companies involved for their generosity in supplying the many wonderful samples for you to test. I can report that the TIPS Awards pages are the most viewed pages on TIPS which is wonderful and shows how useful these results are becoming for new parents. Stats on the website have tripled since March, when the TIPS Awards were launched and we now regularly attracting 4500 visitors a month (100000 hits) which is amazing! A new media kit will be added shortly for prospective advertisers.
If you can think of any new categories you would like me to cover pleaseemail meand I will do what I can to source the best products available.
You can still check out the FAQs on breastfeeding and baby skincare but read on to see my top tips for our featured website, event, books, article,products and of course competition winners and latest news.
Remember if you are not ‘in’ you can’t win!
Happy testing!
Sharon |
| TIPS looking for their 150th parent tester |
| According to the book 'The tipping
point' things start to happen when you get to the magic number of 150. TIPS will reward their 'magic tester' with a very special prize. We are nearly there... so if you know anyone interested in becoming a member of the TIPS online community, let them know that they should register as soon as possible! Good luck..... |
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This is a picture of Sienna Grace, aged 7 weeks, enjoying her bath in a Tummy Tub - Thank you to Mum, who is one of my parent testers, for sending this in and a signed copy of ‘Breastfeeding: the essential guide’ is on its way to you |
| TIPS toddler |
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I loved this picture of Eva who is making the most of her chocolate ice cream! Thanks to Mum for sending this in and a signed copy of Breastfeeding: the essential guide is on its way to you. |
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| TIPS top tip |
Because they let your baby's bottom breathe, silk nappy liners are the natural way to treat a sore bottom. Follow this link to find out more
Tip by Kim from Bromley |
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Baby care - back to basics
leaflet (version 4) |
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I am pleased to announce that the
new sponsor for my Baby care - back to basics leaflet is Halos n Horns. This is the first company who were willing to advocate the use of plain water for the first month of life and I have agreed to be their online baby skincare advisor. Look out for my baby skincare advice and tips at Halo GB. If you would like a free copy of my Baby care - back to basics leaflet please email me. |
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..........TIPS competition ....
TIPS competition.... . |
You will see that I sell ‘TIPS Duck’ jewellery online. This is hand made by a local goldsmith and I am lucky to have my very own necklace, earrings, duck pin and cuff links. I have decided to offer a pair of duck earrings (worth £69.99) to the winner of this newsletter competition. Just email your answer to the following question:
In the TIPS ‘Babycare-back to basics™’ leaflet I recommend that it is safer to bath your baby in plain water for how long?
Email your entriesbefore the end of November. The winner will be notified on 1 December 2007. [back to top] |
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| Follow the links below to see previous issues of our e-newsletter |
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| ..... TIPS Featured website .... www.mothering.com |
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I often mention this website as a great source of advice to parents looking for quality information and excellent articles. Run by Peggy O’Mara, this site will give you the answers to many parenting problems without resorting to the hard sell so often associated with similar magazines. It is not afraid to address contentious issues and I am proud to say that my work on cup feeding has even been mentioned within their magazine as well as online.
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| .........TIPS featured event.....Baby Friendly Initiative Conference (BFI) Belfast (11 and 12 October) |
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I am delighted to be joining my friends from Bickiepegs at this years BFI conference. I will be signing 60 copies of my book Breastfeeding: the essential guide and giving them away (courtesy of Bickiepegs) to delegates over the two days. If you are attending this event please pop over for a chat and claim your free gift before they run out!
Copies of my cup feeding article will also be available which features the wonderful Doidy cup. A TIPS trial of cup feeding is presently out to testers so if you want to see how the Doidy cup was rated check out the results online shortly. [back to top] |
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| ......TIPS featured books ................... |
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I am often asked about weaning and I found the following books to be especially useful. They are aimed at the American market but the information travels well and I would have no hesitation recommending these titles:
Mothering your nursing toddler by Norma Jane Bumgarner:
"This is a gem of a book , written with great warmth and understanding. As a midwife and mother I loved it!"
How weaning happens by Diane Bengson:
"This book gives comprehensive advice about weaning your baby and is especially aimed at breastfeeders." [back to top] |
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| ....TIPS featured products -
Lanowool, Baby care Tens and retrospective trials (RTs) |
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Lanowool breast pads
Made from fine merino wool these pads are impregnated with highly purified lanolin. They scored equal first alongside Lilypadz (‘Best of the best’) securing the ‘Testers favourite’ award too. This simple design is now available in two sizes; regular (12cms) and large (15cms) costing £10 a pair. Not only are they 100% natural, non-stick and breathable but they keep the breasts at a constant temperature (especially useful for women with sensitive nipples such as Raynaud’s syndrome) which aids circulation and milk flow. They are incredibly soft and once breastfeeding is established only need washing once a week. The full results can be seen on our test pages |
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Elle TENS by Babycare TENS
This machine was the clear winner in the recent TIPS trial. It has all the necessary features to make your TENS experience seamless. The excellent ergonomic design ensures that the machine is easy to use. Instructions are concise and testers especially liked the quick reference guide. Testers loved the easy-grip finish which is ideal to hold during labour. The large digital screen is simple to navigate. Extra features such as the Opti-max, boost button and dual control pads make this machine a firm favourite with parent testers. To see the full results including the Mamatens, Natures Gate and Boots Tens, also worthy winners, go to our test pages. |
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Retrospective trials
The TIPS Awards scheme is evolving. Although I try to source the best products available within a category at the start of a test, some may inevitably slip through the net. If one such product is brought to my attention within six months of a trial, I am happy to include it in a retrospective trial - so you won’t have to wait two years to hear about it. The same testing process is applied to these late entries and the results are posted on our ‘results just in’ page. Products included in the retrospective trials are allocated the ‘Editor’s choice’ award and feature alongside products from the same category. We hope you will find the information from the retrospective trials useful. [back to top] |
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| ...... TIPS Featured article |
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I have been busy writing a new paper on cord blood banking which I hope will be published in the New Year. This has been a fascinating subject to research and I have learnt a whole new language. Alongside an overview of what cord blood banking involves, the differences between public and private banks and implications for midwifery practice, I highlight the issue of cord clamping. This subject was covered recently by Dr Andrew Weeks, an article I would like to feature here.
The reference for this is - Weeks A (2007). Umbilical cord clamping after birth: better not to rush [Editorials]. British Medical Journal, 335 (7615):312-3. Follow this link for more information and rapid responses to this article. [back to top] |
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| .... Late news... late news...... late news |
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I am pleased to announce that TIPS Ltd will be featured as the Business of the month for October at the Glasgow branch of Costco. Leaflets, flyers and business cards are available to Costco members and those who register online at TIPS during this period will be entered into a special raffle to win a unique ‘I’m a TIPS tester’ bath towel. Good luck and welcome to all my new members. [back to top]
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| .... TIPS competition winners.... |
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e-competition – ended 15 /August
Question: What is the name of the product that has just won 'Best product 2007'?
Answer: Dream Mover
Winner: Wendy from London e-competition – ended 15 September
Question: What percentage of the world's mothers breastfeed?
Answer:90%
Winner: Shelley from Guernsey e-newsletter issue 3 competition:
How much do the TIPS duck handmade solid gold earrings cost?
The answer was £69.99
Winner: Jess from Brighton [back to top] |
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