A new survey on British families – which one are you?

We love the Middletons. The Osbournes and ‘The Incredibles’ as well.

A new study carried out by Perform asked participants which famous family type best fits their own.

The majority of participants likened themselves to the Middleton clan –high-achieving traditionalists. Ozzy Osbourne’s animated brood – classed as alternative easy-going liberals – followed in popularity and the super sporty fictional superhero family ‘The Incredibles’ was also top on the list.

According to the British families study, the Middletons are synonymous with being musically and academically accomplished as well as travel savvy. People who most relate to the Osbournes are those who value humour and do not feel pressure to ‘keep up with the Jones’s’.

Those voting themselves most similar to ‘The Incredibles’ place importance on athletic achievement.

The family least identified with was The Simpsons; described as ‘relaxed unambitious homebodies’ but Marge’s cooking was something that some respondents valued.

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Flying with toddlers

Flying with toddlers can be a difficult experience, both for parent and child. I recently took a long-haul flight from London to South Africa with my husband and almost two-year-old daughter.

Our holiday was planned around my daughter’s second birthday; the flight (excluding airport taxes) is free before a child turns two… and we are all about saving money. BUT a total of twenty-four hours flight time with a wiggly, restless toddler taught me that saving money is not always the best option!

Let’s just say that I thought that an 11kg two-year-old sitting on my lap for a ridiculous number of hours was totally do-able. I was wrong, so very wrong.

Our overnight flight to SA (and our return to London) included a stop-over in gay Paree (Charles de Gaulle airport). What a stop-over means in a parent’s vocabulary is: just as your child is sort of settled into a flight, you are up and off – disembarking, queuing and embarking… it’s all very chaotic and über-exciting for a toddler.

Classed as a ‘baby’ we were generously given the ‘roomy seats’ – meaning more leg space as opposed to bigger seats – that have space enough for a bassinet that folds out in front of your seat for your baby to sleep in. My almost two-year-old ‘baby’ was a tad large for the bassinet and so on my lap she sat.

With my husband across the aisle and an arm rest that did not fold up I realised, after an hour of serious discomfort on my part and disturbed ‘doze’ on my daughter’s part, that sleep was just not going to happen. She could not get comfortable on my lap and I was counting the seconds until we reached our destination… second by very long second.

Luckily we managed to scout out a spare seat and I, along with my daughter, moved to accommodate our serious discomfort. I put on some random bunny film, which she watched for 8 solid hours with maybe half an hour’s sleep toward the 5am mark. Let’s just say that we arrived in SA with one very tired little girl.

But things could have been a lot worse had we not had the grace of a spare seat. Ten hours on mommy’s lap would not have gone done well at all! Thank goodness for airplane films and a child who is used to sitting on bus and train seats. She stayed put, didn’t fuss… so lack of sleep was a small price to pay.

And God was smiling down on us on our return flight – we had a spare seat from the get go! Sleep, again, was intermittent for my sweet toddler but she was well-behaved although uncomfortable.

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Best sleep aid for kids

Winter is still with us and it is dark, very dark… all the time (it feels like). So who needs a black out blind?

That said; being prepared is never a bad thing.

Last summer I cottoned on to the need for a black out blind only after my poor toddler started waking up with the birds at 4am. Then I had to search for one – no easy task.

In anticipation of a gorgeous summer (here’s hoping), Lightsoutblinds are sure to assist with some lovely weekend lie ins – for you and your kiddies.

Recently selected as a favourite by a panel of parents, the public then voted as winners of the Lovedbyparents Gold award for, ‘Best Sleep Aid’.

Invented by mum Anne Clay, who had trouble creating a warm sleeping environment for her two children, Lightsoutblinds are lightweight and portable which make them ideal for use at home or travel.

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Eco nappies from gNappies

I know that I am one of many mums who are becoming increasingly aware of nappy pollution. It’s no secret that nappies burden landfill.

My two-year-old daughter will inherit a planet that I am busy polluting with nappy waste. Seventy per cent biodegradable is my nappy of choice but even that no longer seems good enough. The nature that I take for granted may not be around for my little girl to enjoy. It’s sad and scary.

Loads more mums seem to be opting for the cloth nappies that their mums used to use back in the day before the convenience of disposables. With horrible safety pins replaced with plastic clips, and the convenience of nappy liners and plastic nappy covers, the cloth nappy is no longer so horrid a thought.

If you are a mum who wants to go green, gNappies is definitely a site to check out. Whether it’s cloth or disposable that tickles your fancy, gNappies offer eco nappies for both; you can choose either certified biodegradable nappies or washable cloth nappies (with washable little gPants nappy covers) – the disposable element is a 100 per cent bio degradable ‘gRefill’.

gNappies have no elemental chlorine, no perfumes, no smell… no garbage and no guilt. In fact, these eco nappies are so gentle on the earth that wet nappies can be garden composted in one compost cycle; approximately 50 – 150 days.

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The many unique benefits of bananas

We all know that most kids are bananas, and most kids I know also love to eat bananas, which is why it is really good to know that there is a long list of unique benefits of bananas, not just to your children, but to you as well:

* Bananas are a good source of potassium, which is essential for maintaining heart, nerve and kidney function.

* They contain an amino acid called tryptophan, which is needed for the production of serotonin, a brain chemical that regulates mood.

* Bananas are also a good source of vitamin B6, which is needed for the production of serotonin, as well as being important in maintaining a healthy immune system.

* Bananas are a source of fibre, helping to maintain a healthy digestive tract.

* They are also a great source of energy on the go, essential for active, growing children. That’s why they are often seen on the courts at Wimbledon!

* Bananas are good for replacing lost energy and minerals such as potassium after a stomach upset.

* They are also a great weaning food for babies, and you can carry them anywhere – simply mash with the back of a fork and you have an instant, nutritious and tasty puree.

* Bananas are said to aid sleep, making them a good night-time snack for you and the kids.

* And best of all, you get to buy one of these funky gadgets, a banana guard, to carry it to work or school in!