DVD giveaways!

It's a DVD giveaway bonanza! Enter now to win one of 5 of EACH of these titles below.
If you choose to win the 'Surfer Jeff' release from The Wiggles, you also get to win the CD version with all the new songs by the group.

All the titles have been reviewed by real-life roadtesters [read: my 4 year old twins] and they ALL get the thumbs up!

'Surfer Jeff' introduces a new slew of songs from The Wiggles which are instantly relatable for kiddies, and will have them singing along to the simple yet highly message-driven lyrics [one song called Peanut Butter talks of the allergies we need to look out for in kids, after Anthony Field's own son's experience with this]. It's a new Wiggles must-own.

'Giggle and Hoot' is another new release which kids will be enamoured with instantly. This new release is called 'Twinklify the Night' and features Jimmy Giggle and his pal the owl 'Hoot', plus some eps from your fave ABC for Kids characters: Bananas in Pyjamas, Little Princess, and Playschool. Loads of fun.

And then there's the new release from Australian super group Hi-5, called 'Sharing Stories'. New tunes, same relatable fun quintet. Also a new must-own, with some old fave songs in there: 'L.O.V.E.' and 'Wish Upon a Star.'

New for my slew of mini reviewers is the 'Mister Maker' character - but they took to him immediately. If you have curious, creative-types, this is your DVD to own. Loads of practical, try-it-now projects to experiment with.

Here's what you need to do in order to own a copy of these DVDs, thanks to Roadshow Entertainment.

- Click 'like' on Twinnie World parent site Josie's Juice [go here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Josies-Juice-Blog/112183702164480]
- Tell us in the comments section below or email me at josiegags@optusnet.com.au and tell us which DVD you'd like to win and why
- Email me at josiegags@optusnet.com.au so I have a return email address if you win

[*Competition open to Australian residents only]

Childcare extended hours: would you use it?

Following on from an earlier report where some daycare centres have turned into an overnight care facility [see: http://www.twinnieworld.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/daycare-now-turns-into-overnight.html], news just in is that Childcare Minister Kate Ellis has revealed she wants to investigate removing restrictions on childcare centres being open after 6pm.

One option, reports 'The Sunday Telegraph', is that childcare centres also want discussed allowing some centres to open on Saturday in areas where there is local demand among miners and shift workers.

And nurses, doctors, firefighters and other shift workers the government is considering they also have access to more at-home care under new proposals.

"I have heard from so many parents about the added stresses of having to ensure you're out of the door at work by ten past five to get through the traffic and collect your child by 6pm," Ms Ellis told The Sunday Telegraph. "Or you face an immediate fine and a fine for every four minutes you're late after that.

Australian Childcare Alliance Gwynn Bridge spokeswoman said many centres charged $15 or more for parents who are 15 minutes late.

"You do feel sorry for parents who are rushing to pick up their children and get stuck in traffic. But what some parents don't realise is the staff have families waiting for them at home too," she said.

To read more, go here: http://www.news.com.au/news/minister-kate-ellis-reveals-plan-to-allow-childcare-centres-to-open-all-hours/story-fncvfxcm-1226437754001#ixzz223MWKEGK

What do you think? Would you welcome this move? Have you ever been penalised?

Daycare now turns into overnight minding. Would you use this service?

Would you consider overnight child minding?

This is the new wave of babysitting - family daycare centres are now changing their hours and opening overnight and on weekends to suit a growing number of parents who now work unusual, non-traditional hours.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the number of people working non-business hours is up 15 per cent.

And more than one in three worked extra hours or overtime, and almost 60 per cent had no say in their start time and finish times.

In an article in the Sunday Telegraph published yesterday, the newspaper cites a recent survey by Family Day Care Australia of more than 300 providers found 12 per cent provided overnight care, while 14.4 per cent had weekend care.

"Gone are the days of the standard nine to five work day," Family Day Care Australia CEO Carla Northam said.

"Statistics show more and more parents are having to work outside of normal hours, whether they be shift workers, emergency services employees, casuals or executives. Family daycare provides parents flexible childcare, with many educators providing care around the clock."

World Tower Child Care in Sydney's CBD offers working parents a 24-hour childcare service to meet demand.

"There is a need for 24-hour care," centre director Laura Silvera told the Sunday Telegraph. "But the bulk of our work is done to suit working parents, so long daycare hours are from 7am to 7pm."

Ms Silvera told the newspaper that many executives attended after-work functions and required unusual childcare hours. "Parents have to work longer and attend more meetings," she said.

Me? Well I know that when I have done contract work for companies, I stipulate before I start that I must leave work at 4pm, in order to make it in time to pick up my kids. I actually don't mind that I have this curfew, and they don't mind because they know that I work like a maniac to finish all the tasks I set myself for the day. So they're kinda getting some damn good value for money with me.

What about you? Would you like this extended care for kids? I can absolutely see a need for it. But then, do the lines between work and leisure time [and more importantly, time you spend with your children] get incredibly blurred? And where does it end?

Share your stories and thoughts here.

And read more on the Sunday Telegraph piece here:

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-news/daycare-turns-into-overnight-minding/story-e6freuzi-1226413268343

Adele pregnant with first child. Did you ever put career on hold for a baby?

Hugely successful British singer Adele has just announced she is having her first baby.

The singer's representative confirmed that the 24 year old is expecting a child with boyfriend Simon Konecki. The message was posted on her official website:

"I'm delighted to announce that Simon and I are expecting our first child together. I wanted you to hear the news direct from me, obviously we're over the moon and very excited but please respect our privacy at this precious time," she said on the site.

So, looks like a new album is on the backburner then?

[Not that we have careers like Adele, but...] When have you put your careers plans on the backburner due to a pregnancy? Did you ever get back on track once your baby/babies was/were born? Share your story here...

Kids and iPhones – it’s all about balance, by Jo Abi

I really enjoyed this post, by writer Jo Abi - about kids and iPhones. It most certainly resonated with me, as my twins have been obsessed with my iPhone since they could walk. Now they have iPads and I try to limit the time they spend on there. We paint, we draw, we rough and tumble, we go outside, we blow bubbles [really... I'm not just saying that. They are easily entertained!]

Mind you, my son's iPad was purchased with FaHCSIA funding and all we have are autism-specific apps, though he is definitely enamoured with YouTube-ing kids' cartoon videos [visit my Twitter page and see - he has somehow worked out how to post various YouTube links... to my Twitter page! I don't even know how he does this!]

I also enjoyed Jo's appearance on 'Breakfast' yesterday morning [see link, below]:

Here's an excerpt from Jo's piece:

My eight-year-old completely freaked me out with an “Your iPhone Screen Looks Broken” app a couple of weeks ago, my four-year-old is obsessed with the bowling app and my two-year-old girl plays the Dora Memory Cards game. I’m not proud and I am aware that their time on my iPhone needs to be monitored and limited. In an effort to ensure the next school holidays isn’t a tech-free-for-all I dusted off the games I purchased before the last school holidays – Twister, Monopoly, Guess Who, Uno and Cards. I even found Jacks!

This school holidays I am determined…my kids will not spend more than an hour a day TOTAL on computers, iPhones, iPads or any device with the word “Nintendo” on it.

This is going to be a massive task.

As was pointed out to me this morning, parents are busy. It takes time and effort to engage with your kids and make sure they are indulging in a variety of activities and Winter is the worst time for this. Please don’t rain during the school holidays!

We also have chalk to draw on the concrete out the back, water paints and my husband bought them new soccer balls which I plan to kick around the park with them.

To read the rest of this blog post, go here: http://joabi.com.au/2012/06/25/kids-and-iphones-its-all-about-balance/

And you can watch Jo's TV appearance here: http://tenbreakfast.com.au/video.htm?movideo_m=200486 

So, what do you think? Time limits on techy gadgets? Or let them dictate? Do you... gasp... use tech things as a babysitter sometimes?

Leave your comments below.

Breastfeeding in uniform – why is this considered offensive?

Have a look at this photo - do you find it offensive?

It seems that some do.

Crystal Scott, founder of the American breastfeeding support group called ‘Mom2Mom’, and a military spouse, was behind the photo as part of a campaign to help support National Breastfeeding Awareness Month in the US.

In the photo, two Air National Guard members are nursing their babies in uniform, and it has garnered lots of attention globally.

"A lot of people are saying it's a disgrace to the uniform," she told the US Today show. "They're comparing it to urinating and defecating [while in uniform]. It's extremely upsetting. Defecating in public is illegal. Breastfeeding is not."

Terran Echegoyen-McCabe is the mother breastfeeding her 10 month old twin daughters in the photo, along with fellow breastfeeding mum Christina Luna, and she says she was surprised by the negative reaction to the photo. 

"There isn't a policy saying we can or cannot breastfeed in uniform," she has said. "I think it's something that every military mom who is breastfeeding has done... I think we do need to be able to breastfeed in uniform and be protected."

While there is no policy about breastfeeding while in uniform, an Air Force spokesperson, Captain Rose Richeson told Today that that "airmen should be mindful of their dress and appearance and present a professional image at all times while in uniform."

Okay, fair call… but is this photo as controversial as it has been made out?

As a former twin breastfeeding mother – yes, sometimes at the same time – I find this image beautiful, natural, and it brings back memories of such lovely, bonding times with my little babies.

What do you think?

Tracey Spicer: the day she dropped her baby, and why she's a Choice advocate

Long-time Choice advocate and mother of two, journalist Tracey Spicer, has written a personal blog (see below) to mark Choice Baby Safety Week this week.

In a gut-wrenching, could-have-been-me story, Tracey reveals for the first time how her new-born baby fell head-first onto wooden floor boards during a change table mishap. 

As part of her advocacy role, Tracey is calling on parents to be more vigilant when purchasing baby products. According to Tracey, it’s difficult to get genuine, objective and independent advice, and this is why she decided to support Choice Baby Safety Week.  

You can download the comprehensive Choice guide right here (it's worth it; I have downloaded it and so wish this was around when my twins were babies): www.choice.com.au/expectantparentsguide

Here is Tracey's raw and honest piece for Choice Baby Safety Week:

"It’s the most wonderful time of your life. But it can also be the most fearful.

Caring for a baby is equal parts exhilaration and trepidation. Am I doing the right thing? What if something happens? Where’s the rule book?

I remember – like it was yesterday – bringing home my precious premature firstborn. Taj had spent three weeks in neo-natal intensive care with two serious lung disorders.

I was finally able to take him home on Christmas Eve. We went for a sunset walk with the pram. It was supposed to be a moment of great joy. But I was struck with terror.

Every couple of steps, I stopped to remove the sunshade to make sure he was still breathing. I fiddled with the straps to ensure he wouldn’t become strangled. I loosened then tightened his swaddling so it was just right. In short: I drove my husband mad.

But I didn’t have confidence in my ability as a mother – or the products I’d purchased to keep my baby safe. Then came the change table incident.

We had an old, wooden table we’d bought on eBay. But it didn’t have raised sides.

“It’s OK,” I thought. “I’ll always have one hand on the little wriggler. He won’t fall off.”

Now, babies aren’t supposed to roll over until three or four months of age. But one day, when Taj was two-and-a-half-months, I turned around to grab some wipes and “thud”.

He’d fallen headfirst onto the floorboards. I scooped him up and went to call triple-0.

Fortunately, he wasn’t hurt. We were incredibly lucky.

Falling is the most common cause of injury to children under the age of five.

One friend had to take her baby to the emergency department with a hairline fracture to the skull after a similar incident.

Her change table had been handed down through the family. Again, it had no sides or safety straps.

Parents face the same problems with bassinets. They may look lovely, but many pose choking and suffocation hazards.

I’ll never forget seeing another friend’s baby with his face pressed into a gap between the mattress and the side of the bassinet. The mesh had been covered with a blanket to provide comfort – but no ventilation. I quickly moved the blanket away so the sweet little fella could breathe.

The problem is, first-time parents are flying blind. There’s a plethora of information on the internet, but much of it is sponsored by manufacturers.

It’s difficult to get genuine, objective, independent advice.

That’s why I’m proud to support Choice's Baby Safety Week. Rigorous testing has revealed which products are safe, and which are not. There’s also advice on adjustments you can make to existing items.

The solution is simple: The Federal Government needs to bring in mandatory standards for all strollers, bassinets and change tables.

Sure, some might say this is another example of the “nanny state”. But what’s more important than protecting new life? It would certainly give parents peace of mind."



Adds Tracey in my interview with her [she was juggling swimming lessons with her kids and our phone interview, while I was hoping my four year old twins would stay quiet during our chat. They did]:


"The point I want to make is it can happen to anybody. I mean, you're so careful with every area of your life, and especially with kids, but then, your attention is turned away for a second and and anything can happen.


That's why, I am such a fan of Choice generally, but specifically with this campaign because when you're going out there, buying products, whether it's a change table, or a stroller, or a bassinet, you need to know that it's 100% safe, and it has the latest technology, to make sure that even if you turn away for a second there are sides on the change table for example, or a strap that can keep your baby safe and secure.


So that's why I wanted to support the campaign, to say, look this can happen to anybody; let's get some laws in place that help mothers help themselves."


Making an informed choice is super important for new mums, and Tracey agrees.


"Exactly. Because a lot of people might buy stuff on eBay or get it handed down through the family, and it's lovely to have those sentimental items like beautiful bassinets, but some items do have suffocation hazards that we've only become aware of in recent years, so you might not even be aware of that."


I am a great fan of the hand me down, as a mum of twins. Tracey, too, favoured the odd hand me down, but says: "I thought that anything that was handed down to me, or even anything I bought met the safety standards, but that's just not the case."


Are people turning to more and more to guides from Choice, so they feel completely informed when making important purchases?


"Definitely. And I think the reason people are turning to an organisation like Choice is because they're independent. If you start researching on the internet, a lot of reports are put up there by the manufacturer's and they don't disclose that it's by the manufacturer's. They say it has this safety rating or that safety rating, but there's not an independent body there, on the internet, broadly advising parents that this item is 100% safe. 


And that's what good about Choice. They've got no agenda, they're not not being paid by any company, so you know it's legitimate, authentic advice."


Download the Choice guide here: www.choice.com.au/expectantparentsguide



Tracey Spicer is a broadcaster, journalist, mother and Advocate for CHOICE Baby Safety Week. For more on Tracey, click here: http://spicercommunications.biz/