Latest news with #LucyShrimpton
Scottish Sun
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I went to the ‘world's best waterpark' just three hours from the UK and it's like being on another planet
For more thrills, there's even an amusement park right next door SPACED OUT I went to the 'world's best waterpark' just three hours from the UK and it's like being on another planet DESPITE most of my friends having never heard of it, the indoor waterpark Aquascope has been named the 'best waterpark in the world' - so I had to find out for myself. Eight miles north of Poitiers in France, there are three things that make this water park stand out from the crowd. Advertisement 5 Aquascope has 8 waterslides, a wave pool and immersive zone with an aquatic cinema Credit: ©JL AUDYFUTUROSCOPE 5 Another attraction is the lazy river Credit: ©JL AUDYFUTUROSCOPE Firstly, Aquascope is an indoor attraction – an absolute blessing for us in the 35C heat in France at the time so no chasing everyone around with the factor 50. It is also is on the same site as major French attraction Futuroscope, if you wanted more theme park elements. But by far the most appealing thing about Aquascope is that it combines its hardcore water features with truly impressive tech effects, so it feels, in the words of my youngest, 'like you're swimming around inside a cool video game'. Think lights, screens and cascading colour and you're on the right lines. Advertisement Picture the scene. Two spiral stairways, each signposting a route to the top of a different slide. Everyone carries their inflatable rafts up (depending on the slide, there are four-seater inflatables, two-seaters; one-seaters; mats with handlebars; and slides that you don't need any accessory for). You can even watch through the transparent tubes, showing you the people ahead of you squealing down. We counted eight slides in total, each offering a completely different thrill. Advertisement Scots waterpark crowned 'best in the country' to reopen in weeks 5 There are lots of ride from high thrills to smaller slides Credit: ©JL AUDYFUTUROSCOPE We loved 'Alien' (a tube raft race with some serious skids and swirls) and 'Sprint' (like head-first bodyboarding). 'Quick' was exactly as it sounds, a short sharp bolt with one free-fall funnel stretch. After four goes, I lost count of how many times we waited in line for that one. The most adrenaline-pumping? For us, that was a toss-up between 'Spiral', a 130m of giddy twists, nail-biting speed, and deep-pool plunge. Advertisement And 'Rocket', where you step inside a space capsule and count down to lift-off when the floor disappears beneath your feet. The most impressive thing about Aquascope was that in addition to the crazy slides there's a totally different change of pace and vibe at Aquascope's Abysses-de-Lumière, an underworld of fairytale caves and canyons. One minute you're swimming right up to a massive, mesmerising screen, then meteors crash around you, then you feel like you're swimming underwater with cute sea creatures. 5 The waterpark makes you feel like you're on another planet Credit: Lucy Shrimpton/Aquascope Advertisement There's a lazy river too that carries you along in floats beneath a magical sky. There is also an outdoor section with a hotel-style pool where I managed to get my sun-lounger fix for a while. Little ones meanwhile will be in their element in the minis zone with water maze, overhead soakers and a musical grotto. As for Futuroscope next-door, that was surprising, because if you thought that a virtual-reality ride couldn't be as exhilarating as a rollercoaster, Futuroscope will make you eat your words. Advertisement In 'Extraordinary Journey' for example you whizz at breakneck speed around all the world's sights, sounds and even smells without leaving your seat. It's just one of Futuroscope's 40 experiences, some of the type you'd expect at a theme park ('Destination Mars' your rollercoaster, brand-new 'Mission Bermuda' your aqua-flume),. We couldn't get enough of Tornado Chasers (flee the storm before it swallows you!) and Robot Dance (its arm throwing you around to the DJ's beat drop). The verdict? For us the combination of speed and special effects was a winning formula and so worth the drive. Advertisement If my grown-up kids AND my 58-year old husband had to be dragged away (the biggest kid of all), that tells you pretty much everything you need to know, right? Here's More About Where To Stay and Eat at Aquascope... Drive: via Le Shuttle from Folkestone, rolling off in Calais just 35 minutes later. Aquascope is an onward drive of around 6 hours. (To break up the journey with a day in Paris, a trip to Disneyland Paris, or a trip to Parc Asterix, spend a couple of nights at Eurocamp's Le Grand Paris.) Stay at: Ecolodgées Hotel, serene cabins designed to restore peace after the day's high-energy. Eat at: the Space Loop restaurant scoring high on fun factor. Order food on your table's screen then wait for it to land via mini rollercoaster. For further details including pricing, restrictions, app etc. visit OR you can fly to Nantes from the UK, taking around 1h25, with Aquascope around two hours from there
The Irish Sun
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I went to the ‘world's best waterpark' just three hours from the UK and it's like being on another planet
DESPITE most of my friends having never heard of it, the indoor waterpark Aquascope has been named the 'best waterpark in the world' - so I had to find out for myself. Eight miles north of Poitiers in France, there are three things that make this water park stand out from the crowd. Advertisement 5 Aquascope has 8 waterslides, a wave pool and immersive zone with an aquatic cinema Credit: ©JL AUDYFUTUROSCOPE 5 Another attraction is the lazy river Credit: ©JL AUDYFUTUROSCOPE Firstly, Aquascope is an indoor attraction – an absolute blessing for us in the 35C heat in France at the time so no chasing everyone around with the factor 50. It is also is on the same site as major French attraction Futuroscope, if you wanted more theme park elements. But by far the most appealing thing about Aquascope is that it combines its hardcore water features with truly impressive tech effects, so it feels, in the words of my youngest, 'like you're swimming around inside a cool video game'. Think lights, screens and cascading colour and you're on the right lines. Advertisement Read More on Holidays Picture the scene. Two spiral stairways, each signposting a route to the top of a different slide. Everyone carries their inflatable rafts up (depending on the slide, there are four-seater inflatables, two-seaters; one-seaters; mats with handlebars; and slides that you don't need any accessory for). You can even watch through the transparent tubes, showing you the people ahead of you squealing down. We counted eight slides in total, each offering a completely different thrill. Advertisement Most read in Family Exclusive Scots waterpark crowned 'best in the country' to reopen in weeks 5 There are lots of ride from high thrills to smaller slides Credit: ©JL AUDYFUTUROSCOPE We loved 'Alien' (a tube raft race with some serious skids and swirls) and 'Sprint' (like head-first bodyboarding). 'Quick' was exactly as it sounds, a short sharp bolt with one free-fall funnel stretch. After four goes, I lost count of how many times we waited in line for that one. The most adrenaline-pumping? For us, that was a toss-up between 'Spiral', a 130m of giddy twists, nail-biting speed, and deep-pool plunge. Advertisement And 'Rocket', where you step inside a space capsule and count down to lift-off when the floor disappears beneath your feet. The most impressive thing about Aquascope was that in addition to the crazy slides there's a totally different change of pace and vibe at Aquascope's Abysses-de-Lumière, an underworld of fairytale caves and canyons. One minute you're swimming right up to a massive, mesmerising screen, then meteors crash around you, then you feel like you're swimming underwater with cute sea creatures. 5 The waterpark makes you feel like you're on another planet Credit: Lucy Shrimpton/Aquascope Advertisement There's a lazy river too that carries you along in floats beneath a magical sky . There is also an outdoor section with a hotel-style pool where I managed to get my sun-lounger fix for a while. Little ones meanwhile will be in their element in the minis zone with water maze, overhead soakers and a musical grotto. As for Futuroscope next-door, that was surprising, because if you thought that a virtual-reality ride couldn't be as exhilarating as a rollercoaster, Futuroscope will make you eat your words. Advertisement In 'Extraordinary Journey' for example you whizz at breakneck speed around all the world's sights, sounds and even smells without leaving your seat. It's just one of Futuroscope's 40 experiences, some of the type you'd expect at a theme park ('Destination Mars' your rollercoaster, brand-new 'Mission Bermuda' your aqua-flume),. We couldn't get enough of Tornado Chasers (flee the storm before it swallows you!) and Robot Dance (its arm throwing you around to the DJ's beat drop). The verdict? For us the combination of speed and special effects was a winning formula and so worth the drive. Advertisement If my grown-up kids AND my 58-year old husband had to be dragged away (the biggest kid of all), that tells you pretty much everything you need to know, right? Here's More About Where To Stay and Eat at Aquascope... Drive: via Stay at: Ecolodgées Hotel, serene cabins designed to restore peace after the day's high-energy. Eat at: the Space Loop restaurant scoring high on fun factor. Order food on your table's screen then wait for it to land via mini rollercoaster. For further details including pricing, restrictions, app etc. visit OR you can fly to Nantes from the UK, taking around 1h25, with Aquascope around two hours from there 5 Aquascope in France is one of the best in the world - and looks otherworldly Credit: ©JL AUDYFUTUROSCOPE
Wales Online
11-07-2025
- Climate
- Wales Online
'Sleep nanny' offers 14 top tips how to keep babies cool in heatwave
'Sleep nanny' offers 14 top tips how to keep babies cool in heatwave Newborns are at risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) if they overheat An expert has offered tips on how to keep babies and young children cool and comfortable during the heatwave (Image: PA ) The sunny weather can create an uncomfortable sleeping environment for babies and children. When the mercury rises it can be a real worry for parents concerned about their children's health and sleep. It is especially important to keep babies cool in the sweltering heat and The Sleep Nanny, Lucy Shrimpton has issued some tips on doing just that. Your baby is likely to become restless if feeling too hot or too cold so he may let you know. He may be more difficult to settle to sleep than usual or wake more frequently due to the discomfort of the temperature. Newborns are at risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) if they overheat so check your newborn does not have a moist head or neck which are signs of sweating. If the face is redder than usual or he has a rash or you notice rapid breathing, these could be signs of overheating. Ms Shrimpton offered the following top tips on keeping your baby or young child cool and comfortable. 1. Dress your baby appropriately for the room temperature If the room is very hot, for example over 25°C for most of the night, just a nappy and thin cotton vest may suffice. If the room is between 20-23°C degrees a shortie baby grow or shorts and t-shirt pyjamas perhaps with socks or just a nappy and a 1 tog sleep sack. Article continues below If your baby is too young for any kind of bedding and it is too hot for a sleep sack, simply dress them in suitable clothing for the room temperature so that no covering is required. 2. Create a breeze During the day, open all windows on the same floor to create a blow-through and pull curtain two thirds of the way across to block out hot sun but still allow the breeze through. 3. Ventilate your home Open your loft hatch if you have one to allow heat to escape up through the roof. 4. Use appropriate bedding Use only cotton bed sheets and avoid any waterproof mattress covering as this will hold heat and make your baby sweat. 5. Give them a quick, refreshing bath A luke-warm bath or slightly cooler bath than usual might help to refresh your baby before bedtime and relieve any clamminess. Make it a quick bath so that she doesn't get too chilly. 6. Get a room thermometer ...so that you know what temperature you are dealing with. This will take away the guesswork and give you peace of mind that you have dressed your baby suitably. 7. Put ice in baby's room Large bottles of frozen water (1litre plus), placed in the baby's room may help to cool the air as they melt overnight. 8. Give electric fans a helping hand Electric fans will often just blow the warm air around but place a large bowl of ice or some frozen water bottles in front of the fan to cool the air that circulates the room. 9. Keep baby calm A calm baby will remain cooler than a frustrated baby so try to maintain a calming bedtime routine and offer reassurance and comfort if he is agitated. A cool flannel or cold compress dabbed gentle on your baby may help to cool and calm him. 10. Keep some water refrigerated Your baby may need to drink more than usual. Cold water is great so for young babies it is worth cooling some billed water and refrigerating it for night time use. Breastfed babies will stay hydrated on breastmilk. 11. Consider moving rooms If you cannot keep your baby cool in her own room, consider moving her to a cooler room in the house temporarily. 12. Set them up for the whole night - not just evening Remember, no matter how hot it is at bedtime, the temperature will drop in the night so don't put your baby in his cot in just a nappy if it will drop below 25 degrees in the night. You might like to check on him before you go to bed to see how the temperature is. 13. Accurately check baby's temperature Hands and feet do get colder than the rest of the body so it is natural for these to feel a little colder to the touch. If you are unsure about your baby's temperature, feel the back of his neck or use a thermometer. 14. Put yourself in their shoes Babies will be comfortable dressed for temperatures as you would dress yourself. So ask yourself how hot it feels and what you would be comfortable in when you are considering how to dress you baby. Article continues below Just remember, you can pull the covers over you but she cannot, so imagine you are going to bed without any bed covers. For more information and tips from The Sleep Nanny (Lucy Shrimpton) visit or follower her on X account @lucysleepcoach
Newsweek
20-06-2025
- General
- Newsweek
Dad Takes Nap With 10-Month-Old Son—Unprepared for What Baby Cam Captures
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A father got a wake-up call he didn't ask for when his son accidentally slapped him while he was napping. The dad, Reddit user u/smallIife, posted footage from the baby camera, which caught a family napping session with him and his 10-month-old. Newsweek reached out to u/smallIife via Reddit for comment. Grainy images of the father and his 10-month-old baby napping in bed. Grainy images of the father and his 10-month-old baby napping in bed. u/smallIife In the clip, which was posted on the r/MadeMeSmile subreddit, shows the baby shuffling down the bed, face down on his hands and knees. The baby rolls over so he is directly next to his dad and slaps him in the face. "I checked out the recording to see how he moved to a different position and this is what I see," the father wrote in his post. At the time of writing, the post has received over 260 upvotes and a further 50 comments, many of whom found the baby assault hilarious. "Ten months on Earth and already asserting dominance. LMAO [laughing my a** off]," one user wrote. "Not slapping, just checking out, if the parents are still there," another added. But the post also raised questions about the safety of co-sleeping with babies. This refers to the practice of parents and children sharing the same sleeping space, typically a bed. "Not trying to be rude, just a genuine wondering—aren't children not supposed to sleep in bed with their parents until they're at least a year old?" one user asked. U/Milo-Law responded and said that, while co-sleeping can have risks, many do it, including them. "My kid wouldn't sleep in the cot or in the bed with me he'd only sleep while held, at least until I started nursing to sleep which causes its own problems. But I don't encourage others to do it and I don't agree with people who say it's 100% safe as long as you follow the rules," the user wrote. Founder of The Sleep Nanny, Lucy Shrimpton, told Newsweek that co-sleeping can provide emotional benefits in some cases. "Co-sleeping might offer a comforting environment for children experiencing nightmares, big changes, or even early stages of puberty, which can sometimes cause feelings of uncertainty or emotional turbulence," Shrimpton said. "For parents, it can be an opportunity to nurture and offer comfort, providing reassurance that your child feels safe and loved," she added. As for the dad, some users were impressed that he didn't even flinch. "You did well to stay asleep. You don't get enough. And that's not the worst they will do," one user posted.
