Latest news with #mums
Independent Singapore
6 hours ago
- General
- Independent Singapore
'How do I stop strangers from touching my baby without sounding rude?' — Anxious mum asks
SINGAPORE: A woman took to Reddit seeking advice on how to prevent strangers from touching her baby, adding that she is ' very much conflict avoidant and a people pleaser' and admitting that she 'needs to grow a spine.' In a post on r/askSingapore on Tuesday (June 3), u/ohayadnez wrote about a common problem that perhaps many new parents in Singapore face, the unwanted attention, even touches, that other people seem to feel entitled to bestow on their very young offspring. 'How do you tell strangers to kindly keep their hands off your baby?' she asked, adding that she sought advice from other mums. 'There was an old lady who drooled on my baby earlier today while bending over to play with her (baby was lying in her pram) and I'm extremely traumatised and filled with regret for not being firm in asking her to back off before that happened,' she wrote, asking for grace from commenters as she was 'really feeling extremely guilty about it already.' Many commenters on the post were sympathetic, with others underlining that uninvited touches from strangers could be one way that babies could get sick. Several suggested that parents could body block strangers, put physical distance or even obstacles between strangers and their babies. 'Sit between your baby and other people. Always give the baby the inner side,' was the top comment on the thread. A Reddit user who agreed with the comment wrote that this 'prevents the need to be confrontational. If the stranger is too much, you can just use your body to block any further contact.' Another who chimed in to say that they've seen strollers with mesh covers, presumably to keep bugs out, wrote that this would be an additional layer between the baby and strangers, as the post author could stop people from pushing the mesh back. 'It's usually older people, too. I wonder where they get the audacity,' they added. A male commenter took a different approach, writing that one time, an elderly man suddenly reached out and touched his then 2-year-old daughter's face, commenting that she was 'so cute'. His response was to gently stroke the man's cheeks back, saying, 'No lah. Uncle, you are cute too.' 'I don't get why the elderly think it's ok to touch strangers' children,' another opined. 'You can't change the past, but you can step up and learn to draw boundaries. Consider this: your child will learn about boundaries from you. It takes practice, but you will set them up for success by teaching them that only they can consent to being touched,' a Reddit user advised kindly. The parenting website Mindful Return offers this bit of advice . 'I've recently learned the concept that 'clear is kind,' and that principle applies well here. I don't think there's a need to overthink this one. You can simply say the words 'Please don't touch my baby.' Yes, you can use a kind, firm, and clear voice when you deliver the message. And if you're in the mood for more pleasantries, you can smile and say, 'I know how tempting it is when they're so cute!' And then change the subject with the stranger.' /TISG Read also: 'You may get thrown on the ground' — Woman with a baby raises concern over Singapore bus drivers with 'breakneck speed' driving
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Meet the Guernsey mother championing mums in rugby
A mother-of-two from Guernsey is championing rugby among mums in the Channel Islands and further Raiders forward Daisy Travers set up the Mums who play rugby Facebook group earlier this year, which already has more than 500 she has set up a mums-only invitational rugby team - and is aiming for them to play their first tournament later this Travers said: "It's been overwhelming, it's really lovely to connect with mums from literally all over the world." Mrs Travers, who was the Raiders' players' player of the season last year, said there was an "amazing sense of community" among both mums and rugby players."The two combined feels like there's this really great support network out there."It was "early days", but the new team already has players from the Channel Islands and the UK, she hoped the team - which is open to first-time players as well as people returning to rugby after having kids - would "raise the profile of rugby for mums". Mums get things done Mrs Travers said "juggling childcare with training" could be challenging, but it was "important" to for mums to have time for themselves."Switching the mum off" for a few hours helped her and others "go home and be a better parent", she said."Some of those tough days it really does make a difference, no matter how tired you are," she Travers said motherhood and rugby had many crossovers. "Mums get things done", which was a useful quality on pitch, she said."If you fancy it, come and give it a go."
Times
27-05-2025
- General
- Times
Am I selfish for choosing to just have one child?
'Are you planning to have another?' An acquaintance lobbed this question at me when I ran into her one crisp November morning in 2019, while shopping at the farmers' market. 'Probably not,' I replied. 'But it's not fair to deny him a sibling,' she said, glancing at my 11-month-old, asleep in his pram. Neither my husband nor I longed for a second child. However, the existence of a frozen embryo floating in a tank of liquid nitrogen in a basement near Oxford Circus demanded a conversation. It was one of two high-grade embryos, created from what my husband and I agreed would be my final cycle of IVF. We'd been trying to conceive for five years. One embryo became our son. Was it wasteful to abandon the other? Not least that our beautiful, spirited boy was proof of the love and joy this spark of potential life could bring. But along with sleepless nights, clock-watching while a new baby cried inconsolably, as well as lugging formula, nappies and spare clothes everywhere, we'd have to leave our bright, high-ceilinged flat, on a leafy street near Camden Town, whose tiny second bedroom just fitted a single bed. And given we were happy with one child, why spend about a quarter of a million pounds (the average cost of raising a child to 18 in the UK) to have a second? 'Would you do it again?' a fellow mum asked a handful of us at a weekly playgroup, during the break between singing Five Little Ducks and reading Dear Zoo to our babies. 'My sister's my best friend,' one woman said. 'I can't imagine denying my daughter that possibility.' Her words stung. I used to have a sister, with whom I was close; my only sibling, two years my junior. She was the person I assumed I'd grow old with and together care for our parents, now in their nineties. But the week before my son was born she died suddenly, at 45. While hardly any of my friends have lost a sibling, several have a tricky relationship with or are estranged from theirs. I also know a number of only children, including my husband and mother, all of whom are resilient and resourceful and hardly fit the narcissistic, friendless stereotype. During the winter of 2019-20, as we continued to deliberate over the embryo, I still wondered whether it was selfish to have just the one, and something we might later regret. My husband told me, again, how happy his childhood was. All he'd missed was not having anyone to play board games with. 'What about as an adult, when your dad was dying?' I interrogated him. 'Didn't you wish you'd had a sibling?' • I was 36 when I had IVF. Here's why women leave it 'late' 'It never crossed my mind,' he said. The pandemic arrived and fertility clinics closed. When they reopened in May 2020, the idea of having a baby in this strange world where groceries were disinfected and a jogger's exhale was terrifying held zero appeal to me. My son was almost three when a semblance of normality returned, and I was glad to reclaim lost pleasures: dinners with friends in Soho and a weekend yoga retreat in Sussex. I felt confident my husband and I were coping well with looking after one child. We were, finally, just about thriving. With two, we suspected we'd struggle, particularly because, at 48 and 49, we were already older parents. In late 2021 we escaped for our first weekend alone together. Lying in bed in a cabin in a Kent woodland, we scrolled through photos of our son, so grateful for him, and to have time away — which would have been much harder if we'd had a second. • IVF loans, remortgaging, raiding savings: the cost of trying for a baby While 2023 data from the Office for National Statistics estimated that 45 per cent of families had just one child, most women I know have more. In my son's class there's only one other single child. I love the relative simplicity of being a mother of one — one lot of homework to oversee, one head of nits to comb — although sometimes I do feel like the odd one out. 'You can always change your mind,' a dad I got chatting to recently at a kids' birthday party said, while he cradled his younger daughter in his arms. I didn't tell him I'm now 54 and postmenopausal or that last year we finally donated the embryo to research. We'd hoped someone else could use it, but as my husband has an autoimmune condition, our clinic wouldn't allow it. I felt sad knowing it could never become a life, but I also knew that our family of three is the right shape for us. My son is now six, and has never asked for a sibling. He happily entertains himself for hours, drawing or designing elaborate Brio train tracks. And, as his recent school report confirmed, he also 'plays so kindly and cheerfully with his range of friends'. I too ended up an only child. Except, unlike my son, I knew the love of a sibling and had it ripped away. Despite the pain of this loss, I've realised a good life can come in many different shapes, which leaves me hopeful for my son's future. Annabel Chown's newsletter, This Beating Heart, is on Substack
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
‘Super impressed' cry mums as The Range launches sand pit car at almost half the price of Amazon's version
Who doesn't love snapping up a bargain? It's even better when it's something that keeps the kids entertained without costing a small fortune. 4 Let's face it, buying toys can get expensive fast, which is why mums are raving about a fantastic find that's perfect for outdoor summer fun – and it won't break the bank. One savvy mum couldn't wait to share her discovery on the Facebook group Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK – a wooden Car Sandpit from The Range that's got parents buzzing. She posted a photo of the toy, which is ideal for little ones to enjoy in the garden during the sunny months. She explained: 'Super impressed with this wooden car/digger sand pit from The Range. It's available online for £49.99, which is already a good price, but was £39.99 in my local store. It comes with a ground sheet, fitted cover, and has a moving steering wheel + built-in storage space. My car-obsessed little boy is gonna have lots of fun with it this summer.' This deal is much cheaper than similar products being sold elsewhere. For example, the Big Game Hunters Car Wooden Sandpit, with similar features, is currently listed on Amazon for £73.99. Unsurprisingly, mums are going wild for this affordable version now available at The Range. Home Bargains is selling a 'fantastic aquarium' and rainbow sprinkler for cheap - it's great for the warmer weather The sandpit is packed with features that are sure to delight little ones. It includes a steering wheel and bench seat for imaginative play, while the car bonnet opens to reveal a spacious storage compartment for keeping toys and accessories neat and tidy. It also comes with a weatherproof cover to protect it from the elements and ensure the wood lasts longer. Plus, it's designed with secure panels to prevent sand from escaping and is easy to set up with its sturdy prefabricated design. 4 The post received plenty of attention, with 19 likes and mums rushing to the comments to share their thoughts. One wrote: 'Good for 40,' while another added: 'Definitely, I thought it was a decent deal even at £50.' What to watch out for when buying toys online HERE are the British Toy and Hobby Association's top tips for buying toys online: Shop early. Don't leave purchases to the last minute rush which might leave you fewer options of where to buy from. Check out third-party sellers. Look for sellers you recognise and trust. Be cautious of retailers you don't know and do your research checking reviews and where they're based. Go for branded toys. Try and choose a branded toy as then you can compare it to the manufacturer's own website to check it's legit. Be careful of going for the cheapest price. If something looks too good to be true, it probably is. Check if there are any age restrictions. Make sure you give suitable toys to children based on their age. Check reviews carefully. Some reviews are fake so look carefully at the comments. Stay with children at first. When your child opens a toy for the first time, stay with them and check for faults, detachable small parts, access to stuffing and loose or accessible batteries or magnets.
The Sun
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Mum goes viral after revealing the agonising way she washes her sofa & people can't believe how ‘bad' her decision was
A MUM has gone viral after revealing her agonising way of washing her sofa, and some people can't believe how 'bad' her decision-making is. Isabel, who is currently pregnant, decided to take on the mammoth task of cleaning the material on her sofa – but it is how she is doing it that has got people confused. Sharing a video on her TikTok page ' ', she filmed herself taking apart two of her sofas in her living room. Isabel said: 'Your sign to wash your couch covers ' whilst also adding that it was the 'hardest task' she's had to do since being pregnant. The video, which has received 6.6 million views since being shared on 9 May, shows Isabel taking all the padding out of her cushions and piling it onto the sofa. And because it wasn't a whole cushion inside the zipped fabric - it was green, fluffed-up padding that was in bits - people were left concerned if that was what she was supposed to be doing. After unzipping all the fabric and removing the cushioning, Isabel then went to put it all into the washing machine. She later shared another video showing herself putting all the padding back into the material, and it didn't look easy as she had to use her legs to push it in. She received over 188k likes, with 2,653 people rushing to the comments section to share their thoughts. One wrote: 'You're definitely not supposed to do this.' A second added: 'Wonder at what point she realised this was a bad decision.' And a third commented: 'You're not supposed to wash covers that have stuffing like that.' Professional cleaner shows the easiest but best way to clean your sofa without an upholstery steamer and the results are impressive but gross Then a fourth said: 'Your couch never looks the same after taking the stuffing out.' The following video showing Isabel putting it back together has gained 992.1k views, with 499 people rushing to the comments section. They wanted to share their thoughts after she managed to put her sofa back together. 2 One wrote: 'She proved y'all wrong.' And a second said: 'To be fair…why would there be zippers if you aren't supposed to clean it?' Someone else added: 'I just know u will never do that again.' IF you want to ensure your home is squeaky clean, you'll need to listen up. Below are the household items you're forgetting to clean, and how to get them sparkling... Remote Controls: Wipe with a disinfectant cloth. Use a cotton bud for crevices. Light Switches: Wipe with a disinfectant wipe. Use a mild soap solution for tough stains. Door Handles: Clean with an antibacterial spray. Wipe down regularly. Underneath and Behind Appliances: Vacuum or sweep regularly. Mop with a suitable cleaner. Shower Curtains and Liners: Wash in the washing machine. Use a bleach solution for stubborn mildew. Kitchen Sponges and Dishcloths: Microwave damp sponges for one minute. Wash dishcloths in the washing machine. Computer Keyboards and Mice: Use compressed air to remove debris. Wipe with a disinfectant wipe.
