Category Archives: Everybody

Jubilee Family Fun in Swindon

May 30, 2012

A couple of fun Jubilee celebrations for the family in Swindon….

Queen’s Park Diamond Jubilee Celebrations- The Big Lunch

Sunday June 3^rd from 11am. Queen’s Park

Bring a picnic or enjoy a cream tea, Coronation Chicken sandwich or some Arkell’s Queen’s Tipple at only £1 for half a pint from the café.

Live music from local young singer Elliot at 1pm, followed by Nathan Jones Allstars jazz swing band. The mayor, Michael Bray will cut a special Diamond Jubilee cake at 2.15.

Prizes for the best King or Queen dressing up costumes for both children and adults!

Salt Way Children’s Centre Jubilee Party

Thursday 7 June

11.00 – 1.00pm,

Come and make a crown, flag or bunting and then take it straight out to their tea party, where they’ll be food, games and fun galore!

Salt Way Children’s Centre  Pearl Road, Middleleaze, Swindon, SN5 5TD.

Tel: 01793 465364

I will add any information which falls in to my lap about other Jubilee Celebrations, but unfortunately don’t have time to look up more!

Posted by swindonappy in All parents, Baby Parents, Everybody Tags: babies, Baby, Baby Jubilee, children, Diamond Jubilee, Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, Jubilee, Jubilee Babies, Jubilee family, kids, Queen's Park, Queen's Park Swindon, Swindon, Swindon Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, Swindon Jubilee celebrations

Review: Oasis Leisure Centre Café, Swindon

May 23, 2012

The Café at the Oasis in Swindon is another brilliant choice for people with babies and kids. In fact overall it’s probably the best all round café for choice of food and child- friendliness that I’ve found yet in Swindon, whether you are using the leisure centre facilities or not.

That said I wouldn’t make a special trip to the café during school holidays unless you don’t mind a very long wait for food and strong competition for a table. The same probably applies at weekends. It gets VERY busy during peak times.

Outside these times it’s great, though. Free parking for three hours (although you still must display your ticket!). There’s loads of space for buggies too, and the laminate floor isn’t too hard if kids fall over.

There’s a baby food station with a microwave and bottle warmer and from where I’m sitting I can see seven high chairs- there may be more. You certainly don’t have to worry about your kids screaming and bothering other customers here either as most other people are here with their own kids!

By any café’s standards there’s a great choice of food. A wide variety of jacket potatoes, baguettes, home made soups, salads, pasta, pub grub and burgers.

For kids there are choices of jackets (half) and pastas as well as plated meals which are all served with choices of chips, half jacket or pasta twists and also choice of peas, beans, fried egg or salad. At the moment there’s an offer where you get any junior meal with a carton of Ribena for £3.50.

All the food is reasonably priced and they also have classic slush puppies!

A private company takes over the Oasis in June, so all this may change soon- I really hope not too much.

Posted by swindonappy in All parents, Baby Parents, Everybody Tags: babies, baguettes, bottle warmer, Cafe, cafe review, cafe review swindon, children, food, high chair, highchair, kids, leisure, microwave, Oasis, Oasis Cafe, Oasis Leisure Centre, Oasis Swindon, potatoes, pub grub, Review, salad, school holidays, slush puppies, snacks, Swindon, term time

Oasis Swindon Toddler Splash

May 7, 2012

The Oasis Swindon Toddler Splash is on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursday from 10.30-midday in school term time and at the scarily early time of 9.15-10.00 in the school holidays. The session is around £4.65 for adults and the babies/ toddlers go free.

This time slot is just for babies, toddlers and their parents or carers, so no scary big children splashing around!

The wave machine goes on for a couple of short blasts during the session and there are a few floating mats etc. If you want to avoid the wave machine you can retire to the smaller Pirate Ship Pool.

As well as the family changing rooms at the Oasis there is also a plastic-ish waist height baby change in the communal changing room- well the female one, I would hope the male one too!

The water temperature at the Oasis varies as it does at any pool. When we went to the toddler splash a week or two ago the water felt colder than I’ve been used to at Dorcan, although we did get used to it after a few minutes. I would definitely recommend a wetsuit/ baby wrap if you are bringing a baby. In fact it might be a good idea for small babies at any pool.

If you’re taking your baby swimming for the first time you might find my What I’ve Learned About Taking Babies Swimming post useful- I found it slightly challenging taking J for the first time at 5 weeks my own. Now it’s much easier and fun!

Posted by swindonappy in All parents, Baby Parents, Everybody, Pregnancy Tags: babies, babies Swimming, Baby, baby pool, baby swimming, carer, Dorcan Recreation Centre, Oasis, Oasis Swindon Toddler splash, Oasis toddler splash, parent, pirate ship pool, swimming, Swindon, Swindonappy.com, toddler splash, wave machine

Salt Way Children’s Centre May Timetable (West Swindon)

May 5, 2012

Please find here Salt Way Children’s Centre Timetable May 2012

This includes a Baby First Aid Course- open to people who are already registered with them- on the morning of May 23rd, although the creche is already full for that.

Posted by swindonappy in All parents, Baby Parents, Everybody, Pregnancy Tags: 2012, babies, Baby, baby first aid, children, first aid, May, parents, Salt Way Children's Centre, West Swindon

M&S Swindon Town Centre- Cafe and Baby Change Review

April 21, 2012

The M&S Cafe in town came in handy on Wednesday when my badly teething baby had had enough of my important errands.

Our milk bottle leaked everywhere, J continued to kick off because of her pain and a few of the other customers seemed annoyed at our sporadically noisy presence. However the staff were extremely helpful- offering to carry my tray and lending us scissors- and I discovered that there are not one but two disabled toilets with baby change facilities upstairs in the M&S in town. Like.

Posted by swindonappy in All parents, Baby Parents, Everybody, Pregnancy Tags: baby change, Cafe, children, M&S, M&S Cafe, M&S Swindon, parents, Swindon, Swindon Babies, Swindon Baby, Swindon preganant

Baby Bath (The city that is)

April 10, 2012

Bath- a good city for a trip with baby?

Jamie's Italian, Bath- a chain, but very baby friendly

This weekend my other half whisked J and I away for a romantic weekend for three in Bath. My first ever city break! While perfect “Romantic Weekend for Two” territory, I was slightly dubious about how suitable Bath, best known for tourist attractions and shopping, would be for a weekend away with J.

On the grown ups’ wish list of weekend activities were clothes shopping and some nice meals. I am pleased and surprised to report that we successfully achieved both those goals, although maybe not quite as smoothly and stylishly as we have done in the past!

Both activities involved a substantial amount of distraction by one or other adult while the other ate or shopped. Most shops have a seat and mirrors, (H&M even has both together!) which obviously go a long way when entertaining a wee one. We threw in the odd coffee break for sofas to play on and members of the public to smile at and the baby remained relatively happy.

With cafes, restaurants etc. I’d always aimed to support one-off small businesses rather than chains in the past. I’m afraid to say that since J arrived, unless I already know of smaller establishments in any given town or city it has become a case of better-the-chain-you-know-has-a-baby-change-and-space-for-a-buggy.

This weekend was no exception. A friend recommended Thai Balcony and the food was amazing. It was actually fine with J but I’d probably recommend it more for a romantic weekend for two rather than three.

The floor of the ladies was big enough and clean enough to do a change on. Of course she chose to do her poo at the only place we went to all weekend without a baby change ! The staff were really friendly and seemed to love having a smiley baby there. I did notice when she started squealing at the end of the meal that a guy who appeared to be the manager hovered nearby after leaving the bill with us, poised for the card to be put down. Fair enough, he wasn’t at all rude about it.

More obviously practical, baby friendly eateries we went to over the weekend were Jamie’s Italian and Café Rouge. I know, very middle class and not that adventurous. Jamie’s Italian is surprisingly averagely priced among the Italian chains, though. Good food, a lift, space for the buggy, excellent highchairs and a very child friendly attitude.

There were a few other babies in Café Rouge too, as well as a baby change, space and friendly staff.

Our hotel restaurant, Olive Tree, is also open to the public. We treated ourselves to one evening meal there, but it would be less advisable with a baby. The staff seemed perfectly happy to J to be there and weren’t concerned when she squealed. The food was great too. However it just felt slightly more uncomfortable for us in the stylish, dimly lit, classy restaurant when J got more vocal! I’m not sure if there was a baby change either. We didn’t look as we knew we could go upstairs. I wouldn’t expect there to be one, but I could be wrong as they did have a highchair.

We weren’t shopping for J this weekend, but Bath does have some great little shops selling baby clothes.…

As well as the usual high street shops and baby specific chains like Gap Kids (Baby Gap), Jojo Maman Bebe and Cath Kidston (which has a few baby clothes); there are also a few lovely smaller businesses. Father Christmas got J a gorgeous sleep suit from Up to Seven (hand made baby clothes) in December. Their stuff isn’t cheap, but it’s really nice for a very special treat. Funky Bambini also sells designer baby clothes. Not so much my scene, but it is in Bath.

J’s weekend wasn’t just about being dragged around shops. We took her to Aquaterra Leisure Centre for a swim. Nice and cheap with family changing rooms. She also very much enjoyed our walk in Parade Gardens too, complete with grass to play on and tourists to smile at.

On the surface of it Bath is not somewhere you’d automatically head for to entertain your baby, but we all had a great time. As ever this is far from an exhaustive list of baby friendly places in Bath, it’s just the ones we found and how we found them with a baby…

Posted by swindonappy in All parents, Baby Parents, Everybody, Pregnancy Tags: babies, Baby, baby change, baby friendly, Baby Gap, Bath, Bath UK, Cafe Rouge, city break, Holiday, Jamie's Italian, Jojo Maman Bebe, mini break, Olive Tree Bath, roman baths, shopping, tourism, Up to Seven Bath, vacation

Which? An invaluable tool for new parents and parents to be

April 6, 2012

Which? is an invaluable tool for new parents and parents to be. With the amount of money you’ll be shelling out over the space of a year it’s really important to know that you’re spending it on the right things.

While my other half is very much a planner I’m not so much an impulse buyer (well sometimes!) as a browse-and-see-what’s-on-offer shopper. When I was pregnant it was absolutely my husband’s idea to use Which? and it was his account we used. However I have to say that I’m now a total convert.

Which? is not just for buying cars- although we did both change our cars with the baby on the way and the website was great for checking safety as well as value etc.

“Baby and Child” is one of the six main headings on the Which? website. They have independent reviews, “best buys” and advice on how to choose key items like car seats, monitors and buggies. We used Which? to choose all three, checking for the best safety ratings and products which most suited our needs.

For example we live in a Victorian Terrace and I drive a Toyota Yaris. We needed to find the best small, lightweight buggy available and that is what we now have.

I know this sounds like an advert, but the website really has helped us! To access all parts of Which? you have to be a member, but they currently have a member trial which you can sign up to for £1. Get organised and work out exactly what you need and you could do all your research in one go if finances are tight. I’d say it’s worth paying more to be a full member anyway, but if you’re not convinced £1 is not a lot to lose for anyone….

Posted by swindonappy in All parents, Baby Parents, Everybody, Pregnancy Tags: Baby, baby car seat, baby monitor, buggies, Buggy, money, monitor, new parent, parents to be, safety, website, Which? parent

Swindon Town Centre Easter Activities for families- Updated

April 5, 2012

Reblogged from swindonappy:

Swindon Town Centre Easter Activities for families. Here are just a few things to do over the school holidays within walking distance of the Swindon Town Centre... I'll update this if I hear of more, please feel free to add to this in the comments section below as ever.

This afternoon (Tuesday April 3rd) 1-3pm Easter Party at Drove Children's Centre.

Café Art Review- No baby change but very baby friendly

April 4, 2012

Café Art is one of the most baby friendly places I’ve been in Swindon, in spite of the fact that it has no baby change.

As the weather warms up (with what I hope will be the exception of this week!) the lack of baby change becomes less of a problem given that the public baby change across the street will become more useable.

I am probably preaching to the converted to some extent, but if you haven’t yet discovered it, this Old Town Café is great for parents with non-walking babies for a number of reasons.

Although it’s occasionally very busy when I go there (mornings seem to be busier) mid to late afternoon it is often quiet, meaning you get a choice of seating. Much of this is sofas with space next to them for buggies.

The staff are very friendly and understanding and have helped to create space for us in the past. So far other customers have also been thrilled to be eyeballed, then smiled at by the babies too.

It seems fairly uniform for pregnant and breastfeeding women to have a sweet tooth. Café Art does excellently on the cake front. There’s always a great variety to choose from and they sometimes have little taster bits up on the counter. Another bonus for the summer is a selection of iced coffees for those of us allowed a bit more caffeine again now.

There’s so much for curious little eyes to take in. The massive windows look out on to Victoria Road including a bus stop. J is happy staring out of them for ages, smiling at people waiting for buses and just watching the big wide world go by. They also have lights which seem to fascinate babies- those ones actually IN the ceiling.

Finally there’s the actual “Art” of Café Art. The premises are shared with a framing business and the café is filled with a variety of styles of picture. It’s mainly modern, fairly commercial stuff.

In colder weather the lack of baby change really is a shame, but it didn’t stop me being a fairly regular visitor all autumn/ winter. I wouldn’t even consider trying to change the baby in one of those tiny cubicles, but my friend did manage it on Monday!

The only other downer is that they seem to be shut on Sundays. I’ve tried twice on Sunday afternoons. Everyone deserves a break though, and I guess if the framing shop shuts they have to.

In the Spring/ Summer it’s an all round winner, though. So get to Café Art in Old Town for cake and iced coffee, safe in the knowledge that your little cherub can poop to his or her hearts content!

Posted by swindonappy in All parents, Baby Parents, Everybody, Pregnancy, Uncategorized Tags: art, babies, Baby, baby change, baby friendly, babychange, Buggy, Cafe, cake, iced coffee, Old Town, Old Town Swindon, parents, push chair, Swindon

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Baby change Swindon: Caught short in Old Town?

March 26, 2012

Convenient Conveniences

Today I discovered a babychange table in the public toilets near the traffic lights at the top of Victoria Road, Old Town.

These loos are actually in really good condition for public toilets- possibly because they don’t get used that much, I’ve never seen anyone else in there on the few occasions I’ve been in there. The changing table was as clean today as the majority of changing tables in cafes and restaurants.

I wouldn’t fancy using it in the winter unless these toilets have surprisingly good heating! Now-ish it’s fine, though. If you’re walking past or in a cafe which doesn’t have anywhere to change a baby, like the wonderful Cafe Art across the road (which I’ll praise in more detail another time) this could be handy.

The disabled loo was locked, so if you need the loo yourself when you’re with the buggy it will be a “do it as quickly as possible in the end cubicle with the door open and the buggy pulled in” job.

The baby change I saw was in the Ladies. In the interests of equality I would hope there’s also one in the Gents!

Posted by swindonappy in Baby Parents, Everybody Tags: Baby, baby change, cafes and restaurants, nappy, Old Town, parent, public toilet, public toilets, Swindon, toilet, victoria road