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Cara LOVES her Penguala. And you can win a Hatchimal!

Just Fun Kidz emailed me a couple of weeks ago and asked if Cara would like to review a Hatchimal. What kind of a question is that? YES! I don’t know any little kids who wouldn’t give their left pinky for one of these adorable furballs.

What is a Hatchimal you ask??

Hatchimal Packaging Egg

Hatchimals are magical creatures that live inside of eggs. Who’s inside? It’s a surprise! Each egg contains one of two interactive Hatchimals. Love and care for yours inside the egg and its eyes will light up as it makes cute sounds, telling you how it’s feeling! Once you’ve played with it enough, you’ll see rainbow eyes – that means its time to hatch! Hatchimals can’t hatch on their own. Your touch encourages them to peck their way out of the egg! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Now you get to raise your furry Hatchimal through 3 stages, from baby to toddler, to kid. Your Hatchimal sings “Hatchy Birthday” each time it enters a new stage! Teach yours to walk, dance, play games and more! It will even repeat what you say in its own voice!

I know that Hatchimals were top of many kids’ Christmas wish lists last year, and I can’t see the hype about these little cuties dying down soon.

Cara received a Penguala Hatchimal. Pengualas are happy-go-lucky, quirky, naive, friendly, clumsy and kind.  They come in either a Pink or a Teal egg. They are super cute.

Win a Hatchimal

The hatching process is amazing. Really! We had the whole family gathered round the table whilst Cara and her cousin were helping little Pengi hatch by stroking the egg and talking to her. It was so cute to see. And their faces! You should have seen their eyes light up when she started pecking at the egg and it cracked and you could see her beak. It was so exciting. While little Pengi was hatching, you could see her amazing eyes light up and she was making noises all the while. I feel a little embarrassed to say that I found it just as exciting. You forget for a moment that this isn’t a real little baby bird hatching.

Penguala Hatchimal

The hatching process is amazing and I was worried that Cara would lose interest very quickly after that. But no.

This furry animatronic creature is her favourite toy right now and Pengi goes everywhere. I’m pleasantly surprised that the batteries are still going. Pengi is still in her ‘baby stage’  as I haven’t heard her sing ‘Hatchy Birthday’ yet. Now she is cooing and saying hello. When she gets cold, you have to rub her head and tummy and when she has hiccups, you have to give her a fright. And the Penguala can get angry too. Her eyes light up in different colours to tell you how she’s feeling. Luckily she came with a handy guide. Pengi can also repeat what you say in her cute little voice, and this has led to loads of giggles.

Cara is taking such good care of her virtual pet that I don’t think it will be very long until she has a birthday. We can’t wait to see what the next stage will bring.

I’m sure you’ve been wondering if a Hatchimal is worth its hefty price tag? I think so. This toy is very interactive and Cara adores it. And she loses interest in toys quite quickly. Pengi is Cara’s alarm in the morning. I switch the Penguala on (yes moms! It has an off switch!) and put it on her pillow. Cara wakes up with a huge smile when she hears her baby say hello to her. Cara’s cousin also wants a Hatchimal, so we will all be clubbing in for her birthday. I think one Hatchimal will mean more to her than receiving a lot of gifts from friends and family. I think most little kids will feel the same judging by the reactions Cara gets when Pengi goes along to the shops. She goes everywhere!

Penguala

HATCHIMALS are stocked at Hamleys, Lilliputs, Makro, Takealot,  Toy Adventures, Toy Kingdom, Toy Zone and Toys R Us.

Win a Hatchimal!!

Now for some great news!!! I have a Hatchimal worth R1 199.99 to give away! Enter via the Rafflecopter below and keep your fingers crossed! Who will your little one hatch?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and Conditions:

  • All entries will be verified.
  • The giveaway is open to SA residents only.
  • Giveaway entrants are not obligated to like any Facebook pages, but it would be appreciated.

Good luck!

xoxo

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Pregnancy Education Week and a GIVEAWAY

‘The Perfect Dance of Birth Hormones’ is the theme of  Pregnancy Education Week from 18 to 26 February 2017, when childbirth educators, Bio-Oil and hospitals around the country highlight how knowledge empowers expectant parents for better pregnancy, birth, bonding and breastfeeding experiences. Childbirth education is proven to have many benefits for expectant parents and the newborn child. 

Pregnancy Education Week

Pregnancy Education Week 2017

Lynne Bluff, national co-ordinator of the Childbirth Educators’ Professional Forum, explains how antenatal classes can help facilitate an understanding of the interplay of hormones before, after and during birth. 

“Our hormone system prepares us in the final weeks, days and hours for an efficient labour; they help manage the pain and stress and ensure a safe birth. Hormones also give us a feeling of intense reward and pleasure as we meet our baby for the first time. For all this to happen in harmony, the birthing hormones need to work together in perfect synchronicity. At childbirth education classes, parents learn these intricate steps. The knowledge and understanding they gain helps facilitate the ‘dance’ for a better birth experience.”

“Four hormones star in the show – oxytocin, endorphins, catecholamines and prolactin. Each brings its own style to the dance of labour. Oxytocin takes the lead, guiding you with love and connection, while catecholamines excite and energize you. Endorphins help you navigate through the daring twists and turns and nurturing prolactin will be there at the dazzling finish to welcome your baby.”

Bluff explains several steps that expectant parents can take to best prepare for this perfect ‘dance’: 

  1. Most importantly you need confidence that you can give birth to your baby, so it’s important to choose a doctor or midwife who instils this confidence. 
  2. Learn the steps. Attend childbirth education classes and learn how the body functions so that you fully understand labour.
  3. Prepare your body. Exercise will prepare the body for labour and generates higher levels of endorphins which will lead to a shorter, less painful birth. Eating a healthy balanced diet will nourish mother and baby without excessive weight gain. Massaging oil into your growing body is soothing and also helps prepare the skin for rapid expansion, helping prevent stretch marks.
  4. Practice coping strategies such as visualisations, affirmations and massage. Use these during labour and also stand and move – movement and upright posture enhance endorphin release.
  5. Give birth in a safe, private and relaxed atmosphere. A calm, supportive environment prevents labour being slowed down by the wrong hormones interacting.
  6. Recruit a birth support team – whether it’s your partner, a doula, friend or mother. There are wide-reaching physical and emotional benefits to having loving support during the birth. 
  7. Allow birth to begin in its own time. When labour begins naturally, both mother and baby have the optimal number of receptors needed for birth hormones to best facilitate birth.
  8. Skin to skin contact immediately after birth, allows baby to go through the nine instinctive stages naturally, and increases oxytocin levels for mom and baby, which supports breastfeeding success and enhances maternal-infant bonding. 

“We advocate childbirth education because understanding the miraculous process of pregnancy and birth empowers parents to make informed choices,” says Lauren Macnab of Bio-Oil, official partner for Pregnancy Education Week. “There is sound evidence that childbirth education builds confidence, reduces fear and connects pregnant parents with one another for mutual support.”

“Birth is like a dance,” says Bluff. “Knowing the steps allows you to relax and accept the sensations, feel the rhythm and confidently move to labour’s natural beat for a beautiful birth experience.”

To find a childbirth educator in your area and for more information on Pregnancy Education Week visit www.expectantmothersguide.co.za or www.facebook.com/ExpectantMothersGuideZA 

GIVEAWAY

Bio-Oil is a passiona cate for childbirth education. This #PregnancyEducationWeek, 18 to 26 February, Bio-Oil has kindly sponsored baby hampers (worth R160 each) to give away to 3 lucky readers.

Pregnancy Education Week and a GIVEAWAY

This super cute hamper contains a cotton babygrow, ‘Tips from Moms for Moms’ booklet and a bottle of Bio-Oil, the number one selling scar and stretch mark product in 21 countries. For info visit www.bio-oil.com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and Conditions:

  • All entries will be verified.
  • The giveaway is open to SA residents only.
  • Giveaway entrants are not obligated to like any Facebook pages, but it would be appreciated.
  • The sponsor will send the prize to the winner directly.

Good luck!