run out of womb

... learning how to be a mum from scratch

Sunday 29 November 2015

Five best presents for the parent (and baby) with everything


They've got every Lamaze toy going and already own enough cuddly toys to fill the downstairs of their parents' house. What that baby would really like (probably) is a cardboard box, (plus world peace, and a charitable donation in their name - and there are lots of amazing goodwill gifts to do just that here.) 

But if you're *still* looking for that special present idea, for Christmas, Chanukah, a birthday or indeed birth, here are five of my favourites:


* Book of Everyone. This is one to buy now before it becomes ubiquitous (like Not on the High Street presents, which used to be brilliant, but are now the same things everyone gets everyone every year). You enter your recipient's name, gender and date of birth on the Book Of Everyone website, pick cover colours and then scan through the book, adding personal info - like quotes, photos, favourite sayings, etc) whenever you spot a pencil symbol. It then fills in the rest of the pages with things like the toys, hits and headlines of the year of the recipient's birth, a receipt of prices of stamps, cinema tickets, etc, star sign info, and more. Unlike big projects like scrapbook-making, photo-book-making, etc, this one really can only take 10 minutes but looks like you spent aaaaaaaaaaages compiling it. Then you get a cool book swiftly delivered to your home. Which is why you need to buy this now (it's £7 for a digital up to £49 for a posh hardback), before anyone else does.* 

* A photobook from Blurb. I used to get depressed at the thought of 100s of unlooked-at photos festering in my computer. Then I'd get stressed at the thought of having to make a zillion photo books about each holiday / milestone / party/ etc to show them off. Then a few years ago I decided to make a 'book of the year' each year. I tried a bunch of different websites, but Blurb's is the best - easy software, excellent printing quality, and very often discount codes for as much as 40% off. This year, thanks to tiny man and my photographic obsession, I have 2900 photos to whittle down.. Here goes... *

* Last year my mum and I proudly thrust very similar-looking wrapped boxes at each other for our festive gifts. Turned out, we'd bought the same things - Plant-a-box personalised crates with names and anniversaries emblazoned on the side. I love these:


Or you can also opt for toy box ones for indoors - they're all robust, attractive and thoughtful.

* You know in the old days when your parents lovingly noted your height on a wall and it became a family tradition and you looked at it every time you went back home from uni... etc? Nowadays when we're all renting/trying to upgrade flats to small homes and dreaming of a 'forever house' one day, that permanent bit of wall for measurements is less likely. That's where Talltape comes into play - it's a roll-up-able measuring tape with nice graphics that's a great alternative to recording measurements on a wall or door, it won't get left behind or painted over – it just stays with you.*
* Anything from My1stYears. Sure, the kid might already have a toy box / Uggs / rocking horse - but ONE WITH THEIR NAME ON? That changes everything, if you're 1 or 41. Although there's definitely more of a focus on the younger side of the age range. 
* We were sent a trial to test these gifts out, but rest assured we only talk about things we love.. ropey gifts don't get raved about here.
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Friday 27 November 2015

The best places in London to visit on maternity leave

When I imagined maternity leave, I thought I'd be hopping all over London to visit the museums, galleries, and restaurants that I'd always wanted to go to but never had the time whilst working full-time. 

The reality is a bit different. I'm not one of those who reckon it's impossible to leave the house with a baby - nappy, boobs/pot of mush, blanket for wriggle time and toy and we're off - but most days intersperse exciting trips to Tesco/library/baby class/Brent Cross with playing together at home. Still, about once a week we like to brave the Tube (tips here) and venture to town to explore something new that I enjoy. Tiny man seems to enjoy staring at everything too and sleeps well on those evenings.

Here, with the help of the mums of Facebook, are the best baby-friendly, rather than baby-focused, places to visit in London:

Museums

Geffrye Museum - I went to this Hoxton museum of houses yesterday. It's all on one level, so buggy-friendly (though I usually take a sling too so the baba can see more) and really interesting insight into how we've been living over the past centuries. Nice cafe too, and lots of hipster ville to visit nearby (as in the pic above).

Museum of Childhood - very baby friendly with a nice sensory area and cafe. 

Science Museum. Says one mum: "My friend took hers yesterday as they have a big baby sensory area apparently. I find it's the getting there is a pain with a buggy and the underground! Once I'm there it's fine!"

Galleries

Royal Academy, Hayward Gallery and Tate Modern - have wide, buggy-friendly spaces and lots of things for babies to stare at. Cafe of the Tate Modern is well-rated by mums too, despite "exceptionally high change mat!"

Activities

Baby Cinema - I'm obsessed with this, it's so fun to watch the latest films whilst having a baby sleepy-cuddle on you (when tiny) or play on your lap when bigger. It's definitely easiest when they're small... I love the Phoenix (£7) in east Finchley, and the Everyman chain's dotted around London (£13 but that does include tasty cake and drink delivered TO YOUR SEAT by waiters). Great parent and baby cinema screenings at the Barbican too. Useful weekly listings here: Babes About Town.

Boat trip: take the Thames Clipper to Greenwich and it's really easy to wheel a buggy on and off. Plenty of places to park them next to a seat too.

City Farms are good - Kentish Town, Spitalfields and Hackney, and they're free. 

Now - Winter Wonderland has lots of baby-friendly lights to look at and if you go now during the day it's practically empty.

Areas

Southbank - the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre and actually all of the South Bank (albeit better in summer) has plenty to see, do, and space to wander.

Shopping

Brent Cross is fab - see my post here. And another mum adds: "Please don't laugh ... I went on several trips to IKEA with my first. At the time I was on mat leave, the baby food there was free and they also have excellent feeding with an endless supply of high chairs, excellent changing facilities and cheap food for adults too. Plus lots for baby to look at as I pushed him around the shop... Not particularly cultural except if you think about the Swedish food aspect :)" 


Eating/chilling

Central London hotels are great  - they are mostly very friendly about babies and there is loads for them to look at so you can just go and have a cuppa and let the babies do their thing. One mum recommends "Bhatt Bloomsbury Hotel off Tottenham Court Road. their lobby is nice and spacious - they have a tea room and fresh juice bar for afternoon tea within the lobby the itself - big art books with pictures for babies to look at and wide corridors for babies on move." Another mum adds: "Mine also loved Selfridges with all the lights and music. Girl after my own heart!"

Sky Garden in the City - it's free and has lovely views (just have to book a time slot in advance). Great cafe and tons of space for rattling around. "They say they don't allow buggies but they totally totally do and staff were v welcoming indeed to a big bunch of us with little ones. Afternoon or morning probs better than lunchtime."

What are your favourite baby-friendly places to visit in London? Please comment below and let us know. Thanks!
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Tuesday 24 November 2015

Revealed: the seven types of baby group

A caveat: we all love a good baby class. 

It provides structure to a day that might otherwise involve singing Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star 84 times before 10am. 

It provides the opportunity to meet other local parents who you might even like (if they're not cliquey/an entire NCT class who 'booked together!'/weird/Mums of Several Children, whose only spare hour of the week is spent at this class.) And the teachers are often passionate and dedicated, and parents themselves.

But after trying some classes out, you might start to notice some similarities. And start to wonder if your baby might instead prefer to spend his or her class budget on, well, some new clothes for you.. or a Frappe. Because a happy mum is happy baby, right? 

Here are the some of most popular baby classes (or variations of...), explained:

Baby Massage: sing Twinkle Twinkle whilst massaging your baby's tootsies with such love and skill that you would pay someone £90/hour to do the same on your tired body. You note, however, that your baby is more interested in eating the towel belonging to the masseuse-mum next to you. (£84/hour, plus oil bill.)

Baby Sensical: sing Twinkle Twinkle to a new tune, which incessantly sticks in your head All. Day. Long ... but which, for some reason (amazing lawyers?), is untrack-down-able on YouTube. Simultaneously drape material over your baby whilst singing said Twinkle re-mix. (£73/hour, or sign up for life for reduced hourly fee of £69).

Small Swimmers: sing Twinkle Twinkle whilst bouncing your baby around a swimming pool that's hotter than your average summer holiday. (£100/hour, plus your own waxing bill.)

Marmoset Music: sing Twinkle Twinkle whilst shaking small plastic maracas at your baby (£30/hour plus joining fee.)

Rhyme Time: sing Twinkle Twinkle with actions, in the library. Free (but no one counts this in your 'baby class schedule - be warned.)

Baby Yoga: sing Twinkle Twinkle to your baby whilst they balance on your shins, above your head, either sicking on your head or drooling on you. (£59/hour, plus obligatory mat purchase.)

Baby Sign Time: sing Twinkle Twinkle with your hands, whilst being promised that this will help your baby to tell you when they are hungry/tired/just pooped. Try it at home later, realise this is madness. (£73/hour, plus your sanity.)



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Monday 23 November 2015

They won't change your life but they will make you smile



It's hard to justify splurging on baby clothes. They're going to get worn for about two days before they're too small or food-splattered to wear again - making their cost-per-wear less justifiable than a Mulberry handbag, basically. 

But here's a good solution: From Babies with Love is a baby brand that donates 100% of its profits to orphaned and abandon children living in SOS Children villages in Africa and elsewhere in the world. Their organic yarn clothes are also super-cute, come in a lovely reusable bag, and aren't crazily priced (about £20 for a sleepsuit). Their new own-label range includes sleepsuits, t-shirts, hats and blankets in styles - The Rabbit, The Duck, The Frog and The Monkey. We're loving the duck sleepsuit - and you can buy them here.

***
I am not a tech geek. I am not a tech geek. I am not a tech geek... is what I'm having to repeat to myself as I go gaga over a random new phone gadget. It's the Tactus Smootch – an absurdly-named protective iPhone case that turns your phone into a magic sticking marvel. 

Thanks to "micro-suction technology", apparently, you can slap your phone into any smooth surface like glass or mirrors, it hangs there like it's been superglued - then easily comes off (with no residue and no reduction in future stickiness) when you want it. So far I've mainly been using it in the kitchen (stuck on the wall it can't get splattered when I'm using my phone for a recipe) and for Skype chats - it makes selfies really easy without requiring the gimpiest thing in the world, the selfie stick.  And it's only £14.99 from Argos. The ideal present for any narcissist, like a teenager, or, er, blogger.



***

On the one hand, this Mamas & Papas Timbuktales knitted blanket is just a blanket. On the other, wrapping my tiny man up in it when he's snug asleep to take him from the car to house, or house to buggy is making this oh-so-chilly weather more colourful and cosy than it otherwise would be. It's unisex whilst still being colourful, and currently 20% off so under £24. A really practical-but-beautiful baby shower or Christmas present for some parents-to-be, I reckon.


* Items provided to Run Out of Womb for review... But rest assured, I'm seriously gobby and just don't write about things that don't pass the muster.
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Tuesday 17 November 2015

A parent asks a question online...

And hell breaks loose. You go to a site like Face-witter-gram and ask a quick Q, hoping for a simple response, and you do get a response. A lot of response. And it's great but also a bit overwhelming and this is what happens.

1) Someone asks what sounds like a simple question.


 2) A gazillion different people start to give ten gazillion different opinions..


3. Someone calls everyone else idiots, and suggests something preposterous.
4) Someone wants to tell the world about their own (irrelevant) decision.
5) Someone condemns consumerist Western parenting ... 
6) Someone can't *believe* how little research everyone else does...
7) Someone hijacks the post with a weird anecdote
8) Someone is OUTRAGED.
9) Someone spots a business opportunity...
10) And the original poster is left totally confused.






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Monday 16 November 2015

Spreading food around your baby's face (or, 'weaning')


Weaning! "It's so exciting," said everyone, "watching your newborn's elation at tasting new foods! Are you going baby-led or purees? Ella's or Organix? Sterilising or just triple-dishwashering-at-60-degrees? Following the gospel according to Annabel or .. Someone Else?"

Tiny man and I are now almost a month into weaning (aka learning to eat). There are definitely lots of fun moments  - like watching his face contort into joy, disgust or confusion every time something new approaches his lips. But creating a zillion different concoctions, then watching, helping and encouragingly-grinning as tiny man grabs the spoon and turns said concoctions into expensive face packs, spread in 29 different places around his mouth, then clearing up afterwards - three times a day - does occasionally get a bit tedious. 

So, screw the 'feeding philosophies': these are the eight gadgets and gear that I recommend everyone includes in their weaning armoury. (They are in a random order because ... I haven't slept enough for logic to come into my brain.)

2. Philips Avent Combined Steamer and Blender. This. Is. Amazing. At first, living in a small London flat, I didn't want to buy any more equipment for a packed kitchen. But after a whole Sunday of spending hours putting chopped veg on top of a sieve then mushing with a blender.. I thought life's too short. This machine makes it so much easier: you put whatever veg/fish/fruit/meat/etc you need in the top, pour in water, let it steam for 10 or so minutes, tip the jug upside down then press blend... and you've got easy, healthy, homemade baby food. 

There are three speeds, so you can make perfectly smooth puree or have more lumps and bits for older babies. Frankly I've started using it for our meals too, because in this one jug you can make soup, houmous, risotto.. with only one pot to wash up: this is the knackered parents' weaning dream machine.

1 and 8. I love Munchkin's baby 'crockery' - it's bright, easy to clean and really practical. These bowls are particularly great: they have a suction ring underneath so when tiny but seriously strong baby fists try to flip the food bowl out of the way, they... can't. Ha! Foiled you! The spoons are soft and chewable for little mouths too.

3. Oh. The. Mess. Pureed food gets everywhere. I found a bit of sweet potato behind my ear earlier - and tiny man ate that for yesterday's lunch. This £10 JoJo bib is really good for covering tiny man all over, and it's wipe-clean so easy to wash too. Worth the extra money.

4. I've got a stack of weaning books and find them really useful for advice on what to feed when - especially River Cottage's because it has really beautiful pictures too and recipes that you can use for your meals too. But I also love Annabel Karmel's app for its practical lists: you click on the meals you want to make, and it'll add the ingredients to your shopping list as well as making a meal planner. 

5. Ella's Kitchen pouches. Sure, we're all making uber-nutritious delicious impeccable Michelin-starred-style purees almost all of the time. But sometimes, you're too tired to even defrost something from the freezer. Step forward these easily-spoonable purees in a zillion different varieties that, according to my tiny man's licked lips, taste pretty great too. Perfect for the nappy bag too as they don't need to be kept in the fridge, and whilst out-and-about as you don't need a bowl - just squeeze a bit onto a spoon.

6. and 7. If you don't want to spend your one spare daily second meal-making, big batches is the way to go. These Jojo pots (6) can be filled up, frozen, then grabbed whenever you need them - particularly useful when going out. They come with labels, or you can do what I do: forget to label them and take out what you think is a healthy tub of butternut squash that turns out to be a big pot of Ella's mango, which pleases your baby very much indeed. A cheaper option - I do both as the lidded pots are useful for travel but my freezer's capacity is less than that of my pregnancy bras - is to fill up flexible ice trays in freezer bags, then pop out the cubes into bags as soon as they're solid. 
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Tuesday 10 November 2015

Think you're ready to be a parent?

Not 'til you can do all of these, you're not... 

Task 1. 10am: Put a just-fed, super-sleepy octopus in a crib. Attempt to get all eight limbs into the small eight holes of an octopus sleeping bag, without it waking up. When you fail, still try to get the eight flailing limbs into the sleeping bag, whilst it screams, because it's a new species of screaming octopus. Focus a CCTV camera on your writhing, screaming octopus, then leave the room, whilst tripping over Lego-shaped needles but holding in your swearing. Spend a painful hour watching CCTV of your much-loved octopus screaming. Then go and pick it up, and spend the rest of the day with your tired, grumpy octopus that refuses to sleep. 

Task 2. 11am: Pick up 10kg of flour from the supermarket. Don't put it down for 12 hours. Whilst carrying it, continue normal tasks, including paying for the rest of your shopping, smiling tightly when strangers poke your flour and ask its gender, travelling home, and unpacking your shopping. At two-hourly-intervals during your day, stick a pencil into the flour so it leaks out everywhere, then wash the ensuing floor mess and your clothes, re-package the flour, and carry on with the rest of your day, whilst never putting down the flour.

Task 3. 12pm: Wearing your best top, pour some water over both boob regions and go out for the afternoon. Every hour, add a splat of smelly thick white liquid to your top (a different area each time), and ask someone to yank on it to create saggy parts. Every meal time, ask your dining companion to throw colourful food at you, ideally staining foods like beetroot. Tomorrow morning, you should gaze at your ruined top and pull it on again, because it's the cleanest thing in your wardrobe.

Task 4. 1pm. Download an app that blares out hissing sounds and place it next to a dozing time bomb. Try to shower, dry your hair, go to the loo, cook a meal, clear up your house, get ready to go out and catch up on emails in the 23 seconds the time bomb stays silent. Fail, and try to do the rest of the tasks whilst holding the timebomb to your nipple.

Task 5. 2pm. Walk to your nearest Tube station whilst pushing two heavy suitcases full of necessities for the day, with your screaming octopus (from earlier) strapped to your front in a Baby Bjorn. Ideally do so on a rainy day, wearing an enormous raincoat that covers you and the carrier, but which makes the octopus ANGRY. Get to the station, stare forlornly at the 73 stairs to the platform, and start beaming hopefully at passing commuters. After they all rush past you, pick on one and ask for help. During your journey, add 10kg weights to the Baby Bjorn every 10 minutes.

Task 6. 7pm. Put an alarm clock in a crib. Pat its snooze button for two hours from 7pm so it stays hush. Enjoy an hour's peace from 9pm til 10pm, when you should settle into your cosy duvet. Now have it go off every hour, when you'll need to hold on to it for 15 minutes, pat its snooze button again for 15 minutes, and then enjoy 30 minutes 'rest' (you'll lie awake listening to its ticking) before it goes off again. Have your alarm clock finally settle down at 6.30, half an hour before your iPhone alarm will go off waking you for the day.


Task 7. Next day: Tell a friend about your day struggling with a wriggling, screaming octopus, crazy sleep-depriving alarm clock, tempestuous time bomb, heavy lugging-about flour, ruined clothing and travel desperation. When they ask whether you ever regret putting yourself through such trials, look at them as if they're crazy. Because you love your wriggling, screaming, sleep-depriving, heavy octopus/baby more than anything in the world and already have nightmares about his/her wanting to leave home one day. Now you're ready to be a parent...
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Wednesday 4 November 2015

Why the f*** haven't they invented that?

Scariest dummy ever? Pic: CloudFreebies.co.uk
Dig not-very-deep into the baby industry and you discover items such as the wet wipe-warmer, and the baby wig. Yes, seriously. Add together the value of the whole cot, nappy and Bumbo-flogging industry and it's worth a frankly astonishing $45 billion. So this is what mums of the world are wondering: why the f*** haven't they invented...

 * A mechanised, life-like arm to pat and reassure baby and allow parents to sleep for two consecutive hours. Who cares if your 18-year-old ends up packing said arm up when they head off to uni?

* An early-warning nappy alarm giving 10 mins' notice for serious poonami action. And changes colour due to the severity of the contents: Red Alert: !!!!; Amber: it's-not-pleasant, open-with-caution; Green: this-one-is-a-breeze...

* A rocking treadmill to walk babies to sleep

 * A catching net for the high-chair. 'Just you try and drop that broccoli on the floor again..'

 * A dummy-replacing robot. "I have had semi-serious conversations about training the cat to gently push it back in at the first sign it is coming out..!"

 * Shoes and gloves that safely clip babies' nails, which grow 100m faster than Usain Bolt can run it.

* A real time camera to sit on the buggy handle "so I can see what the hell my baby is putting into her mouth".

* A robot to walk and rock your colicky baby during the witching hours.

* A translating helmet so when the babe is crying and you have absolutely no clue WTF is wrong, it tells you on the little LCD screen: 'sad - hungry', 'pain - tummy ache', or 'angry - mummy put boobs away'.

* A self-wiping high chair..

* A remote control for zapping tantrums and turning crazy babies calm during shopping trips 

* "A clone of me to sit by the cot until she falls asleep every night"

* A 24-hour nappy that never leaks. Or causes rashes.

* A sound-proof pod.. for mother or baby, depending on the situation...

* A time machine "so you can fast-forward through annoying phases and then also go back in time when you realise your LO has grown up too quickly."

* A snooze button for the baby...

* Baby-friendly sleeping tablets...

* Something that attaches to the pram's handlebar to rock it - so when in a cafe scenario you can use both a knife AND fork.


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Tuesday 3 November 2015

Win! Pick your own boutique baby outfit

Back in the day, baby boy clothes used to be boring. The girls had all the fun with prints and skirts and cute Ts; the boys got jeans and a jumper. But now designers have upped their game. There are plenty of amazing outfits for tiny boys - yet there is still a problem: they're often not very practical. I love the tiny Aran jumper I bought for my baby and amazing (second-hand, obv) cashmere stripey leggings... But the sweater is impossible to get over his head without a roar, and the leggings fall off. No wonder my husband always wants him to wear a baby-grow.

So I was happy to come across clothing brand TutaKids at the Baby Show earlier this month. They specialise in funky but practical outfits for babas and children - and even put together lookbooks to help with outfit-planning. My tiny man is currently sporting this outfit:

where the "jeans" (actually soft pants) and top are secretly joined so, unlike normal combos, he doesn't have to chillily expose his tummy to the world every time I pick him up.


And there's some even better news about TutaKids' clothes: they're giving Run Out of Womb readers the chance to win a baby outfit of your choice, worth £45. Which means you can choose between...

This baby coral and white houndstooth babysuit (long sleeved t-shirt at the top and woven shorts at the bottom)... Or the baby coral velvet one on the right with houndstooth details, a bag applique on the side and reversible beret  too...


Or this baby jersey and woven babysuit with a red, black checked shirt on top and black jersey at the bottom,... Or, on the right, the baby navy jersey babysuit with blue patterns...

Or this baby pink puffy coat with fur to protect your little one from tough weather conditions in style, or on the right is a sweatshirt with a cat appliqued on the front and shiny studs on the sleeves...
.. or these bordeaux overalls with matching bow-tie... or the bear baby suit that my tiny man loves.

You can see more details on these outfits and browse the Tutakids store here. And enter for the chance to win an outfit of your choice, worth up to £45, below.
NB by entering this competition, your email address will be shared with Tutakids, unless you opt out by sending your details and the words 'please don't share my info' to me via the 'contact me' form here

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Sunday 1 November 2015

Review: XSS Pockit Stroller

When the manic newborn phase fades and you start going out to meet non-sick-covered, bleary-eyed friends (aka those without babies), it's hard to tread a balance between filling them in on what's going on in your life (sleep woes, detailed chat about child's poo consistency, etc) and boring them to death / scaring them into celibacy. 

But recently I had a parenting photo which I showed some not-parents friends that made them go 'WOW'. It wasn't one of the 17 million cute baba photos I have on my phone. It wasn't even a funny baby poo-face meme, It was a picture of a buggy. Weird, right?

Especially as this buggy is no Bugaboo expense-a-thon or Cosatto-head-turner. It's plain black, costs £130 and comes from Mothercare. So what's cool about it? Look at this photo..


 On the right you have a totally bog-standard rucksack; pretty small - Hirschel make, if you know it. And on the left? That's a buggy, which unfolds to a normal Maclaren-size stroll-a-round-town buggy. 

The Mothercare XSS Pockit buggy is even comfy and robust - although modelled here not by my not-so-tiny man, but his plastic chum Baby Annabel's brother George, because I was desperate to get this post up and tell you all about the Pockit XSS but the baba is napping. 


Usually you see these kind of origami baby gadgets and they're amazing, except when you have to fold them up or down. Well, to test the XXS out I didn't open its instructions and tried to shake out the buggy intuitively. It worked - easily up in 10 seconds, with one clip to undo and two wheels to pull out, then down in a slightly-longer 20 seconds, but that quickly cut down as I remembered how to do it.

My favourite things about the XXS are:
1) you can whizz up to town easily (folding it and carrying it on the Tube, if you like, rather than the usual hopeful grin to strong-looking commuters at the bottom of every station's stairs.)
2) It'll be fab for holidays, as it folds so small you can take it on-board planes and store it in the overhead locker, so no need to wait on landing and be the last people through immigration, or drag a tired child through an airport without a pushchair. 
3) It'll fit it even the smallest car boots - and comes with a sunshade and small shopping basket.




Oh, and then there's the price. I hankered after the ultra-foldable Yoyo Zen stroller for the above reasons - but it costs £320. Lots for a spare/second/travel buggy.

But the XSS is less than half that cost - and has even won a place in the Guinness Book of World Records - for being the 'smallest commercially available folded pram'.  When folded, it's 34 x 14 x 32 cm, whilst the buggy weighs just 3.9kg. Works for babies aged 6m to a max of 15kg.

After six-months' use, though, I can report some downsides. On really cold days, it feels too open and chilly, when compared to travel systems or even McClaren-style umbrella strollers. And on really hot days? The sunshade isn't big enough and doesn't cover enough baby. When pushing, it's fine, but not amazing - a bit wobbly sometimes and doesn't feel that robust.

Overall? It's a great compact buggy for nipping up to town and keeping in the car to dash into shops - but the poor sunshade and lack of protection means I wouldn't use this alone to travel on holiday, and that's a big downside.


*This buggy was sent to Run out of Womb for review. Rest assured, though, that I'm seriously gobby and would never rave about something that's rubbish.
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