Take That On Tour

Take That have been dominating the headlines recently amid a flurry of speculation over their lineup, the new Take That album,"Flood", their forthcoming live tour and quite a lot in-between. It all started a few months ago when news of a single co-written by Gary Barlow and Robbie Williams called "Shame" made the internet rounds and got fans salivating over a potential reunion of the band's original line-up. The single was released and promptly shot straight to No. 2 in the UK singles chart, also doing well in the European charts.

Not long afterwards, the group, together with Robbie Williams, publicly announced that they would be releasing a studio album, the band's sixth, due in stores next month. They'll also be embarking on a European stadium tour next summer, taking in huge venues in the UK including Millennium Stadium, Hampden Park and Wembley Stadium as well as huge stadiums abroad like Milan's San Siro and Munich's Olympic Stadium.

All of this got us thinking here at Babies Go HQ (no need to look so worried) : amid all the hype and excitement surrounding the release and the Take That Flood Tour, how are the band members planning on taking care of the crop of rugrats that have sprouted since the last time the band were touring? It's all good and well partying like rockstars without dependants but what about when Mark Jr. needs to be in bed by 7 but he can't sleep?

We know that Howard will be able to rest assured in the knowledge that whilst he’s away, his children will be able to drift off to lullaby versions of Take That’s biggest hits. Howard recently picked up a copy of Babies Go Take That from Their Nibs, the rather stylish baby boutique in Notting Hill.

Keep an eye out for Take That concert tickets and concert ticket giveaways over the next few months for your chance to see the band live.

Not Over 'Til The Wee Baby Sings

We've covered a couple of festivals for the miniature pop and rock fans out there but what if your baby is a bit more discerning. If you live anywhere near Glasgow or Edinburgh then you should get yourself and the little ones down to Baby O, the opera that's made especially for babies. The events are put on by the Scottish Opera but don't worry if you're not from north of the border, Baby O takes their show on tour from time to time having been in London earlier this summer with plans to go back on the road towards the end of this year. Performed especially with babies in mind, Baby O is the perfect way to introduce your baby to opera. Whether you've got a baby Bach or a mini Mozart, you're unlikely to find a more child-friendly atmosphere to introduce your little ones to high culture.

Baby O use pieces that have been composed especially for the event focusing on tones more than words and allowing the babies to get excited about the sounds themselves. Organiser Jane Davidson explains, "We have three performers and the music is entirely vocal, using sounds and words that babies will recognise and understand, with these classically trained singers creating baby-friendly noises. The parents all comment on what it feels like to have their baby in their lap for 25 minutes watching the performance – though there is always the occasional slightly older or more adventurous child who will crawl over to join in – moving their arms, wiggling their feet.”

Visit their website for more details.

http://www.babies-go.co.uk

Top 10 Baby Sleeping Tips

1. Sleep Sounds

Music is a great way to help your baby drift off to sleep. Choose something that you and your baby both enjoy and play it at low volumes while drifting off. Light, relaxing music is preferable but it depends on your baby's taste.

2. Swing of Things

Babies are practically programmed to fall asleep when they experience motion. This mimics the sensation the baby had in the womb - Mummy moving around meant it was time to get some shut-eye; Mummy staying still meant it was time to exercise and have a party.

3. Dark Room/Light Room

Babies don't immediately understand the difference between day and night. As mentioned above, Babies are wired to relax during the day when Mummy's moving around, then get some exercise at night when Mummy's still and sleeping. Making sure it's dark during sleep time and light during waking hours should help the baby build up an association between the two.

4. Close To Your Chest

Consider using a sling to keep your little one close, especially during the day - a relaxing day is more likely to be followed by a relaxing night. Not only will the baby be able to see what you see, hear what you hear and smell what you smell, but you will be able to react quickly when your baby communicates with you.

5. White Noise

Although it may seem strange, monotonous soft noises, usually termed "white noise", is music to a baby's ears. The sound of a hair dryer or washing machine creates the perfect swirling soundscape for your baby, a convincing replacement for the sounds of the womb.

6. Just Right

Cold beds are bad news for a sleeping baby, especially during winter. Make sure that whatever surface you lay your baby on is not cold to the touch and make sure the room is around 21°C. It can also help to make sure the room is not too dry or too humid; a relative humidity of around 50% should do it.

7. Night Rider

This is more of a last resort but if all else fails it may be worth taking your wee one out for a late night drive. The change of scenery might be just what he needs and will give you a chance to get out of the house for a short while plus the movement should rock him off to sleep in no time. When you return home it may be worth bringing the car seat in to the house with baby still asleep inside. No point in ruining a good thing - if the baby is sleeping then that's what really counts.

8. Location, Location, Location

Despite what you may have read, there is no right or wrong place for a baby to sleep. If a baby is struggling to get to sleep , anywhere that helps the baby drift off is a good place for him or her to grab some Z's. If the baby can't sleep in a crib in their own room, maybe it's time to move the crib into the parents' room. Some might prefer it the other way round and some might even prefer to sleep snuggled up to Mummy and Daddy in the parents' bed. It's best to experiment.

9. No sudden noise.

Sudden noise is a disaster for a sleeping baby. Babies' ears are more sensitive than adults' and sudden, piercing or loud sounds will be quite unusual to them, considering they're more used to the relaxing, monotonous soundscapes of the womb. It's best to keep a relaxed environment around your baby, especially when it comes to bed time.

10. Be Flexible

It's important to know that no 2 babies are the same; every single infant has their own unique personality with their own quirks. Be adaptable and understand that no child expert knows your baby better than you do. All baby-rearing books and lists therefore should be taken with a grain of salt. You may come up with a list of essential techniques for getting your baby to sleep that don't even figure on this list. Also, understand that your baby is growing at a remarkable rate. What works at 4 weeks won't necessarily work at 4 months so it's important to be responsive and sensitive as he or she grows up.

www.babies-go.co.uk

Camp Bestival

Carrying on from our previous post, we have news of another festival put on especially for young children and families, Camp Bestival, which took place this past weekend. A family-friendly spin-off of the hugely successful Bestival, this is the third time the event has been held at Lulworth Castle in Dorset, attracting over 30,000 young revelers and their parents. The entertainment included music from The Human League, Ellie Goulding, Friendly Fires with Madness providing top billing.

Camp Bestival founder Rob Da Bank of Radio 1 fame said "It's the friendliest crowd I've seen this year. I’m pleased, it’s quite nerve wracking because of the responsibility of having all the kids here but as soon as it starts you see how friendly everyone is."

With a myriad of activites for kids including an insect circus, a giant bubble creator, a magic meadow and educational activities like the literacy tent and the Gin Carriage where children could write a poem or draw a picture in return for a free drink (non-alcoholic of course), there was plenty to keep the little ones occupied.

Don't worry if you missed it, tickets are already on sale for next year, so the three-year old tradition shows no signs of stopping. “When you find somewhere where you set on so well with the people, you are not going to disappear." says Rob. "I still want to be here doing this when I’m 60.”


www.babies-go.co.uk

Lollibop - The Big Bash for Little People

With Glastonbury just passed and Bestival, The Big Chill and more coming soon, festival season is in full swing, so what better time to pass along news of a huge event especially for the younger generation? Lollibop is a festival with a difference, the main one being that it's aimed at under-10s (and their parents). "The big bash for little people" is packed with activities and full of surprises too: Jarvis Cocker (!!) is playing a DJ set at the appropriately named 'Miniscule of Sound' and comedian, Phil Kay, will be a guest story-teller. Besides the celebrity performances, Lollibop will be home to a multitude of activities including a circus Big Top; 'Dr. Doos Little Zoo' with baby animals of various kinds; the Lollipolympics for athletic babies; all of which can be followed by some R&R in the VILP (Very Important Little Person) room.

If you're interested, you can buy tickets here. They cost £14.50 per child, £9 per adult or £42 for a family ticket consisting of 2 children and 2 adults.

17th & 18th July 2010
11am - 7pm
Clissold Park
Stoke Newington
London N16

For more information, visit the Lollibop website at http://www.lollibopfestival.com.

Music: A pacifier that works as a painkiller, too

Came across this story in the Globe and Mail from Canada. It's quite old but an interesting report on the benefits of music for premature babies.




Music: A pacifier that works as a painkiller too

Zosia Bielski

From Thursday's Globe and Mail Published on Thursday, May. 28, 2009 12:00AM EDT Last updated on Friday, May. 29, 2009 3:42AM EDT

Brahms's Lullaby might be good for much more than a heavy-eyed baby.

Music played to premature infants may help lessen their pain and ease the transition to bottle feeding, according to a new review study by Canadian researchers.

The findings, published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, suggest that the trend of bathing babies in music is paying off.

Increasingly, neonatal units around the world are playing lullabies and sounds that mimic those that fetuses hear in the womb, hoping the music will improve the babies' behavioural and physiological outcomes, and alleviate pain during circumcision and other common procedures.

The benefits are said to include calmer infants (and parents), a stable condition in the child's functions, higher oxygen saturation, faster weight gain and shorter hospital stays. Popular preemie music includes recorded versions of Brahms's Lullaby and Hush-a-bye Baby.

Some of the studies combined lullabies with what the fetus would hear in utero, sounds such as heartbeats and blood flow, said Manoj Kumar, an assistant clinical professor at the neonatal division in the department of pediatrics at the University of Alberta. More...

www.babies-go.co.uk