Bubbles

Washing up liquid, sugar and warm water make good strong bubble mix …great for a windy day.

Marcy

Long life toys

Invest in durable toys like a skipping rope and football that will bring many hours of fun compared to a plastic character that will be out of favour in a year.

Helen C , Wales

Bath toys

Bath toys can get quickly boring but aren’t cheap either…try bath time entertainment with sieves, plastic cups, dolls who need a hair wash, plastic ponies and bowls and definitely jump in yourself.

Sue, Nottingham

Fancy dress

Old armbands, woolly hats, single scks, worn out shoes, past it sunglasses, ripped dressing gowns what treasures they are!….Pop them in the fancy dress box to give your kids hours of fun ad to kick start their imagination.

Sarah, Derby

A picnic

Have a teddy bears picnic. Send out some little child coloured-in postcards inviting your little ones friends to bring their teddies and their packed lunch for a teddy bears picnic at yours. Grab some toys, decorate some fairy cakes and sing some songs. A fab playdate, cost free..

Lucy B, Wirral

A trip to the theatre

• Book to go to the theatre in a group. There may be a free ticket (or even free tickets) if a large number goes. The saving on the free tickets can be shared across the group – saving money for everyone! Car share on the day for additional savings and take your own refreshments!

Helen W, Nottingham

Bathing Products

Use combined products such as an all in one baby wash as it does hair too so no need for a separate product (a little goes a long way) Have days where you use nothing and try just a very simple moisturiser post bathing, Little babies need nothing for the first month or so! Keep your toiletries simple and to a minimum your baby really doesn’t need them (or all the other bath seats, toys collecting frogs etc. we are encouraged to spend our money on!

Kirsten, Birmingham