Useful Websites

Here are some websites Essex Mums and Dads might find handy. If you have something you would like to see added, please email me at louise@essexmums.org

Thanks!

Arts & Crafts - Children's Centres - Children's Parties - Classes - Clothes and Accessories - Farms - Food & Drink - Gifts - Health - Holidays - Local Information - Maternity - Nurseries & Childminding - Parenting Resources - Photography - Sports & Fitness - Soft Play Centres - Support Services - Things to do - Toys & Games - Tuition - Other useful resource

Arts & Crafts

Castings4Life Hand and footprint keepsakes
Claire Mackaness Handmade cards and events management
Creative Ribbon Specialists in personalised, printed ribbon
Flamecat Unique enamelled baby keepsakes for your child at an affordable price. Flamecat’s stylish baby handprints and footprints are personalised and handcrafted in enamel. Mounted on contemporary bespoke frames.
Nappilicious Cakes For nappy cakes with a difference visit Nappylicious Cakes
Pretty Pollies - Workshops & Birthday Parties Create your own specially unique cosmetics & beauty products
Precious Fingerprint Jewellery Capture precious memories with a unique item of fingerprint jewellery.
Precious Little Memories Bespoke hand, feet and fingerprint jewellery
Precious Memories 3d Baby Hand and Foot Casting and Jewellery Keepsakes
Ruby Doodles Face Painting Face painting for all occasions
Twinkle Photo Design Unique personalised photo cards and bookmarks
Vision Balloons High Class Balloon Decor, Bespoke Centrepieces and Personalised Products
Wall Word Designs Wall art, phrases and quotations for your walls.

Children's Centres

Blenheim Primary School Blenheim Primary School has various activites on offer.
Seesaw Children's Centre, Braintree
Southend Childcare Listings Information about children's centres and their activities throughout Southend.
Spangles Children's Centre, Stansted
Sure Start Sure Start brings together childcare, early education, health and family-support services for families with children under 5 years old.

Children's Parties

Best Kids' Party Children's party supplies & gifts.
Bouncy Party Bouncy Castle hire, soft play hire & mascot hire - based in Rettendon and serving a 15 mile radius.
The Bubbles Crew Children’s Entertainers Provides Magical adventure shows, face painters, balloon artists, and music for Children’s parties, birthdays, corporate events and promotions.
The Cupcake Oven Delicious beautiful cupcakes, cupcake classes and children’s cupcake decorating parties.
Froggle Parties Specialises in exceptional children's party entertainment for all ages. Loads of different party types to choose from.
Made by Me Kids' beading parties
MGM Inflatables Inflatable hire and event organising.
Party Bag World A fantastic range of children’s Pre filled Party Bags, Build Your Own Bags, Party Cones, Candy Cones and Activity Bags for all occasions, including birthday parties and weddings, plus wholesale party bags ideal for party entertainers and play centres.

Classes

Baby signing

Babysign An online course that teaches you all you need to communicate with your baby before speech is acquired!
Tiny Talk Several teachers in Essex providing baby signing classes.

Drama, Theatre etc.

Debutots A unique blend of interactive storytelling and dramatic play for 6 months to 7 years
Roydon Academy Roydon Academy provides a well rounded training to individuals throughout the local area of Southend on-Sea.
Sit & Fidget Sit & Fidget is a registered Arts charity providing high quality, low cost opportunities to take part in workshops, events and performances.
Stagecoach

Gym & Exercise

Tumble Tots

Languages

La Jolie Rondie La Jolie Ronde French and Spanish for Children aged 3 – 11 years olds

Music

Caterpillar Music
Jo Jingles The UK's leading provider of fun, interactive music, singing and movement classes for babies and children aged from 3 months to 5 years of age*. (*up to 7 or 8 in some areas). Classes in more than 500 centres around the UK and Ireland.
Stave House The best way ever for children to learn to read and write music developed in a Montessori School. The perfect early learning music method.
Tiny Mites Music Tiny Mites provides a really fun and educational music, movement and drama class to children from 6 months to 5 years.

Clothes and Accessories

Baby Bluebird Pretty clothes by Dandelion, newborn to 12 months. Hats & mits, shawls, matinee sets, muslins, swaddling, baby sleeping bags, blankets & other bedding
Fairy Dresses UK Design and sell Children's Fairy Dress Sets and Accessories
Genesis Footmuffs and Nursery Products Genesis - British made nursery and bespoke products.
Isabella Oliver For pregnancy in style
Kids Designer Bargains Childrens quality designer clothes for Boys, Girls and Babies - up to 46% off RRP.
Kids Do Travel A unique range of travel products for children. A fantastic range of luggage, lunchbags, rucksacks and childrens towelling robes to easily packed booster seats and chair harnesses as well as treats for mums too!
Little Label Trendy basics and underwear for babies and kids
Little Lollipops Kids Online store for funky kids and their parents. Stand out from the crowd in cool designer clothing from Småfolk, Snoozy, Speesees, Sweet Peanut, Toby Tiger and Birdy Nam Nam.
Little Miss Sew and Sews specialises in making bespoke items to suit your sewing needs.
Little Ones Clothing Character clothing at reasonable prices.
Lullabyzzz Baby sleeping bags.
Lush Baby Lush Baby sells high quality, luxurious babywear, accessories & gifts. All the products have been carefully seleted to ensure style, comfort and practicality. Many of the Lush Baby ranges have matching accessories. The collections are unique & most of all fun!
Pony Maloney Tshirts, tops, lunchbags, backpacks and pyjamas. Perfect gifts for girls who love ponies.
Platypus Australia Producers of UV Protective Swimwear, Rash Guards, Kids bathing suits and Sun protective swimwear, including matching Beachwear and Rash Shirts, also know as Rashies.
Prem2pram is dedicated to providing practicle and affordable premature baby clothes and accessories, we also suppor various hospitals with donations see our Hospital Donations page: http://www.prem2pram.co.uk/donated_items.php
Skibz Stylish dribble bibs in gorgeous designs, keep baby dry and looking cool all day!
Tinkabellas Sells a unique range of fashion jewellery & hair accessories for all ages & occasions.
Togs4specialsprogs Custom made clothing and accessories for Babies and Children with special needs
Fancy dress outfits Fancy-dress-wear.co.uk is a content rich site which gives not only inspiration for fancy dress but seeks out the best bargains and fancy dress deals around.

Farms & Zoos

Barleylands Farm Centre & Craft Village, Billericay Children of all ages can meet and feed our friendly farm animals, ride the mini tractors around the farm and let off steam in the adventure play area. Also features the craft village.
Tropical Wings wildlife park set in acres of attractive grounds and featuring one of the largest butterfly houses in the country

Food & Drink

Cooking & Baking

Chocolate Lilly Boutique,Vintage,Classic and Funky. We dont copy other peoples cakes we design our own!
The Cupcake Oven Delicious beautiful cupcakes, cupcake classes and children’s cupcake decorating parties.
Mrs P's Patisserie Delicious homemade cupcakes, afternoon tea cakes and handcrafted celebration cakes for all occasions.
Pat a Cake Cupcakes Cupcakes for all occasions, all freshly baked and decorated
Plum Fairy Cupcakes Cupcakes for all occasions.
Sarah's Farmhouse Fancies A boutique cake company based in Essex, specialising in bespoke wedding and celebration cakes for all occasions.

Gifts

Baby Bluebird Gifts for newborns to toddlers, as individual items or colour themed gift boxes. Also practical safety gift boxes. Other choices include beautiful handmade shawls, play gyms, tummy time mats, buggy toys, walkers and dribble bibs. For slightly older toddlers Radio Flyer and WheelyBug.
Baby gift boxes, new baby presents and new mum gifts A unique range of organic and eco-friendly new baby gift boxes, new mum presents and new baby presents direct from Molliemoo
Bless Ewe Creations Basedin Saffron Walden, Essex. Creates photo books and photo videos.
Discount Choices At discount choices you will find all kinds of gifts for men,women and children. Expecting a new born baby, invited to a christening, getting married moving house we have the gift for you
Jollie Cakes Party, Birthday and Wedding Cakes in Benfleet, Essex
Kids Do Travel A unique range of travel products for children. A fantastic range of luggage, lunchbags, rucksacks and childrens towelling robes to easily packed booster seats and chair harnesses as well as treats for mums too!
Mel's Tasty Treats Cake, cupcakes, biscuits, sweets and treats
More Than Gifts Specialises in fair trade, handcrafted and personalised gifts.
Pink, Blue and Purple Too! Online store offering unusual yet fabulous gifts in vibrant colours
Pure Nappy Cakes The UK's leading nappy cake specialist and baby gift store.

Health & Wellbeing

The Agada Clinic Clinic in loughton offering services such as Podiatry, Osteopathy, Physiotherapy and Reflexology
Ash Parmer One of the UK's leading cosmetic dentist, specialises in dentistry for children.
Baby Aid First Aid kits for babies on the go. Baby Aid Compact is small enough to fit into your baby bag and contains 34 baby friendly items. Refills also available online. Free P&P(UK). Free Gift Wrap.
Birth Affinity Labour support and hypnobirthing.
Gentle Touch Infant Massage This intensive but full course you will learn how to massage the whole body and why each move is beneficial to your baby as they grow.The techniques will help ease the pain of trapped wind, encourage a good sleep routine and calmer mood as your child grows.
Goals Solutions Ltd -Nadia Wyatt. Achieving serenity of mind with Psychotherapeutic Therapies. Counselling, Hypnotherapy & Life / Executive Coaching.
Health Visitors Parents and health visitors in partnership.
NHS North East Essex NHS services for mums in Colchester and Tendring areas.
Nutritonist Support Aims to provide the UK with a huge nutrition support network, enabling those in need to find a nutritionist close to them and appropriate for their needs
Susan Palmer Massage Therapies Offers sports massage, Hot Stones massage, Holistic relaxing massage and Indian Head Massage, one 2 one Fitness Training and lots more for your fitness, well being and or rehabilitation.
Pathways Hypnotherapy Fully qualified and registered hypnotherapist based in central Basildon, Essex - professional, friendly and confidential support.
Positively Blooming Hypnotherapy in Leigh on Sea specialising in hypnobirthing and hypnotherapy for conception pregnancy and childbirth.
Spirals Masterclasses A definitive guide to mind body classes in Essex.
Alice Webster Advanced and remedial massage therapies.

Holidays

Cottages 4 U Over 9,000 cottages all across the UK and we have several thousand cottages, gites and villas across France, Ireland, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

Local Information

ActivBraintree A comprehensive guide to Braintree on the internet
ActivBrentwood A comprehensive guide to Brentwood on the internet
ActivChelmsford A comprehensive guide to Chelmsford on the internet
ActivHarlow A comprehensive guide to Harlow on the internet
Billericay Essex Your online community guide to Billericay
Billericay Families' Information A one-stop shop of useful contacts and information for families in Billericay.
Billericay Parents Forum A local charity run ‘for parents, about parents, by parents’ offering support through really helpful, friendly parenting courses, led by trained parents, which cover all age groups from birth to teens, drop-in sessions and open evenings.
EatLeigh Describes restaurants, takeaways, pubs, bars and food shops in Leigh on Sea.
The Essex Factor The ultimate guide to Essex Venues including a free venue finding service.
EssexSites The Website Directory for Essex Households
Essex Views Community network for Essex.
KidsClubNetwork - for 100's of kids clubs, after school and holiday activities in Essex.
Mum's the Word Aims to keep local mums informed of places to go with their babies and provide opportunities to meet new friends.
Open Family Resources National online directory of family services containing information about Ofsted registered Childcare such as Nurseries, Pre-schools, Childminders and Out of School Clubs.
Southend Family Information Service A free and impartial information service for mums, dads and carers of children and young people aged 0-19.
Wickford Extended Services

Maternity

Bump 4 Joy Maternity clothes for the larger lady
Cake Lingerie Cake Lingerie is an Australian designer brand, specialising in the creation of luxurious maternity lingerie, nursing bras, sleepwear and nightwear.
Crave Maternity Crave Maternity is one of the leaders among the stores providing maternity clothes of high quality.
Live Love Maternity Maternity fashion and skincare.
Maternity and Beyond Fashionable maternity clothes for the trendy mum to be, plus we have unique personal gifts for the new baby and also course not forgetting new mums and dads.
Simply Maternity Maternity clothes from a large selection of online stores.

Nurseries & Childminding

www.brentwoodchildmindinggroup.co.uk
www.findachildminder.co.uk
Lawford's Little Pumpkins Pre-School Pre-school in Lawford, Essex
Little Darwins Nursery Day Nursery and preschool based in Rettendon offering a variety of care packages for children 3 months to 5 years and holiday club for 5 to 11 year olds
Southend Family Information Service A free and impartial information service for mums, dads and carers of children and young people aged 0-19
TakeCare Online personality assessments of Nannies, Au Pairs and Babysitters. Easy to use, affordable and available anywhere and anytime.

Parenting Resources

Away with the Kids The Travel Directory for Families - Away with the Kids lists fabulously child and family friendly holidays in the UK and Ireland ranging from luxurious hotels, self-catering cottages and fun-filled farms to tipis, camper vans and castles – take a look, you may be inspired.
Baby Aid First Aid kits for babies on the go. Baby Aid Compact is small enough to fit into your baby bag and contains 34 baby friendly items. Refills also available online. Free P&P(UK). Free Gift Wrap.
Bumps, Babes & Kids Southend baby show featuring great products and services for those expecting and with kids.
Great Family Holidays An overview of the best hotels with children's clubs in the world. Hotels are classified according to the destination and age.
H.E.L.P (Hope & Encouragement for Lone Parents) Support and encouragement for lone parents in a fun, exciting, energetic and relevant way for the people of today
Helpful Tips and advice over various topics involving childcare, parenting, pregnancy and health.
The Little Concierge A premium service which delivers baby essentials; nappies, milk, food, toiletries and much more to holiday destinations all over the world.
Menus4Mums - the Weekly Family Meal Planners – Make mealtimes easy with our weekly meal plans, recipe cards and shopping lists.
The Naughty Seat Positive Parenting Products & child behavioural aids. Our products include a Time Out range, and large selection of reward charts, star charts, behaviour charts, reward stickers, certificates and badges to encourage good behaviour and healthy eating.
Open Family Resources National online directory of family services containing information about Ofsted registered Childcare such as Nurseries, Pre-schools, Childminders and Out of School Clubs.

Photography

Derek Anson Photography
Laura Barker Photography Mobile "bump to baby" and children's lifestyle and studio photographer, capturing relaxed, natural images.
Bewitched Photography Maternity, Newborn, Baby and Family Photographer based in Essex. Fun, relaxed Portraits with a family friendly style with prices starting from just £10.
Little Smilers Photography of babies and children in the Essex area.
Love 4 Photography Baby and children's photographers based in Chelmsford
Maria Murray Photography Fine art photography specializing in babies & children by Maria Murray, modern, natural, with the personal touch.
Emma Warren Photography Local Photographer based in Billericay

Soft Play Centres

Monkey Bizzness The local indoor playcentre for kids
Partyman World of Play An indoor playcentre and unique party venue like no other!

Sports & Fitness

Dance

Roydon Academy Roydon Academy provides a well rounded training to individuals throughout the local area of Southend on-Sea
Starlight Dance Works
Samihah Children's belly dancing classes
Essex Zumba Ditch the workout - join the party!

Football

Little Kickers Approved football training for children from 18 months to 7th birthday
Three Lions Football Football coaching for children aged 2-10 years.

Fitness

Diversifit Fitness sessions and Zumba classes in the Essex and Suffolk areas
Fitbugs Specialising in ante/post natal exercise, running groups, personal training and 1-2-1 sessions
Pushy Mothers Buggy workouts for new mums and mums to be. A safe and effective exercise programme, with fun thrown in! Training accredited by Royal College of Midwives and awarded commendation by Chartered Association of Physiotherapy in Women’s Health

Leisure Centres & Gyms

Esporta Gym & Health Club
Lord Butler Fitness & Leisure Centre Activites for children, free swimming for under 16s and an OFSTED registered creche.

Martial Arts

Okami Martial Arts Runs martial arts activity class for 4-7 year olds called Little Dragons, Family classes in Karate, Ladies only KickBoxercise classes & Personal training.

Pilates

Essex Pilates Classes Helping you to find the right class in the right place at the right time.

Swimming

Waterlife Swim School Baby and toddler swimming. Warm pools small classes.

Yoga

Essex Yoga Classes A definitive guide to Yoga classes for people in Essex.
Goddess Yoga Yoga classes, pregnancy yoga classes and therapies at The Yoga Shack in Mayland
Linda Beach Includes classes for pregnancy and post-natal yoga.
Shambhala Yoga Studios Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi or Meditation at a beautiful Yoga Centre in Leigh on Sea.
Yoga Bugs Take your Child on a YogaBugs Adventure!

Support Services

Action for Children is a children's charity that supports and speaks out for the UK's most vulnerable and neglected children and young people.
BLESS Support for bereaved parents
Bliss Bliss, the special care baby charity, provides vital support and care to premature and sick babies across the UK.
Essex Cloth Nappy Network The Essex Cloth Nappy Campaign was established in 2000 to encourage parents and carers to try cloth nappies as an alternative to disposable nappies. The campaign has evolved into a continual educational programme, helping to raise awareness throughout Essex. The latest development is the introduction of the Essex Cloth Nappy Network.
Families InFocus (Essex) A leading independent parent led registered charity providing holistic support to families of children with disabilities and special needs (aged 0 to 19) across Essex, who require advice, information and support, particularly at times of change, challenge and crisis.
Goals Solutions Counselling, Hypnotherapy, Life Coaching and HR Consultancy Company based in Essex providing services both to corporates and private individuals either face to face, by phone, by email or over the net.
Greatvine Greatvine.com offers you individual advice and support, by phone, direct from the country's best experts.
Little Angels Little Angels (Darwen) CIC is a Community Interest Company which promotes, supports and protects breastfeeding. It aims to make breastfeeding fashionable, whilst offering evidence based information and support in a friendly and approachable manner. It does this by offering peer support through employment of the local community.
Parents 1st Not for profit organisation running a programme called Birth Buddies and Pregnancy Pals with specially trained volunteers that work in the West Basildon and Thurrock areas supporting pregnant mums (and dads).
Parents' Aid Parents' Aid offers preventative services, designed to preserve the integrity of family life, to families at risk of social exclusion.
Parentline Plus Family life today is complicated and Parentline Plus understands. We’re the leading national charity providing help and support to anyone caring for children – parents, grandparents, step-parents, relatives – for families living together as well as apart.

Things to do

Blake House Craft Centre Over 20 shops including Kit 4 Kids, Instep Dancewear among others as well as crazy golf.
Castle Point Transport Museum
The Original Great Maze A great day out for all the family
Tropical Wings World of Wildlife There is a massive selection of wildlife to interact with at the Tropical Wings Zoo in Essex

Toys & Games

Bramble Corner A traditional toy shop which encapsulates all that is wonderful about childhood.
Climbing Tikes Essex-based company sellling quality European-made climbing frames.
Flying Start Games Fun and inspiring hands-on educational games and activities for parents to play with their children to give them a flying start to their education.
Jack, Ted & Dolly Children's wooden toys and educational toys.
Knot Toys Traditional and Fair Trade wooden toys.
Let's Play Fair Ethical and fair trade toys.
Little Planet Toys Supplying toys, gifts, pocket money toys, wooden toys, wooden alphabet letters and personalised childrens gifts along with organic comforters and accessories for babies and pre-school children. Little Planet Toys also provides useful products for Mum and family gifts.
Ruggedis Provider of children's entertainment products with 47 stores throughout the UK and Ireland.
Wish List Toys Read about some of the best toys, including games, electronic pets, construction toys and more.

Tuition

BYTSYZ e-Learning online courses Flexible and accessible, accredited and none-accredited online courses. Refresh existing ones and gain new skills by studying over the Internet. Use the discount code ESSEXMUMS to receive 10% discount on the online course of your choice.
Mrs Sue Comber Private Maths Tutor, Wickford
Eureka Tutoring Services Eureka offers private tuition in many subjects from ages 3-adult.
Kip McGrath, Basildon & Wickford Voluntary OFSTED Registered Tuition Centre in Basildon and Wickford
Kip McGrath, Chelmsford Chelmsford after-school tuition for 5-16 years children specialising in Maths and English for all abilities and also 11+ tests, SATs and GCSE preparation
Learning Plus Southend Expert 11+ tuition.
Stave House The best way ever for children to learn to read and write music developed in a Montessori School. The perfect early learning music method.
Tutor Hunt Free service for tutors and students to find one another.
Wiki-Ed Individual and group tutoring using a technology based approach and working to improve maths/english and general study skills.
Wisdom Tution Centre Tuition centre for children aged 6-18years old. We offer KS1, KS2, KS3 and KS4 (Year 1 to Year 11) English and Maths. We also offer SATs, GCSE and 11+ preparation.

Other Useful Resources

Aura Beauty Salon Beauty salon based in Billericay, Essex
Beauty Enhancements Beauty-enhancement.com distributes a complete line of professional treatment products
Beauty 21 Offers sophisticated, modern women and men a host of tried, tested and successful beauty products to ensure you are always looking and feeling your beautiful best
Cherish Cleaning Domestic cleaners - you cherish your time, we cherish your home!
Dawn Taylor Beauty Essex based freelance make up artist and beauty therapist; specialising in weddings and special occasions and the latest lash extension treatment.
Handmade by Lou Workshops (bracelet making) for both childrens and adults
Health and Beauty Products Enhancing your natural beauty through all major brands of skincare, makeup and fragrances. Stock includes Chanel, Elemis, Guerlain, Guinot, MD Formulations and many more....Free UK Delivery.
Life Coach Directory Providing a free UK-wide resource enabling individuals to find a life coach close to them and appropriate for their needs.
Mr Clean Oven Oven and Appliance Cleaning covering Chelmsford, Basildon, Billericay, Braintree, Brentwood, Dunmow, Maldon, Ongar, Rayleigh, Tiptree, Wickford, Witham and all surrounding villages
Noak Bridge Pet Care Cherished pets loved and looked after while you're elsewhere
Small Business Credit Cards – Read information and compare the best deals on small business credit cards at Moneysupermarket.com
Sourcerer For all Your Virtual Assistant, Lifestyle & Event Management Needs: Sourcerer offers a bespoke, professional service, helping you to manage three key aspects of life so that you can become completely organised, freeing up your time to spend on other things: whether that’s running your business, indulging in life’s pleasures or enjoying an event without having to agonise over the finer detail.
Vision.Life.Design Coaching and Counselling
Wi-cycle It Recycle your unwanted items for cash on the UK's free eco-auction site