When Harrogate dad Mark Hamilton had to change his wriggly, screaming seven-month-old daughter’s nappy on a changing table at an airport, he emerged from the bathroom a broken man.

It was at this moment he decided to come up with a solution to make the experience not only less stressful, but actually enjoyable for both parent and baby.

Sixteen months later, after teaming up with fellow dad-of-two Stewart Gold, an American who had moved into the flat above on Otley Road, the Dingle Dangle was born.

Dubbed the “ultimate parenting hack”, the hands-free baby toy – similar to a mobile – is worn on the head of the mum or dad so they can distract their baby while changing a nappy.

There’s no denying wearing a dangling colourful octopus on your head is a talking point – and the duo said it certainly attracts attention.

Stewart, who was a lawyer for 11 years, laughed:

“People will come up to us when we are wearing it and say ‘it suits you’.”

The Dingle Dangle in action.

The clever creation, which features colours inspired by the art deco-style of Stewart’s hometown of Miami Beach, Florida, also has three other functions.

It changes into a portable mobile that can clip onto a cot or pram and transforms into a cute pufferfish rattle and a silicon teether.

This is all anchored from a sensory stick, which features three different fabrics for the baby to touch and interact with.

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But the toy didn’t always look so slick. A number of different prototypes were created before the duo finally came up with the final product.

Mark, who owns his own technology investment banking headhunting business, said:

“I actually got a coat hanger, a GoPro strap and a soft toy and I dangled it from my head. That is how the Dingle Dangle was born and from there it sort of evolved.”

It clearly captured Stewart’s attention, who loved the concept, particularly as his wife was pregnant with his second baby, and it has since become an integral part of the nappy changing routine.

He said:

“You don’t want to pin your baby down when you’re changing them.

“So when I saw Mark putting this thing on his head, I thought this is a pretty awesome idea and how can we make it a complete product.”

Friends and business partners Stewart Gold, left, and Mark Hamilton.

The prototypes were created almost entirely in Harrogate, with contributors including Judit Karsai at the Needle Loft and Daniel Burn Design.

And the Dingle Dangles are already flying out.

Mark said:

“It’s super exciting.

“We are going to see how it evolves over the next six months and if it goes well, we have plans to sell it abroad. We also might eventually create more baby toys.”

Asked whether the two men would have ever envisaged themselves selling baby toys, Stewart laughed:

“Our friends and family are all very supportive, but they also think we are crazy.”

This article is sponsored by Berwins

Family breakdown is never easy, but Christmas can be a particularly distressing time for separated parents and their children.

There is an unrealistic expectation that the festive period should be be perfect, not helped by increasing pressure caused by social media.

This often leads to feelings of anger, frustration and upset when that “perfect” family Christmas can’t be made into a reality.

Arguments can start over where the children will be on Christmas Day. There can also be disagreements about whether new partners should be spending time with the children at Christmas, as well as issues with money.

But it doesn’t always have to be difficult.

Harrogate dad Alex separated from his wife in 2010, when his daughter was three-years-old.

Tough

He described how the first two Christmases apart were a struggle, but then gradually improved in future years thanks to good communication.

He said:

“In that first year it was all quite recent and a little raw. Christmas morning was spent separately at our respective parents, and my daughter was with her mum.

“We then met in a neutral venue, a pub in a rural village, and had a drink and I got to spend some time with my daughter.

“That first year was incredibly tough and getting in the car and driving away from her later in the afternoon was particularly hard.

“The following year my daughter spent the morning with my ex-wife, and then came to my house. It was a little too upsetting for all parties, particularly for my daughter as she just wanted to play with her new things.”

However, as a result, they both agreed that they would then take it in turns each year, which he says has worked out better for everyone ever since.

He said:

“When she is not with us, we have a separate faux Christmas Day and meal on another day as near to the big day as we can, but there is no substitute to having her with you on the day itself.”

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Alex continues to have a good relationship with his ex-wife and says this makes it easier when it comes to Christmas festivities.

He said:

“I think when you have children, the focus of the day itself changes anyway, and you realise that the enjoyment comes from experiencing it through their eyes.

“Once both parties accept that, it’s easy to keep it amicable as you will do everything you can to make it special for the children involved.

“As with every aspect of co-parenting, communication is the key, and if you can keep in touch and keep it friendly (sometimes through gritted teeth), then it makes everything so much better for you and your children.

“I genuinely think my daughter has a wonderful time at Christmas. She gets spoiled by both sides of her family and gets to have two Christmas Days every year.”

Advice

Stephen Root, director of Berwins Solicitors, based in Harrogate, has shared his advice on arrangements for children over the Christmas period.

He said:

• Remember it is not about you spending time with your children, but your children spending time with you and the other parent.
• Try and approach it from your children’s point of view. Will they be happier seeing both of you on Christmas Day, even if that means moving from house-to-house? Or are they better off in one place, perhaps, alternating Christmas Day and Boxing Day between you?
• Try and find an arrangement that suits your family and can be used from year-to-year, perhaps alternating Christmas and the New Year holiday periods between you.
• Try and reach an agreement as early as possible. If everyone knows what the arrangements are there are less likely to be arguments. If there are issues, then the earlier you have begun discussions the more time you have to resolve them.
• If the children are with you all day Christmas Day, do make time for them to speak with the other parent during the day. In most cases children will want to at least speak to the other parent during the festivities.
• Don’t compete with each other. Try and discuss what presents you are getting – consider still buying jointly if you can – and don’t expect your children to eat two Christmas dinners.

A Harrogate dad has shared the last messages he exchanged with his son shortly before he took his life to mark the start of Mental Health Awareness Week.

Steve Phillip founded The Jordan Legacy in his son’s name to improve people’s wellbeing and support available to them.

Jordan was 34 when he took his life on December 4 2019. The day before, Steve and Jordan had been texting each other and talking about meeting up.

But the meeting never happened. Mr Phillip has spoken previously to the Stray Ferret of his anguish.

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Now transcripts of his final message has been made available to encourage others to come forward.

Mr Phillip has also revealed details of the call he received from his son’s girlfriend Charlotte revealing the news.

She broke into the house with the help of a neighbour and found Jordan:

• Me: “Hi Charlotte?”
• Charlotte: “Hi Steve, I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry. It’s Jordan. He’s killed himself.”

Jordan Phillip.

The call lasted two minutes but Steve does not know what he or Charlotte said for the remaining one minute and 45 seconds. He said:

“Jordan was the kind of person who would stop and chat to homeless people and to local strangers.

“He loved his family and his friends so much that he would often protect them from the ultimate depths of his despair.

“But he was always there for them, no matter how difficult his day was. There was nothing selfish about Jordan, not even at the moment he chose to end his pain.

“He took the time to write notes to his girlfriend Charlotte and his family to let us know that he loved us.

“If I could give any advice to anyone it would be look after those around you, listen to them more, be there, don’t be scared to question the signs you see and ask the difficult questions.”

Mental Health Awareness Week starts today and finishes on Sunday.

The Mental Health Foundation started the event 21 years ago and the annual event has grown to become one of the biggest awareness raising weeks in the UK and globally.

To mark the start of the week, North Yorkshire Police has also revealed how the number of mental health calls it has taken over the last year has grown to 32,117.

That is an increase of 6,512 calls compared to the previous April to March period.

Do you need help or know someone who does? Get help from a mental health charity helpline by tapping here.