Natural Nursery Blog

Benefits of breastfeeding

Sharon sent us her breastfeeding story and is happy to share it with other nursing mothers.

Choosing to breastfeed my daughter was the best decision I ever made. Knowing that I am giving her exactly what she needs is most satisfying. The benefits of breastfeeding are immense, it is free, it’s all natural. It is just as nature intended. The composition of breast milk changes throughout the feed and as she grows to give her exactly what she needs. If I get ill, my breast milk also contains the antibodies necessary to help her fight the infection.

Among all the benefits of breastfeeding, there is one that the studies will never be able to measure exactly: it’s the close connection between mother and baby. What makes those moments so special, when it is just me and her, and she is looking into my eyes as she feeds away, in those moments the rush of love I feel is immense.

I know that nursing her has helped me develop a close and loving bond with my baby.

I am glad I made this choice, as nothing comes close to those few minutes we get to share every day in each others company.

Lacing Game Stocking Filler

This time, a lovely, long lasting stocking filler for under £1!

Thread Friends Lacing Game, 97p, suitable for age 4 years and up

Lacing games are a great way of developing fine motor skills and this one has the added fun of dressing and undressing a little creature. The aim of the game is to help the little wooden animal get dressed in their felt clothes and requires more concentration and dexterity than many other lacing games.

Once the animal has been dressed, they can be used as part of an imaginative play game.
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play kitchen

Among all the bulky toys, there is one that stands out and actually gets used for hours on. It’s the play kitchen.

We love the idea of getting the kids interested in cooking early on. It’s a way to encourage them to help in the kitchen, be aware of healthy cooking and eating habits. They learn to shop, plan and prepare balanced meals. It is something that will stay with them forever.

A child imagination is boundless. Turn over a big cardboard box and use a black marker pen to draw the over door, four hobs and four buttons. It is enough to get their imagination started and prepare delicious pretend meals. You can cut out the oven door and refine it by sticking a shelf. Use a second cardboard box to draw a sink, cut it out and stick a little bucket or a small bowl to make the sink.

Feel free to add a few felt play vegetables, some pretend food toys and a child apron and you’re in for a treat. I often buy little toys like that in advance and take them out on a rainy day. It renew the child’s interest for their toys.

Once the children have outgrown their baby cutlery, they can be reused as play cutlery, along with their PVC free plastic bowls. The dolls and teddies also need to learn proper table manners and never eat without their tie-on bibs.

The good thing about a home made cardboard play kitchen is that it can be folded away for storage or recycled.

Breastfeeding Naturally supports nursing mothers

We would like to introduce the latest addition to the Natural Nursery Family, welcome to Breastfeeding Naturally.

We believe that breastfeeding is natural: all you need are breasts, a baby and tremendous support. Nursing mothers sometimes need more help.  Breastfeeding Naturally offers carefully chosen products, breastfeeding information and great customer service.

From breast pumps, to aids for breastfeeding problems, nursing bras and breastfeeding pillows. We also stock easy to use baby slings. If someone else needs to feed your baby and you’re worried about nipple confusion, we stock feeders and feeding cups. We strongly believe that the benefits of breastfeeding are immense. Mums should be free to breast feed as long as they want, even after going back to work. We hope that you will find everything you need for successful breastfeeding (and stay comfortable too!)

You will also find information, breastfeeding tips and babywearing advice. Read other nursing mothers’ stories, including mums of twins or preemies. You will see that there is one theme that comes back over and over throughout the stories is how trying breastfeeding can be at times. It takes determination, knowledge and support. Prepare while you’re pregnant and tell your breastfeeding friends over and over: in many cases, it doesn’t have to be as hard. Get some help early on. Visit your local breastfeeding support groups, make a note of all the breastfeeding helplines that you can call for advice, support and to talk to another mum who is trained but has also been there.

Breastfeeding Naturally is a family-run business based in Exeter. Founded by Arabella Greatorex who breastfed her daughter and experienced breastfeeding problems at first, it aims to bring support to nursing mothers. It complies with the WHO International Code of Marketing for Breast Milk Substitutes.

Don’t hesitate to contact us, we are here to help.

playhouse

Have you noticed how once the presents are opened, children often play more with the box than the actual toy? If your children are anything like ours, give them a cardboard box, some crayons and they’ll entertain themselves for hours, day after day. The box starts as a boat, then becomes a bed for a tired teddy before inevitably turning into a hat!

One day we received a wardrobe, not very exciting for children if it weren’t for the very large boxes they come into! Shortly afterwards, armed with box cutters and brown tape, we started cutting, building, sticking… Our playhouse was born. It was very brown and boring but big and exciting! Over the next few months we decorated it with drawings, paper cuttings, paint, ribbons. It felt too dark inside into so we cut out some windows and added curtains. From brown box to work of art in the eyes of children. Our daughter would often retreat in it, maybe the space was more at her scale.

It was all and well until we needed the space in her bedroom. Being all taped up, it was impossible to fold it, or to recycle for that matter. We discarded more than 2 years ago but she still regularly asks me to build another one. This is her on the little video, she didn’t notice I was filming her.

That’s where I wish I had known about the Paperpod rocket playhouse and playfort. Inspired by children’s play, they are nothing short of fabulous! Unlike my home made version, they are easy to assemble. Ours was hard work to put together! It can be dismantled, and are made in the UK from recycled material. Children will not only enjoy playing with them but decorating them, customizing them to make them truly unique.

They are sturdy enough to withstand hours and months of play and be passed down to siblings, or little friends when your children are done with them. They can eventually be recycled too.

They’re the perfect Christmas presents for toddlers and young children.

Sophie the Giraffe

You can read our full Christmas Shopping Guide on our site, but today’s suggestion is a lovely gift for a new baby:

Sophie the Giraffe - £12.99, suitable for use from birth

Sophie is a classic French baby teething toy that has been loved by generations of European babies.  She is made from 100% natural rubber and food grade paint.  She is soft and gentle to the touch, has a squeaker inside that makes a laughing sound when squeezed and she feels wonderful on teething gums.

A very loveable creature, she will become a firm friend and will be a long lasting and thoughtful Christmas present for a young baby.

This Ergo baby front pouch is a cute little nappy bag to go with your baby sling. Its versatile design allows it be be worn in many ways to adapt to the way your use your baby carrier.

You can attach the front pouch to your baby sling around the waist belt. You can then wear it on the front, back or hip. The Ergo front pouch also comes with a shoulder strap so you can use it even when you’re not wearing your Ergo Baby Carrier or another baby sling. This compact nappy bag is roomy enough to fit your wallet, your mobile phone keys, a nappy and a few wipes. The zipped pocket will ensure that your belongings are safe.

The Ergo front pouch comes in four lovely colours: Brown and Navy and now the new Blue Starbust (lovely blue with a flower applique which matches the blue Organic Ergo baby sling). The Cranberry nautilus will complement your cranberry Ergo baby sling beautifully.

If you need a bigger nappy bag for longer trips, take a look at the Ergo Nappy Bag or Ergo changing backpack which you can either wear on its own or snap around the straps of your Ergo baby sling.

natural baby shampoo

Your baby’s skin is extremely delicate so choosing the softest natural baby shampoo is essential to make bath time fun and enjoyable.

The natural baby shampoo should be gentle on the skin and on the eyes should it come into contact with them. It should not contain any soap which would dry the skin and be free from nasty chemicals including sodium lauryl sulfate or paraben.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is the foaming agent in many body care products like shampoo, toothpaste and detergents. Many studies have now shown that Sodium Lauryl Sulfate has a degenerative effect on the cell membranes because it denatures protein. Even low level concentration may penetrate the skin. Concentrations as low as 0.5% could cause irritation.¹ This means that even tiny amounts could have a lasting effect on the child. Other studies have indicated that Sodium Lauryl Sulfate enters and maintains residual levels in the heart, the liver, the lungs and the brain from skin contact. Yet SLS is still found in body care products, including those for babies, because it’s cheap. Paraben is another chemical to avoid as studies have shown its risks include premature skin aging, an increase in oestrogens which affect the male and female reproductive organs and breast cancer.

At Natural Nursery, we’ve selected some gentle organic baby care products, free from SLS and Paraben, made from natural ingredients. They will be suitable for the sensitive skin of babies and even adults. Remember, you only need to use a tiny dot of natural baby shampoo.

Our children seem to be particularly fond of the Weleda natural baby shampoo, with organic calendula. Natural baby shampoo used to be expensive but Earth Friendly Baby range of organic baby care products offer fantastic value for money at £3.99

They are all specially made for baby’s sensitive skin but many parents will also enjoy using them for themselves.

¹JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF TOXICOLOGY Volume 2. Number 7, 1983

Organic Ergo baby carriers

We absolutely love the new collection of organic Ergo baby carriers and we’re sure you will too. You will find the same comfortable design and the same versatility to wear your baby carriers on your front, your back or your hip.

The comfortable Ergo baby carriers are now available in 100% organic cotton material. The fabric is buttery soft and perfect for your baby’s delicate skin.

The 100% organic fabric are just one more reason to choose an Ergo: designed by Karin Frost they have undergone extensive testing by safety laboratories and tens of thousands of parents. The Ergo baby carriers allow you to carry your baby comfortably for hours, giving you the freedom to get on with your life while holding your baby close to you.

The ERGObaby carrier’s design allows an ergonomically correct sitting position for the baby’s hip, pelvis and spine growth. It disperses most of the baby’s weight between the hips and thighs, which helps to avoid compression of the spine. The ERGObaby also spreads the baby’s weight to adults’ hips and shoulders, and reduces physical stress for the parent.

Have I mentioned how pretty they look? It will be a hard choice, classic cranberry, dad-friendly and fashionable chocolate, striking black embroidery and the pretty blue stardust.

Which ones are your favourite baby carriers?

A coat to wear over any baby sling

Wrap up warm this autumn and Winter with the Ergo baby baby carrying coat!

This coat is especially designed to be worn over a baby sling. The soft grey fleece has a smooth lining so it slips over the baby sling easily. It is also reversible, you can wear it when your baby is on your front or on your back. Designed by ErgoBaby, it can be worn over any baby sling.

The fabric of this coat is perfect to protect you and your baby from the rain and the cold. It is both cozy and incredibly lightweight. The ERGO Baby Papoose Coat is the perfect solution for the cooler seasons. It will keep you and your baby warm together, and can also be worn as a maternity coat.

The baby carrying coat is adjustable for the size of your baby and wraps around the neck and shoulders for maximum warmth. Since you and your baby generate heat there is no need to wear many layers underneath.

The sleeves are designed intentionally long to protect you when it’s really cold and can be rolled up. The width is designed to accommodate the legs of the child when it’s carried in the baby sling. The one-size coat is suitable for all parents.

Have you tried the baby carrying coat? Let us know what you thought of it, and we love to see your photos!