Natural Nursery Blog

Prepare the next generation of babywearers!

Children love colouring pictures, and familiar pictures in particular. These images of mums carrying babies in their baby slings will appeal to them.

Award-winning British artist Susan Cook of Picture Dreams, has produced these beautiful drawings of babies in baby slings for your little ones to colour-in.

You can download the A4 version as a jpg (right click on the large image and choose print) or as as pdf. If you don’t have a printer, email us your address and we’ll be happy to pop some in the post for you.

Can be reproduced only for personal home use. For group use, please contact us.

Click on the images to see the high resolutions:

Today, let’s look at more more ideas of things to do at home with children: paper beads and stringing beads into necklaces, garlands or bracelets.

Material:

- Paper. You can buy fancy colour paper for this activity but reclaimed paper will work just as well. Take a look at your recycling bin to put aside brightly coloured paper. Larger or thicker paper will be better for small children.

- Glue stick. We tried glue stick and PVA glue. Both work but the stick was easier.

- Scissors or a paper guillotine. Watch your fingers, guillotines are incredibly sharp. Put it away as soon as you have finished cutting the paper.

- Something to roll the paper around: pencils, straws, chopsticks. For younger children, they need to be fairly wide. Older children will do fine with something thiner.

- String or elastic

The activity can be adapted for children of all ages. Older children can most likely do everything themselves apart from using the guillotine. Younger children will enjoy threading the beads an adult or a sibling will have made for them. They will also love unraveling the beads you have painstakingly made for them. The beads harden when they dry.

- Cut strips of brightly coloured paper, adjust the width to the age of the children. Younger children will find bigger beads (1″-2.5cm) easier to manipulate.

- Spread the glue on the paper, leaving an inch or so at one end.

- Place the end without glue around your pencil or chopstick then start rolling the paper around, keeping it nicely straight.

- When you get to the end, add a bit more glue then roll the bead between your fingers a few more times.

- If it’s easy to remove from the chopstick, remove it now. If not, you can leave it to dry and harden

- String the beads onto the elastic or string. Make sure that the children aren’t left unattended with the string.

Enjoy!

Earlier, we started giving tips and information on carrying your baby on your back. Here is the second part of this article. We look forward to hearing from you and hope to continue adding your babywearing advice.

The manufacturer of your child carrier often recommends one back carrying position as the easiest to learn. Read that carefully and try that first. For example, tying a knot in the front with a baby wrap makes the rest much easier.

Baby should be sitting deeply in the baby sling. His legs should be spread wide apart, his knees flexed and slightly higher than his bottom. This is called the frog position and will be essential both for your baby’s comfort and yours.

Make sure the fabric of the child carrier is stretched widely across his back and stretching from the thighs to the neck.

The baby sling should feel snug and baby should be carried high. If it is well adjusted, you don’t need to lean forward or backwards to compensate for your baby’s weight. You should be able to carry your baby for a couple of hours without the need to tighten your baby sling along the way.

Once you’re more confident back carrying, you can experiment different positions. It is always surprising to parents and professionals that children seem to have their favourite position. Some children like to have their arms out, other their arms in, some will only tolerate to be carried high on your back in order to see above your shoulders while others won’t mind. Some parents like carrying high on their waist, others lower on their hips…

You could also email us a photo of your baby in the baby sling so we can help you adjust it. It helps if you send a photo of the back, the side and front.

Keep in mind that some baby slings are easier than others to use on for back carries. Baby wraps are a bit more complicated to learn to use but very comfortable once you’re used to it. A soft structured child carrier is easier to learn but offer less flexibility. If you need any help choosing your baby carrier, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Remember you can also find experienced ‘babywearers’ locally on SlingMeet.co.uk. They will be delighted to help you learn to carry your baby on your back.

Keep trying, the pleasure of carrying your baby on your back is worth the effort.

These are our tips. Have you found something that works for you and your baby? We’d love to hear from you and share them with other babywearing parents…

Most baby slings can be used to carry your baby on your back, at least that’s what it says in the product description. However becoming confident enough to carry your baby on your back when you’re out and about and others are looking can feel a bit daunting. Many parents give up and resort to using a buggy. It doesn’t need to be so, learning to carry your baby on your back takes a bit of practice but once you get used to it, it gives you a great sense of freedom and comfort.

Here are a few pointers to help you get started.

Choose your baby sling carefully. Make sure that it is suitable for your baby’s age. For example, the Ergo baby backpack is suitable from birth for front carriers with the insert and can be used on the back only from 6 months.

Read your baby sling instructions carefully, take the time to watch some videos on the internet.

Take your time. Don’t try to rush and do it as quickly a possible, it would only make you and your baby nervous and flustered.

Learn step by step. First pop your baby on your back without a baby sling, just the motion of placing your baby on your back as -you would play with your baby. Both you and your baby how his weight feels on your back, where he’s positioned, what feels the most natural…

Practice on a soft surface with another adult around. It doesn’t necessarily help if the person tries to hold the child on your back or help you with your baby sling but they can help make sure that your baby is safe.

Choosing a key phrase like ‘lie down’ and repeat it regularly will slowly teach your baby to sit still while you are getting him in the baby slings. You’ll be surprised how quickly this technique can help quieten the ‘wrigglest’ toddlers.

This is just the start… keep reading for more tips on how to use your baby slings on your back.

A big Thank you to Moss Green Children’s Books for developing these cute colouring pages for children.

Organised by age with an increasing level of detail and information, the colouring sheets are drawings of fruit, vegetable plants and the vegetable patch. We particularly like the fact that the plant is shown as a whole, helping children understand where their food comes from. This is an essential step in educating children in healthy eating. The sheet shows how the vegetable and fruit are used in the kitchen.

Through play and colouring, children have the opportunity to learn about seasonal products. Why brussels sprout are a classic in a traditional Christmas dinner but never mentioned for summer barbecues. Why we have to wait for summer to feast on raspberries the garden… Older children will also learn about pests attacking the fruit and vegetables which can lead to interesting discussions about organic growing, pesticides…

Enjoy!

It is still pretty cold out there! Going out with your baby is difficult when you’re worried about the rain, the snow, the cold, the wind (or all of them pretty much at the same time!). You may wonder if your baby will be cold.

Time to get yourself a Calin Bleu fleece baby sling!

Made of ultra light micro fleece, the Calin Bleu baby slings have many advantages:

• Ultra light fleece to make sure you’re just comfortable: not too cold, not too hot.
• No need for a bulky coat, just pop your coat over your baby.
• No need for a bulky baby snow suit, the fleece counts as one layer.
• Some warm baby socks and a baby hat are all you need.
• Easy to use, the perfect baby sling to learn to wrap your baby.
• Easy to care for, pop it in the washing machine. It dries so quickly you don’t need to tumble dry it.
• Perfect for reflux babies, can be wiped down until the next wash.
• Extremely soft, softer than most micro fleece you will have ever seen.
• Suitable for children with sensitive skin.
• No buckle, no rings, easy to adjust.
• One size baby sling can easily be used by parents of different sizes.
• Durable, it can be used with a second baby
• Light (less than 500g), can be kept in your handbag or the bottom of the buggy
• So light it can be worn indoors.
• Lovely new baby gift.
• Double as a changing mat if need be when you’re out and about.
• Made in the UK
• Come with a colour booklet and step by step instructions.

And now the Calin Bleu baby slings are even more affordable than ever. Starting at £29.50 for the plain fleece baby slings and only £34.50 for the designer fleece baby slings.

The big sale has started at Natural Nursery, take a look! This is the opportunity to buy good quality organic clothing at supermarket prices. Clothes are reduced up to 50%!

First up today is girl organic clothing with some absolutely beautiful clothes, made of 100% organic cotton to high fair trade standards. You have to touch these clothes to realise how soft and sturdy they are. It is a good time too to stock up on new baby gifts.

Here are some of our favourites:

In the size 3-6 months, we love Frugi clothes: the organic cotton baby dress with matching bloomers, this adorable pink T shirt is reduced to £4.48. The raspberry romper is a lovely new baby gift under £10

The bath towel poncho from Green Baby is also reduced to £10.50, available in Raspberry size 0-3 years or 3-5 years.

For toddlers, we love this pastel skirt, also 100% organic cotton, available in 2-3y or 3-4y and the whole Arabella Miller range.

To view all the organic clothing on sale:

• 0-3 months organic baby clothing
• 3-6 months organic clothing
• 6-12 months organic clothing
• 12-24 months organic clothing
• toddler organic clothing

This is our version of the BBC yummy carrot cake. There is slightly less sugar to make it more suitable for the kids. Also less cinnamon, more nutmeg and more orange zest which gives the cake a crisp springy taste. It’s moist, yummy, keeps well. And most of all super easy.

When cooking with the children, it is fun to let them participate. Get them a child apron or use already stained clothes (old daddy shirts with the sleeves cut off are perfect!) so you don’t have to worry about the mess. The mixture of this cake is light and slightly runny so it is easy for the children to mix.

• 150g light muscovado sugar
• 170ml sunflower oil
• 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 150g grated carrots (finely or coarsely depending on your taste)
• grated zest of 2 oranges
• 175g self-raising flour (or 170g of plain flour and 3 tsp baking powder)
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ to 1 tsp nutmeg
• a 18cm (7”) square cake tin or 20cm (8”) round cake tin

1.  Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4/fan 160C. Oil and line the base and sides of your cake tin with baking parchment.

2.  Break the hard lumps in the sugar if there are any, add the oil and the eggs. Mix thoroughly then add in the grated carrots and orange zest.
3.  Mix the flour, bicarbonate of soda, cinnamon and nutmeg together. Mix with the egg, oil and sugar mixture. The mixture will be fairly soft and almost runny.
4.  Pour into the tin and bake for 40- 45 minutes, until the tip of knife comes out clean. If you’re not sure the temperature of your oven is even, turn the cake every 10/15 minutes. While it’s cooking, let the children do the dishes.
5.  Cool in the tin for a few minutes, then remove the baking parchment and cool on a wire rack.

You can easily double the recipe for a larger cake. In that case, use a 30cm (12″) square tin or 34 cm round cake tin.

For a child-friendly version (i.e not too much sugar), try serving with yoghurt instead of icing. A glass of juice or herbal tea for the kids. A cup of tea or a coffee for the grown-ups… All yummy

Can you believe that with a little help from Lisa and Alison, we found 10 more ways reusable bags can save you time and money?

1. Having a big reusable shopping bag on hand for things to be given away for the charity shop will help you de-clutter. When the bag is full, empty it in a bin liner, stick the gift aid sticker (it increases the value of your donations by 28%) and pop it in the car boot.

2. A bag for the hair clips, hair bands… Keeping them together saves on having to replace them regularly.

3. A bag for the hair dryer and combs.

4. A bag for your make up (you can tell we live in a house of girls!).

5. A series of bags for seasonal events. From September, you can start putting together what you will need for Christmas: scotch tape, scissors, wrapping paper, gifts bought early, Christmas cards, stamps… I have recently put aside a bag for my daughter’s upcoming birthday: fabric to make party bags, party bags fillers which I purchased with my last order, chocolate coins (check the expiry date!). When I come across some party invitations and thank you cards, I will buy the in advance and store them there.

6. You can also use a large recycled juice bag to keep presents to give in. Lisa says, I have a bag for kids and one for adults and any presents I want to re-gift or things I see in charity shops, or bargain things I see in the shops that would make good presents go in there, so I always (usually) have a present when someone springs a surprise birthday on me.

7. A bag for pegs.

8. As a green thing to do this year, consider reusing packaging and mailing supplies. Keep them together in an organic cotton bag so it’s easy to see what’s inside. When you need to post something, you can easily reuse a jiffy bag. When your bag gets too big, you can offer it on freecycle where many people who sell on line will be happy to take it off your hands.

9. The recycled juice bags are excellent to keep your fabric scraps in. “After a sewing project I bundle up the leftover fabric and tie it with a bit of selvedge, then it goes in a bag, with some cedar wood to protect against moths”, says Lisa.

10. Little bags for the kids to play pretend shopping, it keeps them amused for hours.

A big thanks to Alison and Lisa for their ideas.

Reusable bags are becoming more and more popular. They are sturdier, more eco-friendly, more convenient, and dare I say prettier than plastic bags. Most often, shop assistants now ask if you need a bag for your shopping. Every now and then, one of them gives a funny look when you say: “I don’t need a bag thank you” but overall, reusable bags are increasingly popular.

A green bag is not just for shopping. They can be useful in so many ways and save you money. Several supermarkets charge for plastic bags so having some handy is a good idea. Using bags to keep things together reduces the risk they will be lost and need to be replaced.

1. Keep a bag full of reusable shopping bags so you can grab the bag when you leave the house.

2. You can keep a similar bag in the car in case of an unexpected trip to the shops.

3. “I keep a reusable shopping bag rolled up in my handbag in case I need them”, says Alison

4. Children love having an unusual school backpack. They’re bright and cheerful, easy to spot in the school’s cloakroom.

5. Recycled juice bags especially designed to be used as lunchbags are equally appealing to kids and grown ups.

6. If your child is still in a buggy, you can hang a bag at the back to store the kids’ little things, snack, water bottle and by this weather, extra hats and gloves!

7. Having a bag for each of the children’s each activity means there’s no last minute rush to find all their bits and bobs. Everything simply stays in the bag. When the clothing (swimming bag, ballet) needs washed, it can go back in the appropriate bag as soon as it’s dry. If the children need to take something special – the cheque at the beginning of semester for example – you can add it to the bag sometime during the week instead of having to remember at the last minute. “One can never be over-organised, says Anne, having a separate wall hook for each bag means the cloakroom stays tidy. The children know where to find their bags and where to store them when they come in the house.”

8. We also have a bag for the gloves and hats. We normally have to buy several sets as they get ‘misplaced’ throughout the winter. This year, I’m pleased to report that the children still have the hats, gloves and scarves I bought in September!  I like using the organic cotton bags for that purpose as the children can see what is inside.
   

9. Having a bag for bike helmets and knee pads also avoids the last minute scramble to look for them when everyone is ready to go. It will save you money in the long run as they’re less likely to get lost.

10. “We also have bags for ‘things that need to be returned, continues Anne. We always seem to have a pile of things that belong to others, I just pop them in a bag and when the person visits, they can take all their things back!”

…. to be continued!