Natural Nursery Blog

Many breastfeeding mums are happy  to breastfeed just about anywhere and in all circumstances. For them the very idea of a breastfeeding shawl is confusing. Why would you need one? “If my breastfeeding offends you, just put a blanket over your head” says a series of messages going around Facebook and other social networking websites. I write from Scotland mums have a legal right to breastfeed in public. In nearly 5 years of breastfeeding my children, I have breastfed in many places and never received a negative comment, only smiles and nods. Sometimes a giggle when the person sitting across from me didn’t realise there was a baby hiding in the sling, only the gurgling sound gave it away! One day, breastfeeding my two-year-old in an overcrowded train got the ticket inspector to find me a seat in first class.

So why would you need a breastfeeding shawl?

Not everyone is comfortable breastfeeding in public and having a shawl to give yourself some privacy feels reassuring.

Even if you don’t mind breastfeeding in public, it may make some people around you more uncomfortable. Maybe you don’t mind, maybe you do and that’s fine too. If it helps make parents, grandparents, other relatives and friends more supportive of your breastfeeding then it may be worth it.

A  breastfeeding shawl will also make breastfeeding more comfortable as it protects you from the cold. It allows you to see clearly how your baby is latched on while respecting your privacy. This might be important when your baby is a newborn and you need to check that the latch is optimal.

It also creates a quiet space for babies with less stimulation. Some babies are easily distracted by sounds and light, the breastfeeding shawl will help isolate them slightly from what’s going on around them.

Breastfeeding shawls are well designed and convenient to use to breastfeed your baby, whether you’re in the house or out and about.

What makes a breastfeeding shawl different from any other scarf is that it has a weight in one corner which will help the shawl stay in place. Your hands are free, you can rest, eat a biscuit, hold your baby, drink some water, read a book to your toddler…

A great present for a new mum.

Washing the Wonderoos reusable nappies is super easy.

1. Remove the Wonderoos and put it to one side. Clean your baby and put a fresh nappy on.

2. If the reusable nappy is soiled, hold it (waterproof side up) over the toilet and stretch the fleece. Most of the solids will drop into the toilet. If need be, hold the nappy by one corner tightly and flush the toilet to remove the rest of the solids.

3. Shake the insert out of the reusable nappy and into your nappy bucket. Then drop in the nappy too. (If you wish, you can give them a quick rinse beforehand.)

4. On wash day, rinse the nappies in your machine to remove soiling and urine. Wash and rinse using a 40C cycle. Using half the recommended amount of non-biological detergent is sufficient.

5. Hang your Wonderoos reusable nappies outside or inside in a warm place. They will be dry in a few hours. You can tumble dry Wonderoos on a low heat setting. To ensure your nappies last as long as possible, avoid tumble drying on a regular basis. Avoid drying your nappies directly on the radiator.

6. Ready! Store your clean Wonderoos nappies ready-stuffed with a fresh insert so that they are ready to use.

That’s all! Washing your Wonderoos nappies in 6 easy steps.

A few more tips:

• Only use non-biological washing powder. Make sure it doesn’t contain chlorine bleach.

• Washing your reusable nappies at 40C is sufficient. If your baby has diarrhoea or nappy rash, wash them at 60C to ensure all bacteria are killed off.

• You can wash your Wonderoos set at any height setting to save time, no need to undo all the poppers.

• Don’t use fabric softener, it leaves residue on the fabric which will affect your nappy’s absorbency.

• Wash your reusable nappies at least once before using. Hemp boosters should be washed at least 3 times before using. It will take up to 8 washes and possibly one tumble dry for them to reach their maximum absorbency.

Wonderoos are reliable reusable nappies for babies of different ages and shapes. Here are few things to consider if leaks do occur.

If the leak happens shortly after the nappy change, the issue is most likely due to the fit. Run your finder around the leg opening of the Wonderoos reusable nappies. It should be snug but not too tight. You may need to change the size setting to the next size up.

If the leaks occurs after a couple of hours it is likely to be due to not being absorbent enough. Check the inserts: if they are soaking wet you need to use an additional nappy insert or change the reusable nappies more often.

Check that baby’s clothing is not too tight and pressing against the nappy causing ‘wicking’ (drawing up liquid like a candle-wick).

Your reusable nappies absorbency might have been reduced by improper washing, use of nappy cream, fabric softener. There might be a build up of detergent in the fibres of the nappies. Try soaking the nappies with bicarbonate soda or white vinegar and washing them in the washing machine at 60C.

If you’re experiencing leaks with a newborn while using the small insert, you could try using the large one instead. You will need to fold the insert over at the front a little to get it to fit into the nappy on its smallest setting.

Some parents worry that the fleece sticks out at the legs and waist of the Wonderoos reusable nappies and that this might cause leaks. Actually this design ensures your baby’s comfort and avoids leaving red marks on the skin. The fleece is not absorbent and will not draw up liquid so will not cause the nappies to leak. If they do leak at the back or leg it is most likely due to the inserts getting too wet. Change baby’s nappy more frequently or use a booster.

Once you have adjusted the Wonderoos reusable nappy size to fit your child the best, it’s time to add the nappy insert.

The nappy insert is the absorbent part of the nappy. It is sandwiched between a fleece layer which draws the moisture away from your baby’s skin and a waterproof layer. The Wonderoos are sold with a special insert, the Wonder-full birth-to-potty inserts. They are especially designed to fit this pocket nappy, maximise absorbency while avoiding the bulky nappy effect.

When you have adjusted the nappy height to the appropriate size for your baby add the inserts. Slide the nappy insert into the pocket of the nappy. The narrowest end of the insert should be towards the front. Make sure that the insert is positioned so that it is up to the front of the nappy and check it lies flat inside the pocket.

For a newborn or a small baby, use the small insert. If your baby needs a more absorbent nappy, (babies vary in their wetting habits) try using the large insert instead. You might need to fold over the front of the insert.

When the Wonderoos nappy is on the medium or large setting you can use the larger insert on its own or with the smaller one to boost absorbency. Use the poppers to fasten the two inserts together. This makes for a very absorbent nappy.

Lie baby on the open nappy with the wings at the back. Pull the front of the nappy up over baby’s tummy and fit into the legs. Fasten both waist poppers on each wing of the nappy.

The fleece lining should stick out slightly at the back of the nappy to increase baby’s comfort but make sure that the absorbent insert is completely inside the nappy to prevent leaks.

Run your fingers around the inside of the legs of the Wonderoos nappies. It should feel snug but not tight. The leg cuffs are designed to give a close comfortable fit at the thigh.

For a newborn waist setting the wing can be overlapped Select a snug but comfortable waist setting for your baby – you should be able to easily run your finger inside the waist of the nappy.

The Wonderoos nappies are made to suit most babies from birth to toddler (approx. 8-35lb / 3.6-15.9kg). They come with two rows of poppers so that the nappy can be adjusted in width and height to suit your baby growth. Once you have bought your nappies and washed them once, the next thing to do is adjust the size of the nappy to suit your baby. Adjusting your Wonderoos nappies to fit your baby is very simple by following these simple steps

You will see on the front of the nappy is a horizontal row of poppers to adjust the waist (1) and two vertical sets of poppers to adjust the height of the nappy according to your baby’s size(2).

To adjust the cloth nappy to the smallest size: Fold the front of the nappy down and fasten popper “1″ to popper “S” on both sides of the nappy. The nappy should look like image 1 and 2 on the left.

To adjust the cloth nappy to the Medium size: For the Medium size setting, fasten popper “1″ to popper “M”.  This is shown in photo 3 on the left.

To adjust the cloth nappy to the Large size: To use Wonderoos on their largest size simply leave the height adjustment poppers unfastened as shown in this third image.

Once your reusable nappies are adjusted to the right size, there is no need to undo the poppers to wash them. They can be washed as is until your baby has grown and more be more comfortable with the next setting up.

As all one-size nappies, the Wonderoos reusable nappies are designed to suit most children up to potty training. In the event that your toddler has outgrown his nappies, keep them handy. Wonderoos is said to be working on an extender to suit older children.

Q: How many Wonderoos reusable nappies do I need?

We recommend buying a set of reusable nappies between 15-20, depending on how often you wash them. The less cloth nappies you buy the more often you will need to wash them. To use the Wonderoos nappies full time, we recommend around 18 Wonderoos nappies. At Natural Nursery, they are sold with boosters so you don’t need to worry about that.

Q: What else do I need?

A: The fleece chosen for the Wonderoos nappies will let you slide the poo in the toilet. Flushable nappy liners aren’t really needed but can make nappy changes easier, especially for breastfeeding babies. You will need a container to keep the soiled nappies until the next wash. Washable wipes can be washed along with the nappies and represent big savings, compared to disposables.

Q: How often should I change baby’s Wonderoos?

A: As with all nappies, Wonderoos should be changed when soiled or every 3-4 hours during the day time. Wonderoos should be washed after every use.

Q: Are Wonderoos suitable for night time use?

A: Yes, most babies can wear Wonderoos real nappies at night time. If your baby sleeps through the night their night nappy will need to last around 12 hours without leaks rather than 3-4 hours in the day time. To add additional absorbency to the nappy without making it too bulky, an extra nappy booster can be pleased underneath the usual inserts. We recommend buying 3 or 4 boosters.

Q: What nappy creams should I use?

A: Babies wearing reusable nappies don’t need nappy cream regularly. However if your baby has a nappy rash you can use a non-greasy cream such as Green Baby Nappy Balm will soothe the skin. Greasy nappy creams will stick to the nappy lining causing leaks and permanent damage.

Q: How long will Wonderoos last?
A: Hip Hip Baby! manufacture Wonderoos using highly durable fabrics. They should last through one baby’s time in nappies and may well last for another baby if properly cared for. They are made with popper fastening rather than velcro to keep the nappy from suffering excess wear and tear during washing.

A baby wrap is a long piece of cloth, especially chosen to carry your baby. There are no buckles, no rings. The very simple design gives you flexibility to carry your baby anyway you want. You just wrap the fabric around you and pop the baby in.

Whether you carry your baby on your front, on your back or for breastfeeding, it will be much easier if you choose your baby wrap’s size carefully. Your baby sling should be just long enough to wrap around you easily without leaving long tails behind you. You could trip over or they could get caught. It should be long enough so you can carry in all the positions you wish to use.

A stretchy baby sling – like the Calin Bleu fleece baby wrap – will usually come in one size. The tails are tapered in order to be very thin at the end. You can easily wrap the fabric one more time around your waist and tie in the front or on the side.

If you and your partner are of very different size and could use baby slings of different sizes, it’s best to choose the shorter size. The smaller parent will find it much easier to use the baby sling if it’s not too long. The larger parent can use another baby carrying position which uses less fabric, like the simple wrap carry.

You will love these new Wonderoos pocket reusable nappies!

Pocket nappies are easy to use, easy to wash, easy to change, and these ones come with an added benefit: they are one-size. For most children, you will be able to use the same set of reusable nappies from birth to toddler 8lb – 35lb (3.5Kg – 16Kg). If you have two children in nappies at the same time, you can also use the same set of nappies, making everyone’s life even easier!

So why use Wonderoos reusable nappies?

1. Birth to potty nappies – the same nappy can be adjusted to fit babies from birth to toddler.
2. Adjustable for a perfect fit – The Wonderoos have an innovative three-setting system to adjust to the baby’s shape and size perfectly. The stretchy fabric both inside and outside the nappy ensures even more comfort.
3. Comfortable – The stretchy fabric adjust to the baby’s shape for more comfort. The unique seam binding leaves no red mark on baby’s legs. The inner fleece is extremely soft, keeping baby dry and comfy.
4. Easy to use pocket nappies – Pocket reusable nappies are extremely easy to use. They can be ’stuffed’ in advance and used exactly like disposable nappies.
5. Easy to wash and dry – The insert can be removed for washing which shortens the drying time. Ideal for hard water areas. If need be the inserts can be tumbled dried.
6. Durable reusable nappy – It wears very well, wash after wash.
7. Fashionable colours – The Wonderoos reusable nappies are available in a wide range of colours from soft pink and blue to bright red.
8. Suitable for night time use – With the addition of nappy inserts and booster, the Wonderoos can be used at night.
9. Very good value – One set of reusable nappies from birth to potty, for one or two children, for day time or night time use. Very good value indeed!
10. Ideal nappy to use at the childminder or nursery. The Wonderoos pocket nappies are so easy to use, they are ideal for childminders or nurseries. The poo can be flushed the toilet and the nappy closed with the poppers. Store in a nappy bag until it’s time to go home.

In our quick guide to the real nappy world, we briefly mentioned pocket nappies. Here is in more detail what they’re all about.

A pocket nappy is just what it says: a pocket. The pocket is shaped like a disposable nappy and composed of a fleece layer and a waterproof layer.

The fleece layer is usually ultra soft fleece fabric. It is designed to draw the moisture away from your baby’s skin, keeping it dry. This reduces the risk of irritation, especially for babies with sensitive skin. Poo doesn’t attach to the fleece so it can easily be disposed of in the toilet.

The waterproof layer of the real nappy is composed of PUL (polyurethane laminated fabric). It provides the waterproof barrier needed and can survive numerous washings. It is stretchy and thin enough to be comfortable for babies.

The pocket nappies can be fastened by velcro or poppers. The poppers have the additional benefit of not ‘catching’ the fabric, especially in the wash allowing nappies to be more durable.

Inside the pocket, you can choose what nappy insert to stuff in. For a small baby, a small insert is enough. For a larger baby, a large insert on its own will do. For toddlers you will need to combine a large insert with a small one. For night time use, you can even ‘boost’ the absorbency by adding an additional nappy booster. Nappy boosters, especially those made of hemp or bamboo, will allow your pocket nappy to be use through the night.

Pocket nappies can be used just like disposable nappies and that’s what makes them such a sensible option. When they’ve been washed and dried, add the appropriate inserts and fold the nappies. Use as you would use a disposable nappy. When the nappy needs changing, just pop the poo in the toilet, rinse, and store in a bucket until your next wash. You can add a few drops of tea tree oil, a natural disinfectant.

Pocket nappies are ideal for nurseries and childminders or anyone looking after your baby who might not be familiar with a two-part nappy system. They are ideal in hard water areas as the nappy or if you have very limited space to dry the nappies. The nappy is best air dried but the booster and inserts can be given a quick turn in the tumble drier when they’re almost dry. The Wonderoos pocket nappies in particular are shaped to look fairly slim.

After the bright and funky baby wear, timeless classics are now back in baby wear fashion. What matters to baby is that the fabric be really soft, free from nasty chemicals and harmful dyes to avoid irritating his skin, well designed to be comfortable, and easy to put on and off. What matters to parents is that they are good quality, preferably organic, sturdy, easy to care for and eventually passed to a younger sibling. Here are some of our favourite baby wear.

• Baby vests. The baby vests selected by Natural Nursery for your baby are all designed either as wraps, tied tops or with an envelope neck. This type of baby wear is easier to put on and off. Some babies are uncomfortable having their clothes pulled over their head, in that case the tied tops are perfect. It’s a good idea to have a few long sleeve vests and short sleeve vests. Even in summer, nights can be chilly. Remember that the less vests you buy the more washing you will need to do, sometimes with a half-full washing machine. It’s a good idea to buy enough to last you a few days.
• Sleepgowns. For newborns and babies up to 12 months, sleepgowns are ideal. They allow babies to wiggle to their heart’s content without rumpling up. Babies can enjoy rubbing their legs together as they would have done in the womb. Finally, the baby wear has no fiddly poppers making nappy changes much easier for parents and babies.
• Sleepsuits. Easy to wear for sleep, nap or even playtime, the sleepsuits are now available in size up to 2 year old. Sleepsuits are comfortable for babies are there is no elastic at the waist. You can change their nappies without undressing them completely. This is particularly important at night time when you might be trying to change their nappies as quickly as possible without waking them up completely. The Frugi organic baby sleepsuits are especially suited to children with eczema or sensitive skin. Everything is designed to avoid irritating the skin: no scratchy label, flat seams and the washcare label is made in the same soft interlock material.