Natural Nursery Blog

New mothers in Shetland will soon be able to benefit from breastfeeding support thanks to a new initiative from the Breastfeeding Network (BfN) in conjunction with NHS Shetland.

The BfN is a UK-wide charity which runs breastfeeding drop-in centres across the country and a national helpline, and offers mother-to-mother support before and after birth.

It is joining forces with NHS Shetland to train volunteers to give support and advice to new mothers in the isles.

Tutor Mary Kennedy will be in Shetland soon to recruit volunteers. She has trained helpers in Midlothian and Dunoon where she works for NHS Highland as a health visitor.

She said:“Mothers may be thinking about breastfeeding and want a bit of help to make up their minds. Coming to one of our drop-in groups, while they are pregnant, can help them see what it is really like and they get the chance to ask other mums the big questions that have been bothering them.”

You can read more about this at: http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2010/07/27/new-mothers-offered-extra-help-with-breastfeeding

For your breastfeeding aids don’t forget to look on The Natural Nursery website.

A new study conducted Wilkinet has shown that mothers who were breastfed themselves as a baby are more than twice as likely to breastfeed their own babies.

Another key influence seems to be the use of a baby carrier or baby sling: the study showed that 51% of mothers who carried their baby, breastfed exclusively.

You can read more about this study on our website – http://www.naturalnursery.co.uk/Babies-born-in-2010-can-thank-Grandma-for-being-Breastfed-16-w.asp

We would love to hear from mothers who found that using a baby sling helped them to breastfeed – you can post a comment here or email us at info@naturalnursery.co.uk.

We will pop a little thank you in the post to the most inspiring story next week.

This is a great customer review of Wonderoos:

I LOVE my wonderoos, they were the first cloth nappies I ever had and I’m so glad that I chose them because they are so simple and easy to use. I brought the 15 piece starter set and loved the reusable baby wipes that I got in the pack as I had never heard of them before but they work so well with washable nappies.

I recommend them to everyone I know and love to see the rainbow of colours on my washing line when they are drying.

If you would like some more information about the Wonderoos nappies go onto our website and have a look.

As it is breastfeeding week this customer review for the Medela Swing Electric Pump is a perfect review for us to share with you:

We bought this pump in the first week of our baby’s life after he was diagnosed with severe jaundice. Because of his condition we had to top up after breastfeeding with formula- something we hadn’t  intended to do! Once our sons condition had improved we were able to top up with expressed breast milk using this pump and I am now back to 100% breastfeeding. It was a complete life saver!
I would recommend this pump to anyone, its natural sucking rhythm and adjustable strength of suck is really gentle, even for a first time mum like me! I didn’t find it painful to use.

It’s easy to get started and can be battery powered or powered on mains electric. Most importantly it gave us the opportunity to feed our son in the way we wanted to against the odds.

Remeber as it is breastfeeding awareness week, we are offering 10% discount on all our breastfeeding related products. So go into the website and have a look www.naturalnursery.co.uk

This is a lovely customer review for the Motherease Rikki Wrap:

When I started using cloth with my eldest daughter I wanted a nappy wrap that would be reliable for both day and night. I also wanted one that would go over a variety of nappies. I tried the motherease Rikki Wrap and its the one brand we are still using 5 years later.

Whilst we have had other prettier wraps they have not matched up in term of fit and reliability. It’s my workhorse wrap, I know that it will not leak, will fit over different nappies and adapt as my child grows. The lower cut on the legs is great for night nappies that tend to be bigger and allows for extra padding. It comes small enough to go over terry squares on a newborn and large enough to take a super soaking toddler. If I was asked to recommend a wrap to someone who was new to cloth, this would be it.
If I could only have one kind of wrap, I would swap all the pretties in the world for this, why? Because it does its job so well.

We also do the Motherease Rikki Wrap Eco theme

This time we have a review for Green Baby and their organic fruit design vest :

We have this vest in both the blue and aqua. It is lovely and soft, keeps its shape and the bright colours never seem to fade in the wash. We usually pair it up with funky tights as an outfit on its own as it seems such a shame to hide under a babygrow. Will definitely be buying this in a few more sizes in the future!

Don’t forget you can find this product on sale on the website: www.naturalnursery.co.uk

If your diary looks anything like ours, June and July will be busy with friends’ birthday parties. Many of the children born in the summer will be celebrating their birthdays before school breaks, and parties will start again right after the children go back to school.

• Books are always big hits with children of all ages. A Dragon on our doorsteps, for example, is a playful hide-and-seek book that suits children up to 3 or 4 years.
• The Orchard Toy puzzles have a wide range of themes: from diggers and wheels to animals and sea creatures.
• Threading toys are both fun and stimulating as the children learn to manipulate the small pieces. From 18m.

3-6 year olds:

• A castle fit for a knight… This castle play scene is beautifully made and give the children hours of fantasy play.
• The What’s Rubbish game has been a big hit with our children. They play together and learn about recycling and waste.
• If you are shopping for a little girl, you can’t go wrong with the Angelina Ballerina books or the fair trade ballerina dressing up outfit.

6+:

• For curious minds, how about the World of Religions or the Adventure of Odysseus?
• For princesses: Princess Ellie to the Rescue
• For playing together: Tutan Loot

Great gifts under £5:

• For little ones: My Very Own Bunny Book
  
• For toddlers: Farmyard Usborne Stencil Book
• A all-time classic: the Charlie & Lola books
• For princesses: Princess Things to Make and Do
• A favourite with boys: Plane & Helicopters Usborne Book

• My Fairy Drawing Book
  
• To cook like a grown up, a cupcake apron.
• To have fun in the bath with an octopus
• For a princess, a story to read and a CD to listen.

Did you know you can find all your party bag fillers from Natural Nursery: with hundreds of designs starting at 48p. Leftovers will be perfect for the Advent Calendar!

We are keen to make your life that little bit easier so you have that little bit extra time with your children, for yourself, for your partner and your friends. That’s what holidays are about! We know it’s difficult to achieve when you have a young family but we’ll do our best to help.

This week, we have selected six products that can help make your life easier.

* No need to remember to smother the kids in sunscreen, the UV suits protect their delicate skin from the sun. Whether they are just playing in the garden, at the park, or spend the day at the beach, remember to protect their skin every time.

* Stress-free bath time with this all-in-one organic baby shampoo and body wash. The less bottles around the easier!

* Order baby wipes in bulk for bottoms, messy faces and grubby hands. The flushable baby wipes contain no harmful chemicals that could irritate your baby’s skin. They are free from the parabens, sodium laureth sulphate (SLS) and alcohol. If you prefer, we also stock washable baby wipes. Easy to use and wash, they dry in a few hours.

* All-in-ones reusable nappies make nappy change super simple so anyone can do it! They are as easy to use as disposable nappies.  The highly adjustable Imse Vimse are also easy to wash, and sturdy enough to reuse for several children.

* Keep some reusable bags handy in the car for unexpected trips to the supermarket or to collect the mess the kids have left in the car. Reusable bags are more comfortable to carry on your shoulder. They are also roomy to carry everything you need. They are stylish enough to go to the park, on holiday and to the beach.

* For breastfeeding mums who use a breast pump, breast milk storage bags save space and washing. Order in bulk and save even more. Meleda quick wipes are also ideal to clean your breast pump quickly and hygienically.

And remember to join us on Facebook for more news, and some special offers.

With the warmer (even hotter!) days, we are all thinking about the long weekend coming up and the summer holidays. Is your family ready? We can help you find everything you need for your children.

• Summer Hats for boys and girls,
• UV suits and sunscreen to protect their delicate skin from the sun,
• Swim nappies for the pool or the beach,
• And towels robes and rompers to keep them warm when they leave the water.

• Travel light and leave the buggy at home with the Ergo baby carrier.
• Keep the germs at bay with a hand sanitiser and some baby wipes.
• Entertain the kids in the car with the Let’s Go Travelling Book and CD.
• Easy picnics and snacks with some BPA-free bowls.
• Avoid loosing anything with a roomy beach bag.
• Help keep your baby cool in the car with a lambskin car seat cover.

Magazines upon magazines present pregnant mums with a long shopping list for the new baby. While you may not need everything on the list, choosing the new baby’s essential buys carefully can make your life much easier. So what do you truly need for a new baby?

A baby sling is in the opinion of mums who have tried one, the most essential buy for a new mum (and dad!). Newborns need to be held for the first few months of their lives and carrying them is often the most convenient to go places or get anything done around the house. A well made baby sling allows parents to carry their baby comfortably, have their hands free and provide the child with the attention he needs.

A well fitted breastfeeding bra. There may be no need to buy a maternity bra and a breastfeeding bra. Most breastfeeding bras can be worn during pregnancy. The wide straps and soft fabric provide optimum support during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. A good quality breastfeeding bra will be durable and good value. Breastfeeding bras are now available in gorgeous designs and colours.

A nursing pillow may not seem like an obvious essential buy but it provides pregnant and breastfeeding mums the support they need. A nursing pillow can be used during pregnancy to sit or sleep more comfortably. Once the baby is born, it can be used to support the baby’s weight during breastfeeding or bottle feeding. When baby is about to sit unaided, the breastfeeding pillow can be placed behind the child’s back.

It may seem trivial to mention breast pads but any new mum knows that leaky breasts can make a mum feel very self-conscious. Choosing good quality breast pads – either disposable or reusable – and buying plenty is essential.

Before baby is born, it is wise to stock up on healthy snacks. The first few weeks as a new mum are exhilarating but can also be exhausting. Healthy, hearty meals are a good way to sustain energy levels. Babies seem to have a sixth sense to need a feed right when mum was about to eat her own meal, so healthy snacks will be handy.

We’d love to hear from you. What were the essentials you used for your new baby?