Ocean Teal and Midnight Grey are fashionable, stylish colours, gender neutral and great for all year round!

The Cool wrap baby carrier spreads the weight evenly around your back, both shoulders and hips, making it easy to carry your baby from birth to toddler. It is light, breathable, compact.

A wrap baby sling made from a single, long piece of fabric that you wrap around yourself and baby to give a secure, comfortable fit, allowing you to keep your baby close to you.

Calin Bleu gauze wrap baby slings are simple, stylish baby carriers suitable for use from birth right the way through to a toddler sling.

 

The wraparound baby sling is made from 100% cotton gauze, a light yet strong fabric that is great for all seasons.  The baby sling can be easily popped into a bag, under a buggy or stowed in the car, ready for use when you want to carry your baby.

The wrap sling is easy to put on and is perfect for babywearing as it can be used as a:

• Front carrier
• Hip carrier
• Back carrier
• Breastfeeding sling

Calin Bleu wraparound baby slings are designed and made in the UK to allow both parents to use the same baby sling, even if they are different sizes. Wrap baby slings are comfortable for parents with back problems as the sling spreads the weight evenly across both shoulders, the back and the hips

Calin Bleu cool wrap baby carrier comes in two sizes. Size M will fit up to women’s dress size 16 and is around 4.6m long. Size L is a longer sling and measures around 5.2m, so is suitable for larger or taller babywearers.

If the parents are of different sizes, it is better to choose the shorter (medium) sling as the smaller parent may be swamped by the excess fabric and the taller parent will be able to adapt baby carrying positions to suit.

The soft gauze fabric is machine washable and line dries very quickly though it can be tumbled if necessary.

Each Calin Bleu baby sling comes with a colour instruction booklet detailing some of the most popular baby wearing styles, including the cross wrap carry, the hip carry, the hammock and breastfeeding positions.

Calin Bleu baby wraps have been recommended in Pregnancy Baby and You, Juno, I’m Pregnant, Practical Parenting, Your Family and many other parenting magazines.

Beautiful New Gauze Wrap Sling Colours from Calin Bleu is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Calin Bleu Baby Wrap Sling – FREE UK Post
2. 10 Unusual Ways Your Calin Bleu Baby Sling Can Come In Handy…
3. Customer Review – Calin Bleu Baby Wrap, Fleece

Why consider a Boba Carrier?

1. You want a carrier that you can take on and off in two snaps – This is a huge plus. When you want to go somewhere fast or you have a cranky baby that you want to bring outside it is wonderful.
2. You only want to buy one carrier – The Boba 3G Carrier can accommodate a baby seven pounds up to a big toddler.
3. You are not a “wrap person”- You like the look and style of a soft structured carrier and you think you can’t be bothered wrapping your body every time.
4. You want to carry your baby on your back- You can’t safely carry your baby in a Boba Wrap on your back. If you are into back carries the Boba Baby Carrier is for you.
5. Your baby is over a year old – Carriers are usually easier and more practical for bigger babies.
6. You dig the foot straps – You’re dying to know if your toddler will be the one who loves or hates the foot straps.
7. You love the boldness and spunk that they bring to your presence – Some people like the bold solid colors. Some like the fun new patterns. Dress up or dress down. We have one to fit your personality, and your partner’s too!

Product Description of Boba Carrier

Boba Baby Carrier – these carriers are more like a backpack and are generally designed for older babies and toddlers to be worn on your body’s front or back.The carriers have adjustable webbing so that you can adjust the shoulder straps and the waist belt to desired length. The shoulder straps have a high density foam which provides a little extra comfort. The Boba Carrier was designed to be more “wrap-like”. While no soft structured carrier can quite envelop your little one like a wrap does, the Boba carrier sides are tapered more like wings so that they can better hug your baby. If your baby is above seven pounds and you want to only buy one carrier that will take you from birth to toddlerhood the Boba Carrier is what you want. We do have an infant solution where you can shorten the torso of the carrier so that even a seven pound baby can be carried safely and securely against your chest. The carrier offers excellent leg support for infants with its wide seat. As your baby’s legs turn into longer toddler legs, footstraps provide that extra leg support and give tired legs a place to rest. The Boba Carrier is easy on easy off. After initially adjusting the carrier to your body there is no need to readjust. Nursing is possible with the quick release nursing adjustment buckle. The patterns are gorgeous, one for every style from solid and classic to fun and chic.

Cons of the Boba Carrier…

The Boba needs to be readjusted every time before you put it on if you are sharing it with your partner. With the awesome easy on easy off feature of the carrier comes a small sacrifice in comfort. If you have never tried a wrap you might the carrier might be the most way you have yet found to carry your baby. The truth is that shoulder straps don’t distribute your baby’s weight as well as wide spread fabric does. Yet, most parents can wear the Boba Carrier all day long. Nursing may not be as discreet as in the Boba wrap, but if you layer your shirts and lift up one shirt and pull down the other, no one will even notice. Our copywriter has deemed the Boba Carrier as “washable but not indestructible”. The Carrier can be washed but you’ll probably do more spot cleaning if you want to retain the vibrant colors.

For more information about the huge range of beautiful slings available please visit www.naturalnursery.co.uk

Why consider a Boba Baby Carrier? is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Boba 3G Baby Carrier now comes with extra features!
2. Boba Baby Wrap now in stock at the Natural Nursery (in 13 different colours!)
3. Boba says: Babywearing: A Better Way to Move Through Life

Shifting Schedules – When to Change from Two Naps to One Nap
 By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of The No-Cry Nap Solution

During the early years of life, nap schedules are in a continuous state of change. After a newborn period of all-day napping, babies eventually settle into a regular two-nap-a-day routine. Most children switch from these two daily naps to one nap sometime between the ages of 12 and 24 months. However, that year of difference is a very long span of time. This shows that age alone is not the only factor to consider when changing your baby’s nap routine.

Changing your baby from two daily naps to one nap isn’t about what your child thinks he wants, nor is it about the schedule you’d like to have. It’s about the biological need for two naps versus one. Naps at different times of the day serve different purposes in mind and body development at different ages. For example, morning naps have more dreaming, or REM sleep, which makes them important for young babies who require it for early brain development. You don’t want to rush the process if your child is still benefiting from this important sleep time.

There is another consideration when deciding to make a schedule change: The length of time that your child is awake from one sleep period to the next has an effect on his mood and behavior. No matter how well your baby sleeps at night naps are still very important. The older your child is, the longer he can go between sleep breaks without getting cranky. The biology behind this reason dictates that young babies need to divide their day up with two naps, but older babies can handle a full day with only one nap.

Since there is a wide range of what’s normal it’s important to study each child’s behavior to see when he is ready to transition to one nap a day. Use the following lists as a guide.

Signs That your Child Needs TWO NAPS Daily.

•              Your child is under 12 months old

•              When you put your child down for a nap he plays, resists, or fusses for a while but always ends up sleeping for an hour or more

•              When you take your child for car rides during the day he usually falls asleep

•              If your child misses a nap he is fussy or acts tired until the next nap or bedtime

•              Your child is dealing with a change in his life (such as a new sibling, sickness, or starting daycare) that disrupts his nap schedule

•              Your child misses naps when you’re on the go, but when you are at home he takes two good naps

Signs That Your Child Is Ready to Change to ONE DAILY NAP.

•              When you put your child down for a nap he plays or fusses before falling asleep, and then takes only a short nap, or never falls asleep at all

•              Your child can go for car rides early in the day and not fall asleep in the car

•              When your child misses a nap he is cheerful and energetic until the next nap or bedtime

•              Your child naps well for one of his naps, but totally resists the other nap

How to Make the Transition When Signs Point to Change

Instead of thinking in terms of dropping a nap it’s better to think in terms of a schedule change. The change from two naps to one nap is rarely a one-day occurrence. Most often there will be a transition period of several months when your child clearly needs two naps on some days, but one nap on others. You have a number of options during this complicated transition time:

•              Watch for your child’s sleepy signs, and put your child down for a nap when indications first appear.

•              Keep two naps, but don’t require that your child sleep at both times, allow quiet resting instead.

•              Choose a single naptime that is later than the usual morning nap, but not as late as the afternoon nap. Keep your child active (and outside if possible) until about 30 minutes before the time you have chosen.

•              On days when a nap occurs early in the day, move bedtime earlier by 30 minutes to an hour to minimize the length of time between nap and bedtime.

The Danger of Dropping a Nap Too Soon

It’s my belief that the reputation that toddlers have which is known as the “Terrible Twos,” is very likely caused by inappropriate napping schedules. There are a great number of toddlers who switch from two naps a day to one nap, or – heaven forbid! – drop naps altogether, many months before they are biologically ready. This can result in a devastating effect on their mood and behavior: the dreaded and horrible “Terrible Twos.”

For those parents whose children suffer the “Trying Threes” or the “Fearsome Fours,” it’s likely your child is misbehaving for the same reason: an inappropriate nap schedule may be the culprit. The good news is that a modification of your child’s napping routine can make a wonderful and dramatic difference in his day – and yours.

~~~~~~

From The No-Cry Nap Solution: Guaranteed Gentle Ways to Solve All Your Naptime Problems by Elizabeth Pantley (McGraw-Hill, January 2009). Here is the link for information and more excerpts:  http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth/

Shifting Schedules – When to Change from Two Naps to One Nap is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Cat-Naps — Making Short Naps Longer
2. Customer Product Review – Weleda Calendula Nappy Change Cream
3. Weleda Nappy Change Cream – Product Review

There are 2 different sheets to print out, then you can swap bodies, head and legs; create
a minibeast family; make up names……

We had loads of fun with these taking it in turns to choose a part and making the silliest creatures we could think of, we also made a few of our own legs, heads and bodies to add in. We printed ours off in black and white and coloured it in, but the idea is so simple that you could simply cut out squares of paper, or even use post its and make up your own.

Nature Detectives is part of the Woodland Trust and it is a fantastic resource, it only costs £12 a year to join for the year and that gets you 350+ activities, weekly wildlife challenges, a giant wallchart and stickers, plus activity packs in the post -  it is perfect for inquisitive young explorers.

The weekly challenges and activity packs include a mix of acitvities for different age groups and ideas that can be adapted according to a child’s abilities and interests.

Very young children will need help to do some activities. Over 10s may reach the ‘teenage phase’ early and not be bothered. If in doubt, ask mum or dad for their opinion.

Current members range from 3 to 13. If you’d like to chat about the kinds of activities members will be doing over the next year, give us a call on 0800 026 9650.

Make it Monday – Minibeast Jigsaw is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Make it Monday – Recycled Plastic Bag Crafts
2. New Year Resolutions
3. Natural Nursery Nominated for an Award

Book Description

About the Author

Naomi Aldort, Ph.D. is a psychologist specializing in parenting. Parents from around the globe seek Aldort’s advice by phone, in person and through her workshops and tapes/CDs. Her advice columns appear in parenting magazines in Canada, USA, AU, UK, and translated to German, Hebrew, Dutch, Japanese and Spanish.

Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. What Mothers Do: Especially When it Looks Like Nothing
2. The Science of Parenting – Margot Sunderland
3. Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason

The Natural Nursery is an authorised retailer for all the babyslings and carriers we sell and you can rest assured that all the products sold at www.naturalnursery.co.uk are genuine!

Beco Butterfly

Suitable from newborn to pre-school, this innovative carrier can be used in both front and back carry positions.

The internal sling allows you to securely buckle your baby into the carrier then handle baby and carrier as one unit, passing between parents without the need to remove a sleeping baby from the carrier.

The Beco Butterfly Baby Carrier also includes a removable infant insert to use with babies up to 15 pounds, allowing them to ride higher in the carrier in an ergonomically comfortable position.

Beco Gemini 

Beco’s first front carry, facing-out carrier. The Gemini is certainly true to its name, the Beco Gemini is a 4-in-1 baby carrier offering four comfortable carrying positions – front facing in, facing out, hip and back carry, a comfortable, practical baby carrier with a definite sense of style. It’s all about the options you have.  You no longer need to scrutinize over one or the other, nor do you have to use all of the carrying options offered. We are all unique, your baby is unique and it is only you who knows what feels right for you.

The Beco Gemini features a supportive waistband and wide padded shoulder straps that can be worn backpack style or crossed on your back for discrete nursing and better weight distribution. The padded headrest can flip up for neck support or can be cuffed down and fastened with snaps. When baby wants to face out, the headrest also serves as a padded spot for their head or chin to rest against. Birth to pre-school the Beco Gemini is easy to use, super comfy and keeps your precious bundle close to your heart!

Keep your baby safe – don’t buy counterfeited Beco Baby Carriers. is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Versatile, Stylish Beco Gemini Slings at the Natural Nursery
2. Beautiful Beco Gemini Slings at the Natural Nursery
3. March 2012 at the Natural Nursery

Pop-In Nappy + Bamboo£14.99   £11.99

One size Pop-In nappy with bamboo soaker.

Pop-In Nappy + Bamboo Printed£16.50   £13.20

One size Pop-In nappy with bamboo soaker.

Smartipants, Pocket Washable Nappy, 24PK£324.00   £220.00

24 pack of this one sized, birth to potty pocket nappy – easy to use and economical.

Smartipants, Pocket Washable Nappy, 12PK£162.00   £116.00

12 pack of this one sized, birth to potty pocket nappy – easy to use and economical.

 

 

New Nappy Round up at the Natural Nursery – Pop-ins and Smartipants is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Beautiful New Pop-In Nappies at the Natural Nursery!
2. Choosing your cloth nappies
3. Customer Product Review – Wonderoos V2 Pocket Nappy

Tantrums, Fussing and Whining

from The No-Cry Discipline Solution (McGraw-Hill 2007) by Elizabeth Pantley

If you ask parents to list the most frustrating discipline problems during early childhood, you would find that these three items appear on every list. All children master their own version of these behaviors – every parent has to deal with them!

Controlling their emotions

Most often these behaviors are caused by a child’s inability to express or control his emotions. Tiredness, hunger, boredom, frustration and other causes that ignite The Big Three can frequently be avoided or modified. When your child begins a meltdown, try to determine if you can tell what underlying issue is causing the problem. Solve that problem and you’ll likely have your sweet child back again.

Handling tantrums, fussing and whining

No matter how diligent you are in recognizing trigger causes, your child will still have meltdown moments. Or even meltdown days. The following tips can help you handle those inevitable bumps in the road. Be flexible and practice those solutions that seem to bring the best results.

Offer choices

You may be able to avoid problems by giving your child more of a say in his life. You can do this by offering choices. Instead of saying, “Get ready for bed right now,” which may provoke a tantrum, offer a choice, “What would you like to do first, put on your pajamas or brush your teeth?” Children who are busy deciding things are often happy.

Get eye-to-eye

When you make a request from a distance your child will likely ignore you. Noncompliance creates stress, which leads to fussing and tantrums – from both of you. Instead, get down to your child’s level, look him in the eye and make clear, concise requests. This will catch his full attention.

Tell him what you DO want

Instead of focusing on misbehavior and what you don’t want him to do, explain exactly what you’d like your child to do or say instead. Give him simple instructions to follow.

Validate his feelings

Help your child identify and understand her emotions. Give words to her feelings, “You’re sad. You want to stay here and play. I know.” This doesn’t mean you must give in to her request, but letting her know that you understand her problem may be enough to help her calm down.

Teach the Quiet Bunny

When children get worked up, their physiological symptoms keep them in an agitated state. You can teach your child how to relax and then use this approach when fussing begins.

You can start each morning or end each day with a brief relaxation session. Have your child sit or lie comfortably with eyes closed. Tell a story that he’s a quiet bunny. Name body parts (feet, legs, tummy, etc.) and have your child wiggle it, and then relax it.

Once your child is familiar with this process you can call upon it at times when he is agitated. Crouch down to your child’s level, put your hands on his shoulders, look him in the eye and say, let’s do our Quiet Bunny. And then talk him through the process. Over time, just mentioning it and asking him to close his eyes will bring relaxation.

Distract and involve

Children can easily be distracted when a new activity is suggested. If your child is whining or fussing try viewing it as an “activity” that your child is engaged in. Since children aren’t very good multi-taskers you might be able to end the unpleasant activity with the recommendation of something different to do.

Invoke his imagination

If a child is upset about something, it can help to vocalize his fantasy of what he wishes would happen: “I bet you wish we could buy every single toy in this store.” This can become a fun game.

Use the preventive approach

Review desired behavior prior to leaving the house, or when entering a public building, or before you begin a playdate. This might prevent the whining or tantrum from even beginning. Put your comments in the positive (tell what you want, not what you don’t want) and be specific.

When it’s over, it’s over

After an episode of misbehavior is finished you can let it go and move on. Don’t feel you must teach a lesson by withholding your approval, love or company. Children bounce right back, and it is okay for you to bounce right back, too.

Excerpted with permission by McGraw-Hill Publishing from The No-Cry Discipline Solution (McGraw-Hill 2007) by Elizabeth Pantley http://www.nocrysolution.com

Tantrums, Fussing and Whining is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Baby Tantrums By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of Gentle Baby Care
2. Quick Facts About Potty Training
3. 5 questions to help you choose your child carrier

Moby Wraps do not put a lot of extra material or bulky padding between you and your baby. Your baby can hear your heartbeat and find comfort in the warmth of your body within the cuddly confines of a Moby Wrap.

The Moby Wrap Solid is 100% cotton, machine washable in cool water and comes complete with a handy matching storage bag and full written instructions. There are alsoMoby UV wraps that protect from the sun, organic baby wraps and Moby Designs which are wraps with beautiful patterns and pictures on.

Product Features:

• suitable from birth to 35lbs
• excellent for premature babies
• numerous front & hip carry positions
• distributes weight evenly, incredibly supportive
• comfortable, lightweight & compact
• high quality tested materials
• various style/fabric options
• machine washable

What is a Moby Baby Wrap? is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Twelve Days of a Natural Christmas – Day 6 – Moby Baby Wrap
2. Trageschule Babywearing Course in Bristol October 2011
3. Tips about making your baby wrap more comfortable

Review

Synopsis

This down-to-earth book is written to make relationships with children of all ages less stressful and more rewarding. The authors use innovative ways to solve problems. In this book you will learn to cope with your child’s family conflicts peacefully.

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. The Tidy Books® Box: a children’s storage solution to encourage children to read.
2. Customer Product Review – I Dreamt I Was a Dinosaur – Paper Back, Barefoot Books
3. Introducing the Tidy Books® Children’s Bookcase

At the Natural Nursery we are really pleased to be stocking baby carriers from Ellaroo.

It is essential to the Ellaroo team that their work contributes something meaningful to other people’s lives. Ellaroo has a mission to improve people’s lives – farmers, crafts people who make the products, staff, resellers, parents and babies – at every level of business interactions.

The Ellaroo wrap sling is made from hand-woven Guatemalan fabric  which forms snugly around you and baby, without being bouncy.Lightweight breathable and easy to manipulate. Simplicity of design makes this the most versatile baby carrier available. Carry your child hands free from birth through the toddler years, on the front, back or side.

Hand Woven Ellaroo Wrap Baby Carriers is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. EllaRoo Wraparound Baby Carrier – Versatile and Beautiful!
2. EllaRoo Organic Lightly Padded Baby Sling at the Natural Nursery
3. EllaRoo Lightly Padded Baby Sling new at the Natural Nursery

Beautiful New Pop-In Nappies at the Natural Nursery! is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Pocket nappies: real nappies, really easy
2. Customer Review – Mother-Ease booster Bamboo
3. Customer Product Review – Wonderoos V2 Pocket Nappy

EllaRoo Lightly Padded Baby Sling Organic.

EllaRoo Organic Lightly Padded Baby Sling at the Natural Nursery is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. EllaRoo Lightly Padded Baby Sling new at the Natural Nursery
2. March 2012 at the Natural Nursery
3. EllaRoo Wraparound Baby Carrier – Versatile and Beautiful!

The Boba 3G design is made to fit parents of all shapes and sizes without purchasing an extension belt or accessory.  All straps are fully adjustable, and elastic bands are provided so you can comfortably tuck the straps away once you have the carrier adjusted for you and your child.
The Boba 2G is organic and is an incredibly soft, supportive and comfortable buckle carrier which should cover all your baby wearing needs through to pre-school.

Here are some of the reasons we love babywearing, taken from the Boba website.

Have you heard?

Carried babies…

• Cry less. 43% less overall and 54% less during evening hours. 1
• Are Healthier. They gain weight faster, have better motor skills, coordination, increased muscle tone, and sense of balance. 2, 5, 7
• Get a better view of the world. Babies pushed in strollers or lugged around in car seats only get to see the adult world at knee level.
• Become Independent Faster. Making them confident and less clingy. 3
• Sleep Better. They fall asleep quicker and sleep for longer periods of time. 4
• Learn More. Not over stimulated, but calm and alert, observing and taking in the world around them. 5
• Are Happier. They feel loved and secure. 6

but it’s also great for you. Read on.

Carrying your baby or toddler…

• Enables better communication between you and your baby- (without your baby having to cry) as you become attuned to your baby’s facial expressions and other gestures.
• Creates confident parents — there’s no better feeling than when your baby is calm and content because you have met all of his or her needs.
• Is convenient — nothing is more awkward than carrying a heavy plastic car seat with one arm!
• Allows you to safely move about with your baby regardless of terrain — you can stroll down uneven sidewalks, narrow lanes, walk up stairs,or climb mountains.
• Does wonders for your spirit— encourages you to get out and breath in the air and let the sun shine warmly on your face with your little one
• Encourages weight bearing exercise- lactating mothers will lose less bone mass by carrying with them the extra weight of their babes.
• Makes discreet nursing possible- without having to find a place to sit.
• Helps you to interact with your other children- while holding your little one close at the same time.

You get emotional and physical benefits for both you and your baby. You can move through your days together.

It’s a joyous way to live.

References

1 Kostandy et al., “Kangaroo Care (Skin Contact) Reduces Crying Response to Pain in Preterm Neonates: Pilot Results,” Pain
Management Nursing 2008: 9:55-65
2 Lawn et al., “‘Kangaroo Mother Care’ to Prevent Neonatal Deaths Due to Preterm Birth Complications,” International Journal of
Epidemiology” 2010: April.
3 Whiting, J.M.W., “Environmental Constraints on Infant Care Practices”. In Handbook of Cross-Cultural Human Development
edited by R.H. Munroe, R.L. Munroe & B.B. Whiting, New York: Garland STPM Press, 2005.
4 Ferber et al., “The Effect of Skin-to-Skin Contact (Kangaroo Care) Shortly After Birth on the Neurobehavioral Responses of the Term
Newborn: A Randomized, Controlled Trial. Pediatrics 113 2004:858-865.
5 Charpak, N., “Kangaroo Mother Care: 25 Years After,” Acta Paediatric 94 2005: 5, 514-522.
6 Powell, A. “Harvard Researchers Say Children Need Touching and Attention,” Harvard Gazette.
7 Ludington-Hoe, S. Kangaroo Care: The Best You Can Do to Help Your Preterm Infant. New York: Bantam Books, 1993.

Copied from Babywearing: A Better Way to Move Through Life
By Elizabeth on October 13, 2011 in Baby_Wearing, Child Development, Natural Parenting Style

http://www.bobafamily.com/blog/2011/10/13/babywearing-a-better-way-to-move-through-life/

Carried babies cry less, sleep better and learn more. is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Boba Baby Wrap now in stock at the Natural Nursery (in 13 different colours!)
2. Boba 3G Baby Carrier now comes with extra features!
3. Boba says: Babywearing: A Better Way to Move Through Life

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!

Make it Monday – making paper beads and necklaces is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Reusable String Bags, reduced
2. Make it Monday – Making your own baby wipes
3. Things to do with the kids: a recycled hobby horse

Review

Product Description

Have you ever spent all day looking after your baby or young child – and ended up feeling that you have ‘done nothing all day’? Do you sometimes find it hard to feel pleased with what you are doing, and tell yourself you should achieve more with your time? Maybe it’s because you can’t see how much you are doing already. In this unique and perceptive look at mothering, Naomi Stadlen draws on many years’ work with hundreds of other mothers of a wide variety of ages and backgrounds. She explores mothers’ experiences to reveal what they – and you – are doing when it may look, to everyone else, like nothing. If you are a mother, and have ever felt: that nobody understands what you do all day; overwhelmed by your feelings for your baby; tired all the time; that nothing prepared you for motherhood; uncertain what your baby seems to want; short-tempered with your partner – you will find this the most reassuring book you have ever picked up.

What Mothers Do: Especially When it Looks Like Nothing is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Why Love Matters: How Affection Shapes a Baby’s Brain
2. Exeter Steiner School Cookbook Now Available
3. Boobie Cartoons

How about a nappy bucket and mesh with some fleece liners all tied up with a big bow on top for an unusual gift idea. Wet bags come in all sorts of incredible designs now too, leopard and giraffe are my favorites!

• You will need approximately
  15-20 nappies, with 3-5 wraps of each size (if used). Please visit www.naturalnursery.co.uk/reusable-nappies-advice.html for advice and help in choosing the best nappy for your family.
• A nappy bucket and nappy mesh to store your nappies in
• Paper or fleece liners to help deal with the poo
• Nappy Nippa or pins for flat nappies
• Washable wipes are optional but many parents love to use them for their softness and money saving qualities. We have an instructable on the blog to show you how to make your own washable wipes if you are feeling creative.
• Mucky bag for when you are out and about

Real Nappies – What you will need is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. 11 Tips For Washing Reusable Nappies
2. Epsom & Ewell Borough Council Real Nappy Trial Kit
3. Real Nappy Week Comp – Win Washable Fleece Nappy Liners – (ends April 30th 2012)

The Natural Nursery can help you with the paperwork – you will always receive an emailed and paper receipt from us for your reusable nappy purchase but do let us know if there is anything else you need.

We keep this list as up to date as we can on www.naturalnursery.co.uk, but this is the list as at 1st April 2012.

Please let us know if there are any schemes that have changed or if we have missed any out.

	Bournmouth Borough Council Real Nappy Incentive Scheme Bournmouth Borough Council is currently offering £30 cash back to Bournemouth residents when you spend £45 or more on real nappies. www.bournemouth.gov.uk
	Bradford Real Nappy Project Free cloth nappy starter kit – a selection of nappies for you to try at home for Bradford residents. www.bradford.gov.uk
	Bracknell Forest Council £30 cash back www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk
	Bristol City Council Real Nappy Incentive Scheme £30 off the initial cost of buying reusable nappies for your baby when you spend £50 or more with a signed up retailer. www.bristol.gov.uk
	Carmarthenshire Real Nappies Campaign Free reusable nappy trial pack for Carmarthenshire residents. www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk
	Central Bedfordshire Nappy Incentive Scheme If you live in Central Bedfordshire (excluding Luton), Central Bedfordshire Council will give you £25 cashback when you spend over £50 purchasing washable nappies, covers or training pants from any company, or subscribe to a nappy laundry service. www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
	Ceredigion County Council Real Nappy Incentive Ceredigion County Council offers a free Real Nappy trial scheme for babies. www.ceredigion.gov.uk
	Cheshire West and Chester One Month’s Free Nappy Laundering Service (worth £45) or up to £25 Cashback on reusable nappy purchases (half of the amount spent, up to a maximum of £25) www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
	Cumbria Real Nappy Scheme £35 voucher to spend on reusable nappies. www.cumbriarealnappycampaign.org
	Darlington Real Nappy Incentive Scheme £25 cash back to residents who register. Applicants must be a Darlington resident and be able to provide a receipt for purchase of a pack of real nappies (cash back is available on purchases of over £50 on real nappies) www.darlington.gov.uk
	Derbyshire Time For Change Real Nappy Incentive Scheme £25 cash back when spending over £50 on real nappies and covers and a two week trial of a nappy lending kit, which costs £5./p> www.derbyshire.gov.uk
	Dorset County Council Parents can apply for a £30 voucher from the county council. When the voucher is sent to them, a list of Dorset retailers will also be included. Parents can spend their voucher with one of the retailers listed. This includes the option to use the voucher with a nappy laundry scheme. The voucher will expire after two months. www.dorsetforyou.com
	Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council Parents living in the borough can claim £30 when they spend over £50 on washable nappies or accessories www.dudley.gov.uk
	Epsom & Ewell Borough Council Real Nappy Trial Kit. www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk
	Essex Real Nappy Incentive Scheme Essex residents can currently benefit from two promotional offers: Sample nappy pack for £10 or a £10 refund www.essex.gov.uk
	Exeter Reusable Nappy Trial If you live in Exeter, you can borrow a full set of washable nappies, including some of the most popular brands in the UK, for a whole month, absolutely FREE. www.naturalnursery.co.uk
	States of Guernsey Real Nappy Incentive Scheme A £35 voucher towards the purchase of real nappies from the Public Services Department. http://www.gov.gg
	Gwynedd Council Real Nappies A pack of real nappies worth £30, or a voucher worth £30 to be spent on real nappies with local suppliers. www.gwynedd.gov.uk
	Highland Real Nappy Project Real Nappy Starter Packs with a retail value of over £70 are currently available to Highland Council residents for only £15 (£5 for famiies using Healthy Start vouchers). www.hrnp.org.uk
	Isle of Wight Real Nappy Network Our nappy “Library” of over 20 different makes and styles is available for viewings to help you make your mind up. Parents can have a two week free hire nappy trial (pick-up charge of £4.95 and a refundable deposit of £15 required) http://www.iownappies.co.uk
	Leeds City Council Real Nappy Incentive Scheme Parents can either get a free trial pack or £30 cash back when they spend £50 on real nappies. www.leeds.gov.uk
	Leicestershire Real Nappy Network £30 cash back and a lending kit to borrow. www.darlington.gov.uk
	Lincolnshire Real Nappy Campaign The Lincolnshire Real Nappy Campaign is offering £30 cashback off your purchase of real nappies.Download an application form here www.lincolnshire.gov.uk
	Real Nappies for London This London-wide scheme is to provide parents with an opportunity to try real nappies. Check the list of boroughs on the Real Nappies for London websiteto see if your borough has joined the scheme. www.realnappiesforlondon.org.uk
	Luton Borough Council Expectant or new parents can apply for a cash back sum of £40 against the purchase of real nappies, and covers from any company, or subscribe to a nappy laundering service subject to proof of purchase, i.e., till receipts. The minimum spend on real nappies before qualification for the cash back is £50. www.luton.gov.uk
	Manchester Real Nappy Campaign A free month-long trial of Cottontails Nappy Laundry Service www.manchester.gov.uk
	Medway Council Real Nappy Incentive Scheme £30 incentive. www.medway.gov.uk
	Norfolk Real Nappy Incentive Scheme Norfolk County Council offer £30 cash back for parents who use washable nappies. You must spend £45 or more on washable nappies, liners, wraps, trainer pants or a nappy laundry service. To apply, your child must be resident in Norfolk and aged between 0 and 24 months www.norfolk.gov.uk
	North East Lincolnshire Council We will refund parents and carers in North East Lincolnshire half the set up costs of Real nappies, up to £50. For example if you spend £60 – we pay back £30, if you spend £120 – we pay back £50 www.nelincs.gov.uk
	North Somerset Council Real Nappy Incentive Free hire kits that contain a range of nappies that have been chosen by local sellers as being the best on the market. You can hire a kit for free for two weeks. www.n-somerset.gov.uk
	Northumberland Cloth Nappy Incentives Free hire kits that contain a range of nappies that have been chosen by local sellers as being the best on the market. You can hire a kit for free for two weeks. www.northumberland.gov.uk
	Nottinghamshire Real Nappy Incentive Scheme Nottinghamshire County Council is currently offering £25 cash back (one per household) to Nottinghamshire residents when you spend £50 or more on real nappies. www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/realnappies
	Northamptonshire County Council For every purchase made of real cotton nappies exceeding £60 from any retailer or online store, eco-friendly parents can claim £25 back.Offer of £25 cashback applies to either an order totalling £60.00 or more on washable nappies (excluding accessories, eg nappy buckets). www.northamptonshire.gov.uk
	Oldham Council Real Nappy Incentive Scheme You can get a 1 month free trial with a nappy laundry service or a free 2-week trial using a home laundry kit. If you decide to buy real nappies you can apply for a £30 voucher to help with the cost. www.oldham.gov.uk/learning/nappy_laundry_service.htm
	Oxfordshire Real Nappy Incentive Scheme If you live in Oxfordshire and would like to give cloth nappies a try, but are unsure about paying out for a full set, you can borrow a trial kit completely free of charge and with no obligation to buy. www.oxfordshire.gov.uk
	Reading Borough Council Real Nappy Incentive Scheme If you live in Reading Borough and give them a receipt for real nappies you have bought you can claim £30 back. www.reading.gov.uk
	Sandwell Cloth Nappy Cash Back Scheme To help with buying new nappies Sandwell Council would like to say thank you by offering you £30 towards the cost of buying cloth nappies. www.sandwell.gov.uk
	Sheffield Real Nappy Project A £10 contribution, from Sheffield City Council is available for residents of Sheffield who purchase Real Nappies through the Sheffield Real Nappy Network www.sheffield.gov.uk
	Shetland Isles Real Nappies Cashback on real nappies purchased. if you keep receipts of two real nappy purchases spread over six months or otherwise prove that you have been using them, you will receive £30 back. www.shetlandrealnappies.org
	Staffordshire New Nappy Network To promote the use of washable nappies, Staffordshire County Council is offering a £30 discount. www.lichfielddc.gov.uk
	Stevenage Borough Council Real Nappy Cashback Scheme £50 Real Nappy Cashback Scheme for Stevenage Residents www.stevenage.gov.uk
	Suffolk Real Nappy Network Trial Kids – each kit contains an assortment of nappies and wraps. This service is available to members of the Nappy Network. Anyone can become a member for just £12.99 a year. Hire Charges: 2 weeks for £28. We will request a £50 refundable deposit on each hire to cover any loss or damage to the kits. www.suffolkrealnappynetwork.org.uk
	Surrey Waste Partnership Free information pack containing a DVD and Real Nappy Guide. Free real nappy trial kit so that you can decide which type are best for you www.goreal.org.uk/surrey
	Tamworth Borough Council Real Nappy Incentive Scheme A financial reward of up to £30 per child is available for using cloth nappies from Tamworth Borough Council through Staffordshire County Council. www.staffordshire.gov.uk
	Three Rivers District Council Cashback for Real Nappy Users If you buy your own real nappies and wash them at home we offer up to £50 towards the cost.If you choose to sign up to a nappy laundering service for at least 6 months we will give you £80 towards the cost. www.threerivers.gov.uk
	Thurrock Council Nappy Incentive Scheme Thurrock Council supports the use of real nappies by offering a £10 voucher off of the price of real nappies. www.thurrock.gov.uk
	Uttlesford District Council Nappy Incentive £10 for a Real Nappy Trial kit worth £25 and a £10 voucher to spend on reusable nappies. www.uttlesford.gov.uk
	Wakefield Council Real Nappy Incentive Scheme Wakefield Council Real Nappy Scheme offers parents the opportunity to try real nappies, with free nappy packs or a cash payment towards the cost of a different choice of washable nappy. You can claim up to £20 off a trial kit OR £40 of a birth to potty kit. www.wakefield.gov.uk
	Watford Real Nappy Incentive Scheme If you use washable re-usable nappies or join a nappy laundering service you will be reimbursed with a one-off payment of up to £50 per family towards the cost. Children must be under 2 years of age. www.watford.gov.uk
	Wealden District Council Real Nappy Trial Free Real Nappy Trial Pack for one month. www.wealden.gov.uk
	West Berkshire Council West Berkshire Council funds several trial buckets containing Real Nappies for parents to try for two weeks. www.westberks.gov.uk
	Wokingham Borough Council Reusable Nappy Incentive Scheme Wokingham Borough Council offer a £30 cash back incentive scheme. www.wokingham.gov.uk
	Wolverhampton Real Nappy Incentive Scheme £30 cash back on production of an original receipt, to prove that you have purchased real nappies. (Minimum purchase of £30 required per child)./p> www.wolverhampton.gov.uk

Local Real Nappy Incentives can save you ££££ is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Real Nappies for London – money off and incentives!
2. Darlington Real Nappy Incentive Scheme
3. Telford & Wrekin Real Nappy Scheme

‘Bringing your little one along for the ride is better for the both of you.’

They say that:

Carried babies…

• Cry less. 43% less overall and 54% less during evening hours.
• Become Independent Faster. Making them confident and less clingy.
• Sleep Better. They fall asleep quicker and sleep for longer periods of time.
• Are Happier. They feel loved and secure.

You can read the full article on the Boba Blog at http://www.bobafamily.com/blog/2011/10/13/babywearing-a-better-way-to-move-through-life/

Or you can buy a Boba Baby Carrier in the UK from The Natural Nursery.

Boba says: Babywearing: A Better Way to Move Through Life is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Carried babies cry less, sleep better and learn more.
2. Boba Baby Wrap now in stock at the Natural Nursery (in 13 different colours!)
3. Boba 3G Baby Carrier now comes with extra features!

This is Orla who is very happy to be wearing a beautiful blue cloth nappy – thank you to her mum for sending in the picture!

Cute Babies in Real Nappies – Orla is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. The Natural Nursery Star Bump Gallery!
2. £30 Cashback for Real Nappies from Bournmouth Borough Council
3. Real Nappy Week Comp – Win a £25 gift voucher with your top tips – (ends April 30th 2012)

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 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:

Make it Monday – free colouring sheets: babies & baby slings is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Half price baby slings
2. Calin Bleu Baby Wrap Sling – FREE UK Post
3. An easy guide to slings

Fleece liners work well inside all real nappies as they are soft against your baby’s skin and help to keep the wet away from the bottom, meaning a more comfortable baby.

To win a set of 10 washable fleece liners:

Tell us how reusable fleece liners will make your nappy changing easier. You might get some ideas from the product description at http://www.naturalnursery.co.uk/washable-nappy-accessories/fleece-liner-for-real-nappy-10-pk.html

• To get more entries just tell people about the competition,share it on Facebook, Twitter or blogs (one more entry per place)
• Like the Natural Nursery Facebook page (an extra entry)
• You must let us know how many entries you are claiming and where you have told people in the comments  otherwise we won’t know how many entries to allocate you.

• The draw will be held after the 30th April 2012 and the winners will be notified by email.
• By entering you are allowing us to use your top tips in other blog posts and on Natural Nursery sites.
• This prize draw is only open to people in Europe, sorry!
• The winner will be chosen using random.org

Real Nappy Week Comp – Win Washable Fleece Nappy Liners – (ends April 30th 2012) is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Real Nappy Week Comp – Win a £25 gift voucher with your top tips – (ends April 30th 2012)
2. Real Nappy Week Comp – Win Reusable Baby Wipes – (ends April 30th 2012) winner was Megan Bayford
3. Fluffy Friday 27th May 2011 – Win an EccoBots Fleece Wrap

Review

Review

Three in a Bed: The Benefits of Sleeping with Your Baby is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason
2. Baby-led Weaning: Helping Your Baby to Love Good Food – Gill Rapley
3. The Science of Parenting – Margot Sunderland

When I was pregnant I planned and was lucky to get a natural homebirth, breastfeeding was a given (I’d lived in Asia and seen the very dodgy marketing of Infant formula over there, and having spent almost 9 months growing this baby I didn’t want to put anything in it that I hadn’t made myself)  so cloth nappies seemed to fit in with the whole crunchy parent thing.

I was really lucky to win a months free nappy service which meant I didn’t have to think about buying anything at all for a while, then I started to cut down the amount of nappies I got from the service and I bought my own wraps and nappies – I found that my son went through phases of heavy wetting that the services’ prefolds (layers of cloth sewn up to make them more absorbable that you put inside a waterproof cover) just couldn’t cope with.

I have to admit I became very nerdy about nappies, I still know that a motherase nappy can hold almost a pint of liquid and I became literate in nappy speak – aplix, poppers, gusseted legs……. Buying nappies was fun although today the range of funky nappy wraps is much wider than it was back in my day.

When my son was about 9 months old I bought some eco friendly disposables for a camping trip and I found them so much hassle, I was always looking for bins, with the cloth nappies I got into a really easy habit of carrying just what I needed to go out, a couple of nappies ready folded, with liners, in wraps, a wet bag, a couple of cloths for washing and some bum cream. When I changed him I just popped the dirty stuff in the wet bag, job done until I got home and it went in the bucket or in the machine if there was a full load. Being horribly competitive I used to race disposable mums in changing rooms, I always won, I was quicker at popping a real nappy on my wiggly son than they were with disposables.

I think people are sometimes put off by the choices of real nappies and the idea that they are a hassle – the choices are fun because you can get exactly what you want for your child, and they are definatly not a hassle!

If you are just starting out on a cloth nappy adventure, have fun, I can’t say I’d like to do it again but I do have nostalgic thoughts of happy times.

Lisa

Why I chose to use cloth nappies is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Washing cloth nappies in 5 easy steps
2. Confused about Cloth Nappies? The Natural Nursery can help
3. No-nonsense introduction to cloth nappies

When it is cold and wet a lot of people rely on radiators to dry their real nappies.  If you live in a hard water area this could mean that your nappies go a bit hard. Some nappies are better than others for hard water areas:

The Flip Nappies from bumGenius are good for hard water areas, and they dry relatively quickly too. They are one size nappies, easy to use, you need a cover and an insert that can be disposable or washable, if you want to learn more please visit our Quick Guide to Flip Nappy System

One of the other reusable nappies we recommend at the Natural Nursery for hard water areas is the bumGenius. This is a birth to potty pocket nappy and it is also a relatively quick dryer.

1) Use a fleece liner to reduce the amount of hard nappy touching your babies skin.

Fleece liners are cheap, colourful and they can be washed and re-used hundreds of times. They are soft against your baby’s skin and help to wick the wet away from the bottom, meaning a more comfortable baby.

2) Scrunch the nappy up and rub it hard between your hands after it has dried.

The idea here is to physically fluff up the fibres of the nappy. It is mostly the movement in a tumble dryer that helps to keep a nappy soft so anything you can do to replicate that helps.

3) Hang the nappy out on the line if possible

Grab every opportunity to give your cloth nappies a bit of line drying time as they will be softer than if they are dried on a radiator. If you really have to radiator dry try to keep the nappies away from the radiator a little – either by using an airer that hooks over the radiator or by drying on chair backs next to the radiator.

4) Tumble dry nappies now and again if possible.

A once a month tumble dry will give your nappies a boost, I used to take mine to my mum’s for a nappy spa day, or I’d use a launderette once in a while.

5) Reduce the amount of washing powder you use.

Washing powders can build up on fabric, stiffening it and making it less asorbent.  Once in a while try just running the nappies through on a hot wash with no powder to strip them of anything that might be making them hard.

6) Put a small cupful of white distilled vinegar into the wash.

White vinegar is great for neutralising smells and for softening hard water. You just put it in the conditioner drawer.  I have used ordinary vinegar in desperation and it works just as well, just smells more vinegary than the distilled stuff.

7) Do an extra fast spin at the end of the wash.

The logic here is to remove as much water from the nappies as possible so they need less time to dry.

Add bicarbonate of soda to the washing powder.

This helps to soften the water, you can use it with white distilled vinegar as well to remove stains.  Half a tablespoon  of bicarbonate of soda is more than enough.

If you have any other tips to help keep your real nappies  soft please let us know.

8 Top Tips for Keeping Cloth Nappies Soft and Fluffy is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. 8 Top Tips for Keeping Cloth Nappies Soft and Fluffy
2. Washing cloth nappies in 5 easy steps
3. 11 Tips For Washing Reusable Nappies

When you need to change your baby, flush the disposable liner down the loo and pop the soiled nappy into your nappy bucket, ready for washing.

If you are using a 2-part nappy system, you can wipe the wrap out ready to be used again, unless it is very soiled.

Please refer to individual manufacturers’ guides for specific instructions – you will find more information on our website at www.naturalnursery.co.uk/reusable-nappies-advice.html

To wash your nappies:

• Flip any solids off the nappy and into the loo before you put them in your nappy bucket
• There is no need to soak your nappies – dry pailing (without water) is much easier
• Wash at 60 degrees (or lower if you like)
• Use only 1/3 of the amount of detergent normally used
• Make sure you use a non-bio detergent that does not have perfumes, dyes, whiteners, brighteners or enzymes
• Do NOT add fabric conditioner, baking soda, bleach or vinegar
• Where possible, line dry your nappies but many can be tumble dried on low if necessary

How to care for your cloth nappies is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Using the Wonderoos pocket reusable nappies in 5 questions
2. Choosing your cloth nappies
3. Washing your wonderoos reusable nappies in 6 easy steps

It is easy to spend a fortune on disposable baby wipes, when it is very simple to make and use your own washable wipes.

Even families that use disposable nappies often use reusable wipes as they are so soft on the baby, save hundreds of pounds and don’t contain any nasty chemicals.

Washable wipes can be used for all sorts of clean ups – on hands and faces, not just on bots.

I just dampen my wipes under the hot tap before using, but you could make up a special solution if you liked.

The wipes can then be popped in the nappy bucket ready for washing or just washed along with your normal laundry if you don’t use cloth nappies.

Making your own fleece washable wipes is very simple, I made mine out of an old fleece blanket. If you don’t have one, you can pick one up cheaply at charity shops, car boot sales or discount stores in town.

I chose a tartan pattern as it is easy to cut out – just follow the lines.

As a rough guide, you want the wipe to be about the size of your palm, say around 10cm x 15cm but it is really up to you.

To make your own fleece baby wipes:

1. Lay your fleece fabric/blanket out and cut along one of the lines to make a strip of fabric your chosen width.
2. Cut the strip into your chosen lengths.
3. My fabric is a picnic rug, so I had to unpick the blanket stitch edging.
4. Snip a small triangle off each corner as this will make wipe easier to hold.

These fleece washable wipes are really very simple to make but if you would rather buy them, The Natural Nursery sells Devon made fleece liners in their online shop.

Washable Nappy Tips – Baby Wipes is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Customer Product Review – Organic Cotton Washable Baby Wipes
2. Make it Monday – Making your own baby wipes
3. Real Nappy Week Comp – Win Reusable Baby Wipes – (ends April 30th 2012) winner was Megan Bayford

Here at the Natural Nursery we are passionate about real nappies and we want to make it easier for you to find the very best ones for your family.

Sizing

Real nappies may be sized, to cope with growing babies or one sized/birth to potty, meaning the same set of nappies should fit from around 8lbs to 35lbs, roughly the size of babies/toddlers when they are in nappies.

Flat Nappies

Terry squares or pre-folds – rectangles of fabric that can be folded in a number of ways to ensure the perfect fit for your baby.

They are highly economical, hard-wearing and are among the easiest washable nappies to care for.

The Flip Nappy System is particularly popular as it is so simple to use and comes with a range of inserts.

All-in-One Nappy

A nappy that contains both the absorbent part and the waterproof part in one, so it goes on and off the baby much like a disposable.

All-in-Ones can be sized or birth to potty and can fasten with hook and loop tape or poppers.

They can be very convenient to use, but are more expensive than other brands and may not last as long as the whole nappy has to be washed and dried each time.

2-Part Nappy

A nappy system where the absorbent and waterproof parts are separate, meaning they can be washed separately as the nappy wrap does not need to be washed each time it is used.

A 2-part shaped nappy can be sized or birth to potty.  The birth to potty versions are more common and normally adjust using rows of poppers to ensure a neat, leak free fit.

Pocket Nappy

A shaped nappy that works much like an all-in-one nappy except that the absorbent part is stuffed into a pocket in the nappy, between the lining and the waterproof cover.

This means you can add as much or as little padding as you need, and it comes out for easy washing and drying.

Again, they can be sized or birth to potty and once they have been assembled they are as easy to put on as a disposable nappy.

Types of Real Nappy Comparison Chart is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. A simple guide to the real nappy world
2. Uttlesford District Council – Sample Real Nappy Pack for £10
3. Choosing real nappies for your baby

Reusable baby wipes are just as easy to use as flushable baby wipes. You can use water to clean your baby’s bottom or make your own natural cleaning solution. Once your baby’s nappy is changed, you can pop the wipes in your laundry. They are made especially to wash and dry easily.

If you decide to make your own baby wipes, the first thing will be to choose a suitable fabric.

The fabric should be ultra soft so that it doesn’t irritate your baby’s skin. It should let the baby’s poo slide of the fabric easily and wash and dry easily. You may find it convenient to use several types of fabric for your baby wipes. An ultra soft micro fleece for example will clean your baby’s bottom easily after a messy nappy. A soft flannel or cotton jersey will allow you to dry the skin afterwards.

Your baby’s skin is delicate, avoid rubbing the skin to dry it. It is best to pat it gently. You can test that your baby wipes are soft enough by using them to clean your face for example. Save even more money by using them instead of make up remover cotton pads.

Cut your fabric in squares or rectangles. Roughly the size of your hands is a convenient size. Fleece will not fray so you don’t need to hem it. Jersey, flannel and cotton baby wipes will be more durable if you overlock or hem them. Depending on the fabric, using pricking shears will also stop them from fraying.

If you don’t want to make them yourself we sell 2 types at the Natural Nursery;  single sided and double sided – made with a different fabric on each side: a fleece side to wipe your baby’s bottom and a cotton side to clean it your baby’s skin.

You will find that you can use reusable baby wipes everywhere around the house, to clean kitchen counters, wipe finger marks off the walls, clean the dining table, and even dust surfaces…

Make it Monday – Making your own baby wipes is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. From UV suits to baby wipes, everything to make your life easier.
2. Beaming Baby Wipes: gentle on your baby’s skin
3. Customer Product Review – Organic Cotton Washable Baby Wipes

Another tip to make Real Nappies Real Easy for you, Real Nappy Week 2012.

I always use a nappy liner inside my cloth nappies – it makes it easier to dispose of the solids, helps to protect the nappy from staining and keeps the baby’s bottom drier.

You can buy paper liners that you either flush down the loo or dispose of in the bin but I prefer to use fleece nappy liners as:

• They are super soft and dry to the touch even when the nappy is wet, so very comfortable for your baby
• The are reusable, so better for the environment
• Are very cost-effective, so better for your pocket

To use a fleece nappy liner, just place it in the nappy on top of any boosters etc, so that it is the layer next to your baby’s skin.

At nappy change time, the wet liner goes in the nappy bucket along with the cloth nappy – any solids should just flick off the liner straight down the loo. If necessary, rinse the nappy liner in the flush.

Making your own fleece nappy liners is very simple, I made mine out of an old fleece blanket. If you don’t have one, you can pick one up cheaply at charity shops, car boot sales or discount stores in town.

I chose a bright stripe fabric as it is easier to cut – just follow the lines!

As a rough guide, a size 1 liner should measure 25cm x 10cm and a size 2 about 32cm x 12cm . You may need to play around with the sizing to fit your nappy/baby: you want the fleece liner to cover the majority of the nappy but not add too much extra bulk.

To make your own fleece nappy liners:

1. Lay your fleece fabric/blanket out and cut along one of the lines to make a strip of fabric your chosen width.
2. Cut the strip into your chosen lengths.
3. My fabric is a picnic rug, so I had to unpick the blanket stitch edging.
4. Snip a small triangle off each corner as this will make the liner lie flatter in the nappy.

These fleece nappy liners are really very simple to make but if you would rather buy them, The Natural Nursery sells Devon made fleece liners in their online shop.

Real Nappy Week Tips is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Real Nappy Week Comp – Win Washable Fleece Nappy Liners – (ends April 30th 2012)
2. Epsom & Ewell Borough Council Real Nappy Trial Kit
3. Washable Nappy Tips – Baby Wipes

• The draw will be held after the 30th April 2012 and the winners will be notified by email.
• This prize draw is only open to people in Europe, sorry!

Real Nappy Week Comp – Win Reusable Baby Wipes – (ends April 30th 2012) winner was Megan Bayford is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Real Nappy Week Comp – Win a £25 gift voucher with your top tips – (ends April 30th 2012)
2. Real Nappy Week Comp – Win Washable Fleece Nappy Liners – (ends April 30th 2012)
3. Real Nappy Week Comp – Win a Lactivist Cloth Nappy T-shirt – Ends 30th April 2012 (winner was Chery Halliwell)

The Devon Real Nappy Project have generously provided Mama Packs for everyone attending our Real Nappy Week events this week.

The contents of the Mama Packs do vary, so here is a photo of the contents of one of the RNW Mama Packs.

We also have a number of extra items for you to collect too:

• Your free New Parent Pack full of info about being a parent in Exeter
• Free 8 page guide to Real Nappies
• A free washable wipe from the Devon Real Nappy Project
• A back issue of Green Parent Magazine
• A copy of the new Under One Roof Magazine
• Samples of colic/breastfeeding tea

Come along to any of the events that The Natural Nursery is attending this week and collect your free Mama Pack and extras.

Arabella will be available to take you through cloth nappies and show you just how easy they are to use.

Tuesday – Babyccino will be taking place at the Hub on the Green, 1.30-3.30

Thursday – Baby Café at St Thomas Community Centre, 10.30-12.00

Please note, the Mama Packs are security sealed so we can’t guarantee that you will get exactly what is in the photo, but it is sure to be good.  The extras are completed separate to the Mama Packs and Mama Packs are not responsible for any extras that you receive in addition to your sealed Mama Pack.

 Stocks of both packs are limited and are avilable free of charge while stocks last.

Real Nappy Week Freebies, Exeter is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Mama Packs Now Available at The Natural Nursery
2. Wyre and Worcester celebrate Real Nappy Week May 21st 2011
3. Highland Real Nappy Project Bargains!

Review

“Why Love Matters is hugely important. It should be mandatory reading for all parents, teachers and politicians.” - The Guardian

“Sue Gerhardt’s choice of title reflects the loving attention to detail that is the essence of this book… excellently researched and well-written book which deserves to be widely read by practitioners, researchers and parents.” - Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice

“Sue Gerhardt has written a vitally important book – a must-read for every parent, teacher, physician and politician.” - Daniel Goleman, author Emotional Intelligence

“I would like to add to that positive view and suggest that this book be on every reading list you offer to new parents, politicians, clients, colleagues, family and friends.” - Jeannie Wright, British Journal of  Guidance and Counselling

“Gerhardt’s book offers perhaps one of the most concise arguments for why love and affection in early life truly do matter. Written with clear and direct language, this text can serve as a general resource for mental health professionals and parents alike.” - Rachel Altamirano, Clinical Social Work Journal

Why Love Matters: How Affection Shapes a Baby’s Brain is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. The Father’s Home Birth Handbook – Leah Hazard
2. Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason
3. Breastfeeding ‘protects mother’

A Mountain of disposable nappies

It is believed that it will take up to 500 years for these nappies to decompose (all the while producing dangerous methane gas), which could be a big headache for our grandchildren.

A Women’s Environmental Network study shows that disposable nappies use:

3.5 times as much energy

8 times as much non-renewable raw materials

2.3 times as much waste water as reusable nappies.

Real Nappies and the Environment – See a Nappy Mountain! is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Why Use Cloth Nappies
2. Is it greener to use washable or disposable nappies? (tell the Guardian)
3. £10 Cashback for Real Nappies in Sheffield

There are a number of factors that you might like to consider:

Your budget
Flat nappies or simple one size nappies are more economical than all-in-one nappies. There might be a real nappy incentive scheme in your area which could give you cash back or offer a free trial.

Speed of drying
Pocket and flat nappies will dry quickest, followed by slim one-sized nappies with all-in-ones taking the longest to dry

Fabric
Natural fabrics such as organic cotton or bamboo are lovely on a baby’s skin but new fabrics are hard-wearing and absorbent

Ethics
You could try to buy nappies that are made in the UK or Europe or ensure that they come to the UK by boat, not aeroplane to reduce “nappy miles”

Fit
If you want a slim fitting nappy, then look for trim nappies such as the Flip or the Mother-ease one size

Breastfed new baby poo
Generally a 2-part nappy system is better at containment but we have had good reviews of the Flip and the Wonderoo too

Ease of use
All-in-one nappies are the simplest to use, but they do take longer to dry and are more expensive

If you want more help and advice in choosing the perfect nappy for your family please visit  www.naturalnursery.co.uk/reusable-nappies-advice.html

Choosing your cloth nappies is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. How to care for your cloth nappies
2. Confused about Cloth Nappies? The Natural Nursery can help
3. Washable Nappies, Babies health and how much money you can save…..

All together now – ahhhhhh!

Cute Babies in Real Nappies – Erin is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Real Nappy Week Comp – Win a £25 gift voucher with your top tips – (ends April 30th 2012)
2. Real Nappies for London – money off and incentives!
3. Super cute! The doll & teddy baby backpack

There’s all sorts of growing experiments you can do with your kids just by using food from your kitchen. The possibilities are nearly limitless…take some time to take stalk of the food supplies you have, and decide which ones you’d like to experiment with. To give you an idea of the kinds of things you can plant, here’s a quick list:

1. Whole seed spices (like corriander seed, mustard seed, etc.)

2. Seeds from fruits and vegetables (like potatoes, green peppers, apples, etc.)

3. Snack food seeds (like popcorn and raw nuts, etc.)

4. Fresh herbs and spices (like garlic and ginger root, etc.)

Most of these seeds and roots will grow best by starting them in water. Also, many of them can be transplanted out into the garden, if you’d like.

Here’s an example of a couple of ways to get some food growing from your kitchen food supply:

Celery

Take a bunch of celery and cut the bottom root off. Place the root in a cup, filled about half way up the root. New leaves and stalks will begin to form out the top of the cut root. You can then plant it in the garden if you’d like.

To read more please visit

http://citygirlfarming.com/Gardening/GrowingFoodFromKitchenScraps.html

Make it Monday – Growing food from kitchen scraps is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Grow Your Own Veggies on Someone Else’s Land
2. Organic Food Festival
3. Soil Association Organic Festival

Professionally screen printed in blue and black ink on unbleached cotton short sleeved organic t-shirts with nickle free poppers at the shoulder.

Allowing for slight variations they are like this:

Organic 100% cotton Short Sleeved T-shirts with Shoulder Poppers

• The size 3-6 month organic sleeved popper shoulder t-shirt measures:
• 50cm (20 inches) around the chest
• 24cm (9 inches) from back of neck to hem

• Size 6-12 month organic short sleeved popper shoulder t-shirt measures:
• 55cm (21.5 inches) across the chest
• 31cm (12 inches) from back of neck to hem

• Size 12-18 month organic short sleeved popper shoulder t-shirt measures:
• 64cm (25 inches) around the chest
• 29cm (12 inches) from back of neck to hem

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Real Nappy Week Comp – Win a Lactivist Cloth Nappy T-shirt – Ends 30th April 2012 (winner was Chery Halliwell) is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Real Nappy Week Comp – Win Reusable Baby Wipes – (ends April 30th 2012) winner was Megan Bayford
2. Fluffy Friday with Lactivist – Win a Wonderoo Nappy and a Cloth Nappy T-shirt – Ends 14th July 2011
3. Twelve Days of a Natural Christmas – Day 4 – Breastfeeding Slogan T-shirt

Product Description

It’s no secret that breastfeeding is the normal, healthy way to nourish and nurture your baby. Dedicated to supporting nursing and expectant mothers, the internationally respected La Leche League has set the standard for educating and empowering mothers in this natural art for generations. Now their classic bestselling guide has been retooled, refocused, and updated for today’s mothers and lifestyles.

Working mothers, stay-at-home mums, single mums, and mothers of multiples will all benefit from the book’s range of nursing advice, stories, and information-from preparing for breastfeeding during pregnancy to feeding cues, from nursing positions to expressing and storing breast milk.

With all-new photos and illustrations, this ultimate support bible offers:

• real-mum wisdom on breastfeeding comfortably-from avoiding sore nipples to simply enjoying the amazing bonding experience
• new insights into old approaches toward latching and attaching, ages and stages, and answers to the most-asked questions
• strategies for moms who choose to breastfeed for a short time or who plan to nurse for a year or more
• reassuring information on nursing after a C-section or delivery complications
• recent scientific data that highlight the many lifelong health benefits of breastfeeding
• helpful tips for building your support network-at home or when back at work
• nursing special-needs infants, premies, multiples, and how to thrive no matter what curveball life throws
• guidance on breast health issues, weight gain, day care, colic, postpartum depression, food allergies, and medications
• Plus-Internet references for further information, including La Leche League support sites and groups.Mothers bringing babies into a new world want sustainable, healthy, positive ways to help their children blossom and thrive. There is no better beginning for your baby than the womanly art of breastfeeding.

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Welcome the newest addition to the Natural Nursery Family: Breastfeeding Naturally
2. Breastfeeding in public, is it that difficult?
3. Free breastfeeding advice sessions in Bushey and Bricket Wood

This is Ethan! Can you tell

Cute Babies in Real Nappies – Ethan is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Real Nappy Week Comp – Win a £25 gift voucher with your top tips – (ends April 30th 2012)
2. Super cute! The doll & teddy baby backpack
3. Real Nappies for London – money off and incentives!

Pocket Nappy Gift Pack – Nappy + Wet Bag£15.25   £14.25

Washable nappy gift pack – birth to potty pocket nappy and wet bag.

Imse Vimse Shaped Nappy, Organic Flannel£7.99   £4.99

100% organic cotton shaped nappy that is non-bulky and quick drying. The nappy comes in 2 sizes.

Prefold Reusable Nappies pack of 6£15.99   £6.99

Prefold cloth nappies in sizes to fit from newborn to toddler.

Swimming Nappy, Imse Vimse£12.50   £9.37

Easy to use and wash, these swim pants will help to contain any accidents whilst you and you baby are enjoying some fun in the pool.

Air Flow Wrap Nappy Cover, Mother-ease£9.75   £6.43

Waterproof nappy wrap / nappy cover that fastens with poppers for a comfortable, leakproof fit.

Motherease Rikki Wrap / Nappy Cover£9.25   £4.62

Waterproof wrap for a reusable nappy – sometimes called waterproof pants or nappy covers.

Guide to Reusable Nappies£0.01

Free 8 page guide to get you started with reusable nappies.

 

Real Nappy Bargains at the Natural Nursery for April 2012 is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Free Real Nappy Trial Pack for Wealden Parents
2. A simple guide to the real nappy world
3. Nappy Wraps – Air Flow from Motherease now in stock

Modern cloth nappies are easy to use, save you a fortune and are better for your baby and the environment.

A modern washable nappy system consists of an absorbent part (the nappy) and a waterproof part (the nappy wrap or cover).

There are lots of types of nappies and you can find out more about the different styles at www.naturalnursery.co.uk

My Baby’s Health

Disposable nappies contain over 200 chemicals, some of which are believed to cause cancers or hormonal changes.

Cloth nappies are made from soft or natural fabrics to feel lovely on the skin and have the following health benefits:

They have better air circulation than disposables, meaning your baby is kept cooler and fresher and latest research shows lowered sperm counts may be due to raised scrotal temperatures in disposables

Many parents report a reduction in nappy rash and eczema when they make the switch to cloth

Babies in cloth nappies adopt the “frog” position which offers better posture support and can help hips develop properly

The Money

A full set of cloth nappies, including home laundry, will cost from £200 to £500, against a total bill of around £1500 to £2000 for disposable nappies.

This could give you a saving of around £12 PER WEEK if you use cloth nappies and reusable wipes.

You may also qualify for a nappy incentive from your local council; you can find out more on our website at

www.naturalnursery.co.uk/real-nappy-incentives.html

Plus you can keep your gorgeous nappies and use them for your next baby.

Washable Nappies, Babies health and how much money you can save….. is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Money-saving columnist says you could save a fortune with cloth nappies
2. Save £12 per Week by Switching to Washable Nappies
3. No-nonsense introduction to cloth nappies

My challenge to myself – and anyone else who cares to take it up, is to find something else to do with things I normally throw away and this week I have chosen – milk and juice cartons.

Normally, I squash them down so they take up less space in the bin but it would be great to find something else to do with them rather than bin them.

My 5 year old tried one in the bath and had a lot of fun sitting on it and making fart bubbles, classy boy! I would like to find something rather more refined to do with them so here are some ideas:

If you cut the top off high they can be used for:

1. soaking paintbrushes in turps
2. storing carrots and courgetes in the fridge (honestly, it works, try it!)
3. storing veg peelings for making stock

If you cut the top off half way up they are good for:

1. planting things in
2. as a pencil and pen holder
3. putting ends of soap in

Cut lengthwise about 2.5cm high,

1. fill with cotton wool to make a cress garden
2. use as a boat

Cut the top off and open out the flaps at the bottom and then you can use it as:

1. a sandwich holder – pop it in and fold over the edges – a rubber band would help keep it together!
2. to store cheese in the fridge – put the cheese in, fold over and store on the folded side to keep shut

Masking tape sticks to them well and you can paint over or draw on it if you want to decorate your creation.

And when you tire of it,  Tetra Pak, who have been making cartons since the 50′s say that 82% of the UK have somewhere to recycle near them and the number is getting bigger all the time. They send them off to Sweden which is the nearest place they can be recycled. You can check your area at the Tetra Pak Recycling website.

The Natural Nursery have beautiful recycled Doy Bags made from by a cooperative that employes over 200 women in the Philippines. These bags make a fashion and recycling statement at the same time.

If you have other ideas for things to do with juice cartons please let me know!

Make it Monday – Juice Carton Recycling is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Make it Monday – Recycled Plastic Bag Crafts
2. Make it Monday – Indoor rainy fun
3. Make it Monday – Penny’s Easy Carrot Cake Recipe

just leave a comment on the Natural Nursery Blog on this post www.naturalnurseryblog.co.uk/natural-nursery/fluffy-friday-special-real-nappy-week-ends-april-30th-2012/telling us

Your top tips to make nappy use easier.

Maybe you have a great idea that helps you get out of the house quicker, or have you got a system for washing that saves you time? Whatever it is, big or small we would love to hear about it.

• To get more entries just tell people about the competition,share it on Facebook, Twitter or blogs (one more entry per place)
• Like the Natural Nursery Facebook page (an extra entry)
• You must let us know how many entries you are claiming and where you have told people in the comments  otherwise we won’t know how many entries to allocate you.

• The draw will be held after the 30th April 2012 and the winners will be notified by email.
• By entering you are allowing us to use your top tips in other blog posts and on Natural Nursery sites.
• This prize draw is only open to people in Europe, sorry!
• The winner will be chosen using random.org

Real Nappy Week Comp – Win a £25 gift voucher with your top tips – (ends April 30th 2012) is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Real Nappy Week Comp – Win Washable Fleece Nappy Liners – (ends April 30th 2012)
2. Real Nappy Week Comp – Win Reusable Baby Wipes – (ends April 30th 2012) winner was Megan Bayford
3. Real Nappy Week Comp – Win a Lactivist Cloth Nappy T-shirt – Ends 30th April 2012 (winner was Chery Halliwell)

Product Description

The Wonder Weeks. How to stimulate your baby’s mental development and help him turn his 10 predictable, great, fussy phases into magical leaps forwarddescribes in easy-to-understand terms the incredible developmental changes that all babies go through during the first 20 months of their lives.

This is the extended, “fat” edition with 2 more chapters covering 2 more leaps in the mental development of your baby up to the end of the sensorimotor period.

The book is based on the discovery of a little known phenomenon: all normal, healthy babies appear to be more tearful, troublesome, demanding and clingy at very nearly the same ages.

These age-related fluctuations in need for body contact and attention are related to major and quite dramatic changes in the brains of the children. These changes enable a baby to enter a whole new perceptual world and, as a consequence, to learn many new skills. This should be a reason for celebration, but as far as the baby is concerned these changes are bewildering. He’s taken aback — everything has changed overnight. It is as if he has woken up on a strange planet.

The book includes:

•  Week-by-week guide to baby’s behavior

•  An explanation of the markers for cranky, clingy, crying (the three C’s) behavior and how to deal with them

•  A description from your baby’s perspective of the world around him and how you can understand the changes he’s going through

•  Fun games and gentle activities you can do with your child

The book offers parents:

•  Support in times of trouble

•  Self-confidence

•  Help in understanding their baby

•  Hints on how to help their baby play and learn

•  A unique account of their baby’s development

For more detailed information about contents and the research behind the book, please visit www.thewonderweeks.com

The Wonder Weeks – Hetty van de Rijt is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. The Science of Parenting – Margot Sunderland
2. Exeter Steiner School Cookbook Now Available
3. Boobie Cartoons

By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of the “No-Cry Solution” book series

Most parents find a baby carrier to be invaluable during the first year of their baby’s life. There are many types and styles to choose from. The different types of baby carriers fall into three main categories: slings, front packs and backpacks.

Slings

These are made of fabric and are available in a wide variety of styles. They “sling” sash-style over your shoulder to hold baby in front of you. Slings offer many benefits to both baby and parent. Here are some of the most commonly cited by experienced sling-users:

• A sling is perfect for the newborn months, when Baby needs to be held often in your arms, as opposed to being pushed at arm’s length in a stroller.
• A sling is an excellent way to carry your baby around the house because it keeps your baby happy while leaving your two arms free to go about your daily tasks.
• Sling carriers are multi-purpose. You can use them to carry your baby, to create privacy for breastfeeding, and to cover your sleeping baby. Some feature a tail that can double as a blanket or coverup.
• Putting your baby into (and getting him back out of) a sling is a breeze. You can even get a sleeping baby in and out of one of these soft carriers without waking her.
• You can carry your baby in a variety of positions.
• Slings are small, lightweight and easy to transport.
• Slings are wonderful to use when a stroller would be inconvenient, such as up stairs, through large crowds or narrow aisle ways, or over rough terrain ¾ or when you’ll be going in and out of the car frequently.
• Slings put your baby at the height of people’s faces instead of at their knees.
• You can use a sling right up through toddlerhood, when little legs get tired of walking.

An important note about baby slings: They can be confusing to use at first, and your baby can slide out of the bottom if not positioned correctly. Try to find an experienced sling-user, a how-to video, or a knowledgeable sales clerk to help you master the art of baby slinging. Your local La Leche League leader may be able to offer pointers, too.

Slings are very much worth the effort. I bought a sling when my second baby, Vanessa, was born. I couldn’t figure it out, so I left it in the closet. When my third baby, David, was born, I attended a mother-baby class, learned how to use my sling ¾ and was immediately hooked! I used slings extensively with my third and fourth babies and found them to be a marvelous baby care tool.

Front packs

Front pack carriers are similar to slings in use but are more complex in their structure. They have a seat that attaches to the front of you with straps that crisscross behind you; these straps secure the carrier to your body. Here’s what you need to know about front packs:

• The benefits of front packs are similar to many of those of slings, such as their light weight and portability, and the fact that you can carry your baby while keeping your arms and hands free.
• Some allow you to choose between carrying your baby facing inward toward you or outward, facing the world – which is often fun for older babies.
• Settling the baby into and out of the carrier require more steps than a sling does.
• Moving a sleeping baby into or out of the carrier is difficult, unless the seat unbuckles separately from the harness.
• Front packs are better suited to a baby who is strong enough to hold his head upright.

Backpacks

A back carrier is similar to a camping backpack. It has a seat for your baby that attaches to your back with a frame and straps that cross over your shoulders. A few things to know about backpacks:

• They’re perfect for an older baby who loves to look around and be carried high on your shoulders.
• Many backpacks have pouches for holding supplies.
• Some models have a canopy for inclement weather or sun protection.
• Getting a backpack off (and putting it on) are typically two-person tasks.
• Backpacks are best for an older baby who can sit up well.
• They’re great for an all-day trip, such as hiking, shopping or visiting an amusement park

How do you decide which carrier to use?

No single baby carrier is perfect for all parents. Every parent has different needs, preferences and proportions. Many people actually begin with one type of carrier and move on to another when their babies get older.

First, think about how you plan to use a carrier. Will you use it primarily at home, instead of a stroller while away from home, or both? Do you already have a stroller, or must your carrier fill all your baby-carrying needs? Defining its purpose will help you choose which carrier is best for you. Read the package information (or talk to other parents who own a similar carrier) to learn which purposes it serves best and to determine if it matches your needs.

The very best way to decide? Try carriers on ¾ either at the store or with a friend who owns one. Actually putting your baby in the carrier will give you the best idea as to fit, but if you are shopping without your baby (or don’t have your baby yet!) try using a stuffed animal from the toy department.

Points to consider when purchasing a carrier:

• Comfort. Does the carrier feel good to you?
• Fit for your baby. Does it seem to suit your baby well?
• Fit for you. Does it fit your size and body type? Can you carry the baby without strain?
• Safety. Will the baby be secure and well supported?
• Features. Does it meet your needs?
• Usability. Can you easily get your baby in and out of the carrier? How about putting it on and taking it off? Keep in mind that some models require practice.
• Construction. Does the fabric suit your wardrobe, climate and needs (i.e., lightweight for summer, weatherproof for outdoor use)?
• Care. Is it machine-washable or easy to wipe clean?
• Flexibility. Can you carry your baby in various positions?
• Adjustability. Can it be tightened or adjusted to fit you when you are at home in indoor clothing or outside wearing a coat? Can you adjust it easily for use by others?
• Adaptability. Will it work for your baby now as well as six months from now?
• Appearance. Do you like the style? Will you enjoy wearing it?

Reprinted by permission of Elizabeth Pantley, author of the “No-Cry Solution” book series. (McGraw-Hill) http://www.nocrysolution.com  You are welcome to reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter. Please include this byline with author’s name and book title.

Choosing a Baby Carrier is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Save £20 on a Napsack Baby Carrier
2. ERGObaby Sport Carrier is ‘Ergotastic!’
3. Sling Sale

Dogs Trust launches its “Chocs Away” Awareness drive

A shocking new survey** from Dogs Trust has revealed that over 57% of pet dogs have eaten chocolate intended for humans and over 1 in 10 have become ill from it. Of these, 8% have died due to the effects and nearly a quarter have required urgent veterinary treatment.

To prevent the number of dogs that end up hopping to the vet with chocolate poisoning, Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, is today launching a new “Chocs Away!” awareness drive to highlight the tragic consequences of feeding your dog human chocolate this Easter.

Sadly many dog owners are simply unaware of the dangers. Over 39% of dogs who ate human chocolate were given the treat by their owners and 61% found it themselves after it was left in easy to find places in the home.

Dogs Trust Veterinary Director, Paula Boyden, comments:

“Apart from the risks of obesity and the obvious dangers of eating the foil wrapping, the biggest risk of eating human chocolate is poisoning, resulting in an emergency dash to the vet and sadly even death.

Chocolate contains theobromine, which, although tolerated by humans, is extremely toxic to man’s best friend. The darker the chocolate, the greater the amount of theobromine. Toxic doses vary according to the size of dog and cocoa solid content of the chocolate. As a rough guide, Dogs Trust estimates that 50g of plain chocolate could be enough to kill a small dog, such as a Yorkshire Terrier*, while just 400g could be enough to kill an average size dog.”

So, if you are partial to Easter Eggs and want to keep your dog safe, follow these simple rules:

• Keep your “Chocs Away” – this means hidden out of sight and unavailable to your dog
• NEVER feed your dog chocolate intended for humans
• If your egg is missing and you suspect the dog is the culprit, contact your vet straight away
• Look out for any of the following symptoms; vomiting containing blood, a sore tummy, excessive thirst, excitability, drooling, rapid heart rate.  and in severe cases, epileptic-type fits
• If your dog is displaying any of these signs then take him immediately to your vet
• There is no antidote for theobromine poisoning with treatment being symptomatic. Therefore the sooner treatment is implemented, the greater the chance of recovery
• If you want to treat your dog this Easter stick to natural doggy snacks that are kinder to your canine

SHOCKING SURVEY REVEALS DANGERS TO MAN’S BEST FRIEND THIS EASTER! is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Bristol – Birth Centre update
2. Simple Sling at Reduced Price
3. Free breastfeeding advice sessions in Bushey and Bricket Wood

The EllaRoo Lightly Padded Baby Sling is 100% handwoven, lightweight Guatemalan cotton fabric, with just a touch of cotton padding in the shoulder and rails.

The inner and outer rails are independently adjustable through lightweight brushed aluminum Rings, with an open tail for maximum adjustability and versatility.

The sling is designed to cup the shoulder and spread naturally over the back, keeping baby secure and close to your center of gravity.

The EllaRoo Lightly Padded Baby Sling is a simple all-around sling, or the perfect foundation piece for a well-rounded sling collection. It’s great for newborns, nursing mums, and it carries heavy toddlers exceptionally well.

Features:

• Style: Sling with Rings.
• Age Range: Birth to 3 years.
• Fabric: 100% handwoven, lightweight Guatemalan cotton fabric (non-toxic dyes)
• Care: Machine washable (cold wash, line dry)
• Positions: 5.
• Country of Origin: Italy.

Sling lengths:

• Width: 56 cms (22″)
• Length: 193 cms (6′ 4″)

For more information and to see the huge range of colours available please visit www.naturalnursery.co.uk

EllaRoo Lightly Padded Baby Sling new at the Natural Nursery is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. EllaRoo Organic Lightly Padded Baby Sling at the Natural Nursery
2. EllaRoo Wraparound Baby Carrier – Versatile and Beautiful!
3. March 2012 at the Natural Nursery

So here is the recipe for a fantastic fun indoor picnic.

Ingredients:

1. a tablecloth or sheet
2. old newspaper and magazines
3. picnic food – sandwiches and lashings of ginger beer
4. at least one small child

How we did it

1. Spread out the cloth in your desired picnic area
2. Set the scene with newspaper trees
3. Move some house plants nearer the cloth
4. Cut out large daisies from magazines and scatter on the floor near the cloth
5. Spread out your picnic feast
6. Invite a few teddies and sing the teddy bears picnic song

Enjoy the rain!

Make it Monday – Indoor rainy fun is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Green Parent Magazine
2. Make it Monday – Juice Carton Recycling
3. Things to do with the kids: a recycled hobby horse

Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves
2. Attachment Parenting Group in Devon
3. The Science of Parenting – Margot Sunderland

By Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution

Up to 70% of children under age five have sleep problems. Sleep issues are complicated and have many causes. They’re hard to deal with because when children aren’t sleeping, parents aren’t sleeping, and that lack of sleep affects every minute of every day for every person in the family because lack of sleep isn’t just about being tired. Sleep has a role in everything — dawdling, temper tantrums, hyperactivity, growth, health, and even learning to tie his shoes and recite the ABCs. Sleep affects everything.

The following ideas are of value to almost any sleeper, of any age. These tips can bring improvement not only in your child’s sleep, but also in her daytime mood and last, but not least – improvements in your own sleep and outlook as well.

# 1  Maintain a consistent bedtime and awaking time.

Your child’s biological clock has a strong influence on her wakefulness and sleepiness. When you establish a set time for bedtime and wake up time you “set” your child’s clock so that it functions smoothly.

Aim for an early bedtime. Young children respond best with a bedtime between 6:30 and 7:30 P.M. Most children will sleep better and longer when they go to bed early.

# 2  Encourage regular daily naps.

Daily naps are important. An energetic child can find it difficult to go through the day without a rest break. A nap-less child will often wake up cheerful and become progressively fussier or hyper-alert as the day goes on. Also, the length and quality of naps affects night sleep – good naps equal better night sleep.

# 3  Set your child’s biological clock.

Take advantage of your child’s biology so that he’s actually tired when bedtime arrives. Darkness causes an increase in the release of the body’s sleep hormone — the biological “stop” button. You can align your child’s sleepiness with bedtime by dimming the lights during the hour before bedtime.

Exposing your child to morning light is pushing the “go” button in her brain — one that says, “Time to wake up and be active.” So keep your mornings bright!

# 4  Develop a consistent bedtime routine.

Routines create security. A consistent, peaceful bedtime routine allows your child to transition from the motion of the day to the tranquil state of sleep.

An organized routine helps you coordinate the specifics: bath, pajamas, tooth-brushing. It helps you to function on auto-pilot at the time when you are most tired and least creative.

# 5  Create a cozy sleep environment.

Where your child sleeps can be a key to quality sleep. Make certain the mattress is comfortable, the blankets are warm, the room temperature is right, pajamas are comfy, and the bedroom is welcoming.

# 6  Provide the right nutrition.

Foods can affect energy level and sleepiness. Carbohydrates can have a calming effect on the body, while foods high in protein or sugar generate alertness, particularly when eaten alone. A few ideas for pre-bed snacks are: whole wheat toast and cheese, bagel and peanut butter, oatmeal with bananas, or yogurt and low-sugar granola.

Vitamin deficiencies due to unhealthy food choices can affect a child’s sleep. Provide your child with a daily assortment of healthy foods.

# 7  Help your child to be healthy and fit.

Many children don’t get enough daily physical activity. Too much TV watching and a lack of activity prevents good sleep. Children who get ample daily exercise fall asleep more quickly, sleep better, stay asleep longer, and wake up feeling refreshed.

Avoid activity in the hour before bedtime though, since exercise is stimulating – they’ll be jumping on the bed instead of sleeping in it!

# 8  Teach your child how to relax.

Many children get in bed but aren’t sure what to do when they get there! It can help to follow a soothing pre-bed routine that creates sleepiness. A good pre-bed ritual is story time. A child who is listening to a parent read a book or tell a tale will tend to lie still and listen. This quiet stillness allows him to become sleepy.

Work with these eight ideas and you’ll see improvements in your child’s sleep, and yours too.

Excerpted with permission by McGraw-Hill Publishing from The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers & Preschoolers (McGraw-Hill 2005)   Website:  http://www.nocrysolution.com

Eight Sleep Tips for Every Child is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Eight Sleep Tips for Every Child By Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution
2. Shifting Schedules – When to Change from Two Naps to One Nap
3. Wonderful Sounds for Sleep By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of the No-Cry Sleep Solution

Patapum Baby Sling in stock at the Natural Nursery is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. March 2012 at the Natural Nursery
2. New in stock the organic Ergo baby carriers, comfortable and so soft!
3. Breastfed Mummies are More Likely to Breastfeed Their Baby

Penny says

“I first baked this cake when I was having a meeting at my house. I thought I would test it out on those attending – they are people who will always be honest about my cooking!! I was surprised that one person immediately identified it as a carrot cake before tasting – as it is not a typical one. The verdict was fabulous, so I do urge you to try it. The cake is also good enough to be a pudding and is good served with ice cream or evaporated milk (yes I have tried it!)

This cake is best made in a loose bottomed, deep cake tin, for ease of removing it from the tin. If you have a solid cake tin, it is probably best to line the tin with baking parchment, which you can grease. You can then just lift out the cake in the baking parchment and then gently peel it away from the cake.

I also must add that baking cakes is very therapeutic and homely! Pop on your apron, tune the radio to your favourite station, or switch on your ipod and enjoy taking part in an ancient craft that dates back almost to the beginning of the human race! Then when cake is cooked, put kettle on, remove apron and enjoy slice of cake and cup of tea and let the world do without you for a while!”

You will need:-

225g /8oz carrots, peeled and grated
125g / 4oz white self-raising flour
125g / 4oz wholemeal self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
25g /1oz sugar
2 tablespoons runny honey
125 ml sunflower oil
3 eggs, beaten
65g / 3oz sultanas
2 tablespoons milk

• Preheat the oven to 170 degrees C
• In a large bowl place the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and sugar
• Stir to thoroughly mix
• In another bowl mix together the honey, oil and eggs
• Add this mixture to the flour mixture and stir thoroughly
• Add the sultanas and carrots and mix in
• Add the milk and stir
• Pour into the prepared cake tin
• Bake in the oven for about 45 minutes
• Test with sharp knife or skewer in centre -if it comes out clean then it is cooked, otherwise bake for a further 5 minutes
• Once ready, allow to cool for 5 minutes
• Turn out and allow to cool on wire tray

Delicious enjoyed still warm!

For more recipes from Penny please visit her site – http://pennysrecipes.com/

Penny set up her recipe website to create a collection of easy and low cost recipes, for busy families on a budget. Celebrity chefs may produce wonderful meals, but they are often not practical for day to day cooking where people have full schedules. But rather than leaving people to resort to ready meals and processed foods, Penny’s Recipes encourages people to cook from scratch with seasonal, low cost ingredients in easy to prepare recipes. There are also some suggested Meal Plans – 7 family meals on a £30 budget

Based in Exeter, Penny also runs an Organic Vegetable Scheme where you can order a selection of vegetables from a seasonal list and collect them from the Hub on the Green on Cathedral Close, each Friday. Prices are excellent and can often be cheaper than the ordinary produce in the supermarkets. To find out more click here

Make it Monday – Penny’s Easy Carrot Cake Recipe is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Cooking with the children: our favourite carrot cake recipe
2. Chocolate Beetroot Cake Recipe (From the Steiner Cookbook)
3. Introducing Make it Mondays!

Product Description

From the Publisher

First prize winner in the Popular Medicine Category of the 2007 BMA Medical Book Awards

The Science of Parenting – Margot Sunderland is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves
2. How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk
3. Quick Facts About Potty Training

By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of The No-Cry Nap Solution

Is your child a cat-napper? Does your baby fall asleep being fed, while in a car seat, sling, rocker, or someone’s arms? When transferred to bed, does your baby then sleep 30 to 50 minutes? That’s the exact length of one sleep cycle. These factors combined define the main cause of mini-naps: an inability to fall asleep or stay asleep without aid – your baby wakes fully at the end of the first sleep cycle, resulting in a too-short nap. I refer to this problem as One-Cycle Sleep Syndrome (OCSS). This leads us to understand the reason that many babies are cat-nappers and also directs us to potential solutions.

Cycle-Blender Naps

One way to help your baby sleep longer is to put him for a nap in a setting that will lull him back to sleep when he wakes between sleep cycles. Cycle-Blender naps occur in slings, cradle-swings, rocking cradles, or baby hammocks. Any of these can help cat-nappers extend their sleep time because when Baby begins to awaken the rhythmic motion can lull him back to sleep.

You can also create a Cycle-Blender nap in a stroller. Take a daily walk outside (it’s good for both of you!) or bring your stroller in the house. Walk your baby until she falls asleep, and then park the stroller near you. If she starts to move about, resume walking or give her a bit of a bounce and jiggle.

Once your baby gets used to taking a longer nap in the stroller, you can make a transition to bed naps. Start by reducing the movement, rolling slower and for less time. After your baby is asleep, park the stroller, using the jiggle if she wakes mid-nap. Over time, let your baby fall asleep in the stationary stroller parked next to his crib, and when the nap habit is in place, change to naps in the crib.

Create a Sleep-Inducing Bedroom

To encourage longer naps, keep the sleeping room dark so bright light doesn’t keep him alert between sleep cycles. To soothe your child through sleep cycle changes, use white noise (a recording of nature sounds), or relaxing music. Keep this on all through naptime. This creates a sleep cue and will mask noises that can wake a child who is shifting through sleep cycles.

Build a Better Bed

To entice your baby to have a longer nap, recreate the crib into a cozier nest. Use softer sheets, such as flannel, plus a thicker, softer crib mattress pad. You can also warm the bed surface before naptime with a towel fresh from the dryer (remove this and test the surface before laying your baby down.)

Make the Bed a Familiar Place

Let your baby have several play sessions in his crib during waking hours. Stay with him, engage his interest and introduce a few new toys. Let him see you as a part of the crib experience so that he gets a happy feeling being there. This way, when he is put in his crib for naptime and wakes up mid-nap it won’t be a lonely, foreign place, but one that carries familiar memories of fun times with you. This can help him accept it as a safe place for sleep and allow him to fall back into slumber after that first sleep cycle.

Interpret Signs of Tiredness

If you put your child for a nap before he is tired, or when he is overtired he won’t sleep as well as when you hit that ideal just-tired moment. Observe your child for signs of tiredness, such as losing interest in toys, looking glazed, becoming cranky, or slumping in his seat. Put your child for a nap the moment you see any sign of fatigue. If you take note of the time that this occurs over a week you should see a pattern emerge. This can help you set up a daily nap schedule that suits your child’s tired times perfectly.

Gauge time spans between naps

In addition to signs of tiredness also watch to see how long your child has been awake. Children can only stay happily awake for a certain period of time until they receive a biological pull towards a nap. Once that “pull” begins your child becomes fatigued and his cheerful mood begins to deteriorate. Each child has unique sleep needs, but this chart shows the typical span of time a child can stay happily awake:

Keep in mind that children grow and change and their nap schedule should change with them. What’s perfect today may be different than what is perfect next month. Keep your eye on your baby and on the clock.

~~~~~~

From The No-Cry Nap Solution: Guaranteed Gentle Ways to Solve All Your Naptime Problems by Elizabeth Pantley (McGraw-Hill, January 2009). Here is the link for information and more excerpts:  http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth/

Cat-Naps — Making Short Naps Longer is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Shifting Schedules – When to Change from Two Naps to One Nap
2. Eight Sleep Tips for Every Child
3. Eight Sleep Tips for Every Child By Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution

By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of the “No-Cry Solution” book series

Babies love new places! There’s so much to investigate and new things to touch. But many people aren’t too happy to have your little one crawling or toddling freely about the house exploring everything in sight. While you think its adorable that Baby found the Tupperware, your host may not think it’s cute that her tidy cabinet has been rearranged by sticky baby hands. If your host has a big heart she’ll let you know that your baby’s exploring is okay. But even then, you run the risk of your baby breaking or losing something.

Bring toys!

The best thing you can do is bring along a bag of toys to seize your child’s attention. You can purchase new items, or dig through your baby’s toy box to put together a collection of forgotten favorites. Avoid bringing loud toys that may annoy others, and bring toys that will hold your baby’s attention for a long time.

Bring your own supplies

Think about things that keep your baby happy at home or in the car, and bring these with you, such as your sling, a favorite blanket, a Boppy pillow, or a special lovey. If you are prepared, then your baby will be more content.

Safety issues

Visits with a mobile baby are tricky, especially if you’re at a home that isn’t childproof. If you want to avoid physically shadowing your baby around the house, bring a few safety tools, such as outlet plugs and a folding baby gate to section off stairways. When you arrive, assess the area and ask if chemicals, medications, or fragile vases can be put away during your visit. Remember that you’re certain to miss some hazards, so keep a close eye on Baby during your entire visit.

Food and eating

Whether your baby is new to solid food or has been eating it for a while, bring along a few favorites. If you don’t bring snacks with you, your baby may not touch the dinner that’s served and may cry for her favorite crackers. In any case, don’t feel you must push your baby to try something new to the point of a temper tantrum. Politely requesting something simple like toast or cheese is perfectly okay and will be welcomed more than a loud and tense test of parent/child wills.

What if you’re breastfeeding and your baby is hungry?

Do what comes naturally: Feed him! Breastfeeding is the most natural way to feed a baby. If your hosts aren’t used to seeing a mother breastfeed, then you’re doing our world a favor by introducing one more person to the beauty of baby feeding. Be thoughtful about other’s sensitivities. This doesn’t mean you need to hide, but your efforts to be discreet are a courtesy for those around you and may help others feel more comfortable about seeing you breastfeeding your baby. Using a sling, blanket or nursing shirt are easy ways to accomplish this.

Changing Diapers

Bring a changing pad; this will protect the surface you’re using. If you don’t have a pad, ask for a towel. Ask where your host prefers that you change the baby, or suggest a location: “Do you mind if I lay the towel on your bed to change the baby?”

Bring along (or ask to use) plastic bags to store messy diapers. Make sure that they are sealed so that they don’t create odors. If you use disposables, put used diapers in a sealed bag and offer to take them out to the trash. People don’t like stinky diapers in their bathroom trash.

Sleeping and napping

If your little one sleeps in a cradle or crib you may want to bring along a portable crib. If you don’t have one, or if you co-sleep at home, this is a time when “anything goes.” If your baby will sleep in your arms, then go ahead and enjoy an in-arms nap. If your baby is flexible, put a blanket on the floor and set up a sleeping nest. Don’t leave Baby alone, since the area probably isn’t childproof.

A great nap solution is to bring your car seat into the house and strap your baby in securely, or fashion a bed from a large box or an empty dresser drawer. Keep your baby close by or check on her frequently.

For co-sleepers, your first order of business is to create a safe sleeping place. Inspect the furniture placement in the bedroom. If you know that pushing the bed against the wall would make the situation safer for your baby, then politely explain to your host. Let her know that you’ll move it back before you leave (and then remember to do so).

Be prepared for anything

Life with a baby is filled with surprises. Take a deep breath, and do your best to keep your baby content….and if things don’t go as well as you’d hoped, remind yourself that “This too shall pass.”

Show your appreciation

If you’ve had an overnight stay, if your host is helpful, or if you made special requests during your stay, remember to send a thank you note that expresses your appreciation.

Reprinted by permission of Elizabeth Pantley, author of the “No-Cry Solution” book series. (McGraw-Hill) http://www.nocrysolution.com   You are welcome to reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter. Please include this byline with author’s name and book title.

Going Visiting With Your Baby is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Going Visiting With Your Baby By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of Gentle Baby Care
2. The Eco Chic Wedding & Home Show
3. Customer Product Review – Ergo Baby Front Pouch

http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/138/1/Recycled-plastic-bag-crafts.html

It says

“According to some estimates, Between 500 billion and a trillion plastic grocery bags are used globally each year. The WorldWatch Institute states it takes 430,000 gallons of oil to produce 100 million plastic bags – so that comes to a staggering 4,300,000 gallons or 16,277,270 litres of oil to make a trillion bags.”

I love the idea of making a bag out of bags and I’ve crocheted a few of these in the past.  What I wish I’d known is that the really thin bags don’t make strong bags so next time I’ll use the thicker ones.  I learnt to crochet by watching Youtube videos and if I can do it anyone can!

The next thing I want to try is weaving a back door mat – the instructions are here – http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf517076.tip.html and I think it would be a great thing to do with a small child who understood safety around plastic bags.

If you have any good ideas for reusing plastic bags we’d love to hear about them and see your pictures – just email info@naturalnursery.co.uk

Make it Monday – Recycled Plastic Bag Crafts is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Make it Monday – Juice Carton Recycling
2. Save time and money! 10 ways reusable bags make your life easier
3. Reusable Shopping Bags

Review

Product Description

About the Author

Sue Palmer is a writer, broadcaster and consultant on the education of young children. A former head teacher, she lectures widely around the world, and is an independent adviser to many organisations, including the BBC and the DfES.

Detoxing Childhood: What Parents Need to Know to Raise Bright, Balanced Children is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Bristol Fundraising Event 7th Feb
2. Books for children for under £5 including postage!
3. The Father’s Home Birth Handbook – Leah Hazard

We have quite a few planned already, keep an eye out every Monday for recipes, ideas for reusing drinks cartons and plastic bags, instructions for making your own wet wipes and brilliant wet weather ideas just in case summer is a wash out.

Have you got a fail safe playdough recipe? A genius idea for re-using old magazines? Something that will always keep your small child amused for at least as long as it takes to drink a cup of tea?

The person with the idea we like best will win £15 to spend on anything you like from www.naturalnursery.co.uk.

Just leave a comment below, each idea gets you one entry and if you email us a picture, that will get you another entry ( email to lisa@naturalnursery.co.uk).  If we use them on the blog we will tell everyone who’s idea it was!

This Fluffy Friday competition ends on the 5th April 2012 at midnight.

If you are one of those amazing mums who has their own blog with ideas for things to make and do on and you would like us to feature you please get in touch too!

9th April 2012 – WOW! What a lot of fantastic ideas! Thank you everyone, the winner was picked at random and is Nicci Cowdell-Murray who has been emailed!

Fluffy Friday – Win a £15 Natural Nursery Gift Voucher with your craft ideas! (ends 5th April 2012) is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Real Nappy Week Comp – Win a £25 gift voucher with your top tips – (ends April 30th 2012)
2. Introducing Make it Mondays!
3. 10 ideas for a new baby gift under £10

We are starting off on Monday 12th March 2012 with some great ideas for clever and easy things to make out of old plastic bags.

We’d love to hear your ideas for anything you would like to see on the Make it Monday slot, I’d like to keep it eco friendly, easy to do, easy to involve kids and using things that most of us have around the house.

Introducing Make it Mondays! is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Fluffy Friday – Win a £15 Natural Nursery Gift Voucher with your craft ideas! (ends 5th April 2012)
2. Make it Monday – Recycled Plastic Bag Crafts
3. Make it Monday – Juice Carton Recycling

It is 100% cotton and is a much lighter weight fabric than many other wraparound slings. The result is a lighter, cooler baby carrier, easier to manipulate, being lighter and less weighty.

Perfect for the summer when you want to be cooler, and great for cooler weather as you can layer up underneath without overheating.

The EllaRoo Wrap Baby Carrier is wide enough to be used for all of the great wraparound carrying positions (front, side, back, facing in or out).

It comes in 18 different colour variations and 3 sizes; Small up to 130lbs and 5’4″
4.6 m, Medium up to 160lbs and 5’8″
5.0 m  and Large up to 190lbs and 6′.

Features:

• Style: Wraparound
• Age Range: Birth through toddlerhood
• Measurements: 27″ wide
• Fabric: 100% handwoven, lightweight Guatemalan cotton fabric (non-toxic dyes)
• Care: Machine washable (cold wash, line dry)
• Positions: Front, back, side
• Benefits: Distributes weight across both shoulders for long carrying comfort
• Country of Origin: Guatemala

For more information about wrap slings and the EllaRoo Wrap Baby Carrier please visit www.naturalnursery.co.uk

EllaRoo Wraparound Baby Carrier – Versatile and Beautiful! is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Hand Woven Ellaroo Wrap Baby Carriers
2. EllaRoo Lightly Padded Baby Sling new at the Natural Nursery
3. EllaRoo Organic Lightly Padded Baby Sling at the Natural Nursery

Here at the Natural Nursery we have loads of beautiful new slings and baby carriers to make getting out with a baby or toddler not only easier, but stylish too.

Here are just a few of the new slings that are now in stock and they all have free UK postage too!

Beco Butterfly

Suitable from newborn to pre-school, this innovative carrier can be used in both front and back carry positions

Boba 3G Classic

Boba is a Soft Structured Carrier that is intended for babies and children between 7-45lbs.

Patapum Baby Carrier

The Patapum Baby Carrier is one of the best back baby carrier you will find.It is lightweight, comfortable, stylish and easy to use.

 

Scootababy Hip Carrier

The Scootababy Hip Carrier allows you to comfortably carry your baby/toddler on your hip.

 

EllaRoo Lightly Padded Baby Sling Organic.

Designed for comfortable use from birth to 35 lbs.

EllaRoo Wrap Baby carrier

Stylish wraparound sling for use from birth through toddlerhood.

 

 

If you want more help and advice choosing the best baby carrier for you and your family please don’t hesitate to contact us here at the Natural Nursery.

March 2012 at the Natural Nursery is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Patapum Baby Sling in stock at the Natural Nursery
2. Beautiful Beco Gemini Slings at the Natural Nursery
3. Boba Baby Wrap now in stock at the Natural Nursery (in 13 different colours!)

The internal sling allows you to securely buckle your baby into the carrier then handle baby and carrier as one unit, passing between parents without the need to remove a sleeping baby from the carrier.

The Beco Baby Carrier also includes a removable infant insert to use with babies up to 15 pounds, allowing them to ride higher in the carrier in an ergonomically comfortable position.

Product Features:

• newborn to pre-school (7-45 lbs/3.5- 20kg)
• front and back carry positions
• easy On and OFF features
• high quality tested materials
• removable infant insert & sleeping hood
• machine washable

Beautiful Beco Gemini Slings at the Natural Nursery is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Keep your baby safe – don’t buy counterfeited Beco Baby Carriers.
2. Versatile, Stylish Beco Gemini Slings at the Natural Nursery
3. Boba 2G Organic Soft Baby Carrier now in stock at the Natural Nursery

Review

Book Description

Product Description

From the Publisher

From the Back Cover

About the Author

Gill Rapley is the world authority on baby-led weaning. She worked as a health visitor for 20 years and has also been a midwife and breastfeeding counsellor.

Tracey Murkett is a freelance writer who used the baby-led weaning approach to introduce solid food to her own child.

Baby-led Weaning: Helping Your Baby to Love Good Food – Gill Rapley is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Baby Safe Weaning Equipment
2. The Ergo baby Bibs, a lovely idea for a new baby gift
3. Natural Nursery Reviews – Neuner’s Organic Baby Stomach Ease Tea

They come in a variety of patterns and colours – you will receive one pair of maracas in a random colour way but do let us know if you have a boy / girl preference and we will do our best.

They are suitable for age 3 years plus.

Natural Nursery customer Rhiannon said:

“Love these maracas, they are beautifully made and really colourful. The handle is small enough for my 6 month old to grab-she loves them!”

“Bright and colourful, very snazzy!” Maracas at the Natural Nursery is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. ‘Fab’ Lambskins at the Natural Nursery
2. Confused about Cloth Nappies? The Natural Nursery can help
3. Become a Natural Nursery Fan and win a Barefoot Book and CD

The Boba Wrap is made from a soft yet sturdy cotton knit (95% cotton, 5% spandex) to give a simple to use, comfortable and supportive carrier for your baby.

There a no buckles or straps, simply wrap the sling around yourself and pop your baby in.

The fabric is slightly thicker than some other brands so some parents find it a little more supportive.

The stretch means that you can tie the sling in the morning and pop baby in and out during the day without having to take the wrap off and re-tie it.

Benefits of the Boba Wrap:

• Stretchy wrap baby sling for premature/birth to toddler (35lbs)
• Tie the sling on then pop baby in – much easier than trying to tie a sling around a wriggly baby
• Snug, cuddly sling for newborns yet supportive for older babies and toddlers
• One size – no fiddling with buckles/straps to adjust for a different carrier
• Weight distributed evenly over both shoulders
• Many positions – full instructions included
• Machine washable
• Suitable for breastfeeding
• Ideal for the school run – tie the sling on before you leave the house and then you can pop baby straight into it when you get out of the car and need to take an older sibling into school

For more information about the Boba Baby Wrap and to buy one with free UK postage please visit  www.naturalnursery.co.uk/baby-carriers-and-slings/boba-baby-wrap.html

Boba Baby Wrap now in stock at the Natural Nursery (in 13 different colours!) is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Boba 2G Organic Soft Baby Carrier now in stock at the Natural Nursery
2. Boba 3G Baby Carrier now comes with extra features!
3. Why consider a Boba Baby Carrier?

A quite brilliant book. –Annalisa Barbieri in The Independent

Fathers’ stories often get lost in the torrent of birth literature, so Hazard’s book is a lovely change of pace. The book not only spotlights men’s stories, but also points out the special role that men have traditionally played in births throughout the world…Read this book, and share it with a father-to-be. –Midwifery Today
Product Description
What do a Dutch university lecturer, a US Marine, a Scottish artist, and an English engineer have in common? They have all experienced the transformative power of home birth, and their stories – and many others – are told in this groundbreaking book. As hospital-based maternity services become increasingly medicalised, more and more parents are deciding that birth belongs in the home. For many women, this choice may be an easy one, but for their partners, home birth raises some serious questions. For the first time, The Father’s Home Birth Handbook provides a resource aimed specifically at exploring men’s hopes and fears around home birth. Thorough research, balanced discussion, and dozens of home birth stories from real men all over the world make this book essential reading for all fathers-to-be and the professionals who support them.

The Father’s Home Birth Handbook

The Father’s Home Birth Handbook – Leah Hazard is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Bristol Home Birth Update
2. Fathers are Key to Successful Breastfeeding
3. Exeter Homebirth Group Discuss Water Birth 11th Oct 2011

The foot straps attached to the waist belt keep older children comfortable while enabling a healthy sitting position. The footstraps not only give tired little legs a rest, but support the legs in a flexed abducted (froglike) position which naturally tilts the pelvis, fills out the hip sockets and aligns the spine.

The new infant conversion option allows you to use the Boba Carrier 3G with babies over 7lbs. The best part is that there is absolutely no insert or accessory needed! Simply follow the instruction booklet included with your Boba Carrier to learn how to use the new Boba Carrier 3G for your newborn.

Boba has a few extra inches of height to keep your center of gravity closer to your body and support your little one’s back. The Boba Carrier 3G is approximately 2-3” higher than other soft structured carriers.

The new 3G design is made to fit parents of all shapes and sizes without purchasing an extension belt or accessory. All straps are fully adjustable, and elastic bands are provided so you can comfortably tuck the straps away once you have the carrier adjusted for you and your child.

For more information and to buy the Boba 3G classic with free UK postage please visit www.naturalnursery.co.uk/baby-carriers-and-slings/boba3gclassic.html

Boba 3G Baby Carrier now comes with extra features! is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Why consider a Boba Baby Carrier?
2. Boba Baby Wrap now in stock at the Natural Nursery (in 13 different colours!)
3. Boba 2G Organic Soft Baby Carrier now in stock at the Natural Nursery

Ina May Gaskin, author of Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth

The Practicing Midwife, January 2006

Product Description

From the Publisher

‘Dr Grantly Dick-Read has always been an inspiration to me. His humanity, love and above all faith in women and their innate mothering skills is truly remarkable. In an age where birth has often been overtaken by obstetrics Dr Dick-Read’s philosophy is still as fresh as it was when he originally wrote this book. I highly recommend it.’
Yehudi Gordon – obstetrician & author

‘A fascinating insight into normal birth at a time when endorphins were not known, modern midwifery did not exist and women had already learned to fear labour. Dick-Read, possibly the world’s first childbirth activist, celebrates women’s innate capacity for safe and easy birth in a challenging book that will excite, amaze, infuriate and uplift its readers.’
Andrea Robertson – independent childbirth educator and author

‘A 21st century edition of this historic – even legendary – book must be warmly welcomed.’
Michel Odent – obstetrician and author

‘When I was heavily pregnant with my first child 25 years ago this book fell into my hands. That was the start of my belief in natural childbirth which eventually led to four great births of my own and the founding of my life’s work in the Active Birth Movement. Grantly Dick-Read’s message is inspirational and even more relevant today than when this book was first published. Every pregnant mother should read it.’
Janet Balaskas – Author of New Active Birth

‘Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how birth education started as well as the vision that stimulated the birth movement. Dick-Read remains an inspiration for the humanisation of childbirth.’
Sheila Kitzinger – author
Childbirth without Fear: The Principles and Practice of Natural Childbirth

Childbirth without Fear: The Principles and Practice of Natural Childbirth is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Mothering the mother, the doula support during childbirth
2. Parents wanted for NHS information film – deadline 15th Feb 2012
3. Customer Review – Usbourne Books

The thought might fill parents and would-be parents with horror but the fact is washable nappies have come a long way in the last 30 years.

Bournemouth’s Real Nappy Incentive Scheme

To encourage parents to overcome the cost hurdle, Bournemouth Borough Council is offering parents the opportunity to claim £30 off the price of real nappies with a minimum spend of £45. Parents can apply for a voucher beforehand to redeem against participating retailers or claim cash back (on production of an itemised receipt) afterwards, for example on internet purchases.

What is the criteria to apply?

Please note the following criteria must be met to receive the £30 incentive:

• A minimum spend of £45 in a single transaction is required on real nappies, real nappy products (liners, outer wraps, solutions, nappy bucket) or real nappy laundry services
• Babies must be aged 18 months or under at time of application
• Parents will be asked to provide proof of Bournemouth residence by sending in a photocopy of their Council Tax Statement and proof of the baby’s birth or pregnancy by sending a photocopy of the baby’s birth certificate or the MAT B1 form
• Only one claim can be made per baby
• If applying for cash back, parents must provide proof of purchase by sending in a photocopy of the itemised receipt. The receipt date must be within two months of application

How can I apply?

To start the application process please complete the following Real Nappy Application form and return it to:

Recycling & Waste Team

103 Southcote Road

Bournemouth

BH1 3SW

Or for more information please contact the Ask Bournemouth Contact Centre on 451199 or email the recycling team .

Real nappy facts

• Disposable nappies account for 3% (by weight) of all household rubbish in the UK - in Bournemouth that’s around 2,520 tonnes or the same weight as around 720 elephants!
• One baby in disposable nappies for two and a half years costs upwards of £1,000. Long term, by opting for real nappies, parents can reduce their nappy bill by an average of £500 per baby
• Every disposable nappy ever used is still in landfill, they may take up to 500 years to break down
• It takes one cup of crude oil to produce the plastic for each disposable nappy
• To produce enough disposable nappies for Britain’s demands each year, seven million trees are forested – that’s around 70 square miles of forest and approximately four and a half trees per child. Some of the paper is derived from ancient forests, which have existed for hundreds of years and house many unique ecological species

For more information about cloth nappies, help and advice choosing the best type of nappy for your baby and a list of Real Nappy Incentives please visit www.naturalnursery.co.uk

£30 Cashback for Real Nappies from Bournmouth Borough Council is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Three Rivers District Council offer up to £80 Cashback for Real Nappy Users
2. Bracknell Forest Council £30 Cash Back to try Cloth Nappies
3. Uttlesford District Council – Sample Real Nappy Pack for £10

The difficult choice with the Gemini is which of the beautiful patterns and colourways to choose!

The Beco Gemini features a supportive waistband and wide padded shoulder straps that can be worn backpack style or crossed on your back for discrete nursing and better weight distribution. The padded headrest can flip up for neck support or can be cuffed down and fastened with snaps. When baby wants to face out, the headrest also serves as a padded spot for their head or chin to rest against. Birth to pre-school the Beco Gemini is easy to use, super comfy and keeps your precious bundle close to your heart!

The Beco Gemini comes with free UK postage – www.naturalnursery.co.uk/baby-carriers-and-slings/becogemini.html

Versatile, Stylish Beco Gemini Slings at the Natural Nursery is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Keep your baby safe – don’t buy counterfeited Beco Baby Carriers.
2. Beautiful Beco Gemini Slings at the Natural Nursery
3. EllaRoo Lightly Padded Baby Sling new at the Natural Nursery

I am currently working on a project called Digital Babies (a Digital Care Social Enterprise) which is a collaboration between ITN, NHS Choices and The Royal College of Midwives.

The aim of the project is to form 100+ bite sized video clips answering 100 of the most commonly asked questions of new parents and parents to be. By doing this we hope to inform future mums and dads of the answers as simply and visually as possible, hearing mums and dads talking honestly about their experiences. This will help first time mums, particularly those struggling in literacy to understand more fully the so many different stages of pregnancy and childbirth.

As all the questions relate in one way or other to pregnancy, childbirth and newborns, I am looking for a number of mums (and their partners) to take part in a few bite sized videos to be filmed at a studio in Bristol on Friday 17th February. The videos will comprise of mums and dads sharing their experiences of pregnancy, childbirth and becoming a parent.

For this I would like to invite as many as possible for either a morning or afternoon session. As a number of questions for this day will centre around breastfeeding I am really keen to invite as many parents on as possible, in particular those who have given birth in the last three months. Transportation and food will be provided.

We are based in London, however we will be filming at a studio in Manchester next Wednesday 15th February and also Bristol on Friday 17th February.
I would be extremely grateful if you could pass the word around.

Kindest regards,

Claudia
0207 833 3000 extn 2076

”

Parents wanted for NHS information film – deadline 15th Feb 2012 is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Mothering the mother, the doula support during childbirth
2. Bando Bump Band
3. It’s your pregnancy, take the time to enjoy it.

Wokingham Borough Council are offering £30 cashback to encourage people to use reusable nappies.

Did you know by using real nappies you could save up to £500 per child compared to using disposables, as well as helping the environment.

How to claim cashback

Wokingham Borough Council give £30 Cashback to Cloth Nappy Users is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. £50 Real Nappy Cashback Scheme for Stevenage Residents
2. Bracknell Forest Council £30 Cash Back to try Cloth Nappies
3. Three Rivers District Council offer up to £80 Cashback for Real Nappy Users

Boba has a tall, supportive back panel to keep your centre of gravity close to your body and support your little one’s back and in addition, innovative removable foot straps attached to the waist belt for your child’s feet to rest in enabling a healthy sitting position for your child and also give tired little lets a rest.

Product Description:

• Accommodates children 15-45 lbs / 7-20 kg
• One size fits most adults (refer to our product specification tab below for specific measurements)
• Front & back carry positions
• Boba Organic collection made with GOTS and OE100 certified 100% organic cotton
• High back for better overall support for wearer & rider
• Removable, matching foot straps for extra leg/hip support
• Removable, matching sleep hood
• High density waist & shoulder strap foam for ultimate comfort
• Wide, contoured waistband for lumbar support
• Adjustable chest strap for even weight distribution
• SAFETY BUCKLES prevent accidental opening
• Machine washable
• Instruction Manual
• EN13209-2 Soft Carriers Certified

With free UK postage from http://www.naturalnursery.co.uk/baby-carriers-and-slings/boba2gorganic.html

Boba 2G Organic Soft Baby Carrier now in stock at the Natural Nursery is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Boba 3G Baby Carrier now comes with extra features!
2. Why consider a Boba Baby Carrier?
3. Boba Baby Wrap now in stock at the Natural Nursery (in 13 different colours!)

Types of Nappies

There are three different types of washable nappies currently available on the market:

• Prefold nappies – these are flat squares of cloth which are folded and placed into a waterproof cover
• Shaped nappies – these have a neat, precise fit with either poppers or velcro. They come in various sizes or a one size fits all from birth to potty, where the size is adjusted with poppers at the front or back of the nappy. They are then placed in a waterproof outer cover which comes in various different sizes.
• All-in-one nappies – These are available in various sizes and have a built in waterproof outer cover.

The different types of nappies included in these packs are:

Birth to six months trial packSix months to potty trial pack

How to order a trial pack

We currently have five birth to six month trial packs and two six month to potty trial packs available so there may be a slight delay of approximately a month or two before we are able to issue the nappies. Please note all the nappies are laundered to NHS standards.

If you would like to try our nappy trial pack, please contact the Waste Management Team on 01892 602626.

For more information about the different types of cloth nappies or to see the wide variety of beautiful cloth nappies for sale please visit www.naturalnursery.co.uk

Free Real Nappy Trial Pack for Wealden Parents is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Free Real Nappy Trial Pack or £30 Cash for Leeds Parents
2. Leeds Real Nappy Incentive – Cash Back or Trial Pack
3. Customer Product Review – Flip Stay Dry Trial Nappy Pack

Here at the Natural Nursery Blog we are getting quiet a collection of Stars in our galleries, there will be more comps soon so make sure your cameras or phones are ready to snap pictures of bumps, nappies, slings and any products you buy from the Natural Nursery. You could be the next winner of a wonderful Natural Nursery goodie bag!

The Natural Nursery Cloth Nappy Star for January 2012 – Maddison is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Has your cloth nappy got Natural Nursery Star Status? win a goodie bag (ends 26th Jan 2012)
2. Natural Nursery Product Review Stars – win a goodie bag! (ends 1st Dec 2011)
3. The First Natural Nursery Star is…..

To take advantage of these offers or for more information please call the Essex Cloth Nappy Helpline on 01245 437318, or visit www.essex.gov.uk/nappies.

Disposable nappies now account for four per cent of all household waste with the average baby going through 5,000 nappies from birth to potty training. Disposing of all these nappies costs the taxpayer around £40 million a year.

Approximately 8 million disposable nappies are used in the UK every day, with around 7.5 million ending up in landfill sites. Once there, they then take up to 500 years to decompose.

Cloth Nappies, also known as real nappies, cotton nappies, reusable nappies and washable nappies are a natural and gentle alternative to disposables. They are made from soft, breathable cotton and, when used with a liner and a waterproof cover, they are reliable and comfortable.

Although there have been no scientific trials to date, both parents and health professionals have recognised that a child in cloth nappies will become potty trained quicker than those in disposables. Because the child is able to feel some wetness this awareness acts as stimulant to encourage your child to use a potty.

Although all nappies have some environmental impact, you can help to reduce nappy waste going to landfill by using cloth nappies. Cloth nappies also work out cheaper than disposables, saving you up to £500 until your child is potty trained.

To find out more about how cloth nappies work, how much money you can save and to see a list of  Real Nappy Incentives across the UK please visit www.naturalnursery.co.uk

Uttlesford District Council – Sample Real Nappy Pack for £10 is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Three Rivers District Council offer up to £80 Cashback for Real Nappy Users
2. Free Real Nappy Trial Pack for Wealden Parents
3. Wokingham Borough Council give £30 Cashback to Cloth Nappy Users

It has a fully adjustable head cushion to adapt as your baby grows.

Lambskins have been used for centuries to sooth and calm babies, provide a safe and secure environment and help keep them cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Natural Nursery customer Rhiannon said:

“Amazing lambskin! My baby loves it. It is so soft and cosy and it fits perfectly in her pushchair/carseat. I have also used it on the floor in the living room for her to lie on. Have recommended this to friends.”

The Natural Nursery sells Lambskins for car seats and strollers and to use as baby rugs as well as special wool shampoo and Sheepskin brushes.

‘Fab’ Lambskins at the Natural Nursery is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. A delightful addition to a natural nursery: sheepskin and lambskin
2. Luxury Lambskin Review – “Essential!”
3. Natural Nursery News: Is your family ready for summer?

Thurrock Council supports the use of real nappies. They’re offering a £10 voucher off of the price of real nappies.

• For more information on the Real Nappy Campaign please contact Thurrock Council’s Waste Management Team on 01375 413943 or email waste@thurrock.gov.uk.

Introducing Reusable Nappies

The benefits to the environment of using real nappies are obvious – with disposable nappies making up 2.6 of average household waste which equates to the weight of 70,000 double Decker buses that if placed end to end would reach from London to Edinburgh. (Stats from Waste Watch).

There are additional benefits for your child too. As baby is aware of wetting, potty training can be introduced earlier into their development, as well as better breath ability for babies skin. Using a nappy laundry means that you have no washing or soaking to do, and the prefold nappies that we use are effective and easy to use, with no pins and no origami needed!

Did you know?

Reusable nappies are soft, reliable and less damaging to the environment.

Your child will use an average of 5,000 disposable nappies until potty trained.

Over a third of a million disposable nappies are buried in Essex landfill sites every day.

You could save hundreds of pounds by using reusable nappies instead of disposables, with further savings being made if used on subsequent children.

Advantages…

To your child

• What could be more natural than soft cotton next to your child’s skin?
• Reusable nappies provide good padding at the base of the spine to cushion the falls while learning to walk.

To you

• Save hundreds of pounds by using reusables. So, why throw your hard earned money in a landfill site?
• Simple to use with excellent reliability to suit every lifestyle.

To the Environment

• All nappies have some environmental impact, but you can reduce nappy waste using reusables.
• Protect your environment for your child’s future.

Machine wash or launder: you choose

You have the option to machine wash your nappies at home or let someone else wash them through a laundry service.

Washing at home

• The cheapest option, even taking into account washing powder, energy and wear and tear on the washing machine.
• A wide choice of nappy styles.
• A flexible washing routine that suits you.
• Easy to wash at 60°C, with the option to line dry or tumble dry.

Laundry service

• Sterilised prefold nappies with waterproof wraps are supplied weekly.
• Place soiled nappies in the deodorising bin provided, which is collected when your clean nappies are delivered.
• Convenient and simple to use especially for working parents.
• Can cost as little as £8 per week, which is comparable to the overall cost of using disposables.

For more information about Thurrock Councils Cashback for real nappies please visit – http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/waste/content.php?page=nappy

If you do not live in Thurrock there may be a different Real Nappy Incentive near you.

Thurrock Council supports the use of real nappies with £10 voucher is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Bracknell Forest Council £30 Cash Back to try Cloth Nappies
2. £30 off Real Nappies with Tamworth Borough Council
3. Wolverhampton parents get £30 off real nappies.

Can I ask for your support and to sign and share this petition? http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/24494
if it gets at least 100,000 signatures, it will be eligible for debate in the House of Commons.

The petition is not anti-formula it is anti the marketing/advertising of it (For every baby born Approx £20 is spent to promote Formula by its companies compared to about 14 pence spent by the UK government to promote breastfeeding).

It’s part of a bigger picture that strives for formula to be the exception not the norm and to encourage breastfeeding and the support offered to mothers to succeed at it. The ban IS in place throughout Scandinavia where the breastfeeding rates are far far higher than here in the UK.

This is an important issue to me but it is in no way meant to offend anyone at all.

Thank you

Zoe

Please note in particular that this is not a reflection on the choices that parents make, rather a request to limit the advertising practices of certain companies.  Arabella

Can I ask for you support? is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Support The Mother magazine
2. Suck On This – Ecologist Article
3. 7 Gifts – Health – The gift of donated breastmilk

Real nappies can save you money!

Using home laundered nappies rather than disposables can save £500 on the cost of keeping babies in nappies. When your baby no longer need nappies real nappies can be passed on to younger siblings, saving even more money.

Real nappies aren’t just expensive for parents. For every £1 spent on disposable nappies the taxpayer pays 10p towards their disposal.

Real nappies are better for the environment.

Approximately 8 million disposable nappies are thrown away every day in the UK – that’s 3 billion a year!

Cash back offer

Three Rivers District Council, in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council will give cash back to you if you use real nappies.

If you buy your own real nappies and wash them at home we offer up to £50 towards the cost.

If you choose to sign up to a nappy laundering service for at least 6 months we will give you £80 towards the cost.

To apply for the cashback please complete an application form that can be downloaded here or send a letter to include your name, address (including postcode) and telephone number along with:

• A copy of your child’s birth certificate
• The receipt

Only one application can be processed per family and the child must be under 2 years of age.

Completed applications should be sent to:

Environmental Projects Officer
Three Rivers District Council
Three Rivers House
Northway
Rickmansworth
Herts  WD3 1RL

The Natural Nursery can help you with the paperwork to claim back your cashback if your cloth nappies come from us. We also have lots of advice about real nappies and a growing list of Real Nappy Incentives across the UK

Three Rivers District Council offer up to £80 Cashback for Real Nappy Users is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. £50 Real Nappy Cashback Scheme for Stevenage Residents
2. Watford Cloth Nappy Incentive – up to £50 cashback
3. Leicestershire Real Nappy Network – Cashback and Lending Kit

I did mostly but did mix and match with some of the Flip Disposable inserts, so I didn’t need to put the tumble dryer on with all that rain we had.

I don’t feel too bad about this as we hadn’t used any disposable nappies since we had the water switched back on after the kitchen was re-done.

I still have some left in the pack of 18 Flip inserts that I opened before Christmas. so it goes to show that you can fit reusable nappies in around having a good time during the holidays.

Cloth Nappies and the Festive Holidays is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Flip Reusable Nappies – So easy to use!
2. Quick Guide to the Flip Nappy System
3. Fluffy Friday – Win 18 Disposable Flip Nappy Inserts (ends 10th Nov 2011)

Not only do re-usable nappies reduce the amount you throw away, But with £50 cashback they also reduce the amount you spend! The WasteAware partnership of councils would like to thank those Hertfordshire residents who avoid the mountain of waste created by disposable nappies. So, if you buy re-useable nappies or have joined a nappy laundering scheme, you can claim up to £50 towards the cost.

To claim your cashback please visit the waste aware website to download your form. You can do this by simply clicking on the link above. Once you have filled in your details, return it to:

Waste Aware Nappy Cashback

‘Nappy Cashback Scheme’
Refuse and Recycling
Stevenage Borough Council
Daneshill House
Danestrete
Stevenage
Herts
SG1 1HN

For a list of Real Nappy Incentives or for more information and advice about cloth nappies please visit www.naturalnursery.co.uk

£50 Real Nappy Cashback Scheme for Stevenage Residents is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Watford Cloth Nappy Incentive – up to £50 cashback
2. Leicestershire Real Nappy Network – Cashback and Lending Kit
3. Telford & Wrekin Real Nappy Scheme

Fabby participants at the Big Change

If you fancy joining me to talk about washable nappies, and you are local to Exeter, then why not pop along to tomorrow’s demo at Health Foods Unlimited, Cowick Street?

More details are on the Exeter Baby Activities site – http://www.exeterbabyactivities.co.uk/?p=1018&preview=true

7 Gifts – Time – Washable Nappy Demo, Exeter is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Exeter Steiner School Events
2. Exeter Cloth Nappy Events
3. Exeter Steiner School Advent Fayre

In these cases, donated breastmilk improves the health outcome for the baby and is the preferred option over formula.

I have been lucky enough to be accepted as a breastmilk donor for our local hospital, so most days I pump a bottle full and stash in the freezer ready to take batches up to the RD&E.

The milk will be used to give feeds to sick and premature babies in the NNU, rather than supplement with artificial formula, until such time as the mother is able to nurse her baby herself.

I consider myself to be very fortunate as I have a good supply and, following some initial difficulties, find breastfeeding my children to be very easy and rewarding.

This is my way of showing my gratitude and of helping out other families in their time of need.

If you would like to find out more about breastmilk donation in the UK, you can visit

UKAMB

Informal milk sharing arrangements can also be arranged, see:

Human Milk for Human Babies

7 Gifts – Health – The gift of donated breastmilk is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Another Great Reason to Breastfeed
2. Breastmilk Storage Bottles, reduced
3. Using an electric breast pump allowed me to continue breastfeeding

The problem I have with NY Resolutions is that they are always focused on you as a person, a promise to be a better person, to miraculously change who you are, as if making one simple promise is all it takes to become the mythical being you have always wanted to be.

This year I am going to take my cue from The Eden Project (followers of Exeter Baby Activities will already know about our fab family day out there yesterday) and adapt their Seven Gifts and Wishes.

So my New Year’s Resolution is to share one of these each day and keep a blog diary each week to see how I am doing.

The Seven Gifts and Wishes are:

The Planet

Music

Love and Friendship

Laughter

Hope

Time

Health and Wellbeing

I love this idea from the Eden Project – I can see that some of them are going to be hard to do on a regular basis but they will encourage me to give back some of my time and energy, to focus outwards rather than purely inwards.

I don’t have any specific promises to make on these at the moment but it should make for an interesting year!

New Year Resolutions is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Christmas Stocking Fillers
2. Natural Nursery Nominated for an Award
3. Award Nomination

We would love to see your pictures! Everyone who emails us a photo of their beautiful reusable nappies to stars@naturalnursery.co.uk will get a 10% discount code to use at www.naturalnursery.co.uk and one lucky person, drawn at random after the 26th January 2012  will win a Natural Nursery goodie bag!

Entries from Europe only please and if you send us a photo you are giving us permission to use it on the Natural Nursery websites.

The winner of this round of Natural Nursery Cloth Nappy Stars is Melony Robertson who has been emailed!

Has your cloth nappy got Natural Nursery Star Status? win a goodie bag (ends 26th Jan 2012) is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Natural Nursery Product Review Stars – win a goodie bag! (ends 1st Dec 2011)
2. Natural Nursery Happy Baby Stars – win a goodie bag (ends 15th Dec 2011)
3. Natural Nursery Sling Stars – win a goodie bag (ends 29th Dec 2011)

A great deal of research has been done on the effects of television on children’s lives. The first step in making the decision is to get the facts. Because nearly all of us have one or more TV sets in our home, and since most of us watch some TV nearly every day, we may not want to hear what research tells us, but these are things parents need to know.

• Experts suspect that babies younger than two years old view TV as a confusing array of colors, images, and noises. They don’t understand much of the content. Since the average TV scene lasts five to eight seconds, your baby or toddler doesn’t have enough time to digest what’s happening.

• Cartoons and many children’s shows are filled with images of violence. If you find this hard to believe, surf the TV on Saturday morning. The realism portrayed in today’s cartoons has moved light years beyond the Bugs Bunny type of violence. Many children’s shows almost are animated versions of adult action films. Research shows that exposure to this type of programming increases the risk of aggressive behavior and desensitizes children to violence.
• Babies and toddlers have a very literal view of the world. They can’t yet tell the difference between real and pretend, and they interpret what they see on TV as true life. Research has demonstrated that many young children believe that TV characters actually live inside the TV set. This can confuse young children’s understanding of the world and get in the way of their learning what’s right or wrong. It can paint a picture of a frightening, unstable, and bewildering world ¾ and your little one does not yet have the faculties to put what he sees into proper perspective.

• Television watching can be addictive. The more that children watch, the more they want to watch. Even toddlers can become drawn to the set. Once addicted, turning off the TV can become a daily battle. Children who watch TV excessively often become passive and lose their natural creativity; they eventually have a hard time keeping themselves busy, and they lose valuable time that should be dedicated to “play” ¾ the foundation of a healthy childhood and the primary way that very young children learn.
• Parents sometimes unwittingly begin to use TV more and more as a way to keep their children happy and quiet. It takes a strong will and dedication to avoid the easy route provided by this free and easy ¾ yet sometimes dangerous ¾ babysitter.
• Children experience unparalleled physical, mental, and emotional growth in the early years of life. Time spent watching television is time taken away from more healthful activities that nurture growth and development.
• Children who watch a lot of television during their early years are at risk for childhood obesity, poor social development, and aggressive behavior. They often have trouble adjusting to preschool or kindergarten. According to a study by Yale Family Television Research, teachers characterized children who watched excessive television as less cooperative, less imaginative, less enthusiastic about learning, and less happy than those who watched little or no TV.
• Due to all the above reasons, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents not allow children under two to watch any television.

You may have noticed that all of these points demonstrate the negative aspects of letting babies and toddlers watch TV, and you’re wondering if there are any positives. There are a few, but I’ll be honest: I had to be very creative to come up with this list, since published research doesn’t demonstrate many good points for putting a young child in front of a television. But we need to be realistic and acknowledge that most of us aren’t going to put our TVs in the closet until all of our children start school. Here are some of the good points of television for children:

• Quality children’s programming can teach your child basic academic skills, such as the ABCs, counting, addition, science fundamentals, basic language skills, manners, and even early reading skills.
• Your child can view things she might not otherwise see in daily life: exotic animals, distant lands, musical instruments, historical places, and diverse lifestyles. Your child can learn about the world beyond her home and neighborhood.
• Your child can learn basic social skills from watching wholesome programming: how to play with other children, how to use good manners.
• Using extraordinarily careful selection and restraint, a little bit of television can provide a parent with much-needed down time, or time to catch up on tasks that need adult-only attention.

TV watching tips for parents of babies and young children

The following tips may help you minimize the negative and maximize the positive effects of television watching for your little one:

• Hold off introducing television,even videosto your baby as long as possible. If you wait until your child’s second birthday, you can consider yourself incredibly successful in starting your little one off well and with the kind of real-life interaction that is so important for his development. If you decide to allow TV before your child turns two, choose programming carefully, limit viewing time and skip days when possible. (Daily viewing easily becomes habit.) The less watching time, the better! Set a goal, such as no more than 30 minutes or an hour per day, or one favorite show, so that you’ll not be tempted to turn the TV on too frequently.

• Watch programs yourself before you allow your baby or toddler to watch them. Just because a network markets a show to young children doesn’t mean it will reflect your own family’s morals and values. You will be amazed to discover that many programs aimed at children contain violence or topics that are inappropriate for your child. Don’t assume that your baby can pick out the moral message from a program that features violence or conflict on the way to an important lesson.
• Pay attention to commercials,surprisingly, an excellent children’s show will sometimes feature commercials that depict the exact things you don’t want your little one to see!

• Choose programs that are developmentally appropriate for your child. For you, this means shows that are slow, boring, and probably somewhat goofy. But choose programs from your child’s perspective, not your own.
• Invest in a collection of appropriate and educational videos for your child so that you won’t be confined to network programming schedules when you are ready to let your little one watch something.
• Watch along with your child when you can so that you can monitor your child’s reactions to what he’s seeing. Invite questions and discuss what you are watching so that you can understand your little one’s take. Point things out and talk about what is being taught to get the most of out of educational TV. You may even follow up with some lessons afterwards.
• Avoid keeping the TV on when no one is actively watching. Many people do this and are used to the background noise the set generates, but your child will almost surely be exposed to programming that is inappropriate for her.
• Make a conscious decision about how you will use television in your family; don’t watch it by accident or default.

This article is a copyrighted excerpt from Gentle Baby Care by Elizabeth Pantley. (McGraw-Hill, 2003) and reposted with permission. www.pantley.com/elizabeth

Should Babies and Toddlers watch TV? (by Elizabeth Pantley) is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. First-Born Jealousy By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of the No-Cry Sleep Solution and Gentle Baby Care
2. Newborn Babies and Sleep By Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution
3. Eight Sleep Tips for Every Child By Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution

We asked you where the worst place you had to change a nappy was and the answers were so good they have been compiled into a list:

• Baby Changing rooms where the table was filthy, flooded or there was soggy tissue all over the floor.
• In the boot of the car on our first trip out!
• In a field on a farm
• In a filthy attic of a pub with no other place to use.
• On the floor of a Doctors surgery where there are no nappy changing facilities!
• In a hospital scan department. It was shocking. Small cramped, filthy and absolutly stunk!
• In the woods! Trying to change her whilst leaves were blowing about and sticking to the poo, sticking to her bum, getting in the clean nappy…argh!
• In the middle of Peppa Pig World on the grass as the parent/baby toilet was always occupied. It was rather chilly as well so my poor daughter was not very impressed and neither was her mummy lol.
• Atop a Tor on Dartmoor on a very windy day after a picnic.
  Trying to keep a hand on wipes, nappy and poop in a moorland wind was NOT easy!
• On my lap in a bathroom on a train. Very, very difficult!
• In the Bank Manager’s board Room (Barclays Bank, Cheetham Hill) when my husband and I were asking for a loan to start our business. My daughter had managed to create a REALLY DIRTY nappy and it absolutely stunk and they did not even have a customer toilet – we did not get it after that!!!
• At the  side of motorway on back seat when the wind caught the door and decided to take nearly take it of the hinges. Had to tie the door onto the passenger seat to keep the door shut was not a good time
• In a very small cubical toilet on a british rail train, took my sons nappy off and it weed in my face…awful
• In the middle of a field when out on a picnic – just as a school field trip was walking past!
• At a fairground behind the dodgems, raining torrents, mud up to our knees trying to change a baby in his pushchair – oh my god how worse could it be!!
• Shockingly on the toilet floor in a hospital.
• On a tube in the rush hour
• On a bus

And then there are stories of when the baby joins in and ‘helps’

• We were at the mall, and my daughter had a big mushy poop. It came out the side of her nappy. When I took off her pants, it smeared all over her legs and on the change pad. As I was trying to clean it up, she started playing with it. So, it got all over Everything. Another mom came in and said “Looks like someone has had an explosion

And great places but embarrassing situations:

• I took my baby daughter out with me to meet up with my friend for lunch. We ended up in a really fancy place and she decided to do a huge poop. And the only changing facilities were in the ladies toilets. So as I was her daddy I couldnt go in. The staff pulled a huge expensive marble table out and put their best table cloths on it for me to change her. Was so embarrassed!!

And truly embarrassing and difficult situations:

• The worst place Ive had to change a nappy was at a garden centre near my parents. It has a really posh shop section full of glass vases and whatnot. My LO had a truly obnoxious nappy explosion all over himself AND the buggy. They didnt have any changing facilities so I had to give the poopy baby to my mum while I cleaned the buggy so I could change him on the buggy cos I cant sit on the floor due to disability. So there I am, swiping at poop on the buggy while lovely older ladies walk passed with disapproving faces.

  To top it all off, when I had finally changed LO and got him back in the buggy and started to move away, I saw that some poop had made it onto the expensive looking white shelving nearby. Needless to say, I wiped it off and legged it.

That is enough horror stories for now – have you got any nice stories to share?

To be in the draw to win a Pack of 18 Flip Nappy Disposable Inserts leave a comment on the Natural Nursery Blog telling us

Nice nappy changing tales! Have you found any great places to change a nappy? Met any nice people while doing it?

• To get more entries just tell people about the competition,share it on Facebook, Twitter or blogs (one more entry per place)
• Like the Natural Nursery Facebook page (an extra entry)
• You must let us know how many entries you are claiming and where you have told people in the comments  otherwise we won’t know how many entries to allocate you.

The draw will be held on Thursday 4th January 2012 at around 8pm and the winners will be notified by email.
This prize draw is only open to people in Europe, sorry!
The winner will be chosen using random.org

Fluffy Friday – Win Flip Disposable Nappy Inserts with Happy Nappy Tales (ends Jan 5th 2012) is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Fluffy Friday – Win 18 Disposable Flip Nappy Inserts (ends 10th Nov 2011)
2. Fluffy Friday – Win A Mosaic Nappy Change Mat (ends 27th Oct 2011)
3. Customer Product Review – Weleda Calendula Nappy Change Cream

The Flip Nappies from bumGenius are good for hard water areas, and they dry relatively quickly too. They are one size nappies, easy to use, you need a cover and an insert that can be disposable or washable, if you want to learn more please visit our Quick Guide to Flip Nappy System

One of the other reusable nappies we recommend at the Natural Nursery for hard water areas is the bumGenius. This is a birth to potty pocket nappy and it is also a relatively quick dryer.

1) Use a fleece liner to reduce the amount of hard nappy touching your babies skin.

Fleece liners are cheap, colourful and they can be washed and re-used hundreds of times. They are soft against your baby’s skin and help to wick the wet away from the bottom, meaning a more comfortable baby.

2) Scrunch the nappy up and rub it hard between your hands after it has dried.

The idea here is to physically fluff up the fibres of the nappy. It is mostly the movement in a tumble dryer that helps to keep a nappy soft so anything you can do to replicate that helps.

3) Hang the nappy out on the line if possible

Grab every opportunity to give your cloth nappies a bit of line drying time as they will be softer than if they are dried on a radiator. If you really have to radiator dry try to keep the nappies away from the radiator a little – either by using an airer that hooks over the radiator or by drying on chair backs next to the radiator.

4) Tumble dry nappies now and again if possible.

A once a month tumble dry will give your nappies a boost, I used to take mine to my mum’s for a nappy spa day, or I’d use a launderette once in a while.

5) Reduce the amount of washing powder you use.

Washing powders can build up on fabric, stiffening it and making it less asorbent.  Once in a while try just running the nappies through on a hot wash with no powder to strip them of anything that might be making them hard.

6) Put a small cupful of white distilled vinegar into the wash.

White vinegar is great for neutralising smells and for softening hard water. You just put it in the conditioner drawer.  I have used ordinary vinegar in desperation and it works just as well, just smells more vinegary than the distilled stuff.

7) Do an extra fast spin at the end of the wash.

The logic here is to remove as much water from the nappies as possible so they need less time to dry.

Add bicarbonate of soda to the washing powder.

This helps to soften the water, you can use it with white distilled vinegar as well to remove stains.  Half a tablespoon  of bicarbonate of soda is more than enough.

If you have any other tips to help keep your real nappies  soft please let us know.

8 Top Tips for Keeping Cloth Nappies Soft and Fluffy is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. 8 Top Tips for Keeping Cloth Nappies Soft and Fluffy
2. 11 Tips For Washing Reusable Nappies
3. Choosing your cloth nappies

Each kit contains a good range of the most modern styles and brands of nappies, with all the necessary accessories. They are supplied by nappy sellers in Oxfordshire, who will explain how the nappies work before you get started. You will be able to use the nappies for up to two weeks.

To find out more call us on 08450 504550, or email waste.management@oxfordshire.gov.uk

For a list of other councils that offer Real Nappy incentives please visit www.naturalnursery.co.uk/real-nappy-incentive-schemes.html

Free Real Nappy Trial Kits in Oxfordshire is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Epsom & Ewell Borough Council Real Nappy Trial Kit
2. Two Week Free Cloth Nappy Trial from West Berkshire Council
3. Oldham Council – Real Nappy Incentives

What’s in a kit?

There are 24 trial kits available in Surrey and each one holds everything you need to road test Real Nappies on your baby.  There are a range of Real Nappy types including flat nappies, shaped nappies, pocket and all-in-one nappies.  We also include waterproof wraps, flushable and washable liners, washable wipes, nappy soak, wet bags, a laundry mesh and a nappy bucket.  Go Real are unable to guarantee a specific brand of nappy but all of the main types will be covered and so you will be able to make an informed choice based on the trial.

How will I know how everything works?

Each kit is managed by a trial kit host who will explain to you everything that is in the kit and how to use it.  There will also be a DVD, information leaflet and guide in each kit so if you can’t remember anything when you get home you will have some tools to help you.  You can also give the Go Real team a call at any time during your trial for advice on 0800 328 8175¹, it is free to call them and they can make sure that you talk to someone who has used Real Nappies themselves.  Alternatively you can email them your query to: advice@goreal.org.uk.

How do I get a Kit?

All you need to do is ring Go Real free of charge on 0800 328 8175¹ or email us at advice@goreal.org.uk.  We will then put you in touch with your nearest trial kit host.  Alternatively you can find the one closest to you using the map below and give them a call directly.  You will need to arrange to pick up the trial kit from the host and when you meet up they will arrange a time for you to bring back the kit.  Once your trial is completed Go Real will contact you to get some feedback on how you found the service and to find out whether you intend to use Real Nappies.

For more information about trial kits email GoReal, visit their website or call them on 0800 328 8175.

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council Real Nappy Trial Kit is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Oldham Council – Real Nappy Incentives
2. Free Real Nappy Trial Pack for Wealden Parents
3. Two Week Free Cloth Nappy Trial from West Berkshire Council

We love this picture of Zachary being tickled by his big brother!

Thank you to everyone who entered the December Happy Baby Stars competition. The winner was drawn at random and his mum will be getting a Natural Nursery goodie bag!

Natural Nursery stars competitions run reguarly and the next one is all about slings! So please send in your pictures of babywearing to stars@naturalnursery.co.uk to be in with the chance of winning a goodie bag.

The Natural Nursery Happy Baby Star for December 2011 is Zachary! is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Natural Nursery Happy Baby Stars – win a goodie bag (ends 15th Dec 2011)
2. The Natural Nursery Star Bump Gallery!
3. The First Natural Nursery Star is…..

We would love to see your pictures! Everyone who emails us a photo of their slings  to stars@naturalnursery.co.uk will get a 10% discount code to use at www.naturalnursery.co.uk and one lucky person, drawn at random after the 29th Dec 2011  will win a Natural Nursery goodie bag!

Entries from Europe only please and if you send us a photo you are giving us permission to use it on the Natural Nursery websites.

The winner was Joe Norris who sent in this wonderful 3 on board photo!

Natural Nursery Sling Stars – win a goodie bag (ends 29th Dec 2011) is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. The Natural Nursery Happy Baby Star for December 2011 is Zachary!
2. Natural Nursery Happy Baby Stars – win a goodie bag (ends 15th Dec 2011)
3. Natural Nursery Product Review Stars – win a goodie bag! (ends 1st Dec 2011)

Reusable nappies have changed since the traditional terry nappies. There is a wide choice of designs, styles and colours. Many even look like disposable nappies. If you are still not sure, why not come along and have a coffee at one of the monthly nappucinos?

An important incentive

A £30 financial incentive, payable in three instalments, is being offered to parents who join the scheme. You can claim this when nappies are bought from a shop or the internet if a proof of purchase and validation form signed by a healthcare professional is sent to the Waste Minimisation Team at Medway Council. For a validation form, ask your midwife or health visitor.

If you purchase your nappies before your child has been born a copy of the birth certificate will need to be sent to the nappy agent after the birth. If the nappies have been bought from an online site or from a high street retailer then an incentive will be paid in the form of Boots vouchers issued by Medway Council.

If you have been using reusable nappies on a previous child, you can only claim for that child for the period of time they have been using reusable nappies within the current financial year.

If you have been given nappies from a friend to use on your child, you will be entitled to the incentive as there is still a reduction in nappy waste. You will need a validation form signed by your healthcare professional to validate the claim.

Claims are settled within 14 days of receiving all correct paperwork.

Nappy library

This lets parents try some of the vast range of modern cloth nappies available before making a big financial commitment. All parents in Medway can hire one of the comprehensive nappy library kits for a fortnight and find out which nappies work best for them.

Cost

When purchasing nappies you need to consider how quickly you can wash and dry them. It is recommended to have three days worth of nappies. Most babies require approximately six changes a day.

The approximate cost of purchasing and home laundering real nappies for two and a half years ranges from £185 to about £352 depending on nappy type.

Monthly nappucinos

Come along to a relaxed drop-in atmosphere, have a coffee, meet other parents and carers using cloth nappies. Find out more about the benefits of using cloth, see the choices available and have a chat with like-minded people.

Nappucinos are run on the first Monday of every month (excluding bank holidays) from 9.30 to 11.30am, at Lordswood Children’s Centre, Lordswood School, Lordswood Lane.

Saturday club

If you cannot make the Monday events, the Medway Cloth Nappy Network (MCNN) and the Medway Branch of the National Childbirth Trust runs monthly Saturday drop-in groups at Moat House, Crow Lane, Rochester on the third Saturday of the month from 2.30-4pm

If you are not a resident of Medway but are interested in saving money on cloth nappies your local council might have a Real Nappy Incentive Scheme too! Our list is growing, please let us know if there is an incentive near you we have missed.

£30 Real Nappy Incentive for Medway Residents is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Real Nappy Incentive Schemes for London
2. Bristol City Council Real Nappy Incentive Scheme
3. Leeds Real Nappy Incentive – Cash Back or Trial Pack

This reusable nappy consists of a waterproof outer with a “pocket” made of soft fleece.  Simply stuff the booster insert into the pocket, adjust the snaps to fit your baby and put on just like a disposable.

Benefits of the Baba + Boo Pocket Nappy

• One size/birth to potty pocket nappy – only one set of nappies to buy
• Complete with two micro fibre inserts
• Simple to use – once stuffed goes on and off like a disposable
• Fastens with poppers for a secure fit
• Elasticated waist and legs for a leak free nappy
• Poppers to the front adjust the size of the nappy to fit from 8lbs to 35lbs
• Very quick drying
• No need to use a paper or fleece liner

Benefits of the Wet Bag

• Waterproof wet bag for reusable nappies on the go
• Funky animal prints or bold colours
• Zipper fastening top
• Hold approx 4/5 nappies
• Generous 40 x 35 cm
• Can be used after potty training as a swim bag, beach bag etc

Natural Nursery customer Naomi rated the Baba + Boo nappy 5 out of 5 and said:

Twelve Days of a Natural Christmas – Day 12 – Pocket Nappy Gift Pack is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Fluffy Friday – Win Baba + Boo Nappies – ends 13th Oct 2011
2. More Press for The Natural Nursery
3. Twelve Days of a Natural Christmas – Day 9 – GEN-Y Universal Nappy Wrap

Available in 4 fabrics to suit your baby:

Original unbleached cotton – made from 85% cotton and 15% polyester.  The fabric is specially made to ensure that only cotton touches your baby’s skin – the polyester is in the base of the fabric to give strength and fit.

Stay dry – made from the same cotton/polyester as the original nappy but with a special stay dry fabric sewn to the inside.  This extra layer ensures that moisture is quickly wicked away from the baby’s skin, leaving it dry to the touch.

Recommended for babies with sensitive skin or who are prone to nappy rash.

Organic cotton – 100% organic cotton for additional softness and plumpness.  Organic cotton is grown and processed without harsh chemicals, making it better for your baby, the farmers and the environment.

Bamboo terry – silky soft bamboo and cotton knit fabric touching your baby’s skin, with polyester in the base to add strength and fit.

Natural Nursery customer Kate said that the Motherease onesize has great containment:

http://www.naturalnursery.co.uk/cloth-nappies/mother-ease-onesize-washable-nappy.html

Twelve Days of a Natural Christmas – Day 11 – Mother-ease Onesize Washable Nappy is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Twelve Days of a Natural Christmas – Day 7 – Flushable Nappy Liners
2. Twelve Days of a Natural Christmas – Day 12 – Pocket Nappy Gift Pack
3. Twelve Days of a Natural Christmas – Day 9 – GEN-Y Universal Nappy Wrap

Lansinoh lanolin goes through a unique process that does not require the use of preservatives, additives, perfumes or other chemicals, so it is a totally pure and natural product.

This process means that the cream is virtually odourless, so it will not interfere with the bonding process.

If soreness does not start to ease within 24 hours of commencing use of Lansinoh, or if the problem persists, the user should contact a Lactation Consultant, Breastfeeding Counsellor or their Health Care Professional. Unbroken skin is the best barrier to infection, however Lansinoh relieves dryness that can result in cracking and promotes healthy skin, it may prevent some secondary infections.

Lansinoh lanolin can be used also to soothe: chapped lips, nappy rash, dry skin on elbows, heels and knees, itchy stretch marks, minor cuts, burns and skin abrasions. Useful for all the family!

We recently had a review of Lansinoh at the Natural Nursery and the customer said it ‘does what it says on the packet’:

http://www.naturalnursery.co.uk/breastfeeding-your-baby/nipple-cream-lansinoh-lanolin.html

Twelve Days of a Natural Christmas – Day 10 – Nipple Cream, Lansinoh Lanolin is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Customer Product Review – Lansinoh Lanolin, Nipple Cream
2. Using an electric breast pump allowed me to continue breastfeeding
3. One Million Campaign – World Breastfeeding

There is currently free postage on them at the Natural Nursery too!

http://www.naturalnursery.co.uk/real-nappy-wraps/gen-y-universal-nappy-wrap.html

Twelve Days of a Natural Christmas – Day 9 – GEN-Y Universal Nappy Wrap is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Twelve Days of a Natural Christmas – Day 1 – Fleece Nappy Wraps
2. Twelve Days of a Natural Christmas – Day 6 – Moby Baby Wrap
3. Twelve Days of a Natural Christmas – Day 7 – Flushable Nappy Liners

Flushable nappy liners  are made from soft paper, they are gentle on little bottoms for a happier baby. They are designed to have one way moisture control that helps prevent wetness from coming into contact with your baby’s skin. Nappy liners also help to protect your reusable nappies from heavy soiling, keeping your nappies looking fresher.

Natural Nursery customer Wendy gave flushable liners full marks and said: