This is the prettiest breastfeeding bra we have ever seen and will make any nursing mother feel special.  It is right up there as a piece of gorgeous lingerie, yet it comes will excellent nursing features such as drop away cups for lots of skin to skin contact.

If you are unsure about sizing, rest assured that we are always happy to exchange sizes or why not buy the Seamless Nursing Bra instead?  With its simple sizing and oh so comfortable fit, you can’t go wrong!

We dispatch every day using First Class Royal Mail and we have express delivery options available too.

Mothering Sunday Breastfeeding Pressie is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. How your breasts change throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding
2. The benefits of breastfeeding, a nursing mother’s story
3. Welcome the newest addition to the Natural Nursery Family: Breastfeeding Naturally

The breastmilk storage bottles are made from food grade polypropylene, the preferred plastic for storing expressed breast milk and are Bisphenol-A Free.

You can view our full range of breastfeeding accessories and buy the reduced Lansinoh Breastmilk Bottles online now.

Breastmilk Storage Bottles, reduced is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Glass Baby Bottles
2. One Million Campaign – World Breastfeeding
3. Using an electric breast pump allowed me to continue breastfeeding

Made in the UK with high qualitynatural, organic and wild crafted ingredients, this range is a wonderful treat for that special newborn or parent to be.

Buy now with 20% off.

Reduced Organic Toiletries is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Clearance Sale
2. Natalia: gentle organic products for your baby
3. Girly girl organic clothing: save money, shop during the sale!

Supporting Home Birth

The Maternity Services Liaison Committee (MSLC), chaired by Pip A’Ness, will be holding a Home Birth Workshop on Monday 15^th March from 11am-2pm at the YMCA, Marsden Road, Clevedon, BS21 7NW. This event will be building on the work of the Bristol Health Services Plan’s “Normalising the Birth Experience” workstream set up to deliver the recommendations of the Maternity & Newborn Services Review.  Maternity service providers in Bristol are committed to achieving a 10% home birth rate by 2011 and to this end, we will be seeking ideas from service users as to how this can be achieved.  Please phone 0117 9841562 or email  Noshin.Emamiannaeini@bristolpct.nhs.uk if you wish to attend and comment on how we can encourage and support women and midwives in the promotion of home birth.  Lunch and a crèche are included.

An exciting and challenging target of Bristol’s Maternity Review (2008) is that we must achieve 40% midwife-led birth settings (including home) in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset by next year.  BCB and its Supporters inspired Bristol’s Maternity Review and Cossham Birth Centre so please lend your voice again at this crucial point to make even more happen in the promotion of normal midwife-led birth settings.

Thank you for your continued support.

Bristol Home Birth Update is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Bristol Birth Centre Update
2. Bristol Vegan Fayre
3. Mothering the mother, the doula support during childbirth

Dear Supporter

 If Cossham Birth Centre then why not South Bristol Birth Centre?

South Bristol Hospital at Hengrove is now going ahead.  For a year BCB has been having talks with NHS Bristol regarding the inclusion of a midwife-led birth centre. There has always been an interest for this at executive level but we need some clout from our Supporters to get South Bristol Birth Centre on the drawing board NOW and for its inclusion in Phase 2 of South Bristol Hospital’s plans. Women in South Bristol will then have the opportunity to labour and give birth near their own home. Please lend your voice once again to the BCB campaign: write with your support as soon as you can to Sue Learner (BCB Steering Group midwife), at 58, Bellevue Crescent, Bristol BS8 4TF or email  info@birthcentebristol.org.uk .

The development of Cossham Hospital is now well underway.  With the doors set to open in November 2011, midwives are now beginning to think about taking the first bookings just a year from now from women wishing to give birth at Cossham Birth Centre, Bristol’s first free-standing birth centre.  You can stay abreast of developments by visiting the Birth Centre Bristol news page.

 Thank you for your continued support.

Bristol Birth Centre Update is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Bristol Home Birth Update
2. Bristol Vegan Fayre
3. Mothering the mother, the doula support during childbirth

http://www.naturalnursery.co.uk/turtle-bag-organic-cotton-string-pocket-bag-sale-3756-p.asp

The original selling price for these super little bags was £5.45 but as our supplier has brought the price down, we have passed the savings on to you!

An organic cotton string bag that folds up neatly into it’s own pouch for easy storage.

Reusable String Bags, reduced is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Reusable Shopping Bags
2. 10 more ways reusable bags can save you time and money!
3. Save time and money! 10 ways reusable bags make your life easier

Reduced Organic Children's Clothes

Choose from sweet animal designs or funky space invaders themed tops.

Now from £6.75 each.  Buy online now.

Arabella Miller Tops, Half Price is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Girly girl organic clothing: save money, shop during the sale!
2. Clearance Sale
3. Huge Clearance Sale Now Started

Environmental Game

This is a fun learning game with an environmental message.

Move around the board, collecting different sorts of rubbish to put in the recycling bins but watch out for the litterbugs!

Suitable for ages 5-10 years, now with 20% off at The Natural Nursery.

In fact, as part of our stock taking clearance sale, we have 20% off our whole range of Orchard Toys!

Each day, we will be posting about a fabby new bargain, so don’t forget to watch this blog, follow us on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook – that way you will get to hear of the best bargains first.

What’s Rubbish Game, 20% off is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Clearance Sale
2. My sustainable house interactive game
3. Our new Ebay Shop

Reduced Ring Sling

You can find our sale section on the website, where we already have organic baby clothes at up to 70% off, reduced organic toiletries plus bargains on reusable nappies.

Each day, we will be posting about a fabby new bargain, so don’t forget to watch this blog, follow us on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook – that way you will get to hear of the best bargains first.

Today, we have further reduced the price of the Huggababy Ring Sling.  We only have limited colours and sizes left and at £24.99 each that’s a saving of £15 so they won’t hang around for long.

Clearance Sale is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. What’s Rubbish Game, 20% off
2. Huge Clearance Sale Now Started
3. Arabella Miller Tops, Half Price

So why would you need a breastfeeding shawl?

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

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

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

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

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

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

A great present for a new mum.

Why use a breastfeeding shawl? is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. celebrate the launch of a new Site: Breastfeeding Naturally & win £100 gift voucher
2. Spotlight on Medela, supporting breastfeeding mothers since 1961
3. Breastfeeding in public, is it that difficult?

Washing the Wonderoos reusable nappies is super easy.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A few more tips:

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

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

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

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

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

Washing your wonderoos reusable nappies in 6 easy steps is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Wondering about leaks with the Wonderoos reusable nappies?
2. New! Wonderoos pocket reusable nappies, super easy to use!
3. Washing cloth nappies in 5 easy steps

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wondering about leaks with the Wonderoos reusable nappies? is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Using your baby Wonderoos reusable nappies
2. Washing your wonderoos reusable nappies in 6 easy steps
3. New! Wonderoos pocket reusable nappies, super easy to use!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Using your baby Wonderoos reusable nappies is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Wondering about leaks with the Wonderoos reusable nappies?
2. Washing your wonderoos reusable nappies in 6 easy steps
3. New! Wonderoos pocket reusable nappies, super easy to use!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adjusting the size of your Wonderoos reusable nappies is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Using your baby Wonderoos reusable nappies
2. Wondering about leaks with the Wonderoos reusable nappies?
3. New! Wonderoos pocket reusable nappies, super easy to use!

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

Q: What else do I need?

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

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

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

Q: Are Wonderoos suitable for night time use?

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

Q: What nappy creams should I use?

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

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

Using the Wonderoos pocket reusable nappies in 5 questions is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. New! Wonderoos pocket reusable nappies, super easy to use!
2. Washing your wonderoos reusable nappies in 6 easy steps
3. Wondering about leaks with the Wonderoos reusable nappies?

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

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

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

Today’s tip: buying the right size for your baby wrap is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Tips about making your baby wrap more comfortable
2. Half price baby slings
3. Using your child carrier on your back (2)

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

So why use Wonderoos reusable nappies?

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

New! Wonderoos pocket reusable nappies, super easy to use! is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Using the Wonderoos pocket reusable nappies in 5 questions
2. Pocket nappies: real nappies, really easy
3. Adjusting the size of your Wonderoos reusable nappies

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pocket nappies: real nappies, really easy is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. A simple guide to the real nappy world
2. New! Wonderoos pocket reusable nappies, super easy to use!
3. Using your baby Wonderoos reusable nappies

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

A new collection of baby wear timeless classics is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Frugi, fair trade clothes made to last
2. The ‘babywearing’ coat to wear over your baby sling
3. Using the Wonderoos pocket reusable nappies in 5 questions

Sing and Sign allows babies and parents to learn songs and sign language together. Sign language is a simple method to teach children to express themselves before they can talk. The signs are widely used by nurseries and childcare providers. It starts with just a few signs, milk, more, nappy, tired. As the child starts to respond, more signs can be added, always keeping it simple. The Sing and Sign songs are cheerful, from traditional nursery rhymes to new songs.

Colourstrings offers classes teaching music, rhythm, and singing from 6 months to 5 years. Fun, lovely music and great teachers. The materials are colourful, stimulating and entice children to embark on musical adventures that will enable each of them to fulfill their musical potential through fun and creativity, without pressure. It is an extension of the Kodály philosophy: everything starts with singing to develop inner hearing.

Monkey Music introduces music to very young children in a way they can easily understand and enjoy. Monkey Music was founded in London in 1993 by Angie Davies for her first newborn baby daughter. As a trained classical musician and experienced teacher, Angie was aware that all babies have an innate love of music and as a keen new mum she looked for local music classes to attend. She decided to write an original music curriculum that was fun and interactive for everyone! Monkey Music classes are now held weekly across the UK and Ireland.

Jo Jingles music classes are also held around the UK in more than 500 locations. The movement classes are for babies and children aged 3 months to 5 years of age (up to 7 or 8 in some areas). The music classes are fun, interactive music, with lots of singing and movement.

Music classes with your baby is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Noonoo Natural Baby Toys
2. The Ergo baby Bibs, a lovely idea for a new baby gift
3. Newborn Babies and Sleep By Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution

Ergo baby carrier

Fleece – a baby sling can be made of various fabric, and fleece is a lovely option. It is soft, durable, has just the required ’stretchiness’ to snuggle and support your baby. It is easy to wash, doesn’t even need to be tumble dried and will protect your baby from the weather.

Forward Facing – Many parents like carrying their baby facing forward i.e. facing away from the mother. Many baby sling manufacturers recommend that this forward facing position not be used at all or be used for short periods of time.
When the child is placed facing forward, his spine is curved back, putting pressure on his lower back, and leaving the weight of the head resting on his spine. Babies’ spine is still too fragile to hold the weight of their head, especially if you’re planning to carry for longer periods of time. It also means that the child has no contact with his mother. He takes the world full on without having mum’s reassuring voice, heartbeat and scent to help him ‘interpret’ what’s going on.

Frog position – The child’s optimum position in a baby sling is often referred to as being in a frog-like position. This is the position that allows his spine to develop harmoniously.
His back should be curved forward, his head able to rest on your chest or on your back if he falls asleep. His legs should be wide apart, slightly flexed and the knees higher than his bottom. Try squatting and resting your bottom on your heels, that’s pretty much the position you’re aiming for your baby.

Baby sling glossary, E like Ergo baby carrier is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. New in stock the organic Ergo baby carriers, comfortable and so soft!
2. Tip of the day: Making your Ergo baby carrier more comfortable
3. Using your child carrier on your back (2)

Asian carriers, Asian inspired baby carriers (ABC) – There is a lively tradition of baby carrying in the Far East. Each country will have a different variation: Mei tai (China), Onbuhimo (Japan), Podegi (Korea) for example. Many baby carriers available today are ‘inspired’ from these traditional baby carriers and adapted them to the needs of Western mothers. The Napsack baby is an Asian baby carrier.

Baby backpack – this wide term refers to the baby carriers which are most suited to back carries. It doesn’t mean that they can’t be used for front carries but they are particularly easy to use on your back. The Ergo baby carrier is an example of a baby backpack.

Babywearing – Babywearing is another word for ‘baby carrying’. Imagine baby slings being so comfortable that you could ‘wear’ them for hours, just like a coat and carry your baby in it as much as he needs/wants to.

Back carries – Back carries refer to all the positions where the baby is carried on the parent’s back. Most baby slings are suitable for back carries although some might be more suited than others. Soft carriers, like mei tai, or baby backpacks are easy to use on your back.

Braiding – Baby wraps are much easier to use when the fabric is soft and ‘floppy’. Some wraps are soft straight out the packet, others will need time and use to soften. To speed up the softening, you can sit on the wrap or braid it: knot it over and over until the fabric softens. Also true for some ring slings.

Calin bleu – A brand of baby wraps made in the UK. Calin Bleu specialises in light and soft baby wraps, easy to use and suitable from birth to toddlers.

DYI slings – Making your own baby sling can be fun. Many mums can make their own baby sling. For your safety, make sure you follow the sling sewing instructions carefully. Choose good quality material and rings (Slingrings.com are the best). For a wrap, a simple piece of cloth suffices. For a ring sling, a pouch, a soft structured carrier or a mei tai, you will find dozens of sling sewing instructions online.

Stay tune for the rest of baby slings glossary…

A glossary of baby slings, part 1 is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. New Calin Bleu Slings in stock
2. Tips about making your baby wrap more comfortable
3. An easy guide to slings

Choose your baby wrap carefully. If your baby is a newborn or you’re shopping while you’re pregnant, stretchy wraps are a lovely option. They are easy to use, especially for breastfeeding and feel snug. If you’re baby is more than six months old or for a toddler and you wish to have one wrap to take you until toddlerhood, then a woven wrap would be a better purchase. All baby slings have their advantages and drawbacks. Having the baby wrap that is best suited to how you would like to use it will be much easier.

Read the instructions and the manufacturer’s information carefully. Most manufacturers will recommend one carry as the easiest to start. It might vary depending on the type of baby wrap. For back carries, the secured back carry is much easier for stretchy wraps than other types of back carries. The pocket carry is easier with a stretchy wrap and trickier with a woven wrap.

Wash your baby wrap once or twice. Make sure you double check the manufacturer’s washing instructions. Some wraps can be tumble dried, others are best lined dry. Some will be soft right out of the packet, others will need softening. The best way to soften your baby wrap is to use it. You can also sit on it any time you sit down, in the car, on the sofa, at the computer, at diner… Some babywearers also recommend braiding the wrap, basically knotting it over and over until the fabric softens. A soft baby wrap will be much easier to use.

Think of your baby wrap as three thirds: the top hem, the middle and the bottom hem. When we say ‘tighten the top hem’ it’s not just the top hem but the top third of the wrap. The bottom hem keeps the baby in place and high on your back, support your baby’s thighs wide apart. The middle third forms a pocket for his bottom and his rounded back. The top hem holds the baby snuggly against you. He doesn’t back, which would force you to lean forward to compensate. Neither of you would be comfortable. When all three parts of the baby wrap are adjusted properly, you are able to stand straight with no discomfort to either of you.

Apply these tips and your baby sling should feel a lot more comfortable. If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch, we’re here to help.

Tips about making your baby wrap more comfortable is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Today’s tip: buying the right size for your baby wrap
2. Using your child carrier on your back (2)
3. A glossary of baby slings, part 1

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

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

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

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

Click on the images to see the high resolutions:

More free colouring sheets: babies & baby slings is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Free Green colouring book pages to print and colour
2. Exeter Steiner School Open Day
3. Half price baby slings

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!

Children’s activities: making paper beads and necklackes is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Things to do with the kids: a recycled hobby horse
2. My sustainable house interactive game
3. Organic Baby Sleepgowns

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Using your child carrier on your back (2) is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. 5 questions to help you choose your child carrier
2. Tip of the day: Making your Ergo baby carrier more comfortable
3. Super cute! The doll & teddy baby backpack

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

Here are a few pointers to help you get started.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Using your baby slings on your back is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. It’s cold out there! Baby Slings to wrap up warm.
2. Top tips for using a babysling for the first time
3. A world of baby slings

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

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

Enjoy!

Free Green colouring book pages to print and colour is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Grow your own organic vegetables
2. Our top tips for a green Christmas
3. Junk-free Advent calendars and Christmas stockings at Natural Nursery

Time to get yourself a Calin Bleu fleece baby sling!

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

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

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

It’s cold out there! Baby Slings to wrap up warm. is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. The ‘babywearing’ coat to wear over your baby sling
2. Today’s tip: buying the right size for your baby wrap
3. July Competition

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

Here are some of our favourites:

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

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

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

To view all the organic clothing on sale:

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

Girly girl organic clothing: save money, shop during the sale! is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Why I love organic baby clothing!
2. We love Frugi organic baby clothing!
3. Clearance Sale

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cooking with the children: our favourite carrot cake recipe is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Making healthy eating fun
2. Exeter Steiner School Open Day
3. A play kitchen is so much fun for children

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

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

3. A bag for the hair dryer and combs.

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

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

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

7. A bag for pegs.

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

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

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

A big thanks to Alison and Lisa for their ideas.

10 more ways reusable bags can save you time and money! is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Save time and money! 10 ways reusable bags make your life easier
2. Reusable Shopping Bags
3. Our top tips for a green Christmas

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

…. to be continued!

Save time and money! 10 ways reusable bags make your life easier is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. 10 more ways reusable bags can save you time and money!
2. Reusable Shopping Bags
3. A reusable organic nappy for £2.25. Really?

http://www.naturalnursery.co.uk/index.asp

We’re testing a new functionality on the blog is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. What’s Rubbish Game, 20% off
2. Craft Blog
3. Welcome

We work closely with our suppliers to make sure that our natural baby products contain no nasty chemicals, no SLS and no paraben in particular.

Here is an email we received this morning from a customer about her order.

Thank you for sending my order so quickly. It arrived very well packaged, the items well wrapped so nothing was damaged in transport. I like that you reuse packaging (it came in good condition so I’ll be able to reuse it again!)

“Thank you very much for the Earth Friendly Baby natural baby products. They are absolutely lovely. I chose the minty lavender organic bubblebath and the natural baby shampoo. The scent is delicate, not too strong. Since the bubblebath doesn’t contain SLS, I thought it wouldn’t create much bubble foam in the bath but it did. The kids love it, there is enough bubble to hide under, or to make pretend Santa’s beards. The trick is to pour the bubblebath right under the stream of water. Then I topped up the bath with the shower head. It stirred the water and created lots of bubble. My kids love bubbles! The only thing you have to watch is that it’s easy to use too much, the bottle opening is quite big. Only a 3 or 4 tablespoons were enough for our big bathtub.

I liked that the natural baby shampoo doubles up as bodywash. It’s one less thing to worry about in the bath when you have to keep a constant eye on the children, help them and try to stay dry all at the same time! The children can learn to shampoo themselves and wash themselves, a very independent step towards autonomy.

At £2.99, it’s a very good price. I’m very impressed and will be ordering more in your natural baby products sale. Thanks a lot.”

Customer review, we love your natural baby products is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. 10 tips to make baby bath time fun
2. Choosing your natural baby shampoo
3. Tips to wash your newborn’s hair with natural shampoo

To help you get started, we thought we would highlight some cloth nappy bargains and great starting up options:

• Terry nappies are simple to use, suit children of various morphologies, easy to wash and dry. A good option for newborn and young babies, perfect if you don’t have a lot of space to dry your reusable nappies. Terry nappies are easy to fold to use as boosters for pocket nappies or night nappies.
• As mentioned earlier, the tie-on disana nappies are organic, sturdy, and fairly easy to use. At £2.02 they are the cheapest reusable nappy on the market.
• We’re clearing out the last few Stuffables pocket nappies in size small. Available in hook and loop or poppers, they are easy to use, dry quickly. A very good option for childminders, grandparents… Just fold muslin squares, terry nappies or boosters and slide it inside the nappies.
• When it comes to shaped nappies (nappies that are shaped like a disposable nappy, making it easier to put on), the IMSE Vimse is very good value at £5.75
• If you own cloth nappies that aren’t absorbent enough, purchasing good quality nappy boosters will save you having to buy new nappies. The Motherease nappy boosters start at only £1.75
• Comparatively, nappy wraps may seem more expensive. We choose to only sell well designed, high quality wraps. There is nothing worse that a nappy wrap that leaks, it would mean more laundry and would discourage you to continue with reusable nappies.

Here are some options to get started with reusable nappies without costing the earth!

Reusable nappies don’t have to cost the earth, terry nappies… is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. A reusable organic nappy for £2.25. Really?
2. Reusable nappy: how many should I buy?
3. A simple guide to the real nappy world

Here are a few pointers to use your Ergo baby carrier comfortably.

As a general rule, babies need to be well supported in slings, so although the idea of freedom is great, it can lead to problems as the baby can move too much and as you say makes it hard to carry. Baby should be held snug against yourself.

When you are carrying on your back, at 8 months the best position for the arms is under the straps. This will depend upon each baby/parent but we have found that the vast majority of parents carrying on the back at this stage found that this is the best position for the arms.

It is worth checking how tight the shoulder straps are: the toggle that goes underneath your arms, rather than the chest strap. If this strap is too loose, it could lead to the baby not being as supported as they need to be.

When you place the baby in the Ergo baby carrier, make sure that the baby is seated well at the bottom of the carrier. If need be, ask an adult to grab the top edge of the carrier and pull on it as you bounce gently. This will make sure that the child is deeply seated in the carrier and has as much fabric as possible supporting his back.

As with any baby sling, the baby’s legs should be flexed and wide apart, almost resting on your hips.

Many parents find that a few sessions with an osteopath or a cranial osteopath also greatly helped their child settle in the baby carrier.

“It took me a few tries to adjust my Ergo baby carrier. I experimented with tightening each straps, loosening them, moving the chest strap higher or lower, moving the hip belt higher on my waist or lower on my hips. Once I had found what worked for me, it was incredibly comfortable. I could carry my son for hours without any ache. It was worth experimenting what worked for me”, says Ann.

Here are a few tips. Don’t hesitate to let us know if you have more questions. Are you an experienced ‘babywearer’ with advice for other parents? Get in touch with us, we’d love to hear from you.

Tip of the day: Making your Ergo baby carrier more comfortable is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Using your child carrier on your back (2)
2. Baby sling glossary, E like Ergo baby carrier
3. The Ergo baby carrier raincover: a clever design to keep baby dry

child carrier

With so many baby slings to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which child carrier to buy for your baby. To decide which child carrier will suit your baby most, you need to think about how your will be using it. Answering these simple five questions will help you think about what you expect from your baby sling and how you would like to use it.

1. How old is your baby? If you’re shopping while you’re pregnant or while your baby is a newborn, make sure that you child carrier is suitable from birth. If your baby is already a year old, check how long you can use it for.
2. Do you suffer from back pain? If you suffer from back pain, focus on a child carrier that will spread the weight of the baby efficiently across your back, shoulders and hips. To avoid having to lean forward or back, make sure that the baby can be held snugly against you.
3. Will you be using your child carrier while feeding your baby? Bottle feeding or breastfeeding can be made a lot easier using a baby sling. Some are easier than others, read the product description carefully or ask us for help.
4. What’s your lifestyle? Do you live in a city or the countryside? Do you take long hikes in the country, or are in and out of the car several times a day. Do you have older children to look after?
5. Does your baby have any health condition? For example, babies will reflux will need to be held upright in their child carrier for long periods of time.

Most baby slings can be used in all situations but each have their strengths and weaknesses, things they will be more adapted for. Choose your child carrier well and it will be much easier to use.

5 questions to help you choose your child carrier is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Using your child carrier on your back (2)
2. New to Natural Nursery, the Napsack baby carrier
3. 5 questions to choose reusable nappies

More ways Disana tie on organic nappy will save you money:

• The soft fabric adjusts easily for babies of different sizes and shapes, slim or chubby legs alike, ideal if you’re planning to use the nappies for younger siblings.

• It is one size from birth to potty so you can use the same nappies for years. For a newborn, fold the nappy over at the back and front to adjust it to suit your baby. If you do buy other reusable nappies as your baby grows (see note below about wrigglers!) they still make convenient back up nappies or extra stock for those days when every single reusable nappies are in the wash.

The Disana tie-on reusable nappy is an under-rated nappy. The knitted organic cotton is extremely soft. It feels like a snuggly sweater, something you do feel comfortable wrapping around your baby’s bottom.

They are made in Europe with no poppers or aplix it is a sturdy and simple reusable nappy.

The Disana tie on nappies aren’t among the most absorbent but as they are slim, it is easy to add a nappy booster.

These nappies can be fiddly to put on at first, especially with a wriggly baby. With the instructions and a bit of practice, you will soon get used to it. You can also cut the ties (be careful not to cut the nappy itself, just the ties) and use a nippa to secure it. Make sure the booster is placed under the nippa.

The Disana nappies are washed just as regular reusable nappies. Tie the ties loosely before washing to make sure they don’t end up twisted around your laundry.

With these nappies, you will need boosters and waterproof nappy wraps. Any of the nappy wraps will be suitable, including the Disana knitted wrap made of organic merino wool.

A reusable organic nappy for £2.25. Really? is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Reusable nappy: how many should I buy?
2. Reusable nappies don’t have to cost the earth, terry nappies…
3. Reusable nappies are now just as easy as a disposable nappies!

Babies can wiggle their legs without rumpling, they can enjoy skin on skin contact by rubbing their legs together as he did in the womb. No fiddly poppers to deal with during nappy changes. Baby sleepgowns made with soft organic cotton too! The wide neck opening will make it easier for babies who don’t like clothes being pulled over their heads

Frugi fair trade clothes are ideal for babies with eczema. The 100% organic cotton is soft on the skin and there is no scratchy label. The organic cotton is unbleached. The gorgeous colours are also obtained using environmentally responsible dyes.

Frugi clothing is extremely good value. The baby gowns are designed to be worn from birth to 6 months, and the high quality cotton is extremely durable, making it possible to pass the fair trade clothes to friends or younger siblings.

Frugi fair trade clothes is manufactured in rural India. Frugi pays great attention to to working conditions, wages and human rights. No employee is under 18 years of age and the company supports a local tribal school.

Frugi is also a member of 1% for the Planet, an alliance of businesses committed to using their resources to create a healthier planet.

No doubt the eye-catching new Seafari collection will be a hit with the children.

Frugi, fair trade clothes made to last is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. We love Frugi organic baby clothing!
2. Why I love organic baby clothing!
3. A new collection of baby wear timeless classics

reusable nappy

You’ve decided that wearing a reusable nappy will be better for your baby. Congratulations on your choice. Now comes the next question, how many cloth nappies do I need to buy?

There is no hard and fast rule, the answer will depend on a few factors:

• How old is your baby? Newborns need to be changed 8 to10 times a day so choosing quick washing nappies like terry or muslin nappies will save you time and money. Breastfed babies can be prone to liquid poo so you might want to plan a couple of extra waterproof wraps.

• Will you be using a reusable nappy for every change or part of the time?

• How often are you planning to wash your nappies? Every 1 to 3 days is the average. Will you wash the nappies separately or add them to your regular laundry?

• How will you dry the nappies? Tumble drying is quick but more expensive.

• What type of nappies will you be using? Flat nappies are quick to wash and dry but all-in-one take longer.

How many reusable nappies do I need to buy? The answer depends on the type of reusable nappy, on your child, and how you will be washing them. To allow for washing and drying time plus a few cloth nappies in stock, you can use these numbers as a guide:

• 20-25 nappies for a newborn
• 15-20 for a baby 6 months+
• plus around 5 waterproof covers as they do not need to be changed every time.

Choosing a combination of slow drying and quick drying nappies can help you save money. It seems a lot but remember, switching to reusable nappy can save you £500 on average for a first child.

Reusable nappy: how many should I buy? is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. A reusable organic nappy for £2.25. Really?
2. 5 questions to choose reusable nappies
3. Washing cloth nappies in 5 easy steps

Using an electric breast pump allowed me to go back to work

My son was born in March. Breastfeeding was a little difficult at first. He had a good latch and a great suckle reflex but his position wasn’t right. As he breastfed frequently, my nipples became sore. I used plenty of lanolin cream (a life saver) and my own breast milk to heal the nipples which only took a day!

We saw the lactation consultant early on and she was able to help me position my baby. After that moment, everything was perfect! I love nursing him. He always put his hands in his mouth right before we tried to nurse. So I tried swaddling him which really helped.

I had to go back to work at 6 weeks. I bought a double electric breastpump. (best purchase ever!) I got used to expressing breast milk four times a day: first thing in the morning when it was the easiest and three times while at work. It was quite easy because I had a private office to express milk. I became very consistent about expressing breast milk and breastfeeding. My milk supply increased. Using an electric breastpump allowed to express so much breast milk that we bought a separate freezer for storing breast milk. I even had enough breast milk to donate some to a new mum with pre-term twins.

Using an electric breast pump allowed me to continue breastfeeding is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Spotlight on Medela, supporting breastfeeding mothers since 1961
2. Welcome the newest addition to the Natural Nursery Family: Breastfeeding Naturally
3. One Million Campaign – World Breastfeeding

real nappy

This simple guide to the real nappy will help choose the best real nappy for your baby. You might prefer to buy all the same nappies or mix and match.

• Flat nappies, also called terry nappies. Made of a square of cotton terry towelling. They are affordable, easy to wash, quick to dry and durable. Flat nappies are versatile: the small terry nappies can be used as booster for toddlers and the large ones can be used as hand towels. They require a bit more practice for folding. Use a nippa to close the flat nappies and a waterproof wrap.

• Shaped nappies. A shaped real nappy is sewn in and pre-formed to be used just like a disposable nappy. The big advantage of shaped nappies is their ease of use and versatility: they adapt to babies of different sizes and body shapes. Some are sized (i.e. available in multiple sizes) or one-sized (the same nappy can be used for a newborn or toddler). You will need a waterproof wrap.

• All in one nappies: An all-in-one real nappy is the closest thing to a disposable nappy. The absorbent nappy, the waterproof wrap and often a soft lining are sewn together so they are very easy to use. Ideal for quick nappy changes and for carers who might not be used to nappies. The drawbacks are that they can take longer to dry, can be quite expensive and less durable.

• Pocket nappies are composed of a waterproof wrap and a soft fleece layer sewn in together. The flat adsorbent part of the nappy is stuffed in between those two layers and removed for washing and quick drying. Easy to use and wash, it can be more expensive than shaped nappies.

A simple guide to the real nappy world is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Reusable nappy: how many should I buy?
2. Pocket nappies: real nappies, really easy
3. Choosing real nappies for your baby

baby sling

You have received your babysling and are about to try it for the first time. Take a few minutes to read our top tips for using a babysling for the first time.

• Be patient. It takes time to learn a new skill, especially if this new skill involves a new baby who may not cooperate when you need him to. Welcome to the world of parenting! Take your time, it will be worthwhile.

• Relax. If you’re tense, your baby will pick up on your nervousness. On the contrary, if you relax, he or she will relax too.

• Choose a moment when your baby is content. A babysling does soothe crying babies but it’s best to learn when he is calm, fed, and changed.

• Familiarise yourself with the instructions. Your babysling will come with an instruction booklet or a DVD. Choose the carry that seems the easiest, usually the manufacturer will recommend one nd read that one, paying attention to the photos. Don’t try to learn all the carrying positions at once.

• Some videos might help. You can easily find babywearing videos on the internet showing you the carrying positions you can use with your babysling. Watching them will no doubt be useful.

• Practice with a doll. You practice putting on your babysling with a doll or a soft toy, sometimes even a pillow will do.

• Take a look in the mirror and compare with the manufacturer’s photos. Does it look the same? If your baby as high? Is the fabric spread out as on the photos or is it bunched up? Are the straps on your shoulders or riding up on your neck.

• Does it feel right? Most parents’ first reaction when they put their baby in a babysling is: Wow I can’t feel her weight. Is it how it feels? Does it feel comfortable and secure?

• Walk outside. Taking a brisk walk outside will remind your baby of your walking movement when he was in the womb. Many babies settle more easily that way than bouncing around the room.

Take your time and be gentle with yourself. You didn’t learn to drive in one day. With a little bit of patience, you will soon enjoy carrying your baby comfortably for years on.

Top tips for using a babysling for the first time is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Super cute! The doll & teddy baby backpack
2. Tips to use a baby sling for the first time
3. Using your baby slings on your back

breastfeeding in public

“Excuse me madam, were you about to nurse your baby?” asked the waiter.
“Oh no, here we are!” I thought

I was in a restaurant with our families and my 2-month old son. Friends had told me stories of how nursing mothers had been harassed when they were breastfeeding in public and asked to leave or cover up. I was fully expecting a negative comment when the waiter continued:

“Would you like a more comfortable chair?” the waiter continued.
“Oh!….yes, thank-you”, I was dumbfounded.

After changing my chair, he brought me a complimentary decaffeinated coffee and some chocolates. Talk about VIP treatment!

Fay sent us this story when her little boy was 7 months old and still happily breastfed.

Breastfeeding a baby is hard work, it takes determination, patience and perseverance so such warm welcome and recognition of their commitment to their children is always very much appreciated. Every time someone smiled to me or offered me a seat while I was breastfeeding my babies, it warmed my heart and left me smiling for the rest of the day, no matter how tired I was.

So if you come across a breastfeeding mother, don’t sigh and turn your head straight away. Look at her in the eyes, smile then turn your head! She is not doing anything illegal, she is feeding her child the way nature intended, the way that guarantees the best start in life for her baby. What would you prefer in the bus? A screaming baby? Or a contented baby snuggled up against his mum? Most likely you’ve come across dozens of nursing mothers before and never noticed them.

In the name of my fellow nursing mothers, we thank you for your support.

Breastfeeding in public, is it that difficult? is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Welcome the newest addition to the Natural Nursery Family: Breastfeeding Naturally
2. The benefits of breastfeeding, a nursing mother’s story
3. Mothering Sunday Breastfeeding Pressie

Medela

Before choosing the products to sell in Natural Nursery, we review dozens and dozens of products. We ask breastfeeding mums what they think of the products. Quality, easy of use, design, every aspect is carefully considered.

For breastfeeding mums, we have chosen to carry the Medela breastfeeding products. Medela has been a pioneer in supporting breastfeeding and serving mothers and babies since 1961. Medela actively promotes breastfeeding as the best form of nutrition for babies and young infants.

Breast milk provides baby with all the nutrients they need for the first six months of life and helps them to grow into healthy children. No other milk, food, drink or even water is required. The WHO recommends that children be breastfed at least until 2 year old.

Medela’s products are designed to support a mother’s desire to breastfeed her baby as she wishes. This means helping a mother maintain her milk supply when she is away from her baby either at birth or when she returns to work.

Their research has led to the development of breastfeeding aids that are physiologically correct and are easy to use, reliable and of a consistently high quality.

Extensive research on electric breastpump (University of Western Australia) has developed the 2-Phase Expression® technology (stimulation & expression), the only research-based breastpump that imitates the baby’s natural sucking rhythm, resulting in faster let-down, increased milk flow and reduced pumping time.

Medela is also the only manufacturer who continuously invests a significant share of its profits into medical research on breastfeeding.

The Medela breastfeeding pledge: “We pledge our dedication to breastfeeding as the best nutrition for babies and families. We further pledge that our breastfeeding accessory products and literature shall never be used to influence mothers to switch from breastfeeding to infant formula feeding or to promote artificial baby milk in any way.”

Spotlight on Medela, supporting breastfeeding mothers since 1961 is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. One Million Campaign – World Breastfeeding
2. Welcome the newest addition to the Natural Nursery Family: Breastfeeding Naturally
3. Why Use Nipple Shields When Breastfeeding?

Organic baby clothing

Frugi organic baby clothing is among our favourite, and our best sellers too. The high quality organic cotton makes the Frugi fair trade clothes incredibly soft and strong. Along with the unisex design, it means that you can start shopping before your baby is born and can pass their clothes to younger siblings.
All Frugi fair trade clothes are cut a little bigger for reusable nappies and extra wiggle room.

Frugi has introduced the new Seafari sleepsuit, a playful twist on the old safari print favourite. The cute designs and cheerful colours make it a favourite with the children too. “My little boy learnt to say animal names by pointing at his sleepsuit in the morning”, says Laura.

Why choose Frugi organic baby clothing:

• Frugi is renowed for high quality organic cotton
• Unisex designs hard to find on the high street
• Nickle free poppers to crotch and legs for safety
• Comfortable Ribbed neck and cuffs
• Generous cut
• Organic baby clothing lasts and lasts and lasts
• Available from newborn to 24 months.

All Frugi/Cut4Cloth fair trade clothes are:

• Ethically manufactured.
• Made using 100% organic cotton hand picked in rural India in a government declared Bio-Zone and will soon carry Soil Association certification.
• Help support the environment via donations to efforts that protect and restore our natural environment.
• Unbleached or coloured using environmentally responsible dyes.
• Wash and wear fantastically due to its superb quality.

Warning, this blog post is ever so slightly biased! We have been working with Frugi (and Cut4Cloth) for years and have always been very impressed with the the quality of the clothes and the ethics of the company.

We love Frugi organic baby clothing! is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Why I love organic baby clothing!
2. Frugi, fair trade clothes made to last
3. Girly girl organic clothing: save money, shop during the sale!

You will be able to use your Gabe & Grace lambskin in the pram, in the car seat, as a playmat. Many children become attached to their lambskin. Give your little one a scent from home by taking it to the childminder or grand parents. The Gabe & Grace lambskins won a Sliver Award in the Practical Preschool awards and were featured in The Daily Mail as one of “10 best child soothers”.

Why choose a sheepskin for your baby?

• Helps regulate baby’s temperature all year around and when they’re ill
• Soft for baby’s delicate skin
• Naturally anti-bacterial
• Cleaned and sterilised for children use
• FREE from pesticides, formaldehyde and chrome
• Lovely natural colour
• Easy to wash
• Generous size (approx 55cm wide x 95 cm long)

The sheepskins and lambskins meet the guidelines of the International Association Natural Textile Industry (IVN) for safe tanning process and meets UK fire regulations.

Soft materials are generally not recommended as bedding for babies under one year old. If used as part of bedding we recommend that children under the age of one are positioned on their backs and that the sheepskin is covered with a cotton sheet.

A delightful addition to a natural nursery: sheepskin and lambskin is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Not just organic baby bedding, an heirloom
2. Welcome the newest addition to the Natural Nursery Family: Breastfeeding Naturally
3. Choosing your natural baby shampoo

Here are a few tips to make washing your baby’s hair easier.

• Choose baby natural shampoo. Baby natural shampoo should be paraben free and SLS free. It will soft on your baby’s skin and won’t sting her eyes should a little bit of lather get in.

• If you’re unsure, you can ask your midwife to show you how to wash your baby’s hair.

• Make sure you have everything handy (baby natural shampoo, flannels, towel, warm water, baby thermometer) and that the room is warm and cosy.

• It is just as easy to bathe a newborn in the sink or a baby bath. Cradle your baby into your arm, supporting her firmly. With the other hand, wet your baby’s hair with a soft flannel and gently rub a little bit of baby natural shampoo on the scalp. Be very gentle but there’s no need to avoid the soft spots. Use another clean flannel to rinse her hair. Rub her scalp gently to make sure there is no lather appearing.

• Once she’s dry, use a soft-bristled brush to brush your baby’s hair.

Remember, you don’t have to wash your child’s hair every day. Most health professionals agree that two to three times a week is sufficient.

Next week, we’ll look at tips for washing toddlers’ hair.

Tips to wash your newborn’s hair with natural shampoo is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. 10 tips to make baby bath time fun
2. Choosing your natural baby shampoo
3. Customer review, we love your natural baby products

Motherease Mother ease

When it comes to nappies, quality is essential. You want to be able to use, wash, dry the nappies day in and day out for years on. They can be used with a first child, then passed on to a younger sibling or sold on.

Motherease nappies fit the bill: quality, convenience and durability. The Motherease nappies are among the most popular nappies, and rightly so. You will need a nappy and an outer waterproof wrap, both available from Motherease.

Advantages of the Mother ease nappies:

• One size from birth to potty (8-35lbs / 3.5-16kgs)
• Reasonably priced
• Excellent resistance to washing and drying
• Very good resale value
• Soft stretchy fabric available in standard cotton, bamboo or organic cotton
• The organic Mother ease nappy has been voted best new organic non-food product by the Soil Association.
• Snap-in a liner for extra absorbency at night

Disadvantages:

• One size nappies can look a bit bulky on newborns
• and can be outgrown by very big toddlers before potty training

To make nappy changes easier, you can add a flushable nappy liner. Mother ease offers an all-in-one nappy, ideal for quick nappy changes, to make the life of the child-minder easier or convince a reluctant partner that reusable nappies are just as easy as disposable nappies. For added comfort, the Mother ease ‘Dry’ nappy has polyester inner layer that allows urine through to keep baby’s skin dry.

You can’t go wrong with the Mother ease reusable nappies!

Do you use Mother ease nappies, let us know what you think of them. If you have some photos of your baby wearing Motherease reusable nappies, we’d love to feature them on the blog.

Motherease nappies: quality, convenience and durability is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Reusable nappies don’t have to cost the earth, terry nappies…
2. Reusable nappies are now just as easy as a disposable nappies!
3. Choosing real nappies for your baby

slings

You have decided to use slings with your baby but you’re not sure where to start. You’ve come to the right place: our easy guide to slings will present the various types of slings so you can choose which one will suit you and your baby best.

• Ring Slings are the easiest slings to use for breastfeeding. They are made of a piece of fabric threaded through two rings, forming a loop. Worn over the shoulder, it forms a pocket where the baby can be carried sitting or lying down. Easy to take on and off, it is suitable for newborns and toddlers alike.

• Baby Wraps are extremely versatile slings. You tie the fabric around your body and slip the baby inside securely. Your baby can be carried on your front, back or hip. Baby wraps can either by stretchy wraps or woven wraps. Baby wraps are particularly recommended for young babies, babies with reflux and parents suffering from back problems. The weight is well distributed so it remains comfortable even with a heavy toddler. There is a learning curve to wraps.

• Soft baby carriers and baby backpacks are also extremely popular as they are convenient and easy to use. Tie-on baby carriers are inspired from Asian baby carriers, two straps tied at the waist and two straps are wrapped around the shoulders and back. The buckle baby backpacks like the Ergo baby carrier can be used from birth to toddler.

• Pouch Slings are easy to use. They are sewn into a tubular shape to hold the baby securely in place. The pouch is slipped over the wearer’s head and worn sash-style across the body. Pouches are easy to you but you need to choose your baby pouch size correctly as most aren’t adjustable.

We hope you found this quick guide useful, don’t hesitate to contact us to find out which slings will suit your needs most.

An easy guide to slings is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. A world of baby slings
2. A glossary of baby slings, part 1
3. The ‘babywearing’ coat to wear over your baby sling

Breastfeeding advice

New mums hear it over and over: ‘Breast is best‘. Yet few of us are familiar with breastfeeding before our baby is born. We might not have had other nursing mothers around us to learn from.

Trust yourself. Remember that nature has planned for women to feed their babies. The culture of artificial infant feeding is making natural feeding more difficult.

Here are a few suggestions to prepare yourself to breastfeed.

Learn. The more information you will have, the easier it will be to take in all the breastfeeding advice – often conflicting – you are given when your baby is born and make your own decisions with the help of health professionals if need be.

Talk about breastfeeding with your antenatal midwife. Make sure that she is supportive of breastfeeding and is trained to give you support and breastfeeding advice.

A supportive partner is essential for successful breastfeeding. Explain to your partner how he can support you, prepare snacks and drinks, pass you the baby, be supportive when you are encountering difficulties…

While you’re pregnant, make a list of all the breastfeeding resources available in your area. Should things not go smoothly at some point, it will be a lot easier to have their contact details handy so you can find breastfeeding advice quickly.

We hope you have found this article interesting. For more breastfeeding information, visit BreastfeedingNaturally.co.uk.

The best way to prepare for 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. It’s your pregnancy, take the time to enjoy it.
3. Why Use Nipple Shields When Breastfeeding?

A customer emailed us asking for ideas to give parents who just had twins. Shopping new baby gifts is always fun, shopping for twins is doubly fun! Here are some ideas of what I would get. What about you? If you had twins, what would you have loved to received (apart from the ability to clone yourself)

For bath time, baby towel ponchos would be good to keep one baby warm while mummy gets the second one out of the bath. We have a few more Green baby towel ponchos on sale for little girls.

Baby shoes are also lovely new baby gifts.

You might also want to give one present for both twins. Earth Friendly baby make a lovely gift pack of organic baby bath products. We also love the Natalia baby gift box.  It’s full of natural products for total bliss to enjoy the new babies and to bring the benefits of nurture, nourishing skin care, relaxation and positive touch into the family life.

Something for the new mum would be lovely too. After all, she needs love and attention to recover from the pregnancy, birth and life with two babies. Mummies deserve a special treat and this special skin balm from Natalia is just perfect.

Most of all, the new parents will need a baby sling. A baby sling will allow mum (or dad) to carry one child while tending to the other one, changing a nappy, feeding, comforting, playing…. You can’t go wrong with the Ergo baby sling. It’s dad-friendly, a great way for dads to help out.

You may also consider giving presents that will be used when the child is older. Newborns are often showered with gifts at birth so give something the twin babies may use more later on.  For that, I really like the TotSeat. You can imagine being in a restaurant and trying to keep two toddlers at the table, one is usually difficult enough!

What about you? If you had twins, what would you have loved to received (apart from the ability to clone yourself)

New baby gifts: some ideas for twins is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Natalia: gentle organic products for your baby
2. Choosing your natural baby shampoo
3. 10 tips to make baby bath time fun

Home made hobby horse

It’s raining, kids are bored, they seem to be bored with the mountain of toys in their bedroom, what shall we do?

I regularly buy new small toys or plan activities in advance so I can turn a boring day into magical fun within minutes. Sometimes, you just have to improvise.

Today, I remember that my little boy played with his friend’s hobby horse a whole afternoon last time we visited them. No hobby horse around here, no way I’m trekking to the shops on a rainy to get one. I’m also not keen on buying toys that will only be played with a handful of times. Even if traditional hobby horses look lovely with their soft fur and cute eyes, there won’t be space in their room to keep it.

Out comes the trusted cardboard!

Supplies:

• A small pole or stick
• Packing tape
• Some ribbons, paper strips, gift string
• Eyes were from the local supermarket or you can draw them with felt pens
• Scissors

Print out the hobby horse head.
Cut around it
Draw the shape of the head on the cardboard (twice)
Ask an adult to cut the cardboard head shapes
Stick them together with packing tape leave a small space on one corner for the pole
Slide the pole in and secure it with tape
Draw or glue the eyes
Ask an adult to cut a couple of small holes with a sharp knife or a knitting needle through the cardboard. Thread the ribbons and tie.

Et voila! Now you can make a second to whiz around and race with a friend!

It’s not the prettiest toy ever and not meant to last but making it taught the children to draw a shape, cut, stick, and will keep them entertained for the rest of the afternoon. When they’re done with, take it apart, reuse what can be reuse and recycle the rest.

Things to do with the kids: a recycled hobby horse is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. A play kitchen is so much fun for children
2. Packaging
3. Discover the secret to children playing happily for hours

As a new mum, you’re taken in in a whirlwind of events and emotions. Strangers and relatives alike give you advice on pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding (or not) and child-rearing. Their advice is often more driven by their own experiences than genuine interest in what YOU want. People feel the need to touch your bump. You are told to start shopping early, but not too early, there are hospital appointments to attend…

In the midst of all this, take the time to breathe. Pregnancy is a very special time in the life of a woman. Pregnancy is a sacred time.

Slow down. Take the time to think about yourself and your baby. Focus your attention on this new life growing inside you.

As new mothers, we are often encouraged to leave our health in the hands of health professionals but only YOU know THIS baby as intimately. By the time your baby is born, you have already spent nine months together, sleeping, eating, going to work, breathing together… Once you focus your attention on yourself, you can learn to listen and trust your instincts.

Listening and trusting your instincts can greatly help you during labour, birth and when your child is born.

Enjoy your pregnancy, it’s a very special time indeed.

A baby is born.

A mother is born.

It’s your pregnancy, take the time to enjoy it. is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. How your breasts change throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding
2. Mothering the mother, the doula support during childbirth
3. The best way to prepare for breastfeeding

organic baby shampoo

Children can get nervous about bath time at times. It doesn’t have to be that way, bath time shouldn’t be a chore for mum or a tense moment for baby. It can be a relaxing moment for everyone, full of giggle and laughter.

Here are our top 10 tips to make bath time fun for babies and toddlers.

1. Bath time is an ideal moment for fathers to bond with their children. Why not leave it up to daddy?
2. Warm up the bathroom. Especially in winter, make sure the room feels nice and cosy.
3. Check the water temperature and stir it to even out the temperature. Ensure that you have everything you need within reach so you never have to leave your child. Babies can drown in very little water.
4. Bath toys! Choose bath toys that can easily be cleaned and preferably from natural material. Bath toys don’t have to be purposely bought. An empty bottle of organic baby shampoo, a plastic hammer or bowl can be lots of fun. When the bath is over, put the toys away in a plastic bucket or net to keep the bathroom tidy and easily to clean.
5. Start teaching your children to undress themselves. Autonomy is learnt one step at a time. As a game, you can also name each item as you remove it. For toddler, you can play how quickly can you get undressed?
6. It’s never too early to teach children to pop dirty clothes in the laundry basket (keep those handy), the old basketball hoop trick works every time!
7. Bubbles! Lots of bubbles! Not the SLS nasty kind of bubbles. Paraben free bubbles. Soft organic baby bubble bath.
8. Make it a game to wet your child’s hair. A gentle organic baby shampoo won’t sting his eyes. You can use an empty organic baby shampoo bottle to rinse his hair.
9. Dry baby quickly so he doesn’t get cold. For babies, we love a hooded towel as you can wrap them up quickly. For toddlers, bath robes and ponchos are ideal.
10. If your baby enjoys it, a gentle baby massage with olive oil or organic baby care cream is a lovely way to end a relaxing routine.

Remember, babies don’t need to have a bath every day. Many health professionals advise 2 to 4 times a week being enough and avoids drying their delicate skin.

10 tips to make baby bath time fun is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Customer review, we love your natural baby products
2. Tips to wash your newborn’s hair with natural shampoo
3. Choosing your natural baby shampoo

Cloth Nappies

People say that using cloth nappies is cumbersome and takes time. That might have been true for the generation of our grand parents but cloth nappies have come a long way since then. Over the last ten years, cloth nappies companies – most of them founded by mothers – have set out to design nappies that were washable AND easy to use.

Washing cloth nappies is easy and doesn’t take more than a couple of minutes. Follow our simple 5 steps to washing cloth nappies:

• Pop the poo in the toilet. You should do this anyway, even with disposable nappies. It avoids nasty smells in the bathroom and is more hygienic. Rinse the nappy briefly under water. Wring.

• Place the wet nappy in a bucket. Every now and then, add a few drops of natural disinfectant like tea tree oil and a couple of tablespoons of baking soda in the bucket. You can choose to wet or dry pail (have water in the bucket or not)

• Pop the wet nappy in the washing machine. Cloth nappies can be washed along with the rest of your laundry. Once your baby is over 3 months and apart from special circumstances, a 40 degrees wash is sufficient.

• Dry as you dry the rest of your laundry. Some nappies are quick drying, others take a little bit longer. If you choose to tumble dry, you might reduce the lifespan of your nappies, especially the wraps.

• Fold. Nappies are simple, that’s easily and quickly done.

Done! Some clean cloth nappies, ready for the next time.

Washing cloth nappies in 5 easy steps is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Washing your wonderoos reusable nappies in 6 easy steps
2. Choosing real nappies for your baby
3. Reusable nappy: how many should I buy?

baby carriers

If you’re planning to travel with your baby or toddler, get into ‘babywearing’ without loosing a moment. Baby carriers make travelling so much easier.

Your baby will be able to nap whenever he needs and wherever you are. He will be able to snuggle his face in your chest or on your neck, forget the rest of the world and doze off. You will also be able to breastfeed whenever you wish, even where there is no convenient place to sit down.

If you are travelling by plane, focus on baby carriers without metal components. In some cases, you will be allowed to go through security without removing your baby. Based on our experience, it doesn’t work every time but it’s worth a try! Using baby carriers means you will have an easy way to get to the luggage belt when the buggies aren’t brought up to the aircraft door as I’ve seen happen regularly.

The baby carriers will also provide your baby with some comfort and security. When everything around your baby changes, new environment, new bed, new people, new toys, baby can become unsettled and weary. Giving him the familiarity of his favourite sling and the comfort of your closeness will allow him to adjust more easily.

This isn’t just for his benefits, but also for yourself. Having a contented baby while you’re travelling is essential to making the holidays an enjoyable time for you everyone.

Baby carriers make travelling so easy is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. New in stock the organic Ergo baby carriers, comfortable and so soft!
2. Noonoo Natural Baby Toys
3. Choosing an infant carrier

Using nipple shields can help breastfeeding

When my son was born, I was so happy and really looked forward to being a new mum. In hospital, breastfeeding went well. The nurses would help me latch my son on to me correctly.

When we arrived home, it became much harder as William couldn’t latch on correctly. I became very emotional and felt like a failure because I could not get him positioned.

My sister came over to help and brought some nipple shields. I found these a life saver and with these I could get my son to latch on and take my milk. Gradually I managed to wean my son off from the nipple shields. The nipple shields made breastfeeding in public difficult so I was glad to stop using them and start going out more often.

My son wouldn’t settle when he was lying down so I took him to see a cranial osteopath. She noticed that as he had a trapped shoulder from being delivered by ventouse. This might very well have been the underlying cause for the breastfeeding problems. After a few sessions she relieved his trapped nerve and he became a completely different baby.

William was now contented and would settle much more easily. I wish that I had taken him to Cranium Osteopath when he was only days old. It would have saved William and I a lot of stress and upset from the latching on issues.

William is now 11 months old, and I still breast feed him. I am so glad that I never gave up on trying to breast feed and feel this has helped the two of us share a close bond.

Please note: whilst nipple shields are an excellent way to protect sore and cracked nipples, if the symptoms persist we recommend that you consult your midwife or breastfeeding counsellor as incorrect positioning and/or latch are often the cause of soreness. Using nipple shields for prolonged periods of time can interfere with your milk supply and cause nipple confusion.

When nipples shields can help breastfeeding is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Why Use Nipple Shields When Breastfeeding?
2. Help for Breastfeeding Mothers with Flat Nipples
3. Using an electric breast pump allowed me to continue breastfeeding

organic baby clothing

I had heard about the Frugi (then cut4cloth) organic baby clothing range when my baby was little. It wasn’t until I visited the Natural Nursery shop that was then in Bristol that I had a chance to actually see and touch the clothes.

The organic baby clothing was amazing: extremely soft to the touch, it also looked sturdy. The trousers were all lined also with soft organic cotton. I haven’t seen any baby clothes as soft as the Frugi organic baby clothing.

I bought a pair of trousers and some pyjamas for my little one. When they became too small, they were passed to a cousin then to his little brother. Now they’re packed up and ready to be sent to another little cousin about to be born. They’ve been worn, washed, dried, tumbled dried, have gone down slides, shuffled around the floor when the babies learnt to crawl and are still in very good condition.

It shows that buying good quality organic baby clothing is also very good value. Would some cheap pair of trousers last through 4 children? I don’t think so.

What also decided me to buy Frugi is that they are fair trade clothes. It means I’m doing my part to ensure the workers in another country have the opportunity to prosper just as I do. Instead of buying clothing that is cheap to manufacture and purchase, I prefer high quality organic baby clothing as well as fair trade standards.

Have you bought organic baby clothing for your little ones? What did you think? We’d love to hear from you.

Why I love organic baby clothing! is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. We love Frugi organic baby clothing!
2. Girly girl organic clothing: save money, shop during the sale!
3. Frugi, fair trade clothes made to last

Reusable nappies

With so many reusable nappies to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which ones to buy for your baby. To decide which reusable nappies will suit your baby most, you need to think about how your will be using them. Answering these simple five questions will help you get started.

• About your baby: Are you buying the cloth nappies while you’re pregnant? Are you planning to use them from birth? If not, how old is your baby? Is your baby chubby or slim? Is your child a heavy wetter?

• Who is caring for the baby? Will other people be changing your baby’s nappies? Is he looked after by grand-parents, a child minder or nursery workers? (If other people will be looking after him, you want something simple)

• How will you wash the nappies? Do you have space to store the wet nappies? Where will you be drying the nappies? (If you’re short of space, quick drying reusable nappies are a good option)

• Will you have more than one child in reusable nappies at one time? In this case, one-size reusable nappies are preferable so you have one pack of nappies for both children). Are you planning to have more children. Reusable nappies can easily be passed down to younger siblings making them an even better investment.

• What is your budget? Research shows that using cloth nappies could save £500 for a first child and even more for subsequent children as there will be no need to buy new nappies. (Research done by the Women Environmental Network in 2005). Cloth nappies are a sound investment. You can either buy a pack of the same brand, or mix and match various brands and nappy systems or buy a few nappies a month as your budget allows.

Thinking about how you will use your reusable nappies is the best place to start to buy the right nappies for your baby.

5 questions to choose reusable nappies is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Reusable nappies don’t have to cost the earth, terry nappies…
2. Reusable nappy: how many should I buy?
3. Washing cloth nappies in 5 easy steps

breastfeeding calendar

Celebrating the beauty of breastfeeding, babies and family, this full colour calendar takes you through the twelve months of 2010, November/December 2009 and January/February 2011.

With stunning images selected from thousands of submitted photos, the ABA calendar is an easy to use calendar featuring large squares to keep track of family events and important dates.

By purchasing this calendar, you will support the Australian Breastfeeding Association.

2010 Australian Breastfeeding Association Calendar is out! is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Welcome the newest addition to the Natural Nursery Family: Breastfeeding Naturally
2. What’s Rubbish Game, 20% off
3. The best way to prepare for breastfeeding

baby sling

There are many reasons to use a baby sling. You can use one just to go places, or around the house. Because ‘babywearing’ is convenient or because NOT using a sling was just driving you mad and tying you to the house. Here are our favourite reasons for using a baby sling, what are yours?

1. You need your hands free to get things done around the house or look after older siblings.
2. Using a pram on a bus or on the tube is hard work.
3. The closeness is just lovely. Babies grow up so fast, enjoy their baby hood as much as possible.
4. Daddy can catch up on bonding time with baby.
5. Being carried comforts a baby. Babies carried during the day cry 50% less in the evening.
6. A baby sling can help soothe a baby with reflux.
7. Baby can nap any time he wants snuggled up against your chest, you’re not stuck at home.
8. You can breastfeed your baby discreetly when you’re out and about. At home, using a baby sling while breastfeeding frees one hand to read a book with your toddler, stroke your baby’s head or chat to friends on the phone.
9. A well fitted baby sling will avoid strain on your back by spreading the weight efficiently.
10. Baby slings are just so pretty, it’s like a whole new shoe addiction!

We’d love to hear from you, what are your favourite reasons for using a baby sling?

Our top 10 reasons to use a baby sling is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Breastfeeding ‘protects mother’
2. Why use a breastfeeding shawl?
3. Baby Sling from Baby Sense

The Ergo baby bibs make a great new baby gift

Just arrived from Ergo baby, the company behind the Ergo baby carrier, are this clever baby bibs.

The Natural Nursery team reviews hundreds of baby and children products to bring you only the best. Every now and then, we find a new product and think: “Wow I wish I had had one of them when my child was little!”. The clever design combines a baby bib and a table mat to ensure relatively mess-free mealtimes.

That’s why I love giving the Ergo baby bibs as a new baby gift. New babies are showered with new baby gifts they outgrow very quickly. I like giving something that the parents will enjoy from when their child is 6 months to well… until they know how to eat properly by themselves.

When a baby starts discovering solid foods, it is important to let them ‘play’ with the food. Grasping a piece of banana, avocado or cooked carrot, discovering its texture, picking something out of your plate is all part of the learning. If you haven’t come across baby led weaning before, take a look at Baby Led Weaning: Helping Your Baby To Love Good Food. It gives a refreshing perspective, advising that there is no need to mash all the baby’s food. Just let them experience a broccoli, as it is, not as green mush, but as an actual broccoli.

The Ergo baby bibs are very good value. Sold by pack of 4, each bib has a different embroidery. The bibs are practical and easy to machine wash. They are made of cotton terry cloth with polyester coated backing.

The Ergo baby Bibs, a lovely idea for a new baby gift is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. A play kitchen is so much fun for children
2. Protecting your Ergo baby back carrier with the sucking pads
3. Super cute! The doll & teddy baby backpack

Benefits of breastfeeding

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

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

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

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

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

The benefits of breastfeeding, a nursing mother’s story is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Welcome the newest addition to the Natural Nursery Family: Breastfeeding Naturally
2. Using an electric breast pump allowed me to continue breastfeeding
3. Spotlight on Medela, supporting breastfeeding mothers since 1961

Lacing Game Stocking Filler

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

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

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

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

Ethical Christmas Shopping Guide, Day 3 is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Junk-free Advent calendars and Christmas stockings at Natural Nursery
2. Christmas Shopping Guide
3. Hours of play guaranteed with this lovely wooden toy collection

play kitchen

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

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

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

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

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

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

A play kitchen is so much fun for children is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Things to do with the kids: a recycled hobby horse
2. Making healthy eating fun
3. Free Green colouring book pages to print and colour

Breastfeeding Naturally supports nursing mothers

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

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

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

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

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

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

Welcome the newest addition to the Natural Nursery Family: Breastfeeding Naturally is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. celebrate the launch of a new Site: Breastfeeding Naturally & win £100 gift voucher
2. The benefits of breastfeeding, a nursing mother’s story
3. Breastfeeding in public, is it that difficult?

playhouse

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

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

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

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

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

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

Discover the secret to children playing happily for hours is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. A play kitchen is so much fun for children
2. 25% off Childrens’ Books
3. 10 more ways reusable bags can save you time and money!

Sophie the Giraffe

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

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

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

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

Christmas Shopping Guide is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Our top tips for a green Christmas
2. Christmas in October? Really? That early?
3. Junk-free Advent calendars and Christmas stockings at Natural Nursery

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

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

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

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

The Ergo Baby front pouch, a clever nappy bag is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. New in stock the organic Ergo baby carriers, comfortable and so soft!
2. Tip of the day: Making your Ergo baby carrier more comfortable
3. Ergo Baby Sport v Ergo Baby New Gen II – What are the differences?

natural baby shampoo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Choosing your natural baby shampoo is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Tips to wash your newborn’s hair with natural shampoo
2. Customer review, we love your natural baby products
3. Natalia: gentle organic products for your baby

Organic Ergo baby carriers

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

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

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

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

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

Which ones are your favourite baby carriers?

New in stock the organic Ergo baby carriers, comfortable and so soft! is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Baby sling glossary, E like Ergo baby carrier
2. Ergo Baby Sport v Ergo Baby New Gen II – What are the differences?
3. Tip of the day: Making your Ergo baby carrier more comfortable

We have the new giraffe print baby towel reduced to £22.49 – that is 25% off.

Also, the best-selling Cuddlemoo toddler poncho/towel, again is reduced to £22.49.

We have sold over 80% of our original sale stock of Cuddledry towels, so these won’t stay around for long.

They are premium quality and a great pressie to hide away for Christmas.

Reduced Organic Cuddledry Baby Towels is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Sale now on at The Natural Nursery
2. Girly girl organic clothing: save money, shop during the sale!
3. Clearance Sale

A coat to wear over any baby sling

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

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

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

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

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

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

The ‘babywearing’ coat to wear over your baby sling is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. It’s cold out there! Baby Slings to wrap up warm.
2. The Ergo Baby front pouch, a clever nappy bag
3. The Ergo baby carrier raincover: a clever design to keep baby dry

Ethical gifts for Christmas

It is easy to fill the children’s Advent calendars and the Christmas stockings full junk, plastic toys which will discarded tomorrow, with of chocolate and sweets. I love looking for special ideas, little toys that will challenge their creativity and their skills. Toys that will give them hours of play for several months.

First on my list are definitely the Hama Beads, especially now that they are on special! The Hama beads stimulate children creativity with the various designs and colourful patterns. Hama beads also helps them develop finger dexterity, preparing them for writing. Children place the little beads on the peg board, then an adult irons them out, securing them in a lovely pattern.

The Lifecycle Layer Puzzle is an other adorable toy that your child will enjoy for hours. Each educational puzzle is built up in layers showing the different stages in the development of the creature, from egg through to adult. It challenges the child’s manipulation and problem solving skills.

The box of magnetic letters can be given as a whole or place a couple of letters in each day of the Advent calendar. The colourful letters are easy for toddlers to manipulate and an introduction to reading through play. They are made from sustainable wood to strict fair labour standards.

Stocking fillers can be a chance to make bath time fun, naturally! Wrap your baby in a blanket of bubbles with this natural baby bubble bath from Burt’s Bees is a mild, with soft vanilla extract scent.

Wooden Toy Fruit

Our kids also loved the wooden toy fruit, we placed a couple of fruit for a week in each day of the Advent calendar. They seemed excited to try to guess what the next day would bring. The wooden toy fruit are chunky enough for toddlers to handle. It was sweet to see big sister and little brother play together with these wooden toy fruit.

Junk-free Advent calendars and Christmas stockings at Natural Nursery is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Hours of play guaranteed with this lovely wooden toy collection
2. A play kitchen is so much fun for children
3. Huge Clearance Sale Now Started

baby backpack for dollies

Cute cute cute is all I would say about this doll baby backpack! Actually I will say more but cute is the first thing that comes to mind.

This adorable baby backpack is actually not for babies but for dolls & teddies (it will also happily accommodate elephants, and monkeys, but not baby brothers…).

It is made to the same high quality standard as the Ergo baby carrier and is even easier to use. You can slip teddy in its little pocket inside to keep it comfy and secure. This baby backpack for dollies was designed by Karin Frost, the designer of the Ergo baby carrier with the cooperation of her son Keala & his friends. It is designed to fit children from 3 to 6 year-old.

It’s not just because it’s cute that we decided to bring the doll baby backpack to Natural Nursery. Being able to copy mummy and daddy looking after a younger sibling can help a child deal with the emotions attached to the arrival of a new baby in the family. Somewhere in their little mind, it also plants the seed that carrying your babies is the ‘normal’ way of looking after them, and hopefully, when comes the time for them to have their own children, they will remember it and choose to ‘babywear’.

A great new baby gift  for an older sibling!

Do you have photos of your children carrying their soft toys? Send them over, we would love to share a gallery of babywearing children.

Super cute! The doll & teddy baby backpack is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. The Ergo Baby front pouch, a clever nappy bag
2. Tip of the day: Making your Ergo baby carrier more comfortable
3. Protecting your Ergo baby back carrier with the sucking pads

breastfeeding

Help other mums breastfeed their babies and win a £100 gift voucher! We all take comfort in support from mums around us and knowing that other women have been there before us can make a big difference. Tell us your breastfeeding story and share it with other mums. If you can, send us a photo as well.

We look forward to sharing your experiences. Whether you found it easy or struggled, whether you stayed at home or went back to work and continued breastfeeding, whether you had support from your partner, travelled a lot, had older children to keep happy, breastfed your toddler… Share your stories.

Your breastfeeding stories will be published on our new website Breastfeeding Naturally. Breastfeeding Naturally will launch in a few weeks, bringing mums in the UK everything they need to breastfeed their babies successfully.

Send your stories to competition@naturalnursery.co.uk before November 7th. The winner will be drawn at random among the entries. To be entered, stories will be 150 words minimum and include a note to say you agree to see your story (and photo if applicable) published.

celebrate the launch of a new Site: Breastfeeding Naturally & win £100 gift voucher is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Welcome the newest addition to the Natural Nursery Family: Breastfeeding Naturally
2. The benefits of breastfeeding, a nursing mother’s story
3. Spotlight on Medela, supporting breastfeeding mothers since 1961

organic products

A baby’s skin is so delicate, it is important to use only the most gentle, organic products. To give you a chance to discover these beautifully hand crafted organic products, we are pleased to offer you 10% off the Natalia range of natural skin care organic products for pregnancy, labour and new babies.

I like supporting UK business and the fact that Natalia organic products are handmade in Devon is a plus. Natalia only choose the highest quality organic and wild crafted ingredients to make their wonderful pregnancy, new baby and new parent products for mind, body and soul. They are guaranteed free from paraben, SLS, mineral oils and petrochemicals. No product has been tested on animals and they are suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

These beautiful boxes make wonderful, thoughtful gifts for parents-to-be, new mummies and daddies and new babies.

I particularly love the Blissful Baby Box as a new baby gift. Babies receive a lot of presents when they’re born but supporting a new mum in anyway I can is something important to me.

Natalia: gentle organic products for your baby is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Reduced Organic Toiletries
2. Choosing your natural baby shampoo
3. Customer review, we love your natural baby products

ergo baby back carrier

If you use a baby wrap or a ring sling, popping them in the washing machine with your regular laundry is easy.

Your baby back carrier or an Asian baby carrier will last longer if you spot clean it and wash it only sporadically. Hand wash you baby sling or use the washing machine on a very gentle cycle according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

To protect your Ergo baby back carrier when baby is dribbling or teething, Ergo has designed these very clever sucking pads. The soft pads velcro around the shoulder straps of your baby back carrier at the level of your baby’s face. Your baby can chew, suck, dribble away, your Ergo baby carrier is protected.

Take them off, pop them in the washing machine. You can even buy two pairs of Ergo sucking pads to make sure you always have one handy! Babywearing made easy.

Protecting your Ergo baby back carrier with the sucking pads is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. The Ergo Baby front pouch, a clever nappy bag
2. Tip of the day: Making your Ergo baby carrier more comfortable
3. The Ergo baby carrier raincover: a clever design to keep baby dry

organic cotton scarf

It’s getting really cold out there!

Wrap your little one – or not so little one actually – in this lovely 100% organic cotton fleece scarf. Available in pink or green, it is incredibly soft and warm. Now 50% off at £3.49

Also available in the 50% sale are organic wool gloves by Disana reduced to £4.49 (3-5y) as well as the organic merino wool baby jacket .

I’m a big fan of the waterproof dungarees (18-24m), so you can head out to the park by any weather (not necessarily IN the rain but AFTER the rain!)

It’s getting cold out there! keep the kids warm is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. It’s cold out there! Baby Slings to wrap up warm.
2. The ‘babywearing’ coat to wear over your baby sling
3. Not just organic baby bedding, an heirloom

Ring sling

The amazing sale continues at Natural Nursery. The Baby Sense Ring Sling is reduced to £19.99
This baby sling has been designed to encourage parents to carry their babies in the optimal position. The baby sling’s soft fabric cocoons the new baby in a foetal position, which supports the neck well – essential for the newborn. Curled up snugly and close to the parent the baby is calmed in a familiar womb-like environment.

Another baby sling reduced to £19.99! is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Baby Sling from Baby Sense
2. Clearance Sale
3. Half price baby slings

Ideas for a green(er) Christmas

Let’s try to be a bit more gentle on the planet this Christmas. We have collected some ideas for a greener Christmas (in no particular order!) and would love to hear from you, what would you do?

• Have a massive clear out:  You can sell (if you have time) or donate to charity or to someone else. Become a member of your local free share group (it’s free) to offer the items you no longer need. Items usually get picked up quickly. Recently we’ve given away a broken computer, a broken shredder, a collapsed wardrobe, some big boxes of children clothing and children toys, some fabric scraps… Somebody’s junk is someone’s treasure!
• Use and recycle: Now look at everything that can be used or reused. Be creative! Last year’s Christmas pudding leftover dried fruit ma a lovely dried fruit salad for example. Cut up last year’s Christmas cards to make gift tags (or if you’re really crafty, they can make excellent material for new Christmas cards). After Christmas, many stores have cards recycling stations, keep an eye out for them. Instead of sending Christmas cards, you can also send e-cards and donate the equivalent to a charity.
• Give yourself a ‘green’ challenge: If you’re not already doing it, recycle all your glass and plastic bottles until the New Year. Some councils don’t take them from your house but you can find recycle points everywhere. (Obviously it would be better to walk there than drive!)
• If you choose a ‘real’ Christmas tree, remember to contact your council to enquire about Christmas tree recycling.
• Forget wrapping paper! Imagine the tons of paper used every year just to end up in the bin. Open your presents carefully, fold the paper away and reuse it. Use craft paper and fabric ribbons which can be used and reused (and composted when they’re really done). Get the kids to decorate some old boxes with paint, cut outs, magazines, fabric scraps… Sew some easy reusable gift bags which can be used and reused for birthdays, parties, keep the kids’ things organised.
• Start your Christmas shopping early. Throughout the year, jolt down some gift ideas. That way you won’t be stuck shopping for last minute gadgets which will be discarded after a few days.
• Buy good quality gifts: one way to protect the environment is to make sure that every item that is produced is fully used. This way we will have made the most of the resources used to produce it.
• Buy ethical gifts whenever possible. A wooden toy like the Lanka Kade collection helps provide families in Sri Lanka with a steady income. They are made of recycled rubberwood sourced from exhausted rubber plantations. Fairly traded fancy dress will provide hours of fun too. Organic products like bubble bath, massage oils are also thoughtful presents that you know will be well used. The instant gardens makes beautiful organic gifts for grown ups.
• Christmas is the perfect time of the year to discover your local food market. Produce is fresh, of excellent quality and usually produced locally. You will support your local economy and save on the fuel it would normally take to transport the produce to the supermarket.

That’s a few of our tips for a green Christmas. What about you? What do you do, don’t do?

Our top tips for a green Christmas is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. 10 more ways reusable bags can save you time and money!
2. Top 15 quick and easy green tips
3. Christmas in October? Really? That early?

organic baby bedding

If you are looking for a new baby present, this traditional receiving blanket is a gorgeous gift. Disana organic baby bedding is as light as a feather and made of the most sumptuous organic merino wool. Pure wool helps regulate your baby’s temperature.

You can imagine resting with your newborn baby snuggled up against your chest or breastfeeding peacefully, with the organic wool blanket wrapped over you both.

If you drop off your baby at her childminder or nursery, you could wrap the blanket around you in the evening and give it to her in the morning. This way she will be able to keep your scent with her throughout the day.

The receiving blanket is big enough to use as organic bedding in baby’s crib or cot. Once your child has outgrown the blanket, she can use it to play with her dolls. Then it can be stored away safely to be passed on to a younger sibling or perhaps their own children.

Not just organic baby bedding, an heirloom is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. It’s getting cold out there! keep the kids warm
2. Clearance Sale
3. Noonoo Natural Baby Toys

wooden toy: eco friendly jigsaws

First up in our pick of Favourite Ethical Gifts for Christmas is this lovely wooden toy collection of children jigsaws.

Your child will be attracted to the cheerful colours and the friendly animal shapes of the Lanka Kade jigsaws. I particularly like the fact that they’re not ‘just’ a rectangle flat board. The 3-D puzzles are more challenging than traditional jigsaws. You can either use the letters to guide the child or do it back to front with the letters hidden. You can use the letters as building blocks to prepare for reading. The chunky wooden toy pieces are easy for children of all ages to handle.

If  you are careful about what toys come into your house, you can’t go wrong with a Lanka Kade wooden toy. These eco friendly products are all handmade by seven family-based companies with whom Lanka Kade has long term working commitments. Toys are designed in the UK and allow each supplier to use their individual knowledge and skills. Lanka Kade’s aims to provide continual employment throughout the year for each company, their families and their employees. Many of the Lanka Kade wooden toys are made from rubberwood sourced from exhausted rubber plantations that are replanted every 10 – 15 years.

The Lanka Kade jigsaws are currently on special at Natural Nursery, like this gorgeous wooden toy train is only £4.16.

Hours of play guaranteed with this lovely wooden toy collection is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Junk-free Advent calendars and Christmas stockings at Natural Nursery
2. Our top tips for a green Christmas
3. A play kitchen is so much fun for children

Cooking with kids

When our children are little, it is often a good time to become more aware of the way we eat. The benefits of a healthy diet while pregnant or breastfeeding are well know. When baby is ready to try on solids, establishing good eating habits is essential.

Healthy eating isn’t about boring steamed vegetables, it’s about making good food fun and enjoyable. Part of our responsibilities as parents is to develop our children’s taste buds to make them adventurous foodies, ready to try new flavours and new textures, make them aware of seasonal and local produce.

Taking them to the local farmers market and chat with the stall holders is part of the fun. Never miss a chance to talk to them about where our food comes from, why we choose not to buy strawberries in winter or battery farmed chickens, how you’ll prepare the ingredients you’ve just bought.

Cooking by colour is sure to pick their interest. One day, it’s pink soup (beetroot). Once they’re cooked, let the kids peel the beetroot (don’t forget a child apron!), they’ll giggle at the sight of their pink fingers. Another day, try orange soup (pumpkin, sweet potatoes and orange has a delicate sweet flavour). Try smoothies too, orange (mango & orange) or for the more adventurous green (avocado, banana, lime, spinach and milk). Check your local markets or supermarkets for rarer varieties, green tomatoes, purple potatoes…

Growing your own fruit and vegetable is a fantastic way to get your children interested. Even if you don’t have a garden or an allotment, try a few pots in the kitchen with baby tomatoes, strawberries, basil. The window box gardens would be ideal. How much fun would it be to pick a few tomatoes packed with vitamins to pop in their lunch bags?

Let the children get involved in the kitchen, knead the dough, peel and cut vegetables, stir cake mixes, spread the topping on their pizza… Sure it’s going to get messy but seeing the pride on their faces at the results makes it all worth it. They also learn essential skills, gradually learning the dangers in the kitchens, knives are sharp, the oven is hot.

Then comes the time to clean up and every one can chip in. Kids will love getting their hands in the soapy water, preferably with as much bubble as possible.

How is it at your house? Do your kids enjoy cooking? Do you give them a chance to help?

Making healthy eating fun is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Organic Food Festival
2. A play kitchen is so much fun for children
3. Cooking with the children: our favourite carrot cake recipe

Napsack Baby carrier

The Napsack baby carrier has just arrived at Natural Nursery. You will find an exhaustive description on the website and here is a review of the Napsack baby carrier by Anne, a mum of two.

Before I say anything else, I have to confess that I’m a big fan of baby wraps, especially for young babies. I owned other types of baby slings but never really got around to using them. After my second child was born, a lovely mum kindly gave me a Napsack baby carrier. My immediate reaction was WOW, WOW, WOW!

The Napsack was so comfortable!
- Easy to put on: I managed to pop a sleeping baby in without waking him up. If you know how to tie an apron, you know how to use the Napsack.
- Comfortable for baby: The hourglass shape of the mei tai body wraps around the baby to support his back.
- Comfortable for me: That’s the other originality of the Napsack baby carrier, the straps are shaped and spread the weight effectively around my back, shoulders and hips. I suffer from back pain so that was really important for me.
- Versatile: I like baby slings that fit me (size small) and my partner (size XXXL)! I started using it when my son was a newborn and I’m still using it now he’s more than two. You can fold the mei tai to shorten the body for a baby or extend it for a toddler.
- Perfect for naps: the top of the baby carrier is curved which comes high enough behind the baby’s neck to support it when he sleeps.

Have I mentioned how pretty they are? The classic colour combinations of the Napsack baby carrier fit everything in my wardrobe.

New to Natural Nursery, the Napsack baby carrier is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. A glossary of baby slings, part 1
2. 5 questions to help you choose your child carrier
3. An easy guide to slings

Dreaming of Christmas

I used to rant against seeing all the Christmas things in the shop from early September. I didn’t see the point: Christmas was end of December, why wouldn’t I wait until the beginning of December to start shopping? Well, fast forward 5 years, 2 children and 2 jobs later… Now I see the point!

I start thinking about the winter holidays as kids go back to school. Not worrying about it, just thinking. I try to imagine what would please the people I love. Starting early means I have time to order it especially (or send it as we have so many relatives far away). Planning ahead means that I can take the sewing machine out for some handmade presents. I have time to trawl charity shops or antique stores to find that very special item which will make them happy. I also love giving ‘gifts of time’ like theatre tickets so I spend some time reading the programmes.

Starting my Christmas shopping earlier also means that I can take advantage of my favourite shops special offers, therefore giving much nicer presents that I would normally be able to afford. Whenever possible, I choose ethical gifts, organic products and eco friendly products. I prefer quality over quantity and will often choose gifts that will last well and be useful. No more last minute shopping for me where you end up spending way more than you planned because it’s so late and you have to find something. No more ill-chosen presents because we ran out of ideas and had to buy a present in a hurry. I often take the opportunity to buy presents for little friends’ birthdays at the same time to save on shipping costs.

So watch this space for more Christmas posts: baby’s first Christmas, No-junk stocking fillers and advent calendars, tips for an eco-friendly Christmas, unusual baby presents and recipes, ethical gifts for babies and grown up…

Christmas in October? Really? That early? is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Our top tips for a green Christmas
2. 10 more ways reusable bags can save you time and money!
3. New baby gifts: some ideas for twins

baba baby slings

You will soon be able to find a whole new range of baby slings at Natural Nursery: ring sling, soft structured carrier, mei tai, wraps, babywearing accessories… We will have everything you need to carry your baby comfortably.

On special offer today are the Baba ring baby slings. At only £19.99, the Baba baby slings are a good introduction to ‘babywearing’. You can choose red, navy, black or natural.

These hammock style baby slings allow you to carry your baby in 7 different positions and is suitable from birth up to 2 year old. They provide essential bonding for both parent and child. The patented Baba baby slings adjust in seconds to fit mums, dads and babies of all sizes.

Why choose the  Baba Baby Slings?

* You can use it to carry babies and toddlers (0 – 2+).
* You can choose among the 7 different carrying positions.
* You can breastfeed your baby in the BabaSling
* You can easily adjust it to fit you and your partner.
* It is made from 100% sturdy cotton.
* It has safety features for your peace of mind.
* It is machine washable.
* It is produced in a Fair Trade environment.

Half price baby slings is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. A glossary of baby slings, part 1
2. A world of baby slings
3. Top tips for using a babysling for the first time

Infant carrier

With so many options out there, it can be difficult to choose an infant carrier. You will find lots of articles to help you in this blog.

• Comfort. Does it 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 infant carrier? How about putting it on and 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 the infant carrier 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?

This article is an excerpt from Gentle Baby Care by Elisabeth Pantley (McGraw-Hill 2003). Reproduced with permission.

Choosing an infant carrier is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

Related eco parenting posts:

1. Using your child carrier on your back (2)
2. The Ergo baby carrier raincover: a clever design to keep baby dry
3. Half price baby slings

Autumn is just around the corner and you might wonder how you will protect your baby from the weather when you carry him. Keeping baby warm and dry in winter will be a concern. While they are little, it is easy to zip your coat over them or use a showerproof baby sling.

Once your baby grows, the Ergo baby carrier raincover proves extremely useful. Its clever design allows it to fit over most baby slings. If you are using the cover with an Ergo baby carrier, you can snap the top straps over your carrier’s straps. If you are using it over a different carrier, you can use the two little hooks to attach the straps together behind your neck.

Stretch the raincover over your baby’s back and under her legs so that they are nicely tucked in. Clip the strap behind your back for extra sideways protection.

The Ergo baby carrier raincover is lined with soft micro fleece so that the outer waterproof cover never comes in contact with the child. The large hood is deep enough for a toddler and can be adjusted to fit a baby.

Slip on your own raincoat and you’re ready to brave any weather

Have you tried a babywearing raincover? What did you think? Was it over the Ergo baby carrier or another baby sling? Send us your feedback so we can help even more parents carry their baby comfortably.