Natural Nursery Blog » baby

Twelve Days of a Natural Christmas – Day 4 – Breastfeeding Slogan T-shirt

Lisa — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 02:19:52 +0000

These soft organic baby t-shirts make perfect presents for first or fifth time mothers. They cheekily tell the mum how to look after the baby; ‘Hand wash only, Love unconditionally, Breastfeed as required.’

The t-shirts are ethically manufactured from 100% organic cotton.

Izzy was impressed with the quality and said:

“Good quality cloth, the print keeps it’s colour through many washes (so far).

Cute but subtle.

What’s not to love?”

www.naturalnursery.co.uk/breastfeeding-advocacy-clothing/care-instructions-short-sleeved-organic-top-3-6-months.html

Twelve Days of a Natural Christmas – Day 4 – Breastfeeding Slogan T-shirt is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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Real Nappy Maths – you can save between £1171.44 and £395.62!

Lisa — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 09:47:13 +0000

Olgas' son Sylas happy in his real nappy

An enormous thanks to Olga for letting us re-post her incredible research about the cost of real versus disposable nappies. Olga has set up Green Fluffy Bottoms which is a Facebook group dedicated to real nappy advice and chat. It was established in July 2011 and has been very active ever since. They are a mixture of experienced real nappy users and complete beginners, always happy to answer any cloth related questions.

An average child potty trains about 2.5 years old = 912 days in nappies

7 nappy changes a day x 912 days = 6384 disposable nappies

(I personally find this shocking! just imagine pile of them on a landfill)

Disposable nappies:

ASDA nappy = between 10.7p and 19.9p each = average 15.3 per nappy x 6384 = £976.75

ASDA wipes = 1 pack per week £1 each x 130 weeks = £130

TOTAL cheap version = £1106.75

PAMPERS nappy = between 15.4p each and 22.4p each = average 18.9p per nappy x 6384 = £1206.57

WIPES Johnson’s baby Skincare Wipes = £1.50 pack per week x 130 weeks = £195

TOTAL expensive version = £1402.57

Reusable nappies

I’M COMPARING MOST POPULAR POCKET NAPPIES

Cheap version

20x cheap eBay pocket birth to potty nappies. £2.50 per nappy x 20 = £50

Fleece reusable wipes pack of 15 = £5

TOTAL £55

Expensive version

20x Bumgenius v4 pocket birth to potty nappies. £15 per nappy x 20 = £300

Cheekey wipes kit = £35

TOTAL £335

De luxe version

20x Wee Notion custom made pocket nappy with embroidery. £25 per nappy with inserts = £500

Cheekey wipes kit = £35

TOTAL £535

Washing cost

Rocking green detergent costs £14 for 90 washes. You will do 456 washes washing every other day x 15p per wash = £68.40 detergent cost

I’m basing my calculation on this washing machine BOSCH WAE24165GB

http://www.bosch-home.co.uk/WAE24165GB.html

WATER

It uses 45l per load = 45l x 456 washes = 20520l of water = 20.52m3

Charge per m3 by United Utilities is £1.374 water and £1.1 sewage = £2.74 per m3

Total = £2.74 x 20.52 = £56.22

ELECTRICITY

204kWH per annum (manufacturers website)

510kWH total

EON price per kWH = 10.1p

510kWH x 10.1p = £51.51

Detergent = £68.40

Water = £56.22

Electricity = £51.51

TOTAL = £176.13

TOTALS

Cheap version £231.13

Expensive version £511.13

De luxe version £711.13

Disposable nappies

Cheap version £1106.75

Expensive version £1402.57

In total depending on what option you choose you can save between £1171.44 and £395.62

AND THIS IS JUST ONE CHILD. YOUR NAPPIES CAN BE REUSED ON SUBSEQUENT CHILDREN.

For more information about the different types of cloth nappies and advice about their use please visit www.naturalnursery.co.uk

You might be able to save even more money if your local council has a Real Nappy Incentive scheme!

Real Nappy Maths – you can save between £1171.44 and £395.62! is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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ERGObaby’s Performance Baby Carrier great for Mums and Dads!

Lisa — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:07:58 +0000

ERGObaby’s Performance baby carriers are made of durable, lightweight, and breathable fabric and can accommodate all active moms and dads.

Just in at the Natural Nursery is this lovely new colourway; Charcoal Grey and Black go with almost anything and are perfect for mums and dads. We have been asking about babywearing dads on the Natural Nursery Facebook Page and some mums say that dads are really happy to carry their children but they prefer the slings to be in neutral colours.

Alison sent us in this review that tells you a lot about the Performance Carrier:

“I am delighted with my Ergo Performance. My baby is a really ‘hot-blooded’ little boy and both he and I were overheating with wrap carriers. We both stay nice and cool with this.

My husband really likes this carrier as it looks quite sporty and he has found it really comfy to use (6″1, size Large). I on the other hand am only 5’2″/size 10 and also find this carrier very comfy. Of note, the shoulder straps are different to the original – they are not thick and squishy but firmer and thinner. However, I have never found them uncomfy even after hours. They are also more tapered and come in closer together. I was worried this might mean they rubbed on my neck. However, having tried both the Performance and Original I found these actually a much better fit – the original straps are very bulky and wide-set and meant it kind of hung off my outer shoulders and pulled. So some smaller ladies may find the straps rub on their neck but I’ve actually found this a much better fit.

Although this is not a ‘waterproof’ carrier, I have survived 30mins in a big downpour. I had my regular-sized waterproof coat on over and was able to do this up at the bottom (below the Ergo) to cover my son’s legs. I put the Ergo hood up, tucked his arms in and scampered home! I was impressed to find an essentially dry baby underneath when I got in, who had enjoyed the adventure! The lightweight nature of this carrier also meant it then dried out quickly.

Overall, a functional, versatile carrier which is comfy for 2 very different sized people and also very easy to adjust between us.”

This carrier features a high-performance polyester exterior, ideal for outdoor activities in all climates; a breathable mesh lining, keeping babies and parents cooler and more comfortable; and a cooling panel for extra wicking. This sleek, streamlined design offers a smooth, supportive fit for parents and babies of most sizes, and can still be used to carry babies from newborn to toddler on the back, front, and hip positions.

Of course, ERGObaby’s Performance line supports the correct ergonomic position for both babies and parents.

For babies less than four months old you will also need an ERGObaby Infant Insert in order to safely carry your baby in the ERGObaby Carrier.

ERGObaby’s Performance Baby Carrier great for Mums and Dads! is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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The Natural Nursery Star Bump Gallery!

Lisa — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:38:44 +0000

We have added some more beautiful bumps to the Natural Nursery Stars Bump Gallery.

If you would like your baby bump to be in Natural Nursery Stars just email a picture to stars@naturalnursery.co.uk – with ‘bump’ in the title.

Everyone who enters will get a 10% discount code to use at the Natural Nursery and one lucky winner, drawn at random will be the Featured Star and they will win a goodie bag from www.naturalnursery.co.uk!

In sending us your picture you agree that we can use it on any of the Natural Nursery websites and also the facebook page.

bump_stars

The Natural Nursery Star Bump Gallery! is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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Fluffy Friday – Win Baba + Boo Nappies – ends 13th Oct 2011

Lisa — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 05:37:08 +0000

This Fluffy Friday competition from the Natural Nursery is for a set of 3 Baba + Boo Series II Pocket Nappies

This is the new edition of the popular Baba + Boo washable nappy system, featuring a snugger fit and two inserts.

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

Benefits:

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

To be in the draw to win a a set of 3 Baba + Boo Series II Pocket Nappies of your choice from the Natural Nursery leave a comment below telling us

What you wish you had known about cloth nappies before you used them or – what you want to know about cloth nappies (if you haven’t used them)

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

The draw will be held on Thursday 13th October 2011 at around 4pm and the winners will be notified by email.
This prize draw is only open to people in Europe, sorry!
The winner will be chosen using random.org

The winner was Emmah who has been emailed.

Fluffy Friday – Win Baba + Boo Nappies – ends 13th Oct 2011 is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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Mummy and Sam’s BIG Re-usable Challenge!!!

Lisa — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 02:08:09 +0000

This is from the blog of a mum Alice, from Nottinghamshire who is trying out reusable nappies. Her blog “Mummy, Not Big Milk Thing” is stuffed full of interesting articles, especially this one:

“So what do I want from a cloth nappy? Well I think I want what many consumers are looking for, simplicity. I don’t want to be confused by jargon and bogged down having to mess around for hours just to have clean nappies to put on my baby – I don’t have time and quite frankly I’m too lazy! We all like disposable because we take them out of the packet, slap it on the baby and then off it comes after and we can forget about it. We have a reluctance to change this system because it works for us, its easy and if something is much more complicated than that, well we are bound to just give up, right?

So I need something simple and easy to use, I also need something that I can rely on and that isn’t going to fail me at a crucial moment – so far with disposable it seems that every time Sam poos his outfit inevitably ends up soaking in the sink in the hope that the stains wont set and it can be worn again.

Most importantly I need a nappy that Sam is comfortable in and that isn’t going to leave me with a grumpy baby or one that needs changing every five minutes, especially when out and about.”

Alice chose to try prefold nappies to start with and her blog talks about how easy they were to use:

“Why they are called prefold I’m not sure because on best description they are like a small really thin duvet that you have to fold and shape and put into the wrap, which is waterproof on the inside and soft fabric on the outside and this part looks more like a conventional nappy”

Day 2 of the real nappy trial is titled ‘Confidence needed’. Alice decides she needs to put as much confidence in the cloth nappies as she does disposibles which constantly fail her. She also writes about the need to educate her hubby!

I can’t wait for the next installment!

Did you start with cloth nappies or disposables? If you are using disposables and fancy trying reusables there are lots of council incentive schemes that could help you to try before you buy or even give you money off vouchers.

Mummy and Sam’s BIG Re-usable Challenge!!! is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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Fluffy Friday – Win A Sophie the Giraffe Rubber Teething Toy ends 29th Sept 2011

Lisa — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 02:14:29 +0000

Teething can be a very stressful time for parents and their baby – just as you thought things were finally settling down, the pain and shock of teething hits.

Teething usually begins between the ages of four and nine months and most babies will cut their first tooth by one year. Teething can bring on flushed cheeks, dribbling, irritability and crying. You may also notice that your child is more inclined to chew – on anything from fingers and toys to food – a natural reaction to the changes going on within the gum.

If you are unsure if your baby is teething, you can read our article on the symptoms of teething.

This Fluffy Friday competition from the Natural Nursery is for a Sophie the Giraffe Rubber Teething Toy.

Made from 100% natural Heava tree rubber, this teether is small enough for little hands to hold using the handle inside Sophie’s head.

It has lots of parts to chew and different textures to sooth different pains. The ridges sooth first teeth as they emerge, the bumps provide a gentle massage for painful gums.

To be in the draw to win a Sophie the Giraffe Rubber Teething Toy leave a comment below telling us

Your top teething tips!

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

The draw will be held on Thursday 22nd September 2011 at around 4pm and the winners will be notified by email.
This prize draw is only open to people in Europe, sorry!
The winner will be chosen using random.org

The competition is now closed and the winner was Hels who has been emailed.

Fluffy Friday – Win A Sophie the Giraffe Rubber Teething Toy ends 29th Sept 2011 is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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Going Visiting With Your Baby By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of Gentle Baby Care

Arabella Greatorex — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 01:00:17 +0000

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

Bring toys!

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

Bring your own supplies

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

Safety issues

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

Food and eating

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

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

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

Changing Diapers

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

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

Sleeping and napping

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

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

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

Be prepared for anything

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

Show your appreciation

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

This article is an excerpt from Gentle Baby Care by Elizabeth Pantley. (McGraw-Hill, 2003)

Going Visiting With Your Baby By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of Gentle Baby Care is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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Nelsons Teetha Granules Review – “Wouldn’t be without them”

Lisa — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 06:12:09 +0000

If you are experiencing sleepless nights and a drooling baby let us introduce you to Nelsons Teetha teething granules, a homeopathic medicine for the relief of the symptoms of teething.

Nelsons Teetha is a ready-dosed granule that simply dissolves in your baby’s mouth where it gently helps to ease the pain of teething and relieves discomfort.

The active ingredient in Teetha is a 6c homeopathic potency of Chamomilla- a herb traditionally used to help relieve the symptoms of teething. Chamomilla is often described by homeopaths as the first-choice remedy for teething, with remarkable results!

Homeopathy is a system of medicine which stimulates the body’s own natural healing processes and has been used for decades. Homeopathic medicines are suitable for all the family.

Filled into 24 individual sachets, Teetha’s pleasant-tasting, ready-dosed granule format allows for easy administration especially convenient when you are out and about.
Just empty the content of one sachet into your baby’s mouth where it dissolves to help bring gentle teething pain relief.

Natural Nursery customer Nicola said -

“These teething granules are great. Work everytime with my son when he is teething. Really enjoys taking the powder as well.

5/5″

Nelsons Teetha Granules Review – “Wouldn’t be without them” is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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Ergo Baby Performance Carrier Review – “I’m Delighted”

Lisa — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 12:02:31 +0000

Natural Nursery customer Evelyn has sent us this glowing review of the ERGObaby Performance Carrier:

“Great Carrier

I’ve ordered this carrier as a replacement for my Eco AngelPack. There was nothing wrong with my existing carrier, but I always wanted an Ergo and can afford it now, but couldn’t then (it is pricey). I chose Ergo performance because I was promised it weighs less than standard ergo and I loved the green colour
I received the package promptly and I have to say that I am delighted with the carrier. It has nothing majorly different from my AngelPack, but it is better in many ways. For example, ergo is all in one piece – you can’t lose a chest strap. It’s easy to pop on and off. And there’s A LOT of extra strap length. Unfortunately my old carrier didn’t have very long straps, so hip carry was not possible.

The booklet was very helpful, explaining how to get baby on back, front or hip. Overall I’m satisfied with it. Rain hood is also nice. Bottom line – it is expensive, but I feel it is comfortable and well made so worth it. Service was very good too.

17/06/2011

5/5″

If you need help choosing the perfect Ergo carrier for your baby the Natural Nursery can help. We have pages of videos that show you how to use the Ergo and a great FAQ section.

just visit www.naturalnursery.co.uk for more information.

Ergo Baby Performance Carrier Review – “I’m Delighted” is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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Fluffy Friday Table Bib Winner and a Half Price Offer!

Lisa — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 05:44:46 +0000

There was a huge response to the competition to win a Table Bib™ from the Natural Nursery in the Fluffy Friday Giveaway. The winner (chosen at random) was Kerrie who has been emailed.

If you didn’t win don’t despair, Table Bib™s are on special offer at the Natural Nursery and you can get one for half price! That is £2.99 instead of £5.99.

The machine-washable Table Bib™ provides a layer of protection between your child and the table surface and highchair arms. It is available in four different designs, and comes complete with a zippered pouch for travelling.

The Table Bib™ comes in 4 different designs and this competition is for one with a farmyard design on it.

Make dining out with your baby or toddler more enjoyable! The Table Bib™ stays firmly in place.

I couldn’t have done without the Table Bib today at the supermarket cafe. I dread to think what was on their high chairs. Nice pattern! K.P

My table bib goes everywhere with us. It’s so useful to go over dirty restaurant and cafe highchairs, and we just pop it straight in the wash when we get home. We also use it when our baby has a picnic on the floor to protect the carpet, and when her older cousin comes round to do painting it goes over the table to protect that. A brilliant invention! Jodie

The Natural Nursery has loads more special offers in the Mealtime section – including pvc-free weaning bowls and pvc free bibs with and without sleeves.

www.naturalnursery.co.uk

Fluffy Friday Table Bib Winner and a Half Price Offer! is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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Luxury Lambskin Review – “Essential!”

Lisa — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 06:08:37 +0000

Caroline sent us this review of the Luxury Lambskin

“A really beautiful quality baby lambskin. These are invaluable for floor, pram, camping, hot days, cold days, comfort and happiness. Cannot recommend highly enough! 5/5″

These Merino lambskins are especially soft and silky and have already been winning praise from customers who were unhappy with other brands.

They are shorn, so have a neater finish than our long haired lambskins and are suitable for use from birth.

They are generously sized at around 80cm long and come in a pretty cream colour.

These lambskins won a Sliver Award in the Practical Preschool awards and were featured in The Daily Mail “10 of the best child soothers” article.
Benefits include:

Super soft Merino lambskin for extra comfort for your baby, not from coarser sheep’s skins
FREE from pesticides, formaldehyde and chrome
Corresponds with the guidelines of the International Association Natural Textile Industry (IVN) for safe tanning process and meets UK fire regulations
Easy to wash: machine washable on 30 degrees C wool cycle and suitable for tumble drying

About lambskins

Lambskins have been used for centuries to calm & soothe babies. Many children form an attachment with their lambskin which in turn makes various transitions in their life easier, for example settling at nursery or granny’s for the first time.

Premature babies have been found to gain weight faster.

Benefits of natural sheepskin

Naturally fire-retardant, naturally resilient, absorbs moisture, insulates against both heat and cold, safe – if baby rolls onto her front, she can breathe through the wool fibres.

Why use a lambskin with your baby?

Can be taken anywhere and gives baby a sense of comfort and security
Can be used in a cot, crib, moses basket, pram or on the floor
The soft touch of wool calms and soothes baby and enhances baby’s sleep
Keeps baby warm in winter and cool in summer
Soft and gentle on a baby’s skin
They are hygienically clean and anti-bacterial

Visit the Natural Nursery for more Lambskins including Long-Haired Natural Lambskin, Mimosa Tanned Sheepskin to us as a baby blanket and Lambskin liners for car seats and prams.

Luxury Lambskin Review – “Essential!” is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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Geo Wooden Baby Rattle Review – “Lovely Rattle”

Lisa — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 06:00:50 +0000

The Geo is a wooden rattle in assorted geometric designs with smiling faces and tinkling bell.

The wood is lovely, smooth and tactile and the holes in the sides help exploring fingers grasp, shake and explore.

The rattle will tinkle when shaken, developing an awareness of cause and effect as well as giving immediate pleasure.

Safe from birth but most suitable from 3 months up.

These rattles are made from wood from renewable sources to strict ethical standards.

Natural Nursery customer Eilis said they are the ‘best rattle I’ve bought – nice bell sound and good size for little hands.’ She gave them 5 out of 5!

The Natural Nursery has a very well thought out selection of toys suitable from birth, chosen for their ethical and environmentally friendly credentials and the amount of play a baby can get out of them.

Geo Wooden Baby Rattle Review – “Lovely Rattle” is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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Natural Nursery Reviews – Neuner’s Organic Baby Stomach Ease Tea

Lisa — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 12:28:22 +0000

Neuner’s Organic Baby Stomach Ease Tea is a mild herbal tea suitable from one week on to help calm an upset stomach. It can be drunk by breastfeeding mothers or cup / spoon fed to baby.Benefits

Natural, organic herbs carefully blended to be gentle to little tummies
Can be drunk by a breastfeeding mother and passed through the milk
Relaxing for the whole family to drink
Aniseed, fennel, chamomile and caraway have been used for generations to sooth colicky babies
Thyme has antiseptic properties
Can be spoon fed direct to baby or given in a bottle
No added sugar or flavourings
No GMOs
Caffeine free

This is what one Natural Nursery customer had to say about the tea:

It really works!

After trying various other remedies like Infacol, Detinox and Gripe water (which our daughter absolutely hated) decided to try the tea. It really worked! I drank 2 cups a day and noticed the difference in our very windy baby right away.

The tea is very mild and quite pleasant. Would recommend it to anyone! Great product!

5/5 from LK May 2011

Natural Nursery Reviews – Neuner’s Organic Baby Stomach Ease Tea is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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Free breastfeeding advice sessions in Bushey and Bricket Wood

Lisa — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:42:50 +0000

Nursing Bras at the Natural Nursery

Midwives and counsellors will be on hand to offer advice at drop-in sessions in Bushey and Bricket Wood as part of Breastfeeding Awareness Week in June.

Mothers and mothers-to-be can share experiences with other mums and get one-to-one support with breastfeeding counsellors.

The free sessions will be run by the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) and Baby Cafe Charitable Trust at government-run Sure Start children’s centres.

Breastfeeding Awareness Week runs from June 19, to June 25 2011, and sessions will be run at Park Street, Bricket Wood, on the Thursday morning, and at The Reddings Children’s Centre, in Bushey, on Thursday afternoon.

For more information contact Hertsmere Leisure on 0208 386 4038 or visit www.thebabycafe.org.

By Chris Hewett St Albans & Harpenden Review 30th May 2011

The Natural Nursery has a range of breastfeeding aids including breastpumps, breastmilk storage bottles and bags, breast pads and soothing cream.

Free breastfeeding advice sessions in Bushey and Bricket Wood is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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Organic Wrap Baby Body Review – “Gorgeous”

Lisa — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 13:08:01 +0000

Once you have felt the difference between organic and non organic cotton we believe you will not want to turn back! These organic cotton baby bodies have a wrap over front so there is no need to pull over baby’s heads.

Benefits:

100% organic cotton for softness and strength
Long-sleeved – keep little arms warm in the winter and protect from the sun in the summer
Stylish kimono front – fastened with poppers so no fiddly ties
Nickel free poppers to crotch for easy nappy changes
Cut a little bit bigger to allow for cloth nappies and extra wriggle room
Made to strict ethical standards

A recent customer at the Natural Nursery sent in this review of the organic baby bodies -

“Gorgeous

These body suits are soft, wash really well and are so easy to get onto a wriggly baby at bedtime. We’ve used them since birth & are still using them at 12 months.

5/5 NJ May 2011“

For more organic baby clothes please visit the Natural Nursery, we have a range of stylish organic cotton clothing for babies and toddlers, made to strict fairtrade standards.

Organic Wrap Baby Body Review – “Gorgeous” is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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Nappi Nippa Customer Review

Lisa — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 12:00:06 +0000

Nappi Nippas are clever little things that hold your cloth nappies in place without stabbing you or your baby.

We have just received this review of our 3 pack of Nappi Nippas:

Brilliant product – recommended!

I bought these because I was worried about accidentally hurting baby with nappy pins… I was sceptical as to whether they’d work or not.

However, they really are great. They have clever little grippers with are sharp enough to grab the fabric but not so pointy or big that they would ever hurt the baby.

Three in a pack also means you have spares if you lose any.

Great idea… I’d be lost without them now!

5/5 from LW

April 2011

They are available to buy from The Natural Nursery priced at £3.90 for a pack of 3, including FREE UK post.

Nappi Nippa Customer Review is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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Wonderful Sounds for Sleep By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of the No-Cry Sleep Solution

Arabella Greatorex — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:26:00 +0000

The environment that your baby enjoyed for nine long months in the womb was not one of absolute quiet. There was a constant symphony of sound — your heartbeat and fluids rushing in and out of the placenta. (Remember those sounds from when you listened to your baby’s heartbeat with the Doppler stethoscope?) Research indicates that “white noise” sounds or soft bedtime music helps many babies to relax and fall asleep more easily. This is most certainly because these sounds create an environment more familiar to your baby than a very quiet room.

Many people enjoy using soothing music as their baby’s sleep sound. If you do, choose bedtime music carefully. Some music (including jazz and much classical music) is too complex and stimulating. For music to be soothing to your baby, pick simple, repetitive, predictable music, like traditional lullabies. Tapes created especially for putting babies to sleep are great choices. Pick something that you will enjoy listening to night after night, too. (Using a tape player with an automatic repeat function is helpful for keeping the music going as long as you need it to play.)

There are widely available, and very lovely, “nature sounds” tapes that work nicely, too, as well those small sound-generating or white-noise devices and clocks you may have seen in stores. The sounds on these — raindrops, a bubbling brook or running water — often are similar to those sounds your baby heard in utero. A ticking clock or a bubbling fish tank also make wonderful white-noise options.

“I went out today and bought a small aquarium and the humming noise does seem to relax Chloe and help her to sleep. I didn’t buy any fish though. Who has time to take care of fish when you’re half asleep all day?”

Tanya, mother of 13-month-old Chloe

You can find some suitable tapes and CDs made especially for babies or those made for adults to listen to when they want to relax. Whatever you choose, listen to it first and ask yourself: Does this relax me? Would it make me feel sleepy if I listened to it in bed?

If you must put your baby to sleep in a noisy, active house full of people, keeping the tape running (auto rewind) will help mask baby-waking noises like dishes clanking, people talking, siblings giggling, TV, dogs barking, etc. This can also help transition your sleeping baby from a noisy daytime house to which he’s become accustomed subconsciously to one of absolute nighttime quiet.

Once your baby is familiar with his calming noise, or music, you can use these to help your baby fall back to sleep when he wakes up in the middle of the night. Simply sooth him by playing the music (very quietly) during the calming and falling-asleep time. If he wakes and cries, repeat this process.

If your baby gets used to his sleep time sounds you can take advantage of this and take the tape with you if you will be away from home for naptime or bedtime. The familiarity of these sounds will help your baby sleep in an unfamiliar environment.

Eventually your baby will rely on this technique less and less to fall and stay asleep. Don’t feel you must rush the process; there is no harm in your baby falling asleep to these gentle sounds. When you are ready to wean him of these you can help this process along by reducing the volume by a small amount every night until you finally don’t turn the music or sounds on at all.

Babies enjoy these peaceful sounds, and they are just one more piece in the puzzle that helps you to help your baby sleep – gently, without any crying at all.

Website: http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth

USA:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071381392/qid%3D1003592050/sr%3D1-5/ref%3Dsr%5F1%5F11%5F5/002-1419920-8436816

Canada:

http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071381392/qid%3D1026668674/sr%3D1-1/ref%3Dsr%5F1%5F0%5F1/702-1316659-8088819

UK:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071381392/qid%3D1019681327/sr%3D1-7/ref%3Dsr%5F1%5F0%5F7/026-8551436-6902850

Wonderful Sounds for Sleep By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of the No-Cry Sleep Solution is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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First-Born Jealousy By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of the No-Cry Sleep Solution and Gentle Baby Care

Arabella Greatorex — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 17:04:25 +0000

Question: Our first-born is showing extreme jealousy towards the new baby. He’s obviously mad at us for disrupting the predictable flow of his life with this new challenger for our attention. How can we smooth things out?

Think about it: Before the baby entered your family, your toddler was told he’d have a wonderful little brother to play with, and how much fun it would be. Then the little brother is born and your toddler is thinking, “Are you kidding me? This squirming, red-faced baby that takes up all your time and attention is supposed to be FUN?” He then “plays” with the baby in the only ways he knows how. He plays catch. You yell at him for throwing toys at the baby. He plays hide-and-seek. You yell at him to get the blanket off the baby. He gives the kid a hug, and you admonish him to be more careful. Is it any wonder that your toddler is confused?

Teach: Your first goal is to protect the baby. Your second, to teach your older child how to interact with his new sibling in proper ways. You can teach your toddler how to play with the baby in the same way you teach him anything else. Talk to him, demonstrate, guide and encourage. Until you feel confident that you’ve achieved your second goal, however, do not leave the children alone together. Yes, I know. It isn’t convenient. But it is necessary, maybe even critical.

Hover: Whenever the children are together, “hover” close by. If you see your child about to get rough, pick up the baby and distract the older sibling with a song, a toy, an activity or a snack. This action protects the baby while helping you avoid a constant string of “Nos,” which may actually encourage the aggressive behavior.

Teach soft touches: Teach the older sibling how to give the baby a back rub. Tell how this kind of touching calms the baby, and praise the older child for a job well done. This lesson teaches the child how to be physical with the baby in a positive way.

Act quickly: Every time you see your child hit, or act roughly with the baby, act quickly. You might firmly announce, “No hitting, time out.” Place the child in a time-out chair with the statement, “You can get up when you can use your hands in the right way.” Allow him to get right up if he wants – as long as he is careful and gentle with the baby. This isn’t punishment, after all. It’s just helping him learn that rough actions aren’t going to be permitted.

Demonstrate: Children learn what they live. Your older child will be watching as you handle the baby and learning from your actions. You are your child’s most important teacher. You are demonstrating in everything you do, and your child will learn most from watching you.

Praise: Whenever you see the older child touching the baby gently, make a positive comment. Make a big fuss about the important “older brother.” Hug and kiss your older child and tell him how proud you are.

Watch your words: Don’t blame everything on the baby. “We can’t go to the park; the baby’s sleeping.” “Be quiet, you’ll wake the baby.” “After I change the baby I’ll help you.” At this point, your child would just as soon sell the baby! Instead, use alternate reasons. “My hands are busy now.” “We’ll go after lunch.” “I’ll help you in three minutes.”

Be supportive: Acknowledge your child’s unspoken feelings, such as “Things sure have changed with the new baby here. It’s going to take us all some time to get used to this.” Keep your comments mild and general. Don’t say, “I bet you hate the new baby.” Instead, say, “It must be hard to have Mommy spending so much time with the baby.” or “I bet you wish we could go to the park now, and not have to wait for the baby to wake up.” When your child knows that you understand her feelings, she’ll have less need to act up to get your attention.

Give extra love: Increase your little demonstrations of love for your child. Say extra I love yous, increase your daily dose of hugs, and find time to read a book or play a game. Temporary regressions or behavior problems are normal, and can be eased with an extra dose of time and attention.

Get ‘em involved: Teach the older sibling how to be helpful with the baby or how to entertain the baby. Let the older sibling open the baby gifts and use the camera to take pictures of the baby. Teach him how to put the baby’s socks on. Let him sprinkle the powder. Praise and encourage whenever possible.

Making each feel special: Avoid comparing siblings, even about seemingly innocent topics such as birth weight, when each first crawled or walked, or who had more hair! Children can interpret these comments as criticisms.

Take a deep breath and be calm. This is a time of adjustment for everyone in the family. Reduce outside activities, relax your housekeeping standards, and focus on your current priority, adjusting to your new family size.

http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth

First-Born Jealousy By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of the No-Cry Sleep Solution and Gentle Baby Care is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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Choosing real nappies for your baby

Arabella Greatorex — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:43:24 +0000

real nappies

When it comes to reusable nappies (and pretty much every subject since you became a parent!), everyone will try to convince you that their favourite system is THE best nappy system. I don’t believe that there is One best nappy system. The best one for you is the one that suits you (and your child, obviously). Everyone has different criteria: ease of use, drying time, birth to potty or sized, fastening system, choice of fabric, baby shape, size, price, resale value and let’s not forget the all-important poo containment issue and prettiness factor.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be bringing you a series of articles to help you find your way around in the ‘real nappy’ world. We will help you decide which one will work best for your little one, how to wash your newly acquired real nappies, how to use them…

So let’s start from the beginning:

What is a cloth nappy? A cloth nappy is always made of two parts, an absorbent part to soak up the pee and a waterproof part to contain the poo and the humidity. Both parts can be shaped and sewn together (all-in-one-nappy) and used just like a disposable. Other nappies are separate, you put up the absorbent nappy first and then fit the waterproof wrap over it. The absorbent part can look either like a big handkerchief that your fold around the baby’s bottom or be already shaped into a nappy.
How do I use it? Well, it’s not that different from a disposable nappy: pop the cloth nappy on your baby. When it needs to be changed, pop the poo in the toilet (you can use a liner to make it easier), rinse the nappy and pop it in a bucket until your next laundry.
What about leaks? A well chosen and well fitted real nappy doesn’t leak. The waterproof wraps are especially designed to keep the humidity in and you can boost the absorbency of the nappy by adding extra nappy booster. It’s especially true for breastfed newborns for whom disposable nappies really struggle to contain the very runny poo.
How do I wash it? when you remove the real nappy, pop the poo in the toilet (a good thing to do even if you’re using disposable!), rinse it and pop it in a nappy bucket (with or without water). Whether you wait until you have enough nappies to do a laundry of nappies or wash them along your regular laundry is up to you. When stored properly, washing nappies at 30 or 40 degrees is sufficient.
What about the smell? Having tried both, I can tell you that the smell of the nappy bucket is nothing compared to the smell of a disposable nappy bin. First you’ve flushed the poo, rinsed the nappy and kept with a disinfectant or a bit of laundry liquid.
Is it like an investment then? By the time your child is potty trained, you will have spent as much as £1,000 on disposable nappies. That’s huge! I’m not even sure that figure includes the cost for the council of disposing of the 5000 nappies your child will have gone through in 2 or 3 years. Compared to that, the initial investment of real nappies (about £400) is like a big saving. Remember there is a thriving market for second hand nappies.
Does my bum look big in the this? Yes it’s true, some reusable nappies are bulkier than disposable nappies. You’ll have to keep it in mind when buying baby clothes. It’s usually not a problem in the UK as most brands have realised that many babies are ‘cloth-bottomed’. You can also use specially designed clothes like the adorable Frugi range of organic cotton baby clothes.
How do I convince my partner? or nanny/babysitter/nursery worker. You can show them how disposable nappies affect the environment, and save them money, how it will help your child get rid of nappy rash… I found the trick was to choose a simple real nappy like an all in one nappy, it really is just as easy as a disposable nappy.

Click here for more information on real nappies.

Did this help help you decide what nappy might work best for your baby?

Choosing real nappies for your baby is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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What I wish I’d known when I was pregnant

Arabella Greatorex — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:06:29 +0000

Here are some answers to questions I get asked by pregnant friends on a regular basis – they are based on my experiences though, and may be glaringly obvious to some people, but they were not to me! Please feel free to add to this list of useful tips in the comments section.

Clothes
Come in sizes according to weight and don’t last very long at all in the beginning. You will need a slightly larger size if you use real nappies. Some babygros have integral gloves that fold back – very useful for babies that want to scratch their faces off. Things that fasten at the front are easier than things that go over heads. All socks are sacrificial; they don’t stay on feet for long so I prefer things with feet for colder weather.
Nappies
Cloth nappies rock and I like the smell of the Weleda nappy cream which is brilliant stuff. It is a good idea to research nappies, and there are some helpful tips on this blog.

www.naturalnurseryblog.co.uk/how-easy-are-cloth-nappies-to-use

www.naturalnurseryblog.co.uk/why-use-cloth-nappies

Toys
My child at 3 month liked noisy things, mirrors and things he could hold with his tiny fingers. Brightly coloured board books are good too. If you buy anything musical remember that you will have to listen to it too.

Feeding
I used a pump to express milk and I pumped in the morning while feeding after the small had triggered off the let down reflex. Thinking milky thoughts of waterfalls made the milk come out faster! My son never took to a bottle but he would use a sippy cup. Pumping was just in case of emergencies. I boiled cups and the pump to sterilise them, it’s not a hassle and I don’t think the sterilising equipment is really necessary, though it may make life a bit easier. I have read that the sterilising solution can increase the risk of thrush.
Sleeping
I had a Moses basket for small but didn’t like it ‘cos I had to peer in to check his breathing. I bought a cot because it seemed to be the thing to do but in the end decided that I am a fan of co-sleeping. There are guidelines for safe co-sleeping that are well worth looking at. Grobags are brilliant and my small sleept much longer when I got one.

Bathing
I think a bath thermometer is vital, what’s warm to me is boiling for the small. We shared the bath and he loved it. You also need a soft sponge and ducks!

I hope some of these hints are useful, I found it daunting and confusing trying to work out what I needed and what was clutter and I hope my tips can help you.

What I wish I’d known when I was pregnant is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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Breastmilk and Growth Spurts

Arabella Greatorex — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:04:17 +0000

One of the most common worries for a breastfeeding mum is her milk supply. Here are some reassuring words and helpful tips to help you carry on breastfeeding through a growth spurt.

First of all – DON’T PANIC! One of the things that can slow down milk is stress, so try to relax as much as possible – easy to say I know but it is important.

If your baby is nursing more than usual and you are worried that they are not getting enough milk they might be going through a growth spurt. This generally happens between 4-6 weeks and again between 4-6 months. When my son was at this stage I felt like I never stopped breastfeeding and it was exhausting, but it was worth it. As long as your baby is getting bigger and producing wet nappies you should have no need to worry. What the baby is doing is changing the calorific value of your milk to suit them better as they go through different growing stages, once through the growth spurt they tend to feed less often and sometimes have been known to sleep longer, though I think that is a myth, my son still thinks sleep is for the weak! If you formula feed through a growth spurt you will be telling your body to produce less milk and your body will not be triggered to change the nutritional value of your own milk to suit your baby.

Drink gallons of water – It helped me to have a small bottle of water everywhere I was likely to breastfeed, because as soon as I settled down I would become incredibly thirsty.

Change your position – It is very easy to settle into one breastfeeding hold but you will probably feel more comfortable in the long run if you change your position occasionally so that you drain all your milk ducts.

Forget the ironing – This time with your baby will not last forever, revel in your super power to give them the best start in life and let the housework slide. You are burning off about 500 calories a day by breastfeeding so you need rest, and possibly chocolate!

Support your system – Oats are supposed to be very good for helping you produce milk – they are also a good supply of iron and there is something very comforting about a bowl of porridge. Welcome World Breastfeeding Support Tea is made by a specialist birth and herbal healing company. The tea comes in a packet that has enough for 40 servings and there is a a free advice line to call if you have any concerns.

If you are still worried about your milk supply there are lots of free breastfeeding helplines who can give telephone advice or tell you about the nearest breastfeeding support group.

Breastmilk and Growth Spurts is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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