watching the door...

get it? she's a bouncer....

You can tell I'm a mama because that was a lame mum joke.

This little one sure knows how to keep herself happy. We couldn't even teach her this if we tried.

linky love

read this

 wear this

eat this

listen to this

look at this blog

beg your pardon...

I made some burpy cloths for the little one.

I nabbed the idea from Carey at yellow square love who nabbed the idea from here. We are due to have our babies at almost the same time. She lives right on the other side of the world. You should check out her blog.

I bought five 99c cloths from ikea. They are pretty decent. A little on the thin side but alright. They definitely benefited from this project. I used some sweet little fabrics that I had and like the look of. Especially the one from this project.

They are really easy to make and  look just that extra bit more classy even when covered in baby vomit. (I imagine)

drawings

My dad got me a whole lot of watercolour pencils for christmas. Until then my art stores were very limited. I did a painting course at uni so had lots of paint and brushes but missed the wonderful fun of using pencils.

I wanted to draw some pictures to frame for our little girls room and thought of the idea of drawing lots of little girls doing different fun and adventurous things. Our little girl could look at them and get ideas of what to do that day.

I've drawn some already. I have six frames so I figure I can draw a lot and then choose the six I like the best to frame.

 

What type of little girl were you?

bootie-licious

I've been getting my craft on. I found a big barrel of 50c balls of wool and bought quite a few of them.

The result? Booties. In many different colours.

My mum taught me the way to make these sweet things when I was in high school and now I can finally make them by the bucket load and not look like a very strange clucky teenager.

I have made so many. I'm not sure our little girl can wear them all so I have been thinking of starting an etsy store to peddle my wares. That would be a big scary new world.

 

clickerty click?

nursery sneak peek - mobile

I got my craft on this weekend and made the sweet little one a mobile for above her change table.

It's pretty long so I think I might need to figure out how to shorten it a bit so she doesn't pull it down on top of her sweet self.

I got the idea from my "Meet me at Mikes" book. It shows you how to make the flowers. I added extra little tidbits that I liked all in the yellow and white theme I love so much.

in the cloth

baby bee hinds

Finally I have gotten round to writing a post about cloth nappies.

I love the idea of a reusable nappy. It's good for the environment, looks super-duper cute and is softer on little babies skin. They have come a long way since the terry toweling days of old. They don't need to be soaked for long periods of time. Just scrape off the solids and pop in the washing machine.

As they get more and more popular there are so many different brands of cloth nappy. Each baby is different and therefore each baby will need a different type of nappy to avoid spills and leakages.

baby bee hinds

For this reason we have decided to go with the disposables for the newborn stage and then see if we can sample other brands to choose the right one for our little girl.

There is a fantastic website and brochure all about cloth nappies, the brands and advice on choosing a brand. They say that you will need 30 nappies from birth to toilet training.






There are a few things you need for cloth nappying.

green kids

Nappies - all in one (waterproof cover included), fitted (with elastic in the legs) , one size fits all, different sizes, pocket nappies (liners come out making them quicker to dry), prefold (like terry flats but with an absorbent panel)

They come in a multitude of different materials. Bamboo, hemp, minkee, silk, sherpa...

You can get snap fastners or velcro. Snap fastners are harder to undo but also harder to replace.

green kids

Liners - cloth or throwaway. It's for the solids so your nappies don't get as messy as they could.

You can also get booster liners to put in the nappies for night times or when the little one is extra "full."

Imse Vimse wipes

 Baby wipes - cloth or throwaway. Wet pieces of cloth work just as well, are much cheaper and can be put in the machine with the nappies.

Nappy bag/bucket - Something to put the stinkers in while you are out or at home before you do a wash.

itti bitti

So.. things I need to consider are

- what babies bot bot is like.
- how I am going to clean the nappies. We have a big washing line that gets plenty of sun and a big powerful washing machine and access to a drier. This means I can get nappies that are more absorbent but take longer to dry. (bamboo)
- how much money I have to spare upfront/will have in the future. Should I get one size fits all or small-medium-large when the time comes.
-the fabric I/baby likes. I'm personally not a huge fan of the minkee. Maybe it's really comfy but I just don't like the look of it.



What brand do you use? How did you plan for cloth nappies before your baby was born?

nursery sneak peek - bunting

I have been doing some crafty things to make our little ones living spaces prettier and nicer.

She will be sleeping in our room for at least the first six months (as long as she can handle my snoring) and her nappy area is in our spare room. It will become her big girl room when either she gets too big for her cot or another little one comes along.

So I have been prettying her change table area. I made bunting.

Here's how.

You will need
string
an old vintage looking book. One with yellowing pages.
scissors
sticky tape
blue tack

rip out pages from the book. I chose religion among the primitives.

Cut the pages into triangles. It makes it easier if you fold but don't crease them in half and cut from the middle to the edges.

fold over the tops (non pointy) of the triangles to about 1.5cm.

Put a length of string on the wall with blue tack. You will want it to be on a slight curve not straight.

Hang the triangles on the string. Fasten with sticky tape at the back.

Voila! Bunting.

material girl

 

This little one is not even out of the womb yet and already she has so much stuff.

There is a fantastic article here about the five "essential" baby items that are not so essential. It's a fantastic read and has really made me think about what the little one needs vs what I see in the shop and swoon over. I don't think there is anything particularly wrong with having things for your baby but on a tight(ish) budget it's good to look at what is actually necessary.

So far I have gotten a bit of baby stuff. I have a fantastic list given to me by a friend of all the good to have baby things, their average cost and good brands/features to look out for.

Here is what I do have.

- Cot. It's wooden and was given to us.
- Blankets. A few different ones. Cotton, wool.
- Wraps. aden + anias, muslin, cotton.
- Burpy towells x5. Ikea 99c.
- On loan one Mei Tai and one fabric wrap.
- Baby bath. From ikea.
- Change table and mat. Using a desk with a mat on top.  
- Baby bag. Made by my mum.
- Car restraint. 


Here's what I don't have

- Cot mattress. I threw out the one that came with the cot as it was a bit stained and I was told it's best not to use a second hand one. Need to measure cot and buy.
- Sheets, mattress protector etc.
- Pram. Going with the Maclaren Vogue. Just have to buy it.
- Nappies. Disposable for the newborn stage then cloth.
- Nappy bucket. With lid.
- Breast pads. yes.
- Bath products. Natural and chemical free. Both for at home and for nappy bag.
- Rocker. I loved mine as a baby. Keeps baby occupied while I am in the shower etc.
- Porta cot. We do go away quite a lot.

Here's what I have but no doubt need more of.
- Baby clothes. Size 000 for newborn and 00 for a bit older.
- Books. All the classics.
- Toys. I'm gathering a pile of handmade softies.

All I really need at the moment is the cot finished and the car seat installed. If the little one comes early we just need to be able to take her home and give her somewhere to sleep. Seven weeks to go. I can do it.

sustainababy

I like the earth.
I like that it is green and blue.

It seems like people mess up this green and blue balance a bit. We over use, under recycle and waste like there is no tomorrow. I am not innocent of any of these things.
I'm going to have a baby soon. Babies use up a lot of stuff.
Here are some ways I am going to try and reduce my little ones teeny tiny carbon footprint.

1. Cloth Nappies.

What a fantastic invention is the modern cloth nappy. Gone are the days of terry towell and safety pins, hello velcro/snap fastners and groovy prints and colours.
Sure they do need to be washed which uses water but when you think about the water that goes into making and disposing of the other kind of nappy it works out much better in the end.

They also end up being much cheaper in the long run not to mention absolutely adorable. You can also go cloth on things like baby wipes, breast pads and the like.

I could even go totally green and practice Elimination Communication or start my potty training really early.



2. Go Handmade

I'm a bit of a crafter. Have made a few things for the little one already. Here, here and here. I'm going to be making a whole lot more. You can make things for your baby out of old adult clothes by recycling the fabric. T-shirts into onesies or trackpants. Not only is this cheap and good for the environment but it is also ethical as many cheaper clothing brands are only cheap because they don't pay their workers well.

If you can't manage to sew then go second hand. Most babies don't wear clothes long enough to wear them out. You can also go second hand on cots (as long as they still fit safety regulation) and other baby furniture.

3. Make use of the Library.

Books are great and wonderful and I love them so much. But they are made out of trees and those trees come from somewhere.

While I intend to have a good collection of literature for the babe there is no reason why some or most of those books can't come from the library. We are lucky enough to have a library five minutes walk from our door which is stacked with great children's books, games and toys.

Myl and I already loan books and dvd's from there for us. I'll definately be paying them many a visit.

4. Chemical free baby products.

It is a little scary to realise just how many chemicals are in the products we use every day. Soap, shampoo, moisturiser and cleaning products are full of weird ingredients. Just what is cocamidipropyl?

It's amazing how much cleaning you can do with vinegar or bi-carb soda and where there isn't a cleaner/product that you can find in your pantry there are many organic, chemical free baby soaps out there on the market. Much better for the environment and baby's sweet skin.

5. Organic baby food.

I am so looking forward to starting the little one on solids.

Yes I know this is at least 9 months away but I think it will be so exciting to create beautiful meals then puree them for her tasting pleasure. I've always been a bit confused by the multitude of pre tinned baby food. I'm sure there is some reason for it but how easy can a bit of pumpkin mash in a sealable container be? Make 10, freeze them and use as needed??

And how could I forget the best organic food of all? Breastmilk. Save money on all that formula and bottles and give little one all the nutrients she needs.


6. Less toys, better toys.
There are so many horrible plastic toys out there nowerdays. How many toys can a kid play with. I guess the answer is about a billion but how many do they need? I really love making my own softies and will be making some for the little one.
Wooden toys are also better for the environment than their plastic counterparts. They last longer and give children better imaginations. I can remember playing for hours in the plastics cupboard or with a drumkit made out of pots and pans.

7. Sling it.

There are loads of busses in my area. There are loads of places I can walk to. I drive the car far too much because it is so much easier. It's better for the planet (and my behind) if I get out and walk. I can pop the little on in a sling or pram and off we go.

Here is a really fantastic blog dedicated to keeping your baby home as good for the environment as it can be.

-ladybird-

-softie-

ikea

I like ikea.

This is my ikea shopping list for the little one.

ikea by

aden + anais

I got some lovely mail from aden + anais this week.

They make beautiful swaddling blankets out of muslin as well as sleeping bags, washcloths and bibs.

I was sent a set of four 100% cotton swaddles in a pattern called princess posie. The patterns are absolutely gorgeous and they feel so soft! I cant wait to wrap up my little one in them. She will look so sweet!

The great thing about muslin is that it is super breathable and the swaddles carry the CJ Foundation for SIDS tag meaning they are not only beautiful and soft but safe for little ones too.

At 120cm square they are also a fantastic size. I can use them for swaddling, nursing, covering the stroller or for when the little one has a play on the floor.

Did I mention they are really really pretty?

Check out the aden + anias website. They have some really lovely stuff.

sew no!

I like to think of myself as being pretty crafty.

But I'm finding this project a bit of a trick.

Maybe it's that I'm trying to sew at 11pm or maybe it's the stretchy fabric.
I'm trying to make project B out of the green and white striped fabric. There is binding involved. I've never done that before.

Sorry baby. Mama needs grandma to help.

Sling it baby!

I'm a bit of a fan of the old baby wear.

By the time the little one comes along it should be getting cooler so it will be lovely to have all day cuddles.

There are so many ways to go about wearing your baby.

Backpack Carriers

A particular style of wrap that can be purchased in ready stitched position. The Mei Tai is one of these.
 

Pros

Good for your back

adjustable

looks nice
Can be used on front or back
Liked by Dads

Cons

Expensive (in ready made)
not as versatile 

Examples

Mei Tai baby (image)
ABA Mei Tai
ERGO baby carrier

Wraps

One long piece of cloth tied in an amazing way to keep baby in place.

Pros

Uses your whole back good support

No buckles or fastners

One size fits all
Stretchy

Cons

May be tricky to figure out how to tie.

Examples

Moby Wrap (image)

Hug a Bub
Storchenweige

Baby Bjorn

Ergonomic and high tech baby carrier.

Pros
Specially designed to be good for your back.
Fancy pants brand
Easy to fasten
totally hands free
Cons
More fancy pants less earthy mama
Need to make sure baby's neck is supported.

Examples
Baby Bjorn(image)

Ring Sling

A big piece of cloth with a ring in one end.

Pros 

Easy to put on and wear.

Looks pretty

Handy for breastfeeding

Adjustable

Cons

Can't use it when baby gets too big

Baby is able to wriggle round more

Examples

Maya Wrap (image)
Breeze Baby Sling

Which one is your favourite?
Do you use a sling?

I'd love to hear some thoughts.