No particular order, not necessarily the very best product on the market but yes I've enjoyed using the things listed below. Lifesaving at times, tools of convenience other, they are just a few things I would recommend for any mother wonder what to buy. At the end of the day, if it makes you happy and it doens't break the bank, it can't be that bad, can it?
Remember, these aren't my must-haves, just nice-to-haves.
Stokke Sleepi mini cot and cot
Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair
Bugaboo pram
Maclaren Triumph foldable pushchair
Medela electric breast pump
Grobag all in one sleep suits with inbuilt socks
Doidy training cup
Calin Bleu purple gauze wrap (baby carrier)
Didymos Red Waves cotton wrap
Hand hand fingers thumb - baby board book
baby door bouncer
Like-a-bike wooden pedal-less bike
Deryan pop-up tent and travel cot with 50+ UV protection (for up to 18 months)
Not sures:
Bumbo seat
Useless things:
Babybjorn Active baby carrier
Mamas and Papas baby bouncing chair
27.5.08
Nappy Talk
Disposables Vs. Reusables
High Street Disposables Vs. Eco disposables
I admit to the luxury of being able to use real (washable) nappies on my toddler since he was little. Luxury, because I happen to have the time to wash them and the garden space to hang them dry. No point in bragging 'I've never used a disposable nappy on him' or 'I've never spoon-fed my baby' - I have and I don't care the slightest for not being a purist, let alone perfect. Some people also choose to use eco-friendly disposable nappies, and until recently I had every reason to believe that eco-nappies that cost the earth are worth the extra pounds. Though apparently not... In http://ezinearticles.com/?Eco-Friendly-Diapers-Do-They-Really-Exist?&id=1104825, not only is Keith King sympathetic to city dwellers who are unable to use washable nappies to do thier bit for the environment, he also outlines the myth that all eco-friendly nappies are as good as they are made out to be. Tushies that hails from America has no chemical gel that may cause respiratory and skin irritation problems, and according to one source is better than Moltex and Nature just because of that.
High Street Disposables Vs. Eco disposables
I admit to the luxury of being able to use real (washable) nappies on my toddler since he was little. Luxury, because I happen to have the time to wash them and the garden space to hang them dry. No point in bragging 'I've never used a disposable nappy on him' or 'I've never spoon-fed my baby' - I have and I don't care the slightest for not being a purist, let alone perfect. Some people also choose to use eco-friendly disposable nappies, and until recently I had every reason to believe that eco-nappies that cost the earth are worth the extra pounds. Though apparently not... In http://ezinearticles.com/?Eco-Friendly-Diapers-Do-They-Really-Exist?&id=1104825, not only is Keith King sympathetic to city dwellers who are unable to use washable nappies to do thier bit for the environment, he also outlines the myth that all eco-friendly nappies are as good as they are made out to be. Tushies that hails from America has no chemical gel that may cause respiratory and skin irritation problems, and according to one source is better than Moltex and Nature just because of that.
26.5.08
Breastfeeding traditions
I'm doing a course to be trained as a voluntary breastfeeding helper. Having had such joy nurturing Bump One and being close to him as a little one, I thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to get proper training so that I am not restricted to only personal experience when it comes to giving breastfeeding advice. Indeed, the rule number one in breastfeeding support is - don't give advice, give information for mums to make decision for themselves.
Breastfeeding IS interesting - at least to mothers like myself who have lived with it for months and seen the great achievement that it is seeing babies grow, especially if you are able to exclusively breastfeed up till the baby is 6 months, as recommended by the World Health Organisation. Those who've read an earlier blog entry about Breastfeeding and going back to work will know that women in Hong Kong don't have this luxury due to legislation entirely obliterating the needs of parents and their young children.
In fact out of the six children that my grandmother had, all of them were breastfed as babies apart from my youngest aunt, who had the 'good fortune' of formula milk due to 'scientific advancement'. We were told at our last breastfeeding training session that formula milk only came about around the time of WWI, when there was a surplus of cow's milk that no one knew what to do with - feed them to babies! With the onset of women joining men in the workplace, it made even more sense for babies to be fed formula milk for convenience's sake.
Now don't get me wrong, breastmilk is not the only option for young babies, but it is, scientifically speaking, the most natural option. It is heartening to see that societies that are much less removed from nature, notably those less developed countries, often still see breastfeeding a baby as a matter of course - African mothers, Bengali mothers you see in London are much less likely to discount breastfeeding in favour of bottle feeding. Bottle feeding has to be seen as a second option, whether babies are fed expressed breastmilk, soya formula, cow's milk formula or goat's milk formula, they are the alternatives when breastmilk is not available, not the reverse.
Breastfeeding IS interesting - at least to mothers like myself who have lived with it for months and seen the great achievement that it is seeing babies grow, especially if you are able to exclusively breastfeed up till the baby is 6 months, as recommended by the World Health Organisation. Those who've read an earlier blog entry about Breastfeeding and going back to work will know that women in Hong Kong don't have this luxury due to legislation entirely obliterating the needs of parents and their young children.
In fact out of the six children that my grandmother had, all of them were breastfed as babies apart from my youngest aunt, who had the 'good fortune' of formula milk due to 'scientific advancement'. We were told at our last breastfeeding training session that formula milk only came about around the time of WWI, when there was a surplus of cow's milk that no one knew what to do with - feed them to babies! With the onset of women joining men in the workplace, it made even more sense for babies to be fed formula milk for convenience's sake.
Now don't get me wrong, breastmilk is not the only option for young babies, but it is, scientifically speaking, the most natural option. It is heartening to see that societies that are much less removed from nature, notably those less developed countries, often still see breastfeeding a baby as a matter of course - African mothers, Bengali mothers you see in London are much less likely to discount breastfeeding in favour of bottle feeding. Bottle feeding has to be seen as a second option, whether babies are fed expressed breastmilk, soya formula, cow's milk formula or goat's milk formula, they are the alternatives when breastmilk is not available, not the reverse.
The practicalities of babywearing
Which one to choose?
You could choose from an array of high street baby carriers, in the UK being Babybjorn, Tomy, Hipseats, or the like. However I have found that apart from the exception of Ergo (which John Lewis has started stocking recently), the most comfortable and user-friendly baby carriers/slings are available online or through independent sellers.
You may have a Slingmeet organised near you regularly. These are meetings hosted for free by mothers who are eager to help other less experienced sling wearers to find the perfect sling, and help is also at hand if you need to learn the most comfortable way to wear your baby. If you are keen, you may even wish to create your own Slingmeet. Go to www.slingmeet.co.uk to find the closest meeting in your area.
What weather?
This is entirely dependent on where in the world you live. Living in the cold weather in North America or Europe would require different considerations from if you are living in sub-tropical clime. The type of fabric or material used, and the way the fabric hugs your body, helps you decide what is the best. In cold weather it is not uncommon for babywearing parents to have to consider what coat to wear on top of the baby, or have a separate weatherproof cover for the baby. There are babywearing coats and jackets, or add-on pieces of sling cover, that keeps you warm while you wear your baby around.
In hot weather UV protection may be a consideration, as well as breathability of the fabric. If you wish to wear your baby on a beach holiday, quick dry fabric like Solarveil is recommended. A good way of wearing your baby in sweltering heat is the wrap, which is basically a long swathe of fabric that you can wrap around your body in different ways. To keep cool, all you have to do is choose a wrap that is made of a lightweight (but supportive) fabric, such as Calin Bleu, Ellaroo or Girasol.
What occasion?
You may think, fashion is no longer a priority when you have to consider the practicalities of chasing after a toddler, or how often you may have to wipe off sick from your shoulder. Nevertheless, slings come in all sorts of fabrics, materials and designs to go with your personality, to colour-coordinate with your clothes, or even the rest of your baby gear. The most beautiful fabrics, probably more geared towards the trendy mum rather than dad, are available for you to choose from for a lot of sling brands. Wearing one of these may help perk up your drab wardrobe and you may even be unwilling to part with it even when you are NOT wearing your baby!
How old is your baby?
Younger babies are lighter and poorly fitted baby carriers are easily overlooked, but as they bulk up as the months go by, previously unnoticeable discomfort comes to the fore and you can no longer ignore it when you choose to carry your baby in a sling for anything more than hopping into the local shop. Also younger babies (up to 3-4 months or whenever they are able to support their heads) need greater all-round support, and their floppy bodies could slip out of the sling unless you know what you are doing.
Older babies obviously are more weighty and comfort for both baby and parent is a must. After 20 pounds a baby gradually becomes a chore and a serious health risk to carry on the front, so this is where back carriers come in. My personal favourite are structured carriers (like Ergo, Patapum, Connecta, Rose and Rebellion, Beco).
You could choose from an array of high street baby carriers, in the UK being Babybjorn, Tomy, Hipseats, or the like. However I have found that apart from the exception of Ergo (which John Lewis has started stocking recently), the most comfortable and user-friendly baby carriers/slings are available online or through independent sellers.
You may have a Slingmeet organised near you regularly. These are meetings hosted for free by mothers who are eager to help other less experienced sling wearers to find the perfect sling, and help is also at hand if you need to learn the most comfortable way to wear your baby. If you are keen, you may even wish to create your own Slingmeet. Go to www.slingmeet.co.uk to find the closest meeting in your area.
What weather?
This is entirely dependent on where in the world you live. Living in the cold weather in North America or Europe would require different considerations from if you are living in sub-tropical clime. The type of fabric or material used, and the way the fabric hugs your body, helps you decide what is the best. In cold weather it is not uncommon for babywearing parents to have to consider what coat to wear on top of the baby, or have a separate weatherproof cover for the baby. There are babywearing coats and jackets, or add-on pieces of sling cover, that keeps you warm while you wear your baby around.
In hot weather UV protection may be a consideration, as well as breathability of the fabric. If you wish to wear your baby on a beach holiday, quick dry fabric like Solarveil is recommended. A good way of wearing your baby in sweltering heat is the wrap, which is basically a long swathe of fabric that you can wrap around your body in different ways. To keep cool, all you have to do is choose a wrap that is made of a lightweight (but supportive) fabric, such as Calin Bleu, Ellaroo or Girasol.
What occasion?
You may think, fashion is no longer a priority when you have to consider the practicalities of chasing after a toddler, or how often you may have to wipe off sick from your shoulder. Nevertheless, slings come in all sorts of fabrics, materials and designs to go with your personality, to colour-coordinate with your clothes, or even the rest of your baby gear. The most beautiful fabrics, probably more geared towards the trendy mum rather than dad, are available for you to choose from for a lot of sling brands. Wearing one of these may help perk up your drab wardrobe and you may even be unwilling to part with it even when you are NOT wearing your baby!
How old is your baby?
Younger babies are lighter and poorly fitted baby carriers are easily overlooked, but as they bulk up as the months go by, previously unnoticeable discomfort comes to the fore and you can no longer ignore it when you choose to carry your baby in a sling for anything more than hopping into the local shop. Also younger babies (up to 3-4 months or whenever they are able to support their heads) need greater all-round support, and their floppy bodies could slip out of the sling unless you know what you are doing.
Older babies obviously are more weighty and comfort for both baby and parent is a must. After 20 pounds a baby gradually becomes a chore and a serious health risk to carry on the front, so this is where back carriers come in. My personal favourite are structured carriers (like Ergo, Patapum, Connecta, Rose and Rebellion, Beco).
The joys of babywearing
'Wearing' a baby is nothing new to south east Asian societies - the Japanese seem to have very nicely made traditional and more 'scientific' baby carriers, and the Chinese equally have the 'mei tai', which I am personal fond of due to childhood memories.
As Bump One gets older and more independent, he can choose to walk away from mummy anytime towards his preferred toys and these days I am more and more keenly aware of the growing physical distance between me and him. Now that my body is preparing for the arrival of Bump Two, Bump One no longer has the privilege of my breastmilk due to its changed taste and depleted reserves. Gone are the days when he could snuggle up beside me in the double bed early in the morning for a little feed before the day began. Now touching and being in physical contact with this little tod is more difficult than ever before. Oh how I miss carrying him in a baby carrier!
If my bump hadn't been growing steadily I would probably still be carrying Bump One with my truly well-loved Ergo baby carrier, able to take children from birth (with an extra infant insert) until 3 years of age. I still have recollection of being carried by my grandmother, traditional Chinese mum and community matriarch that she was, on her back in a 'mei tai' to the Chinese market filled with smells of fresh, raw meat, preserved salted fish and chickens waiting to meet their certain fate - being able to see what adults could see and offered the same view at adults' height; being offered a bit of Chinese roast pork ('char siu') by the deli vendor on a frequent basis as I was easily within the reach of his arm. Not to mention the impracticality that it would have been for her to carry me 3 floors up/down the Chinese pre-WW2 residential building that was her home to get the daily family food supplies, had it involved any other forms of baby transport.
However, babywearing to me is not just about nostalgia, but sheer practicality to the mum/dad whose life might well have been turned upsidedown in many aspects on the baba's arrival. More to follow on different slings and baby carriers from personal experience.
As Bump One gets older and more independent, he can choose to walk away from mummy anytime towards his preferred toys and these days I am more and more keenly aware of the growing physical distance between me and him. Now that my body is preparing for the arrival of Bump Two, Bump One no longer has the privilege of my breastmilk due to its changed taste and depleted reserves. Gone are the days when he could snuggle up beside me in the double bed early in the morning for a little feed before the day began. Now touching and being in physical contact with this little tod is more difficult than ever before. Oh how I miss carrying him in a baby carrier!
If my bump hadn't been growing steadily I would probably still be carrying Bump One with my truly well-loved Ergo baby carrier, able to take children from birth (with an extra infant insert) until 3 years of age. I still have recollection of being carried by my grandmother, traditional Chinese mum and community matriarch that she was, on her back in a 'mei tai' to the Chinese market filled with smells of fresh, raw meat, preserved salted fish and chickens waiting to meet their certain fate - being able to see what adults could see and offered the same view at adults' height; being offered a bit of Chinese roast pork ('char siu') by the deli vendor on a frequent basis as I was easily within the reach of his arm. Not to mention the impracticality that it would have been for her to carry me 3 floors up/down the Chinese pre-WW2 residential building that was her home to get the daily family food supplies, had it involved any other forms of baby transport.
However, babywearing to me is not just about nostalgia, but sheer practicality to the mum/dad whose life might well have been turned upsidedown in many aspects on the baba's arrival. More to follow on different slings and baby carriers from personal experience.
Breastfeeding and going back to work Part 1
What is it about going back to work that reminds the mother of the need to regain control and exert her own identity? I remember a colleague from years ago, well before my married and babyrearing days, who conscientiously pumped her own milk every lunch hour for 45 minutes to keep her 3 month-old on breastmilk. At that time it was unknown to me the level of commitment and understanding it required for this laudable new mum to continue, let alone starting in the first place, to breastfeed her baby. She was fortunate to have a secluded part of the work place for her sole use, but not many other women are in her position.
That was in a city where legislation did not protect women's and baby's right to be fed with the most natural form of nourishment known to little babes. Hong Kong, where I come from, has pretty poor legislation for new parents - mothers are allowed 10 weeks of leave all inclusive, and how you choose to take it (2 weeks before due date and 8 after, 4 weeks before and 6 after and other variations thereof) breastfeeding is, in the majority of cases, cut short or disrrupted not long after it's been established in the first place. One friend of mine once said to me when Bump One was barely showing, that she didn't choose to breastfeed with the two that she had because she was too much of a control freak and needed to know how much milk (i.e. formula) her babies were taking in.
Where do we start to make breastfeeding acceptable to the wider Hong Kong society, in hospitals, in public, to all the picture-perfect celebrities who are all rushing to have their last chance of having the faddish thing to have - a baby - before their biological clock ticks them away towards menopause?
That was in a city where legislation did not protect women's and baby's right to be fed with the most natural form of nourishment known to little babes. Hong Kong, where I come from, has pretty poor legislation for new parents - mothers are allowed 10 weeks of leave all inclusive, and how you choose to take it (2 weeks before due date and 8 after, 4 weeks before and 6 after and other variations thereof) breastfeeding is, in the majority of cases, cut short or disrrupted not long after it's been established in the first place. One friend of mine once said to me when Bump One was barely showing, that she didn't choose to breastfeed with the two that she had because she was too much of a control freak and needed to know how much milk (i.e. formula) her babies were taking in.
Where do we start to make breastfeeding acceptable to the wider Hong Kong society, in hospitals, in public, to all the picture-perfect celebrities who are all rushing to have their last chance of having the faddish thing to have - a baby - before their biological clock ticks them away towards menopause?
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