Thursday, October 22, 2015

Bath Time Fun



*This post is sponsored by Nuffnang & JOHNSON’S® *


One of the things we are lucky enough to have at our house is a really big bath tub. Which is a great thing now that we have three boys to bath each night! Max, Lincoln and Elliot absolutely love bath time, and I love seeing all the fun they have together in there. Some of their best bonding moments are when they are all sitting there trying to out-splash each other!

 
For me, bath time is about so much more than just a way to get them clean, it’s something I try to make as much fun as possible. We have a little machine that sits on the side of the tub that blows bubbles and plays music. We sometimes have mega-baths where we fill the tub with as many bubbles and as much water as we possibly can. Other times (normally in summer!) I add multi-coloured ice cubes into the water that they love to chase around! 

 
Right from when Elliot was a new baby he has joined in on family bath time. At first (when he was still really little) it would be quiet & calming bath time first, so that Elliot felt safe. Then once I took him out, the older boys would get to have their usual crazy fun! Now that Elliot is almost one, the fun starts for all of them the minute they get in. Elliot is a champion splasher and can definitely hold his own with the big boys! 

I’ve always loved bath time with the boys and always made sure they were having fun, but I actually had no idea that I was also giving them so much more than just a fun way to get clean. Research has revealed that routine touch and massage by a parents or loving caregivers (like the amazing grandparents my kids are lucky to have) is so important to our babies’ growth and development, communication and learning. JOHNSON’S® is at the forefront, highlighting the importance of daily rituals that help you to stimulate your baby’s senses and nurture their developing minds. They’re also paving the way by advancing research that reveals the importance of multi-sensorial experiences that can lead to happy, healthy baby development. And like I said I thought I was just letting them have fun whilst getting clean!!


 If I think about it though, it’s pretty obvious how much of an important thing touch is in our children’s lives. The way they adore being tickled at any opportunity, how rubbing their backs when they are sleepy is a guaranteed way to relax them, the way they reach out and hold each others’ hands in the back of the car and how any nightmare (no matter how frightening) can be fixed by climbing into our bed for midnight snuggles.

Another hugely important factor in a baby’s development is scent and the effects that it can have on their mood. My first experience with JOHNSON’S® products (as an adult) was the day after Max was born. Our midwife came in to show us how to bath our brand new baby. After she’d filled the baby bath up, she swirled some JOHNSON’S® Top to Toe into the water and from that very moment it became my go to bath product. Every single time I use it, it takes me straight back to when I first became a mum. Babies start being able to smell from well before they are born (about 28 weeks!), so as I bathed my older boys each night, the little ones in my belly were becoming familiar with the subtle, calming smell of Top to Toe. I’m sure they recognised it once they were born because bath times have always been such a calming experience for them.

JOHNSON’S® is one of those companies that is part of our history and will definitely become part of our future. My mum used their beautiful, gentle products for my sister and me when we were little, I now use them for my kids and hopefully my kids will use them when they have their own babies. They’ve been setting the global standard in baby skin care for more than 120 years, and I love that they are continuing to work with leading scientists to ensure their products are about so much more than just getting clean.



Friday, December 12, 2014

Sleeping Babies

Having trouble during nappy change time with a wriggly baby? Try BabyLove Nappy Pants - with no tabs to contend with, the 360-degree stretchy waist allows you to pull them up quickly and easily, so your active toddler can get back to action in no time! Request a sample.


I'm lucky. Elliot is a super easy baby. He sleeps, he eats, he smiles (a lot!) and generally has the sunniest disposition I have ever seen in a baby. He's been sleeping through the night since he was 7 weeks old, and wakes up in the morning with a big smile on his face, always happy to coo and play with his feet until I'm ready to get out of bed. I am very lucky.




But with that luck comes guilt. Whenever someone asks how he's sleeping I actually feel bad about answering honestly. Especially when the person I'm talking to is a sleep deprived new mum. So today I want to share a post that I originally wrote back when Lincoln was around 7 months old.

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Lincoln is now 7 months old and still waking to feed 3 times a night. Nine times out of ten the reaction I get when I tell people this is shock and horror.

But is it really that uncommon for babies to still wake in the night at 7 months?

I've been given lots of advice, everyone from my real life and online friends (who's advice is always appreciated), to my hairdresser, beautician, shop assistants, the ladies at the post office, childless men (always my fave...) and complete strangers.

Most of the advice we've happily ignored - like starting solids early (this has been suggested to me by at least a dozen people starting when he was only 4 weeks old), supplementing his night feeds with formula (I have no problems with formula, Max drank it from 5 months but a lack of milk is not the problem), even adding a few drops of rum to a bottle for him, or ignoring him outright when he cries during the night.

Some of it we've tried - waking him up to feed at 10pm before I go to bed, giving him solids at 6 months, moving him into his own room (which we did a couple of days ago) and picking him up when he cries, hugging him and then putting him back down.

It doesn't matter what we do he still wakes up in the night and wants to be fed.

The thing is, I'm totally ok with it. Sure I complain sometimes, especially after a night where he's decided to feed five times, but generally I don't mind.

I love breastfeeding Lincoln and those night feeds are so special to me. It's just me and him. During those feeds I am the only thing in the entire world that matters to him. And there is something so amazingly wonderful about that.



So next time someone asks me if he's sleeping through yet, I'm not going to let them offer me any more advice. I'll let them know that he doesn't sleep through the night, but that I don't mind at all. I'm sure he'll do it when he's ready.

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My reason for sharing this is that I want to point out to those mum's with newborns that it's ok. Whether your baby is sleeping through now, or still waking regularly (and even if he continues to do so until he's 14 months old like Lincoln did), you will be ok. We humans (and especially us Mums!!) have the amazing ability to cope with whatever comes our way. So relax, enjoy the little moments and know that you can handle anything your baby throws at you.


This post is part of a Nuffnang native advertising series.
Having trouble during nappy change time with a wriggly baby? Try BabyLove Nappy Pants - with no tabs to contend with, the 360-degree stretchy waist allows you to pull them up quickly and easily, so your active toddler can get back to action in no time! Request a sample.

Monday, November 24, 2014

A Golden Nursery

I might be a little biased, but I do think that I have some very talented customers. Every time I see how someone has used one of my cushions or mobiles I get so excited. So you can imagine how I felt when I saw these images from the beautiful nursery Ailee has created for her gorgeous little girl Isla. So pretty!!





You can purchase the ivory pom mobile in my store. Head on over to Ailee's blog to see more gorgeous photos and to get the rest of the product sources.


Thursday, November 13, 2014

In My Nappy Bag

Having trouble during nappy change time with a wriggly baby? Try BabyLove Nappy Pants - with no tabs to contend with, the 360-degree stretchy waist allows you to pull them up quickly and easily, so your active toddler can get back to action in no time! Request a sample.


The last time I shared a post about what's in my nappy bag, I think I had a little silver pouch full of baby supplies that easily fit into my handbag. These days things are a whole lot more different! My nappy bag is huge, so huge that it could easily double as an overnighter (if you happened to be going somewhere overnight without kids, which I don't get to do for obvious reasons!).

The picture above is the pretty version of what I carry around everyday. A change of clothes for Elliot, nappies (for Link and Elliot) & wipes in my gorgeous Bella & Moo nappy clutch, hand sanitiser, nappy rash cream, a rattle given to me by Julia, my phone and purse and a couple of burp clothes (also from Bella & Moo).

Not pictured is the epic amount of extra things that I always have with me just in case. A change of clothes for Link and Max, a muslin wrap and a heavier blanket, books for Link and an iPad for Max, dummies (as many as I can find on my way out the door), a couple of bottles for Elliot, snacks, a bottle of water, a spare pair of glasses and whatever else I need on the day.

So much stuff! All absolutely essential though of course!

Tell me. Do you still carry around a big nappy bag? Or have you managed to whittle your essentials down to a purse sized pouch?


This post is part of a Nuffnang native advertising series.
Having trouble during nappy change time with a wriggly baby? Try BabyLove Nappy Pants - with no tabs to contend with, the 360-degree stretchy waist allows you to pull them up quickly and easily, so your active toddler can get back to action in no time! Request a sample.


Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Nursery Inspiration for Elliot

Little baby Elliot doesn't have his own room yet (he will stay in our room until he's about six months old), but that hasn't stopped me from planning and dreaming about what I want to do in his nursery.

If you have a look at my pinterest board you'll see that I've changed my mind quite a few times, I think I have finally settled on what I want now. My plan is to keep it quite neutral and and classic (no surprises there!!). Here's some of the images that are currently inspiring me.





I love everything that Bel from Nest Design Studio does, so it's no surprise that I am head over heels in love with the sneak peaks she's shared of Leo's new nursery. Cannot wait to see more!



Monika Hibbs is another blogger who's style I love, Liam's nursery is right at the top of my inspiration list.




I'm loving the mix of grey, white and wood tones in these rooms (from here and here).




And these nurseries from The Boo and The Boy are so gorgeously serene.


As soon as I get started on his room I'll share some progress shots!!


Friday, October 24, 2014

Switching to Nappy Pants (and a Giveaway!!)

This post is brought to you by Nuffnang and BabyLove

I've talked a lot lately about life with a new baby, but there is also another big change going on around here at the moment. At 23 months old, Lincoln is becoming more and more like a little person and much less like a baby. He's moved past walking and now likes to run everywhere, he climbs on top of anything he can find, talks in little sentences and has very strong opinions (which normally involve him yelling 'Noooo' or 'Yeee-uck' at the top of his lungs!!).

 


One of the biggest challenges we're having is getting him to lie still on his change table for nappy changes. When Mum and Aggie (Sean's mum) were staying with us they learnt first hand that he likes to flip over, kick your belly as hard as he can and generally try to escape at every nappy change. I recently moved his change pad off his table and onto the floor, but all it's done is give him the chance to escape even quicker!

Even though I'd been having all these nappy changing challenges I hadn't really done anything about it. I guess I was in the mindset of 'just keep wrangling the baby and get the job done'. So when BabyLove offered to send me out some Nappy Pants it was kind of like a light bulb moment. I've seen the ads on TV, but it hadn't ever clicked that maybe I should give them a go. I guess my thinking was that because he's not ready for toilet training he also wasn't ready for nappy pants.



I've been using the BabyLove Nappy Pants since the package arrived and I can't believe the difference it has been making. I've been telling Lincoln they're his 'big boy nappies' and his little face looks so proud when we do 'standing changes'!! Seriously, toddlers are hilarious!

Even with our new standing up nappy changes I still have to be super quick, his attention span is really short and at any moment he will attempt to take off in search of his next adventure. The nappy pants have tear away sides, so I basically rip them off him as quick as I can and then (thanks to the super stretchy 360 degree waist band) I help him step into the next pair and pull them straight up. A quick pat on the bum and he's good to go!



An added bonus that I've found since starting to use them is that because there are no tabs he can't unfasten them. Link's not a fan of nappy-free time, but he loves playing with the tabs on his nappies. The end result is usually his nappy falling off and him coming to my crying because he wants his nappy back on. The stretchy waist also helps prevent over zealous dads and grandparents from doing the nappy up so tight that his little belly pops out over the top.

Since switching to the nappy pants they're the only type of nappy I've needed to use, I’ve had them on him overnight and they hold up beautifully. Definitely no dreaded leaks! There is nothing worse than waking up to a toddler screaming because his favourite blanket is all wet (trust me, I've been there...). Trying to get that blanket clean and dry on a day when we have to be out and about early is a disaster.

Another thing I am absolutely loving about BabyLove is that they've made this adorable little baby soother youtube video. Now to be completely honest when I first heard about it I thought it was going to be a bit gimmicky and probably wasn't going to mention it. But I played it for Lincoln and he thought it was the funniest thing ever. He danced along with Baby Bud, laughed and clapped his chubby little hands. When it was finished he said 'more bebe mumma'!! So cute! When BabyLove tested it in Japan it soothed 96% of crying babies, I will definitely be trying it on Elliot next time I can't settle him.


More good news, I have a BabyLove Nappy Pants and Wipes package valued at more than $250 to give to one of you! To enter leave a comment below telling me about the tactics your toddlers have used to try and get away during nappy changes. All the Terms and Conditions can be found here.
In the meantime if you want to go out and buy your own pack of Nappy Pants, they're available at all the major supermarkets. They come in Toddler (9-14kg), Walker (12-17kg) & Junior (15-25kg) and can be purchased in either bulk ($16.99) or Jumbo packs ($29.99). Give them a go, if your toddler is anything like Lincoln you won't regret it! If you would like to request a sample, click here.

(Competition is now closed - congratulations Danni)


 

Monday, October 20, 2014

DIY Bookshelves

Ever since I finished Lincoln's nursery I have been working away on finishing Max's big boy room. I'm not quite there yet, but it's getting very, very close! I get so much satisfaction from working on Max's room because he loves seeing the little changes and gets genuinely excited that I'm making his room into something special for him.



One of the projects I've recently ticked off his list are these DIY bookshelves. For ages now I've been in love with the idea of using Ikea Ribba Ledges as bookshelves. I've seen so many gorgeous shots on Instagram showing how people have styled them into their kids rooms. The only problem I had was that the ledges came in two lengths, neither of which were perfect for the space I wanted to fill. So I bit the bullet and built some. They were super simple to make, and worked out really cost effective. The only drama I had was the time it took me to make, prep and paint them. Buying the Ikea ones would have cost about the same and been much quicker, but you do what you have to do!


As soon as I realised I was going to need to make them I searched Pinterest for some inspiration and came across this tutorial. I'm not going to rehash the details of how I made them because I pretty much followed Cindy's instructions exactly. I got them finished a couple of days before Elliot was born and then Sean installed them for me a few weeks later.


Max loves them and so do I!! Next up I'll be adding a few finishing touches to his room and then it will be all done. Can't wait to share more!