Congratulations to Nerida Hicks, from NSW, the winner of our $1000 Christmas hamper*!
We’ll be sending Nerida a big box of goodies, including Patches the Mamas and Papas rocking horse, in time for Christmas.
Thank you to everyone who subscribed to our newsletter. We are looking forward to offering more competitions next year.
[*The winner's email address was selected at random from our list of newsletter subscribers.]
One of the most beautiful ranges to hit Australia this year is Pink Chicken, a label inspired by deisgner Stacey Fraser’s two gorgeous girls. An aspirational label for soccer mums and celebrities alike, Pink Chicken dresses combine gorgeous fabrics, attentions to detail and fun twists — but we’ll let Stacey tell you herself. Oh, if you are expecting a boy it’s defintely worth reading on as Stacey has some exciting news!
Pink Chicken has just turned three. Describe your journey over the past three years.
Wow. . . it has been an incredible one, one that I am so grateful for. It started out as just designing a few dresses for my girls and then I realized people might actually like them too. The first six months were very difficult getting the technical pieces set up. But we have just kind of organically grown for there. Every time we add a new customer or see a little girl wearing our clothes it feels amazing. And we just opened our first retail store in the Hamptons (USA) this summer which was a dream come true. The support of our friends, family and customers has been so amazing!
What was the first dress you made? Did you print the fabric yourself?
A simple A-line dress in a great 60’s fabric. I love the classic childrenswear styling but with a little bohemian thrown in. the first year we didn’t make our own prints because we weren’t big enough. Now the favorite and most important part of our design process is developing/designing the prints.
The fabrics you use for your dresses are just beautiful. Where do you draw inspiration for your designs?
We draw inspiration for our prints from vintage textiles. Each print is decided on with much thought and creativity in terms of style and color palette. We try to have a quirky 60’s character print each season that are favorites with the little girls and moms too! We also love ethnic prints and you will see Indian inspired pieces in the line each season.
Your fabrics are also meticulously made. How are the fabrics printed?
The fabrics are printed aboard. We send them artwork and colors. It takes us a long time to get exactly what we want, what we think our customers will want☺. And to make sure the quality is 100% there.
The thing I love about Pink Chicken is the attention to detail and the high quality finishes. How important is it to get all the details perfect?
We know how important quality is to parents, it is to us too. So this is our top priority. And we love putting special details, surprises in each pieces. We think it makes it fun and give extra bit of design and detail we know our customers appreciate!
How old are your little girls? Are they the envy of their friends for their outfits?
My girls are – Sadie, 4 and Belle, 8. Can’t believe how fast they have grown. We started adding more sizes as the girls got bigger, we now go up to a size 10! Sadie loves wearing the dresses and Belle is transitioning more into the tee shirts and skirts. They love doing the photo shoot too. It’s usually my girls and their little friends, so fun!
What is the best compliment you have received since starting Pink Chicken?
We have had numerous people call us to get a dress for their daughters’ birthdays! I am always so excited and honored that they would think to put one of our dresses on for their special occasion. We also get customers Send us pictures of their girls in the dresses and we LOVE that here!
Pink Chicken dresses are obviously perfect for parties. But they are too beautiful to keep in the wardrobe waiting for a special occasion. Are you finding parents are dressing their little girls in your dresses for day-to-day as well as for parties and other events?
Yes we have some customers that wear our dresses for special occasions. We actually had our sage dress from our current fall 09 collection be used as a flower girl dress! But we also know they wear them day to day. That’s what I think our customers like – they can be dressed up or down. We have a philosophy of easy, breezy dressing that is no fuss but always stylish.
As the mother of a boy (no girls) I have to ask—when are you bringing out a range for boys?
We get asked that question a lot. I have two girls and came from a family of all girls so [girls' clothes] come naturally to me. ☺ But we are starting small with boys, literally – we are adding a boys newborn collection for fall 2010! Fun quirky prints in classic bodies. As for a full boys’ collection, we can see it in Pink Chicken’s future, but not in its near future. We would be so excited to have the ability to expand into boys, but for now are focusing on how to expand our girls’ and womens’ lines.
IF there is one topic that is sure to fire up debate it’s when to start your baby on solids. But one thing is becoming increasingly clear — starting solids between four and six months reduces a baby’s risk of developing food allergies.
“It would appear the early introduction of different foods allows a baby to develop tolerance,” says Professor Karen Simmer, professor of newborn medicine at the University of WA.
But studies suggest that delaying solids until six or seven months increases a baby’s risk of having food allergies, adds Professor Simmer, who is also director of neonatal intensive care at the King Edward and Princess Mary Hospitals in Perth.
“International and national allergy bodies agree there is mounting evidence that if you delay the introduction of solids until six or seven months the incidence of food allergies rises dramatically,” she says.
Despite the evidence in favour of introducing solids between four and six months, it’s common to hear cases where mums have been told very firmly by health professionals to wait until their baby is six months to give them solids.
So why is there so much conflicting advice?
As Professor Simmer explains, the confusion is caused by the fact the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends solids not be introduced until a baby is six months old.
Not wanting to go against the WHO, the National Health and Medical Research Council, the body that sets the gold-standard medical guidelines in Australia, also recommends solids be introduced at six months.
However, the WHO guidelines were designed to protect babies in developing countries from gastro infections given the water used to prepare solids is more likely to be contaminated, Professor Simmer points out. But in developed countries like Australia introducing solids earlier doesn’t carry these same risks.
“The WHO recommendations were probably made largely thinking about developing countries where food hygiene is not as strong,” Professor Simmer says.
“There was one study in Belarus that showed there was slightly more risk of infection if solids where introduced before six months but I don’t think that applies in Australia.”
But what about the foods that commonly cause allergies — peanuts, shellfish, eggs and tomatoes? Is it really safe to offer these foods to young babies?
According to Professor Simmer there is no reason to delay offering these foods to a baby in their second six months.
“I don’t think delaying egg would make much difference to a baby’s risk of an allergy.”
Even peanuts are no longer contraindicated in children who do not have an increased risk of allergy, such as a sibling or family member with a known allergy.
“You could give a little smooth peanut butter paste on bread in your baby’s second six months,” she says.
But Professor Simmer adds you wouldn’t give a baby a whole piece of bread and smooth peanut butter or a whole egg for their first taste. As with all foods just give very small tastes and gradually build up the amount offered, she advises.
Another cause for confusion around starting babies on solids foods is the WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby’s life.
Some people believe this means babies shouldn’t be given solids until they are six months. But it actually means babies should ideally receive breast milk alone and not breast milk and formula, Professor Simmer says.
In fact, introducing solids can help keep breast-feeding going when mums go back to work. If carers are able to offer hungry young babies a small snack they won’t need to offer a bottle of formula to tide them over until mum arrives.
“As a working mum I breast fed my children for a long time. I did not want to use formula but a little bit of custard or jelly was something the carer could offer,” Professor Simmer says.
“It was much better than formula as it didn’t interfere with breast feeding.”
While paediatricians prefer mums to exclusively breastfeed their babies until at least six months, Professor Simmer believes they should supported if this is not possible.
“ I am a great believer in breast-feeding but I also know from my own practice it doesn’t always work for mums.”
By Heather Saxena. Not to be reproduced without the written permission of the author.
www.babiesandkids.com.au
BOX: Important Messages
Start your baby on solids between four and six months to reduce the risk of food allergies.
Start solids when you feel your baby is ready but do not delay beyond six months.
There is no need to delaying foods known to cause allergies (eggs, peanuts etc) but offer only a very small taste at first. And wait until your baby is over six months.
Additional Reading
Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy guidelines on infant feeding
We’re rapidly approaching the most expensive time of the year. Not only are there all those Christmas presents to buy but with all the pre-Christmas and summer parties new outfits are also on the cards.
But dressing your children in a stylish outfit that turns heads doesn’t have to cost you a fortune.
The key to a budget-saving, stylish look is to concentrate on one ‘signature’ piece which can be combined with a more basic piece. The Marquise range of singlets are ideal for wearing with a signature piece as they are high quality but exceptionally well priced. While traditionally worn under clothing, Marquise singlets can also shine as outerwear.
We’ve given you a few ideas for outfits (below) but the possibilities are endless. Babies and Kids have added an iron-on motif from spotlight ($2-5) on some of the singlets to give an designer touch. [If you would like us to customise a singlet for you please call us on: 1300 853 096 or email us at info@babiesandkids.com.au].
Bebe Yasmin Shorts ($29.95) and Marquise Pink Lace Trimmed Singlet ($6.95)
Total cost: $36.90 (not including butterfly motif)
Minymo Donna Floral Skirt ($39.95) and Marquise Singlet with Pink Stitching ($8.95)
Total Cost: $48.90 (not including button motifs)
Minymo is very affordable given it’s an imported (Danish) brand and not readily available but by thinking outside the square it becomes a real budget-trimmer. We couldn’t believe how easy it was to find motifs that tie the singlet back to the skirt so well!
WOOF! Hibiscus Board Shorts ($39.90) and Marquise Singlet ($8.95)
Total cost: $48.85 (not including letter ‘N’ motif)
This a great outfit as the board shorts can be worn for swimming one day and then ‘gussied up’ with the singlet for a party the next day.
Bright Bots Ice Cream Ruffle Skirt ($19.95) and Marquise Pink Lace Trimmed Singlet ($6.95)
Total cost: $26.90 (not including butterfly motif)
Bright Bots Ice Cream Ruffle Skirt ($19.95) and Marquise White Lace Trimmed Singlet ($6.95)
Total cost: $26.90 (not including ballerina motif)
Gaia Organic Cotton Young Lad Shorts ($49.95) and Marquise Singlet ($8.95)
Total Cost: $58.90
Gaia Organic Cotton Pink Stripe Ruffle Shorts ($29.95) and Marquise White Lace Trimmed Singlet ($6.95)
Total Cost: $36.90 (not including motif)
Gaia’s pink stripe ruffle shorts also look adorable with the Marquise hand embroidered rosebud singlet ($9.95)
Go Shopping
Bebe Yasmin shorts (0-2 years)
Minymo Donna floral skirt (3-8 years)
WOOF! Hibiscus board shorts (0-8 years)
Bright Bots Ice Cream ruffle skirt (00-3 years)
Bright Bots Blooms skirt (00-3 years)
Gaia Organic Cotton Young Lad chambray shorts (2-8 years)
Gaia Organic Cotton pink stripe ruffle shorts (000-1 year)
Marquise white and pink lace trimmed singlets (0000- 2 years)
Marquise singlet 2-6 years (plain white and pink stitched)
WOOF! Hibiscus Boardies and Coastal Vibe Singlet
Two-year-old Neal is an important part of the Babies and Kids team — he’s our star model and clothes tester. His outfit of the week are all clothes from the Babies and Kids range he owns and subjects to tough toddler treatment. So if they are featured here they not only look good they wash up well and can stand up to a tough day with a toddler.
With Melbourne enjoying an early taste of summer, one of Neal’s favourite outfits is the yummy WOOF! hibiscus boardies (available in size 0 through to 8 years) teamed with the WOOF! coastal vibe singlet (0-8 years). As you can tell from these photos it’s perfect to take a young lad from the beach to the ice-cream stand!
Click here to view the WOOF! hibiscus shorts and coastal vibe singlet in the Babies and Kids online store.
Old Soles shoes
Congratulations to our winners:
Rebecca Sutherland, Victoria
Natalie Hyde, ACT
$300 Shopping Spree
Congratulations to:
Paola Kulisiewicz
$100 Agoo Outfit
Winner will be announced soon.
It’s summer, 35 degrees and you are about to have a baby. So do you buy traditional long-sleeved rompers or is it better to concentrate on summer outfits?
The answer is both. Unless you have no cooling and live in an area where the temperature stays consistently high, you will still need warmer clothing.
The traditional rule of thumb is babies need one more layer than an adult (though in reality it sometimes more). So if your house is cooled to 25 degrees it’s quite reasonable for your newborn baby to be dressed in a short-sleeved or sleeveless bodysuit and romper with full-length legs and sleeves. And if you live in a state like Victoria, it’s not unusual to go from 35 degrees to 18 degrees almost overnight so warmer clothing is a must.
Full-length layers are also essential when you are out and about with your newborn in a carrier or sling where their arms and legs are exposed. Medical experts recommend that babies and toddlers be covered with clothing when outside (and be kept indoors or in the shade between 10 am and 3 pm). If it’s not too hot for a walk outside of these times then your baby should be dressed in romper with full-length legs and arms or leggings and a long-sleeved top and a hat. Alternatively, you can dress your baby in a nappy pant and top or short romper but you will need to cover them with a wrap. [Many muslin wraps are too thin to protect babies from the sun.]
What about if you are out on a very warm day but in the shade? This is where nappy pants and tops, short rompers, summer sets and bodysuits are ideal. But always remember to pack a cardigan. If the temperature drops several degrees your little one will need an extra layer even if you don’t.
As I discussed in my previous article, ‘What Clothing to Buy for a Newborn Baby’, it’s a good idea to curb your natural instinct to go on a wild shopping spree before your baby is born and concentrate on the minimum basics. That way you won’t end up with a whole bunch of clothes that never get used. Once your baby is a few weeks or a month old you can go to town as by then you’ll have a better idea of what clothing you like (rompers versus little sets or a combination of both). It’s always best to wait until your baby is a size 000 before really going on a spending spree. With the exception of large newborns who seem to whizz through sizes at lightning speed, you should at least get a few months wear out of size 000.
To summarise, here is a guide what to buy.
1. Bodysuits:
Two Marquise plain white short-sleeved or sleeveless bodysuits in size 0000 or 000. You can buy singlets if you prefer but I would buy at least one bodysuit for night-time as they help keep nappies in place.
Two Pure Baby singlet bodysuits or Gaia Organic Cotton bodysuits in size 0000 or 000. These bodysuits are cute enough to be worn as outfits on warm days. Bodysuits tend to last longer than other clothes in terms of sizing (as an example, my two-year-old can still wear a size one Marquise bodysuit).
I would also buy at least one long-sleeved Marquise bodysuit in size 0000 or 000. On cooler days you can add a long-sleeved bodysuit under short-sleeved romper or tee for a cute little outfit.
2. Merino Kids nightgown, Cocooi wrap and beanie. Unless you have no cooling and live in an area with consistently high temperatures you will still need to dress your baby warmly for sleep. [Merino is also a natural temperature regulator so it’s actually not as ‘hot’ as cotton.] For many parents this is virtually all they need for the first few weeks. Your baby will spend a lot of time sleeping and nightgowns make nappy changes a lot easier as there are no zips or studs to undo. Trust me, as you struggle with sleep deprivation anything that speeds up the night feed and changes and gets you back to bed is a blessing. The Cocooi wrap is also easy to use.
Merino is odour resistant so, barring leaking nappies, it only needs to be aired rather than washed each day. If you like, you can interchange the nightgown with Merino Kid’s Stretch n Grow, which will last for two or three months.
If you prefer cotton, Marquise or Piccalilly (organic cotton) nightgowns are perfect (buy a couple) while a Pure Baby knot hat or an Ecoboo beanie will help keep little heads warm.
Buy one romper in each size with full-length arms and legs and one summer romper in each size. Pure Baby’s Kimono growsuits and the Marquise rompers are ideal as on cooler days you can simply layer them over the long-sleeved Marquise bodysuit ( add a pair of Leg Huggers if the romper has short legs) . We will have new stock of Purebaby size 0000 and 000 zip growsuits soon (Purebaby ran out they are so popular!) Max and Tilly also have some gorgeous rompers.
If you prefer leggings and tops I suggest you buy one pair of full-length leggings (one each of size 0000 and 000) and one long-sleeved top in each size. Then add in one or two nappy pants and a couple of short-sleeved tees. [You’ll love the Tiny Tribe nappy pants and tees]. Remember, you can layer the tees over a long-sleeved bodysuit on cooler days.
4. A cardigan. As newborn babies aren’t able to regulate their temperature as well as adults they need an extra layer than us, as a general rule. Pure Baby’s range is particularly beautiful. We also have some gorgeous matinee jackets and cross-over tops from Marquise just in which will be available in our online store from 9 November.
5. Two to four pairs of socks or booties to keep little feet warm if you have bought footless rompers or leggings.
6. Mittens: To keep little hands warm on cooler days and to prevent baby from scratching his or her delicate skin with tiny nails during their sleep.
7. A beanie or knot hat: You can’t do better than a Marquise or Pure Baby hat. As babies lose heat through their head a hat is a must during walks in the pram on cooler days. Just remember hats should not be used at baby’s sleep time to prevent baby from over-heating.
8. A ‘showing off’ outfit.> It’s all very well to be practical most of the time but let’s face it. You’ve waited nine long months for your precious bundle of joy so of course you want to show him or her off for visitors! So go wild on this one!
Written by Heather Saxena. Not to be reproduced without the permission of the author.
Browse the Babies and Kids online store
Please contact us if you would like to put together an individualised newborn clothing pack. We offer a discount for multiple purchases. Tel: 1300 853 096 Email: info@babiesandkids.com.au
Newborn basics and clothing packs (includes Marquise and Pure Baby basics)
Girls’ rompers, bodysuits and sets
Girls’ bottoms
Girls’ tops
Dresses and skirts
Boys’ rompers, overalls and sets
Boys’ bottoms
Boys’ tops
Underclothes (including Marquise bodysuits)
Merino Kids Cocooi wrap
Nightgowns
Recommended reading:
CHICKEN AND VEGETABLE COUSCOUS
This is a great recipe for babies who have moved beyond puree and are ready for protein in their diet. Be prepared for some mess. Couscous gets everywhere — or at least in our household!
INGREDIENTS
1 chicken breast minced or finely chopped
1/2 small onion, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon crushed garlic
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup of freshly steamed vegetables. (Carrots, parsnip, broccoli are our staples)
1/2 cup couscous
Around 1 cup chicken stock, home-made. We use a commercial brand that is salt-reduced. But if your baby is under 12 months then home-made with no added salt is best. Chicken stock is easy to make. Remove the breasts from a whole chicken (you can use them for this recipe or for mum and dad to enjoy). Put the chicken in a large saucepan and cover with water. Add a few peppercorns, two roughly chopped carrots, a peeled and roughly chopped onion, two pieces of roughly chopped celery, a chopped parsnip and a handful of parsley. Bring to the boil then turn down the heat and simmer, covered, for two hours. Remove the chicken immediately and shred the meat (perfect for chicken soup). Allow the stock to cool and then strain the stock small containers to freeze. You can also pour the stock into ice cube trays and freeze it in smaller serves.
METHOD
Heat olive oil in a fry-pan and add garlic and onion. Cook until soft and starting to brown.
Add chicken and stir until chicken is cooked through.
Bring around half a cup of the chicken stock to the boil. Turn off heat, add couscous and stir through. Cover and leave for five minutes. When all of the stock is absorbed fluff with a fork and add chicken and vegetables (puree the chicken and vegies for babies and young toddlers). Some babies and toddlers find couscous a little dry so add a little extra stock to make it moist ( some babies prefer it ’soupy’).
VARIATION Although our toddler is nearly two and can handle chopped chicken he actually prefers this dish if the chicken and half the vegetables are pureed and then added to the couscous — young children don’t always like unexpected lumps. Just keep a little of the chicken aside and serve as finger food after the couscous has been eaten.
You should have enough left-over with this recipe to freeze 2-3 serves.
www.babiesandkids.com.au
It’s a cool, overcast spring day. Perfect weather for jackets and beanies — and sunscreen.
While parents are very aware about the need to protect their babies and children with sunscreen on hot or sunny days, medical experts are keen to encourage them to use it more regularly.
“Babies can get burnt on an overcast day,” says Professor Ian Olver, CEO of the Cancer Council Australia.
As Professor Olver explains, the most reliable way to tell if you need to apply sunscreen is the daily Ultraviolet (UV) level of the sun, which is basically a measure of the burning power of the sun. If the UV level is 3 or over, you need to cover your baby up as much as possible with clothing and apply sunscreen on exposed skin. And it doesn’t have to be warm or sunny for the UV level to be high.
The good news is you don’t need to be a meteorologist to work out the UV level. In response to lobbying from the Cancer Council many daily newspapers include the predicted UV level for that day with their weather report. You can also check the four-day UV forecast online at the Bureau of Meteorology or WeatherZone.
Professor Olver also encourages parents to apply sunscreen more frequently.
“The biggest mistake parents make is not applying sunscreen often enough,” he says.
“It should be reapplied every two hours. While future skin cancer is of concern the first thing you want to avoid is a painful sunburn.”
It’s also important to apply sunscreen 20 minutes before you go out to allow it time to soak in, Professor Olver advises.
And avoid falling into the trap of driving to the park or the beach and then applying sunscreen when you have unpacked and picked your picnic or play spot.
“By then the baby has already been exposed unprotected to the sun,” Professor Olver says.
But what is the best sunscreen for babies and children?
“Any sunscreen that has 30+ protection and is water resistant should be alright,” Professor Olver says.
“The Cancer Council has a toddler sunscreen but that’s because it’s green so you first put it on so you can see where you have applied it.”
While people have a reaction to a particular brand of sunscreen they are usually fine with a different brand, Professor Olver adds.
“But some babies do better with a lotion rather than a cream.”
While sunscreen is crucial, parents should also avoid relying on it totally to protect delicate young skin.
“It’s important to cover as much as your toddler as possible with a hat and clothing made from closely woven fabrics and then apply sunscreen to the exposed areas,” Professor Olver says.
“You should not rely on sunscreen alone to cover large areas of skin.
“And it’s best to avoid being out in the sun between 10am and 3 pm, the hottest part of the day. Seek shade because those are the times when you are most likely to burn.”
That’s all well and good but what about the fact that exposure to sunlight is necessary for Vitamin D production, which gives us healthy bones?
“In the summer only a few minutes exposure on the face and arms before 10 am or after 3 pm is sufficient,” Professor Olver says.
“And in winter when you usually don’t need to use sunscreen babies and children get enough exposure for adequate Vitamin D.”
Sun Protection Facts
• If your baby is sitting in shade which is dappled with sunlight they are still at risk of sunburn and skin damage from the sunlight that is filtering through. Take the same precautions as you would in the full sun. Cover your baby with as much clothing as possible and a hat and apply sunscreen every two hours.
• Wraps or covers used to protect baby from the sun in the pram or stroller are not adequate unless they are of a thick enough material to cast a shadow over your child.
• Sun hats should have a wide brim or be a legionnaire style with a flap to protect the back of the neck.
• Your baby or child doesn’t have to burn to get sun damage. Children with olive skin are accumulating skin damage when they get a tan. You should follow the same precautions you would if your child had very pale skin. While children with a dark complexion have some natural protection, they will still suffer skin damage if unprotected from the sun. It just takes more sun exposure for the damage to occur.
• Exposure to sunlight does not cure nappy rash and only exposes babies to unnecessary skin damage.
Recommended Reading
Written by Heather Saxena from www.babiesandkids.com.au. Not to be reproduced without the written permission of the author.
There is nothing more exciting than shopping for your baby’s nursery — until you get to the store and are confronted by a bewildering and endless array of cots and shelves stacked with hundreds of different items. It’s no wonder parents-to-be often leave a store wondering just how they spent a thousand dollars in what seemed like a few minutes.
That’s why it’s a good idea to go in with a clear idea of what you need. Online shopping is a blessing too. You can relax in your PJs with a cuppa and ‘window-shop’ on your computer — much less exhausting than driving from suburb to suburb looking at different shops. While you will have to go into a store to look at a cot, by doing your homework you’ll make sure you end up at the right store first time. And if you find you like the cot sheets, for example, at one online store and the wraps at another, it’s only a few extra mouse clicks to buy from both versus an extra few hours and petrol money driving between stores. The saving in time and petrol usually makes up for any postage costs.
The Cot
I recommend you read the very informative article by best-selling parenting author and mother of two Tizzie Hall on what to look for in a cot (link at the bottom of this article). It’s easy to forget that tiny babies become toddlers who love to climb. A cot that looks wonderful in your nursery may actually prove very dangerous if the sides are not high enough to prevent your future toddler from climbing out and falling onto the floor. Tizzie also recommends all cot sides are open — if a cot has solid ends it reduces airflow to the baby. And avoid plastic mattress protectors (and keep the plastic side of the mattress facing down against the slats of the cot) as they make babies sweaty and then cold, which can cause sleep problems. Use a bamboo sheet or absorbent potty training mat instead if you are concerned about accidents.
Remember to assemble your cot and change table as soon as you buy them. You don’t want to be struggling to put it together while managing a crying baby or when you are in the last few weeks of pregnancy when there seem to be a million things to organise . And if there is a fault with the cot you don’t want to find out months after you bought it — the store may be less inclined to replace or exchange it or the cot may be out of stock at that time and therefore can’t be replaced before your baby arrives.
Sheets
If you are using a bassinette for the first few months try and borrow linen from family or friends to save some of the cost. But it’s worthwhile to invest in good sheets for the cot given your baby will sleep in it for the next two or three years. Babies and Kids have found the Pure Baby cot sheets the best. They are made from jersey cotton that is warm in winter (from personal experience there is nothing less conducive to sleep than climbing into a bed with icy woven cotton sheets!) and cool in summer. We also love the fact that the elastic on the fitted sheet is gently gathered so it doesn’t pull on the sides of the mattress.
Blankets
As well as sheets you’ll need three or four cotton or bamboo blankets, which are big enough to be doubled over. Avoid polyester blankets, which can make babies sweaty and cold. Babies and Kids stock some lovely Pure Baby blankets but you probably only need one, which you can use as the top blanket to add some style to the cot. For the additional blankets we recommend you visit Tizzie Hall’s online store (link below) for bamboo blankets.
You can buy a gorgeous quilt (who can resist the gorgeous Mamas and Papas quilts!) but it should only be used to decorate the cot when baby is up. Quilts are too thick to be used for young infants’ sleep as they pose a suffocation hazard.
Sleepwear
In the first few months the ideal sleepwear for your baby is a bodysuit, a nightgown or cotton romper (Marquise, Pure Baby and New Jammies are favourites) and a large cotton wrap. Our favourite wraps are the Gaia Organic Cotton wraps and Baby Jar, a super stylish range from the US, which will be available at Babies and Kids in the next few weeks. Then you’ll need to add the flat cot sheet and the cotton blankets (you can fold one blanket over to make two). One of the best investments you’ll make is Tizzie’s bedding guide, which tells you how many blankets to use according to the room temperature (don’t forget to buy a room thermometer and aim to keep the room heated to 20 degrees Celsius in winter and cooled to 22 degrees Celsius in summer). If you are wondering why we are promoting Tizzie Hall’s advice the reason is simple — it solved our son’s sleep problems when he was an infant.
Other mums swear by the Merino Kids newborn gown and Cocooi wrap. If you use these you won’t need a bodysuit and you won’t be able to follow Tizzie’s bedding guide exactly. We would suggest you try one or two less blankets.
Sleeping Bags
The good news is this is an investment that can wait until after your baby is born as most mums don’t start using them until their baby is two or three months old.
Babies and Kids love the Merino Kids Go Go Bag. As it’s made of merino it is both cooling in summer and warm in winter — merino also has a low fire danger. We’ve found the ideal combination is to dress baby in a merino bodysuit and merino stretch n grow or PJs. While sleeping bag manufacturers suggest you don’t need blankets we’ve found this is not very practical in the real world (we had many a sleepless night when our son Neal was an infant and dressed exactly according the guidelines. Though I hasten to add this was before we had discovered the Go Go Bag).
If your baby turns out to be a ‘blanket-kicker’ like Neal, you may find it impossible to keep blankets on as he or she grows. We have found layering more merino clothing under the Go Go bag achieves a similar affect. As a guide, in the cooler months Neal wears a merino bodysuit and leggings, a long-sleeved merino top and then merino PJs. As the weather warms up we cut down on the number of layers. This is a not a cheap way of dressing a baby or toddler for sleep but it’s well worth it for a good night’s sleep. Babies and Kids also offer a discount for parents who need to buy more than one Go Go Bag or a Go Go Bag and merino clothing.
Baby Monitors
The best monitor on the market is the Angelcare baby and sound monitor. It includes two sensor pads, which are placed under the mattress. The sensors are able to detect the very subtle movement associated with a baby’s breathing and an alarm sounds if movement is not detected after 20 seconds. It also includes a temperature display so if you have one of these monitors you won’t need to buy a room thermometer.
Mobiles, toys and decorations
When it comes to decorating the world is your oyster. For safety, just keep mobiles and toys away from the cot. And follow Tizzie’s advice and bolt shelves and chest of drawers to the wall. It’s amazing how easily toddlers can pull furniture down on themselves. It’s also a good idea to install latches to prevent drawers from being completely pulled out on top of little heads. It’s best to implement these safety measures before your baby arrives. Trust me, when you spend your whole day chasing after a toddler it’s easy to forget these important jobs until an accident happens.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call or email. And remember, if we don’t stock an item you need we are more than happy to advise you where you can find it.
Written by Heather Saxena. The material in this article is not to be reproduced without the written permission of the author.
Next time: Comforters and other tips for ensuring your baby sleeps well.
Babies and Kids stocks Pure Baby sheets and blankets as well as Gaia Organic Cotton and Baby Jar wraps (available very soon). We also sell Merino Kids Go Go Bags, underclothing and sleepwear. Visit www.babiesandkids.com.au
For bamboo blankets, a room thermometer, Angelcare monitor and absorbent potty training mat we recommend you visit Tizzie Hall’s online store.
Recommended reading
How to Choose the Best Cot for Your Baby (free)
Save Our Sleep Safe Bedding Guide ($9.00)
Written by Heather Saxena. Not to be reproduced without the written permission of the author.