Nappies - A Real Choice

It is Real Nappy Week this week and I have been following events keenly. I have hesitated to write anything as I don't feel I can add to the expertise offered by so many people out there. But I have had 3 children, all of whom have worn cloth nappies almost exclusively. I reckon our total spend on disposables is less than £30 and with 3 children that is not a lot of disposables.

So I thought I would just write a bit about my personal experience of, and motivation for, using cloth nappies with my 3. If I can inspire just one family to give it a go I will be happy! 

When I was pregnant with my first baby (14 years ago) there was very little information about washable nappies around and much less choice. I had to work quite hard to get any information and  if I had not been so determined I would have given up and gone with the masses for disposables. I remember being told that washable nappies were not suitable for newborns, that I could not take them in to the hospital and that they were probably the cause of my baby's nappy rash. 

Our motivation for choosing real nappies initially was environmental. I do not believe that any product you use once and then throw away (sometimes up to 10 times a day) whatever it is made of, can claim to not harm the environment (see the image I have chosen, it shows the volume of nappies for one baby, disposable versus washable). For us, our concerns about the environment really only kicked in when we were pregnant with our first baby. All of a sudden there was a heightened sense of responsibility to look after our world. After all, our kids have to grow up in it and will be around a lot longer than us. 

But our love of washable nappies quickly grew to more than that! Real nappies are softer than disposables, they do not contain toxic gels, they look nicer and they cost less. Yes, we became complete fluff addicts!

Over the three children we have tried various brands and types but have not spent more than £300.00 in total on nappying them all. Compare this to the cost of buying disposables for three and the money saving aspect is obvious.

It is my opinion that a lot of parents would prefer to use real nappies if they could get past their preconceptions about the whole thing. Lots of parents assume it will be hard work, smelly and not as convenient. 

All I can say is that we honestly did not find it hard work and if I had my time again, I would choose cloth for my babies every time. I would not want to sit all day and night wrapped in plastic and paper and would not want to subject my babies to the same. 

If you have had even a fleeting thought that you might like to try using washable nappies on your baby, Real Nappy Week is a great time to explore the possibility. Even if you buy just one nappy and try it, it is a start. Every cloth nappy you change makes a difference. Start small and see how you get on. But beware, fluff is addicitve!

If you would like to read more, here are some useful links:

Go Real, the UKs real nappy information service is a great starting point for all things Real Nappy related

Your local council may well have information and incentives in place for families using washable nappies, ours does!

Easter Fun With the Kids - Part 2

So, part 2 of my Easter fun blog post is a bit more optimistic. If the sun comes out, or even if the temperature rises by a few degrees, we can all get outside and suddenly, there are lots more opportunities!

Of course, there will be loads of organised Egg Hunts, I will leave it to to you to take your pick. We have done quite a few over the years and they all follow a similar formula. Follow clues, hunt for eggs, eat chocolate. The kids love them.

However, the Easter holidays are over 2 weeks long so I am guessing there will opportunities for lots of other fun. Here are some ideas from myself and some of the mums on our Facebook page!

1) Put a tent up in the garden. We did this a couple of years ago for the Easter holidays and not only our kids, but their friends, had so much fun! The younger ones played in it during the day, using it as a den in the garden, and the older ones slept in it, taking it in turns to invite friends! Simple, but so much fun...

2) Fly a kite. We did this at the weekend and if I am honest, it was a bit chilly. But I have to admit we had all forgotten the simple pleasure of flying a kite and if it was warmer could have easily spent half a day watching it soar!

3) Bike ride. We love bikes in our house, and as far as we are concerned they are never too young to be on a bike! There are a multitude of baby/toddler seats available and the more we all cycle the better the world would be (that might be over simplifying it a bit but you get the idea!)

4) A picnic. What is not to love in a picnic? Pack some yummy treats and head to your favourite spot. Take a ball, a bug catcher and a book (ever hopeful!) You never know, if its a real success you may even get 10 minutes to read that book!

5) Family walk. Organise a group of friends and meet them for a walk. I am always amazed how much further the kids will walk if they have a group of friends to play with on the way round. A photo trail is a good way to keep them going. Take photos of certain features or landmarks on the route (a bit of planning required) and get everyone spotting them on the way round. A few small prizes at the end will add to the excitement!

If you have any great ideas for things to do with the family over the Easter holidays, please share them. The more the merrier!

Happy Easter folks x

Easter fun with the kids - Part One

With the Easter holidays on the horizon and snow and rain falling heavily today across the UK, I am experiencing the usual mixture of excitement (I get to spend time with the kids) and dread (I get to spend 2 weeks with the kids and its raining!) 

I am not a particularly creative person, but I do enjoy making things, and if this weather continues we wont be doing too many beach walks or Easter egg hunts. So I decided to put out an appeal to all the mummies on our Facebook page for ideas of things to do with the kiddies over the Easter holidays. 

These are some of the ideas that came back:

1) Make an Easter tree, decorate it with eggs you have painted, and little fluffy chicks and feathers.

2) The old favourite: chocolate nests filled with mini eggs

3) Make baskets for the eggs you will receive for Easter...this helps keep them organised after Easter so there are no arguments over which egg belongs to whom!

4) Make Easter cards to wish friends and family a Happy Easter. Cute bunnies with cotton wool tails, chicks with folded beaks, collage eggs, you get the idea!

5) A good game to play is the number or alphabet game. You get small squares of paper and write 1,2,3 etc or a,b,c then blue tac all over the house. Ask the little ones to find letter a? or number 1? Then the older kids ask them to make a word by finding the letters, it can last hours and get them running all around. Its 

fun both indoors and outdoors.

6) Decorate eggs to look like someone in the family!

7) Make Easter blanket bunnies. This idea came from local crafty mum who runs 

Jelly Jam Vintage and Handmade. 

We sincerely hope the sun comes out and you have no time for crafting, but if not, we would love to see some pics of your creations!

Thank you to all the super mums who shared their ideas!

The Pleasure of Shopping Locally!

As most of you will know, I own and run a small independent baby shop. We are based just outside of town in a mixed residential and commercial development known as Poundbury.

Like many retailers over the last couple of years I have frowned about people shopping online, not supporting their local shops and then moaning when businesses disappear. But over the last few days in the shop, my faith is being restored. 

I have met a couple who needed a baby carrier but needed to try them on (a regular occurrence), a lady who needed a new buggy but wanted advice about Buggy boards, a cutie who needed some new toys but mum wanted to see which he was interested in and a little boy who needed his first pair of shoes (always a pleasure!)

We cannot deny the convenience of the internet. I have come to accept that it has its place and that I would be just as lost without it as the majority of people out there. More than that, I am seeing that the internet could actually help us run our business. It is great for looking at product reviews and gathering information, which may encourage people to come to their local shops. Without it we could not update people about our latest stock arrivals, competitions, new colours etc and we could not get our blog or newsletters seen! 

As I have said, we have a website, and it used by lots of our customers to research before visiting the shop. Of course, we do also sell to people who live nowhere near us, and for some people getting to a shop is impossible.

However, my favourite thing about running a baby shop is being on the shop floor. Chatting to customers, meeting pregnant mums who come back with their newborns and tell us their birth stories and moan about lack of sleep! Mums who come back to tell us how much the product we have recommended has helped them/their baby, how they have told all their friends about it. Proud grandparents who bring photos and tell us all about their latest addition to the family. Who then come back to introduce them in person when they are visiting. Demonstrating products to customers who go away, leaving us confident they have the right product to suit them.

So online shopping obviously has its place, but when you can, try to use your local shop. If they are doing something wrong, tell them. If you have seen what you want cheaper somewhere else, give them the chance to price match, or at least explain to you why they can't. 

It is this side of the business that reminds me that the internet cannot replace a local shop! Thanks for shopping with us....

Countdown to Christmas...1 day to go!

Its Christmas Eve

It happens every year, Christmas sneaks up on us so quickly! 

We have had a great year at heybaby* We are so lucky to have such wonderful, loyal customers. The team here really work together to deliver the best service we possibly can. I think this shows just by the fact that we are still here after 10 years, and going strong!

All that remains is to thank you all for your support. We really do value your custom and your feedback which all helps us become better at what we do.

We would like to wish you all a happy and healthy 2013. Have a great holiday season!

Our sale starts in store on 27th December. See you there x

Countdown to Christmas...5 days to go!

Christmas Cake!

With 5 days to go until the big day I have finally managed to ice the Christmas Cake. It has been hectic here this year and so my mum very kindly offered to make the cake for me (thanks mum!) 

I have to admit I also had help icing the cake from my very clever friend Kirsty who is an expert at all things baking related. I am very pleased with the results and think I may have found myself a new hobby!

Countdown to Christmas...6 days to go!

6 days to go...is your shopping done? There's still time!

Today is the last day we stand a good chance of getting your orders to you in time for Christmas. So place your order by lunch time today and as long as we have goods in stock we will get them to you for Christmas.

We have also had a few enquiries about when the shop is open over the festive period so here are our opening hours until we are back to normal (whatever that is) in the New Year:

Christmas Eve - open 9.30am-12.30pm

Christmas Day - closed

Boxing Day - closed

December 27th - open 9.30am -5pm

December 28th - open 9.30am -5pm

December 29th - open 9.30am-5.30pm

December 30th - closed

New Year's Eve - open 9.30am -12.30pm

New Year's Day - closed

January 2nd - back to normal

If you would like to check our stock levels of anything in particular please just call us on 01305 259929

Countdown to Christmas...8 days to go!

8 days to go...keeping warm?

Continuing on our theme of keeping warm, we thought we should mention the new 3.5 tog Winter Warmer Grobag. 

We have been selling Grobags for over 10 years now and have used them on all three of our own children. They are a great way of making sure your little ones stay warm and cosy all night, without overheating. The 3.5 tog rating is a new addition to their collection this Winter and means you can keep your baby warm and safe in temperatures between 12-15ºC (brrrr...)

Grobags are recommended by FSID (the Foundation for Sudden Infant Death) and are approved for the British Safety Standard BS 8510:2009

They also make it much easier to make the bed (a little Christmas bonus for mum and dad!)

Countdown to Christmas...9 days to go!

9 days to go...Snuggle In

We are getting ever closer to the big day and the atmosphere is starting to change in the shop. There is a real buzz in the air at this time of year. Everybody is busy, keen to get things done and excited that Christmas is nearly here.

We love to help, offering advice, last minute ordering, product demos and more! 

This year one of our best selling products has been the Buggy Snuggle. A really practical warm and cosy lining for a buggy that does away with the problems associated with trying to keep little ones warm whilst out and about.

Available in a variety of designs and made to fit most buggies they make a great Christmas gift and will last for years to come.

Countdown to Christmas...10 days to go!

Our Nativity Scene

We have a big box of wooden figures and animals that the children have all loved to play with in different ways. 

The last few years we have realised that we have the basic makings of a nativity scene and now it has become one of our Christmas rituals to arrange the wooden figures in their places. Each year it varies slightly. We have had a crisis this year because we could not find the figure that represents Mary but this evening she was found (in the dolls buggy!) and returned to her rightful place at the manger.

The fun we have arranging the animals and re-telling the Christmas story is a memory I will treasure for years to come. The image below shows this year's nativity complete with the guiding star (stuck to the radiator!) 

The figures are mostly Ostheimer and each one is a work of art. They are hand shaped and simply painted which encourages children to play imaginatively and the figures become instruments of an exciting world in which there are no limits. Magical!

Countdown to Christmas...11 days to go!

11 Days to Go...Stocking Fillers? 

I was talking to a couple of mums whilst waiting for the kids at school this week and we were discussing how strange it is that Father Christmas brings all the presents in some houses and in others only fills the stockings. 

Our house is in the latter category and every year I really enjoy watching the children's faces as they delve deep into their stockings to see what he has left for them.

For all you parents out there who occasionally 'top up' your little ones stockings in case Father Christmas has forgotten something (not that he would....!) We have a great range of toys under £5.00 available on our website, and even more in store.

If there is something in particular you are after, give us a  call on 01305 259929 and we will help if we can.

For the record, our last posting date for Christmas is 19th December...

Countdown to Christmas....12 days to go!

What a performance!

We have had a lovely day today. Our youngest was in her school's Christmas production entitled 'The Hopeless Camel'. I don't know what it is about children singing but it melts my heart every time!

For me this is definitely one of the defining moments of Christmas. The build up, the rehearsals, the costumes, the excitement. So much work goes into organising the children and putting on the performance. It is all worth it when you see the pleasure it brings to both the children participating and their families and friends watching. 

If your children have not started school yet you can look forward with eager anticipation to these Christmas performances. It does not matter if they are small scale nativities, carol services or large scale full productions, the sense of pride and the smiles say it all!

Countdown to Christmas...13 days to go

13 days to go...Taking care of delicate skin

I am writing this sat in my warm and cosy lounge. But outside it is freezing (quite literally). New babies have very delicate skin that actually needs very little in the way of cleaning, but protecting them from extremes of weather is a good idea. 

Nothing is gentler on the skin as Weleda's Calendula Baby range. Mild, gentle and made with pure plant ingredients, the complete range is tailored towards young, delicate skins (great for new mums too).  

We have the perfect stocking filler for all bumps and babies out there. Who would not be happy with a Weleda Mini Calendula Baby Starter Kit? It is the ideal way to introduce and new mum and baby to the range and each product is a handy size to tuck in a bag when visiting friends and family. 

Perfect for the holiday season!

Countdown to Christmas...14 days to go!

14 days? That is 2 weeks...I am trying not to panic!

The humble Christmas card...ours have started arriving both at home and at the shop. So far, I have only written the ones that needed to be sent to Australia. 

I wonder if the days of the Christmas card are numbered.  At my daughter's school each child is encouraged to write a Christmas message to all of their friends, stick it on a big Christmas tree and take a small donation for the nominated charity instead of buying cards. Each year we receive an increasing number of e-cards, or messages via social networking sites instead of cards.

Only today I had a conversation with someone who said she is only writing cards for people to whom she can hand deliver, and family of course. 

I have mixed feelings on this. Part of me would love to have written all my cards, got the job done. Postage is getting expensive, there are a lot of charities out there who could make use of the money we will spend on cards this year. And if you don't see someone form one year to the next, why do they need to receive a Christmas card from you?

The other part of me says that it is precisely because I do not have time to visit everyone I would like to, that I need to make the effort to write Christmas cards. That there are some people on our Christmas card list who only hear from us at Christmas...doesn't that make it more important that they get our Christmas wishes?

So, having thought it through, I have decided that the Christmas card still has a place in our lives. I love to receive them and hear people's news. It is nice that someone has taken the time to write a card to you and think of you as they do it. Without our Christmas cards we would have no gift tags for the following year's pressies. 

 With this in mind, rather than dreading writing my cards, and seeing it as a 'job' I will take my time. I will light the fire, pour a drink and enjoy writing Christmas wishes to family and friends.

Countdown to Christmas...15 days to go

15 days to go...Christmas Crafts

Christmas is a great time to indulge in some crafty activities. I won't suggest any clever ideas, there are plenty of people far more creative than me to do that.

I just wanted to include the pleasure of 'making stuff' at Christmas in our Countdown to Christmas because in our house it is a definite part of the process. 

Glitter, tinsel, sparkle, more glitter...

Cards, gift tags, sweets, paper chains, Christmas decs... the list is endless and the pleasure it brings undeniable.

Countdown to Christmas...16 days to go

16 days to go

This morning my youngest and I have been on a Santa Fun Run in aid of a local charity. For those of you who do not know, this involves dressing in a Santa suit and running (2.5 miles for us). Our route took us through our local town and the run was in aid of our local Hospice, the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust. 

The Weldmar Hospice is a wonderful place, full of lovely people who work tirelessly to help those in need. Their services are open to everyone who needs them and in our small town, the majority of people know of someone who has benefited from the amazing work they do. 

At Christmas we get asked a lot, as a local business, to support numerous charity fundraising events. Please don't take it personally when we decline, it is not that we don't want to help, just that we choose to focus our support on a couple of charities that mean something to us.

So, the Santa Fun Run was a great way to spend the morning. Lots of people dressed in Santa Suits, a bit of exercise, a rendition of 'Jingle Bells' on the way round followed by coffee and mince pies. And we raised money for charity which is a great way to feel warm inside.

Happy Christmas!

Countdown to Christmas...17 days to go

Pacapod

One of the brands we sell in store only is Pacapod. They make a great range of nappy change bags that have a clever and unique design element. 

Contained inside each stylish bag are two self contained pods, the feeder pod and the changer pod. The pods attach to the outer bag and have their own section in which they sit easily and neatly. The feeder pod includes space for food, cutlery, bibs and wipes. The changer pod has plenty of space for nappies, wipes and any creams as well as hand sanitiser.

The pods help organise your baby paraphernalia and make it easy to access, but also mean that in a split second (and single handedly) you can grab everything you need to feed or change your little munchkin.

Stylish and practical? What a great Christmas present for any new mum! 

Countdown to Christmas...18 days to go!

Christmas Music

We love music in our house, though we all have differing music tastes ranging from ACDC to Elgar. Diverse but interesting!

One of the things that marks our countdown to Christmas is the playing of the Christmas CDs. As soon as December arrives we excitedly retrieve them from the drawer. My husband audibly groans when they come out, but I love them and so do the kids (well, the youngest two anyway!) 

We had a vote last night on our favourite Christmas songs and the top 3 were:

1) Jingle Bells 

2) Merry Christmas Everybody - Slade

3) The Power of Love - Frankie Goes to Hollywood

I will leave you to decide who voted for which song, but it was an interesting debate.

Let us know your favourite Christmas song and we will make sure it gets played!

Countdown to Christmas - 19 days to go...

19 days to go...

We had a big delivery today from our friends at Charlie Bears.

Everyone who sees our collection of cute cuddlies from Charlie Bears loves them. Because they are available in 3 different sizes, and a variety of characters they are perfect for collecting. The little ones make a great newborn or first Christmas present and come in their own gift box. Toddlers just love to tuck the medium size critters under their arms and the big ones are great for snuggling up to at night!

How could anyone be disappointed to find a Charlie Bear sat under their tree?

Countdown to Christmas, 20 days to go...Handy!!

20 days to go...

If you have not realised yet, I should state, for the record, that we are big Stokke fans at heybaby*

We love their design, functionality, longevity, philosophy and their great service. 

In the run up to Christmas we are offering a great giveaway on one of Stokke's best selling products.

While stocks last, we are giving away a free Stokke Handysitt portable highchair with every Tripp Trapp purchased. All you have to do is use the voucher code on our website to claim your free HandySitt.

We reckon this offer is perfectly timed! Most of us will be eating out, at friends', with family or having visits from friends with babies over the festive period. 

The combination of the Stokke Handysitt and Tripp Trapp mean that wherever your family is eating, the smallest person in your family can sit at the table in complete comfort. We reckon that will make your meal more comfortable too... Perfect!