The baby List - Wipes and Creams - the First Three Months and forever more

I have no time to do this but what the hell... I've already used every other excuse to avoid study and cleaning, so lets use this one too.

Baby Wipes
Baby wipes are the life blood of every mother young and old.  Wipes ARE NOT ecologically friendly in the usual sense of the word, but they really are when they prevent poo, chocolate, honey or any other mystery stickiness which will then destroy your environment and sense of security little by little.  How, well when you have already cleaned the house and you touch a door knob that is sticky...hmmm...and you don't know what it is.  This moment could have been prevented by the simple wipe.

Don't be fooled, not all wipes are created equal, which you will discover if you are wiping a particularly stinky and sticky nappy and your finger goes clear through the wipe, only sink into the glacial river of pooiness that you were trying to erase.  See! You thought you were SO clever when you save that $1.50 on those homebrand wipes. Now for days after you've cut your nails to the quick and scrubbed and scrubbed but you still can't erase that thin brown line from under your nail, or stop smelling that faint smell of poo whenever you put your finger next to your nose.

I have the following commentary and in depth discussion on the many brands of wipes.  I haven't tried them all, but I can tell you about the few I have tried.

#1st Guideline - NO FRAGRANCE!!  Fragrance is not good for you, and it is definitely not good for baby.  Like all skin care, try to go no alcohol, no parabens, no sodium lauryl sulfate.  It's not always possible, but it's great if you can do it.

Clearly Herbal - @ Ecobabe

My Favourite Wipe - Clearly Herbal
These ones are everything free (except the wipes themselves unfortunately).  I only tried them with the last baby, and wished that I had found them before.  They are gorgeous, thick enough, there is something gorgeous about the texture, good smell and just enough moisture.  They work really well.  I am just really sorry that I have never seen them retail anywhere but online.  You can get them for $7.95/80 wipes, which is quite expensive especially after postage, but I think if you can afford it, I really enjoyed them as a product.  (I'll shout you a pack!! - not everyone, just J - sorry)

Nature Care Baby Wipes

My Most Used - Nature Care Baby Wipes
Nature Care Baby, is really a lovely all round brand.  Developed by a Swedish environmentalist mother, it really does embrace all the values I love in a product and a company.

The best thing about these wipes is that they are available in all supermarkets in Australia and they retail for a price comparable to other less environmentally conscious brands.

As a wipe they are a great thickness, not too much or too little liquid, and they don't have any nasties in them.  All round good thing for me.
Note: Nature Care Baby Nappies and nappy disposal bags are great too.  I haven't used any of their other products so I can't speak to it.


Other Wipes
Curash, Huggies, Johnson and Johnson are all brands that I have used from time to time.  Huggies, get their fragrance free sensitive wipes, they're really thick but they have a WHOLE lot of liquid on them.  Johnson and Johnson, once again, get the fragrance free.  Curash are probably the best of the lot, they have a soap free and fragrance free variety, sometimes they have good specials.

Mamia from Aldi are fine also, they are quite thin, but sufficient if you're not dealing with big poos.  So are both Coles and Woolworths wipes, but as a rule I don't buy supermarket brands as I do believe they're driving the little man out of business.

Gaia were really beautiful in smell and the idea, but as with most bamboo products, they hold a huge amount of liquid.  So firstly I found Gaia wipes too wet, the next thing that annoyed the !@#$ out of me was that they stuck together really badly; in fact this sticking annoyed me so much that I didn't buy them any more than twice.

Wipe Tips

• My childbirth educator said something great.  "Buy a pack of wipes, choose a patch of skin, and wipe it all day on and off with the baby wipe, just notice how much residue accumulates".  When at home buy a heap of cheap face washers and just use water, or water with a bit of bicarbonate of soda. (Great advice)
• Buy the Huggies packs in the plastic containers, the large and a few of the travel size, that way you can just use the containers over and over again.  I've had the same Huggies containers for the past 5 years and they're still going!

Nappy Creams and Balms

There is a infinite amount of nappy creams and balms out there on the market, I haven't even made a dent in trying them all.  But, I know you'll feel me on my recommendation.

Lucas Paw Paw Ointment

Lucas Paw Paw Ointment

I feel like there's nothing else I need to say about that... but I will.  Yes our beloved Lucas Pawpaw Ointment that we've been using on our lips for decades now is THE BEST!!  That's all I use, I tried a few others, but really none of them hold a candle to this one.

I use it as a night time barrier cream and as a nappy rash cream, the rash is always gone in the morning.  My Aunt who had five children used it on them, and they had the most sensitive skin (she was washing with soap flakes for them).  It is cheap (buy the $25 barrel) and it lasts for ages.  Love, love, love this product!

Cowboys & Itchy Bums Barrier Balm

Other Nappy Creams - Natural

Gaia has some beautiful creams, you need something thick for under the nappy, I always found their lotion to be quite thick and give quite good coverage.

My number one baby skincare brand is definitely Bod for Babies, I'll talk about more of their products later, but their 'bum spray' is unnecessary but special.  And they have a special barrier balm Cowboys and Itchy Bums Barrier Balm, I love all their products.  I want to buy you all of them!!

It is only available through limited sources now, sometimes it is in the health store, if not try Green Organics.

Other Nappy Creams - Not So Natural

Bepanthen is my one and only.  This is an awesome cream, it works when other creams won't.  It lasts forever as you only need the smallest amount, and just keep it around for when your little one starts scraping those knees (or for your partner if he falls over in the delivery suite).  You can get it at your local supermarket.

Nappy Sacks

Yes you need heaps of these.  I love the eco, eco versions but in all honesty I can hardly afford them.  I just buys Nappy Sacks on the whole (find them in your local supermarket).  There is a pack of 200 sitting in my shopping bags right now.  They come in those handy packs, smell good (which is of the upmost importance) and cost around $5 for 200.  That's it.

 

The Baby List - Nappies - Keeping It In When it Comes Out

Mastering Nappies will become a real 'thing' with you.  They are a major point of discussion for first time Mummas, my whole mothers group and I could easily carry on a 'pooh' discussion for a good thirty minutes at least, intense and passionate in a way that only other mothers could relate to, and not be totally disgusted by.

Nappies become a real point of contention because things like convenience and environmental cost are often at odds in this subject.  So I'll start at the very beginning...

Whether you're planning on doing cloth or disposable nappies, give yourself a break and do disposable nappies or a nappy service (that you get someone to gift you) for the first two weeks.  At least then you won't have the worry of ginormous mountains of washing while you're going through other massive adjustments and dealing with the broken sleep.  By the end of two weeks you should have enough of a routine down that you can deal with yet another challenge.

Cloth or Disposable
The main points of this argument used to only run to monetary cost versus convenience.  Whereas in this day and age the environmental cost of disposable nappies is a major point to be considered.  So when it comes down to it, the choice is yours.

Cushie Tushies Modern Cloth Nappies

Cloth Nappies
Cloth nappies today are not the old terry towelling squares of old (although I use these for clean up regularly), today we have the 'Modern Cloth Nappies'.  They are shaped very much like a disposable nappy, they are highly absorbent and made of natural fibres like bamboo.  They are very expensive, but the cost is still far cheaper than buying disposable nappies for three years.

The downside is the washing.  You still must wash everyday, so there has to be a plan.  The initial cost of setup is quite pricey.  But the upside is you save thousands of dollars and the environmental cost is inspiring.  Try great websites like Darlings Downunder, Cheeky Butts or Ecobabe.  All these type of websites have great start up packages that range from about $300 - $900 for a decent amount of nappies and wetbags.

Enee Weenee Nappies

Enee Weenee
Enee Weenee is an Eco Nappy that is 100% decomposable.  I thought I would dedicate a paragraph to these amazing products.  So how it works is that there is waterproof pouch in which you place the pad (that looks very like a large sanitary pad) when soiled you take the pad tear it in half and flush it down the toilet.  They are an award winning company that is entirely decomposable (the nappies that is, not the company).  They have other products available also, check them out including a disposable nappy that is the only fully compostable nappy available.

Disposable Nappies
Welcome to the MOUNTAINS of disposable nappies, advertising companies have built monuments their altar.  They all have fantastic claims of having a more superior fit than the others, claims which are naturally quite bogus.  Here is the wisdom of lots of Mommas.

THE CHEAP NAPPIES ARE JUST AS GOOD!!!  We all discovered very quickly that Aldi's Mamia brand or the cheap brand at both Coles and Woolworths are absolutely fine and almost $1/nappy cheaper than the most expensive brands.  So, if using disposable nappies, by all means buy that first packet of Huggies, because they really are a good size for the smallest of baby and then make up your mind (but try the cheap ones!).

There are Eco-Disposable nappies available at some health stores and on websites like Ecobabe.  They are made of either woodchip or bamboo or other substances.  There is a brand at department stores called Natural that is made of cornsilk etc, they are quite good.

Next time I'll cover off nappy wipes, balms, creams, snappy nappies, etc, etc, etc....tune in.

the Baby List - Your Titties and Their Substitutes - the First Three Months - Cont'd Again

Nipple Care
It just struck me that I hadn't given a special mention to the nipples.  During breastfeeding and at other times, there is nothing more painful or distracting then a cripple nipple.  So as well as good attachment, you can really help protect your nipples by using a great cream.

I've tried a few, the most effective far and wide is Lansinoh Lanolin cream, you can get it at any pharmacy.  Only get the small tube get a couple, keep one in your nappy bag and one by your chair at home.  This stuff is awesome, you can put it on before and after the feed, just wipe off the excess before you feed.

I recommend starting using it in the weeks before baby arrives, so that those nipples are in the best condition possible.

It kind of reminds me of when I used to milk the cows by hand, there was this lanolin cream that we used to apply to the udder before milking.  It worked a treat for the cows, no chaffing or cracking, and they had wonderfully soft udders.  Doesn't that bring a great, rural image to mind?

The Baby List - Your Titties and Their Substitutes - the First Three Months - Cont'd....

It's been a while but I'm back, you're acting as an excuse for me not to start my Uni assignment that is due tomorrow.  So if anyone asks you made me do it...(evil smile).

Avent Isis Manual

The Breast Pump aka. The Apparatus

There is a very special time in the first week or two of breast feeding that your will come face to face with 'the dreaded apparatus' if this is your name for an enema kit, I think the first experience with a breast pump is just as uncomfortable.

Never the less, when you finally have that special moment when you get to go out to dinner with your lovely partner and actually look at him for a whole minute without being totally consumed by baby, it will be worth it.  It is great to have the safety blanket of a bottle or two of breast milk in the fridge or freezer that allows you to go take a class or have coffee without stressing that your little person is having a no food melt down.

My personal fav is the Avent Isis Manual Breast Pump it small, easy to wash and sterilise every piece and reassemble.  The main part that gets my vote though is the suction is REALLY good.  It just latches on and once you get a really good flow going you don't have to pump much at all.

**Warning** you may develop buff hands due to the muscle development from repeated use.  (note: these muscles due have future use when restraining 2/3yr olds).

The downside with the Isis is I guess that it IS MANUAL, and does require you to do something and you can't just recline while to suction cups attached to your extremities do the rest (sound an alarm when you're finished).

The Manual Isis retails for around $99.95AUS.  There is also an Electric model that ups the price to around $249AUS.

Medela Swing...It Sucks!!

One of my beautiful girlfriends last baby lent me her Medela Swing which is the model that I used to lust over during my first lactation, but could never afford.

However when I did get the chance to use it, after using the Avent Isis, I found the Swing too gentle for my likes and far less effective.  But, saying that, I know quite a few ladies that LOVE the Medela Swing and used it throughout their lactating work life.  Which says alot, I didn't need to use mine everyday, whereas they did.

Overview

Pumping breast milk is one of the down and out most awkward and hilarious moments in life!!  It is TRULY UNSEXY.  Even if you don't need to do it you should try it just for a laugh.

My favourite baby guru Tizze Hall recommends pumping everyday to increase milk flow, and also because if you pump one bottle a day, Daddy dearest can give the baby the 10pm feed while you get your most needed beauty sleep.

Hey DJ "Pump it Up!!"

Stop the Leakage - Breast Pads

Thats right, just when you thought that you were done with pads, here they are again (at both ends this time - yay!).

Short and sweet, you need pads to stuff in your bra to stop you looking and smelling like you just poured a week old milkshake down the front of your shirt a few times a day, and night (it's just not sexy).

Environmentally friendly??? Hey guys the cloth ones DON'T WORK.  I didn't mean to yell, but hmmm what a waste of money.  I'm sure there is a better enviro alternative...I'll look right now.

Pigeon Ultra Slims - don't smoke them!

The best breast pads I've found are the Pigeon Ultra-Slim Breast Pads.  The Ultra-Slim Breast Pads have this great gel inside of them that just carries a huge amount of liquid, there is NO Fear of leakage when you're out at all.  They're quite simply 'great'.  And that's all I have to say about that.

(except they can be purchased from Coles and Woolworths - only the Ultra-Slim, not the other ones).

Sterilised?
Well obviously you're not, but it makes an interesting segway to a small paragraph about sterilisers.

Sterilisers are NOT a necessary purchase HOWEVER... a very convenient purchase they are.  I bought my first steriliser off Ebay, it was the Avent electric steam steriliser and was 'awesome' (bad accent required).  6 mins after turning the thing on it has finished its cycle and your slave and pack the bottles/breast pump etc away.  Loved it!

I've read certain articles that don't recommend microwave sterilisers and say they are not consistently effective.  But, taking a look around the net lots of Mommas are singing their praises.

There is Milton as well which is a liquid/chemical steriliser which several of my relatives witch HEAPS of children used quite successfully.

Philips Avent Electric Steriliser

The Philips Avent Electric Steam Steriliser retails for around $139AUS, but as I said, I did my favourite thing and got it on Ebay for like $12AUS.

I should mention that you can sterilise bottles, pumps and paraphernalia simply by boiling it for 5mins in a normal large saucepan.  Your choice.