Bamboo is in

When you think of bamboo your immediate thought is of a tall green plants and pandas. Me too, that is until I had a baby.  

The moso bamboo plant creates the most beautifully soft material which clever companies catering for the baby industry have started to make use of.  Products include cashmere soft blankets at a quarter of the price, absorbent, soft and slim-line nappies and beautiful baby clothes to name but a few.  

The advantages of using bamboo in baby clothes include it being:

• Soft;
• Eco-friendly;
• Absorbent;
• Breathable;
• Thermo-regulating;
• Hypoallergenic; and
• Cheaper and as soft as cashmere

If you are a fan, like me, of bamboo can I point you in the direction of three websites:

• For simply the most gorgeously soft baby clothes on the planet please see the lovely spring/summer collection at Bamboo baBy

• If you want to ensure your child enjoys silky cashmere soft blankets check out this great blanket available at Nigel Store which makes the most fabulous baby shower gift

• Those of you that use real nappies can either order bamboo nappies through Twinkle Twinkle or buy your own material and make your own at Eco Earth Fabrics

Amber Teething Necklaces - Do they really work?

When my son’s French Godmother recommended that I buy Edward an amber necklace I was dubious to say the least. 

Nearly 8 months on and my initial skepticism has gone out the window.   Edward has now got two teeth on the bottom gum with a further two coming in from above.  We have not had a whimper from him.  I took the necklace off for a week to see if it was just Edward not reacting to his teething at all but hastily had to put the necklace back on!

More popular on the continent, amber teething necklaces are certainly becoming more popular over here.   Amber has natural anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties, which when worn next to the skin helps babies combat their teething pain.

If you are thinking of going down this route the biggest tip I have is put it on your baby as soon as possible.  I put it on Edward when he was 3 months old.  That way they do not notice it and do not pull at it.  I never take it off him, even when he goes to sleep or has his bath. 

The only drawback I have found is that is does not look very masculine!

7 months of struggling to get a breastfeed baby to take a bottle

When Edward was born I struggled to establish breastfeeding.  My ever patient Independent Midwives spent hours with me and with the help of a breast shield Edward finally managed it.  4 weeks later we had weaned him off the nipple shields and I was happily breastfeeding him.


However when he was 4 months old I needed him to take a bottle as I was due to go into hospital for an operation.  My husband and I had in the past successfully given him a bottle of expressed milk.  However 2 weeks before the operation cue the tantrums, the tears (both of us!) and the point blank refusal to take a bottle.

Almost 3 months on we have given up trying to persuade him of the benefits of the occasional bottle! We have tried all sorts of tactics and different bottles in the hope that he might take the bottle.  I finally admitted defeat.

However, today I was walking around the London Excel Baby show and came across the Milkysnugz stand.  Edward reached out to grab a hippo from the stand and I stood and listened to the sales pitch.  I thought I was probably throwing away £15 but Edward was pretty enchanted with the hippo.

This evening I put him on the floor to play with the hippo whilst I warmed a bottle and inserted the bottle into the hippo.  To my complete amazement he not only grabbed the toy but then put the bottle teat in his mouth and finished the entire bottle.

To all breastfeeding mothers who cannot get their baby to take a bottle please try this.

The Milkysnugz toys come in 6 different varieties:

• The Dog;
• The Bear;
• The Hippo; 
• The Elephant;
• The Rabbit; and 
• The Mouse.  

The Milkysnugz toys were designed to provide cuddly feeding aid that would make bottle feeding more fun and comforting for the child and encourage the baby to independently feed. 

Available to buy on Amazon and via the Milkysnugz website.