Author: Nature's Child

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10 Facts About Chlorine and 10 Things You Can Do About it Now!

FACT 1: Dioxin is a chemical by-product of the manufacturing of chlorine-bleached paper and is believed to be the single most carcinogenic chemical known to science

ACTION: Do not buy any products for your family that uses chlorine bleach – check the packet before you buy. Start planning now if you want to finish what’s in your cupboard first.

FACT 2: Scientists find residue of this cancer-causing dioxin from chlorine-bleaching in products like disposable nappies, paper towels, toilet paper and coffee filters

ACTION: It’s easy to buy chlorine-free alternatives to all these products either in the supermarket or shops like Nature’s Child. It’s worth the few extra cents.

FACT 3: Dioxin has been linked to endometriosis, immune system impairment, diabetes, neurotoxicity, birth defects (including foetal death), decreased fertility, testicular atrophy and reproductive dysfunction in both women and men

ACTION: Detox and stop buying chlorine based products. Start slowly. Start with easy things like your tea and coffee, your butter and milk, your bread and your cleaning products. Once you change these simple things, you will find the rest changes easily. Change may take a year or more… be kind to yourself. Set a goal, take your time.

FACT 4: If you suffer from asthma and other lung problems, chlorine products should be avoided as the vapours can irritate your lungs, increasing the risk of onset

ACTION: Ask a friend or relative who suffers from asthma if any of these products bring on their asthma and share this information with them. Research a good mattress before you next buy one! Latex, wool or organic cotton are not usually made with any chemicals that can off-gas.

FACT 5: If you use commercial dishwasher powder that has appealed to you in ads where plates and glasses shine, remember that when you open the door of your dishwasher, the toxic volatized chlorine from the detergent and tap water is released into the air. That’s the smell that makes you step back and gasp when you open your dishwasher.

ACTION: Tri Nature Citrus Dishwashing powder is one of the products you can purchase that will not have this affect and does not use chlorine bleach but will make your dishes sparkle! Available from Nature’s Child of course! Just click on cleaning products.

FACT 6: Most household poisonings are caused by household cleaning products that are chlorine based

ACTION: Don’t get sucked in by cheap prices and fancy commercials. Just don’t buy their products. IT IS MUCH CHEAPER TO PURCHASE LESS PRODUCTS THAT HAVE MORE USES MADE FROM ORGANIC COMPOUNDS. Good old water, vinegar, bi carb and essential oils will clean most surfaces! Use your search engine to look for recipes and ideas that do not include chemicals.Or purchase TRI NATURE or SONETT products found on our website https://www.natureschild.com.au/store/natural-cleaning-products. We have done the research and chosen a few simple products that cost very little and last a long time.

Contact the companies and let them know why you are not buying their products. If they don’t hear from people regularly, they won’t make an eco-friendly product. Boycotting is good for your family but to help the whole planet, we need to educate our family, friends and manufacturers so they will stop using these products that pollute our waterways.

FACT 7: If you love your coffee and especially filtered coffee, think carefully before you next drink it. Studies show that forty to seventy percent of the dioxin in bleached coffee filters can leach into your coffee.

ACTION: Buy unbleached coffee filters or drink espresso. There are many organic and fair trade coffee and tea companies on our supermarket shelves, at health food stores and on line stores. If you love your tea, choose unbleached tea bags and leaf tea where possible. Everything we do is a habit so just create a new one by finding a fair trade organic brand that you love. Also, leaf tea has a higher dose of antioxidants and minerals. Purchase an easy to use tea pot with a built-in filter, making it just as easy to drink leaf tea as teabags.

FACT 8: Many white food containers such as milk cartons potentially contain chlorine bleach that leaches into the milk you drink

ACTION: Ring your milk company and ask them if they use chlorine bleach and if they do, tell them you will not be able to buy their product any more because of that; if you have access to a farm, purchase unprocessed milk direct from the farmer; many farmers markets offer local milk; your local health food store may know a source, even if they don’t advertise it; or buy online.

FACT 9: Pregnant women in their first trimester who drink five or more glasses of chlorinated tap water a day may be at a much higher risk of miscarriage than women who drink non-chlorinated water. Sorry, don’t mean to be scary but I find this amazing!

ACTION: Buy a good water filter and only drink filtered water, especially if your council adds chlorine to your tap water.

FACT 10: Our skin is the largest organ in our body. Cancer-causing chemicals like chlorine found in many household items and personal care are easily absorbed through the skin.

ACTION: Check the ingredients. Use only organic skincare and chlorine free household products and buy in bulk to save money. Check out Tri Nature Products at Nature’s Child or visit your local health food store for alternatives.

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DISCOVER THE 4 BEST NATURAL ORGANIC TEETHING BABY TOYS

The Best Natural Organic Teething Toys including Wooden Toys, Organic Cotton Toys and Natural Rubber Baby Bath Toys at Natures Child.

When my baby started teething, he wanted to get his hands and mouth on literally anything to soothe his sore gums. The Baby teething toys or baby rattles as they can be called were colourful and cute but I was not sure which ones were safe. Just because they are allowed to be sold on our shelves, I was not fooled that they are all safe and healthy. So I went exploring and created this beautiful collection at Nature’s Child.

One thing that research and life is teaching me is that chemical exposure is gradual and cumulative so every choice along the way once baby arrives and throughout childhood is setting up a pattern of health that will carry them throughout life. So it makes me a little sick when I see a baby sucking on a nylon or plastic toy and I know that if that parent or carer was informed, they would not want their baby sucking on that toy.

I have dedicated the last 20 years of my life to finding the very best natural and organic products for babies and I have narrowed it down to these 4 styles.

If you also want to know about which teethers to avoid and NOT buy, then we list those at the end of this short article as well.

Before we get into the baby toys which is the fun part, lets just quickly clear up why BPA free plastic is not on our list in just one simple paragraph.

Why don’t we sell BPA free plastic teething toys for baby?

In this article by Sharon Hall of My Chemical Free Romance, she explains that Bisphenols are a class of plastic, not one type, and that there are 14 different Bisphenols. BPA stands for Bisphenol A only. So when you see a product that says “BPA-Free” plastic which we have been trained to think of is healthier, all it is really telling you is that that plastic uses another Bisphenol, such as Bisphenol F or S, instead. We encourage you to do your own research on BPA free to make your own decision on this topic. Plastic also still uses petroleum as vital to the production process and can leach chemicals from the container into the product over time.

Here are my top four styles of safe teething toys for babies

Natural Rubber Teething Toys With Baby Toys

Natural Rubber is popular with health conscious parents as a teething toy for babies to easily hold and suck because it mimics the flexibility of plastic but contains no plastic. Parents are now learning that it is no longer an option to source even BPA free plastic for baby toys or teething toys or baby rattles.

Natural rubber is biodegradable by being exposed to sunlight, humidity and fresh air. Using Natural rubber rather than synthetic rubber for baby rattles made from oil/petroleum, acts against climate change by increasing the number of trees and cutting back on the use of fossil fuels.

Rubber is harvested from a rubber tree by making an incision in the tree’s bark, from which the sap then flows. Rubber tapping is sustainably harvested.

Only buy Natural Rubber Teethers from a reputable source to ensure it is natural, not petroleum produced. The same goes for all your baby toys.

If you need to use a dummy for your baby, also known as a pacifier or soother, we also strongly recommend ONLY Natural Rubber Dummies

Wooden Baby Toys from Australia and New Zealand

Some babies need something a bit harden then rubber or cotton, they really want to chomp on something hard so natural wood is ideal. Gepetto is a New Zealand company that we have loved for 20 yrs and our parents keep coming back for more of their unique, colourful safe toys for babies gums. View our Full range of Natural Baby Toys here

Organic Cotton Baby Teething Toys

Organic Cotton is one of our favourites for so many reasons. It washes easily, it can be tied in knots easily to make a harder place for teething babies to chomp on. Organic Cotton Baby Teething toys are usually very cute! All the colours, animal shapes or natural shapes can be made easily with good design with organic cotton teething toys. Once again like all our recommendations, no chemicals are on these baby toys and they are the ideal non toxic, natural teething toy for a baby of any age.You can still enjoy a baby rattle with its gentle sound in toys such as these from Nature’s Child.

Baby Bath Toys

We have already explained the benefits of non toxic natural rubber teething toys but we thought we should mention the bath briefly. Often we forget when it comes to bath time to keep bath toys simple and non toxic as well. Because they are in water a lot, it is that pesky hole that is often at the bottom of bath toys that is the biggest concern. Mould can grow in there which is very dangerous for babies health. Hevea is our popular baby bath brand.

TEETHING TOYS TO AVOID

Any baby teething toys made from Nylon, Polyester or Plastic should be avoided. PVC and plastic became popular in the 70s, 80s and 90s as a baby teether for young infants sore gums because it was cheap and flexible material, but we now know better. Parents should avoid all soft plastic toys made from PVC or contain BPA.

BPA is one of many endocrine disruptive chemicals that can interfere with the body’s hormonal balance and could potentially lead to developmental, reproductive, neurological and immune system and other health issues. You can read more about this including research references teething

NYLON

Nylon is a polymer which is a plastic with super-long, heavy molecules built up of short, endlessly repeating sections of atoms, just like a heavy metal chain is made of ever-repeating links. Nylon is not actually one, single substance but the name given to a whole family of very similar materials called polyamides.

POLYSTER

Polyester is a synthetic polymer made of purified terephthalic acid (PTA) or its dimethyl ester dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) and monoethylene glycol (MEG). With 18% market share of all plastic materials produced, it ranges third after polyethylene (33.5%) and polypropylene (19.5%).

PLASTIC

Plastic pellets are fed from a hopper into an extruder. Plastics are derived from organic products. The materials used in the production of plastics are natural products such as cellulose, coal, natural gas, salt and, of course, crude oil. Crude oil is a complex mixture of thousands of compounds.

If you click on the purple link headings above titled PLASTIC they start with the hilarious statement – “Plastics are derived from organic products. The materials used in the production of plastics are natural products such as cellulose, coal, natural gas, salt and, of course, crude oil” Need I really explain why this is hilarious?

So next time you see the word “derived from natural”…..on anything including your skincare, it is written this way to make it sound natural but it is not!

Beware of…

  • Cheap Wooden Toys – old, cheap, painted wooden toys may contain lead if you don’t know their country of origin. You should always have a contact for the company so you can contact the manufacturers to check on ingredients, check on any plastic toys that they don’t contain phthalates which is almost impossible so just avoid PVC, Nylon and Plastic toys in my view.
  • Teethers made of PVC. Most of the teethers that can be chilled in the freezer are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a plastic that is softened with phthalates so avoid these. Choose Natural Rubber Toys instead for this same feeling for your baby.
  • Plastic teethers of any kind. Even if they say BPA– and phthalate-free, plastic teethers may still be toxic–all plastic is probably hormone disrupting.
  • Teething biscuits. These can be a choking hazard because they can snap in half which creates jagged edges in your baby’s mouth if they have not been softened enough with babies dribble. All the new data about wheat being suspect for gut health also suggests that it may be a good idea to only choose Gluten Free teething biscuits if you want to use them at all.
  • Instead of any of these above, you should look for teethers made of unpainted wood, 100% natural rubber, organic cotton, and silicone as mentioned in our article above.

I hope this article has been useful, I would love your feedback here.

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AUSTRALIAN ORGANIC MARKET REPORT 2017

THE RECENT RELEASE OF THE AUSTRALIAN ORGANIC MARKET
REPORT 2017 HAS HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF ORGANIC
PRODUCTS FOR AUSTRALIANS IS GROWING and a Personal Health
Crisis is one of the number one factors for people choosing
organic.

The Australian Organic Market Report has been published for 2017 based on research by the Mobium Group, Swinburne University of Technology and ABS statistics.

Key findings from the 2017 Australian Organic Market Report include:

  • The number of certified organic operations in Australia grew by 5%.
  • The tonnes of organic products exported from Australia grew by 17%.
  • Bakery items showed more than four-fold export growth between 2015 and 2016.
  • Exports of sheep/lamb meat, cosmetics, alcoholic drinks, dairy products and chicken all showed exceptional growth.
  • Australia has 53% of the world’s organic farmland
  • More than two out of three Australian households (63%) purchased one organic product in the past year, with personal health having the strongest influence for the household buyer
  • The top perceived benefits of buying organic include: chemical and additive free, environmentally friendly, free-range and non-GMO
  • Production factors including origin and traceability of food are increasingly important to Australian consumers. Impacts on the environment was a key motivation for 41% of shoppers to start buying organic. New Australian Made Labelling Laws will now give consumers greater transparency and understanding of the true origin of products.
  • Consumers prefer smaller health food and organic stores as trusted sources of certified organic vs the supermarket. This included 70% had the strongest confidence in specialised organic and wholefood stores
  • People aged between 18 – 29), with their preferred shopping method being online via mobile phone
  • Popular organic categories include fresh fruit and veg, followed by dairy, home-cooking ingredients and eggs
  • Growth of sales in organic packaged food & beverages in 2017 is predicted to be 4.3%
  • The awareness of organic certification continues to increase, with two-thirds of shoppers noting that an organic certification mark increases their confidence in purchasing an authentic product. Labelling and packaging deemed the number one source for gaining product information
  • The largest barriers to purchase of organic products remain value, trust and access
    Nature’s Child has been loved as Australia’s first organic baby store since 2000 by Organic Mums and Dads all over Australia. Our Brand can be found in the USA, Malaysia, New Zealand and the UK as well as health food stores and some IGA stores throughout Australia.
  • Nature’s Child is the premier voice and authority on organic integrity in the baby industry in Australia. You can contact Nature’s Child at wholesale@natureschild.com.au to stock our premium certified organic baby skincare and organic cotton for your store.To view the report in full visit: http://austorganic.com/ao-market-report/You can download your copy of the report australian organic market report
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China and USA demand Australian Organic Baby Products

Its like every other day, I come into work and am delighted by all my on line orders. But today, I am alerted to a different kind of order. A student needs 12 of our certified organic bottom balm overnight as they are flying out of Australia the next day. There is something else I recognize about the order, the name is Chinese. I immediately understand what is happening as we get these orders regularly. We ship the order express post. Mission accomplished before the flight leaves back to China.

You see, this order was not for the person who purchased it, it is one of the growing number of on line orders we get for students who are visiting Australia for as little as 7 days for a “shopping trip”. They have been paid by a number of Chinese families to pick up organic baby products specificially Made in Australia for their babies that they cannot get easily in China.

Another order comes from New York. I start a chat with this mother as I am intrigued about how she found out about us. I often like to create a conversation with overseas clients as it helps us prevent on line fraud. “I found out about you on instagram” she tells me. “we love the purity of Australian Products” Well there you go! It is very exciting shipping to New York, one of the fashion capitalis of the world and to know that a little bit of Nature’s Child and Byron Bay is being used on little American babies.

Just like China, Americans love Australian made products. China and the USA perceive Australia as having high-quality products and their massive populations create a massive opportunity.

Journalist Charis Chang has been following the shopping trends of the Chinese in Australia. She says that “Businesses are now waking up to the buying power of the Chinese, who tend to shop as a recreational activity and are willing to drop large amounts of money on luxury products”

According to the latest Australian Organic Market Report 2017 new organic categories are driving the 15%+ growth in the $1.72 billion organic industry. The industry was valued at $947 million in 2010

Chairman Andrew Monk says that “For the first time, we asked consumers their reasoning behind choosing organics with 49% of respondents claiming that they first purchased certified organics as they became aware of the impact food, fibre and cosmetics may have on their health. 16% began buying organic specifically because of a health crisis,”

With demand for organics outstripping supply by 40%, the Australian retail market for certified organic products is also expected to continue on this growth path with private label products, certified organic processed foods and greater affordability driving this trajectory.

Meanwhile, on line stores like Nature’s Child are attracting buyers from all Australian states as well as countries like the USA and China.

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Discover Nature Play in Australia

When I was pregnant with my first child, I imagined all the fun I would have with my children.

I had memories of not having much as a child and I wanted this to be different for my family. More toys, more opportunities, more time with me and more love.

By the time my son was 2 yrs old, I looked around the overcrowded room of toys one day and realised this image did not match my idea of life, not that I had articulated it to myself or anyone else very well previously, I just had one of those life changing moments. I did not want my children growing up thinking it was okay to have all this “stuff” It all had to go!

I organized a huge garage sale and it all went. Anything left over went to the charity shop.

Once it was all gone, the first thing I noticed is how light my head felt and how clear the room looked. Christian came out to play that day and looked around the room for his toys. They werent’ there but he did not cry or seemed concerned. He just looked around the room, touched all the furniture slowly, then went outside.

The next thing that happened was the affirmation I needed that I had done the right thing. He ran to the garden, picked up a small shovel that I had left in our small stash of outside toys, and started digging. I watched him come back in side, find a container from my cupboard and return the garden. The next few hours involved a lot of digging and dirt. There was water, sand, plants and dirt involved and it was the most peaceful playing session I had ever observed.

When we used to play inside with toys, his attention span was never more than 2 minutes. I would continually show him a new toy or game or song, expecting the initial delight to last and feeling disappointed that he did not like it more.

It turns out that I am not the only parent to have discovered this. I discovered a lot of parents talking about Nature Play and Minimalism.

I love this blog by Denhaye Barahona and encourage you to check out her writings.

Canberra is leading the way in Australia for Nature Play Spaces for kids which is so important for their nervous system in this world of high tech.

I love this one in Western Australia too I love this story of how this nature event was an explosive success. Called the Cubby Town event, the nature craft activities are inspirational. Katherine Healy says that they were “We were astounded at the amazing cubby creations we saw on display, from multi-dome buildings draped in netting to form a gauzy ceiling, to structures with rope roof “beams” strung between trees and branches laid along the sides to form a triangular tunnel dwelling, to hanging shades hovering three feet off the ground, suspended from overhead branches, it was a wonder to behold.

Maybe you could consider a Nature Play Place for your town? Discover more at this link http://www.natureplay.org.au

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Why Are Adults Using our Organic Baby Products?

These 6 Best Sellers at Nature’s Child Organic Baby Range have huge adult followings!

NATURE’S CHILD CERTIFIED ORGANIC BABY POWDER

As the only fully ACO Certified Organic Baby or Body Powder on the shelves right now for adults or babies, discerning customers are choosing the silky soft baby powder for themselves!

  • Powder is the ultimate body product to prevent chafing and reduce moisture fast so while it is ideal at nappy change time
  • Sports people, fitness instructors and even the local circus in my home town are using it and loving it to assist gripping.
  • Adults use baby powder after showering as part of a personal care routine so next time you are running low, grab a tube and discover how much softer this one is than most powders on the market. Our secret is the Tapioca which is so smooth it just feels lush to use.

NATURE’S CHILD CERTIFIED ORGANIC WONDER BALM

Suitable to assist with all itching, rashes, dry skin, dry lips, dribble chins and burns.

  • Wonder Balm has become the staple in many family homes that need just one healing balm for the many skin incidents that happen in every family.
  • Ideal for cradle cap, baby scratches, rashes but the pure 100% Certified Organic Formula is a winner with more than babies.
  • Oncology patients are finding it helpful for lip sores and rough skin.
  • It is the perfect new baby gift for every bump and scratch that any family with a new baby and toddlers understands.
  • The biggest eye opener for me about this product was at a recent event where the irritation and sometimes bleeding that male athletes experience when running in some fabrics. Well that was news to me and our wonder balm is now solving this problem too.

ORGANIC COTTON BABY WIPES DELUXE

The softness will blow you away. Made for fresh newborn skin, the soft toweling on one side and brushed flannel on the other has meant these are the most affordable and durable face washers on the market. At least this is how adults are adapting them. The Pkt 4 is ideal for your family. But again they were designed as reusable baby wipes which still makes them the most affordable and pure solution for wiping a fresh baby bottom.

NATURE’S CHILD CERTIFIED ORGANIC BOTTOM BALM

It appears that many adults have sore bottoms too! A sore red bottom can need both relief from redness from scratching or just help to relieve an itch. Whether it is during a detox or just general worms or parasites. If your anus is itching regularly, see your naturopath as you may have a Gluten sensitivity or have fungus, worms or yeast allergy.

NATURE’S CHILD CERTIFIED ORGANIC BABY WASH

I should not have been surprised about this one because this is exactly what I use as my hand wash at my bathroom sink. Why would I use another product when I have made the purest and best. (proud and not shy of this!) I love the pump, it is easy to use and I love the silky feel that these simple 4 ingredients create. If you like smells, add 3 – 6 drops of your favourite essential oil to the bottle and shake. We don’t add any fragrance as this is for babies but you sure can.

NATURE’S CHILD CERTIFIED ORGANIC BABY MASSAGE OIL

This is a lovely moisturiser in cold, dry months. I find a quick rub on my arms and legs gets them soft quickly without the greasy feeling. If you feel greasy then you are using to much. Dry Shins and legs are common in adults who don’t have enough yummy fats in their bodies. Use Flaxseed or Hemp oil or Coconut Oil to moisturise yourself on the inside while using this in small amounts on the outside.

This 100% Organic Baby Skincare range which includes organic cotton necessities for new parents can be purchased at stockists around Australia and Internationally or right here at our on line store

Nature’s Child is a 100% ACO Certified Organic Baby Skincare range is the first of its kind in glass bottles and cardboard packaging for complete purity. Our ingredients and packaging meet our strict criteria of ZERO WASTE – ZERO HARM which is our vision for a better planet for our babies to inherit

“Our babies are born pure so it just makes sense to use the very best and very purest on their skin. All parents want this but many are hoodwinked by the green washing on fake organic products in our supermarkets. Discerning, educated customers know better and now trust platforms such as Inner Origin for real truth on labelling.”  Jannine Barron

Explore the Full Range of Organic Baby Products on our website including

1. The Ultimate Organic Gift Box – The ideal for baby shower or newborn gift as it includes most of the products below for both mum and baby
2. Organic Bottom Balm – 45g and 85g for the big fans
3. Organic Wonder Balm
4. Organic Baby Powder
5. Organic Baby Massage Oil
6. Organic Baby Wash
7. Organic cotton breast pads in 2 sizes Regular and Large
8. Organic Nipple Balm
9. Organic cotton baby wipes
10. Organic cotton face wipes
We know our babies are born pure which is why we buy them pure with certified organic baby products. Treat yourself as well!

Jannine Barron

Founder

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BREECH BIRTH – Safe Stories of Joy

BREECH BIRTH – Safe Stories of Joy

http://www.pregnancy.com.au/resources/birth-stories/breech_birth_stories/

https://wellnessmama.com/8306/my-healing-birth/

https://www.midwifery.org.uk/articles/breech-birth-at-home/

I also highly recommend the film made by our very own local Byron Bay Film Maker Karin Ecker

which you may find for sale at this link https://www.natureschild.com.au/ecoliving/

or here http://www.abreechinthesystem.com

The Film is powerful because it shows the filmmakers journey when she wants to give birth to her breech baby in a hospital. The doctors tell her at first that she has to have a caesarean section. This is an inspiring documentary about her to attempt to birth naturally against all odds.

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GREENTOM UPP STROLLER AND CLASSIC PRAM REVIEW

The greenest stroller on Earth – the Greentom Upp

Loving the Eco Friendly Features of this pram, it was really helpful to come across this review on BABYOLOGY that helped us decide to stock it for its practical, lightweight and user friendly values as well.

By Anita Butterworth on 12th October 2015.This handsome stroller was once, among other things, soft drink bottles. Pretty amazing. It’s heralded as the greenest stroller on the planet, and it just happens to be superbly styled to boot. If you’re keen to reduce your environmental footprint while walking with your baby – this stroller has to be part of your plan.

Almost every household in Australia now has access to recycling bins, as part of kerbside rubbish collection. We fill it up, it’s taken away and we don’t think about it again. But innovative companies like Greentom are using our trash to make treasure.The Greentom Upp stroller’s frame is made using recycled plastic (polypropene), and it’s the fabric that is made from recycled soft drink bottles. But that doesn’t mean any compromise when it comes to form and function. The stroller is light (the frame weighs just six kilos) and strong, and Greentom’s new Upp Combination – which includes a Carry Cot, a Classic (forward-facing) and a Reversible seat – is now available in Australia, along with a host of accessories.

We’re well known for our love of clever Dutch design at Babyology, and the Greentom Upp is a shining example of how simple often equates to stylish.The range includes the Greentom Upp Combination, which costs $999. It’s basically a three-in-one stroller, with a Carrycot (bassinet), a Reversible seat and a Classic forward-facing option. The Carrycot is perfectly suited to newborns, right through to babies aged six months, then you can switch to the Reversible, which can be used up until about three years of age. The colour combinations reflect the minimalist Dutch styling, with mint, white, blue, black, sand and petrol shades all making an appearance.

The enviro-friendly components stretch beyond the frame and fabric, with the Carrycot bassinet housing a bio-degradable mattress. Made from fair trade cotton, Dutch flax and wool, it’s obvious that a huge amount of research and sustainable thinking has gone into every component of this stroller.

As well as being beautifully soft, all of the fabrics are washable. With the Carrycot attached, the Greentom Upp weighs around nine kilos – making it easy to manoeuvre and transport. There are also optional car seat adaptors available, to make this stroller an all-in-one travel system.

Once your baby is keen to explore the world beyond the stroller, you can switch to the Reversible seat – which can be forward or rearward facing. There are a multitude of reclining positions, so there’s lots of ways to get comfortable. With the Reversible seat attached, the stroller weighs in at a tiny eight and a half kilos.Greentom has also developed the Upp Classic, which retails for $549. Designed for children aged from six months to around four years, or 18 kilos, it also has a car seat adaptor – so with a capsule it can be used for newborns as well. This stroller weighs just over seven kilos, and has a really nifty feature: it can be folded into a freestanding position in just seconds, and the five-point-harness and belly bar ensure kids are kept safe and comfortable.

How about its environmental cred? The fabric for each stroller is made from 58 recycled PET bottles and the wheels are made from 100 per cent recycled plastic. They don’t have any screws or joins, making this stroller whisper quiet.The Upp Classic also offers a range of accessories including a rain cover made from high quality see-through plastic (TPU) and recycled soft drink bottles which is PVC free (making it the first green rain cover on the planet). The car seat adaptor brackets are compatible with Maxi Cosi and Nuna Pip car capsules and for the cooler months a warm and snug foot muff is also available.

And here’s the final word for the environment – many years down the track, when you no longer need your Greentom Upp – it can be recycled. It’s an environmental winner.

Article by Anita Butterworth
Anita lives in country Victoria and devotes her time to two beautiful, boisterous boys, writing for Babyology, working as a television journalist and possibly the best husband in the world (usually in that order). She can decipher the handwriting of a preschooler and stop brotherly brawls single-handedly, all while masterfully sipping freshly brewed Earl Grey.

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A QUICK GUIDE TO 5 COMMON SKIN RASHES FOR A NEWBORN BABY

The day has come when your precious baby arrives…but hang on a second, what is that rash? What are
those pimples? What happened to the perfect idea of fresh unblemished skin on my newborn? Skin
conditions that are very common in newborn babies and in most case there is no need to worry. If you are
concerned, check with your baby health care nurse or doctor. For a quick reference guide, have a look at
this short list to allay any immediate concerns.

Keeping a jar of ORGANIC WONDER BALM handy will be a quick, natural and organic solution to most of these rashes.

NATURE as always builds in natural protection against most newborn baby rashes. It is called VERNIX and it is the gooey looking substance on a new babies skin when they are born. We recommend NOT wiping away your the vernix so quickly on your newborn baby. Vernix is your baby’s first beauty product! The thick substance acts as a sealant, shielding the baby’s skin from the drying effects of amniotic fluid. Without vernix, your precious newborn would look like a big ol’ wrinkled prune. Often a midwife will wipe this away so you can see your babies face once they are born, but if left on the skin, Vernix is nature’s protection. Because this is standard hospital practice  –  you need to mention this in your birth plan if you don’t want this to happen.

Baby Acne

Also known as ‘milk pimples’ which can last from as little as a few days to 5 weeks in some babies. Don’t use cleanser or any other adult techniques. It is perfectly normal for many babies to experience this and it generally does not irritate them. If your baby’s skin is dry and flaky alongside the pimples, then you can use a product such as organic wonder balm to reduce dryness and calm their skin.

Nappy Rash

Cradle cap can happen when there is baby’s scalp produce excess oil. When the dead skin cells fall off the baby’s skin, they stick to the oil and stay on the scalp. These oil secretions will normally clear up after the hormones normalise. You can read more about it here 

Heat Rash

Heat rash is common in the hottest months, or when a parent accidentally overdresses a baby they think is cold. The sweat glands in the skin can become blocked and swollen, causing some itchiness. It isn’t harmful and won’t cause too much discomfort for your baby. Check with a health professional if you are concerned.

Eczema – you are really going to need our wonder balm for this one!

It’s hard to know what might cause a baby to have eczema – there are so many possible causes that it is often hard to pinpoint what has caused your baby’s eczema. It could be a food allergy, a reaction to something that contacts the skin, and is often exacerbated by heat, and stress. Eczema sometimes goes away as your child grows up, but sometimes it is a lifelong condition.

Here is an excerpt from great article on bubhub about eczema and we recommend the article for more details on all 4 topics above if you need more details.

Symptoms

  • Itchy, dry, rough skin.
  • Most often on baby’s cheeks or in the creases of their joints.
  • Can have little bumps that ooze when scratched – and can become infected easily.
  • Excessive scratching can lead to scarring on the skin.

How to treat

  • Moisturise. Ask your doctor to recommend a good moisturiser.
  • Bath your baby in lukewarm water – too hot and it might irritate the baby’s skin.
  • Help them to not scratch – trim nails, or put mittens on their hands (socks work well too).
  • Only use mild, fragrance-free soaps, moisturisers, and washing detergents.
  • Only use soap where you baby is dirty – try to only use water otherwise.
  • Don’t over-dress them with clothes or blankets – the heat can cause a flare-up.

IF YOU ARE STILL CONCERNED ABOUT A SKIN RASH ON YOUR NEWBORN BABY AFTER READING THIS ARTICLE, PLEASE CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR OR BABY HEALTH CARE NURSE IMMEDIATELY.

Article by Jannine Barron

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Q: A sheepskin for my baby?

Personally, I find “my sheepie” to be the most useful & versatile way to help me care for my baby when out and about! When I need a safe and familiar place to lay my son that is clean and smells familiar, whatever the surface, this is his movable home! It is light and easy to transport, does not need special cleaning or lugging about. It has no moving parts to break. There is no off gassing from cheap bassinet mattresses, it’s just natural and easy. Here are just a few places I use my sheepskin. In the cot, on our lounge floor, down the park, anywhere that I am visiting people, under his playgym, picnics with friends, in the backyard. I believe this is the most easy to care portable, safe and natural home for my baby.  Discover the benefits of Sheepskins here.  Makes a great baby gift!