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OUR NATURE’S CHILD STORY

Natural & Organic Baby Products

If you prefer to listen than read, this 25 minute podcast is a great way to get to know Nature’s Child.

Nature’s Child is a creation from Jannine Barron who was shocked by the amount of disposable and plastic products that she was expected to use when her baby was born. Driven to create the purest possible baby essentials range that produces little or no waste as well as costing families less, Nature’s Child are proud to set the standard and push environmental boundaries in an over polluted industry.  Our Children are precious and we know that we have a responsibility to leave the planet in a better state for them.

Initially an iconic retail store for many years, Nature’s Child now supports hundreds of retailers around Australia who passionately sell our brand of 100% Australian baby skincare. cloth nappies & new mum essentials including:

  • Breast Pads and Nipple Balm for New Mums *Certified Organic
  • Face wipes, Baby Wipes & Cloth Nappies *Certified Organic
  • Certified Organic Baby Skincare including Baby Wash, Massage Oil, Baby Powder *Certified Organic
  • Our World Famous Bottom Balm and Wonder Balm *Certified Organic
  • Gorgeous Organic Cotton Cloth Nappies

Nature’s Child is a Australian Company based in Byron Bay Northern NSW that stands for:

  • Ethical Products and Truth on Label
  • Cruelty free –  never tested on animals
  • Absolutely no petrochemicals and nothing synthetic
  • Glass & Cardboard Packaging with no or minimal plastic that is 100% recyclable
  • Palm Oil Free
  • Fragrance Free
  • Zero Waste Packaging and 100% Recylable Packaging
  • Ensuring packaging that allows you to use 100% of the product
  • Byron Bay is an amazing place to create and bring up kids

Nature’s Child is a company known for:

  • Being one of the first on line baby stores in Australia
  • Being the Very first Organic Baby Store and Cloth Nappy Retailer in 2000
  • Own Brand, Gentle, effective products that prevent skin problems by using the purest products
  • 100% Natural and Certified Organic products that soothe problem skin
  • Internationally recognised Australian organic certification that you can trust
  • Only 100% Pure essential oils with certification in our products
  • Supporting  a family cooperative in India who make our Organic Cotton Products fair trade
  • Just Beautiful Baby Products that you absolutely need in a form that won’t irritate baby or upset nature’s balance on your skin or your baby’s skin.

Nature’s Child was born in July 2000 in the beachside town of Byron Bay, NSW. It is fitting that Australia’s First Organic Baby Store was born in a town where Natural Birth is actively supported and where Indigenous women traditionally came to birth. So many births and firsts in Byron Bay!

We also have our own on line store with additional brands we trust alongside our own to bring parents the full kit of simple, essentials when caring for a baby and toddler. We promise a simple, ethical, joyful shopping experience at our on line store, not an overwhelming or choice heavy experience.

Internet overwhelm is challenging for many new parents to be so we are the calm in the storm.  We are not the biggest but we are the most ethical, the most conscious about Truth on the labels, Certified Organic, Pollution Free Packaging and Zero Waste. We don’t need to offer you a huge range, just the best range.  Read about this difference why natures child is different to other on line stores.

We encourage you to locate one of our valued stockists that may be near you HERE. If you have a local store that you think may want to stock us and that would be more convenient for you to purchase from, please let them know they can contact us. From humble beginnings in a garage in Byron Bay, Nature’s Child is the Australian Pioneer of Organic Baby Products that parents can use every day such as cloth nappies, breast pads and baby wipes. We were the first in Australia and remain the most recognised Certified Organic Baby Brand in Australia.

When our owner Jannine Barron had her first child in 1995, she was shocked by the disposable nature of the baby products on offer. They were based on a throw away mentality, made largely from plastics and synthetic fabrics, they were costly and largely pointless.

Jannine says “There are lots of reusable choices now but you have to imagine 20 yrs ago, the idea of a fabric, reusable breast pad or a cloth nappy made most people frown and look puzzled. But fortunately, a new wave of eco-minded parents and certainly our grandmothers, smiled and supported our new venture” Many reusable products now are still made from polyester or fabrics that sound natural but still actually require a lot of chemicals to grow them. We focus on Organic Cotton because there is independent certification that monitors and limits or deletes chemical use. We believe Certification is an important standard by which the eco friendly nature of a fibre should be judged.

“I knew that if we were patient and parents slowly embraced this idea, we would witness an organic and eco revolution. This is exactly what has happened 17yrs since we started!. I am just so proud of all the parents that made this a reality and for my awesome team over the years that has delivered the purest and the best to parents internationally”

We are really proud to be an Australian manufacturer of Organic Baby Products including Certified Organic Baby Skincare and Certified Organic Cotton reusable products that parents use every day. Everyone is welcome to shop direct from our website and experience our nurturing service.

If you are a business owner or therapist wanting to stock our range of organic baby products in your store, you can purchase from one of our valued Distributers.

ORGANIC CERTIFICATION

Since we began, a lot of competition has come into the baby products market and use the word “organic” on their packaging. Unless you see a certification logo on their products, please do not compare us! Our independently audited Organic Certification is your guarantee of purity and honesty in our claims. Our ingredients cost more because we only  source from Certified Organic Farms which means absolutely NO GMO or Toxic Chemicals used in the growing process. This guarantees you an independently audited, truthful claim of purity.

            

 

If you are enjoying your visit to our site, please take a moment to read about what motivates us.

The Nature’s Child Vision

To honour the beauty and wonder of pregnancy, birth, babies and childhood. To do this in a way that cherishes our natural instincts, our natural environment and its resources.
  1. Empowering parents, pregnant women, their partners, their children and the community through our products, retreats, educational seminars, practitioners, workshops, publications and conferences.
  2. Selling products for pregnancy, babies, children, home lifestyle of exceptional quality that are convenient for busy lives without costing the earth
  3. Making it easy for parents to enjoy organic, earth-friendly shopping.
  4. Wowing every customer with the unique beauty and quality of every product.
  5. Honouring children’s natural intelligence by providing creations that promote self-esteem, inspire imagination, promote self-confidence, leave room for creativity and honour their whole being and their individual potential.
  6. Providing personalised customer service of the highest quality in a family-friendly work and shopping environment.
  7. Building a socially and ethically responsible business structure from which all this can grow and be possible.

“Change the World – One Purchase at a time”  

 Jannine Barron – Ecoprenuer, Change Maker and Founder of Nature’s Child, 2001

 What Does Earth-Friendly Mean?

  • Containing ingredients that are biodegradable

  • Paints and oils on toys and furniture that contain no chemicals

  • Creations that help you to relax, meditate and trust your intuition

  • Are grown and manufactured so no harmful chemicals are used

  • Promote bonding and closeness in your family

  • Recycled materials are used

  • Recycled or plantation timber used

  • Washable not disposable

  • Compostable and Wormsafe

  • Greenhouse friendly

  • Packaging can be recycled or reused

How Can Earth-Friendly Shopping Help The Environment?

Since having children, I have realised the simple decisions I make every day such as what to eat for breakfast, what medicine to use on my sick baby and whether I put a cloth nappy or disposable on them, is a powerful decision; because billions of mothers all over the world are making those same decisions as me, every day. The choices we all make are intimately connected to the health and welfare of our environment. Thus our lifestyle choices directly impact our future world. While one purchase alone may not change the world’s environmental crisis, it can influence human behaviour enough to impact events that can. For our future survival, we must seek and offer sustainable solutions, the heart of which involves recycling more, eliminating chemical use and wasting less. I like to support small home-based businesses. What I love about most of the creators of the products you find at Nature’s Child, is that they are parents, inspired by their children to create beautiful products and to work flexible hours that suited family life. Cant find what you were looking for? If you need a product that we don’t have on our site, email us now and we will find the product you need or refer you to where you can find it. Email: orders@natureschild.com.au

A request for help with packaging meeting consumer demands of packaging and quality control is still challenging for manufacturers of earth-friendly products. To be positive about the need to use plastic packaging sometimes in the interest of protecting the products you receive, our manufactures have made efforts to use bags and boxes that can be recycled and reused – so if you receive a product in a plastic bag, please recycle by re-using these bags for as long as possible! If you order a bottle or jar from us, our first choice at Nature’s Child will be to pack it in shredded paper in a box. If you receive it in plastic bubble wrap instead, it will be because someone has sent me bubble wrap and I prefer to recycle it instead of throw it away. Please do the same. Please re-use any other packaging that arrives to you from us If you have any suggestions about how we can improve our packaging to be more earth-friendly, we would love to hear from you. And I know that some of my manufacturers are struggling to come up with more sustainable ideas for their product packaging and would love to hear from you too! That goes for any suggestions you can help us with to make us honourably earth-friendly!

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Have a Blessing Way

Have a Blessing Way
A Blessing Way is a wonderful alternative to the traditional ‘baby shower’ that is held for a woman approaching birth. The Blessing Way ritual (also a fun day out with the girls) literally blesses the way for the mother to be ready for childbirth. As a community, you welcome the baby that is coming soon and confirm the support that you are willing to receive from your community of friends and family.

Traditionally, a woman invites those people closest to her, in whose friendship and wisdom she trusts. You can invite friends to bring a plate of food and/or a gift if you like, but a special ceremony as part of your day is the central feature of a Blessing Way.

When we first wrote this article back in 2001, it was the only article on the entire internet that we could find. Being from Byron Bay, a Blessing Way was normal. Once again, Byron Bay is a place of initiative around intuitive birthing rituals. These days, lots of websites have written about a blessing way. Articles such as this one from BELLY BELLY are informative.History of Blessing Ways

Blessing Ways are traditional to North American Indians according to Mystic Mama. The Indigenous people of the America’s are said to have celebrated and honoured the transition a woman makes when she moves from maiden to mother. This rite of passage is the second ‘blood rite’ for a woman, the first being her first menstruation. It is a time of receiving for the mother to be, a time where she is nurtured and honoured by her community of women.The Blessing Way Ceremony acknowledges the commitment and energy involved in being a mother and gives her a time where all the energy is available for her to receive. This ceremony can be given to a woman each time she has a child, as with each child comes a new level of commitment and surrender.

The key is for the ‘mother to be’ to allow herself to receive and ‘fill her cup’ as deeply as possible. The Blessing Way is also a powerful way to assist in the mother’s preparation for birth. It gives other mothers present in the circle the opportunity to share experiences. Often it is a time when the ‘mother to be’ can express any fears or worries in a safe and sacred setting and receive the support she needs. Here are some ideas that you can include in your special day as you create your own personal memory.

When the birthing woman goes into labour, all women in her Blessing Way circle are contacted through the phone tree and each woman breaks the thread and sends a blessing for an easy birth. This circle of women can then be contacted once the baby is born and be invited to support the mother in practical ways that allow a new mother to relax and bond with her baby, which is her priority right now.

We suggest you choose only one or two of the following rituals that best suit your community of friends. A Blessing Way Ritual is always best remembered when it is the right length of time, and needs to consider that the women in the Blessing Way circle may have young children of their own at home being minded.

Blessing Way Bead Ceremony – Each woman is asked to bring a bead for a blessing necklace. At some time during the ceremony a bowl is handed around the circle and each woman gives her bead and a blessing for mother and baby. At the end of the ceremony one of the women threads the beads together and gives the necklace to the mother to have with her during the birth. This gives the mother-to-be a connection to all her women friends when she is birthing.

Binding of the wrists – The woman running the ritual brings a reel of wool or fine thread. The colour is usually red to represent blood. This is bound around each woman’s left wrist by the woman who sits to the left of her. As each woman binds the thread on the other woman’s wrist she says ‘ from women we were born into this circle, from women we were born unto this earth’. This ritual is symbolic of the thread that connects us all as women. It also keeps each woman tuned into the birthing mother as she leads up to her time and reminds them to send her positive, loving energy as they all see their red string every morning until the baby is born. Once each guest has delivered her helpful post-natal task for the birthing mother, the red string can be removed.

Massaging the Mother – Take along some lush, pregnancy friendly, massage oils and be sure to give her the full treatment with as many women as possible joining in. Brush her hair, give her a facial, whatever indulgence she wants.

Flowers – Flowers are symbolic of nature’s abundance and beauty, just as a woman is when she is in her full pregnant bloom. Be sure to ask all women to bring flowers and create a beautiful alter with them. A flower crown is a beautiful thing to have for the mother-to-be.

Singing – The singing of songs to celebrate woman, pregnancy and birth is a beautiful way to honour and share at a Blessing Way. Each woman may bring a song or poem or instrument to play, or you may have a talented friend who can lead the group in song.

Belly Casting – A kit is usually the easiest way to ensure success with a belly casting. I suggest you do your cast in private and then have it at the Blessing Way circle as a group activity to decorate. Alternatively, you can create the Belly Cast as part of your Blessing Way Ceremony (kits are available from www.natureschild.com.au in our pregnancy section).

Prayer Flags – Flags are a beautiful way to create a lasting memory of a Blessing Way ritual. Each guest is given a piece of fabric of equal size to decorate. You will need fabric pens, sewing materials, fabric scraps etc so your guests can create a unique prayer flag specifically for you and your baby (kits are available from www.natureschild.com.au in our pregnancy section).

Post Birth Support

On the day of the Blessing Way Ceremony have a close friend take the names and contact details of each woman present to be put on a ‘support roster’ for bringing meals after the birth. Each woman brings one meal (ensuring the ingredients are breastfeeding friendly) to the new mother and helps out in any way she can when she drops it off – e.g. dishwashing, clothes washing etc. This support is invaluable for the new mum at a big transition time in her life.

Add your own ideas inspired by this list to create a day that suits your own personality and celebrates your unique wisdom and experience!

This Article was first written in 2003 and edited with new links in 2016

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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.