 Well hello. Here we are! Did you know that the NapNap team themselves are always really happy to help with any questions you might have about cloth nappies? We have six children between us and they have all been (and two still are) cloth bums. Of course. We have a number you can call any time: 08454 636327 or you can email either Rebecca (rebecca@napnaphq.com) or Steph (steph@napnaphq.com) with any query, no matter how small or ridiculous it may seem. We also run a monthly nappuccino in North Hertfordshire and we have one coming up very soon. It really is a great way to find out a bit more - see the nappies in the flesh.... so to speak. And it is also a good place to meet others who have taken the cloth nappy route. Sometimes it can be a bit glum being the only one in your group of friends to have taken the cloth route. So come along for a bit of cloth nappy solidarity! For more info on cloth nappies go to our cloth nappy information pages. For more info on the NapNap Voucher, the perfect gift to give people the cloth nappies of their choice, click here. NapNap Vouchers are sold on our sister, online store, Really Eco Baby. All the nappy retailers we work with offer an advice service. See them in all their glory here.
It's a little video explaining why the NapNap Voucher is a great gift for new families. Having a baby is very expensive so once you've got your cloth nappies (chosen by you, paid by your friends and families) you will never have to buy nappies. Ever.
If you are interested in eco parenting, this is the online magazine to subscribe to. Beautifully made and full of inspiration, this latest edition contains articles about gardening, the environmental cost of gender specific clothes and tips on how to calm the consumer in our kids. We are glad to be regular contributor to this magazine and this month we tackled any preconceived ideas about cloth nappies. Read all here by following this link.
 I saw a tweet recently (yes - twitter - we’re there as @napnaphq and @reallyecobaby) talking about how their 3 year old had insisted she had to go to the loo at her grandma’s and had even gone as far as getting her coat and shoes on. I think Grandma lived about 30 mins away by car. I have no idea how all that was contained in a tweet but that was the gist. Between us at NapNap we have 5 (and nearly 6) children between us. And whilst lovely they all drive us up the wall. If it isn’t the non-walking 16 month old, it’s the bossy boots 3 year old. If it isn’t the non-lunch-eating 4 year old, it is the imperious 17 month old who sits in her throne, giving orders in a language that only she understands. How to survive? Well, we would love some tips because, believe you me, we are not masters at this game. Is anyone? However, I do think a bit of creativity goes a long way and if you involve them in something (particularly when they are a bit older) then an impasse can sometimes (sometimes!!) be crossed. I have a generally quite itchy 3 year old. She had horrible eczema as a tiny and now that she has chicken pox, I’m surprised she hasn’t taken most of her skin off. Chicken pox in the scalp? Who would have thought it. But not only is she itchy, she is also completely resistant to having cream put on. Why I have no idea. I promise I didn’t give her cream trauma as a baby by dunking her in buckets of the stuff (although that would have probably helped). My tactic this time is I have made sticky labels for the lotion bottle with her; quite a lot of fun and she likes trying to write her name so that has given it a really personal touch. She is still not particularly keen but we have managed to put some on with much less of a battle than before. Admittedly, I have also been deceptive Mummy by secretly putting coconut oil in her bath - worked a dream ha ha ha. I’m sure I’m not the only one to take this sort of approach, but for anyone tearing their hair out today, I thought I’d share that with you. Good luck! Coconut oil is available at our online store: Really Eco Baby, along with other lovely, eco, ethical fairtrade gifts and products for babies and families.
Just a quickie to alert you to this lovely magazine. It is a little green baby - all about green parenting and is very new - issue no 2 has just come out. We are big fans (although we are a bit biased as we are there in all our glory). Do take a look as there are lots of good ideas. I especially like the baby name suggestions as I am getting a but desperate being 37 weeks + and without much of an idea what NapNap Baby no. 3 is going to be called. OOOooooh, I feel a competition coming on ;-) Anyway, Peapod Mag - give it a look.
Baby Massage – the power of touch
Although baby massage is relatively new to this country, for cultures such as those in India, massage is an important part of a baby's daily routine and the family's way of life. Evidence shows that loving and nurturing contact between parents/carers and babies has a positive impact on subsequent development, resulting in a happier, healthier baby.
The power of touch....
One of the first senses developed within the womb is that of touch. However, leaving the comforting
environment of the mother's womb and making an entrance into the world can be a traumatic experience; the Osteopathic Center for Children claim that nine out of ten children suffer some form of trauma during the birth.
Premature babies in particular require touch to establish a bond between parent and child.
It is widely thought that babies who receive massage have fewer health problems and both sleep and feed better than those babies who do not receive massage.
The Benefits of Baby Massage
Benefits for babies can include:
• Develops positive communication between parent and child
• Helps to strengthen and regulate their digestive, respiratory and circulatory systems
• Relieves symptoms of colic, gas and constipation
• Encourages restful sleep
• Develops flexible joints and muscles and develops greater co-ordination of muscular movement.
• Teaches babies how to be aware of their body's tension and how to release it.
Benefits that parents identify:
• Develops confidence when handling their baby
• Enhances loving communication, helping parents to understand and respond to their baby's non-verbal
language
• Increases awareness of baby's growth and development
Looking for the perfect gift for a new Mum?
Babyem provide private baby massage classes for individuals, couples and groups as well as regular courses throughout London. If you would like to purchase a gift voucher or book a class please visit: www.babyem.co.uk, email: info@babyem.co.uk or call Emma on: 0208 986 9008.
Learn a skills for life!
If you know one thing about washable and cloth nappies, it is probably that they save you lots of money in the long-run, especially if, like me, you use them with two or more little ones. 5 weeks to go until number 3!!!
But the cost of a full set of washable nappies at the outset can be hard to swallow (in comparison with a couple of packs of disposables..... although you don't have to be a genius to work out which purchase will last!). The oft-quoted amount you save by using cloth over about 2 and a half years is £600 but the initial £150-£300 you might spend on 20 cloth nappies can seem... well... a bit rich. Therefore, here are a few tips on getting going with washables on a budget.  Make sure you check with your local council - they may offer you cashback, vouchers, a trial pack, or money off a laundry service. Ask for NapNap Vouchers from friends and family. There are so many places you can now use them that you will have lots and lots of choice. Get secondhand nappies (known in the business as 'preloved'). These are an excellent solution if you don't know where to start. You can buy a couple to try and then buy more of them new (or secondhand). A great place to start is http://www.usednappies.co.uk/. Some nappies are very cheap too. I have recently seen someone talking about spending £30 on a bespoke embroidered nappy! But you can get prefolds at a very low cost and, for example, Tiny Nippers and Bum Deal have some surprisingly low cost options.
 This nappy here costs only £4.49. So if you were to buy 15 of these (just about enough) then you would only be forking out £67.35. How about that! You can get it from Tiny Nippers, one of the latest retailers to accept the NapNap Voucher. However, a word of warning: we do not recommend you just dive in and buy lots of one type of nappy that you haven't yet tried. The best thing to do is try a few different types (this is where secondhand ones can come in handy). Then when you've worked out your favourite, you can take the plunge. Good luck and happy nappies :-)
We have just scheduled into our busy diary a monthly Nappuccino for North Herts with our first one scheduled for the beginning of February in Letchworth. I was telling someone about this yesterday and the following ensued. Thought I would share it with you: 'What's a Nappuccino?''It's a sort of coffee morning type thing where people come to find out about cloth nappies.' 'What's a cloth nappy - sounds a bit weird to me.''Erm... a nappy made from cloth.....' 'That's a bit much isn't it? Surely they cost loads. I get through loads of nappies...''Well you only have to buy 20.' 'What.....?' ....... perplexed look ........ 'As in every week?''Well no. Ever. You buy 20 and reuse them.' 'Reuse them!!!! How do you do that?''Oh you know, by putting them in the washing machine.....' 'And do they actually come out clean?' ..... doubtful look....'Well I'm on my second child with mine and they do the job with us.' 'And you've only got 20?''Well, actually I think 23.' 'That's amazing. So just 23 nappies. And that's it.''It's enough for us.' 'And they work?''Well.... they catch all the stuff they need to catch.. If you know what I mean ha ha.' 'And they're waterproof?''Yep!' 'Oh my god. That is amazing. So I only have to buy 20.''That's right.' 'And at a nappy... coffee... thing.... I get to... what? What's a nappuccino again?''Well there are a quite a few different ones to choose from so at a nappuccino you get to look at them and ask questions about how to look after them and stuff.' 'But they definitely work.' ....sideways glance to my one-yr-old.....'They definitely work.' 'Oh. I might come along then. 20 nappies?' *rude enthusiastic words****** That's amazing.'So come along people! We might surprise you!
The washable nappy world can be so confusing when you step into it! But lucky for you, the NapNap team is here to make everything clear and simple. So, "le wrap, c'est quoi?"A wrap is simply the waterproof cover you put around your nappy so it does not leak. But beware: "all-in-one" nappies do not need a wrap because they are, well, all in one and the wrap is part of the nappy (read a blog about that soon...). So they are relevant for two-part systems. For more on the main types of nappies available go to our washable nappy information page. So, how many do you need? you do not have to change the wrap every time you change the nappy and it is best not put them in the washing machine too often as it reduces the waterproofing quicker. They can also be rinsed under the tap and left to dry so you could manage with 3 wraps; but at least 5 would make your life easier. Care: as I said, too much washing reduces the 'waterproof-ness' quicker but having said that, I have some wraps that have been used for 3 children and they are still really good. But do let them dry on a rack; drier is a no-no. Materials: they are mostly made out of PUL, comfortable, stretchy and breathable. You can also find some made out of wool (100% natural, better for babies with sensitive skins) or fleece (increasingly popular as night-time wrap: I know, you would never have thought so). Fastenings: either velcro or poppers. Size: you can find some sized ones but one size are a better value option and you can usually adjust them for a good fit. Really, the great thing about wraps is that it is a good way to have your baby's bottom in a cute design for less: buy plain nappies and invest in a few really fancy wraps. Below is a selection of what you can get and do not forget that you can use a NapNap Voucher to buy wraps. All these retailers do accept the NapNap Voucher and you can find the complete list here.
For parents who still think that cloth nappies are held together with pins, here is what they really look like today. I dare you to say that none of them is to your taste. No chemicals on your baby's bottom, no huge smelly bathroom bins, lots of money saved and a cute baby's bottom. There are lots more out there so browse, browse, browse (see the previous blog for lots of Christmas discounts) and ask your friends for a NapNap Voucher this Christmas (or for your birthday/baby shower,...) which you can use to choose one of these.
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