It's Mother's day on Sunday.. a great excuse for another Babi Pur cloth nappy giveaway!  This week we're giving away a lovely little stash of nappies in daffodil colours...  It's not just the babies who are geting a prize though, we're also including a gorgeous gift set for mum - This Rose Garden gift set is the perfect way to naturally care for your skin without harsh chemicals.
The set contains a moisturising Rose Bath Oil, handmade Rose and Honeysuckle Soaps, soothing Hand Balm and a rose bud-filled fragrance sachet, for a perfectly feminine and luxurious experience.

The Mother's day prize will consist of -

• 1 x Totsbots Easyfit 'bamboo' one size nappy -  (yellow with white spots)
• 1 x bumGenius V3 one size nappy (Clementine)
• 1 x Pop in original 'bamboo' (custard)

also for you..

• Rose Soap 80g
• Honeysuckle Soap 80g
• Hand Balm
• Rose Bath Oil
• Fragrant Rose Bud Sachet

To enter, all you need to do is comment on this post with your answer to this question "What would be your ideal Mother's day breakfast?" 

 BONUS ENTRIES: For bonus entries please leave a separate comment for each of the following you have done :

• BECOME A FAN   of BabiPur on Facebook
• INVITE your friends to be fans of Babi Pur on Facebook
• FOLLOW   BabiPur on Twitter
• COMMENT   leave a comment on any posts on this blog
• REVIEW  any  product on our website
• RETWEET this post

It is important that you leave seperate comments as each comment number is counted as an entry!

All entries need to be with us before 12.01am on Monday 15th March 2010

Good Luck!

If your new to cloth nappies you might not be wholly aware that the way you look after your nappies can have an impact on how well they perform.

This article will hopefully enlighten you to some of the do's and don't, however if you feel I've missed something feel free to comment and I will modify this article accordingly.

NEW NAPPIES
Pre-washing
There are two main reasons for Pre-washing the first is to remove any manufacturing residue from the nappy before it touches your baby's bottom. The other is to build up the nappies absorbency. Man-made fabrics like microfibre don't require extensive pre-washing however natural fibres like cotton and bamboo require several washes before full absorbency is reached cotton is typically 3-5 washes and bamboo/hemp is typically 8-10 washes.
The nappies don't normally require drying between pre-washes though some manufacturers do recommend it.

HINT: I normally run 3 pre-wash cycles (with my normal nappy load) before using the nappy, then use as a daytime nappy for a few weeks to allow additional washes before trying it at night (especially if its bamboo) this way your not pointlessly using up water on repeatedly washing clean nappies.

Storing Dirty Nappies
Traditionally dirty nappies were stored in a bucket containing a solution like napisan for soaking. Modern nappies; especially those with elastic and waterproof lining such as PUL can deteriorate when soaked for long periods of time. So dry pailing is the general recommendation by most manufacturers. If you use a mixture of nappy types then dry pailing is ideal.

Handling Poos
Newborn poos are generally wet enough to go straight into the washing machine. You might prefer to run a rinse cycle with them first before adding detergent for a full wash cycle.

Weaning poos have greater form and therefore should be emptied into the toilet before storing/washing, as these have the potential to cause clogging in the washing machine.

HINT: I use my shower head over the toilet basin to rinse excess off into the toilet.

Once poos have more substance then you can also choose to use paper liners in the nappy, do check that they are flushable before flushing them as some do require putting in the bin.

WASHING NAPPIES
General Washing
The general consensus is wash cloth nappies in 1/4 of the usual amount of detergent. Most nappies will wash well at low temperatures, with the occasional high temp wash to provide a deeper clean.

My personal wash routine consists of a 30 degree rinse cycle as a pre-wash cycle to clear away any poos (a high temp wash onto excess poo can encourage staining) followed by a higher temp (40 or 60 degree) wash with either normal detergent or a specific nappy based one. I do this twice a week. As poo become more solid the rinse cycle will be removed.

HINT: Always read the label when washing nappies, they set a maximum temperature for a reason. Nappies with a PUL layer can lead to leaks if repeatedly washed at a higher than recommended temperature.

Also avoid using fabric softener on nappies as the oil base of the softener builds up in the fabric and affect on absorbency. Clay based softeners are ok to use but these are quiet rare in the UK.

Stripping Nappies
If your nappies don't feel or smell clean when they've been washed or they may have started to leak then there is a build up of detergent in the fabric and they will need a strip wash.
To do a strip wash you should use a full dose of detergent, a hot wash (highest that the nappies will allow i.e 60 degrees) and do repeated rinses to make sure there are no bubbles left in the washer then dry as normal.

Some fabrics are more prone to build up than others.

Dealing with Stains
Stains especially new born poo which can be explosive can unfortunately stain nappy fabric. The best most natural stain remover is 'sunshine' no i'm not nuts the suns rays have a natural bleaching effect. However it can be a challenge to capture the slightest glimpse of sunshine in the UK so here are a few alternatives.

Napisan - this can be used in the wash with your normal detergent or instead of as a high temp sterilising wash as it's good to sanitising as well as stain removal.

Oxyclean - again this can be used in the washer with your normal detergent, take care not to use too much and make sure your nappies are very well rinsed.

Bleach - you can soak some nappies in bleach. Avoid soaking nappies with PUL layers unless it is advised by the manufacturer, as soaking can cause deterioration in some materials.

If you choose to use any of the above suggested products then please make sure you read the labels and do so at your own risk. Babipur will not accept any responsibility if any damage is caused.

Softening Nappies
If you don't have access to a tumble dryer you may find over time some of your nappies becoming a little 'crispy' it's not uncommon for cotton terry or bamboo nappies to dry out.

Adding white vinegar in the softener drawer of your washing machine will act as a natural softener especially if you live in excessively hard/soft water areas. Again I advise caution in regular use in nappies that have a PUL lining.

HINT: You can also add a few drops of essential oils to the vinegar to make your nappies smell nicer as well.

Fairtrade Fortnight 2010 is upon us and Piccalilly have just launched their new designs made from Fairtrade certified cotton.  So what is the 'Piccalilly Way'?  Well lets find out . . .

"Our transparent supply chain

All Piccalilly’s organic cotton is sourced through the CHETNA project in India and certified FAIRTRADE by the Fairtrade Foundation. Our manufacturing partner pre-finance’s the CHETNA Farmers and takes ownership of the cotton straight from the ginning factory, that way no one gets in a pickle about where it’s come from! The Chetna project helps farmers to convert to organic methods of farming through funding and education. It’s an on going project that we’re all investing in and each year it grows, taking on more farmers. Last count there were over 1500 Chetna farmers!

Why organic cotton? - The farmers side

The impact of using harmful chemicals within cotton production is huge. The farmers health becomes compromised and farmers can end up in a cycle of debt as they borrow more and more money to pay for them, often more than the value of the cotton itself! The suicide rate amongst cotton farmers has long been a concern too. Organic cotton is grown without the use of nasty chemicals. By converting to organic methods of production the farm workers and their local environment becomes free from toxic chemicals. And that’s not all, the cotton produced is silky soft, as well as strong and free from toxic residues.

Why organic cotton? - Because it’s best for baby!

Because a babies skin is 5 times thinner than a grown up it’s really important to care what we put on their skin. Organic cotton is not only softer, it is free from harmful chemical residues and the result is a cotton that is less likely to trigger allergies and much kinder on delicate skin. Most parents want to give their babies the best start when they are little and we are 100% certain that clothing made from organic cotton is a great start.

Ethical manufacturing & a 20% share in the profits for the Chetna farmers

The processing of Piccalilly’s organic cotton is safe in the hands of our manufacturing partner (the same one’s who kindly pre-finance the Chetna farmers!) This forward thinking company gently process the cotton into fabric and manufacture the garments with great care. No formaldehyde, solvents, toxic chemicals, silicone based softeners or optical whiten are used ensuring the end result is free from toxic residues regularly found in garmenters manufacturing. As an SA 8000 certified factory good wages (not minimum wages) are paid and strictly no child labour. Free meals are provided daily, free health care to the workers and their families and all employee’s have the opportunity to progress and develop their roles within the company. But that’s not all! To enable the Chetna farmers to enjoy the bigger fruits of success in today’s growing market for organic and Fairtrade clothing we are delighted to tell you the farmers own a 20% share of our manufacturing company - now that’s what we call Fair Trade!"

Taken from the new Piccalilly spring catalogue 2010

Piccalilly Fairtrade and Organic Baby Clothing - shop here

We had the below email from one of our customers today about our Celtic Herbal Nappy Cream which we thought just had to be shared.

"Just wanted to let you know a very positive comment about this nappy cream. My family and I had a holiday to Austria recently and my 7 month old daughter caught a virus and experienced severe diarhoea which resulted in a very sore and blistered bottom. Whilst this nappy cream is great normally, it simply wasn't strong enough to help her deal with this problem. I had to take her to an emergency doctor in Austria whose first question was "what nappy cream are you currently using?" When I showed him the jar, he said:
"This is fantastic cream - don't ever stop using it - there's nothing better than this". He had to prescribe a strong medicated cream to use for a few days until the blisters had gone, and then strongly advised me to continue with your cream.

Thanks again, I Love it.

Maria"

This fantastic cream is made locally here in North Wales using only natural ingredients, free from parabens and sulphates.  You can see the full list of ingredients on the product page here

Firstly before I go raving about the benefits of Breastfeeding, I'll give you a little bit of background about myself.

ABOUT ME

My name is Nicola, We've been happily married for nearly 5 years. At the age of 28 we decided to try for our first baby. Unfortunately trying to conceive was a challenge for us. When we first started trying I had to get all my medication modified to 'pregnancy-safe' alternatives as I suffer from asthma, Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), allergic rhinitus (hayfever type allergies lasting all year round) I also have a mild cow's milk intolerance.

It took us a year to conceive; we found out the day before I was due to see a fertility specialist, to look into reasons why my periods were so erratic. During the 12 months of trying to conceive my period only arrived 6 times. We attended the appointment anyway which was a blessing in disguise as he diagnosed me with a thyroid condition which was affecting my health and would have affected the development of my baby.

MY CHOICE

Now you know a bit about me you'll probably understand my decisions and my determination. Coupled with the conditions I suffer with and the likelihood that my cows milk intolerance could pass to our baby; breastfeeding would be our best option.

My Pregnancy and Birth were a breeze in many ways, I totally astounded me how natural it all felt - my body was working with me instead of against me.

The most important thing I found I needed was the support network which I worked hard in building during my final trimester. I got myself involved in local breastfeeding support groups and discussed feeding with as many members of my family as I could. Unfortunately the ratio of breastfeeding to formula feeding is really low in my family.

I'm by no means writing off formula feeding - neither bottle or breast are without their problems.

It's a personal choice, for me Breast seemed best and the most natural way of feeding my baby. I'm one of the least organised people I know and the thought of waking to do a night feed and realising I'd got no sterilised bottles gave me nightmares before our baby was born.

I have found the whole breastfeeding experience fascinating. It really is amazing that your body can grow and nourish a baby, and even though it now bears the marks of pregnancy I've never been as proud of my body as I am now.

MAKING YOUR DECISION

If your considering breastfeeding or haven't made your mind up, here's a few things that helped me when starting out:

• Give it a go - It's easier to give breastfeeding a go than it is to change your mind later - even if it's not for you, I've spoke to many friends who regret not trying.
• Educate yourself - the more information you can get regarding growth spurts and known issues like blocked ducts. The easier it will be on you, your less likely to worry about what's normal or how to recognise problems and nip them in the bud before they get worse.
• Connect yourself - don't hide away,  problem shared is a problem halved, peer supported sessions can give you the respite you need when it's hard going.
• Bonding with your baby - I admittedly didn't get the 'wave' of love people rave about when meeting their baby for the first time; so breastfeeding has helped me build up a special bond with my baby.
• Pumping/Expressing - I started expressing at 10 weeks (though it's often recommended to start earlier than that) It allows me to have that most needed time out - even if it's just for the weekly shop.

Becoming a Mum is been one of the most rewarding and trying experiences I've ever had. I'm not going to say breastfeeding is easy - if it was we would all do it! It needs patience and determination (and sometimes a little stubbornness helps too) I've defied opinion and gained support from my family where they suspected I might fail. No-one ever said becoming a parent was going to be easy, we all make our own decisions - Just make sure you make the right one for you!

This year Fairtrade fortnight is here and the theme is The Big Swap  Everyone can help by swaping their ususal products to Fairtrade.  The Fairtrade Foundation want one million and one of us to make the swap!  You can register your swap on the Fairtrade Foundation's website

The 3 R's are very much raved about in the world of green living. But making our wasteful society a more sustainable place to live doesn't always rank highly in the general household; especially when we have our children running round but most of us try to do our bit, no matter how small.

We're not talking extremes here like the recently publicised family who threw one waste bin of rubbish away in a year, but if we all do a little between us we will make a big difference.

REDUCE

The 'Reduction' element is aimed at the amount of waste we throw away, in some cases careful choices at the supermarket can instantly reduce the amount of waste you produce.

For instance; ensuring you only buy what you need, instead of bowing to tempting 'BOGOF's' on fresh food leading to it going to waste. Even special offers on disposable nappies leads to issues - ever brought too many of one size? Also avoiding excessive packaging on processed foods or ensuring as much of the packaging as possible is recyclable, Jars are a good example of recyclable packaging.

Fortnightly waste collections carried out by most councils in the UK and possible progression to 'weigh & pay' waste collections, raises the question to the increasing costs of waste, one of the largest preventable impacts on our landfill sites are 'Nappies'!

Millions make their way to landfill everyday, should the weigh and pay schemes come in, disposable nappies prove a costly convenience for the average household.

Reusable or washable cloth nappies would provide the most 'viable' option for most households, although it may be argued that cloth creates as much of a carbon footprint as disposables when washing /drying is taken into account. Water and electricity are resources which are already available, cloth nappies are capable of  clothing many bottoms and don't have an immediate impact on landfill.

REUSE

Reusing anything is better than creating waste from it. Cloth nappies, washable baby wipes are all fab examples of regular reuse. However other things which can be reused such as carrier bags/shopping bags, buying second hand baby clothes & toys instead of buying new clothes all the time. Give yourself a maximum number of outfits (ie 1 dozen per size - as you wash frequently anyway).

There is also a good second hand market for re-usable/cloth nappies which are a good way of trying a variety of makes without the expense of buying new. An added benefit of buying 'preloved' nappies is that the pre-washing has already been done -  saving you the energy, water and resources.

Bottles &  jars can be re-used to store alternative items and newspapers can also be re-used crafts and animal bedding among other things. Even better if you can get a local milkman, bottles are washed and re-used without having to go through energy intensive recycling processes.

RECYCLE

Bottles, jars, cans, cardboard and newspapers are the things we tend to think of when considering items that you can recycle. In some cases avoiding excessively packaged alternatives could be the preferred option - supermarkets still put tonnes of un-neccessary packaging on their products.

A recent trend as led to the emergence of 'Upcycling'  for instance taking an item and converting its use to something else. eg old jumpers converted to nappy covers, or scrap material to make a shopping bag or quilt, broken plant pots or plates into trendy mosaics. The only limit is your imagination.

There are tonnes of ideas on the internet for upcycling, why not give it a try!

We've heard that some people are feeling a bit left out because of the bumGenius Zinnia BOGOF offer... So we've decided to give away a FREE moonbeam (blue) bumGenius nappy (choice of V3 or organic) every day from Thursday 11th Feb  to Monday 15th Feb  So we're giving away 5 nappies in total - One a day for the next 5 days!.

We hope this will make you feel a little bit better...   To be in with a chance to win a Free blue bumGenius valentines  nappy please leave a comment on this post telling us why you love bumGenius nappies or why you would like to try one.  The winners name will be announced every day.

Happy Valentine's

Thursday's winner is Sarah (comment 12) congratulations!

Friday's winner is Hannah (comment 18) congratulations!

Saturday's winner is Jenny (comment 26) congratulations!

Sunday's winner is Leanne (comment 15) congratulations!

Monday's winner is Emma (comment 47) congratulations!

If you LOVE pink, and if you LOVE bumGenius, you'll LOVE this fantastic Valentines offer!  When you purchase the bumGenius V3 nappy or  bumGenius organic nappy in Zinnia from Babi Pur - we will double your order for free!

This order is available online and in our shop!  Offer ends midnight 14th Feb 2010   Happy Valentines!

CONGRATULATIONS  to Nuala (comment No. 68)  who is the lucky winner of our Valentines Giveaway! More competitions coming soon.....................

Love is in the air.... aaaaah!  It will be Valentine’s Day on Sunday.  If you don't get what you wished for... don't fear!  A box of Yummy Fairtrade Chocolates and a bumGenius V3 test kit could be on it's way to you next week courtesy of Babi Pur.. We're wonderfully romantic, cloth nappy loving & chocolate mad!

The bumGenius V3 test kit contains -

• 2 x one size nappies - complete with a newborn insert/booster in addition to the regular insert (the newborn insert is designed to be less bulky on newborns  and can also be used as an extra booster for toddlers)
• 1 x roll of biodegradable liners
• 1 x handy wet bag

To enter all you need to do is answer the following question by commenting  on this post..."Which washable nappy is your favourite?"

BONUS ENTRIES: For bonus entries please leave a separate comment for each of the following you have done :

• BECOME A FAN   of BabiPur on Facebook
• FOLLOW   BabiPur on Twitter
• COMMENT   leave a comment on any posts on this blog
• REVIEW  any  product on our website
• RETWEET this post

All entries need to be with us before 12.01am on Tuesday 16th Feb 2010

Good Luck!