An update from Chelle, mum to Fizz who together have been testing lots of nappies and other stuff from Babi Pur.  When we first met Chelle, she was new to cloth nappies and kindly published her cloth nappy 'diary' on the Babi Pur blog.

Baby Yoga & Comfy wear

Recently we've tried to get Fizz more loungey style clothes so that on our sunday afternoons we can cuddle on the sofa, not quite in pj's but super comfortable.

The yoga pants by Piccalilly are fantastic! Organic cotton is great against Fizz's eczema prone skin and at the moment these pants are quite a bargain at £7 each.I am always surprised after each and every wash that they continue to be really soft, just what we need against delicate skin. Oh and plenty of room for that cloth bum!

We're looking forward to attending baby jam (a local dance class) now Fizz is well under way with her walking and these pants are perfect for busting some grooves.

Organic products

As I have probably mentioned before we love organic products. From the flip organic inserts to natural bath products to the organic veggie and fruit box delivered to our front door.

As Fizz has grown so have we. Our knowledge has expanded so much on what we use on our bodies to what we put in our mouths. Admittedly we were not so clued up before Fizz's arrival, well apart from organic cider

So when should you start thinking about what to use? Well why not try now. Start by seeking out a local veggie box scheme. If you've got a bump coming along then why not think about alternatives like organic cotton nighties or bath products to sooth you as a treat. Before baby arrives is a great time to be learning about going organic!

I've been missing from the blog for a few months but have come back really inspired by organic and natural products. I want to recommend products that have worked really well for both me and Fizz, that could work well for you and that overall are best for mum and baby whilst great for the environment and purse too!

Can you hear the sea gulls?

Inspired by British seaside scenes the new Piccalilly baby clothes range is great fun and as always made from their lovely organic & Fairtrade certified cotton.  Fun, cute and stylish the "Fish n' Ships" rompers, hats and blankets are just gorgeous.  We especially like the sun hats with their adorable little under the chin ties.  The towelling stripe playsuits look just like deck chair stripes and they are soooo soft you'll be looking for any excuse to dress your little one in them and give the a snuggly cuddle.

As well as funky and stylish designs what makes Piccalilly extra special is the cotton they use.

"Piccalilly’s organic cotton supply chain tells agreat tale - by caring for the people along the way we know we are creating clothes youcan trust are being ethically produced to the highest standards."

Piccalilly baby clothes carry the same Fairtrade mark you see on your coffee and bananas which guarantees that the cotton farmers get a better deal.  Piccalilly cotton is also certified organic which is better for the environment, better for the farmers and better for your babies skin, completely chemical free, oh and did we mention how silky soft it is!

At Babi Pur we just love Piccalilly and we stock a wide range of their fabulous organic baby clothes.  Fairtrade fortnight 2011 runs from 28th February to 13th March so if you want your baby to show their support choose Piccalilly!  Browse the Piccalilly section here

Green Baby autumn and winter clothing for babies and children has arrived at Babi Pur.   Fabulous circus inspired designs with stars, stripes, trees, elephants, crazy birds, snails and even lions!  We love the bright colours and funky animals, they're just so playful and fun.  Sizes start from 0 months in playsuits and baby clothes and go right up to 6 years in pyjamas trousers tops coats and more!

But Green Baby clothes don't just look fabulous . . .  they are fabulous . . .  they're fabulous because all the cotton used is organic (GOTS certified) and all the clothes are made on fair trade projects in India.  Cotton farmers, pattern cutters, machinists, everyone gets a fair wage and good working conditions that we take for granted here in the UK.

And what's so good about organic cotton?  Well Green Baby organic baby clothes are super soft because the fibres don't get damaged by chemical pesticides.  Organic cotton is better for babies skin and eczema friendly because it isn't made up of any chemicals. Organic cotton is better for the cotton farmers because they don't get exposed to harmful chemicals that effect their health.   Organic cotton is better for the environment too, because cotton is a non food product it has become most sprayed crop in the world, the pesticides get washed into streams and rivers effecting the wildlife and water quality.

Here's a few of our Green Baby favourites and a review from Nichola who tried out the Green Baby organic sleeping bags

From the top, funky bird organic Pyjamas for children (2-6 years) and there's more Pyjamas to choose from too, great Christmas or birthday presents!  Dress with mock sleeves and stripy matching leggings (6 months to 6 years), lovely thick cotton and great colours.  Mushroom romper (0-18 months), we love Green Baby funky creatures, this cheeky little bird looks very cute sitting on the big mushroom.  Green Starry Romper (0-24 months) bright and fun star print looks great and there's a matching hat, bib and blanket available if you're looking for a nice gift.

Organic cotton padded 2.5 tog sleeping bag.  Available in two sizes and two colours, here's what Nicola had to say about hers.

We got a new 2.5 tog sleeping bag as the weather is getting colder and our little boy refuses to keep a cover over him. The sleeping bag is a natural colour with the stars printed on and inside is a lush soft terry. The outside is quilted too making it really padded. The zip starts from the top and goes down, which pleases me as he then can't chew on the zipper. He's had a few nights in it now and slept soundly through them all - and hopefully many more to come!

So pop over to the Green Baby section at Babi Pur to pick up some super duper organic clothing for your little girls and boys this winter.

Pictures supplied by Green Baby Ltd

bumGenius Organic All-in-One

Also known as the bumGenuis elemental All-in-One. The BumGenius organic nappies have to be the easiest washable nappy around, no stuffing, no poppering and all in one piece. You simply put the nappy on with a liner, wash, dry and use it again.
It's a One-size nappy so you only buy them once fitting from 7-35lbs, three rows of poppers on the front ensure a sturdy and comfortable fit from birth to potty. The stretchy tabs and poppers make for a snug fit around the waist to stop leaks and keep baby happy.

The Video demonstration below will show you how to adjust the nappy through the various rises.

Caring for your bumGenius Organic AIO

The organic cotton in the bumGenuis Organic nappy requires at least 5+ prewashes before they reach a decent level of absorbency. This can easily be achieved by using the nappy for 'short wears' then your not repeatedly washing clean nappies.

Dry pail the nappy after use and wash between 40-60 with 1/4 of the normal dosage of detergent. Do not use fabric softener it will affect the nappies absorbency.

This nappy can be tumble dried on low, or line dried.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Really absorbent
Great fit
Easy to use

Cons

Can take a while before full absorbency is reached
Limited to colours - No Prints
Can take a while to dry
Only available in popper fastenings

Buy bumGenius Organic AIO Here

Please feel free to add your own comments, reviews & experiences with the bumGenuis Organic All-in-one.

The bumGenius Flip is a 'One-Size' 'Hybrid' nappy system.

As a 'one' sized system the nappy wraps are adjustable as your baby grows. The hybrid element of the system is the variety of different insert options that can be used.

The Demonstration videos have been split into four; allowing you to quickly access the part that interests you.

The Flip Wrap

The Flip wrap can be used with flip inserts or as a wrap for a fitted nappy. It is adjustable it fit babies from birth through to potty training. The popper fastening makes for a hard wearing a long lasting cover, velcro has a lifespan and starts to loose strength especially with repeated washing and wearing that you get with washable nappies. There are plenty of stretchy elasticated bits around the leg gusset and the back for a nice trim and tidy fit on your baby. The idea is you re-use the outer wrap and replace the inserts after each use. You will need to change the wrap once or twice each day more if the wrap gets soiled.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Birth to potty or One size Wrap so you don't need to buy different sizes
Can be used for Fitteds & Prefolds

Cons

Fit might not be so good on smaller babies
Come in popper fastening only

The Organic Insert

The Organic insert is a natural, high absorbency, 100% Oeko-Tex certified natural organic cotton. It is a tri-fold insert which can be left unfolded to enable faster drying. The large square pad of organic cotton fabric measuring roughly 38cm (15 in) square (expect shrinkage when washing). The material has two stitched lines running in two directions dividing the nappy into 9 squares, you fold the fabric in thirds along these lines to make to make a rectangle and place the fabric inside the flip cover. This is a great choice for people wanting natural fibres next to their babies skin while still being able to use the versatility of the flip nappy.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Super Absorbent
Organic & Natural fibres

Cons

Requires several pre-washes to develop absorbency
Can look bulky
Can take a while to dry

The Stay Dry Insert

The Stay dry insert is a 'No Fuss', simple soaker pad ideal for the changing bag, super absorbent and quick drying! The stay dry layer on the top of the insert locks wetness away from your babies skin. There are two stitched lines at one end where you fold the material to fit different size babies, this gives you 3 size options and words are stitched into the material, small, medium and large. . .simple really. The flip stay dry insert is a popular choice for normal daytime use.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Easy to use
Slim fitting
Stay dry ability keeps moisture from babies skin
Quick drying

Cons

Not as absorbent

The Disposable Insert

The convenience factor of being able to use an Eco-disposable soaker pad means if your away or out for the day you can still use your flips and dispose of the pad after use.

This is the only disposable nappy to achieve Oeko-Tex certification which means it has been independently tested for harmful substances and has been found to pose no risk to health whatsoever. The flip disposable insert is incredibly soft, it doesn't feel like a disposable nappy at all and that's probably down to the bamboo viscose outer material.

The flip disposable can be composted or put with your green garden to be recycled, check with your council recycling department. The flip disposable insert is made from the following natural materials; 5g of non-woven bamboo viscose, 14-15g of wood pulp (this is the absorbent part), 3g of SAP and 1g of starch based glue. All this is natural material that biodegrades but from what we've heard the european certification is likely to state the disposable insert is up to 97% biodegradable due to the starch based glue. Still the best disposable nappy option by a million miles on our opinion.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Fab for holidays & days out
Provide convenience

Cons

Doesn't prevent landfill
Still small amount of chemicals against baby's skin

Washing the Flip

When buying any nappy we always recommend washing at least once before using. The Organic Insert is a natural material and benefits from several pre-washes before it reaches optimum absorbency. So a wash and limited time wear will allow you to build up several washes before using for and extended period (ie overnight), doing a short wear also means you are not repeatedly washing clean nappies.

The Flip wrap and Inserts (with the exception of the disposable insert) can be stored in a dry pail until ready for washing. The max. recommended wash temperature is 60. The Wrap should be air dried but the inserts can be tumble dried on low.

Buy bumGenius Nappies Here

Please feel free to add your own comments, reviews & experiences with the Flip nappy system.

Little Green Radicals baby and children's clothing is all about fun, colour and slogans.  'I recycle my tantrums' and 'give peas a change' are just two of many popular catchphrases printed on T-shirts, playsuits, bibs and hoodies (coming soon).  Everything is exclusively made with Fairtrade certified cotton ensuring the farmers right at the bottom of the chain receive a fair deal for their crop and an extra premium to use on projects to help their local communities.  Not only this but everything is also made from organic cotton. . .

Growing organic cotton is very different from growing conventional cotton. All the cotton we use is hand-picked and organic. This ensures the farmers don’t have to handle dangerous chemicals and our clothing is kinder on your skin. The  cotton is certified organic to either Skal or Demeter standards. Since May 2006 all our prints have been produced using the most ecological water based inks available.

The company 'Hug' has recently been acquired by a giant of the ethical industry 'ethical superstore'. So with all these fantastic ethics, clothes and new financial backing we expect great things from 'Little Green Radicals' .  Look out for the latest baby and toddler range at Babi Pur

If you’re looking for a dress that looks great on babies and toddlers, is bright, colourful as well as being ethically produced take a look at this gorgeous little number by Piccalilly in sizes 6 months to 2 years

This organic cotton dress is made from Fairtrade certified cotton and comes in three bright colours...  ‘Raspberry’ ‘Blackcurrant’ and ‘Brick Red’ I bought the ‘Blackcurrant’ and ‘Brick Red’ for my little girl Isabelle nearly a year ago.  She’s continued to wear them even though she’s outgrown the 12-18 size!  It looks great as a top when outgrown and the best thing about this dress is that it still looks like new after months of wear and washing. 

Buy this dress here -  ‘Raspberry’ ‘Blackcurrant’ ‘Brick  Red’