We're really excited to be getting stock of the new Caboo Carrier by Close Parent very soon.  We were lucky enough to be sent a sample for testing and our lovely tester 'Josie' is putting it through it's paces with her gorgeous new baby 'Elizabeth'

Josie will be posting her review on here very soon and she will also be including some lovely pictures of herself carrying Elizabeth in the sling.  I've had the pleasure of seeing the pictures last night and really can't wait to show them off!

The Close Caboo Carrier is an updated version of the Close Parent Baby Carrier which gets great reviews for it's ease of use and comfort.  It's made from 100% organic cotton and  is available in 5 new contemporary colours.  The dyes used contain no harmful chemicals and are certified to Oeko tex standard so you can feel confident about having the material next to your baby's skin.

• Easy to use - no need for assistance
• Weight - 5lb baby to 32lb toddler
• Fits women size 8 - 20 & men up to 6ft 4in
• 5 Carrying positions including outward facing for older babies
• baby's head supported when sleeping
• Comfortable to wear - will not cause back problems

Watch this space for Josie's review.. coming soon!  Why not follow Babi Pur on Facebook & Twitter for all the latest news and offers

Josie's review of the Caboo carrier has now been posted, read it here

Violet's magic washing powder by Baby Scents  is  ideal for washing all of your family's clothing especially if you have sensitive skin or allergies. It's hypo-allergenic and contains unique plant and mineral ingredients.  Not only is it biodegradable and eco friendly, it's also very effective at getting your washing clean.

The first thing we noticed about this washing powder was how small the tubs are, it's hard to believe that you can get 20 washes from the smaller tub (500g) and 40 washes from the larger tub (1kg)  this is because the washing powder is very concentrated and doesn't contain any of the fillers you'd normally have in lots of commercial washing powders.. it's also worth mentioning that residues from fillers stay on your clothes and can contain chemicals which are deemed to be irritants.  Baby Scents have included a small scoop inside the tubs, and one scoop is all you need for an average sized load of washing.

If you use cloth nappies you'll love Violet's Magic Washing powder!   No more 'strip washing' due product build up caused by fillers  and no need to worry about chemical residues next to baby's precious and sensitive skin.  You could add a scoop of Violet's Laundry "bugs at bay"  Sanitiser to your nappy wash, this means you don't need to wash your nappies at high temperatures.  The laundry sanitiser can also be used with eco-balls.

Violet's magic washing powder contains no phosphates, no sodium laureth sulfate (SLS)  no synthetic colours & fragrance, and no petrochemicals! It's made in the UK, tested by Teesside University and Vegan society certified.  It's also recommended by Prima Baby as one of the best laundry detergents for babies!

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!

When it has been said that there has been an increase in baby eczema it means that more mums (and dads) are becoming more aware of what they place on babies skin from the outset.

With regular baby products/supermarket brands having so many chemical elements to their products how do we really know what to do and what to buy? Not everyone has the time to read up on what could or could not be harming their babies skin.

I have to admit if Fizz has had a problem with her skin I have spoken to Jolene from Babi Pur about it. Her knowledge and willingness to talk through is amazing and very patient.

On the occasion before last two products were recommended to me and we have found that they worked a treat on Fizz' delicate skin as well as her cradle cap.

Baby Boo Lavender Shampoo not only smells gorgeous but has really helped us in the fight against cradle cap and also bedtime drowsiness. It is not over powering with it's smell and is really a perfect one for money saving. At £4.99 a little goes a very long way with this bottle!

Baby Boo Bubbly Cleanser (also £4.99) came into our home at a time when Fizz was ready to be interested in washing herself (or rather her tummy and mine) at bathtime. Again it has a really lovely floaty chamomile scent and has been perfect against Fizz's milky white sensitive skin. I have to say that I have used this a bit too as I love the smell and again it is great value for money as it does really last well.

We've used a lot of products recently and to be honest most have some kind of affect on Fizz about two weeks into using. These ones however are brilliant...I'll be placing another order again soon!

FREE Organic Hemp Seed Oil Sun block when you spend £50 & Free postage too!

Did you know that everything we put on our skin is absorbed?   We love Yaoh's range of organic sun protection because it contains only the most effective and least damaging chemical sunblocks and leaves out the nasty parabens, harmful substances and chemical additives you'd usually find in sun cream.

Hemp seed oil is very nourishing for the skin.   It contains Omega 3 and 6, which gives all sorts of benefits as it's absorbed into the skin.  This Sunblock which is available in factor 15 or factor 30 is suitable for babies, children and adults.

To claim your free sun block & free shipping (in UK) all you need to do is spend £50 or more and enter the code FREESUN at checkout!

Buy Organic Sunblock factor 15 or Organic Sunblock factor 30 online at Babi Pur!

Ever since I read about re-usable sanitary products I've wanted to try out a Mooncup. For those who don't know what a Mooncup is I will elaborate. The Mooncup is a flexible, silicone cup which is worn internally during a woman's period.

If that's too much for you to handle I'd recommend that you stop reading now!

For the rest of you ladies this review intends to give clear account of my first encounters with a Mooncup. I'm not trying to be graphic, but I feel that if your interested in using a Mooncup you will appreciate my honesty in utilising this fab contraption!

Getting the Right Cup

Firstly the cup comes in two sizes, one that is designed for women under 30 who have not given Birth or had a C-Section (size B) or for Women over 30 whether or not they've given birth, or under 30's who had a vaginal birth (size A). I use the size A cup. Which going by the guidelines must be the larger of the two cups.

First Impressions

When my Mooncup arrived, I have to say I was a little surprised at it's size. To give you an idea of the size the cup including the stem is about as long as my index finger, and the widest part of the cup (rim) has the circumference roughly the size of the circle made by touching my thumb and index finger tips together.

Before using the Mooncup it needs to be sterilised I did this in my microwave steriliser but other methods include boiling in a pan of water for 5-6 mins or using a sterlising tablet in cold water.

The Stem may initially appear to be quiet long; but it is designed to be trimmed down once you've determined how short to trim it. You won't know how short to do it until you've inserted the cup.

How to insert/remove the Mooncup

Obviously, silicone is flexible. It can take some practice to get it right but once you've mastered it; you won't even feel it.

You take the cup, squeeze the cup so opposite sides touch, then fold down the middle. It looks similar to a smiley face!
I found the easiest way to insert the Mooncup was to put the outside edge of the fold towards my back and the creases of the fold towards my front. The cup should then slide inside without any fuss. Once you let go of the fold the Mooncup will open up and create a seal. You should check that the Mooncup feels inflated by gently pushing the edges.

To remove the cup, pinch the sides of the cup (you will hear the seal release) and gently remove. It can take a little practice. Expect your hands to get a little messy the first few times you remove the cup.

My First Cycle

I can honestly say, after my first day or so I'd mastered the folding. Each time I went to the toilet I emptied the cup into the loo, rinsed in warm water in the sink and re-inserted the cup. No dirty pads to carry round!!
I did end up in a public toilet on one occasion, for that time only I emptied and re-inserted the cup without washing. I also found it useful to have a small pack of baby wipes on me to wipe my hands afterwards; this isn't an issue at work/home where you generally have easy access to a washbasin.

The first night I wasn't brave enough to go without a cloth pad as a back up, but once I'd realised that the cup was working fine; I relaxed for the following nights. The Mooncup was very full in the morning and if you have particularly heavy periods I'd seriously consider using a pad as well.

Having now completed my first cycle using the Mooncup, It's now sterilised and packaged in its own little bag for next time.

The Verdict

Once I'd got over the initial stages of inserting the Mooncup and dealing with the contents once the cup was removed, I can honestly say I'm converted!

Things that took a little getting used to:

• Inserting the cup - it can be fiddly! but I can now do it all with one hand!
• Accepting that there will be some mess involved!

Things I loved about the Mooncup:

• You only need ONE! Which I consider to be very well priced compared to a lifetimes worth of disposable pads/tampons.
• It will last many years (though you should replace it if it gets damaged)
• I didn't have to remember to pack extra pads/tampons etc into my bag
• I didn't have to worry about carrying dirty pads around
• I love that I won't need to buy anymore disposable sanitary pads or tampons - which means I won't be paying VAT on them! (yes ladies they are VATable)
• It was comfortable to wear despite being a little apprehensive about it's size
• I felt so free without a pad I kept forgetting I was on my period.

Other people who use them have said they get less cramps etc when using a Mooncup but until I've used if for a few cycles I won't vouch for that claim; I also know a Mooncup user who has used the same cup for 10 years and only needed to change it because she had a child!

There you go, My first encounter with a Mooncup, I hope you've found it interesting reading and well done for getting this far!

If your interested in trying the Mooncup as well it can be purchased here.

Please do share your experiences of using the Mooncup as well! I think it's a fab product that is seriously under-used!!

Ok, where to begin.......Since getting pregnant with Quentin and buying Cloth nappies for him I sprawled into the world of alternative (reusable) sanitary products. If he can have a nice soft bottom why can't I!

The BIGGER Picture

Now a baby will go through over 5,000 disposable nappies before they're potty trained, so imagine how many disposable sanitary products a women will throw away during her lifetime! over 10,000!!! The environmental impact must be immense!!!

What are the Alternatives?

Cloth Sanitary Protection or Pads (aka CSP)

Unlike the disposable variety, cloth pads are designed to be reused for many years. The traditional style pads that required belts are no longer the norm, but have been replaced with poppered wings that attach the pad to your underwear. They're uber comfy and come in many shapes, styles and materials. It's useful to purchase enough pads to take you through your period then wash them together ready for the next time you need them.
Here at Babi Pur we stock two varieties of Imse Vimse Pads - a pack of three that comes in 3 levels of absorbancy or a 11 pad pocket pack which allows you to boost pads with extra layers.
For Further Info see here

Menstrual Cups

Like tampons, the menstrual cup is worn internally. However the big difference is that the cup doesn't absorb; it collects. For many women they will probably stop reading here! But it kind of makes sense. Instead of disposing of tampons down the loo; you empty the cup instead. There's no mess going into the washing machine which does concern some people, and the cup just gets washed in the sink (like you would washing your hands after going to the loo). At the end of your period you sterilise the cup; and store it in the little bag provided for the next time its required. You only require one Mooncup as it iis reinsed and re-used.
For Further Info see here

Making the Switch

My first switch was to cloth pads, these helped me through the last part of my pregnancy to help with those laughter leaks that often occur when baby is pushing down on your bladder. Unfortunately I wasn't brave enough to use them after birth but the uncomfortable experience of brick sized disposable pads for 6 weeks meant I never wanted to use them again!!

Now after 13 months my cycles are returning properly and having previously been an avid tampon user I gazed towards the mooncup as an alternative. Watch this space for feedback on my first cycle using a mooncup......

When I saw a zip lock wet bag featured on Babi Pur I just had to see how different they were from the tote bags and ordered two.

Slightly more expensive I was excited to see the difference they could make to our dirty nappy storage and I was impressed.

When they arrived the outer material was really soft, the inner waterproof. I ordered the tiger and cow print, both fun and eye catching.

These wet bags are great. The zip locked means the smell is kept in and easy to open and close. They are easy to wash and stay soft on the outside. They fold up well for transport in a change bag or buggy basket.

I am really impressed and it is worth the few extra £££'S to have something that looks great but also excels in the practical neccessities too.

Little Hathi,  UK distributors of the Pebble Toys and gifts are a  friendly family company based in Wales.  Little Hathi don’t think you should have to choose between beautiful products and fair trade values. They believe you can have both, and they're committed to sourcing ethical and fair trade toys that are irresistibly cute and cuddly.

Every member of the Pebble family is lovingly hand sewn or crocheted in Bangladesh. The artisans are paid a fair wage and the employment which has been created for them is local, flexible and safe.

Little Hathi have been working closely with the Pebble brand since it was launched.  They’re very proud to be associated with this pioneering business which we believe will make a difference to so many lives in rural Bangladesh.

Little Hathi are also thrilled that there are plans in the near future to produce every item in the Pebble range with official FLO (Fairtrade Labelling Organisations) labels, which is currently unavailable for this kind of product. The FLO label is instantly recognisable to shoppers; it’s the one that’s used on everyday products like bananas, coffee and chocolate. By introducing new processes, the Pebble brand is hoping to lead the way for the handicraft and toy sector to be FLO labelled.

Come and meet some of the Pebble family.

“My name’s Copyn and I love my stripes. I’m always smiling and if you shake me gently you can hear me rattle.

I’m made of 100% washable cotton, and my friends and I are all fair-trade toys. This means that the ladies who made me will be paid an honest wage and have good working conditions. Good jobs help them to look after their families.”

“Hello, I’m Gwdi and I’m a podgy little baby owl. My wings haven’t grown much yet, so I can’t fly away, but I know you’ll love my big blue eyes.

I’ve got a rattle inside, so I can make lots of noise, and if I get messy I love going for a spin in the washing machine.”

As well as adorable toys and rattles, Pebble make cute cotton booties, knitted tea sets and crochet make believe cakes that are almost sweet enough to eat. The toys are unique, quirky and so cute, that our team of young testers for Little Hathi have already fallen in love with them.

Fizz has now started nursery and I had been looking for something a bit different to send as a comforter with her.

Nursery only allows baby to take one comforter and no toys and I wanted Fizz to have something a little bit different to take.

I phoned Babi Pur to speak to Jolene and got another of the lovely Babi Pur staff. I talked about the two items I had seen and after a discussion and advice on colours I picked the yellow rabbit.

The rabbit is a lovely yellow/pumpkin colour and it's long ears are perfect for tying to a bag/pushchair so it won't get lost.

It has been a hit! Rather than going to nursery it has stayed in Fizz's cot while we have been implementing a sleep training technique and hasn't left her side during naps and sleepy time.

So now I am on the hunt again to find another equally funny comforter for nursery! Or maybe I should just buy rabbit in it's alternative colour?