A Few Miscellaneous Tips

Here are a few thoughts that haven't fitted into any other posts.  Maybe something useful for you?

• Planning ahead is important.  Before you travel - particularly if you are staying in a private residence or holiday rental, without a front desk - research your local area.  Find out where the nearest playgrounds are, where the local supermarket is, the location of the closest 24-hour or late-night chemist, the details for an English-speaking doctor or ER details of the closest hospital (ideally with a paediatric department).
• Consider Brolly Sheets.  These are waterproof, highly absorbent pads which tuck in over the top of a made bed.  Even if your toddler is night toilet trained (as our girl has been, for many months), the combination of new places, new beds and upside down body clock / jetlag may lead to accidents.  Hotel beds are unlikely to have a mattress protector and / or spare linen, so tucking a Brolly Sheet over the sheets is a good idea.
• When using a porta cot (we love the Phil&Teds ultra light one), bring along a spare set of sheets and mattress protector.  It's a good idea to bring along the sheets straight off your child's cot at home, so they have a familiar smell.  Zach is mostly in bed with us, but I put him in the cot for naps and the start of the night, when I'm not in bed with him, or else he tries to crawl off the bed if he wakes!  So we are bringing a porta cot.
• You can download some fabulous white noise apps for your iPhone.  I have a free one called Relax Melodies, which allows me to create a blend of river and wind noises (or multiple other combinations), which helps drown out background noises in strange places (or when we have dinner guests at home, as our bedroom is off the main living area!)
• We use MCN (modern cloth nappies) at home.  I love them because they are incredibly comfortable for Zach, cute, and environmentally friendly.  The only downside to travelling with MCNs are a) the drying time, b) you need to have easy access to a washing machine.  If you use a fast-drying nappy like a Pikapu, you can easily get away with only bringing four or so along!  Use the four nappies during the day, then put a disposable on for night time, washing the day's nappies then hanging them out to dry overnight.  Just make sure you have some disposables as backup in case.  The Aldi disposable nappies are quite good, made in Germany, and are available all over the world.  The other advantage of using MCN on holidays, if in hot weather, is that you can just pair the nappy with a t-shirt, no need for pants!
• I am bringing along a jar of almond butter.  Spread onto a sandwich with some wholegrain bread, I have a simple meal for Zach, containing combined complete protein, good fats and carbohydrates, without sugar or salt.  Add a piece of fruit and you're set!
• Bringing along a room thermometer can be useful, particularly if you have a small baby and use baby sleeping bags such as Grobags.
• I like to travel with small Australian gifts for any children you meet along the way.  Stickers, paperback books, badges.  It's a nice way to interact with new friends at parks, planes or cafes.
• When considering room layout, if at all possible, arrange a seperate bedroom for any children used to sleeping on their own.  If your children are used to their own quiet bedroom, trying to get them to sleep on a rollout bed at the foot of your bed, in a single hotel room will likely be a nightmare ending in a lack of sleep for everyone.  I'm not a massive fan of 'adjoining' hotel rooms - that is, two independent hotel rooms with an interconnecting door - with small children, as they feel too far away for me to relax.  In addition, you may find that a baby monitor reception will not carry between adjoining hotel rooms.  My ideal layout is a two or more bedroom apartment or suite.  In KL, we have a serviced apartment with two bedrooms, in Netherlands we are staying in a little farm cottage with two bedrooms, and in both Aix-en-Provence and Paris, we are staying in private two-bedroom apartments.  Tabitha gets her own room, and Zachary is in with us, just like at home.  When we travelled to the US with Tabitha, 10/11 months old, we managed to get away with mostly booking large hotel suites, with separate living areas, and putting her porta cot in the living area while we retreated to the bedroom.  Since about 6 months of age, Tabitha has been a funny little thing, preferring to sleep without any company or distractions.  Zachary, on the other hand, sleeps best with his face firmly nestled into my chest!
• Consider all the options and factors when booking flights.  Going for the cheapest option may be a false economy if the flight is so traumatic that the family takes days to recover.  Consider nap and sleep times, meal times, early wakeups, stopovers vs direct flights, stopover options in terms of airport facilities and entertainment.  Compare airlines in terms of seat width and pitch, opportunity to select seat allocation, reputation of airlines when dealing with children and availability of airline lounges if applicable.
• I hesitate to even say this, for fear of sounding incredibly out of touch, but if it is at all possible (points, savings in other areas of the trip etc), consider business class travel.  Paradoxically, I never found it to be that important when travelling alone (a good book and a cosy blanket and I am happy anywhere), but with children, there are many factors which make it incredibly alluring.  Cleaner bathrooms with shorter queues (I've seen small children have accidents while waiting in line on flights), far higher staff-to-passenger ratios meaning better service (for extra water, hot drinks, an additional blanket etc), priority checkins and baggage claim (less time at the airport and less standing around), lounge access at airports (somewhere quiet to let the children nap, lots of snacks, even kid play areas at some lounges), and, most importantly to us, flat beds.  Tabitha doesn't sleep in her pram or car - she only sleeps in her bed.  I've been on a night flight with her once, 9pm - midnight (long story, we were delayed) and I've never seen her loose control like that - delirious, falling over, screaming, sobbing, nearly falling asleep then flailing around.  I will do anything to avoid her getting into that state again - it was heartbreaking.  Having a fairly quiet business class cabin, with a flat bed for her, will hopefully assist in getting her to sleep.  Also, for myself and Zachary, we can curl up together, feeding him while we lay down, and sleep happily together, just like we do at home.
• While on your trip, try to avoid eating all meals out - it's exhausting for everyone if children are expected to sit quietly at a restaurant three times a day.  Find a deli or nice supermarket, stock up on bread, cheeses, cold meats, fruits and salad, and go have a picnic somewhere (even in your rooms, if you are desperate).  Some of our nicest meals while travelling have been 'picnic style', where we could all relax and enjoy ourselves.  Also, try pubs and even ghastly chain family restaurants (Denny's, I'm talking to you!) once in a while - they will have lots of kids' activities or play equipment, and probably other children for yours to watch or chat to as well.  While I roll my eyes about Denny's, I should explain that we had a really lovely meal there en route from NYC to Lancaster County, PA, when Tabitha was 11 months old.  The food was average, the menu fun in its hilarity ('the food pyramid of bacon' was topped with a bacon sundae in the 'eat sometimes' category).  What really set it apart, however, was the most energetic and enthusiastic male waiter we had - he had two small children himself, and absolutely doted over Tabitha, even giving her his plastic bracelet (she had been pointing at it) 'don't worry, m'am, I've cleaned it up real good with soap and hot water for her first!'.  We were so touched by his service and care that we left him a $100 tip, and the meal still holds wonderful memories for us.  So try a restaurant that might not be rated in the guidebooks - you never know!
• Try to avoid overcrowding your days.  One scheduled activity is plenty.  We found a good rhythm on holidays in the past, which worked for our family:  Wake up, get out of the house for breakfast, fresh air and some physical activity (a local playground, a garden or just a walk around the neighbourhood).  Home for a good morning nap.  Out for the rest of the day, including lunch, an activity in the afternoon (second nap in the pram or carrier), early dinner, then home in time for bed.  Having a fairly predictable routine worked well for everyone, and made planning the trip straightforward.
• Mix in a few child-focussed activities where possible.  A children's museum or gallery, a petting zoo, a ride in a horse-and-cart, lunch at a fun place, a boat ride.  These sort of activities are infinitely more fun for small people than hours at an enormous gallery, or an afternoon spent shopping.  A mixture of all types of activities should keep everyone happy!
• Put away the camera.  Of course we love photos from our trips - we take plenty, and they are treasured.  But I try not to take the camera everywhere, and when I use it, to take just a few quick photos rather than trying to capture every moment.  Live the trip, don't document it.  Don't spend the trip on a smart phone.  For overseas travel, it's often easier to just use a basic call-and-text sort of phone with a local SIM.  Even The Daddy, who is constantly on his for work at home, and does need to bring it with him, leaves it switched off for most of the day, turning it on and spending a set amount of time each day attending to business matters.

What other travel tips for children do you have?  I will add to the list if I, or you, think of any more useful ones...

Accidental Low-Allergy Cooking: Banana Pancakes and Two Eggless Biscuits

Pancakes that are outrageously simple and also nutritious, dairy- and gluten-free?  These are a breakfast staple in our household, for The Daddy and I as well as the children.

For these Banana Pancakes, per person (approximately three small pancakes), mash a large, ripe banana and beat in one egg.  Add a tablespoon of buckwheat flour, mix to combine.

We usually also add a scant teaspoon of LSA meal, and a good shake of cinnamon as well.

Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat, and cook for a few minutes on both sides until cooked through.  I recommend sticking with small pancakes (around 12cm diameter or smaller), as they are easier to flip that way.  You can also make them with just egg and banana, but the buckwheat adds flavour, body and makes for easier flipping.

I love Bob's Red Mill organic buckwheat flour.  I get it at my local independent supermarket - they carry a dizzying array of specialty flours - but Bob's Red Mill products are also available from lots of healthfood stores and online retailers.

Tabitha and Zachary have their banana pancakes with fresh strawberries or blueberries.  The Daddy and I love them with maple syrup, and bacon on weekends!

The other day, I made two batches of biscuits which were both, by pure coincidence, egg free.  So I thought I'd post the recipes here.  I am not normally a good 'something-free' cook, as most of my recipes contain lots of butter, milk, eggs, flour or all of the aforementioned, but it is handy to have a few such recipes up one's sleeve, as more and more children are allergic to various things these days.

The first recipe is for homemade arrowroot biscuits.  Similar in texture to a shortbread, but much lighter in flavour, these are an incredibly versatile biscuit, perfect for icing and decorating, or for an 'everyday treat' sort of biscuit for small people.  They are also delicious served alongside a cup of tea - three or four small biscuits is just about right.

Little Arrowroot Biscuits

150g plain flour

60g arrowroot flour or tapioca flour

70g icing sugar

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

50g thickened cream

60g or a little more canola oil

Sift the dry ingredients together into a bowl.  Using a fork to mix, slowly add the cream, then the oil.  You will need to mix very firmly and for a reasonably long time.  The mixture should be very crumbly, and only come together when you pinch some together with your fingers.  You may need a little more cream or oil, but first try mixing for longer to make sure the liquids are thoroughly worked through.

Using your hands on a sheet of baking paper, press out about 1/3 of the mixture at a time, to a uniform thickness of around 3-4mm.  Use a small cookie cutter, and cut out shapes, re-pressing down the remaining mixture as required.  You will get around 50 small cookies - my cutters are around 3cm across.  Place the cookies on a baking tray lined with baking paper (you can put them close together, as they will not really spread) and bake at 180 degrees for around 8 minutes, or until they are just slightly changing colour.

Let them cool on a wire rack, then store in an airtight tin.  They will happily keep for a good week or so.  They are a good little biscuit to ice, as well.

The second biscuit recipe is one I have posted here before - here - but I am posting the recipe again, for the purposes of having both eggless biscuit recipes together in one place.  These are delicious little chocolate chip cookies made with condensed milk.  They are most delicious when fresh from the oven, but perfectly acceptable for a day or two afterwards as well.

Highlander Biscuits

Cream together 115g softened butter with 55g caster sugar, until light and fluffy.

Beat in 2 tablespoons of condensed milk (note - these are NZ metric tablespoons, so only 15ml each), and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Sift together 170g plain flour and 1 teaspoon of baking powder, and work into the creamed mixture, along with 60g of milk or dark chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate).  Once you have a crumbly mass of dough, tip it onto the bench and lightly knead it together into a rough ball.

Roll teaspoonsful of the dough into balls, and place them, spread apart, onto a baking tray lined with baking paper.  Press each ball down to flatten somewhat with a fork.

Bake for 12 - 15 minutes at 180 degrees.  They should be lightly golden on the bottoms, and barely coloured on the tops.

Cool in a rack, and store in an airtight tin.  This makes around 25 - 30 small cookies for me.

One final sweet dish, which contains egg and dairy and gluten, and is incredibly quick and delicious - my golden syrup Hasty Pudding.  Recipe here.  We've been eating it quite often lately, in the cold evenings of Melbourne winter, and it really hits the spot, with plenty of cream or ice cream.  Make it tonight - it's a one-bowl, melt-and-mix kind of affair, perfectly manageable to throw together after dinner on a chilly night.

A new pair of Baby Legs leggings for Zach - these are really handy for babywearing, as you can slip them on and off according the temperature (for example, if you are going in and out of air conditioned places on a hot day) without disturbing or unwrapping baby.  We're off overseas next week (more about that soon) and I think Baby Legs will be brilliant for all the on-off-on plane action.

Also a few mini pots of CJ's Butter - truly the best and most delicious smelling range of nappy cream / all purpose moisturising balm.  I am never without a little pot of it - current favourite scents include Narwhales and Unicorns, Warm Vanilla Cake and Blueberry Crumble.  The little sample pots are the perfect size to throw into a handbag or nappy bag.

My Birthday and Zach the Eater

Last week was my birthday - just two days after Tabitha's.  I turned 29.  I had a great day - started with presents and a cup of tea in bed, then spent the morning with the kids, then my mother and The Daddy came home for lunch and birthday cake.

Tradition dictates that I have some sort of chocolate birthday cake from Laurent.  Preferably with crunchy bits and cakey bits.  This one was gorgeous - crunchy praline bits, chewy nougat bits, brownie fudgy layer, a light mousse layer, and incredibly rich ganache.  With crunchy biscuits around the edge. 

Zach was entranced by the candle.  I wish I had have thought to dry my hair before photos!

Birthday presents from The Daddy and the kiddie winkies.  What is more exciting than a blue box?  A blue box and an orange box!

The Daddy picked out the scarf while in Hong Kong for work earlier this month.  He said he thought I needed a pale one, as I have lots of bright and dark scarves.  Clever man.  It's cream, lemon, apricot and lilac in a geometric design.  The necklace is a Paloma Picasso design, 15mm beads in all sorts of semiprecious stones - it has Amethyst, bloodstone, blue lace agate, chrysocolla, dumorierite, green aventurine, hawk's eye quartz, garnet, jasper, lapis lazuli, green jade, red jasper, rhodochrosite, rhodonite, rose quartz, sodalite, tiger's eye and yellow chrysoprase.  Whew!  Anyway, it's incredibly pretty, appeals to my inner hippy, and looks lovely with a plain black dress.

Very large bouquet of flowers from mum, from my favourite florist, Camberwell Market Flowers.  They are just a little stand at the market but they do weddings and events and the most spectacular pomanders and gift arrangements.

After Zach and Tabitha were in bed, The Daddy and I went out for dinner, to Ocha, one of my favourite Japanese restaurants in Melbourne.  As soon the food started to arrive, we received word from home that Zach had woken up, but he was quite content to get up and play with our babysitter until we got home!  He's such an easygoing baby.  We finished off the rest of the cake when we got home.  I would say I ate at least half of the cake over the course of the day!

Cheeky Tabitha.  She has taught Zach to climb the stairs - she stood there for ages, "come on Zachy!  I know you can do it!"  He can climb a few, which was enough for me to organise a stair gate, quick smart.

Made some brownies.  It's a rare week in which I do not make brownies!  They are just so easy, delicious and they even freeze beautifully.  They also go down a treat with the neighbours, and we have lots of lovely neighbours.

Brownies and apple cake.  The apple cake has apples, you see, and wholemeal flour.  Which makes it practically a health food...

Tabitha cannot be trusted alone with an apple cake:

Godmother Sophie read The Jolly Postman to Tabitha - she was enthralled, thoroughly excited by all of the letters.  If you loved it as a child, I'm sure you have already shared the love with a small person, but if you haven't read it, grab a copy for your own family or a little friend.

Zach had a few days off solid foods last week (he had a bit of a cold, so I wanted to get as much breastmilk into him as possible, to help him get better).  Now that he is back to full health, he has plunged back into the world of Solid Foods with gusto.

What does Zach eat on a typical day?  And yes, these photos are all from today - I find it easier to just change his top than bother too much with bibs!

Bananas are popular for breakfast:

For lunch, some steak and mushroom pie with roasted sweet potato and roast potatoes:

For dinner, fish with green beans and cauliflower cheese.  Cheeky grin below - and covered with bits of fish and cauliflower!

Tabitha off for a ride on her balance bike.  With her new Ballerina Barbie, naturally.  Ballerina Barbie was a 3rd birthday present (belated, from moi).  I saw her in her pink box on the shelf and couldn't resist - I received my own first Barbie when I was 3, and it too was a Ballerina Barbie.  I still have her.  I don't believe that classic Barbies are damaging to little girls.  This one has a pink tulle tutu with glittery bodice, sheer pink stockings with seam backs (!), ballet shoes with tiny real ribbons, and a silver tiara.  I think I love her as much as T.

Yes, Tabitha owns lots of clothes that are not pink.  More than 50 per cent of her wardrobe.  Do I have a hope in hell of getting her into any of these non-pink clothes?  Rarely.  It makes me laugh, really, her pink obsession - we deliberately started her out limiting gendered toys, clothes and activities for the most part.  She took soccer lessons, wore blue jeans, loved her toy cars.  Fast forward to around two and a half, suddenly a switch seemed to trip, and she is All About the Pink.

Modern Cloth Nappies

Get yourself a cup of tea.  Maybe a piece of cake, too.  Sit down.  This is going to be a big post.

Modern cloth nappies, also known as MCNs. Cloth Diapering, or CD, for the Americans.  They are incredibly cost effective (saving the average user at least $1,500 compared with disposible nappies) and are brilliant for the environment (an estimated 2.1 billion disposible nappies go into landfil in Australia each year, shudder, leaking human waste into the groundwater).  Most people love them because they are cute, coming in a range of colours and prints, and I personally find them fun to use.  They are so soft, squishy and pretty that I look forward to nappy changes!

The main difference, apart from ease of use, between MCNs and old fashioned 'flats', is that most MCNs have a stay-dry inner liner, meaning that the moisture is sucked away into the middle of the nappy, leaving the lining dry against your baby's skin.  Generally, a nappy feels completely dry to touch, however is thoroughly soaked through the absorbent middle layers.  So you can use MCNs and still keep your baby comfortable and dry.

When Tabitha was born, I was recommended the Itti Bitti d'Lish All-in-One nappies.  I tried them, they worked well, I bought a 'full set' of 16, and I used them every day for most of her time in nappies.  My choice was made without too much research, and I never spent much time looking into options, as the first one we tried worked well for us.  We used these nappies almost full time, and I was happy with them, although I must say that now that I've tried several more brands, I wouldn't rate the Itti Bitti AIOs as one of my favourites.

When Zach arrived, I discovered that these particular nappies were not great on him.  The medium ones (which had worked on Tabitha from age 4 months to around 2 years) seemed a little small on him, even as a baby, and seemed to leak from the front and the legs.  The low-cut style, which I had loved on Tabitha, seemed to cut into his hips, and cause leakage out the front of the waistband.  I was disappointed initially, but then I realised I could go and have fun exploring the wide world of MCNs!

So my strategy has been to try a whole bunch of different types, styles and brands, and see what works.  If anything doesn't work for us, it can get passed on to a friend or resold (yes, there is a booming second hand nappy market out there!).  If something works really well, I can buy extras of that particular type.

As part of this research, I recently had the lovely and incredibly knowledgeable Fiona from Darlings Downunder over to my house, to chat MCNs with myself and a bunch of my mummy friends.  Darlings Downunder is a pioneer company for MCN in Australia.  They are currently celebrating their 10th birthday, and are partially responsible for introducing Modern Cloth to Australian mums.  Run by two sisters, the company takes great pride in only stocking top-quality products.  When a nappy says it's organic, you can be sure the women have done the appropriate checks to ensure the organic certification.  If anything goes wrong with a product, they are on hand to help out with warranties, advice and information.

Most of the products I mention are available through Darlings Downunder.  When I first came across the website, I spent a few hours clicking around!  It's worth a visit.  This is not a sponsored post, but I like supporting ethical Australian companies, so please do check out their website.  I've linked to their website a few times in this post, but I've also tried to link to the parent companies of most products I mention, where you can find lots of information.  Other great Aussie MCN retailers include Piggy Tails, Apikali and Fluffy Tails.  I recommend following them all, including Darlings Downunder, on facebook - these retailers all frequently often great offers, giveaways and sales.

In this blog post, I've tried to cover the main differences between the various styles of cloth nappy, as well as some information on cloth wipes and care requirements for MCNs.  I will write another post soon, reviewing some specific MCNs in greater detail (Baby Beehinds, Itti Bitti, Bubblebubs Candies, Rumparooz, Pikapu, BumGenius, Designer Bums, and any others I manage to get my hands on to try!) If anyone has questions about a specific nappy you're interested in, I might even try and grab one to try and review, so let me know.  I'm also keen to try out some Blueberries, GroVia, Close and Oui Bebe.

As a general rule, once you are past the initial newborn phase (the first two months, roughly, when babies seem to poop non-stop) you will only need 6 or so nappies a day (and a night nappy, if you use cloth overnight).  So if you wash every day or two, you would get away with 12 - 18 nappies.  I had about 16 with Tabitha, which worked well.

If you want to use cloth with a newborn, you can go with a cheap system such as Prefolds, which are sort of like an advanced, modern version of the old 'terry flat' nappies.  They are basically a square nappy, with extra padding / absorbency sewn into the needed parts, which fits onto the baby without needing to fold them up (like the old school ones).  They clip on with a Snappi, and then you need a waterproof cover, either PUL or fleece or wool.  They are easy, cheap, and dry quickly.  The perfect option for a newborn, for many people.  Start with these for the first couple of months, then move into a one-size-fits-most MCN, which will take most kids right through to toilet training.  The main disadvantage of Prefolds is that the wet absorbent fabric is against the skin - there isn't a stay-dry lining layer in most.  But this isn't generally a big problem, as newborns have their nappy changed every couple of hours anyway, so they aren't sitting in a wet nappy.

For newborns, you can also get a 'sized' newborn nappy.  Many MCNs come in various sizes (newborn and / or small, then medium, large and sometimes extra large).  This is opposed to the incredibly, and increasingly, popular one-size-fits-most (OSFM or OSFA) nappies, which easily adjust to fit babies right from birth or a little older (3kg, usually) through to toilet training (15 - 18kg depending on the build of the child, and the nappy).

If you go the sized route, you would generally start with a Small, then go onto a Medium.  Some children (slim ones) will toilet train out of the Medium size, meaning you would never need a Large.  If you use disposables (or prefolds) for the first couple of months, you might get lucky and be able to use Mediums for the entirety of your baby's nappy wearing days (like we did with Tabitha).

It is my personal opinion that buying Small sized nappies is a bit of a waste.  They get used for such a short amount of time (Zach would barely have fitted into them for the first few weeks), and most babies can go into mediums from a few months old anyway (or into OSFM from a couple of months).  But if you are expecting a tiny baby, perhaps they will be more useful for you!

So should you buy sized nappies, or OSFM?  With Tabitha, we bought Mediums, and she fitted in them until 2.  I think we got lucky.  Certainly, Zach had grown out of the Medium Itti Bitti d'Lish style by the time he was only a couple of months old.  OSFM are generally seen as the most cost-effective option, since they will likely be the only ones you need to buy.  I am also told by Fiona, co-owner of Darlings Downunder, that OSFM nappies are by far the most popular, and are continuing even to gain in popularity.  I think she mentioned they outsell sized nappies at a ratio of around 5:1.

Now that I've had experience with both the sized nappies and the OSFM, I would recommend the OSFM, and that is certainly now what makes up the bulk of my nappy 'stash'.  I do like to have a couple of sized nappies, though, as they can be a little less bulky (though this isn't an absolute - depends on brand and style).  Of my current stash of 20 nappies, only 5 are sized (3 mediums, and 2 larges which are put away for later).

How do OSFM nappies work?  You simply use press-studs (known as 'snaps' in the MCN world) to shorten the front of the nappy (the 'rise'), depending on the size of your baby.  Most nappies have around 3 rows of snaps, roughly correlating to a small, medium, large and extra large size (with extra large being left unsnapped).  Because some of the fabric is gathered up at the front when using OSFM nappies on small babies, these nappies can be quite bulky on little babes (which is why some people prefer sized nappies on newborns), however by the time the child is on the Medium setting or higher, they aren't very bulky at all.

Now, we have talked about Prefolds.  We have talked about Sized nappies vs OSFM.  What is next?  The other three main questions you need to ask yourself are:

• Do I want Velcro or Snaps?
• Do I want All-in-One nappies, Pocket nappies, or All-in-Two nappies (also called Snap-Ins)?
• What brand do I want?

MCNs fasten around the waist using either velcro or 1-2 rows of snaps.  Velcro is easier (and arguably more user-friendly, particularly for grandparents, childcare workers, maybe even partners who don't change the baby as frequently as the main carer).  It is more similar to disposable nappies in the way it goes on and off.  It is also more adjustable, meaning you can get a perfect fit around the waist, whereas with snaps, you might find your child's waist is between two snap sizes, meaning it is slightly too loose or too tight (we are only talking 1cm, tops).

The main disadvantages to velcro are that they wear out a little quicker (although they can be replaced fairly easily by anyone who can sew, whereas snaps are hard to replace by yourself).  They should still last at least the life of the nappy for one child, though.  They can also be undone by some sneaky toddlers (although so can disposables, and some toddlers can open snaps).  The snaps are also a bit nicer looking, although this is really subjective.

I personally prefer velcro for 'everyday' nappies, and find them quick and easy to get a perfect fit, even on a very wriggly baby (I've had two of these, now!).  I prefer snaps on 'pretty' nappies - that is, patterned or fancier ones, which I sometimes use as 'pants', without any pants over the top, in warm weather.

Apparently, women tend to prefer snaps, and men tend to prefer velcro.  I like my mix!

What is an All-in-One nappy?  How about a Pocket nappy, or a All-in-Two?  Without going too deeply into the nitty gritty details, an AIO is a nappy where all the parts (the waterproof outer, the absorbent layers, and the stay-dry lining layer) are all sewn together.  They are incredibly simple (fool-proof) to use.  The main disadvantage is that they take a little longer to dry, since all the parts are layered together.  This isn't really a big problem if you have a nice large stash, and / or good drying conditions.  Most AIO nappies have a 'flap', where the top layer of absorbent materials, and the stay-dry layer, are sewn together into a flap which sits out from the main nappy when drying, improving drying times.  This also means you can lay a small 'booster' pad of absorbent material underneath this flap, if your baby or toddler is a particularly heavy wetter.

A Pocket nappy is a waterproof outer shell, with a stay-dry lining sewn with a 'pocket' in between the lining and the shell.  Into this pocket, you stuff 1-4 absorbent pads / boosters, depending on how heavy a wetter your baby or child is (I find a single booster to be ample for Zach, lasting a good 3-4 hours easily).  The advantage of the Pocket system is that a) you can adjust the absorbency level easily, depending on how much you stuff the pocket and b) you can dry the pieces separately - the shells generally dry in just an hour or two, while the boosters / pads can be dried in the drier, or you can buy extra boosters to use, with the shells, while some of the boosters are drying.

Finally, a AI2 (Snap-in-One) nappy is a waterproof outer shell, with the absorbent layers and the stay-dry lining as separate pieces, which snap together into the shell.  The main advantage of these is that when the baby wets the nappy, you can, in theory, remove the 'snap in' layers, and put in fresh ones, while still using the same shell (which is generally unsoiled).  In theory, this means less nappy to carry around with you, and a cost-effective option, as you can buy fewer shells, and simply more sets of the inners ('booster sets' or 'soaker sets').  Again, as with the Pocket nappies, the shells dry much quicker without all the boosters stitched in (AIOs).

The absorbent layers of a MCN (whether it is sewn inside, like an AIO, stuffed inside, like a Pocket nappy, or snapped in place, like an AI2) can be made of a variety of highly absorbent materials (or a combination).  Bamboo, cotton, hemp and microfibre are the most common.  Each have their advantages and disadvantages.  Bamboo is incredibly absorbent, yet can take a long time to dry (up to a couple of days).  Microfibre dries so quickly (some nappies, like the Pikapus, will dry in 4 hours!), however it doesn't hold quite as much liquid, and it doesn't 'hold' the liquid quite as well, meaning it can suffer from 'compression leaks', for example, if a child is sitting in the car on a long trip with a full nappy, the weight of the child may squeeze liquid back out of the microfibre.  This is something of a theoretical risk - I find, personally, as long as you change the nappies regularly, this shouldn't be a problem.

I like a combination, myself.  For example, in a quick-drying Pikapu, made of mostly microfibre, I will lay down a bamboo 'booster' (an absorbent pad) under the stay-dry layer, which provides additional absorbency, yet you can dry it separately from the main nappy (in the drier on warm, even).  You can buy separate boosters, made of whatever material you prefer, from most of the major brands.  You do not need to use the 'matching' brand of booster in your nappy.

So...

You have decided you will use disposables (or prefolds and covers) for the first couple of months.   You then plan on moving to OSFM.  You want velcro (or snaps, or a combination).  You think you might try a couple of AIOs, and a couple of Pocket nappies (and maybe a couple of AI2s / SIOs).

Great!  Sounds good!  So why don't you go out and buy a mixture of these?  Try them out.  See what you like to use, what fits your baby well.  Whatever you don't like, you can easily sell (through a facebook group such as Buy and Sell Your MCNs), or pass on to a friend.  Whatever you love, buy a couple more of.  If you want to ease yourself into it, start by just using MCNs for 2-3 nappies each day.  But if you are like most people I know, you'll be using them full time (or full time during the day) in no time.

Maybe try a couple of quick-drying, chic-looking Pikapus, some super cute and trim-fitting BumGenius, some squishy soft Baby Beehinds (the sized Magic-Alls AIO with velcro or snaps are nice), some Rumparooz (famous for being completely leak-proof for even the runniest poos).  How about some clever Bubblebubs Candies (which are a nifty OSFM nappy which does not need to be adjusted at the front)?

If you really want to tread gently, I recommend buying one BumGenius AIO, one Pikapu AIO, one Bubblebubs Candies AI2 and one Rumparooz Pocket nappy.  I promise you will love at least one, if not all, of those.

It is important to remember - while all this might seem overwhelming, most nappies will suit most babies just fine!  If you grab a OSFM AIO or Pocket nappy, with velcro or snaps, it will probably be just great on your baby (once they have outgrown the skinny legs newborn stage).  So grab a few, dive in, and go from there!  Don't let the wide range and fear of making the 'wrong choice' paralyse you to the point you avoid MCNs altogether!  Just buy a couple, try them.  Buy a couple more.  You'll love them, you'll find the perfect ones for you!

How do you wash your nappies?  With a mild clothes detergent (e.g. a natural one, anything that is grey-water safe, nothing with optical brighteners, something like Earth Choice), on cold or warm (30-40 degrees is recommended, the odd 60 degree wash is fine, and if you use cold water, you will probably need more detergent).  Never use bleach or Napisan, and avoid vinegar, as it can damage the elastics and / or outer waterproof PUL layer.  Most people like to do an extra 1-2 rinse cycles, to ensure the detergent is thoroughly rinsed out.  Some people like to wash their nappies without detergent, just using warm water and a few extra rinse cycles (I've done this for some time, it worked brilliantly, my nappies were always perfectly clean and never smelt).

You can also buy MCN-specific detergents, such as Rockin' Green, though I personally haven't loved them.

You don't need to soak the nappies.  It is recommended to 'dry pail' the nappies - that is, store them in a dry bucket or wetbag for 1-2 days, until you are ready to wash them.  If you have a poo nappy, or a very acidic wee (sometimes wees can be more acidic during teething, hence the teething nappy rash some children get), you can give the nappy a quick rinse in cold water before dry pailing it.  Try to wash every 1-2, or 3 at most, days, as urine can damage the nappies if left to soak into them for too long.

What about poo?  Breastmilk poo is so runny and mild that it can be treated as a liquid - that is, just put the nappies straight into the washing machine, or rinse briefly then dry pail if you're not planning on washing that day.  Once the poos start to get more solid, it is easiest to use a flushable nappy liner.  These are generally made of bamboo, and are biodegradable.  You just remove them from the nappy, containing the poo, and flush them down the toilet.  Note - you are not supposed to put poo into the bin.  Not even in a disposable nappy.  If you use disposable nappies, you are still supposed to remove the solid poo and flush it down the toilet.  It tells you this on the box, normally!  If you don't want to use a liner, you can get a high-powered hose thingy that attaches to your toilet, for spraying the poos into your toilet.  This sounds a bit messy to me.  I like a liner!  At any rate, you don't need to worry until your baby is older, and the poos are harder.  And even then, often they just plop off the nappy into the toilet, even without a liner.

It is generally recommended to line-dry nappies in the sunshine as often as possible.  UV helps remove any stains (truly, it works), and to keep things nice and sanitary.  Next best is drying indoors on an airing rack.  Finally, you can dry nappies in the dryer on low heat - it will mean a slightly shorter lifespan on the elastics, apparently, but in America and cold countries, many people use the drier for all their nappies, with no ill effects.  Using the drier also keeps the nappies soft and fluffy.  I personally love using the drier (on low) for my nappies, mostly for the way it keeps them soft and cosy.

Finally, with washing, it is recommended that you do a 'strip wash' a couple of times a year or so, to get rid of any detergent buildup.  To do this, do a hot wash (60 degrees) with no clothes detergent, but with a teaspoon of plain (cheap and cheerful, no moisturisers) dishwashing liquid.  Add a few extra rinse cycles (until the water runs clear, no bubbles).

Let's have a chat about accessories.  I should mention that you are not supposed to use barrier-style nappy creams with MCNs.  Creams like Zinc, Sudocream and the like are greasy, and can coat the fabric fibres of the MCN, damaging absorbency and repelling liquid.  Instead, you can buy MCN-safe nappy creams, such as CJ's Butter (I love this product!) or GroVia Magic Sticks.

While we're on the topic of creams, and I've already written about flushable liners, I might mention other MCN accessories - wetbags and cloth wipes.  Wetbags are zipping, waterproof bags - they typically fit about 3-4 nappies inside, and are used for transporting used nappies when out and about.  They can also be used at home as your 'dry pail' system - that is, for storing nappies waiting to be washed - and you can certainly buy larger sized ones which are perfect for this.  You can get wet/dry bags, which include two separate zipped compartments - one for clean nappies, one for dirty.  I have one of these.  Most people (including myself) using cloth nappies full time or part time use at least two wet bags, and possibly more.  I tend to wash wetbags at least once a week - it's easy to just toss them in with the nappies you are washing.

Many people who use MCNs use disposable wipes, however this can be a pain as you have to go and put the wipes in the bin anyway - it can be easier to just pop the wipes into the dry pail or wet bag with your dirty nappy.  There are even some great systems out there (like the Cheeky Wipes All-In-One Kit) which make using cloth wipes virtually mess-free - the used wipes go straight into a sealed box, inside a mesh bag, and the bag then goes straight into the wash.  So you don't need to touch the soiled wipes at all!  Cloth wipes are really lovely to use - much softer on baby's bottom, and thicker and 'gripper' which means you can get a really good clean with just water (or water with added essential oils or wipes solutions to keep them smelling lovely - you can google to find some nice homemade recipes).  Water does a perfect job of cleaning up even messy nappies - there really is no need for the chemicals in baby wipes, for daily nappy changes.  I find it alarming that even our 'sensitive skin' baby wipes can remove texta from handbags - there must be some strong chemicals in them!

You can either wet a wipe (or two) each time you change a nappy - easy enough if your changing area is near a sink - or you can store the wipes wet (for example, in the systems mentioned above, or just in an old Huggies wipes container, with enough water or wipes solution to keep them moist).  Some people even just use a small spray bottle of plain water (or cooled chamomile tea!), spraying the baby's bottom well, then using a dry wipe.  This is handy for when you're out and about.

You can buy brilliant cloth wipes, though they are incredibly simple to make.  All you need to do is cut up a few old thin towels, or flannel sheets, into squares (or you can buy some flannel or terry fabric).  If possible, then join two wipes together and overlock the edges to prevent them from fraying - though you can go without this step, it just means that your wipes won't last as long.

If you feel squeamish about the really poopy wipes going into the wash, you could use disposable wipes for the really dirty nappies, and use cloth for the rest of the changes.  I found that we went through so many disposable wipes when Tabitha was a baby, and at $20 or so for a box, you will find it much cheaper to go with a stash of soft cloth wipes instead.

Finally - I should point out, there are other types of MCN.  There are fitted nappies, which are like AIOs, except that they do not have a waterproof outer layer, and require a separate fleece, wool or PUL cover (like the Prefolds).  These are commonly used for night nappies, though some people use them during the day.  I don't know a lot about them, and I don't know anyone who uses them.  I might try and grab one to review?

I wanted to mention, too, that some local councils around Australia have MCNs available to borrow through their local libraries (or other networks), in a bid to encourage their residents to use MCNs instead of disposable nappies.  There are other non-government nappy lending options in Australia, too, so it's worth having a google if you're interested in trying some out before purchasing.  Many companies (including retailers like Darlings Downunder) also offer mixed trial packs to purchase at a reduced cost.

So - did you stick it out to the end?  Are you still here?  Do you have any questions, or requests for reviews?

A Tale of Two Highchairs

We have two of the most popular high chairs in this house - the Stokke Trip Trapp, and the Ikea Antilop.  Tabitha still uses her Stokke (sometimes - though mostly she sits at a 'grown up' chair), and Zach is currently loving his Ikea chair.

Top two are Tabitha in the Stokke, bottom three are Zach in the Ikea.  Hard to get a photo of Zach smiling in his chair - he has only been eating food for a couple of weeks, and he takes this eating business Very Seriously!

Stokke Trip Trapp.  Sleek lines, lifetime-or-longer durability and style.  Perfectly designed to offer the perfect seating and dining positions for babies and toddlers.  Design that enhances the decor, rather than cries "colourful baby product".  More than $300.

Ikea Antilop.  Sleek lines, understated, incredibly durable.  Easy to store, relatively portable.  Easiest possible chair to clean - take it outside and hose it down, put the tray on the top shelf in the dishwasher.  Quite pretty in a modern way with a fabric cushion.  Less than $30.

Both highchairs have pros and cons.  But each has a long list of pros, and only a couple of cons.

What is fantastic about the Stokke Trip Trapp?  Obviously, it's great looking.  It's sturdy enough to withstand years of use, even from multiple children.  It can even handle adult weight - I've used it as a stepladder in a pinch many times!  It comes in a range of colours, from bright pop colours to a range of neutral wood tones to match existing furniture (we have walnut).  You can adjust the seat height as the child ages, ensuring a perfect height for eating from the main dining table (elbows to the tabletop is the correct height), and you can also separately adjust the footrest to make sure the child has the perfect 90 degree knee bend, again for ultimate comfort and posture.  The smooth finish, and lack of buckles, sliding parts or built-in cushions mean it is a breeze to clean (I just use an Enjo glove and hot water, or sometimes some water/vinegar mixture).  You can get an add-on baby seat, which you need to start with (we removed ours quite early, a little over 14 months, because T was climbing out over the baby seat, so it ended up safer to remove it and she could just climb on and off as she wished).  You can also use webbed straps to keep your child in place - however I don't love the design of them.  They join low on the back, so always slipped off the shoulders.  The main feature of the Stokke that people seem to love is that the child sits right up at the table with the family, eating alongside everyone, without the physical and mental separation of a big tray.  I absolutely agree that this was brilliant, however for the early days of baby-led weaning, when life is very messy, I don't mind a bit of a tray, which you can remove and wash properly.  Even with the small tray of the Ikea chair, Zach is only half a foot back from the table - he certainly feels like part of things!  We sit him at the head of the table, so he has an excellent view of everyone eating.

What is bad about the Stokke Trip Trapp?  The cost is high - prohibitively high for some.  Its solid structure (which is great in most ways) means that it is far from portable.  You wouldn't want to take it to a friend's place for dinner.  The design means your baby or toddler eats right at the table with the family - not on a separate tray - however this means that your table generally becomes thoroughly coated in food.  This isn't always a problem (nothing a sponge won't fix, right?) however our table is made of reclaimed timber sleepers and has lots of uneven gaps, textures etc which makes it a bit of a nightmare to constantly goopy, hardened clean food off.  Aesthetically, while the Stokke is quite lovely, it is incredibly bulky, and visually 'heavy', particularly in the darker colours.  It takes up a lot of visual space.

What is fantastic about the Ikea Antilop?  Less than $30.  For that sort of money, it's worth grabbing one even just to give it a try!  If it's not exactly what you want, pass it on to someone else.  It is also incredibly minimalist in the design, so even though it's moulded plastic and plain metal, it isn't exactly unattractive.  Ikea sells cushions for it, but I wasn't fond of their range.  We bought a gorgeous cushion from Galoomp, and if you can sew (or know someone who does), there are loads of tutorials for fantastic cushions online, including ones which pad the bottom area, ones with a pocket at the back for storing bibs and cloths etc.  Actually, I tend to use the cushion as a decorative touch, and rarely leave it in place while Zach is eating, since it gets dirty, and I honestly don't think it needs a cushion.  The chair seat is very comfortable, with a nice high back, smooth lines, a deep seat and a low, practical lap-sash belt.  It is pretty tricky to climb out of one of these chairs - and I've seen many babies try!  The legs are nicely wide-set, which makes tipping very unlikely.  The sleek lines and design - like the Stokke - make cleaning an absolute breeze, with the added advantage of being able to easily remove the tray, and you can put it through the dishwasher!  Just sit it over the cups on the top rack.  You can even take the whole thing outside and hose it down.  The legs click off really easily, making storage a breeze.  It's also so light - easy to move upstairs, from room to room, or take to a friend's place when visiting for dinner.  You'll probably also find - at least in Australia - that 9 out of 10 cafes and restaurants have these as their highchair.  So your child will be familiar with it, if you use one when out to dinner.

What is bad about the Ikea Antilop?  It's not particularly pretty - though I personally do not find it unattractive, particularly with the addition of a nice cushion.  Lacking a footrest, it is not as comfortable for a baby, as they tend to slump forward in it, and I think that this discomfort can mean babies get fed up with sitting down to eat quicker - Tabitha, aged 6 months, would happily sit for 20 minutes in her Stokke, but would get upset after 10 minutes or so in the Ikea.  The fixed height of the chair means that it cannot be used 'pulled up' to all dining tables.  It is a little too short to use against our table.  This means it either needs to be used with its tray (which is small, so the baby is still almost up at the table) or can be sat up on something secure (probably not recommended from a safety point of view!)

Ultimately, I think the Ikea is fairly useless as an everyday, comfortable highchair beyond the first 10 or so months. Once a child is sitting down to reasonably long meals, I think they really feel much happier in something with a footrest.  It is also fairly small, and wouldn't hold a larger toddler.  Sure, we've popped Tabitha in one out at a restaurant when she was 2, but it's not the chair I would choose for home at that age.

Basically, if you were only going to buy one highchair, to get you through the first food days, through to the toddler years and even beyond, the Stokke Trip Trapp is certainly my recommendation.  But if you are going to shell out $300 or so, I'd really recommend grabbing an Ikea Antilop as well.  For the same price as a cheerful bottle of wine, it will be a useful piece of equipment for the first months of baby led weaning.  After it's past its most useful period, simply pop off its legs, and stow it in a cupboard or set it up at the grandparents' house!

NOTE - the Ikea Antilop costs less than the baby chair attachment for the Stokke.  So I think it's completely justifiable to use the Ikea one for the first 6 months or so, then move onto the Stokke, if that appeals to you.

But, what about all the other high chairs?  Yeah, there are lots.  Some are expensive to the point of absurdity (though of course, if you love it, can afford it, and it meets your needs, knock yourself out!).  Some are so padded and tricked-out that they give me eye twitches when I think about cleaning them.  Some are so unattractive that I would feel sad having them in my house for two or more years.  Some are just plain badly designed, with backs that cannot sit completely upright, or other such flaws.

There are some other great ones out there too!  But based on my experience, and that of my many mummy friends, these are the two main contenders.  If you don't want to buy a Stokke (and consider them second hand - they hold their value well, but you can still pick up a bargain), then grab an Ikea chair and then a booster seat later on when your child outgrows it.  Will still set you back far less than $80 in total.

Are there any other baby products you would like a review of?

The Sick Kit

We've all recently recovered from our first colds of the season.  Thankfully it was a fairly mild cold - The Daddy avoided it altogether, Zach and I had a moderate dose, and Tabitha's manifested as a cough and good old grumpiness.

In the pre-child days, I used to quite enjoy the odd cold!  It meant a day or two curled up in bed, watching DVDs, drinking hot tea and moaning about how sick I was.  Sounds glorious, actually.

As a mother of small children, getting sick is the absolute pits.  Not only is there no chance to recuperate and recover, if the children are also sick you will get even less rest and sleep than usual, tending to the children overnight and managing their misery and grumps during the day.  So even a mild illness tends to drag on and on for a good week or two.

Once one or more children are involved in any sort of activities or childcare, there is basically zero chance of avoiding illness.  So, be prepared...

I like to keep all of our 'illness paraphernalia' together in one spot, so that if sickness strikes, we are ready to go, without having to lug my aching body around the house looking for all the bits and pieces, scattered between the various bathrooms and storage spots.

• Two vaporisers or humidifiers.  I like a hot steam sort - the Vicks one is my choice - and find the gurgling noise so soothing when I'm unwell.  I never used one before Tabitha was born, and purchased one when she first got sick after a recommendation from the GP.  Now I couldn't imagine being sick without one - completely changes overnights with a cold from being endless stretches of sleepless congestion to a relatively restful night.  One goes in Tabitha's bedroom, and one goes in the master bedroom (where we sleep with Zach).
• Saline nose drops and a sucker for the baby.
• Cold and flu tablets, with plenty of nighttime ones, for The Daddy (can't take them while breastfeeding unfortunately).
• A couple of boxes of nice soft tissues tucked away - nothing worse than running out and having to use scratchy napkins or toilet paper on a tender nose!
• Badger Balm Organic Aromatic Chest Rub
• Zinc and caster oil cream for dry red noses.  Lip balm for parched lips.
• Manuka honey (UMF 15 or above) to swallow raw on a sore throat (don't heat it or add to tea since it diminishes the antibacterial properties)
• Chamomile tea, to drink with regular raw honey

Apart from the above, more fluids than you could possibly imagine needing (3-4 litres a day of water minimum, otherwise I find I get massively dehydrated, what with the extra breastfeeding a sick baby needs for their fluids and the nose blowing), plenty of hot or cold chamomile tea, and soup.

A good amount of clear chicken soup is not only soothing, it also counts as fluids to help keep you hydrated and several studies show that strong chicken broth may actually lessen cold symptoms.

I keep a big stash in the freezer - bagged in 500ml serves - ready for the onset of sickness.  It's basically just chicken stock, so it gets used regardless.  Friends also know they can hit me up for some homemade chicken soup if they get sick!

I have a 12 litre stock pot which produces around 8 litres of chicken broth / stock.  Here's a blueprint if you haven't made it before (for a smaller amount):

Chicken Soup for the Flu

In a very large pot, put all of the following:

• 1kg chicken carcasses (called chicken frames, you can buy bags of them from chicken shops) or a mixture of frames and wings
• 2 brown onions, quatered, with the skins still on
• 2 carrots, chopped into chunks
• 2 celery stalks, including tops, cut into 1 inch pieces
• 4 big sprigs parsley

Cover with cold water.  Bring to almost a boil, skimming any dirty foam off the top and discarding.  Reduce heat and gently simmer for at least 2 hours, and up to 6 or more hours.  Skim any foam if needed during the cooking.  Pour through a fine seive (preferably lined with muslin or cheesecloth), season generously to taste (plenty of salt), and chill overnight.  In the morning, remove fat solids from the surface (set aside in the fridge to use for matzo balls, yum!).  

Freeze in 500ml bags and defrost as needed.  Reheat in a small saucepan, and add small pasta or rice (cooked separately, otherwise it makes the soup go cloudy) or matzo balls.  I'll post a recipe for matzo balls soon, and link to it here when I do!  Little pasta like alphabet noodles, or those tiny stars, work well.  

Add a good grind of fresh pepper and some nice herbs as well, to serve - dill is lovely, or parsley.

My only other tip for surviving cold season with a young baby is to indulge in plenty of nice steamy baths and showers.  I bathe with Zach in warm water, then pop him onto the floor (on a quilt) or into The Daddy's arms, and add plenty of hot water to my own bath, getting the room nice and steamy.  Helps clear out the sinuses for all of us, before bed.