Revisiting real nappies

Source: ittibitti.com.au

A while ago I wrote about my attempts at using real nappies with Master R. Despite my best efforts it wasn't very successful. They just leaked too much. I can't do nappy changes every 1-2 hours. I think he was too active for them.

However, I'm using the same size, large, for Master T with great success! They last for 2-3 hours between changes and look great too. It's so cute seeing him in little red, blue or yellow nappies. I have about 7 sets and just throw them straight in the washing machine as they're soiled. Once I've used them all I just switch on the machine (no fabric softener though as this effects the absorbency). Once washed just throw in the dryer and viola, nappies ready. I really don't find them any more difficult than disposables. I'm also saving money but better still, the environment.

These real nappies are not going to work for the long term but if I can enjoy them for the next few months that's good enough for our pocket and carbon footprint!

Love/hate the dummy

We have a dummy (paci) free house! Hurrah. Well, kind of. The catalyst for this change was Master R's constant whining "Dummy gone!". Mr M and I were completely fed up and while we were away I threw out every last one.

It wasn't as hard as we expected for Master R to quit. After his operation I'd been a little lax and had given into the whines allowing him to play with it in until he got sick of it and gave it to me. A bad habit. We don't mention that D-U-M-M-Y word now simply referring to it as "D". He has occasionally cried out for it and it takes longer for him to fall asleep. With the D he'd fall asleep almost immediately now it takes a little while often with tears.

Master T on the other hand would not take one. I tried on numerous occasions to hold one into his mouth only for him to gag and spit it out in disgust. I tried other brands but he wasn't interested preferring only the real thing. Interestingly he'll take a bottle from our child minder but not the dummy.

There is upside to Master T's behaviour but there's also downside - he sleeps much less than his big brother. Not only that but he seems to wake more frequently. Currently he sleeps less during the day than Master R. But at least there's no attachment to an innate and often dirty object. And no weaning off it - that part I'll take.

Toddler Toy Hit List

Santa really knocked it out of the park this Christmas with Master D's present. With the help of my mom, Google Goddess [friends call her "The Seeker"], he found the perfect solution for a tricky toy issue we've been having at Nana's house. Master D loves the wooden marble racer my brothers and I played with when we were little, but while he enjoys it I spend the whole time holding my breath, sure that he will pop one of the little marbles in his mouth and we will become a cautionary tale about choking hazards.

Happily, a German toy company makes a new, toddler-friendly alternative to the marble racer that has stolen Master D's heart. It's called a Multi-Race Run, a series of inclined tracks that toys run down. Master D loves to place the special panda, boat, car, men, balls and circles on the top and watch them roll down, some swaying and wiggling along the way. Maybe it's the process, or the mystery of why some go faster than others and sometimes get caught if he puts too many on at the same time, but he watches with a combination of joy and fascination that few toys can bring.

I pass this along because I have been frustrated by feeling that the world of toys was somewhat limited and lacking in imagination and quality, and I'm always looking for ways to keep Master D's mind off of "Yo Gabba Gabba!" Have you savvy mamas found any other special toddler tools or masters' favorites that you can share with the rest of us?

Hello navel! I've missed you

Six weeks post baby and half the weight gone. I've become reacquainted with my belly button and some of my regular clothes. However that was the easy weight and the next half isn't going to be quite so easy.

Having been given the all clear by my doctor last week we went for our first family run on the weekend. It was a moment I have been waiting for for 10.5 months. My double jogging stroller was my first purchase when I found out about pregnancy number 2. I'd enjoyed my morning runs with Master R along the Hudson River and couldn't wait to start again. My single jogger was left in the caring hands of Mama A (I hope you're using it!).

When we moved back to London the main criteria for a house was proximity to a large park so I could jog. We're right near Victoria Park, one of London's best kept secrets. At one stage deer roamed free but now it's just a huge park with great running paths and gardens.

Mr M and I were a little concerned about Master T's head wobbling around too much but we secured it with blankets and did a few test runs and he seemed very content nestled into the side of the seat.

The last time I went for a run was December '08 so I wasn't expecting much. However I surprised myself, and Mr M, by running the full planned distance of approximately 6kms/4 miles. I did feel it the next day though.

Both boys loved it. Master R loves looking at the ducks and "eich", abbreviated German for squirrels, which we have to acknowledge every time he sees one. Master T just slept. Let's hope it continues because I still have quite a few lbs to lose!

What to do with two (or three)?

Source: iCandy


Source: Bambino Goodies

Mama's A and H and I have been having an email discussion about the best strollers for transporting our expanding broods. I've opted for the Baby Bjorn option for Master T with Master R in the regular old Bugaboo and only have a double running stroller (which sadly is Master T is too small and wobbly for). Once Master T is too heavy I'll put him in the Ergo carrier. But after that I'm not too sure. There are some times when you just want to push them and not carry them. (And it limits your wardrobe options ha ha.)

I bought a buggy board before I left the US and subsequently discovered that they give them away for free here in my (underprivileged) borough to encourage safety. However Mama A and I both agree that our boys are far too energetic to be safely constrained to it.

Mama A saw was told about this British brand iCandy "pushchair" as above that is coming stateside in a couple of months. I don't know anyone who has one but will check it out in the next few days and see if it could be suitable for Master X.

This morning I saw a mother pushing her three kids - two in a double and the older on the buggy bike above. If it has a seat belt (doesn't look like it sadly) it might be a better option than a buggy board and much more fun for Master R. We'll have to fight to get him off rather than the usual getting him in tantrum.

What do you think? What are your plans or do you currently use to transport your babes?


Edit: Just saw this convertible pushchair to bike. Brilliant - for one only sadly.

Strange But True Products for Kids

Last week my mom and I were shopping for Master D's new fall shoes when we heard a strange sound in the shoe store.  A child was strolling around in her "Squeaker Sneakers," shoes that make a squeaking sound as the child walks.  My mom was enthralled, and interviewed the girl's mother about the shoes.  She said the child loved making noise as she walked, and the sound made it easier for the mother to keep track of the child.  My mom was sold, I was not.  I just pictured Master D making even more noise in stores and wanting to run around our house even more than he already does!!  I told my mom she could get a pair for him to wear at her house, and I wouldn't be surprised if she does.  Now that I have perused the Squeaker Sneakers webpage,  learned that the squeaker can be removed and seen some of the cute velcro styles, I might put Squeakers Sneakers on my list of cool baby shoe brands.  Would you?

Another questionable product hitting the market is a nursing baby doll.  Uber-Boober that I am, I usually advocate anything that promotes breast feeding.  But this doll gives me pause, perhaps because it invites children to pretend to have fully-functioning breasts.  It even comes with a nursing top to make it easier for little girls to "nurse" by bringing the baby to the nipple covers that are also included.  When the baby nears the nipple covers it makes sucking sounds; when baby is pulled away from the nipple "daisies," it cries for more milk.  

Part of me wants to like this product because so many baby dolls come with bottles and a nursing counterpart would make sense, especially for girls with nursing mothers.  But little girls can't lactate, it is a maternal act reserved for grown-up mothers.  It is not a sexual act, but it is an adult one.  It's kind of like children playing doctor - there's nothing wrong with being a doctor, but there's something inappropriate about children examining each others' bodies.  The sociology major in me is appalled at my prudishness, knowing children are meant to experiment, but there it is...  What do you think?

Perfect Toddler Boy Sandals

Photo: www.seekairun.com

Master D spends a lot of time running around outside, so when it came time to buy his summer shoes I knew they needed to be sandals that would stand up to the playground. Most sandals for boys were either overly-utilitarian-looking or had a very hard sole. I wanted Master D’s shoes to go with button downs as well as sun-suits, so we searched until we found the perfect pair for his baby style.

The Grayson sandal by See Kai Run looks less sporty than most boy sandals and has the wonderful, flexible bottom that makes See Kai Run shoes special. Master D has already loved one pair into the ground, but he’s had them since April and keeps getting them wet with hose water at my green-thumbed mother’s house. Without even shopping around I went straight to Nordstrom’s and got him the next size up in these wonderful sandals. I rarely pass up an excuse to shop around, so my loyalty to these shoes says a lot!

I succumbed to the crocs

After berating these ugly things for months I have caved and bought a pair for Master R. We went to the shop today and I let him choose the colour. I was worried he'd select pink but luckily it was the yellow. The sales lady actually asked me 3 times if I was sure I wanted the yellow. But Master R wasn't letting go of the yellow ones. Couldn't even scan them!

I have to justify my purchase - with our garden he is running in and out of the house all day and the other velcro shoes are just too difficult to get on or off. They're also getting ruined on the stone steps. So I took the plunge and paid the £20 (!!!!) for a pair. They do actually look cute on kids. I just don't like the look of them on grown adults.

So Mama V when you come visit I'll be adding another pair of crocs to the list of things to bring. I hope you have an empty suitcase for all the things on my list...

The shoe issue resolved

Source: Clarks

Thank you mamas for your offer of shoes for my poor little man! The issue is now resolved.

Saturday morning Mr M kindly offered to feed Master R and take him for a walk when he awoke at 6:30am allowing me a sleep in. My blissful snoozing was rudely disturbed by Mr M storming into the room with a teary Master R following.

Mr M was furious with me for buying too small shoes for Master R causing him to scream every time they were on. I agree that I don't think the shoes fit all that well but they were expertly fitted in a baby shoe store and I just thought Master R was fussing because he didn't want his shoes on. Mr M threw the shoes in the bin (I later rescued them), got his old torn Pedis and went outside to play.

This time instead of a "specialist" shoe store I went to John Lewis. They also have a fitter - and one who actually spoke a coherent English this time. She was excellent and said that the other fitter had measured his feet incorrectly and he was a whole 1.5 sizes longer and 1 size wider than thought. She also recommended against the Start Rite shoes for his fat foot preferring the Clarks. By the way, they sold both so I felt it was unbiased.

Master R is now happily playing in his new Clarks shoes and doesn't make a fuss when I'm putting them on. Mr M is now smug in the knowledge that he is more "attuned" to his son than I am. Whatever Mr M!

Why are boys shoes so girly here?

Source: Startrite

New York mummies, will someone send me over some Pedipeds? Pretty please? The shoes here are terrible and Master R really needs some new ones. I stupidly bought some precious Pedis but packed them in our sea freight which won't get here until April. Master R's feet are growing at such a rapid rate that he put a hole right through the toe of the old ones.

So off to Igloo I went. Normally an internet shopper Master R needed shoes immediately and I had noticed this shop on Upper Street when I'm met a friend there. They offered specialised fittings and a wide range of sizes.

At the time I wasn't convinced the "fitter" knew what she was talking about. The shoes just didn't seem to fit right. And, let's face it, they're so girly! But in desperation and frustration I bought them. Now I'm looking at the Startrite website and these shoes are pre-walkers and Master R is most definitely walking and she could see that. No wonder they don't fit.

I also said I wanted velcro and not a buckle - have you tried to put shoes on a wiggly 1 year old? She was struggling and failed to do it solo but insisted that a buckle was better. Hmmm he's on the last hole, surely more flexible velcro would be better?

Returning them is out of the question now because Master R really needs shoes and for £30 he just has to wear them out (under long trousers/pants so no one can see how girly they are...)

So please mommies, if I order some beautiful Pedipeds will someone post them to me? Their shipping rates to the UK are $20 which is just far too much for a pair of $35 shoes.

Thanks in advance xx

Hopping Down the Bunny Trail

This is Bunny. Believe it or not, he just had a bath two days ago. And while you might wonder why I am posting about our dog's chew toy, you may reconsider when I tell you that Bunny is Master X's very best friend. Plucked from obscurity among a shelf full of plush rabbits, Bunny was gifted to us by Master X's Auntie Courts just last Easter. He came to us plump and newborn, with silky fur, cotton candy pink velvet ears and a fluffy white tail, brimming with cuteness. A mere year later, he resembles Rizzo the Rat of Muppets fame more than he does his own species. He has endured two surgeries, one to remove the pellets from his limbs lest his thinning fur disintegrate, and the other to give him a new set of (black thread) eyes after his shiny plastic ones were bitten out during a month of heavy teething.

And no matter what I do, he smells. Like an old sock. Master X doesn't seem to notice, though. If anything, Master X's love for the malodorous creature has increased with every sign of wear and tear. If he could hold Bunny every minute of every day (in his mouth when his hands are full), believe me, he would. I don't mind that my son has a lovey. In fact, I find it quite adorable, and it makes me happy that he's found a means of comfort that never lets him down. As a 33 year-old who still sleeps with a security blanket, I don't see anything wrong with the relationship at all.

On the other hand, as the mother, I worry about Bunny. The past year has been rough on the little guy and I wonder how long he can withstand the rigorous demands of my highchair tyrant. In addition to being the chief comforter and sleep time companion, his role as best friend involves a tremendous amount of hopping, singing, and testing Master X's milk, not to mention travel by land and by air, where he is usually tethered on an ingenious little leash called the "Secure-A-Toy" by Baby Buddy. In November, he braved two sleepless nights at Master X's side in the hospital without so much as a complaint about the food. Yes, Bunny has been a champ, working tirelessly twenty-four hours a day, since Master X has shunned the four replacements (Mister A calls them "under-bunnies") we have tried to integrate, and I love him dearly despite the fact that he reeks to high heaven if you get too close. (Much like Mama J mentioned, there is really only one true "true love" when it comes to stuffed animals.)

It was with this love in mind that we recently instituted a challenging new family rule: Bunny stays in the crib. I did it for a number of reasons, the primary one being my desire to preserve Bunny's life. The second reason is because I am deathly afraid of losing Bunny somewhere in the house, or worse, out in the great unknown where he won't be able to hop back to us.

The final reason gives you a clue to the workings of my mind. I need Bunny to have the time to "dry out" a bit. (No, he's not a heavy drinker.) He's soggy, and part of me fears that he might be getting mildew, or worse, growing toxic bacteria. I wash him and dry him frequently, but that only goes so far when he is carried around in the mouth of an energetic toddler. Has anyone ever heard of a real life case of TBS, or Toxic Bunny Syndrome? Mister A thinks I'm certifiable. Do you?

Anyway, we're still testing this rule out. Needless to say, Master X doesn't like it, and he cries hot, salty tears whenever we put Bunny to bed. It doesn't make any sense to him why his trusty companion needs a "night night" when he wants to play. It's tremendously sad to watch, but I can't conceive of a better alternative. I use distraction as my major tool and have succumbed to offering him my iPhone, or the forbidden remote control, as a bribe. I'm not sure this is the best idea, either. Then again, he can't really suck on them or feed them soggy Cheerios until they are coated in crumbs or drop them on the street as we take a walk. Well, technically, I guess he can. But if that does ever happen, they will be much more easily replaced.

The hierarchy of strollers

Source: Celebrity Shopping Blog

There is a hierarchy of strollers. And the Bugaboo reins supreme. I have discovered this over the past few days while pushing Master R around London in his freebie umbrella stroller. The looks other mamas give me! You'd think it was persecuting the poor little fellow. Or that I was in need of a federal bailout.

I agree, my freebie is a terrible stroller, but it's easier for me in my state (12 weeks pregnant) to push him than to ergo it any longer. But I refused to fly BA with my stroller after 3 mamas I know have had theirs broken. So now I'm awaiting it's delivery with the rest of my airfreight which is sitting at Heathrow for customs clearance.

It's the looks of pity that get me the most. Now I'm wondering if I too was the giver of these looks?

In Battery Park just about everyone has a "bug". Or if they have two kiddies it's the Phil and Teds. With my terribly poor vision it's the stroller I see first - bright green bug coming towards me, oh it's either Mama A or Mama V, bright orange is Mama J, beige is Mama G, Mama H however bucks the trend with a Stokke.

A friend is due with number 1 in April and hasn't bought a thing yet. I gave her a list of things she needs including the bug. She baulked at the suggestion saying that everyone in Chiswick has one and she wants something different. Well dir! There's a reason everyone has a £800/$1000 stroller - it's the best!! She's coming around but is insisting on a test drive of mine first.

So if I gave you looks of pity in the past I am really sorry and will attempt to remember this experience with my umbrella stroller.

PS. I agree that if you're getting in and out of cars all day the bug is NOT the stroller for you. Despite the company's claims, it is not easy to fold and doesn't fold flat enough for a boot/trunk. So you are better off with something else such as a Maclaren. (Most mamas in Battery Park had a Mac for subways and cars.)