When Science Backs Up a 'Mother's Inner Knowing'

I've never been a fan of 'cry-it-out' methods of getting your baby to sleep. They always felt wrong to me because I live by the the principle of 'if I wouldn't like it if it were done to me, I don't do it to someone else'. Based on that, I always felt that leaving my baby to cry itself to sleep at night just wasn't right.

It's only been in the last few years that there has been a lot of scientific research to back up what I felt was true. This research now confirms that there are long term implications in leaving your baby to 'cry-it-out'.  Interestingly, as mentioned in this video, one of the benefits that early attachment gives is the ability to have empathy with others, so perhaps, because my mum didn't practice 'cry-it-out' on me, this led me to feel the Attachment way was right for my kids?

But what if you don't have that 'inner knowing'?

If as a baby your mum followed what was the trend at the time and left you to cry, you may not have the ability to 'tune-in' to what you baby needs, so it maybe worth learning these skills via BabyCalm or Babiesknow.  These two great parenting courses not only teach you how to connect to your baby, but explain why this is so important.

If you are expecting your first baby, and are unsure about how you will be able to respond to your baby then the BabyCalm ante-natal workshops are a must for you and your partner, and the Relaxed Birth and Parenting Ante-natal classes will also be incredibly useful too.

Love, Eva

Watch the You-tube video here:

The role of attachment in infancy on later mental and physical health outcomes

If you want to know more about Attachment Theory watch this video:

Science Bulletins: Attachment Theory—Understanding the Essential Bond

Fearne Cotton loves Padraig booties

[caption id="attachment_1894" align="alignleft" width="464"] The Grown-up Born babies meet Fearne Cotton at the Radio 1 Studios[/caption]

In early November the children and I (Eva) were lucky enough to get a tour of the Radio 1 and Radio 1Xtra studios.

We had only expected to watch a bit of the lovely Trevor Nelson in action on this daytime 1Xtra show, but afterwards he treated us to a guided tour of the studio and the building. Trevor’s sister Marcia and I went to school together and although he’s been there for years I’ve never managed to get to studio, but now with older children we took some time out over the half term to make the trip.

As I was meeting up with a friend I, of course, was not in work mode.   Trevor said: "You know who might be interested in your shop?" and pointed to Fearne Cotton who was sitting in the studio right next to him broadcasting her show on Radio 1; I felt like I’d missed a great opportunity to sell Born!

She was kind enough to let the kids take a photo with her so I sent her a pair of Padraig slippers as a thank you and because I had a feeling she’d like them.

She sent me a lovely note and described them and the Organic Aden & Anais muslin I sent her as 'sooo gorgeous' and the booties as a "dream".

Her baby is due in January so if you see either of these 2 items on baby Cotton-Woods you'll know where they came from.

Love, Eva.

[caption id="attachment_1895" align="alignleft" width="454"] Trevor Nelson gives us a tour of the Radio 1Xtra studios.[/caption]

How to dress babies for cold weather

Your baby’s first winter is an exciting time. You have Christmas back to being almost as fun as it was when you were a child, Bonfire night, Halloween and lots of lovely walks in the woods. However, most new parents worry about keeping their baby warm enough as the weather get colder, and often a lot wetter too.

At night, you may worry about your baby’s room getting colder and how to keep them snuggly without overheating. If you want to check if your baby is warm enough, feel their tummies; often their hands and feet will feel colder and this is completely normal.

A room thermometer may give you added peace of mind at night. If you are using a sleeping bag, don’t use a blanket as well. Sleeping bags are a great way to keep your baby warm at night and void them kicking off the covers.

Stick to the same general rules during the day; remove hats, gloves and coats as soon as you get inside to avoid overheating and use your own clothing as a guideline for dressing your baby – if you are wearing several layers, then your baby will need roughly the same number themselves.

[caption id="attachment_1876" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Disana baby snugglesuits are made of boiled wool to help regulate your baby's temperature[/caption]

Try to stick to natural fibres such as silk, cotton and wool as these are more breathable than synthetics and will, in the case of wool, regulate your baby’s temperature somewhat too.

For little babies, a close-fitting cap to keep their heads warm is a good idea as babies lose most of their body heat through their heads. They won’t need to sleep in these though.

You will want to keep their feet covered with either socks or booties, especially if you are carrying them in a sling. When you are out and about, a good coverall is a fantastic choice, as you can simply remove it when you’re back inside and not have to worry about your baby being overdressed.

I’ve always loved dressing my babies in knitwear, and learned to knit myself to make them little cardigans for the winter; as they are so small they are relatively fast to make too!

Older babies and toddlers, especially once they are mobile, need layers that allow them to move without feeling too bulky. Boiled wool is a great choice as it is breathable yet fantastic at keeping kids warm.

[caption id="attachment_1880" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Padraig Cottage slippers are always a popular choice, especially when babywearing[/caption]

Indoors and in the sling, Padraig slippers are a great choice and have been one of our best-sellers since we opened. Tights and leggings are great for crawlers and we wholeheartedly recommend tights for boys too.

What do you most look forward to doing with your baby as the weather gets colder?

Love, Becky.

PS: We have a giveaway running for Padraig reviews.

Bye Bye Green Baby

It came as no surprise to us last month when we heard that Green Baby had gone  into receivership. This used to be a fantastic company, pioneering organic fashion for babies and children but all that went wrong when the founders were forced to sell the company 2 years ago. Jill and Jonathan Barker set the company up just a few months before Georgina and I started Born. We stocked their clothing from the beginning and with them at the helm they were one of our biggest clothing suppliers. In 2010 with the banking crisis they were forced into a situation where the only way the the business could continue was to bring in outside investors.  As is so often the case in these situations, with the founders leaving, the heart of the business went too.  We very quickly realised that the smaller independent businesses were not on their priority list anymore; they were chasing the large multiples. That coupled with messed up orders, lack of communication and in our opinion out of touch designs meant that we no longer wanted to work with the new owners in any way near the volume we once did.

Their disappearance was sudden, the website closed ‘for maintenance’ and the Facebook page just disappeared.  I still know Jill so had a chat about what was going on and you never know she may be able to resurrect the business, however for the mean time the brand lays in wait, being picked over by the investors.

So often with sustainable businesses we focus on the sustainability of the manufacturing process and forget that the business needs to be sutainable in the UK too. The business has to sustain rent, rates, salaries and keeping financially viable. This is a constant balancing act that we and other smaller independent companies struggle with everyday. In the 12 years we’ve been here we’ve seen so many businesses come and go, just a shame that this one has gone now too.

Eva

 

 

Top ten gifts for new mums

New mums are so often given things for their babies. While that's often useful and appreciated, gifts which nurture mothers can powerfully remind them that they matter too. That's why Born's Becky put together her "top ten" list of gifts for new mums:

1.
A new mother pampering kit by Natalia. All new mothers deserve a little luxury and should be encouraged to have a nice, unwinding bath regularly.

2.
A multi-functional and incredibly comfortable feeding top from Boob. Designed to cover up a new mum's tummy while she's feeding.

3.
Some gift vouchers from Born. You can use these online to shop while sitting on the sofa feeding. Alternatively, you could make a home-made voucher booklet for gifts of time and energy, like an hour of cleaning, home-cooked meals, a good foot rub. This is a great gift for a close friend or sister.

4.
A nice book to read about mothering. What Mothers Do by Naomi Stadlen is reassuring and helps mothers feel more comfortable in their new role. (Naomi also runs groups in our London shop)

5.
A comfortable sling to help her get out and about - either a Moby or a Caboo?

6.
A beautiful blanket, to keep both her and her baby warm during night feeds.

7.
Some herbal teas, plus a cute teapot to go with them - and some cakes! Or you could add a regular veg box delivery. It's more healthy than just cakes and if you chip in and get with a bunch of friends you can often get quite generous boxes that include eggs, milk etc.

8.
The ultimate gift - an Olliella chair. It will last forever and looks beautiful in any room.

9.
A great changing bag is useful. Avoiding carrying one of those horror mummy bags is always a plus.

10. A cleaning lady. Many firms will do a big house clean or come for a few hours several times a week. This could mean more to the new mum in your life than you know!

Eva's pick: Disana, Hape and Orbit Baby

This week, "Ready for fun".

Disana is perfect for Autumn and Winter. It doesn't need washing, regulates your baby's body heat and lasts forever so makes perfect hand-me-downs.

Hape toys are simply high quality, reasonably-priced wooden toys.

The Orbit G2 stroller rolled past in action film Looper. It just goes to show that this pushchair's design is so advanced, it's practically futuristic.

Where to get them:

Disana boiled wool overall
Hape Wooden Peg Puzzle
Orbit G2 Stroller

Seven secrets of a joyful hospital birth by Dominique Sakoilsky

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