Top Ten Gifts for New Mums

New mums are so often given gifts for their babies and while that's often useful and appreciated, gifts that nurture mothers can powerfully remind them that they matter too. That's why we've put together our "top ten" list of gifts for new mums, and with Christmas approaching, there might be some ideas for some not-so-new mums too!


1.

Mums Gorgeous Pampering Box by Natalia. All new mothers deserve a little luxury and should be encouraged to have a nice, unwinding bath regularly. Or try the New Parent Survival Box with some gorgeous massage oil that can be used on mum or the baby!


2.

An incredibly comfortable maternity and nursing bra - new mums need to live and often sleep in these, so a bra that is gentle and totally soft to wear will be appreciated!



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 supportive book about parenting. We like Imperfectly Natural Woman by Janey Lee Grace - a great read about how to maintain a healthy, greener lifestyle as a family whilst recognising our imperfections! We've got an offer on ALL parenting books at the moment, so when you buy two, you get a third free!



5.

A comfortable sling or wrap to help her get out and about without any hassle - there are some gorgeous wraps in our range including the Je Porte Mon Bebe Lightweight Wraps which have some great, funky designs.



6.

A beautiful blanket, to keep both her and her baby warm during night feeds. These are lovely for snuggling up with, especially on wintery evenings.



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. The Pacapod Changing Bags are a changing bag in disguise and can be used as a handbag once nappy-days are over!



10.

A cleaner. 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!

Don't forget to look at our special New Parent Gifts section on our website for more ideas!

Dressing Your Baby for Cold Weather

With all hopes of that Indian Summer long gone, it's sadly time to put away your baby's shorts, sunhat and sunshade. But don't be too disheartened - Autumn and Winter are an exciting time, especially when you have a little one. 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, many new parents worry about keeping their baby warm enough as the weather get colder, and often a lot wetter too. How do you keep your baby snug without them getting too hot?


Indoors

A great rule that we often advise our shop customers is to 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.

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.  Why not go further and knit your little one their own cardigans and jumpers? Knitting patterns have come a long way since the dowdiness of the 1970's and 80's!

For little babies, a close-fitting hat 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.

Older babies and toddlers, especially once they are mobile, need layers that allow them to move without feeling too bulky - again, natural fibres allow little bodies to breathe whilst keeping them warm.

A close fitting hat can keep young babies warm during the day

Outdoors

When you are out and about, a good all-in-one is a fantastic choice. There's no need to add layers underneath and you can simply remove it when you’re back inside and not have to worry about your baby being overdressed. Some all-in-ones have mittens incorporated in the design, so little fingers and hands will stay warm too - if yours doesn't, make sure you take some mittens along too (it's worth having spares, as baby mittens seem to vanish in the winter, in the same way that baby socks do in the summer!).

You will want to keep their feet covered with either socks or booties, especially if you are carrying them in a sling. Baby Legwarmers are a brilliant idea for sling passengers too - they add extra warmth to your baby's legs without bulking them out and making them uncomfortable. They also make nappy changes so much easier!  Indoors and in the sling, Padraig slippers are a great choice and have been one of our best-sellers for over ten years.

Remove hats, gloves and coats as soon as you get inside to avoid overheating.

Waterproof Overalls are great for toddlers and older children

Night Time

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 avoid them kicking off the covers.

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

Top Tips for Coping with Morning Sickness Naturally

Morning Sickness usually occurs within the first trimester of pregnancy, but it can last throughout the whole nine months with varying degrees of intensity. If you are struggling with morning sickness, what can you do to help alleviate the symptoms that is safe and risk free for both you and your baby? We asked the ante-natal teachers and doulas of Relaxed Birth and Parenting for their top natural tips for coping with morning sickness:

• A Ginger Drink: Take a piece of root ginger about 5cms long, hit it with a rolling pin, put it in pan with boiling water and simmer for 20mins with the lid on - allow to cool, and sip.


• Dry arrowroot biscuits


• Try roll on 'Morning Sickness Ease' by Natalia, a blend of Peppermint, Ginger and Bergamot essential oils to apply to your pulse points. 


• Ginger beer


• Ginger biscuits


• Preggie Pops - Naturally flavoured with essential oils, these lollipops and sweets help to naturally relieve nausea.


• Flat Lemonade


• Bath Olivers


• Acupuncture


• Reflexology


• Homeopathy  See a Homeopath or take Nux Vomica 6c (please make sure to seek advice from a practitioner before taking any homeopathic remedies).


• Cold showers


• Sucking on ice cubes


• Sniffing lemons


• Dry toast


• Digestive biscuits


• A Shot of Ginger Tincture:  This should be taken with water, as ginger tinctures are usually in about 90% alcohol (don't worry about the alcohol...you're only taking about 2ml of tincture in one go, probably even less as ginger is so strong)


• Eating frequently, and lots of rest and sleep


• Eating something before getting out of bed

Try the one that sounds attractive, see how you go and then move on to another if no relief - and remember, it will all be worth it!