Smart Skincare

Most of us never gave skincare as much thought as we do now we are parents. Before we chose whatever worked well for us, what was on special, what smelt good or what was trendy - but how many of us chose our skincare by ingredients?

Skincare is made up from 6 basic ingredients: emollients, humectants, emulsifiers, surfactants, preservatives and antioxidants and all of these can either be good for your skin - or not so good!

Emollients are perhaps the most important part of any moiturising skincare product. Emollients add moisture to your skin, making it feel soft and not dry. Synthetic emollients are most common in today's skincare, and they tend to be made from petrochemicals which can irritate skin, however natural emollients are beneficial and do a much better job of nourishing dry skin without the irritation.

Look for products which use natural emollients like evening primrose oil, sweet almond oil and wheat germ oil.

Humectants attract nad hold water from the environment (particularly the air) and slowly release it into your skin. Unfortunately many humectants in use today are harsh industrial chemicals which coat the skin and cause irritation.

Look for products which use natural humectants including vegetable glycerine and provitamin B5 also called panthenol.

Emulsifiers are compounds that allow water and oil to mix. Most products use petroleum derivatives as emulsifiers, however these can be allergens. Natural Emulsifiers are a much better option and a less likely to cause irritation or allergies.

Look for products which use natural emulsifiers including decyl polyglucoside which is made from sugar cane.

Surfactants are found in shampoos, washes,soaps and soap alternatives, they are what removes dirt and oil, allowing it to be washed away, and essentially - make you nice and clean! Natural Surfactants are the best choice because unlike synthetics they are less likely to strip the good oils out of your skin. Some Surfactants, especially Sodium Laurel Sulphate and other sulphates may even be harmful.

Look for products which use natural surfactants usually made from palm or coconut oils.

Preservatives are designed to make your products last longer, but many preservatives are unhealthy and can cause skin problems. While all skincare products require the use of preservatives to prevent them from going off and harbouring bacteria there are some preservatives to avoid.

AVOID the use of products which use methyl paraben, propyl paraben, butyl paraben, ethyl paraben and preservatives from the paraben family.

Antioxidants often confused with preservatives antioxidants are used to prevent just the minerals in a product from going off. They are also widely used to smoothe wrinkles as well as preventing or slowing the signs of ageing. Most products use either Vitamin E or the less effective d-alpha tocopheryl acetate.

Look for products which use Vitamin E as their antioxidant, as it is more effective than its man-made counterpart.

Mum & Bubs believe that providing new mums and their babies with skincare that is safe and effective is important, so all of our products adhere to the recommendations above. We only stock skincare that is natural and uses organic ingredients where possible.

One Size Fuzzi Bunz are coming to Mum & Bubs! These nappies are so popular the waiting time for reatilers to receive them is measured by months instead of the usual weeks or days, but Mum & Bubs are already counting down and we expect to have them by Spring!

We'll be opening up preorders in the next few weeks, and preorders will be highly recommended because I expect they will sell out fast.

Babywearing

The Babywearing section on the Mum & Bubs website is worth checking out if you're pregnant or if you have a baby, in fact spending a little time checking out this section could make parenting a whole lot easier!

Babywearing Facts and Myths

Wearing my baby will reduce their crying.
TRUE Wearing your baby will reduce their crying. In a study of 99 mothers and babies pediatricians in Montreal provided half the group with babycarriers and asked their mothers to wear their babies for at least and extra three hours a day regardless of how their baby's fussed. After 6 weeks they found the carried babies cried an average of 43% less than the control group.

My baby be bored if they are worn all the time.
FALSE A worn baby experiences what you experience, they learn more about the world around them through you then they would sitting in a bouncer or even in a pram. Even doing household chores can be more educational and entertaining for a baby than we could possibly imagine!

Wearing my baby is healthier for them.
TRUE gentle tummy pressure from babywearing helps with digestion, close contact helps regulate body temperature and can even have benefits for baby's breathing and heart function. Many parents also find colicky and reflux babies are more comfortable in a carrier, particularly one which allows them to be upright, even if they need to nap.

Babywearing is uncomfortable and could damage my back.
FALSE Wearing a carrier in the correct way shoudl never be dangerous or uncomfortable. If you are worried about comfort or if you have some problems with your back, neck or shoulders there are options which will suit you better, such as the ergo or ergo sport both of which are chiropractically endorsed and designed to offer maximum comfort and support.

Worn babies learn more.
TRUE Babies who are worn spend more time in a state of 'quiet altertness'. Baby is calm & secure but still aware of their surroundings and more receptive to learning new things. Many people note babies who are worn seem to be quick learners and are 'humanized' (learn how to be a human!) earlier.

Wearing a baby a lot will be a hassle.
FALSE Quite the opposite, you will find you are able to get things done quicker and easier while wearing your baby, instead of waiting for a moment when they are calm (and safe) or asleep to do what needs to be done. Wearing your baby will also provide discreet breastfeeding, or a safe sleeping place wherever you are, and it will eliminate the need to always have a bulky stroller with you, what a bonus when you're in a rush at a crowded mall!

There are plenty of reasons to give babywearing a try, let us know if you would like help choosing the right babycarrier for you!

Want a $100 Giftvoucher?

It's easy! Just join us on Facebook and share your baby tips for a chance to win. The competition will run until the end of August when we will choose our top 10 entries and give YOU the chance to vote for your favourite. Of course out top 10 tipsters will be rewarded as well.

Enter as many times as you like - and all the best!

Prewashing New Nappies

New nappies are always exciting, even for me! But what do you do when they come? Are you restrained enough to wash them before trying them on? Or are you more like me and can't wait!

When it comes to rpewashing there are two types of nappies, ones which should probably be prewashed once before use for hygeine reasons (this is good practise for any new clothes going onto your baby - remember they have probably passed through several hands on their way to your baby) and then the ones which need prewashing up to 10 times to enabel them to absorb properly.

If your nappies are made using cotton, hemp, bamboo or any other natural fiber you'll need to prewash them up to 10 times to remove excess oils and to fluff up the absorbing fibers. Nappies with natural fibers are kind of like new towels, they never absorb as well until they've been washed, and with nappies this lack of absorption can cause leaks.

Prewashing is easy, you can wash with your regular washing, there is no need to dry the nappies in between washes and most people will find 4-6 prewashes sufficient. Just make sure you try a newly prewashed nappy out at home first.

My tip - if you're buying lots of nappies you haven't tried before prewash just one or two first, that way if the nappies really aren't right for you and your baby you can returned the unwashed and unused nappies and exchange them for a different brand!

Cloth Nappies

Looking for nappies? Make sure you take a look at Baby First Cloth Nappies in the All in Twos section on our website. Baby First cloth nappies are our best selling nappies - and they haven't even been on the market for a year, but after more than two years of development it's no wonder they are already so popular.

Baby First cloth nappies are an All in Two, they consist of a waterproof 'outer' and an absorbent 'inner' or 'insert'. To use them you simply lay and inner directly inside the outer, and when the inner is wet you replace it with a new one, reusing the cover several times or until it is soiled. So unlike pocket nappies or all in ones you don't have to change the whole nappy all the time saving you money!

These nappies are also reliable, mums are loving the unique leg gussets that are designed to keep even the runniest messes inside the nappy, and because of their All in Two design it is easy to boost absorbency by adding extra inners to the nappy as needed.

We love the nifty way these nappies fit babies. Available in two sizes the first size caters for little babies aged 0-8mths who need a smaller nappy while the second size fits from 4-36mths+. There's no need to buy 3-4 different sizes because these two do the lot! And unlike most one size nappies they won't leave your newborn looking like they are all nappy and no baby.

Baby First Cloth Nappies are just $19.95 each for an outer and two inners. We recommend having 12 nappies in each size (that's up to 24 changes!) giving you 2-3 days between washes depending on your baby's age.

The Truth About Washing Detergents

Did you know the #1 reason we find customers aren't getting the best out of their nappies is because of their washing powder? It's a simple thing to change and it can make all the difference.

Using an eco-friendly, biodegradeable detergent that is suitable for sensitive skin is what we recommend in our care instructions and on our website, and believe it or not we don't recommend these just because we care for the environment, they really do have real benefits for your nappies as well.

Detergent issue #1

Perhaps the most common mistake made with detergents is the use of brands that don't break down easily (or at all!) and are full of enzymes, perfumes and fillers, these are usually the cheaper brands but don't be fooled because using a better quality detergent will usually allow you to use and spend less in the long run. While it's obvious non-biodegradeable detergents are not so environmentally friendly did you know they can also leave an oily build up on your nappy that will prevent them from absorbing and cause leaks? The perfumes are also more likely to irritate baby's skin and overuse of these detergents can speed up the deterioration of the fabrics in your nappy, particularly elastics.

Detergent issue #2

Detergent overuse. Did you know we recommend using just 1-2Tbsp of detergent in your wash? That's right as little as possible. This will also help prevent build up, fabric deterioration and skin irritation. And with almost 4 years experience washing nappies I can honestly say a Tablespoon or two of detergent is all I need in my wash to make my nappies clean!

Detergent issue #3

Baking Soda and Vinegar has been recommended by many cloth nappy users in recent years, but I am yet to find a manufacturer who supports its use - why? Vinegar and baking soda washes will deteriorate your fabrics very very quickly and could leave you with nappies that aren't any use at all!

Detergent issue #4

Napisan is a sticky subject, some people don't think it affects modern cloth nappies while others believe it can encourage quick deterioration of elastics and can even encourage the waterproofing on your nappies to 'delaminate' or pull away from the outer fabric. Mum & Bubs don't recommend the use of Napisan, which is not biodegradeable, and we recommend replacing it with biodegradeable Nappy Fresh which will definately be kind to your nappies.

Detergent issue #5

Lux Flakes, Pure Soap Products & Fabric Softeners. All worth avoiding as they cause 'build up' (often within 1 or 2 washes!) and cause leaking.

We particularly like Next Generation, Ecostore, Ecover & Persil Sensitive

It’s that time again, winter has well and truly set in and the good nappy drying days are over until at least September. Winter colds and flus are also about and without guaranteed sun to sanitize your nappies (2hrs of sunlight will sanitize your nappies) and to bleach out stains and smells it’s a good time to stock up on a winter essential, Nappy Fresh. If you haven’t used Nappy Fresh before make sure you check it out at www.mumandbubs.co.nz/washingup.htm septic-tank friendly it will sanitize your nappies and remove smells and stains without damaging the fabric or our environment.

*Please note the product packaging shown is different to current packaging.

Hot Milk has arrived at Mum & Bubs! We just love the Hot Milk collection, it combines support and comfort with gorgeous designs that keep mums looking and feeling great. Mum & Bubs offer FREE shipping on all Hot Milk purchases to NZ - and if you spend over $60 we'll ship FREE to Australia as well. Plus buy any Hot Milk lingerie set and we'll throw in a free pair of Milk Man Boxer Briefs for the new dad.

Mum & Bubs is Changing!

We are delighted to be able to tell everyone about the changes going on at Mum & Bubs. As some of you will have already seen on our website Mum & Bubs has had a very recent change of ownership, and we know you’ll appreciate what new owner, Averil Stanton, has to offer.

Averil will bring the resources and experience needed to bring you a more efficient shopping experience. As a customer you will notice drastically increased stock levels, courier delivery*, new products, competitive pricing and top quality customer service from experienced staff.

Of course to celebrate Mum & Bubs is having a huge clearance sale, check the specials sections on the website over the next few days for some of the biggest discounts Mum & Bubs has ever offered.