Baba + Boo Limited Edition Reusable Cloth Nappy

Baba + Boo was born when Eve wanted to use cloth nappies on her daughter but found that the nappies that were on the market were expensive. She decided to use her skills from her previous job as a buyer to source excellent quality nappies at a  fraction of the price, and also funky designs. The company has quickly expanded and now Eve designs and produces her own nappies and shoes. All of the products are of excellent quality, and have been produced under strict codes of conduct so you an be assured that they have been produced ethically.

The lovely Eve has sent me her new Limited Edition Green Camouflage cloth nappy to review. I love cloth nappies, and I also love green camo nappies, I have three of them, so I was very excited when I received the parcel.

The nappy is suitable for children that are between 10lb- 37lb, so it is a birth to potty nappy, and it has a high rise so it is a good fit. The outer fabric is a printed poly/cotton with a waterproof lining, and it comes with two microfibre inserts. The nappy is fastened by poppers.

My first impression of the nappy was fantastic, it had an extra popper on either side that meant no wing droop, which has started to become a problem for us with some of our nappies. The material was very stretchy and the inserts were thick, seemed like they were very good quality, and they also had poppers down the middle so I could change them into a boy fitting for more absorbency for up front.

When the time came for Zane to wear the nappy after it had all of its prewashes I was a bit worried. The insert could only go as far as the poppers, all of my other nappies can be stuffed right up to the waist band. I was a little apprehensive and thought he might have a wet tummy within a short time. I put it out of my mind and we went out to play. The fit was lovely, Zane is a big boy for his age, and is easily pushing the top of the weight limit for the nappy but he still had lots of room left to grow into. The nappy wasn't a slim fit, but it wasn't that bulky either, and I used both inserts as Zane is a heavy wetter.

When we were playing I observed how he moved in the nappy, it was very flexible, probably one of the most flexible nappies that we own. His walking and playing wasn't affected, and the best bit was that he wasn't waddling! He put the nappy through its paces going down the slide, sitting in his sand pit and running up and down the garden. At no point did he have a builders bum, or gaping between the legs, he looked really comfortable. When it came to changing the nappy easily lasted three hours, it could have probably lasted longer but it was time for bed so we couldn't carry out a longer test. Daddy was testing the nappy with us and he was very impressed with the design, and fit, so if you need to try and persuade your other half to try cloth nappies, then Baba + Boo could help you.

The Baba + Boo Limited Edition nappies retail at £9.75 each, which I think is very reasonable for the quality that you are getting. Take a look at the Baba + Boo web page to see the rest of their funky designs, and also the rest of their lovely products.

Real Easy Nappies by Hip Hip Baby! Review

I have been sent a nappy from BabyKind to review with Zane. BabyKind are a family run business based in Wales, who supply a wide range of cloth nappies, cloth nappy trials and kits, and offer expert advice. They don't just supply nappies though, they also sell organic toiletries, bandana bibs, clothing and shoes, wool toys, Mooncup, and many more items.

BabyKind sent me a Real Easy Nappy by Hip Hip Baby!, Real Easy Nappies are an All in One/Pocket nappy hybrid. Usually All in Ones aren't the fastest to dry, this nappy though has a pocket and the three layer organic cotton pad inside flaps out to enable efficient washing and quick drying. Sewn into the fleece inner is a microterry soaker pad which is two layers thick, so you have five layers of absorbency! The waterproof outer is very stretchy for a better fit, and also has a comfort leg design which stops chaffing and red marks. You can get nappies with an made of soft polyester cloth, or soft  Minky which is lovely to stroke, both types of outer have anti wicking technology to stop wetness spreading around the edges.

Once the nappy had been washed up to full absorbency we gave it a go. This nappy was the first all in one that I had tried so I am not practiced in stuffing the insert in when it is already attached to the nappy. I found it a bit difficult to get it straight and flat at first as the insert is quite thick and wide, it scrunched up at the front of the nappy, but after taking a little time it was nice and flat, it was a bit like putting your duvet in the quilt cover, you get there quicker with practice. When putting the nappy on it stretched really well over Zane's bum and it was a lovely fit. I was a bit puzzled by the poppers at first as they are diagonal, another first for me, but once they were done up I was very pleased with the fit of the nappy. It fit really nice around his legs and tummy, I felt confident that the nappy would perform well because it was a snug fit and not tight at all. I was amazed at how slim it looked on him, I thought that as the insert was quite thick, and along with the sewn in pad made me think it would be quite bulky, but it wasn't at all.

In terms of absorbency I was amazed again. I never hold much hope for brand new nappies on their first go as they haven't been washed a lot to reach their full potential, but this nappy surpassed all of my expectations. I changed Zane after 4 hours and his bottom was dry, there were no leaks, and no red marks. I can see that these nappies would have great potential to be an option as a night nappy. As you stuff the flip out insert into a pocket there is space for additional boosters, and because the nappy is very slim already it wouldn't add too much bulk.

You can buy Real Easy Nappies from http://www.babykind.co.uk/realeasynappies.htm at the very reasonable price of between £10.99 - £12.99 depending on the size of nappy that your baby requires. Their website features a lot of products other than nappies so it is well worth checking it out, you are bound to find something that you like.

Organix Mighty Meals Review

Organix prides itself in creating baby food which only contains organic and natural ingredients, with nothing unnecessary added and no goodness taken away. Their food is suitable from the start of weaning up until your child is 3 years old, and the product range includes baby porridge, jars, steamed meals, toddler meals, finger foods and various snacks.

I have been sent four of Organix new Mighty Meals that are suitable for toddlers. There are four different meals, Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sweetcorn, Hearty Lamb Hotpot with Vegetables, Tomatoey Beef Bolognese with Butternut Squash and Pasta Shells, and Spinach Felafel's in Big Beany Sweet Red Pepper Sauce.

I wasn't sure how this review would go, we have done Baby Led Weaning since Zane was six months old. Previous to that we had tried him with a couple of jars and pouches but he just wanted to feed himself, so baby led weaning was the obvious way for us to carry on weaning. He always eats what we eat, so I was very impressed when we tried Mighty Meals because they looked just like something we would eat normally.

We tried the Spinach Falafels meal first. The falafels were just like normal falafels and the sauce had lots of texture to it, and you could see what it consisted of. The meal was so easy to cook, just 40 seconds in the microwave and it was the perfect temperature to be eaten right away. I tried a little bit before I gave it to Zane as I would only give him food that I would be happy to eat myself, and I was very impressed. The flavour was very interesting, and not at all bland compared to other baby food that I had tasted before. When we gave Zane his dinner he tucked in straight away and he seemed to enjoy it, and not much ended up on the floor, cupboards, cooker, ceiling or on me! So that was a very good sign that he liked the dinner. The rest of the meals went down equally well, Organix Mighty Meals were a hit.

The things that I liked about the meals are the portion sizes are perfect, I can understand what every single ingredient is on the ingrediants list, the meals all had herbs and spices added so they weren't bland, and that they looked like actual dinners which I would serve up myself, meaning that I could give him one of these meals and he wouldnt be phased because it looks no different to what he usually eats. They would be so handy to have in the cupboard for if we get home late and needed to give him his dinner quickly and still know that he is eating well, or if we wanted a takeaway that wasn't suitable for him.

It is hard for me to find anything which I dont like about these meals, the only thing that I can think of is that it would be good if there were more variety. Currently there are four meals and they are a good range of tastes, but if there were more variety it would be more realistic to home cooking.

Have a look at Organix very informative website http://www.organix.com/. There you will find their range of foods, recipes, feeding advice and a meal planner.

Halos N Horns Review

When I first realised that Zane had sensitive skin I went on my favorite mummy forum to find out which bath product other Mums had been using to bathe the little ones with. The same name kept coming up, Halos N Horns.

The reason that they are better for sensitive skin than standard bath products, is that the makers think that it is important to remove as many chemicals as they can, and replace them with plant based alternatives. Halos N Horns products are free from SLS (Sodium Laureth Sulphate), Parabens, Phtalates, Methylisothiazoline, Tricolsan, and Propylene Glycol. Replacing these chemicals with plant based alternatives means that the products are gentle on skin, kind to eyes, and hypoallergenic. Perfect for childrens skin.

I decided to put Halos N Horns to the test and I have been sent two products to review, Mango Melon Mayhem Shampoo & Condition, and Toothy Fruity Toothpaste.

I was really looking forward to trying these products out so gave Zane a bath straight away, the shampoo smelt subtle but fruity. It created a lather which wasn't really foamy, which meant that it didnt drip down his forehead into his eyes, which is brilliant for a happy bathtime. After his bath I had a look at the results and his hair was soft, and seemed really clean. The dry skin on his head seemed to better too so I was pleased to see that it hadn't dried his scalp out like other products had. It's great that it is suitable for sensitive skin because Zane loves getting mucky so needs to have a bath frequantly, I know that I can use it without worrying that it will irritate his excema. I would definately use this shampoo & conditioner again.

We have used the Toothy Fruity Toothpaste everyday since receiving it and Zane loves it, it tastes of strawberries and bananas, so because it tastes nice, it is a better experience and he wasnt so bothered about me putting his toothbrush in his mouth. The toothpaste is SLS free so you can be confident that your child isnt swallowing chemicals, and also as this is the ingrediant which creates foam, your child wont get a mouth full of foam, which I imagine would be a strange sensation for a young child. The toothpaste contains recommended amount of flouride advised by the British Dental Health Foundation too so you know that their teeth are getting the protection that they need.

You can buy Halos N Horns products from a wide variety of retailers, the RRP price for the shampoo and conditioner is £2.69, and the the toothpaste is £2.29.

Check out their website to see the rest of their range http://www.halosnhorns.co.uk/index.html

WOW Toys Review

WOW Toys are a multiple award winning toy manufacturer who make some fantastic toys, most are suitable from when your baby is 18 months old. Their toys don't require any batteries but they still have amazing features and functions for your child to discover. The toys are designed to assist with early development by including exciting features which assist with a range of sensory skills, ranging from development of fine motor skills to interactive role play. Perfect for little ones to explore!

WOW Toys have sent me a Roll-It Riley to review with Zane. If any other children are obsessed with transport like Zane they will be in their element. He was so excited just seeing the box, it has lots of pictures showing you features of the toy, and their is a lovely scenery in the background behind the toy, which can be pulled out of the box and used to aid play if you wanted to.

The toy is very durable, the plastic feels very solid and thick, and the thing that impressed me the most was that the main body of it was all one piece, so it felt like it was safe to play with and I knew it wouldn't break easily, which to me makes it feel llike it is more value for money as I know that it will last.

The toy came with two separate accessories, a workman figure, and a road sign. Zane loved to put the workman in the seat space and then take him back out again, so it is great for his fine motor skills, and I can see that when he is older he can use him for role play, its will also help adults get engaged in the play too. The construction sign will be useful in the future to assist with role play, and it is something which you can point out in real life situations.

Zane loved playing with Roll-It Riley, he liked pushing it along the floor and as it is a friction powered toy it carried on going after he had stopped pushing. The roller makes a noise as it moves across the ground which is engaging, and it is also split into two halves so you can spin and sort the faces, adding an extra dimension to play.

I love this toy because it is sturdy, I can trust that it wont easily break. It is suitable for a very long time as it can be played with in many different ways, all enhancing sensory development as the child grows. The only thing that I didn't like was that to get it out of the box there were lots of ties holding the toy in place and it took me a while to separate the toy from the packaging, Zane got quite impatient. That is only a one off problem though, so to counteract that you could detach it before the child see's it so that they could play straight away. The ties do come in useful for us though because we reuse things as much as we possibly can, we can use these ties for gardening to tie plants to cane's.

You can visit WOW Toys on their fantastic website which is full of personality on the following link http://www.wowtoys.com

I'm sure you will find something which your child will love for a very long time.

Bum Deal Nappy Review

This is a very special review as it is my first, and what else could I do as a first review except for a cloth nappy! I have been sent a gorgeous nappy from Ella at Bum Deal Nappies. Bum Deal Nappies specialise in  funky, easy to use cloth nappies that are affordable prices, making cloth nappies seem so easy.

I received a Bum Deal Giraffe print nappy, with a soft minky outer, and Velcro for fastening. It is suitable from birth to potty, and it has poppers up the front so that you can adjust the size. They also sent me a Bamboo/cotton booster which can be used for heavy wetters, or to convert the nappy into a night nappy, a reusable wipe which was double sided with fleece and terry towelling, and some Little Lambs flushable viscose, and paper liners.

When I received the nappy through the post it was gift wrapped beautifully, like I was getting a  present, which lets face it, buying nappies is like buying yourself a little present, everyone knows you don't just buy them for your babies bum except of course to make them even cuter! I put the nappy, booster and wipe in with the rest of my nappy wash and did extra prewashes to make it all more absorbent, and then pegged them out on the line to dry. I was amazed at how quickly it all dried, even the bamboo/cotton booster, usually mine are the last thing to be dry.

When we came to use the nappy I was very pleased with the fit. The Velcro meant that it was snug around Zane's waist, and there was no gaping around the legs.  I had used two microfibre inserts and it was still very slim, I had no trouble at all fitting his trousers over the top of the nappy. I changed the nappy after three hours and there were no leaks, no red marks around the legs, and the most important thing is no wet bum!

I changed Zane into one of our own nappies but used a microfibre and the bamboo/cotton booster. I also used a Little Lambs flushable viscose liner. It was nap time so these were really going to be put to the test, I had my full faith in the booster as I rate bamboo very highly, but I was worried about the viscose liner not keeping the moisture away, making him uncomfortable and waking him. I must add that I was suprised at how soft the liner was, not at all coarse or unflexible. He had a lovely long nap and the nappy was still reletively dry, I changed it after four hours and again there were no leaks, I think he could definately have worn the nappy for longer, the liner had kept his bum reasonable dry, he was only very slightly moist which I think is still good performance because of the length of time that it was worn. I later used the paper liner and was equally impressed.

This was the first time that I had used a double sided wipe, usually I use just fleece. I used a solution of water and a drop of bubble bath to soak the wipe before use. I was extreamly happy with how the wipe performed, it was thick, which for me feels like it is more effective, and with it being double sided the terry was very good at getting solids off without having to keep going over an area, and then the fleece side was lovely for drying his bum.

Overall I am very impressed with Bum Deal Nappies. The nappy was gorgeous and a superb fit, which is excellent as the nappies retail at a very affordable £6.45. I feel that you could have a whole stash of these and you wouldn't be disappointed, or take too much of a hit to your bank balance either. The bamboo/cotton booster was my favorite item, I was so impressed with the time that it took to dry, and its performance whilst in use was excellent, I would definately buy more of these, and again the price is excellent at £1.50 per booster. I loved the double sided wipe, using it felt like I was really caring for his bottom as he was lovely and dry when I had finished, and there were no chemicals. Also I wasn't adding anything at all from the nappy change to the landfill which is important to me. I think that the flushable liners both performed well, and I was impressed with their softness, personally I prefer fleece liners for day to day use, but the flushable liners would be perfect for if you were out for the day and didnt want to carry soiled fleece.

Check out these products and more on http://bumdealnappies.co.uk/ I sure you will find something that you love!