Natty nappies

On Friday we had a visitor.  She was a chirpy lady.  A happy lady.  She's our local nappy lady.  

She's an advocate for reusables as opposed to disposables.  We've been wanting to meet her for a while, for two reasons. One, she's a legend around the Antenatal classes - in every one I've been to she's been mentioned.  And two, we promised ourselves we would use disposables for six weeks then try reusables.  We've collected a fair amount over the past few months and wanted to know more about what we have and what we need.  And more we got.  

We were told all about Motherease, Tots Bots, Bum Genius, Fuzzibunz, Bambeasy.  And the difference between bamboo and fleece, how to wash them and store them, and what times of day which should be used.

We were also told all about the way they are used too. Usually there's a lot of discretion when talking about bodily functions, a little less when talking about babies, but there is still some.  Not on Friday in our house, though.  I've never hear the word pee said with so much gusto or poo with as much vigour.  And later when she was talking about older boys and their power pees you could hardly contain her.

Anyway she was very impressed with our stock and said we could start using what we had straight away.  So we did.  I have to say with great results too.  Even an Aidan master-blaster couldn't break through them.  We've had one wet one - when dad didn't cover the inner lining with the outer layer fully. But apart from human error they've been, on average, a lot more successful than Pampers and their competition.  

I now find myself changing Aidan thinking about nappy company names: 

SweetCheeks?  BumChums?  Or, in the US, how about FleecyFurryFannies?  I know this would be wrong in the UK but could it catch on in the States?

I guess I shouldn't give up my day job.

Girly time...with me too

On Saturday night after we'd had a feast of food, too many laughs - you may think you can never have too many but after Indian food, believe me, you can - and played a game, things were settling down when Alison said to Erin that she should go with her and Kirsty.

Alison was born to be a mother.  She also loves to pass on advice and anything else, if she can. In this instance it was maternity clothes.  She'd mentioned that Erin could have a few clothes, which Erin was very grateful for, so off they went upstairs.

I went up a few minutes later to see what was going on and they were just finishing with the first large sackful of clothes. Alison had stored  her clothes as well as some from a few other friends. There were maternity PJs, skirts, trousers - the elasticated ones which would be great for any fat person - jeans, fleeces, tight tops, loose tops, classy-dressy-dresses and loungey-softy-comfy-joggers.  The lot.

I was also told to try on the baby carrier.  It took three women, manhandling me like I've never been before, for a good few minutes, to get it on but once it was on and a teddy bear was stuffed in it I walked around almost as proud as I will be when I'm walking around London with my little one.

After this, most people left and we were on our way too but not before we got a lesson in nappies (or diapers).  Alison and Railton use the reusable ones which are good for the environment. We'd like to too and so got Alison to give us the lowdown.  We left feeling a little more knowledgeable. And for those days when you just need to use disposable ones, apparently the discount supermarket Lidl does a large pack for a fiver.