cottonlily.com

We love our baby stuff organic and eco friendly. Chatting about all things mummy, daddy and baby as well as our inspirations.

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Breastfeeding Spring wear by chellemccann featuring summer scarves

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Breastfeeding Spring wear by chellemccann featuring summer scarves

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Untitled #49 by chellemccann featuring a pink shirt

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Untitled #48 by chellemccann featuring a pink dress

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Untitled #47 by chellemccann featuring wedge sandals

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Choies Hot Pink Cut-out Sleeveless High Waist Skater Dress ❤ liked on Polyvore (see more pink skater dresses)

[samjetaylor]

Thank you very much for your speech the other day. It was simple, eloquent, and insightful.

I’m very sorry a few of my gender took it upon themselves to demonstrate the idiocy against which you were appealing. I’m also sorry The Telegraph decided your outfit was more important than your words;...

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Across the school ears pricked up. Children glanced at each other, then stared at the walls through which the music soared. Violins, cellos, tubas; sounds at once completely foreign yet utterly familiar.

For anyone who doubts the importance of music education, just watch the first 10 minutes of...

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Maternity in Blue by chellemccann on Polyvore

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I am blogging this by chellemccann featuring handmade coffee mugs

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Fertility - The Big IVF Question

The modern woman (juggler of career, relationships, social life and more) contemplates having children much later than her mother and her grandmother. Women are now having babies at a median age of 31, older than the previous generations' 27.

This age increase means a slight decrease in fertility. Which poses the problem, how long is too long to wait before you reproduce? Our biological clocks don't wait for us to be satisfied in our careers and relationships. It just goes on ticking, and the number of viable eggs decreases sharply after 35.

IVF has been a proven solution to many would be parents. Fertility treatments are a big decision, but one that has a higher success rate in the Western world than other remedies.

It's a long journey and a huge decision, but women of all ages are turning to IVF to make their baby dreams come true.

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Meeting outfit by chellemccann featuring high-heel shoes

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Baby food in glass jars taste so... metallic. Why?

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Feeding your Newborn

Our Blogger ambassador Bex from www.mummyadventure.com joines us to share her newborn feeding tips.

Of all the parenting issues, how you feed your newborn seems to be one that causes the most stress.  There are mother's whose opinions are so strong that they don't take anything else into account and are first to look down at you whatever your choices.  Luckily there is also plenty of support whichever decision you make and plenty of people that just don't care how your baby gets their milk as long as they are getting it.

I think the most important thing is to be happy with your decision.  I know so many parents who moved on to bottle feeding as they didn't get the support and help they needed to breastfeed and they have not gotten over this fact.  I also know mums who felt pressured to breastfeed even though they didn't enjoy it and found it stressful and painful.  I think both of these situtations are as bad as each other.

I was lucky enough to make my choice and be able to stick to it which meant a happy mummy and happy bubba.  Our breastfeeding journey lasted nearly nine months with ups and downs of course, but it came to an end when we were both ready to move on.  I know that I was lucky that both baby and I wanted the same things and I am hopeful that baby number two is as co-operative as the first as I loved breastfeeding.

There were several things that I felt made breastfeeding easier:

- Muslin squares

These were perfect for wiping up milky dribble and the inevitable baby sick but I also found them great makeshift covers.  I was never confident feeding in public and I found tying a corner of the muslin around my bra strap meant it would fan out in a diamond completely protecting my modesty and staying secure.  I could then toss it easily over my shoulder when it was time for burping.

-Nipple Cream

Never underestimate a good nipple cream! To look after your baby you need to first look after yourself and breasts are very tender - especially when filling up with milk!

-Privacy

It can take a while to establish breastfeeding so being able to do it somewhere that you don't feel like you want to cover up is very important in the early days.  I loved the feeding rooms in boots, mothercare and mamas and papa  for their convenience and for the privacy when both baby and I were still learning.

-A nursing chair

Middle of the night feeds are so much more relaxing in a rocking chair!  Mine has lovely pockets in the sides where I kept emergency chocolate supplies, bottles of water and a magazine and it made nightime snuggles with the little dude that much more cosy!

Whatever decision you make when it comes to feeding your baby should be the right one for you and there is always support around if you look in the right places.

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Baby massage

Bex, our blogger ambassador shares her thoughts on baby massage.

When I had Dylan, I had very few friends with children and although I had met some lovely ladies at antenatal classes, I had not kept in contact with any of them.  When Dylan was 6 weeks old, I decided that he needed some little friends, and more importantly, I needed some friends who were going through the sleepless nights and constant feeding like I was.  I took the plunge and turned up one Tuesday morning for a baby massage class at my local children's centre, and I can honestly say that it was one of the best things I did!

The class was run by a qualified midwife and although Dylan may have cried through most of the first two sessions (for some reason mummy had stripped him naked and was rubbing oil into him?) he soon learnt to love it.  The sessions lasted twenty minutes, and along with some soothing music and dim lights were peaceful (mostly) and informative.  I picked it up pretty fast and we soon made baby massage into part of our bedtime routine.

One of the main reasons that I loved our baby massage sessions, was the peace afterwards! Massage is basically like a gym session for little bodies, working all of their muscles and wearing them out.  Without fail, the babies would fall into a lovely sleep straight afterwards, giving us mums plenty of time for a chat and a cup of tea!  I made friends there that I still see every week now and Dylan is 18 months old.  I learnt a lot from parents with older children who made recommendations and as Dylan grew, I was able to pass down advice and tips to the newcomers with their tiny squishes.

Although we had to stop baby massage classes and abandon it as part of our everyday routine when Dylan became more mobile, we still have a go every week and he still finds it calming and soothing before he is tucked up in bed.  

I will definitely be taking the little squish along when he arrives and cannot recommend massage highly enough! If I am unlucky enough to get a colicky baby, then I already know tips to promote digestion and relaxation through massage.  Even if Squish is as content as his big brother, it is a fantastic experience and great for bonding.

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Introducing Bex, our mum ambassador!

At 23 babies were the last thing on my mind but it appears life had other ideas. When I found out I was pregnant I was over the moon, devastated, excited and terrified. It was not in my plans but I knew that I would love this child and a few months later my beautiful boy was born. Dylan turned my life upside down – or the right way up depending on how you look at it.

It seemed being a mother was what my body was meant to do as I was lucky enough to have a problem free labour and birth and the most beautiful little baby I had ever seen. My body adapted as did my dreams as we settled into our new life. I always knew I wanted a big family although quite when was never for certain. Having grown up with a brother and sister very close to me in age we decided to start trying for number two when the little man was 9 months old.

Six weeks later we found out that I was still as fertile as before and another 6 weeks on I am proud to say baby number 2 is due in February 2013. We are so excited although the idea of having two under two is also pretty scary right now!

For now my priority is enjoying my time with Dylan as I am sure life with one will seem such a luxury once the little squish is here! We have so much to do before February including picking the all important double buggy and it is already going so fast! Unless I decide my enormous shoe collection can be sold (no chance!) we need to move as our third room is currently a walk in wardrobe and yes my priorites are fine! We need a whole new set of little clothes as even if squish is a boy everything will be out of season. We also really need to find a way to squeeze more hours in each day and any help with that one would be more than welcome!

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Looking After You

It goes without saying, being a mum is a busy job.

But while you’re looking after everyone else in the family, don’t forget to look after YOU too!

Here are some ideas to maintain a healthy body & mind as a mum on the run...

A healthy body starts from the inside out, so eat well, and try not to skip meals (easier said than done when you have a thousand things to do before 9am!).  If you really don’t have time for breakfast, try a smoothie to keep you going, and make sure you stop for a healthy snack mid morning – fruit, nuts, crackers, cheese – most options you probably have in stock for your kids will do you the world of good too!

Drink lots of water.  I know how easy it is to drink nothing but coffee all day – but a big glass of water in between each one will keep you refreshed & help your body to detox.

Consider taking a one-a-day multi vitamin – this time of year is awful for coughs and colds, so why not give your immune system a helping hand to ward off the sniffles?

Sleep! Most parents are no stranger to the evils of sleep deprivation - so do try to get as much sleep as you can.  It’s easy to fall into the trap of staying up late to get things done, but you’re doing yourself no favours if you’re exhausted.  If the kids are in bed – treat yourself to an early night – the to-do list will still be there in the morning!

Write a list of everything that is on your mind – jobs that need doing, worries that need attending to, whatever. Writing it all down will help clear your mind, and then you can tackle each item individually – much easier than one big stressed out jumble giving you a headache.

LAUGH! One of the best parts of having children is having fun with them.  Don’t let daily stress make you forget that.  Make a point of spending time together as a family as often as possible – just having fun.  A tickle session on the sofa followed by hugs and kisses will relieve more stress than any spa day could!

Above all else, be kind to yourself – you’re just as important as everyone else you have to look after!