We're excited to announce the addition of another new brand to the Along Came Baby family. Sensitive skin or not--you want to pamper your baby. What better way to do so than with GAIA organic skincare products? GAIA skin care products are tailored for sensitive skin, combining natural and certified organic oils and extracts that are gently cleansing, moisturising and soothing.
Here at Along Came Baby, we strive to provide you with only the best for your baby. GAIA fits perfectly with our company standards of being safe, organic, and high quality. By taking the time to seek out and purchase products that will lessen our impact on the Earth, we are not only directly improving our children's lives right now, but in the long term. This is going to be their Earth when they're all grown up--we need to take care of it as well.
Not only is using GAIA natural baby products going to lessen our impact on the Earth, but they will greatly improve your child's skin. GAIA products are non-irritating, gentle and great moisturizers. Whether your baby has dry, flaky skin or not, GAIA products will treat your little one's skin right.
Choose from: Biodegradable bamboo wipesOrganic baby massage oilOrganic baby shampooOrganic baby starter kitOrganic bath and body washOrganic belly butter for momOrganic conditioning detanglerNew organic hair and body washOrganic skin soothing lotion
We hope you enjoy!
Since May 25th, 1961 (St. Sophie's day, hence the name) Sophie the Giraffe has been a staple in many households in France and then gradually expanding across the globe. We're excited to announce that we are adding Sophie to the roster of brands available from Along Came Baby.
Sophie is made from 100% natural rubber derived from the sap of the Hevea tree and she looks the same today as she did when she was born back in 1961. Sophie thanks her success on her ability to stimulate each of a baby's senses from the age of 3 months, and is proud to call herself "baby's first toy" in many households. How does a rubber giraffe stimulate ALL of my baby's senses, you ask? Well.....
Sight:
At 3 months, a baby's eyesight is limited. Sophie is light with dark spots and the contrast in her colouring makes her very easily recognizable to a young baby.
Hearing:
Sophie has a squeaker which keeps the baby entertained and stimulates the hearing sense. Once your baby's hearing has developed a little further, the little one will start to recognize the link between cause and effect with touching the squeaker and hearing the sound.
Taste:
Sophie is made of 100% natural rubber and food paint. She is safe to chew, soft and the rubber has a recognizable taste. Her texture is great for soothing sore gums during the teething age.
Touch:
Sophie is soft to the touch, soothing and comforting like a mother's skin. The familiarity of Sophie's texture stimulates a soothing psychological and emotional response which promotes healthy growth and wellbeing. She is also very light and her long legs and neck are easy for your baby to grasp.
Smell:
The Hevea tree's rubber has a distinct, but subtle smell which makes it easily identifiable among all your baby's other toys.
Sophie is one of the most popular toys of ALL TIME and we're SO happy to have her and some of her friends added to our product lineup. We have 11 Vulli products available. Shop now.
If you haven't tried the practice of swaddling, we highly recommend you give it a shot. Your baby will feel soothed, calm, comforted and just overall more at ease. Swaddling is a practice that dates back to prior to 4000 B.C., but modern technology has helped us be able to prove the benefits of swaddling. Here are some things we know from aden + anais:
Babies who are swaddled sleep more peacefully by preventing spontaneous movements (called reflex motion) from waking them up continually during the night.
Swaddled infants stay in REM sleep (the most restorative, deepest sleep) longer than those who were not.
Swaddling is said to be as familiar to babies as it is to their moms because it recreates the secure and cozy feeling of the womb -- and using swaddles made of natural cotton muslin only enhances that blissful feeling.
Our lightweight bamboo muslin also permits air to circulate around the baby's body, while still providing comfort and warmth without the worry that the baby may overheat in moderate weather.
Muslin is a workhorse fabric, in that wraps woven from this natural fiber stands up to repeated washings only becoming softer -- and better -- with age.
Of course, all the scientific evidence in the world is no substitute for the experience of millions of Mothers through uncountable generations: that swaddling in muslin is one of the most loving, gentle, restorative acts a mother can perform for her child.
There are many reasons that OiOi is considered one of the top designer diaper bags in the industry; design and top quality construction are just two of them. More about the bags and their construction from our friends at OiOi:
OiOi bags are made of exclusive material customized for OiOi. They are favoured for their colour, texture and beauty. Please treat with care to extendthe life of your bag. Spot clean fabric bags with water and mild detergent. To clean leather trim, wipe gently with a damp cloth. Do not immerse bag in water. Extra care should be taken when wearing denim garments as colour can transfer to bags.
For leather bags, please also refer to care card provided with bag. For further information, please contact OiOi.
Vintage Design
Vintage style washing and distressing techniques give this design a unique quality to that no two piece are exactly the same.
Any irregularities and gentle shadings in colour are characteristic of this uniqueness and are in no way considered a flaw.
Please be aware that this bag has been designed to fade and wear over time to achieve a true vintage look.
Stroller Strap Instructions
* not included in compact across body bags
Baby Safe Materials
OiOi baby bags arequality tested by an independant laboratory.
This gives you peace of mind knowing that your OiOi baby bag is safe for you and your baby while doing your part for the environment.
OiOi baby bags contain no Azo dyes, no blue colorants, no phthalates* or other toxins.
These strict quality standards have been in place for many years as part of our long term committment to clean living.
OiOi is now also raising the bar with new collections, which will contain no BPA, no lead** and will conform with international standards for safe levels of formaldehyde.
* No more than 0.1% of the following phthalates: DEHP, DBP, BBP
** Lead content of less than 90 parts per million
12 month warranty
Here at OiOi, we stand behind our products and we take great pride in the quality of the craftsmanship of each and every item we produce. This is why we warrant all of our products against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 12 months from date of purchase.
We ask that you return all defective products for our evaluation. This helps us to provide the best quality assurance to our customers. All defective items returned for warranty service will be replaced at our discretion.
If an item is damaged or faulty, please notify us by calling 1300 131 693 with proof of purchase details.
Please Note: This warranty does not cover damages caused by improper care, accidents, normal wear and tear or the natural breakdown of materials (i.e., zipper wear, Velcro wear, etc.)
We're happy to announce the launch of a new line of products here at Along Came Baby. We're all about cute, functional toys for your baby, but when they are ALSO environmentally-friendly, we get EXTRA excited.
We proudly announce....
The Dandelion division of Re-Think It started in 2008 when owners, Craig and Amy Shumway decided to address the growing parent concerns about product safety both for their children and for the environment.
The Dandelion collection offers eco-friendly rattles, teethers, developmental toys, plush toys, diaper bags and feeding products--we're happy to say we'll be carrying many of our favourite Dandelion items.
Both Dandelion products AND packaging are made from organic materials, corn fibre stuffing, corn starch PLA and other recycled materials. Smart parents choose Dandelion.
We hope you love this new, sophisticated and stylish brand. More info on Dandelion here.
Check our our selection of Dandelion Earth-Friendly Goods here.
When it comes to an accessory that spends most of its time in your child’s mouth, you want nothing but the best. Parents often aren’t aware of just how much goes into making the perfect pacifier. Luckily, Natursutten is. They have taken a traditional pacifier and made it truly a technical work of art.
Some of the Natursutten advantages include:
Butterfly shape leaves room for baby's nose
Follows baby’s natural mouth movements
Does not leave marks on baby’s face
Have shown incredible strength in the “Stretch-test”
100% natural
Environment friendly and biodegradable
Complies to European, US, Japanese, Australian and Korean standards
And much more...
On top of all these great features, Natursutten is made ecologically sustainable from pure natural rubber from the tree Hevea brasiliensis. The design, the company and the idea is Danish and our product is manufactured exclusively in Italy. The protein that on rare occasions can provoke a latex allergy in children is eliminated during production.
Click here to buy now at 20% off! -- But hurry, you only have until Sunday, March 3rd!All Natursutten pacifiers are certified to conform to the European Union (EU) directive concerned with safety, health and environment.
Our parents were far from perfect. Now that you are a parent you probably realise that you also are far from perfect. Learning from other parents is key to being a good parent, so we've supplied you with some answers to a variety of parenting dilemmas.
As the parent of a young child one of the most important things to take into consideration is how to "childproof" your home. Make a checklist of items in the home that need to be childproofed. Avoid sharp edges on desks and tables and don't leave out small gadgets that a child can swallow. Make sure all cupboards and cabinets are both out of reach and securely fastened. You can never take too many precautions when it comes to the safety of your child.
Parenting Schedule
One important parenting skill that some modern parents neglect is good scheduling. Children are creatures of routine. Developing a firm schedule for the household and the children's place in it encourages good behavior and contentment. A nightly argument about when to go to bed, for example, is eliminated by a firmly established bedtime. A good schedule takes a little of the hassle out of parenting.
Don't be afraid to take some time out of the day for yourself. Being a parent is a stressful job. Children are very sensitive to the moods and attitudes of their parents, and if you become irritable or unhappy, they will also become unhappy. Happy children start with a happy parent.
Do not be afraid to make a little time for yourself in your parenting schedule. It can feel selfish to schedule private time when your kids need you. A brief opportunity to relax and relieve stress is worth it, though - not only to yourself but to your kids, too. A little relaxation will keep you balanced and able to react calmly to parenting crises.
Reading all you can about parenting is an awesome tool to use in becoming a better parent. Other people's experiences may not mirror yours, but they can bring insight into a variety of different techniques which can be applied to your parenting problems. Keep reading and learning and you'll always be the best parent you can be!
From the moment that you find out you are going to be a parent. Your life takes on a dramatic change. You are suddenly faced with the reality that every choice you make is no longer just about you. This post has some great ideas on how you can make better choices and grow wonderful people.
Discipline
Time outs can be an effective form of discipline for your children. Time outs give the child an opportunity to think about what they have done. They also give everyone a little "cooling off" period before problems can escalate. Give your child one minute of time out for every year old they are.
Begin enforcing discipline techniques when your child is very young. Even if you think that your child can't understand what you are teaching them, it is extremely important for you to begin establishing positive behaviors at an early age. It is very hard to change a negative behavior once it has developed.
Chores
To instill the ethic of hard work in your children give them chores. Make sure they are of varying degrees of difficulty with corresponding rewards. The easiest task will have the simplest reward and the hardest task the best reward. In this way they will learn that hard work pays off, and very little work has very little reward.
Start teaching your child to do chores at a young age. Even a 3-year-old can be taught to do basic chores, like feeding the dog or picking up toys. This will instill in your child the idea that he plays an important role in the family. It will boost his self-esteem.
You want your kids to grow up strong and smart. You want them to be well-behaved people and make proper choices. All of that begins with showing them what it is to be a good person and a loving parent. Hopefully, you have gained a few ideas on how you can accomplish that from this article.
Nothing goes together as well as cookies and Christmas, except if it's National Cookie Day! Enjoy this chewy, gooey recipe with the people you love!
Makes about 24 cookiesIngredients
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg yolk
1 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions
Beat butter and sugar on medium speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in molasses and egg yolk until well comibined.
Sift the dry ingredients into the bowl and combine with a wooden spoon.
Chill for 30 minutes in the fridge or 15 in the freezer.
Preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
Roll out onto a lightly floured surface to about 1/4" thick. Use a cookie cutter to make your shapes then re-roll the scraps and keep cutting. Repeat the re-rolling and cutting of the scraps.
Bake for 7 minutes or just until the edges start to brown. This will depend on the size of your cutter and thickness of your dough. Watch the cookies carefully or they will burn. Let them cool for 2 minutes before transferring them to wire racks. Cool completely before decorating.
You can make frosting using 1/4 cup icing sugar and 1/4 teaspoon milk. Add food colouring if you like. The frosting should be a thick enough to pipe but not as thick as toothpaste. Simply fill a plastic sandwich bag and cut off the tip. Let them dry completely before stacking.
Hope this recipe becomes a delightful decorating experience for you and your family. Please share how your cookies turned out in the comment section below!
A woman's pregnancy affects more than just her body. Her emotions, feelings, and behaviors will likely change over the entire nine months in ways that she may or may not totally expect. Fortunately, this handpicked selection of pregnancy tips and advice represents the best and brightest of pregnancy blogs, healthcare publications, and advice from other mothers.
Medication
All medications over the counter and prescription are given a class for safety to pregnant women. There are only two medications that are guaranteed to be safe to take while pregnant, these are prenatal vitamins and thyroid medications. Never take a medication with an X classification and discuss all others with your doctor before taking them.
Never assume that something is safe to apply topically or take orally during pregnancy just because its label says it is "natural." There are many herbs and supplements that are not suggested for use by pregnant women, and it's best to ask your doctor before using any new medication or supplement, natural or not.
Prenatal Vitamins
You should start taking a prenatal vitamin now. Taking a prenatal vitamin is great for your health. Prenatal vitamins can also help you conceive a baby. They are great for many different reasons and your doctor can help you find out which one is the best while trying to conceive.
Make sure to take prenatal vitamins and read up on the birthing process so you can be prepared. Having a healthy diet and exercise plan will make sure that your baby will have all the nutrients he or she needs, while maintaining a body shape that you'll love, after you have your child.
Omega 3
Talk with your doctor about getting a DHA supplement during your pregnancy. DHA is a omega-3 fatty acid that is essential for proper development of the brain and eyes of your baby. Supplements are generally needed to ensure the proper amount of DHA. Fish is a strong source of DHA but women are generally told to stay away from most fish during pregnancy due to mercury levels so a supplement is generally your best bet.
You may find that pregnancy is accompanied by overwhelming developments and drastic changes. Some of these may be completely expected, but others may take you by surprise. Prepare yourself for all aspects of pregnancy by recalling the information that you just read. You never know when you will need to use it.
You know that the more information you have about pregnancy, the easier it will be to keep yourself on the right track for the better health of you and your baby. There is no mystery about using common sense and practical ideas to make this happen. Try some of these tips to start off right.
Ok to Vent
It is OK to want to vent about your pregnancy. It is hard being pregnant and the last trimester can be quite uncomfortable. Just because you are feeling awful and want to vent about it does not mean that you are any less grateful for the little miracle that you are carrying.
Delivery
When pregnant, make sure you are 100% comfortable with the doctor or OB/GYN who will be delivering your child. If you are not, search for another one until you are. Ask questions when you need an answer, there is nothing your doctor has not heard before. And make sure you check out the delivery facilities prior to the birth so you are completely comfortable with where your child will be born. All these things will ensure that your pregnancy is calmer and less stressful.
Breastfeeding
If you plan on breastfeeding your baby, do not let the state of your breasts during pregnancy concern you. The amount of growth or leakage you experience--if any--has no bearing on your ultimate ability to breastfeed. There is no reason to pump prior to delivery, either, as the hormones that enable your body to produce milk do not kick in until the postpartum period.
As you can see from the practical ideas and common sense advice in the article above, there is no mystery about what you can do right now to make your pregnancy the very best time for you and your baby. They will keep you on track so you can spend less time worrying and more time enjoying these exciting nine months.
Parenting is one of the great human adventures. It is also one of the most common ones. This is definitely a good thing. Tons of information is available for new parents just starting this adventure. This article will convey some brief ideas that might prove helpful in the complex process of raising children.
Potty Training
Do not push your child too hard toward potty-training before he or she is ready. Sometime between 18 months and 3 years of age, your kiddo will start to demonstrate signs of readiness, including staying dry for a couple of hours at a time and telling you before he or she needs to go.
When potty training a young child, be sure get him to try regularly, every hour or so. Toddlers don't always let you know in time that they have to use the bathroom because they are still learning to communicate this. If you are constantly bringing your toddler to the bathroom, you will be able to prevent many mishaps. Soon, he will start to notice the urges himself.
It is important to remember that there are nearly as many ways to raise children as there are children in the world. If this quick tip is not useful for one particular set of parents, there is plenty of alternative information out there. It is up to parents to choose the right parenting strategies for their particular situations.