Victor is a trained Software Engineer with 20 years of experience working in the IT field as a computer programmer. He is also the father to 2 awesome children, Olivia and Spencer, and his amazing wife Alex. Along side his wife, he is a co-founder of Wriggly Toes in order to provide better information to parents on raising kids as well as raising awareness of cotton and its impacts on sustainable living.
It’s so helpful when toddlers are able to eat what the rest of the family is eating. After all, no one wants to cook multiple dinners each night.
But what about if you’re cooking Coq Au Vin or Beef Bourguignon? These are traditionally cooked in wine, so can toddlers eat this food too?
Has your toddler spotted you chewing gum and asked for a piece?
If you’re here reading this article, you might already have a hunch that chewing gum isn’t appropriate for toddlers. And your hunch is correct.
When you’re having a family movie night it seems perfectly natural to pop some popcorn and share it around with the kids.
Popcorn is a food we tend to eat when we’re having fun, that’s for sure. But, is it actually safe for kids to eat popcorn? When can kids safely have popcorn?
Have you ever stood outside your child’s bedroom door and wondered if it’s time you started knocking? Perhaps you’ve never even considered it, as your usual style is just to barge right on in.
In this article, we will explore the idea that parents should knock before entering, and what needs children have for privacy as they grow physically, but also develop their own sense of self.
Everyone makes mistakes. When your child makes a mistake that hurts a sibling, friend, or even yourself, you encourage them to apologize for it.
But what about when your words or actions as a parent have hurt your own child. Do you tend to push the issue aside, unsure whether to apologize or not?
It’s exciting to see our little ones learning new things. And one of the things we’re often eager for them to learn is colors. Colors might seem like they should be easy to grasp - after all, we see them everywhere in everything. But, when do kids actually learn colors?
If you are vegan yourself, you might be wondering if your toddler can eat a vegan diet too?
Or, even if you aren’t vegan, you may have heard about the reported health benefits of a vegan diet and are curious if your toddler could benefit?
If you’re trying to expand the variety of foods you feed your toddler, fish is certainly a good place to start. And, it’s a great protein alternative if you’re trying to spice up the dinners you currently have on rotation - don’t worry, getting stuck in a meal planning rut happens to the best of us!
There’s a lot of anecdotal evidence that toddlers can sense your pregnancy. But, can that really be true?
Despite many people sharing their own stories online, there doesn’t appear to be a scientific basis that toddlers can sense pregnancy as such. However, it’s true that your toddler can sense change and stress.
Diet is a prevalent topic for women in general, and even more so when breastfeeding. When you eat a healthy, balanced diet, it doesn’t just give your baby an excellent start to life, but you look after your own health too.
Whether you should drink milk while breastfeeding is a commonly asked question. Let’s firstly address a myth: “you need to drink milk in order to make milk”. That is simply not the case, breast milk is produced by the mammary glands in your breasts and has a dynamic (ever-changing) composition.
When your toddler was a little baby, you were told they should sleep in the dark. After all, the womb is dark, so it’s what they are used to.
But once your baby enters toddlerhood, you might be wondering whether toddlers should continue to sleep in the dark? Or, is it ok for toddlers to have a nightlight?
If you’re reading this article, you are probably attending a funeral soon.
We’re sorry for your loss.
You must be wondering whether your toddler should attend the funeral with you? This is an important question. And, there’s no right or wrong answer. It’s more about how the decision is reached as to whether your toddler should attend a funeral.
Trampolines have long been a mainstay in family backyards. They’re so much fun, after all! But at what age is it appropriate to really introduce your child to a trampoline.
Has your child been asking to drink coffee? Maybe one of their friends is allowed to, or they are just desperate to have what you’re having.
If you’re someone who drinks several cups a day, you may be thinking, “what’s the harm?” But, because caffeine is a stimulant to the nervous system, it’s important to look at the very real effects it can have on the body before deciding if you’re ok with your kids drinking coffee.
Santa is an integral part of the magic of Christmas, for kids, but for parents too. Unfortunately, there comes a time when a child stops believing in Santa.
Has your child been showing signs of doubt that Santa exists? Or are you wondering how many Christmases you have left before your kids cotton on to the truth?
Breastfeeding is the preferred method of feeding , affording nutrition, as well as benefits to the immune system and emotional security of infants and toddlers.
If you have continued to breastfeed your child past infancy and into toddlerhood, you've given them a great start in the all-important early developmental period.
If your child is approaching school-age, you might be wondering when they will start to lose their teeth.
It’s probably not far away, with most children starting to lose their baby teeth around six years of age.
Are you wondering how often a toddler should pee? You might want to know the answer to this for two reasons:
Does your toddler repeatedly clench or grind their teeth in their sleep?
You might be concerned about this behaviour and have some questions like:
“Is it harming my toddler’s teeth?”
“Why is it happening?”
“Is it disturbing their sleep?”
And
“What can I do about it?”
Has your toddler been hitting, scratching, pinching or kicking?
It can be worrying, frustrating and sometimes downright embarrassing. And you might have been given a host of advice from those around you, like “just pinch them back” or “don’t worry, they all do it.”
That first time your little one hits their head hard, it’s terrifying. It may have happened when they were just a baby, and learning to sit, crawl or walk.
Children play in all different ways. Although it seems like just fun, it’s also how they learn a host of important skills - for now, but also to serve them well in adulthood.
To begin with, play consists of repetitive, gross motor movements in infancy (rhythmic stereotypies), and then develops into exercise play and rough and tumble play.
By now, you’re no stranger to a sleep regression. And while they can feel like they last forever, the goods news is they don’t. They are normal and temporary.
There are two sleep regressions in the toddler years. Both last a few weeks - at around 18 months of age and 2 years of age.
Toileting is such a big part of parenting in those early years. From their very first day of life, we’re asked to monitor our little ones’ poo and wee output to ensure they are taking enough breastmilk or formula.
And the monitoring continues from infancy into toddlerhood. You’ve probably wondered: did my child have a bowel movement today or was that yesterday? When should I start toilet training them?
And lately, you might be wondering: how often should a toddler poop?
Having a set bedtime is just one aspect of a consistent bedtime routine. But, it’s an important one.
After all, if you get the bed time wrong, you don’t just end up with bedtime battles that impact on your evening, but you might end up with unreasonably early wake times, and a cranky toddler throwing more tantrums, whining and making life a bit more difficult that next day.
Polyester is a very common fabric and has grown popularity in popularity due to some of its superior qualities over cotton such as wrinkle resistance, ability to fade less and durability.
Cotton is a natural fiber affording it better breathability and other interesting properties which is sometimes why polyester and cotton are blended together to compliment eachother.
Cotton is everywhere, from t-shirts, jeans, socks, to underwear, without doubt cotton would have to be one of the most common fibers used in the textile industry today.
Part of the success is that cotton has some remarkable qualities that make it a great 'fit' for apparel and highly versatile.
Are you here because you’re exploring your options for your toddler once it’s time to move on from their cot?
Maybe they are climbing out of their cot . Maybe they’re insisting it’s time for a “big kid” bed and flat-out refusing to sleep in their cot anymore. Maybe they just seem too big for it and are forever bumping into the rails in the night.
With increasingly sedentary lifestyles, it’s important to encourage our kids to take part in as much physical activity as possible. It’s critical for their ongoing mental and physical wellbeing, but also to develop essential motor skills.
So, what are the best types of physical activity? Should you be aiming for more unstructured play, or enrolling in organised sports for toddlers?
Wondering when to switch to pull ups? After all, they seem so much easier than traditional tab nappies. The good news is, there’s not really a “wrong” time to make the switch.
From walking the dog, to going on holiday - much of life becomes a test of your logistical abilities once you have a baby - shopping included. No longer can you just “pop” to the shops for five minutes, or aimlessly browse the aisles at your leisure.
Onesies are great for babies : stretchy, comfortable, safe (no chance of them covering the head during sleep) and pretty cute. But, wearing onesies doesn’t last forever.
Toddler weight can be a cause for concern to some parents, but if your Toddler is eating healthy and active, then there is likely no cause for concern.
Even so, Keeping an eye on their weight is always going to be a good idea, to make sure they are their development progress is on track and to make sure there are no concerns about weight.
Water is one of the most, if not the most, crucial elements for maintaining a healthy toddler or person of any age for that matter.
Even beyond the obvious health needs, maintaining a healthy level of hydration as has been linked to increased cognitive abilities in children aged 7-9 .
Safe sun practices are a must - no matter how old you are. In fact, sun exposure during childhood is one of the risk factors for developing skin cancer later in life.
Specifically, it’s the UV radiation in sunlight that causes the majority of skin cancers. Scarily, by 70 years of age, two out of three Australians will have been diagnosed with skin cancer.
There’s so much to learn when you’re a new parent. And feeding is certainly high on the agenda in those early years.
For parents who aren’t breastfeeding or are mixed feeding, understanding infant formula is a must. Finding formula (and bottles for that matter) that work for your baby doesn’t always happen overnight. And before you know it, you’re looking at the tins of toddler formula on the supermarket shelf, wondering if you need to buy it.
How can you best care for your toddler’s teeth? How do you know which toothpaste and how much of it you should use? We break down all there is to know about brushing routines and toothpaste for toddlers, so you can keep enjoying those cheeky grins!
Stuffed animals. Don’t our kids just love them!?
Relatives love to give them as gifts. We all love to win them as prizes at the local show. Cruise along the toy aisle and there’s bound to be another stuffed animal our little one just has to have.
But, of course, just about every kid has far too many stuffed animals!
It’s easy to walk down a supermarket aisle and pluck a bottle of children’s vitamins off the shelf. Maybe you’re concerned your toddler isn’t eating enough fruits and vegetables . Maybe you’re tired of the endless bouts of sniffles that cold and flu season brings every year.
These are common reasons for supplementing toddlers’ diets with vitamins. But, are they medically valid reasons?
It's a chilly night, and your baby is all zipped up in their one-piece footie pyjamas. You lay them in their cot and they look back at you expectantly. You think of your own cosy warm bed, complete with sheets, blankets, and a bedspread or doona and you start to feel a little guilty. Why do you get to curl up and sleep with pillows and bedding while your baby has to lie alone in a cot with just a fitted sheet?
Just like almost every other aspect of parenting, choosing a child's mattress isn't as simple as it might appear to be. In addition to asking yourself how thick should a child's mattress be, you also need to consider the mattress size, firmness, type, and other factors.
One of the hardest aspects of being vegan is realising that many of the lollies and sweets you once innocently enjoyed contain animal products. While it is certainly possible to find vegan lollies, the sad truth is that most lollies are not vegan.
“Oh, your toddler’s cranky? Hungry more often? They must be going through a growth spurt!” Have you heard this before?
It had me wondering … Are growth spurts and everything we associate with them scientifically proven? Or are they just an old wives’ tale?
We’ve all been there: It’s five minutes before lunch time and you realise you haven’t planned a meal. Then your toddler appears, seemingly out of nowhere, to sit whining at your feet because they're hungry and need lunch NOW. It’s no wonder we tend to throw together an unbalanced meal for our toddler at the last minute, or end up feeding them the same lunch three days in a row.
You've finally decided it's time to splurge on some brand new clothes, and finally get around to washing them for the first time and you notice the 'care label' says that you can tumble dry, but you must "tumble dry low".
Doing your toddler girl’s hair can be tricky. Their hair might still be quite short, which means you often can’t get it all into a single ponytail or braid. And you might need to get that hairstyle done quickly - not only do you have a thousand things on your to-do list, but they don’t like to sit still for long either!
Are you apprehensive about flying with a toddler? Many parents are. And not without cause because this is an entirely different experience than jetting off by yourself or with your significant other on a romantic holiday.
There’s no more packing at the last minute. No more relying on in-flight snacks to get you through. And certainly no chance you’ll be enjoying leisurely drinks at an airport bar before you board the plane.
Everything changes once your baby starts moving around on their own. Not only is your once-stationary child now busy exploring the world (and keeping you on your toes!), they're also entering their toddler years. If you thought your baby grew a lot during their first year, be prepared for toddlerhood and the rapid growth spurts that come with it.
If your baby is partly or solely formula-fed, you may have had to try several different brands and types of teats before you found the perfect bottle that your baby could feed from. Then during the whirlwind of your baby's first year, it seems that everyone is talking about sippy cups. Is it really time to transition from bottles to formula in sippy cup?
Have you ever crept into your child's room during the night, expecting to find them curled up in their cot or toddler bed, only to find your toddler sleep on floor?
As strange as it may sound, it's completely normal and relatively common for your toddler to suddenly express an interest in sleeping on the floor rather than in their lovely, comfy bed.
People are spending more time at home than ever before. While some people are using this rare opportunity to get fit, try a new interest, or pursue a home-based business opportunity, others are tackling home improvement projects they otherwise would have struggled to find the time to complete.
If your home improvement project includes applying a fresh coat of paint to some of the rooms of your home, you may be wondering can a toddler sleep in a freshly painted room? The answer to this question depends a great deal on several factors including the type of paint you have chosen and the availability of ventilation in the room.
Remember the good old days when your baby was happy having milk for every meal? Now your baby has turned into an active toddler with a much more varied diet. While some toddlers love trying new foods and others are already showing signs of being a picky eater, most toddlers agree that bananas are particularly delicious.
This comes as good news to parents, with bananas typically being easy to source, easy to serve, and highly versatile. But what happens when your toddler takes the love of bananas to the next level?
Should a toddler sleep with socks? As with so many other parenting questions, the answer lies somewhere between "Maybe" and "It depends." Much comes down to the weather, the climactic conditions in your toddler's bedroom, and your toddler’s sleeping preferences.
For more than 8000 years, cow's milk has been a staple part of the human diet. Espoused by the dairy industry as a vital source of calcium and other essential vitamins, minerals, and proteins, parents are routinely encouraged to ensure that cow's milk is an important part of their child's diet.
The first few years of a child's life are full of exciting milestones. The first smile, the first time they roll over, the first time they sleep through the night – sometimes it seems like your little baby is doing something new almost every week. Perhaps one of the biggest and most important milestones in every child's life is when they take their first steps and officially become a toddler.
You've safely navigated those often worrying baby years, and you now have a confident toddler, full of imagination and increasingly ready to explore the world.
While common infant concerns like sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) are no longer a worry, toddlerhood brings new questions and considerations to mind. It is widely accepted that babies should sleep without a pillow due to the risk of suffocation, but now that your baby has transitioned into toddlerhood, you're probably wondering when to give a toddler a pillow.
Fatherhood is a social construct - one that has changed throughout history. In the 17th and 18th centuries fathers played a very active role in their children's upbringing, as any problems with a child were blamed directly on the father.
Industrialisation in the 19th century saw fathers move from a childrearing role to that of the family breadwinner and created the more familiar dynamic of the mother staying home to care for the children while the father worked long hours away from the home.
While many mums will still opt to breastfeed as a first preference, this isn't always an option, and there are many reasons why formula feeding might be a necessity. Some mums aren't able to produce enough breast milk to meet the nutritional needs of their infants, and maybe for some breastfeeding isn't an option at all.
There are so many factors that come into play: time constraints, stress levels, returning to work, training regimes, travel, and more.
Baby formula is a relatively convenient way to feed your baby, it offers dad a way to step in and allow mum to skip a feed, and is a good substitute for breast feeding.
However there are moments when at some un-godly hour in the night you are staring at a hungry, tired and lets just say 'communicative' baby on one side and a bottle of formula on the other.
Fabrics can be more complicated than they seem, and it is very tempting to treat every fabric the same, but each fabric has their own unique properties that make them stand out.
Nylon Fabric (also called polyamide fabric) is a man made fibre made from plastic, unique for its strength and water resistance properties making it suitable for wide variety of garments.
Finding the right combination of sleep sack and clothing can be challenging especially when in the last minutes of your bedtime routine and you're deliriously scrambling to make the right decision.
Making matters worse, is knowing that the body temperature of your newborn is a contributing factor to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) .
Pregnancy wreaks havoc on a woman's body. And while most pregnancy books will tell you that most of the changes don't start happening until you're at least a few weeks along, anecdotally many women know that’s just not the case.
While a missed period is the first official sign of a possible pregnancy, there are plenty of strange pregnancy symptoms that can be experienced even before a period is due and before it's time to take a home pregnancy test.
From bodily changes to food intolerance, strange happenings in your mouth, and a whole host of things going on in the bathroom, a lot can happen to a newly pregnant woman.
Whether you intended to bottle feed your baby from the start or you had planned to breastfeed but had to supplement with or switch to formula feeding, you're not alone. A huge proportion of babies in the United States and around the world are formula-fed. The World Health Organisation found that 60% of babies are bottle-fed within four months of birth.
If your baby is formula-fed, you would know just how time-consuming it can be to prepare, heat, and clean all the bottles your baby needs on a daily basis. When you're stressed, low on sleep, looking after other children, and juggling all your other commitments, you're probably looking for any time-saving tips you can find to prepare your baby's bottles.
The typical image that comes to mind when thinking of Gatorade, is that of a sweaty adult completing their half marathon in desperate need of replenishing their lost liquids. So why would you consider giving Gatorade or Powerade to a toddler.
Gatorade, like any other drink labeled a 'Sports Drink', is considered a rehydration therapy intended to to replace lost water as a result of physical activity formulated especially for adults.
Naps are an important part of infancy, extending into toddlerhood, preschool age, and in some cultures, into the schooling years too.
If you have a toddler, you might be wondering if they really still need their naps - especially if they are becoming difficult to put down. And you might want to know when naps stop being beneficial?
Often thought of as the perfect way to soothe a newborn, swaddling has been used to calm and comfort babies for centuries. Swaddling involves wrapping baby loosely in a breathable blanket. With the shoulder and head left free, babies allegedly feel calmed by the feeling of warm, gentle enclosure which swaddling can give.
With the benefit of modern knowledge regarding the practice, we take a look at whether it's of benefit, as well as consider how best to swaddle baby for optimal comfort and safety. Our team also tell you when to stop swaddling, making sure baby has the freedom to develop their motor skills when the time is right. If you are considering swaddling, this could help you make the decision that works for you and your little one.
With smartphones, tablets, smart TVs and gaming consoles in most Australian households, our kids are certainly growing up in a digital age.
Show any child a screen and they are mesmerised (much like we are). That’s what makes it so easy to flick on ABC Kids when you need to get dinner in the oven, or pass them your phone at a cafe so you can enjoy some adult conversation.
Babies spend a lot of their time asleep, so it’s important you’re confident dressing them appropriately for sleep.
But, when it comes to babywear, it’s difficult to know where to start. After all, there’s just so much choice!
The most tempting items to buy as a new parent are often the most impractical. Once you’ve had bub for a few weeks, you’ll quickly realise what works and what doesn’t for easy nappy changes, a comfortable baby and no-fuss washing.
I’d be surprised if there’s a question asked more by new parents than “when do babies sleep through the night?”
Some are blessed with babies that sleep well from very early on - and stay that way.
But, for plenty of parents out there, a full-night’s sleep seems like a far-off dream. In fact, parents report night waking and crying as a problem with 20-30% of infants.
Probiotics certainly have the tick of approval for use by adults. In fact, you may have tried them yourself to remedy anything from gastrointestinal symptoms, to try to reduce the number of colds you get or to rebalance your good bacteria once it has taken a hit from antibiotic use.
But, should kids take probiotics too? The few studies into the use of probiotics in kids show mixed results so it can be difficult to know. And there are also a few caveats on who can and can’t take probiotics safely.
Every parent knows that from the moment you bring your little one home, convenience wins over everything. That's why disposable diapers (someties called nappies) are the go-to for many parents who want to keep their babies (or non-potty-trained toddlers) clean.
But, fun fact: Disposable diapers (or single use diapers) aren't the only convenient choice in the book. Cloth diapers (or re-usable diapers) are also a viable option, especially for eco-conscious parents wanting to be more sustainable, and those looking for more skin-friendly baby products.
Let's be honest: There's nothing more relaxing than a warm bath after a long day. That's why most kids hop into the tub with a smile on their face when bath time rolls around. FYI, for most parents, that's pretty much every day.
As adults, our relationship with tea is pretty straightforward. The cozy brew is a surefire way to warm up when the weather is just too cold, and it even puts an end to sniffles and fever when we're down with the flu.
The fact that kids should eat their veggies is as old as time. Even the government-based website, ChooseMyPlate.gov , agrees with that, advising parents to fill half of their children's plates with produce. Why? Because they simply need them to get enough nutrients, grow strong, develop their brain function, and build a robust immune system that'll tackle any disease, from obesity to cancer.
You may have seen those phenomenal ads that boast about teaching your baby to read. There’s a smiling mother and a bubbly infant cuddled together in front of a pile of cards. The mother holds up a card and, amazingly, this tiny genius reads the word aloud.
As this scenario plays over and over again, you are soon convinced that these miracle cards are a must-have for your own child. Now before you pull out your wallet, let’s stop and think about a few things.
Is there really a product that can teach your baby how to instantly read like a pro? Should there be such a product? The quick answer is: no. Like the old saying goes, if it seems too good to be true then it probably is. The truth is that early literacy skills develop over time. There really isn’t an effective way to turn your baby into a child prodigy overnight.
As anyone who has ever shopped around for kids bed sheets will be well aware, the homeware market is saturated with different types, all of which are marketed as being the most durable, soft, eco-friendly or luxurious. With so many options available, it can be difficult to know which sheets will be right for you or your child.
As most parents are painfully aware, kids love to consume sugary desserts. Although intuitively it may seem like a poor decision to allow little ones to gorge on chocolate, cakes or ice cream before reading their bedtime stories , kids with a sweet tooth are often experts at getting their own way.
Talcum powder has been under increasing scrutiny in recent years thanks to concerns surrounding its potential adverse health effects . To help you understand why and to find a baby powder that works for you and your family, we’ve put together a brief guide on what talcum powder alternatives exist.
‘Swaddling’ is something that all new mothers are familiar with but it might surprise you to learn that swaddling is a very old technique. Some of the earliest depictions of swaddling date back as far as a 3rd century to the Voltive statuette of a swaddled infant.
Choosing the right bedding for you and your family is vital if you want a well-rested and happy household. However, it can sometimes be hard to know which fabric is going to be best for you and your budget.
All fabrics are different, but the one thing they have in common is that they are made from woven fibres. One of the most important distinctions between fabrics is whether they are natural or synthetic. As you may recognise, polyester, nylon and acrylic are all synthetic fabrics, while cotton is a natural fibre.
You've just got home and you've just received a freshly delivered bedding set from the store, and you have a fresh set of crisp, soft, white sheets in your hands. More than anything, you want to take them from the packet, put them on the bed, and dive into those clouds of luscious threads.
Reading to children has long been recognised as playing a significant positive role in their development, for all sorts of reasons. Numerous scientific and observational studies show that children who have been read to regularly from an early age enjoy a host of advantages, including higher educational attainment, enhanced confidence and even improved cognitive development.
How many pieces of furniture do you have in your bedroom? Probably at least a mattress, a bed frame, a dresser or two, a couple of night stands, maybe a headboard, a desk, vanity, an upholstered chair or a couch. And you probably have more than one bedroom to furnish. Add it up across a couple of rooms and you’re already nearing 20 pieces of furniture.
It’s never too early to get your child thinking about what it means to be sustainable. Pre-school, in fact, is the perfect time to start this conversation; when your child is open, understanding, receptive and, most importantly, creative. Not only does this time window provide an opportunity to instill sustainable values that can carry through for your child’s whole life, it’s also a fun time to get creative with it!
Napping is a perfectly natural (and, indeed, necessary) part of your child’s development, particularly around the infant and toddler stages. As any parent knows, even minor sleep deprivation can result in crankiness and tantrums, and even has the potential to disrupt an entire household. In some ways, naps are a great time for busy parents to get things done without interruption.
Solar power, composting and recycling, buying organic produce, biking to work. You’ve likely seen “sustainable” options everywhere. From how we eat to how we sleep to how we commute, it sounds like “sustainable” is the latest craze taking over. But it’s more than just a trend. And its increasing presence in our products, our conversations and our lives marks an important shift. So what does it mean to be sustainable? And why should we even care?
Does your kid have just one thing that they love to do? A hobby or a keen interest that they could talk about for hours on end? Yes? Then this blog post is for you!
We’re looking at the best kids’ bedroom ideas to inspire their creativity. No matter what your kids’ interest is, we’ll show you how to incorporate it into their room!
Buying cotton items for your home and family seems like a good choice. After all, it’s a natural fibre, so it must be better for our bodies and the environment. Right?
But unfortunately, depending on how that cotton has been grown and then produced into your purchased item, your choice might not be as safe as you’d hoped. You see, the growth of what we’ll call conventional cotton has developed over time to include some harmful practices, the effects of which have only relatively recently begun to be understood.
Deciding on which bedding to choose for you child is no easy task. Maybe your little one is making a transition to their toddler bed or maybe you are just looking to get a fresh set of bedding. One of the first things you will likely need to decide upon is on which fibre is going to be best for you and your child.
Decorating your child’s bedroom can be such fun - whether you’re in the nesting stage of pregnancy and creating a space for your newborn, or as something you and your child are doing together as they grow.
One thing we’ve noticed is that it’s easy to get swept up in the latest trends, themes or your child’s favourite colour of the moment.
Key Points
Our kids’ beds should be safe spaces - providing comfort, quality rest and a place to bond over storytime. But for some, the choice of bedding can irritate and have an a detrimental to their health and wellbeing in particular to younger children.
In fact, because of the time children are exposed to bedsheets, pillows, and even the mattress, it plays a key role in causing or aggravating kids skin allergies.
Deciding to invest in organic cotton garments, bedding and other soft furnishings is a wise. After all, organic cotton is:
Before rushing off to splurge on the best Kids Bedding money can buy, you will undoubtedly be thinking 'when is the best time to make the switch from a crib (or Cot) to a Toddler Bed' or even contemplate jumping straight into the bigger Twin Bed (sometimes called Single).
Cotton is such a versatile and amazing natural fiber that over the years it has made its way inside into many of the clothes, mattress toppers, pillow cases, bed dressings, and far more than you could possibly think of.
As consumers, we've all noticed from time to time the various product labels that appear on our product purchases. Paying closer attention to these, you will uncover a number of logos and identifiers that all communicate to consumers a degree of trust in the product which allows us to make more informed decisions about our purchases.
The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is globally recognised for being the leading textile processing standard for organic fibres. GOTS provides a framework for ensuring product safety similar to the Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex, in addition, it considers environmental and social welfare criteria across the entire supply chain.
My children have had it too good for too long! This November 20th I will be turning my back on them, their over inflated egos are not in need of further inflation. Instead I will be ushering in a new era of parental libertarianism by celebrating 'Do Your Chores Day'.
When it comes to our kids, terms like natural, organic and safe are music to our ears, because buying products with these labels helps us feel like we’re giving our kids the best start in life. The trouble is, all that we see, read or hear, cannot necessarily be believed. Terms like these, including the much-beloved ‘organic,’ may be loosely regulated. That’s why it’s important to be informed, so you know how to tell a truly organic product from a misleading one. When it comes to organic cotton, the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the bees-knees. So, when it’s GOTS certified, you know that every part of a cotton textile product is exactly as it should be - 100% safe for your little ones. Here are 5 reasons why it’s worth choosing GOTS certified bedding, for the good of our planet, our people and of course, your kids.
The Australian Childhood Foundation (ACF) is a non-profit/non-governmental organization that helps children who suffered abuse heal from their trauma in a nurturing and encouraging environment. Abused children are often caught up in a downward spiral of low self-esteem, stress, trust issues, and internalized trauma. The more a child feels alienated, disconnected, and misunderstood, the more they withdraw. Their learning skills and ability to concentrate suffers at school and this unleashes another wave of low self-esteem, stress, and other issues. Around 68% of the children referred to ACF trail their peers in academic development by at least two years.
We spend a great deal of time caring for our children, making sure their seatbelts are buckled, keeping them warm in winter, keeping them well-fed and happy. We tuck them in with a kiss goodnight, relieved that they are safe for another good night’s sleep and the promise of a new day ahead. But, you might be shocked to hear that their soft, pillowy bedding isn’t the safe haven you thought.
