product of the week - hug a bub baby carrier

Shortly after bringing my new daughter home from hospital, I discovered that she is a baby that will often only settle when she is held. Obviously this poses a bit of a problem when also trying to care for ,and play with, a very active toddler. I already had a Baby Bjorn Active carrier, but, just as I had experienced with my first child, this felt a bit unsupportive for such a tiny baby with very little head control! After a lot of research and an afternoon spent trying out slings at my local baby mecca Baby Bunting, I settled on the fabulous Hug a Bub carrier. Basically, this is just a very long piece of lycra that you wrap around your body in a specific way as demonstrated on the dvd that accompanies the carrier (at first this tying technique is a bit time consuming, but, trust me, it quickly becomes second nature).

The beauty of the Hug a Bub is that you can carry your baby close to your body, and it feels very secure and comfortable. By tucking my baby's head under one side of the sling (called the "Peapod" method), I can even bend over without worrying that she will fall out or hurt her neck. There are four carrying positions that are demonstrated in the DVD.

Retailing from $79 upwards, the Hug a Bub comes in various colour combinations, and can be purchased with or without a front pocket. See here for stockists.

Image from http://www.hugabub.com/

product of the week - concealer

Exhausted already from multiple functions in the lead-up to Christmas and dealing with a toddler whose sleep patterns have taken a beating thanks to afore-mentioned functions, I have to admit that I'm not looking my "freshest" at the moment. Not exactly how I want to appear in all the family photos that are part and parcel of the holiday season.

Thankfully the makeup industry provides us with a wide array of concealers to (hopefully) provide cover for those tell-tale signs of fatigue (and ageing!). To cover dark circles, you need a yellow or peach toned concealer.

My all-time favourite concealer (Sue Devitt Automatic Camouflage) is not available in Australia, but here are my two alternatives that are readily available in Adelaide ...

Splurge on:
Touche Eclat Radiant Touch by Yves Saint Laurent
This award-winning concealer claims to be "8 hours of sleep in a pen" and I've certainly found that it effectively covers dark undereye circles. Available at David Jones Rundle Mall, this concealer will set you back $78.

Save on:
Concealer by Napoleon Perdis
Okay, so at $30 it's still not the cheapest concealer on the market, but it does work, and lasts a long time. You may want to use a brush to apply it from the pot, but I must admit that I just use my finger (freshly washed of course so as not to introduce bacteria into the concealer ... when I remember!). See here for South Australian Napoleon stockists.

product of the week - baby jogger city select

With only 2 months to go until I become a mother of two (!) I have attempted to get out and purchase the final required items for baby’s imminent arrival.

Top of my list – the perfect double pram. After much research and advice from friends, I thought that I had found it – the Baby Jogger City Mini Double. However, I found out this week from a mother of four (who obviously has a wealth of knowledge of all things pram-related - thanks Bronny!) that Baby Jogger has just released this little number. Upon seeing the City Select Twin, I just knew I HAD TO HAVE IT!!!!

Due to hit Australian shores in March 2010, this pram has been likened to “the double Bugaboo if Bugaboo made one!” – the City Select can start off as a single pram, with either a bassinet or seat, and then allows for either a double seat or single seat and bassinet combination. The bassinet and seats can be attached in a variety of positions (see photo for just some of the combinations).

I spoke with the Australian distributor for Baby Jogger this week, and was advised that current Baby Jogger stockists should be able to stock the City Select. I have put in a call to Baby Bunting to place my order, and am currently waiting to hear back from them.

You can view a demonstration of the City Select here.

help your child to be sunsmart this summer

With the weather heating up again this week, I thought it would be an idea to post a reminder about how to help your little ones (and, of course, yourself) stay SunSmart this Summer.

You can't go a moment these days without reading or hearing about the high risk to Australians of skin cancer, and rightly so - more than 440,000 Australians are diagnosed with skin cancer every year (source: Cancer Council SA). The biggest culprit? The sun.

Long gone are the days when children roamed free throughout summer wearing little more than their birthday suit. Damage to a child's skin begins with their first exposure to the UV radiation from the sun, and skin damage caused by this exposure builds up over the years, increasing a child's risk of developing skin cancer (source: Cancer Council SA).

Luckily, there are simple ways to help protect your child's skin, and many resources available to help parents to access information about being SunSmart.

friday focus - the nanny webb

Choosing to leave your child in the hands of another, whether for regular child care or casual babysitting, is one of the biggest and often stressful decisions a parent has to make. It is vitally important that you feel confident in the knowledge that your child will be well looked after, in a safe and nurturing environment.

2009 saw the launch of the Adelaide branch of the nanny webb, a bespoke child care placement service. Already established in Sydney (by ex-Adelaidean Yurana Webb), the nanny webb offers long term and temporary nannies, as well as babysitting services.

I caught up with Holly Auld, Manager of the nanny webb's Adelaide branch, to discuss the agency and the joys of nannying!

How did The Nanny Webb start? Why was it launched?
The nanny webb started in Sydney four years ago by Yurana Webb. Yurana had worked as a nanny for quite some years and saw a niche for a personalised, boutique nanny placement agency. After returning from working as a nanny in London, I approached Yurana about starting a branch of the nanny webb in Adelaide. This was a life-long dream of mine. She thankfully agreed, and the Adelaide branch was developed.

What services do you offer?
We are a placement agency and therefore provide nannies and babysitters for families. We provide quality nannies who all have their First Aid Certificate, DECS or Police Clearance, current references and an adequate amount of experience. I interview the nannies, check their references and meet with them on a regular basis at nanny team building sessions to discuss their progress.

What do you think separates you from other nanny agencies?
Definitely our personal service and high calibre of nannies. I personally meet with the families, assess their needs and discuss the desired qualities that they are seeking in a nanny. This is all noted on their file and regularly updated as the child/children develop and grow older.

How did you get involved in nannying?
From a very young age I always had a child on my hip, whether it was one of my younger brothers, a family friend or a neighbour in need. I started babysitting for family friends when I was about 13 and have never stopped! I had a great opportunity four years ago when I was employed by Darcey Bussell [former prima ballerina with The Royal Ballet in the UK] to nanny her children in London. Initially it was a 12 month assignment, but I ended up staying for three years! This is where I learnt the most about being a nanny, as there is such an established and successful nanny network over there.

How can potential clients contact The Nanny Webb?
The best way is to check out our fantastic website.  This provides both mine and Yurana's contact details, and gives you a lovely insight into the ethos and business of the nanny webb.

Once a family contacts the nanny webb, it receives a Parent's Information Pack which highlights certain things that are required from an employee of a nanny. It also inculdes insurance information, suggested questions to ask when interviewing a nanny, and an example letter of employment.

What should parents look for when hiring a suitable nanny for their children?
I am a strong believer that it is very important for a family to be matched with the nanny right for their needs. Families and nannies have different expectations, beliefs and morals, and these need to be discussed and confirmed at the initial interview stage to enable a consistent, loving and caring environment for the children at all times.

After speaking with many mothers over the years, their most treasured nannies have been those that love and treat their children like their own and, in turn, become an important member of the family.

What do you enjoy most about working with children?
Everything! Children are so rewarding and give so much joy and love. The one-on-one care that is provided by a nanny is like no other. Children are able to form a very close relationship with their nannies, while still respecting their authority.

I am fascinated by children's developmental stages, diet, sleep routines (or lack of), attachment and learning through play, and I regularly attend information sessions and training sessions on these topics.

I never wake up in the morning and think, "I really do not want to go to work today". I think I have the best job in the world - who wouldn't want to play in a park, build sandcastles or make a space ship out of a garbage bag and playdough!

The nanny webb is currently offering a special Christmas gift package, providing 3 hours of night-time babysitting (including placement fee), and a hand-made Christmas decoration from All The King's Horses (includes postage and handling) for $65. Email Holly for enquiries and to place your order.

product of the week - kiehl's nurturing baby cream

I love this product - it's the only unmedicated cream I can use on my toddler's skin when it's inflamed with eczema without causing him pain and discomfort. With the key ingredients of shea butter, apricot kernel oil and purified honey, and currently available from David Jones in Rundle Mall, Kiehl's Nurturing Baby Cream for Face and Body is this week's "product of the week".