Hi everyone, 

If your little one, like mine, has eczema prone skin then I wanted to let you know about a little all-round miracle bath product which has been specifically been made for babies with eczema prone skin.

It's called Organic Babies Baby Wash and Shampoo - Scent Free.  This is by the famous natural brand Green People.  There's so much to say about this product, but first of all - it's important to mention that it is a 3-in-1 product.  A shampoo, body wash but also a bubble bath!  This means you are reducing the total number of products going on your delicate baby's skin.  It's also good for keeping the number of products on the bathroom shelf to a minimum!

As mentioned - it is scent free, as often added perfumes or scents can irritate already delicate skin. Its key ingredients are Organic Aloe Vera, yucca and calming chamomile.  83% of the ingredients are certified organic, which means less nasty pesticides, so again, reducing the chances of your baby's skin reaching triggers or allergens.  Just a little product goes a long way for lathering the hair and body, and squirting a little in the bath created a beautiful light foam of bubbles.

 One of the biggest winners at the 2020 Baby & Toddler Awards was the holistic natural cosmetics brand Weleda who walked away with the following awards:

• Best Natural Baby Brand   Gold                 Weleda Calendula and White Mallow Babycare Collections
• Best Body Wash                    Gold                  Weleda Calendula Shampoo and Body Wash
• Best Nappy Cream               Silver                Weleda Calendula Nappy Change Cream
• Best Nipple Cream               Gold                  Weleda Nipple Cream

Its quite fitting that Weleda should start open its 100th anniversary with a clutch of awards recognising their products. Founded in 1921, initially as a pharmaceutical laboratory by Dr. Rudolf Steiner along with Dr. Ita Wegman with the aim of creating products which would work in synergy with both nature and the human body.

The company has never lost site of its roots and continues to develop natural products developed in an ethical fashion although now the business has spread globally and has company branches all over the world. Led by Jayn Sterland, Weleda is committed to progressing the skincare industry in a way that reduces the use of chemicals in products and reduces or eliminates environmental harm. As such, Weleda products are not only some of the very best that we can use with our babies and toddlers but the company are also on the same wavelength as us regarding protecting our planet for our children and our children’s children

So, there’s a little bit more information about Weleda, we’re all going to be seeing and hearing a lot more from their team this year! The judges really loved the baby skincare and new mum products and their commitment to ethical business practices and products.

Check back soon for more in-depth looks and other recent winners at the Baby & Toddler Awards 2020. There are some impressive companies out there with wonderful products and conscientious yet innovative business practices. I can’t wait to tell you more about them. Until then, ciao for now!

Dan 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Good morning mamas & papas!

Today we are going to be looking at things to consider when choosing the right skincare for your baby.  Babies have far more sensitive skin than adults.  Did you know what most babies will develop a rash in the first 6 months of their lives?  Harsh environmental factors such as detergents, soaps, dyes, chemicals, sun and even your jumper can bring your baby out in a rash.  Always be sure to check with a doctor though, just in case there isn't something more serious.  

Here at the Baby & Toddler Awards, we see and try a wide range of baby skincare products.  So we've compiled a list of things to consider when choosing skincare for your baby, as creams can provide a protective barrier against environmental factors.  At the same time, skincare products themselves can irritate babies, so you need to choose the best product for YOUR baby.

Tip 1 - Use your intuition 
You know your baby best and probably have a feel for when their skin gets irritated or why.  So choose products with this in mind.

Tip 2 - Do a patch test
It goes without saying to do a patch test on your baby when trying out new baby products.  Try a small patch on the arm or leg (not face) 24hours to 48 hours before in case there is any reaction

Tip 3 - Choose products designed for babies
This may sound obvious, but of course baby products have been designed specifically for the sensitive skin of babies.  Check the product is dermatologically tested.

Tip 4 - Don't overload your baby with skincare
Try one cream at a time.  Whether you are just trying to keep your baby's skin hydrated and smooth, or you need to find the right nappy cream - try not to overload your baby's skin using multiple products

Tip 5 - Don't fix what ain't broke
If a skincare product works - stick with it!  It's best not to expose your baby to too many types of products.  If something works for you and your baby, stick with that product.

Tip 6 - Look at the ingredients.
Look for things that YOUR BABY needs.  Do you need it to be Hypoallergenic?  Do you need SPF as it is summer, or maybe it is winter and you have a very fair baby?  Is it oil or cream based?  Organic ingredients mean there are no harsh pesticides in the ingredients.  'Natural ingredients' this is less regulated, but the idea is, products which ingredients from nature are more packed full of nutrition, are less environmentally harsh and don't contain man-made harsh chemicals.  Don't be put off if a product isn't natural though - many SPFs are man-made.  Think about your baby, and what your baby needs.

Hi folks, I’m writing this on Sunday evening in a cold but sunny town in Northern Italy. The summer
may be over but along with the rest of the Baby and Toddler Awards team, we like to have fun things
to look forward to over the winter (as well as Christmas!) and working with companies who feel as
passionate about giving babies and toddler the best start in life certainly keeps us busy and excited
when our trips outside are limited!

My region, Lombardy, once again is in full lockdown and though it doesn’t feel quite as full-on as it
did back in spring, we’ve celebrated my son’s Frank’s nineth birthday under restrictions which
prevent us from celebrating with friends and family. I thought I would give you an insight into our day so you can see how we made the most of my child's birthday, despite the lockdown restrictions.  Maybe it will give you some ideas if you have a child's lockdown birthday coming up.

That’s hasn’t stopped us from having a great weekend though. Friday night was tough, while the kids
were asleep we blew up what seemed like 100 green balloons in order to prepare a green, dinosaur-
jungle themed archway. Before I knew it, a couple of hours had passed although admittedly I’m not
the best or fastest at practical tasks! However, it’s a great pack, and gives the whole living room a
celebratory vibe. When the boys saw it in the morning they couldn’t contain their excitement, both
being dinosaur fanatics. I thought my dinosaur knowledge was pretty good, but I realise now I can
only name ‘the Big 5’)!

Wow, what a year it's been for the 2020 Baby & Toddler Awards. 

There's been so much innovation in this year's 2020 Baby & Toddler Awards.  We have been astounded by all the brands dedication to ingredients and awareness of natural and sensitive ingredients for their products.  There have been some interesting trends this year with the entrants.  There is a clear direction from baby and toddler brands to move ever more towards greener and cleaner baby skincare brands and you will see more of this with the winners announcement list.

This baby awards has been like none other.  In a year as turbulent as 2020, self care (especially for new mums who have been facing many firsts alone) has never been more important.  Skincare pick-me-ups are so important for a new mums mental health, as having a new baby can be daunting, and even more so without your usual support network to help you because of lockdown restrictions.  Brands, like the ones we have seen entered in this year's 2020 Baby & Toddler Awards, provide new mums with products that often promote healing, soothing or just make life a little easier for them and lockdown a little more bearable.

It has never been easy for new mums, with baby blues being a very real and common problem.  It is so important for new mums to find time to look after themselves with a little treat or pamper, to help you feel like the 'old' you!  We hope reading our winner's list in December you will be inspired by different mother and baby brands which have been tried and tested by real parents. 

With regards to baby products, 2020 is a year where we really want to protect and nurture our little ones.  There are more outdoor walks in what feels like Arctic conditions, and looking after their sensitive skin has never been more important.  Other trends we have seen with baby & toddler brands, is of course more baby safe soaps, as it has never been more important to wash those little hands.  

There has been a range of big name brands and smaller Indy baby care brands, launching their revolutionary and award winning baby and new mum lines on to the market.  The quality of the products has been second to none, and our team of judges, who are all parents, have been blown away by the quality of the entrants.  We hope you look forward to reading the winners announcement on 15th December.  And if you are looking to enter next year's 2021 Baby & Toddler Awards, we will soon be announcing the dates. Who knows what next year will have in store for us, but what we do know, is whatever the world throws at us, humanity is here to look after us and self care really has never been so important.

Every now and then, we’ll be posting short blogs from parents with there comings and goings in the infant world. This week we have Darren writing in:

Hi Everyone!
​
The first time I was an expectant father, I remember reading a book called Pregnancy for Men: The Whole Nine Months, amusing and informational, it had a big job to do to erase my complete and utter ignorance on the matter and did as good a job as it could have been expected to do. I also attended hypno-birthing classes at a birthing centre in Windsor; that really opened my eyes to how my limited ideas of the arrival date had been shaped, and went to some antenatal classes, which I can’t really remember at all.

The World of Baby Apps
Technology might have come along a bit since we were born and there will have been tweaks to the advice over the years, but one thing is for sure as a new mother – you will want to seek out some advice from friends, family, doctor’s and Google! Giving a helping hand on your phone are the latest baby Apps. There’s a plethora of baby apps out there at the moment so we’ve put a list of some of our favourites:

Pre-birth apps
Bump – there are plenty of free pregnancy apps out there but the free Bump app was popular with mums. This comprehensive app has everything parents-to-be could want. The Planner+ preps moms for upcoming doctor’s visits, while an interactive 3D visualization shows the baby’s growth. The app features daily pregnancy and baby editorial articles, real-time answers to all your questions, a registry and a photo album to document that growing belly. 

What to expect
This is a global app but does seem to have a few more U.S mums on it.  It's good for several reasons from before birth to many months after.  

Firstly, it helps you document your growing bump by encouraging you to photograph it each week.  It then stores those photos and you can come back to see it when you like.

It shows you what fruit your baby is while you're pregnancy which is always fun as it is hard to imagine how big your baby is otherwise.  It's even more fun when you pick up that fruit at the supermarket.
The forum is really good pre and post birth to speak to other mums with the same due month / or from the same area. (You can choose the groups on the forum you would like to join).  This is really good for strange questions you might have that you'd like to hear opinions of from mums at the same stage as you or with experience.

Getting through the Birth Apps
Freya – brought to you by The Positive Birth Company, Freya is the world's first hypnobirthing-friendly surge (contraction) timer and virtual birth partner. She will coach you through each surge with a simple breathing technique and help you to relax in between with positive affirmations, calming visualisations and guided relaxation.

Raising your Baby Apps
Huckleberry – this free app helps you to monitor the timings of your baby’s sleep, feeds and nappy changes etc– great whilst you settle into a rhythm. For the paid version, sleep consultants and algorhythms analyse the sleep patterns and create a sleep plan with summary and schedule.

Kinedu – this app helps you monitor your baby’s developmental progress with daily suggestions for activities. The free version gives you three activities a week whilst the paid version gives you full access. Perfect if you’re struggling think of simple activities to do with your baby at home.

The Wonder Weeks – This low cost app highlights your baby’s development in terms of ‘leaps’ where your baby goes through physical and neurological changes. Great if you’re searching for an explanation as to why your baby has suddenly started whinging more, sleeping less, scared of strangers etc.
This is a great app and has been recommended by numerous mums - it makes them feel normal when they see their child has been going through a leap and explains they 'why'.

Hoop – Hoops lets you know what baby and child activities are occurring in your local area. From baby sensory to music and dance, you can find an activity that suits your baby and family life. You can book onto most sessions through the app.

Just for pregnant Mums Apps

Squeezy – this is really an app for before and after birth – to help strengthen your pelvic floor with a handy timer and reminder schedule and pelvic floor exercise programme. It’s £2.99 and recommended on the NHS Apps Library.
MindBody – This app is handy source for fitness memberships, workout classes, wellness services, beauty appointments and more, it also includes pre- and post-natal yoga workouts for mum.
We’d love to hear from you what your favourite apps have been during your pregnancy/birth/child-rearing. This is a great weight loss app which helps you to lose your mum tums.

​Leave us a comment below and share the love!

Big Love
Team B&T

So you want a drug-free, pain-free birth?
If you fall pregnant, after the initial wave of emotions, your next thought might go to the actual labour. Here at the Baby & Toddler Awards, we’ve spoken to a group of new mums for their top tips on how they managed their labour, without the drugs.  

1.       Research! We found that the mums’ with a good idea of what to expect reported the most comfortable experiences. From reading books, chatting to others to watching YouTube videos, those who knew what to expect and were aware of their options had the more positive experiences.

2.       Breathing – sounds simple but when in the midst of labour, thinking about your breathing might not be at the forefront of your mind. The mums who had practiced their breathing and/or used birthing apps to help control their breathing gave positive reviews. We were a big fan of an app called ‘Freya’ from the Positive Birth Company which helped with counting your breaths with each surge/contraction.

3.       Birthing Pool / Warm Bath – warm water helps to relax the muscles as well as takes the weight so you can go into certain comfortable birthing positions more easily. Some mothers having Birthing Centre/Delivery Suite births also found that in the early stages of labour, whilst at home, a warm bath also helped them manage discomfort before going into the hospital.

4.       Gas and air – offered in the hospitals and by homebirth midwives, this mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide gas comes via a mask or mouthpiece that you can hold. The technique here is to draw in long deep breaths in and out at the beginning of a contraction. The mothers who didn’t feel the benefit of gas reported that they were taking short sharp breaths and were not timing it with contractions.

5.       TENS machine – all the women asked who used the TENS machine found it had made a noticeable impact on the earlier stages of birth. Standing for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, the TENS machines involve sticking some pads onto your back and pressing the buttons and controlling the intensity of the shocks as they gradually increase. These machines can be hired from a hospital, bought online or in Boots or you can borrow a friend’s – if this is the case we recommend buying new pads, which cost around £6.

6.       Positive Mindset/Hypnobirthing – women have given birth for thousands of years and will continue to do so. Their bodies were made to do this! Reading/Watching hypnobirthing or attending classes can really help prepare you mentally, taking you away from it being a medical procedure, to being something perfectly natural.
At the end of the day, no matter what kind of birth you have, you soon forget about it because you have a much greater challenge ahead of you…raising your child! However, if you have tips on how you managed pain during your labour, we’d love to hear in the comments section below!

Keep an eye out for the winners of our baby awards to see our best picks for baby skincare and mummy skincare before and after the birth too.
​
Big Love
Team B&T