Is Baby Oil And Vaseline Bad For Babies Skin?

I avoid using Petroleum based products on my children because I believed they were bad for babies skin.  In fact I make my own baby lotion (see the recipe post here) that is really lovely.  I use it on babygirl and the boys and myself!Vaseline

(In the last few months I have been working on making my own moisturiser, serum and cleansing lotion and will post those if your interested?)

So I was very interested to see this post by Paula’s Choice, the US ‘Cosmetics Cop’ that disabuses the view that mineral and petroleum based products are bad for our skin.

Myth Busting: Mineral Oil

The notion that mineral oil and petrolatum (Vaseline) are bad for skin has been around for some time, with Aveda being the most visible company to mount a crusade deriding these ingredients. According to many companies that produce “natural” cosmetics, mineral oil and petrolatum are terrible ingredients because they come from crude oil (petroleum) and are used in industry as metal-cutting fluid (among other uses) and, therefore, can harm the skin by forming an oil film and suffocating it.

This foolish, recurring misinformation about mineral oil and petrolatum is maddening. After all, crude oil is as natural as any other earth-derived substance. Moreover, lots of ingredients are derived from awful-sounding sources but are nevertheless benign and totally safe. Salt is a perfect example. Common table salt is sodium chloride, composed of sodium and chloride, but salt doesn’t have the caustic properties of chloride (a form of chlorine) or the unstable explosiveness of sodium. In fact, it is a completely different compound with the harmful properties of neither of its components.

Baby OilCosmetics-grade mineral oil and petrolatum are considered the safest, most nonirritating moisturizing ingredients ever found (Sources: Cosmetics & Toiletries, January 2001, page 79; Cosmetic Dermatology, September 2000, pages 44-46). Yes, they can keep air off the skin to some extent, but that’s what a good antioxidant is supposed to do; they don’t suffocate skin! Moreover, petrolatum and mineral oil are known for being efficacious in wound healing, and are also considered to be among the most effective moisturizing ingredients available (Source: Cosmetics & Toiletries, February 1998, pages 33-40). – See more here.

 

Let me know your thoughts….

Mamasimx

Don’t forget to enjoy your day.

How To Create The Best Gift For Your Child

childhood diaryWhen my first born arrived I had the requisite baby book to hand and dutifully filled in the date of first smile, the date of first tooth and so on and was very excited to do so.  As he got a little older though, I would relate the funny stories of his doings each night to my husband.  I remember thinking that I should write these down in a book as I will never remember them when he gets older.

So that’s what I did.  Now that I have three children I also have three such diaries.  When they reach a suitable milestone age I will present them with a lovely diary full of stories of their growing years…

My other motivation is a little morbid perhaps.  What if something happens to me and I’m not around to tell them everyday I love them?  So my diaries could fulfil this heartfelt duty as well.  They will read in my own words and in my own handwriting how much I love them, how much they mean to me and all those moments I really treasured.

Another wonderful idea is to ask my children’s teachers to write a little something for them in the diary each year.  I’m going to start doing this.  Even though my eldest in now almost 7, he is still young enough for the comments to start with  ‘oh he is such a sweet, lovely boy!’

Do you keep a record for your kids to have when they are grown?

Mamsimx

Don’t forget to enjoy your day.

 

Ditching The Rules In The School Playground – Would You Agree?

Would you agree to the a no-rules playground in your child’s school?  I wonder if your answer might be different after you have read this article.

School ditches rules and loses bullies

childrens feetRipping up the playground rulebook is having incredible effects on children at an Auckland school.

Chaos may reign at Swanson Primary School with children climbing trees, riding skateboards and playing bullrush during playtime, but surprisingly the students don’t cause bedlam, the principal says.

The school is actually seeing a drop in bullying, serious injuries and vandalism, while concentration levels in class are increasing.

Principal Bruce McLachlan rid the school of playtime rules as part of a successful university experiment.

“We want kids to be safe and to look after them, but we end up wrapping them in cotton wool when in fact they should be able to fall over.”

Letting children test themselves on a scooter during playtime could make them more aware of the dangers when getting behind the wheel of a car in high school, he said.

“When you look at our playground it looks chaotic. From an adult’s perspective, it looks like kids might get hurt, but they don’t.”

Swanson School signed up to the study by AUT and Otago University just over two years ago, with the aim of encouraging active play.

However, the school took the experiment a step further by abandoning the rules completely, much to the horror of some teachers at the time, he said.

When the university study wrapped up at the end of last year the school and researchers were amazed by the results.

Mudslides, skateboarding, bullrush and tree climbing kept the children so occupied the school no longer needed a timeout area or as many teachers on patrol.

Instead of a playground, children used their imagination to play in a “loose parts pit” which contained junk such as wood, tyres and an old fire hose.

“The kids were motivated, busy and engaged. In my experience, the time children get into trouble is when they are not busy, motivated and engaged. It’s during that time they bully other kids, graffiti or wreck things around the school.”

Parents were happy too because their children were happy, he said.

But this wasn’t a playtime revolution, it was just a return to the days before health and safety policies came to rule.

AUT professor of public health Grant Schofield, who worked on the research project, said there are too many rules in modern playgrounds.

“The great paradox of cotton-woolling children is it’s more dangerous in the long-run.”

Society’s obsession with protecting children ignores the benefits of risk-taking, he said.

Children develop the frontal lobe of their brain when taking risks, meaning they work out consequences. “You can’t teach them that. They have to learn risk on their own terms. It doesn’t develop by watching TV, they have to get out there.”

The research project morphed into something bigger when plans to upgrade playgrounds were stopped due to over-zealous safety regulations and costly play equipment.

“There was so many ridiculous health and safety regulations and the kids thought the static structures of playgrounds were boring.”

When researchers – inspired by their own risk-taking childhoods – decided to give children the freedom to create their own play, principals shook their heads but eventually four Dunedin schools and four West Auckland schools agreed to take on the challenge, including Swanson Primary School.

It was expected the children would be more active, but researchers were amazed by all the behavioural pay-offs. The final results of the study will be collated this year.

Schofield urged other schools to embrace risk-taking. “It’s a no brainer. As far as implementation, it’s a zero-cost game in most cases. All you are doing is abandoning rules,” he said.

Ditching The Rules In The School Playground – Would You Agree?  – The original article appeared here.

Mamsimx

Don’t forget to enjoy your day.

Top Tip To Help Baby Settle Back Into The Cot After A Feed…

Help baby settleGetting baby to settle again in their cot after a feed can often be tricky.

The palava you go through!  The process of waiting till you think they are asleep enough not to wake after finishing the feed.  Making sure you have the dummy to hand (if you use one).  Carefully positioning your hands to lift them.  Lifting them.  Putting them into the cot.  Keeping your face close to theirs and not removing your comforting hands until you are sure they are settled.  All the time thinking, please don’t wake, please don’t wake.  Especially at night when you are desperate beyond words to get back to sleep…

One thing I have found that really can help baby settle is to have a hot water bottle in the cot to warm the spot baby will be placed.  Of course you don’t keep the water bottle in the  cot once baby is in there as baby would overheat.  But this goes a long way to helping your little one snuggle down and not be shocked awake by being placed on cold sheets.

Lovely husband fills the hot water bottle from the bathroom tap and places it in the cot to warm the sheets as I feed.  Bless him.

Mamsimx

Don’t forget to enjoy your day.

Mummy – I’m Sweet On You! SewLomax Bags

sweet on you makeup bag emma lomax

Click for larger image

Look At This Sewlomax Makeup Bag.  Isn’t It The Perfect Valentine’s Gift For Mummy?

I bought this gorgeous makeup bag for a friend of mine for Valentines.  She happens to be single at the moment and I thought it was such a sweet bag and would make her smile.

(It would certainly make me smile if I received it. In fact it is the perfect gift from littlies to Mummy (take note Daddies)!  I would melt if my kids handed me this and I read the beautifully embriodered message – ‘Sweet On You’).

When the bag arrived from Sewlomax it was superbly packaged; crisply wrapped in branded tissue paper and placed inside a lovely box all tied together with a ribbon. Emma Lomax, the lady behind Sewlomax has obviously put a lot of thought into all aspects of her products.  The attention to detail is stunning.  I especially love her needle and thread logo which appears on the packaging and on the products so you know you are getting the real Sewlomax article.


The Sewlomax website has a great range.  From makeup bags and washbags to stationary, kitchenware and even Pooch Pouches.  All with the same quirky, handmade quality feel.  I am coveting her gorgeous ‘Bite Me’ apron and and towel set for Mother’s Day.  They have such a sophisicated Mad Men vibe!
The website states that all Emma’s bags are ethically sourced and hand finished.  Also fully lined and Scothguarded for added protection.  I like the option to have the bags personalised with initials.  Such a great little addition.  Again, I’m so impressed with the attention to detail.  It really is these little touches that you remember, like the Sewlomax signature bobbin zip fastenings.

I was so thouroughly impressed that I wanted to find out more (and also spread the word) about these beautiful products immediately.  Emma is lovely and readily answered my questions regarding her business…

Your products are witty and sophisticated yet with a lovely hand crafted appeal.  I love them!  Where does your inspiration for your items come from?

“The inspiration for my designs comes from all sorts of places, friends, people suggestions, shopping or as I like to call it market research, which can dangerous on my bank balance.I always have to start at the drawing board, literally with a pencil and a very large rubber. Once the idea is finalised I can start stitching, this is when the idea comes to life.”

I note from your website that you have a strong ethical belief regarding your creations.  Can you tell us a bit more about what your ethical choices entail?
“The process of producing a product happens in many different stages, from sourcing the materials from local farmers to posting the finished product to your door. Each bag has its own carbon foot print I try to keep this as low as possible.”

What is your favourite product from your range?
“It changes from day to day, I usually like the newest colour or shape, because I am looking at the bags everyday, a new design is always very refreshing. Its so exciting when you have been planning and struggling with a new design for ages and it comes to fruition.”
What is in store for SewLomax in 2014?
“So many exciting things to look forward to in 2014, my baby range which is due out in March which has been inspired by my nephew Wilfred, My new spring range which will be being launched in the next few weeks and some fab beach accessories, so everyone keep your eyes peeled.”

Click here to visit the Sewlomax website.

Mamasimx

Don’t forget to enjoy your day.

Sunday Humour

My 2 year old said his first 3 word sentence this week.  It was:

“Mummy stinky poo!”

He could have been commenting literally…… but I like to think he was being humourous.

Mamsimx

Don’t forget to enjoy your day.

Motherhood

Review – Maybelline Baby Skin

Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Lightweight Primer, £7.99

Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Lightweight Primer ReviewI’m a Mummy of three under 6 which does not leave a lot of time for messing about with make up.  However, as I get a little older (when did that happen?) and a lot more tired (night feeds) I know I look better with a little makeup help.

And I enjoy it.  It’s a few moments of me time in 23 hours and 55 minutes of them time.

When I saw Maybelline’s new product in Boots I thought I would give it a go for two reasons.  The first, it was relatively inexpensive (especially as I used my Boots points) and secondly, I liked the idea of having the pores on and around my nose erased.

So did it work?

It did – to a certain extent.  It did not erase the appearance of my pores, but it certainly did reduce the appearance of them once I had my tinted moisturiser on.  (See photos below.)  I was actually surprised as I was slightly cynical about its claims.  I think you need to not skimp on the product application.  On my nose where I had applied it most generously is where the effects were most noticeable.

What did it do?

After applying I could feel the product laying on my skin.  It did not feel uncomfortable at all and was in no way greasy.  In fact it felt velvety soft.  (Baby Skin is a primer so I would expect it to form a barrier between skin and makeup). I have very dry skin and it did not exacerbate this at all.  It made my skin feel incredibly soft and smooth and went some way to disguising any dry skin.  I kept touching my face, it felt so nice.

My makeup also went on more smoothly and I noticed that I did get a longer wear time out of my tinted moisturiser.  As it is marketed as a primer I also used it on my eyelids and found my shadow was more vibrant and lasted longer.

How long did the effects last?

I applied Baby Skin to my face and did not put on any makeup so that I could see how long i could feel it on my skin.  I felt the product for about 20 minutes.  After that it seemed to be absorbed by my skin.  My skin still felt soft however.

Verdict?

I probably wouldn’t bother with it everyday as the effects were not ‘wow’ enough.  But if I had a special occasion I would probably use some to help with makeup longevity and also to give a pore blurring effect.

Mamsimx

Don’t forget to enjoy your day.

 

 

 

 

The Handiest Baby Bath Time Tip!

Isn’t this a great idea?  A Mummy friend suggested it when we were discussing baby bath time.

It has to be the most practical and easy baby bath time tip to keep your babies toys within arms reach!

Remember – Never leave your baby unattended in the bath; even for the shortest time.

Baby Bath Time Tip

Here’s BabyGirl taking a dip!

Mamsimx

Don’t forget to enjoy your day.