A photo of my baby, every week for a year.
Aoife Louise, 1 Year (17 Months).
I am very late with this weeks project 52. Had it drafted but forgot to post 🙈 oops!
Aoife is currently very into playing with mummy’s jewellery. Here she is wearing one of long necklaces and some bracelets as anklets! She is an absolute character!
Thanks for reading,
Siobhan x
Alopecia can be a pretty devastating condition to develop. I don’t think anyone can truly appreciate how a condition that changes your appearance without your control can really affect you mentally, without it happening to you personally. After all, it’s just hair.
Over the years, I have changed my hair drastically from the bleached blonde, pixie cut I had in my student years to the long, orange hair in my time working as a bartender. My hair has always been a massive part of my personality and self-esteem. It has changed many times, but all with my choice. I think that is the most difficult thing about alopecia. The lack of control. No one likes to feel like they are lacking control in life.
I hit a low in September and just hated what I saw in the mirror. It was around this time that I took the plunge and had my hair shaved off. I thought that when it happened I would feel sad but more than that I felt relieved. I was no longer seeing clumps of hair in bath, on my pillow and falling down my clothes. Losing my hair was harder than having none!
Now 8 months on i’m finally having a bit of regrowth and again this terrifies me. I got so used to not having hair but at the Same time I want to see what happens! As well though is that nagging fear that it’ll grow back and fall out all over again! We’ll just have to wait and see I suppose! For now I do have some fab wigs! Thanks to the amazing Zella Rose Wigs!
Anyway I think I am done rambling. I’ve had this post half written in my drafts for about 3 months and I have just felt that I am at the right point to finish it off and post it. I am very lucky to have a child that loves me and a very supportive family around me 😘
Thanks For reading,
Siobhan x
A photo of my baby, every week for a year.
Aoife Louise, 1 Year (17 Months)
When did my baby become this walking, talking toddler? Why does it appear to happen overnight? This week Aoife has been really finding her feet and loves walking! Everywhere!
Thanks for reading,
Siobhan x
For my second post of Real Nappy Week (only my 2nd post of the week, unfortunately I have been shattered this week because of work!), myself and some of my fellow cloth bum mums are going to tell you all about our experiences and preferences of using cloth nappies! I met these lovely ladies through an online nappy group and we pretty much chat every day! Isn’t it amazing the power of the internet! Hopefully, one day we get the chance to get our little cloth bum toddlers together but for now the internet will do!
This is one of the first pictures I have of Aoife in cloth! We started when Aoife was around 12 weeks, although it was only part time as I was too nervous to use them out and about and at night 🙈 we ended up all the time in the day at about 4 months. I eventually found a night nappy I trusted when Aoife was about 6 months old. My only regret is not starting from birth! I wish I had known more! I can’t exactly remember how my cloth journey began but when I was pregnant I purchased some bambino mio two parter nappies from Aldi (which I didn’t actually end up using 🙈) then thanks to midnight feeds I discovered a whole cloth bum community on Facebook!
Now to meet some of the wonderful ladies I have “met” thanks to the Facebook cloth bum community! (I say “met” as we only talk online!)
Katrina, Bradford.
We have been cloth bumming since Isla (my 2nd child) was 7 weeks old. She is the only 1 that I cloth bummed. My preferred cloth nappies are WAHM made because I feel they last longer for daily wear, I also like that they bring more choice! When we began cloth bumming I researched on the Internet and also a friend had suggested them to me. My top tip would be that if you tumble dry your nappies for 10 minutes before air drying them they will stay much softer, without adding to the cost of laundering.
Sarah, Stirling.
We have been cloth bumming for about 14 months. I currently have 1 of 2 children in cloth (my eldest is in disposables). My favourite custom makers are Cloth Rockz and Cuddly Bums because they are great and so beautiful. My favourite shop bought cloth nappies are Bambino Miosolos. They fit really well and last amazingly when boosted, the prints are gorgeous too. I was first influenced to try cloth thanks to Aldi! Aldi had an offer on reusable nappies so I bought a pack, researched it and chickened out of using them on my eldest. I was already receiving comments about baby wearing from my in-laws and I didn’t have a support network. When Olive was born we were living in the UK Surrounded by my family and I felt stronger and ready to give them a try. My top tip would be to purchase a fleece blanket and then cut it up into rectangles to use as reusable liners – cheap and stops any staining on your beautiful cloth.
Katie, Felixstowe.
We have been using cloth for 12 months with my youngest daughter, the youngest of 5 children! I don’t have a particular favourite brand but I find Charlie Banana nappies fit well. Although, custom hybrids are prettier. I was introduced to baby wearing by a friend which then lead me into the world of cloth. It’s a minefield when you get started, take your time, try out different brands – use the nappy library if you have one nearby. It’s all trial and error, so keep perservering until you find what works with you. Even cloth bumming part time is better than no time 💜
Kelly, Plymouth.
We have been using cloth nappies for 14 months with our first child. Our favourite brands are Cloth Rockz and Cuddly Bums hybrids. They are super soft, cause no rubbing, excellent for a heavy wetter and they have a selection of beautiful designs! I was recommended cloth by a friend and they managed to convince me just how simple it was. My top tip would be to use fleece liners to protect those nappies.
As you can see from the images we are all quite taken with our customs! We have not exaggerating these images do no justice to how beautiful the nappies are! Its win win, beautiful nappies and we help to protect the environment!
According to the Go Real Website, “Currently UK families send 355,000 tons of single use nappies to landfill each year, costing Local Authorities (and tax payers) £32 million a year”! Now that is insane! Let’s not forget the amount of money families can save by switching to reusable!
So let’s look again at why you should try reusables…
(Images taken from The Bradford Nappy Gurus Facebook, coincidently the reason Kelly, see above, started cloth!)
Nappy libraries really are an invaluable source! Reusables can be a scary idea but once you get into the swing of it they are amazing! I look forward to cloth bumming any future children from birth!
Thanks for reading!
Siobhan x
As some of you may know it’s Real Nappy Week (RNW) this week! The chance for cloth bum mums to spread the word about cloth nappies and hopefully influence some change!
To kick start RNW I am happy to introduce you too my favorite work at home mums (WAHM) and custom nappy makers!
First off, we’ll meet the lady behind Cloth Rockz custom nappies!
How did you get into making real nappies?
I started my cloth journey with my son when he was 10 weeks old, as I was tired of disposables not containing the contents of his bowels (colic baby).
I purchased some plain white Tots Bots from Tesco and I loved them, no more stained clothing.
I then joined a couple of groups on Facebook and stumbled across Wee Notions. Of course, we had to have a couple of customs made. It then became apparent that there were several WAHM’s that made nappies and I thought “I bet I could make a few myself!” I searched for a nappy pattern and bought some supplies and made an entire stash for myself.
How did you come up with business name of “Cloth Rockz”?
I asked in one of the groups I was in for ideas for a business name. I had already tested my pattern and was ready to launch a business page. It took some deliberation and there were lots of brilliant suggestions but I went with short and catchy.
What is your favourite nappy you have created?
My favourite ever make will always be Toothless I think as nothing had ever been done like that before and the reaction to it was huge. I will never forget the elation I felt and how proud I was of myself for creating something so unique and the amazing feedback I received for it.
(I think we can all agree Toothless is amazing 😍)
How long have you been in the cloth nappy business?
I’ve been in the cloth business since my son was 1 year old. So just over 4 years now and I still love it to this day.
Can you tell us a bit more about your nappies?
I had already made a name for myself with my ruffles in the first 2 years of business, which I was very happy about but was keen to add something more to my skills as a nappy maker, that’s when the 3D Nappies began, nothing like that had been done before.
I pride myself in being unique and I am constantly driving forward thinking up the next ‘epic’ as they have been named by customers. I love my job.
I think we can all agree Sarah’s nappies are amazing! Now to meet Abbie the face behind the equally amazing Cuddly Bums nappies!
How did you get into making real nappies?
I started making nappies when my youngest daughter was around 3 months old as I wanted something a little different to the ones you could buy online.
How did you come up with the business name “Cuddly Bums”?
My other half actually came up with the name and it just stuck!
What is your favourite nappy you have created?
It’s hard to pick a favourite nappy as I love them all but if I had to pick it would be this one….
(This nappy is so high on my wishlist 😍)
How long have you been in the cloth nappy business?
I’ve been making Nappies for just under 4 years.
Can you tell us more about your nappies?
I make both AI2 Nappies and hybrids too. They are made using the Cloth Rockz osfm pattern and I also make a smaller size suitable for newborns. They all have plush outers and have custom themes/designs chosen by the customer.
These nappies are honestly some of my favourites! We have quite the collection and they are so beautiful!
You can see more of Sarah and Abbie’s work on their Facebook Pages:
Thanks for reading!
Siobhan x
A photo of my baby every week for a year.
Aoife Louise, 1 Year (17 Months)
So it is finally official I have a walking, talking toddler! Aoife has somewhat mastered the art of walking! She may be slightly later on the spectrum than most babies but you know what I was glad! She’s a right sassy little thing and chasing her about is tiring work!
Thanks for reading,
Siobhan x
A photo of my baby every week for a year.
Aoife Louise, 1 Year (16 Months)
This week I’ve noticed quite a few developmental changes in Aoife! She is saying lots of words and phrases current favorites are “No!”, “Oh no!”, “Stinky”, “Dirty” and “Oh Oh!”. We have also had a bit of development on the walking front! Aoife has taken lots of independent steps!
Thanks for reading!
Siobhan x
