Why Organic Cotton? 🌿
We at SnugBags only use GOTS certified Organic Cotton for our sleeping bags - which is the gold standard for Organic fabrics 🌸 The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is recognised as the world's leading processing standard for textiles made from organic fibres. It defines high-level environmental criteria along the entire organic textiles supply chain and requires compliance with social criteria as well. By only allowing certified organic fibers to qualify for GOTS certification, GOTS promotes organic and biodynamic farming and avoids GMOs, toxic pesticides and fertilizers 🌱 Why is this important? A large part of what children absorb in their body happens through the skin (the rest is food, liquid and air — gastrointestinal and respiratory absorption). Our skin is our largest organ. It protects us, helps regulate our body temperature, and plays many other essential functions. It also absorbs a lot of what we put on it. A baby's skin is up to 5 times thinner than adult skin, they have higher metabolisms and lower weight making them extremely susceptible to absorbing toxins and more sensitive to chemicals. Since Organic cotton is grown naturally and sustainable, without herbicides, pesticides or any other harmful chemicals. Choosing organic means limiting your baby’s exposure to potentially harmful chemicals found in non-organic garments. And not only that, Organic Cotton is know to be much softer and more comfortable to wear and it has shown to be much stronger and last longer than conventional cotton too! Our SnugBags GOTS Organic Cotton is 🌸 the safest choice for your little one 🌱 the best choice for the environment 🌈 free from toxins and chemicals 🌸 much softer than conventional cotton 🌱 & much stronger than conventional cotton We are committed to only using the purest & organic fabrics to provide a truly non-toxic sleep environment for your little ones and thus keeping them safe and snug all night x www.snugbags.com | Organic + Safer + Made in New Zealand |
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Even though bottle propping is an unsafe practice that goes back many years, it is now receiving increased attention as society, including the baby sleep consultancy industry, tries to sell a "solution" for everything.
If you haven’t heard of bottle propping, it simply means that you use a pillow, blankets or a device to hold (prop) your baby’s bottle in place while they feed. This is usually done with a baby too young to hold the bottle up themselves, and it leaves a parent’s hands free. But both of these factors are what can cause dire consequences. Tragically, bottle propping can be fatal. Young babies may not have the head control or strength to move away from the flow of the milk that is being aided by gravity. Quite simply they can choke to death as they cannot escape from the milk, or inhale it as the bottle becomes displaced. It was recently brought to our attention that one of the Baby Sleep Consultancies here in New Zealand are promoting the unsafe practice of bottle propping as part of their techniques to help babies sleep better, Not only is this extremely irresponsible, it is also unfortunately a testament of how unregulated this industry is. The American Academy of Pediatrics says: “Never prop the bottle and let your baby feed alone; not only will you miss the opportunity to bond with her while she feeds, but there’s also a danger that she’ll choke or the bottle will slip out of position. “Propping the bottle also increases the risk of ear infections. We do not recommend devices to hold a bottle in a baby’s mouth—they could be dangerous”. The CDC has similar guidelines, and also lists concerns about tooth decay as a reason to never bottle prop. They also advise that bottle propping increases the likelihood that you will overfeed your baby, because when you aren’t watching your baby for hunger cues, your baby is more likely to eat more than they need. Feeding your baby is so much more than providing nutrition - a warm, loving experience where you cuddle your baby closely, gaze into her eyes, and coo and talk to her. When we are feeding babies in our arms, and they gag or choke we can easily remove the bottle. We can sit them up and pat their backs making sure they are safe. This information is to help increase awareness of a common practice that can have serious consequences. Please do not ever prop your babies bottle, and please do not believe any baby sleep consultants endorsing this practice and telling you it is safe. www.snugbags.com | Organic + Ethical + Made in New Zealand | SnugBags are merino & organic cotton baby sleeping bags that are specially designed to keep little ones safe, warm and snug at night. For centuries parents have been sleeping their babies in the natural fibres of wool to keep them warm and comfortable, and there is now scientific evidence that sleeping on or under wool actually improves the quality of sleep and helps little ones thrive better. Research shows that the rate of weight gain in underweight newborns was 61% higher when sleeping on a wool underlay compared to a cotton sheet. Jaundiced newborns sleeping on wool were more settled when sleeping compared to those on cotton – around 30% of babies on wool cried compared with 67% on cotton. Researcher Dr Paul Swan, from the University of Sydney, said: "Not so long ago sleeping under wool bedding was the norm, and science is now rediscovering the benefits of sleeping in wool. Maybe it is not a coincidence because wool regulates your body temperature far better, keeping you in what is known as 'the thermal comfort zone'. You therefore not only fall asleep quicker, sleep longer, but also have deeper, better quality sleep."
If your baby is unsettled, one reason for their unrest could be down to the environment they’re sleeping in and the type of bedding parents are using in their cot. Simply sleeping your baby in the natural properties that merino wool provides could make all the difference to a good quality sleep and helping your little one to thrive. Merino wool is naturally breathable In contrast to synthetics, wool is an active fibre that reacts to changes in the body’s temperature, keeping the wearer comfortable. Accordingly, wool garments are one of the most breathable of all the common natural fibres types. Merino wool has natural temperature regulating properties Babies are not as adaptable as adults to temperature change. Because infants and children have a higher surface area to mass ratio than adults, they can lose heat rapidly, as much as four times more quickly than adults. When babies are cold-stressed, they use energy and oxygen to generate warmth. Studies have found that by sleeping babies in merino wool and thus keeping babies at optimal temperatures, neither too hot or too cold, they can conserve energy and build up reserves. When using merino wool, baby’s temperature is regulated and maintained and subsequently babies will become more relaxed, gain weight faster and sleep longer. Merino Wool has natural moisture regulating properties Merino is one of Nature’s most amazing fibres. It breathes and controls moisture which means it has the unique ability to maintain the ideal temperature between body and bedding. Unlike any other fabric Merino has the capacity to remove large amounts (up to 35% of its own weight) of moisture from the skin surface, keeping baby dry and comfortable all night. "Enjoying good sleep has become increasingly difficult in modern times, and so anything that helps is great for your mental and physical health." Dr Paul Swan, from the University of Sydney says. Kim Snel, owner of SnugBags Merino for Kids says: "We acknowledge the importance of sleep and the amazing qualities and benefits of merino wool. We have specifically designed products that are made using only the finest merino wool to ensure a better night’s sleep for little ones. Because we know when baby sleeps, everyone sleeps. A well-rested baby is a happy baby, which also makes for well-rested and happy parents." Visit SnugBags extensive range of merino baby & toddler sleeping bags here. www.snugbags.com | Organic + Ethical + made in New Zealand | Do you check fabric details when buying sleep garments for your little one?Another one of NZ’s leading ‘organic’ baby wear & sleep brands have started using polyester (35%) in their sleep garments.
Synthetic fibres (aka plastic) do not breathe and can increase your baby's risk of overheating in their sleep. When babies overheat or sweat, they then can then rapidly cool down because their sweat cannot not evaporate through the fabric. Overheating has been linked to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Bruce Epstein, M.D., a paediatrician from Florida, explains the link saying: "babies sleep deeply when they're hot, making them difficult to arouse, which may increase the risk of SIDS." Last year a large ‘natural’ NZ sleeping bag brand started mixing their merino fleece with 25% polyester. Most Australian, European and American sleep brands use polyester for the wadding in their sleeping bags and sleep suits. Or even worse, use polyester (Polar Fleece) for the entire sleep garment. Why do these companies do this? Because it is cheap. Using polyester and mixing it with merino or organic cotton drops the price of the fabric significantly. Using polyester as a filler for wadding is cheap as chips. So is polar fleece. Unfortunately, clever marketing techniques make parents think they are buying a natural and organic product because the polyester is used in combination with merino or organic cotton. It is extremely irresponsible and unsafe to use such large quantities of polyester in babies sleep garments and it is really sad to see that some of the bigger companies are misleading their customers by marketing themselves as ‘Natural’ and ‘Organic’ and making parents believe they are making a safe decision for their little ones while their products are in fact filled with polyester. Please please please read garment labels and when purchasing online, read the ‘Product Details’ to see the fabric and wadding composition. And if it contains polyester do not buy it. Polyester should not be used in babies sleep garments. It is not safe. Sleep garments should be made from natural fibres only, like merino, wool, (organic) cotton or bamboo. www.snugbags.com | Organic + Ethical + made in New Zealand | Getting a great night’s sleep in summer can be a real challenge and specially right now whilst we are in the middle of this heat wave. The extra warm nights with little fresh air can make it difficult for your little one to get off to sleep and changes in temperature overnight can cause your little cherub to wake. The following tips will help you and your little one have a more comfortable sleep x 1. Make sure the room is well ventilated. Open windows and the door to allow for plenty of airflow. 2. Use a fan, but make sure to point it away from baby’s bassinet or cot. Placing a bowl of water filled with ice cubes in front of the fan will help cool the temperature. 3. Place bottles of frozen water around the room to help cool the temperature. 4. Close the curtains early in the day so the room is protected from direct sunlight. 5. Placing wet/damp towels in the nursery can help cool the room down. 6. Make sure your baby’s bath is a little cooler than normal and allow plenty of time to splash and cool down. 7. Do not use any moisturiser on your babies skin after her bath- it will leave babies skin feeling hot and sticky. 8. Dress your little one in 100% natural and breathable fibres like (organic) cotton and merino. Avoid polyester as it will cause your baby to sweat and overheat. 9. If your baby is swaddled look at a zip up swaddle. They will keep your little one safely swaddled all night long without the risk of unraveling. Traditional (muslin) wraps might come undone in the middle of the night which can pose a tangling hazard to your baby. 10. Sleeping in 'nothing but a nappy’ might make it tricky for your baby to fall asleep and stay asleep – most of us adults sleep with at least a sheet in summer! Temperatures can also change during the night and your baby might wake up feeling cold. Organic cotton sleeping bags add a light layer that will make your little one feel safe and secure and keep your baby at the right temperature all night long. 11. Remove waterproof sheets from your little ones cot while the weather is this hot. The plastic coating will hold heat causing your baby to sweat and overheat. 12. Using a sleeping bag with feet is a great way to keep little feet cool in this hot weather. 13. Make sure to use a room thermometer so you can measure the room temperature at all times and make changes to your babies sleep wear as appropriate. 14. Make sure to check on your baby during the night. If your baby is red or sweaty than she is too hot and remove a layer of clothing immediately. You can check your baby’s temperature by feeling their back, neck or tummy. 15. Finally remember you child is likely to be thirsty in the night. That usually means more frequent wake-ups and a lot more night feeds. If it's really hot, don't try to restrict these. We did it again!! We won GOLD for the second time in a row in the prestigious Baby Maternity Awards in the US!! We are officially the TOP CHOICE for 2018 for Best Baby Sleeping Bag in the US!! For the second year in a row we are the winners of the "TOP CHOICE OF THE YEAR" award in the prestigious Baby Maternity Magazine Awards in the USA!!
Our commitment to being New Zealand made, using only premium fabrics and having the highest manufacturing standards sure pays off 🐑❣️⭐ To win GOLD in such a large overseas market with fierce competition from big multi-million dollar brands is HUGE and we could not be more proud. Awards Program DetailsbabyMaternity Magazine's Awards Program is unique in that all products submitted are reviewed by expectant mothers, new moms and baby caregivers. Products are not reviewed by any one person. They are reviewed by many people - the very people who would purchase them. Each year, a two day event is held in Henderson, NV where over a 50 guest reviewers are invited to a local convention center to attend our product review. All products are divided into categories and displayed at various stations. Guest reviewers are asked to sit and review each product at every station. This allows for each product to receive multiple reviews. On Sunday the 30th of September the clock will 'Spring' one hour forward. This means your little one will go to bed one hour earlier than usual. Newborns are generally not affected by Daylight Savings but older babies & toddlers might have a difficult time adjusting. We have some handy tips and tricks to make the transition smooth and easy.
Good luck helping your little ones adjust. We would love to hear how you get on x Not sure which sleeping bag is best for your little one? Use our online SnugBag Selector Tool here x SNUGBAGS merino sleeping bags are the BEST! We won GOLD & SILVER in the Mumii Family Awards!15/9/2018 In the last 2 years we have won more awards than any other brand and not only in New Zealand. We have snapped up awards all over the world, from the UK, to the USA to Australia.
We are the #1 most recommended NZ made brand by Australian and New Zealand parents and VOGUE refers our SnugBags as the 'creme-de-la-creme' of baby sleeping bags. And right now we are incredibly proud to add another GOLD and SILVER award to our list - snapped up at the prestigious Mumii Family Awards in the UK. We took out GOLD for the category 'Best Travel Product for Baby' and SILVER in the category 'Best Sleep Brand'. Thank you so much for all your support and votes. We couldn't have done this without you x About Mumii Family Awards: ‘The Mumii Family Awards encompass everything you need to know about being a Family. We took the best of the best and parents spent a month deliberating and voting for their favourite brands and products. With over 10,000 votes cast across numerous categories, winners should be incredibly proud of their awards.’ Jo – Editor of Mumii We know how difficult it can be to know if your little one is warm enough at night so we thought we would help you out!
We have created a little questionnaire and when you fill it out, we will be emailing you with a personalized recommendation for your baby. We take into consideration your babies age, where you live, how warm or cold your home is and what type of heating that you use. The recommendation is like a mini-consultation and completely free of charge and without any obligation. It takes about 1 minute to fill out the questionnaire. Please click on the link below to get your personalized recommendation today xx >>> SNUGBAGS SELECTOR TOOL HEALTHY BABY BLOG. In our HEALTHY BABY BLOG we focus on a different topic each time and have experts talk about their role in keeping little ones happy and healthy. Today we speak with Wal Herring, Nutritionist, Author and Personal Health Coach and we talk about pregnancy and tips to keep you (and baby) happy and healthy x Who are you and tell us a bit about yourself.
Hi I’m Wal. I am a mother of three, soon to be four children, author of Healthy Little Eaters – How to help your children develop a healthy relationship with food and personal health coach to expecting mothers and mothers wanting not only to be healthy, but thrive. I was one of the lucky ones and knew when I was in high school that I wanted to be in the health industry. Starting out in Physical Education I was soon drawn to Nutrition and ended my time in Otago with a Master of Science in Nutrition as well as a Bachelor of Physical Education. I have since lived and travelled the world, having all three of my children in different countries and currently about to move back to New Zealand from Japan. Travelling and completing my Diploma of Homeopathy has been a huge influence in my practise as it has given me a deep understanding and appreciation of an individual’s nuances. Understanding the person in front of me as an individual with their bigger picture in mind is paramount to helping people make changes that last. I like the analogy that when I work with clients I aim to teach them to fish rather than giving them the fish. This I have found to be paramount in clients attaining satisfying long lasting changes. I love to learn and sharing that knowledge on my blog is hugely satisfying. I also love working with mothers, either expecting, during pre-pregnancy or mothers who have lost their mojo, I feel it is my calling in life and gives me a profound sense of appreciation for life. What are some tips you could give expecting mothers? I am sure most will know that they should ‘stay healthy’ and to be taking Folic acid. Below are three tips to help you Be healthy as well as two extra supplements I recommend and personally take during pregnancy. Three tips to stay healthy: 1. Take care of your Gut Health If you have not already heard about gut health, microbiome or foods such as pre and pro-biotics then you will. Research is relatively new in this area but very exciting. Your gut needs special attention during pregnancy as our gut health as mothers not only impacts our health during pregnancy but it directly influences our babies gut health, which has an impact on not only their future immune system but food allergies, eczema and more. If you are going to try ‘be healthier’ when you are pregnant start by eating pre-botic and pro-biotic rich foods. If you have never eaten these foods, it may require you to ‘train your taste-buds’, which is great practice to help your future toddlers train theirs! For more information go to (http://www.walherring.com/email-sign-up.html ) for a free audio download and accompanying PDF of mazing microbiome foods. 2. Checking-In – Be mindful of how food makes you feel spend a lot of time with clients teaching them how they can recognise their own personal triggers. Checking-in to see how food affects you not only in that moment but 2 hours after is a really profound way to create self-awareness around food. When I was pregnant with my first child 9 years ago, I felt quite sick in the first trimester and craved some crappy food. Even though I knew it was not so great for my future baby, sometimes the moment takes over. Fast forward to the present and I have just come out of the first trimester with my fourth. I stilled craved crappy food, but because I checked-in I quickly realised that, that crappy food made me feel ten times worse than if I had eaten something healthier. When I felt that urge to eat salty chip’s or have a sweet something, my mind would jump forward to how I would feel after I had eaten it and that feeling alone was enough for me to get my A into G and make a healthier alternative. Creating self-awareness through checking-in, won’t make you magically want to eat healthier foods, but keep working on it and you will be amazed at your relationship with food changes. 3. Check your stress levels Being healthy is not just about your physical health but it includes your mental/emotional health. It can be like a loaded gun bringing up this topic as if we were to fully understand how our stress levels can influence you and your developing babies health, it may leave you more stressed! Keep in mind though, we will all experience stress, the goal is not to be in some Zen like state throughout pregnancy and motherhood but to be less stressful that you currently are. Everybody releases stress differently – find out what works for you from meditation, mindfulness to exercise, fresh air or even singing and dancing. There is no ‘right’ way, experiment what makes you feel calmer and centred. Two Supplements I Recommend During Pregnancy:
Wal Click here to find out more about Wal's Pregnancy Health Course >>> http://www.walherring.com/pregnancy-pdf-download.html |
Author
Kim is the owner of SNUGBAGS - Merino for Kids. Together with her partner James and their little girl Neeva Rose, she lives in a little beach town called Piha on the West Coast in New Zealand. They love surfing, building sandcastles and all things natural and organic. Categories
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