The new HOTmilk is out - perfect for Valentines Day

One of the new season HOTmilk styles has just been released - just in time for Valentines Day!

It's super sexy and absolutely THE set you need to set hubby's pulse racing.

Delicate touches of lace mixed with saucy black mesh over red. Gorgeous.

Isoki Reversible Baby Bags

I have two words! THESE ROCK. Absolutely stunning design and very cleverly done. After two weeks of having them I have only now decided which bag I want for myself. Honestly, they are all so gorgeous it was a difficult decision!

We've had great success getting these into magazines and may even have a TV feature in the works - how COOL is that.

There are three main styles - all are reversible and then there are very funky Petite Travellers and Clutch Change Wallets.

Check em out here.

Things to do before baby arrives

So much to remember, we've made a handy list to check off before the big day.

You can of course get a lot of what you need online and delivered to your door FREE (free delivery for orders over $150) here at Belly Beyond. www.bellybeyond.co.nz

• Hire or buy an approved car seat.
• Pack your Nappy bag packed with several nappies, blanket/wrap, change of clothes, plastic bag for soiled nappies, washcloth or baby wipes
• Get Nursing bras
• Changing table or change mat/wallet to change nappies
• Wash all baby clothes, bedding, towels and washcloths in mild baby detergent before using.
• Prepare a basic layette of essential clothing and equipment for the baby.
• If you own a 2-story home, create a changing area downstairs as well as upstairs.
• Put together a basic baby survival (more info coming soon)
• You can never own enough plain cloth nappies. They make great burp cloths, are a must when feeding baby and make an impromptu changing pad.
• If requiring daycare, call and visit them now. All the good daycares will have waiting lists.
• Complete a Wishlist. It's a great way to inventory what you have, what you need, and what you want.
• Read about the pro and cons of Cord Blood Banking. It might be something you will want to consider and if so, you need to have it arranged in advance.
• Try out the car seat in all your vehicles. Insure it will be compatible for all of them.
• Install a shelf in the bathroom near the baby bath area with all necessities: shampoo, soap, cotton balls, washcloths, etc.. great to have it all handy and within reach.
• Install dimmer switches or night lights in various rooms where baby may sleep. You will appreciate the dim light so you can still see what you’re doing but it won’t stimulate baby.
• Don't buy a lot of baby bottles, teats etc..some babies prefer only certain types and some babies only ever breastfeed. Wait and see what works for your baby.
• Fill Your Freezer, one of the best things that you can do for yourself is to begin filling your freezer a few months before your baby arrives. The last thing you are going to want to do when you get home is to prepare meals for the family. Choose a day that is easiest for you to prepare an extra dinner for your freezer. Fill the freezer with things that are easy to double and to reheat. Some of the things that I chose to fill our freezer with were meatballs, meatloaf, pizza dough, casseroles, & lasagna. Make sure to clearly mark the outside of the packaging with what the item is and the date of preparation.
• Get a head start on your Thank yous - make sure to purchase plenty of stamps & thank you notes to keep on hand. Making a trip to the post office or card shop will be last on your list of things you would want to do in the first few weeks after bringing your child home. Keep track of these gifts by keeping a notebook next to the cards and writing down any baby gifts, gift cards, or meals received from my family & friends.
• Nappies Galore, there will be lots of nappy changes in your future after bringing your baby home. If you are planning on using disposables, add nappies to your grocery list a few months before the baby arrives and pick a box up each time you go. Don’t buy too many of the newborn size and they grow out of them so quickly.
• When your big day is very close, try to keep a minimumpetrol in
• Don't forget to organise someone to look after your pets. You might not need to use them, but it's much easier to set this up beforehand than try to scramble around last minute.
• If you are birthing away from home, it help's to set up a back-up ride to the hospital or birthing unit - you really don't want to have to try to organise this while you are in the middle of labour. Having a back up means your birthing partner or husband has the option of meeting you there if things are progressing quickly.
  

The Bottom Line:

Sleep, eat and read often. Enjoy your pregnancy!!

NZ Made dulce and zoet Baby Sling - newborn cradle carry

Yip yet another video of the scrummy Finn, this time helping me demonstrate how easy it is to get your newborn baby into a dulce&zoet baby sling.

Same safety disclaimer applies of course!



What we love about Slings - Newborn

* The dulce&zoet baby slings are a fantastic way to carry your baby right from when newborn. When babies are so tiny they love the closeness and warmth of mumma's body right there and it's very settling for them. For particularly fussy times (around about 5.10pm in our house!) put baby in the sling and get on with what you were doing. The rhythm of your movement as you go about your business will lull them and soothe them and my babies often drifted off asleep very easily this way.

* The sling is ideal for putting baby in when you need to pick up older children from kindy, daycare or playgroup.

* You won't have little old ladies fussing in babies face and waking them up! Your little one is tucked safely away and unless they spot the feet out one side a lot of people don't even notice you're carrying a baby.

* You can easily breastfeed in the sling and it offers privacy as well.


What we love about Slings - Older Baby

* Fantastic for quick trips to the shops or the bank when you don't want the hassle of getting out the pram. Brilliant if you have older children too because you can put baby in the sling and know you'll have your hands free to manage a breakaway toddler if need be.


What we love about Slings - Toddler

* Pick me up Mummy! Mummy I'm tiiired. Carry me Mummy!! Yes, been there. Pull your sling out of your handbag and give their tired little legs a break.


What we love about slings - for all

No buckles, no straps, no padding, just a carefully constructed sized pouch sling that will become one of your favourite items of clothing. It folds away so small you’ll never have to uhm and aah about carrying another bulky baby accessory, it’ll fit easily any purse or bag.
All slings are reversible, the inside fabric is visible when you fold the sling with a twist over your shoulder (to spread the weight, adjust the sling and stop the fabric from cutting into your neck).

How to use the Infant Insert with the Ergo Baby Carrier

Introducing our new model! The very tiny and ever so scrummy Finn is helping us demonstrate more product. In this video I demonstrate how to put a newborn into the Ergo Baby Carrier using an infant insert. The Ergo Infant Insert is recommended for use from newborn up to 4-5 months depending on the growth and developement of your baby.

Important: always take care when putting your baby into any carrier that the device straps (if any) are fastened securely and pulled tight. We recommend to keep at least one hand on the baby at all times when putting baby in and out of any carrier and to check baby is secure before you let your hands go. No liability is accepted by Belly Beyond for injury while using these demonstration videos. The safety of your child remains your responsibility.

Ergo Baby Carrier Fact Sheet

Everything you need to know about the brilliant Ergo Baby Carrier, at a glance.

Celebrity Ergo Baby Carrier Users

Julia Roberts Kerri Russel Bridget Moynahan Amanda Peet

Hollywood Golden Girl Julia Roberts was spotted recently carrying her son Henry (14 months) in an Ergo Baby Carrier. Henry slept soundly cuddled up to Mum while Julia got out and about in L.A.

The Ergo is fast gaining a huge celebrity following with more and more mums and dads choosing it as their option for easy travel with baby. Unlike the Baby Bjorn, the award-winning Ergo can be worn in 3 different positions - front, back and hip - and is perfect from birth to preschool up to 18kgs.

Ergo's revolutionary design has leading health endorsements for the way it promotes healthy spinal development for baby, and for the way it distributes baby's weight evenly for the parents.

Ergo Baby Carrier Fact Sheet

Versatile
The Ergo Baby offers 3 comfortable carrying positions - front, back and hip.

Great Capacity
The 18kg weight limit makes the Ergo Baby perfect for newborns to 3-4 year olds.

Award-Winning
Ergo Baby is blazing a trail of awards and was the only carrier to be voted one of the 'Top 20 Baby Products over the 20 Years' by Parenting US Magazine! It was also listed in 'Best Baby Bargain of the Year' in the US for its versatility and longesvity and 'Best Baby Gear' by HQ Magazine.

Revolutionary Design
The Ergo Baby has redefined comfort - the padded shoulder straps and wide waistband alleviate physical stress for parents. Be amazed how light even your older child will feel.

Ergononic
The Ergo Baby supports baby's spine and hips in a seated position which prevents spinal compression.

Chiropractic Endorsed
The Ergo Baby is endorsed by well-known Chiropracter, Dr Bridie Cullinane, who highly recommends the Ergo Baby to her patiens as a great start to life with baby.

Good Head Support
An adjustable sleeping hoos keeps baby's head well aligned

Travel Light
Lightweight, easy to pack and more secure than a hard-fram baby backpack.

Hands Free
The Ergo Backpack and Front Pouch accessories clip onto the Ergo Baby Carrier to keep your baby essentials close and your hands free.

Fair Trade Practises
Ergo Pty Ltd are committed to Fair Trade practices and have issued a statement regarding its manufacturing practices in China. This can be viewed here

Breastfeeding Web Ban

This article in the NZ Herald details various social websites banning breastfeeding images due to their "obscene, pornographic or sexually explicit" nature.

Breastfeeding Ban

HUH? Get a life! There is nothing obscene or slightly pornographic about a women breastfeeding her child.

Join the group and let Facebook know it's very uncool to pull nursing pics on that basis