How to choose safe, non-toxic toys for your kids

November 5, 2017 · 10 Comments

How to choose safe, non-toxic toys for your kids

Play is a fundamental childhood experience.

As well as being an important part of our children’s development, it’s also fun and many of us have fond memories of childhood toys.

Toys are something our kids will come into contact with nearly every day and they love exploring them with their mouths! So, it’s incredibly important to make sure toys you provide them with are safe and non-toxic.

“The World Health Organisation has emphasised that infants and young children are more vulnerable to gene-damaging chemicals than adults” Dr Peter Dingle

What to avoid when choosing toys

There can be many toxins in cheap toys including things like PVC, BPA, BPS, phalates, polyethylene terephthalate, fire retardants and heavy metals. They can be ingested, inhaled or transferred through the skin. These toxins are linked to a range of health problems, including cancer, endocrine disruption, developmental delays, and reproductive system damage. Scary stuff!

As well as being toxic, cheaper toys tend to be very poor quality and can break easily. Be wary of anything that has small pieces that can break off and become a choking hazard. Anything smaller than a ping pong ball can get trapped in airways.

Cheap toys are not designed for longevity. It’s a vicious cycle of consumerism where plastic toys are bought cheaply, broken and then discarded to landfill. Every bit of plastic ever made is still in existence.

There are also issue of fair-trade and ethical practices to consider. Denying a worker in a third world country a decent wage and safe working conditions so kids can have all the latest toys for Christmas is pretty messed up, no matter which way you look at it.

Wishbone 3 in 1 Bike

What to look for when choosing safe toys

♥ Choose a reputable store where you know the owners are eco-conscious and ethical.

♥ Choose natural and untreated materials such as wood, bamboo, metal and natural fibres like cotton, wool or felt. These materials are also an environmentally friendly option.

♥ Check that soft toys are not stuffed with toxic fillers. Natural fillers like bamboo or GMO free corn starch are preferable.

♥ Check that the paints, dyes and treatments used are natural and non-toxic.

♥ Check that wooden toys are not made from MDF or plywood or use toxic glues.

♥ Look beyond the labelling. Just because something says it’s non-toxic or wooden doesn’t mean it’s safe.

♥ When choosing plastic toys, look for recycled plastic that is food grade safe and free of toxins. Some good brands are Green Toys and Miniland for dolls.

♥ Personally, I also look at who makes the toys and where they are from. Is the company ethical and are they looking after their workers? It’s just good karma!

Some of my top picks:

♥ Hevea

Hevea make rubber toys that don’t contain holes so there is no chance of mould build up. The safe rubber ducky! See more here.

♥ EverEarth

EverEarth make beautiful wooden toys from sustainable wood and water based non-toxic paints. Find the whole range here.

♥ Maud n Lil

I am so in love with Maud n Lil soft toys. You will see them featured often on Natural New Age Mum. They are beautiful quality and certified organic with corn starch filling and no small buttons. Find them here.

What about family and friends?

I hear you. A new child in the family gets everyone excited and they want to buy all the baby things!

I find it’s best to nip this in the bud early and explain your stance on toxins, plastics and cheap toys. You might instigate a ‘books only please’ policy or something else that works for your family.

If you need some help navigating those conversations, have a read of my article, What to do when your family and friends don’t support your lifestyle choices.

Kinderboard

Good quality, eco-friendly toys should last a lifetime and may even become family heirlooms. You will be able to pass them on to siblings, other families or sell them when you are finished.

It’s also worth remembering that kids (and babies in particular) don’t need a lot of toys for stimulation – that’s what we are here for! There is something to be said for providing less to encourage more imaginative play. Simple toys without all the bells and whistles (or flashing lights and sounds!) are often best.

Choosing quality over quantity is a safe bet for your kids and the environment. Good quality, ethical toys do cost more than cheap plastic junk from the discount stores but I think our kids are worth it.

What do you think? Do you actively search for safe, non-toxic toys?

Further Reading and sources:

Slow Death by Rubber Duck

Healthy Home, Healthy Family

Is your home making you sick?

Natural New Age Baby on a Budget

June 14, 2016 · 1 Comment

Today I am welcoming one of my favourite bloggers, author and friend, Robyn Birkin from Modern Day Missus to Natural New Age Mum. She is sharing with us her budget tips for a natural new age baby!

Natural New Age Baby on a Budget

When infertility rocked our world, it was a big wake up call to clean up our acts. We overhauled the way we ate and quickly discovered the crazy amount of chemicals in all of the products around us.

Sometimes I’m not surprised at why one in eight of us (at least) have a hard time falling pregnant, and while many of us will still need a bit of extra help with baby making, infertility was a changing point in our lives; a massive learning experience.

When we fell pregnant, and then had the love of our lives, Chloe, I was determined that we would do our best to continue with our new lifestyle which focuses on eating as clean food as possible, and making conscious choices about the products that we purchase.

Here are 7 ways to have a Natural New Age baby on a budget:

♥ Our Cot – IKEA Sniglar

Oh boy, we searched high and low for a cot and many a pregnancy insomnia-induced night was spent googling which cot was the best. So many of our cots are laced with toxic glues, varnishes and paints and off-gas for years, and if there was one thing I was determined to ensure was as low tox as possible, it was Chloe’s bedding, because they spend more than 50% of their time in there!

So many cots have also been recalled over the years, that you need to make sure your cot adheres to the latest safety guidelines, so a second hand cot can be a good idea, but also warrants a bit of research.

And some of the most eco-friendly and low tox cots out there are pretty exxy, except one: the IKEA Sniglar cot, which only costs $99. This is the cot we settled on. It’s made from untreated, solid beech. You may not know, but IKEA has also done a lot of work in the last six years on their sustainability, and all products from IKEA are renewable, reusable or recyclable. $99 is a steal! At first I was worried that it wouldn’t be sturdy enough, but it’s been great and we bought the matching change table too.

For the mattress, we purchased a Tetra Tea Tree Mattress and Snugglebed, and purchased organic bedding from Amazon.

♥ Op Shop Toys and Books

When most people think of their local op shop, I bet they think of women and mens’ clothing, but we’ve purchased some awesome books and toys from our local op shop.

We purchased a xylophone, plus lego pieces, and we also bought a perfect condition Spot book, which was the feature book at Baby Rhyme Time the following week – what a boon! Aside from being really cheap, it’s a great way to reuse and recycle things, and because most people don’t think of their local op shop for kids’ toys.

♥ Verge collection

I hate that our society has become so quick to use products and then throw them away when they have the slightest defect. Ross and I drove past this awesome cubby house (which seems to entertain Chloe for hours!) on the verge, which only has a few cracks. They’re on the top so Chloe doesn’t know!

This might have otherwise gone to landfill, so I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to reuse it, and it was free!

♥ Gumtree for nappies and strollers

As well as being a more environmentally friendly option, cloth nappies are cheaper in the long run too, but the thing about cloth nappies, is that they can be expensive up front, and different brands suit different bums and mums. Gumtree is a gold mine for cloth nappies though, and many of them are either unused or barely used as a number of people intend to use them, purchase a bunch at once and then decide cloth nappies aren’t for them, so you can get them at a really good price, and still in good condition.

We also bought our stroller second hand (a City Mini which we LOVE – it folds with one strap so you only need one hand) for $300 and it came with all the accessories, so we saved about $300 and were able to reuse something that may have otherwise gone to landfill.

♥ Coconut oil

Coconut oil is a great item for your nappy bag as it is so versatile. You can get some from your kitchen and put it in a small tub as a nappy rash cream, a moisturiser/baby oil and a massage cream.

We also had a bad case of cradle cap, which I read goes away on it’s own, but it so doesn’t! Am I right?! So I doused Chloe’s head in coconut oil and combed it out a few times, and within one day, it was gone.

Another little tip, is when your baby is first born, that meconium is tough to get off! But, if you pop a bit of coconut oil on their bum in between nappy changes, the oil makes it so much easier to get off.

♥ Homemade toys

It’s so true that kids can have all the toys in the world, but what they really want is the contents of your kitchen drawer! Here are a few toys that Chloe has loved:

A muffin tin, with little bits of food or smaller toys in the holes
Stainless steel bowls laid out with a wooden spoon for some drum action
A empty toilet roll wrapped up with some rice or dried beans inside for a rattle
Photographs – kids love seeing photographs. We had had a large picture frame that recently broke but instead of throwing everything away we put contact paper over the top so it has become like a small playmat/large place mat
An activity board with leftover things from your sewing cupboard, kitchen or shed
Homemade lavender play dough

♥ Our Wrap – The Close Parent Organic Caboo Wrap

This is hands down my favourite and most recommended purchase. Chloe basically lived in her wrap for the first 6 months of her life and at 14 months, she still sometimes goes in it.

What I love about this wrap though is that it is so versatile. You can use it in a tonne of different positions, so it is suitable for newborns, right up to toddlers, which not that many are and it’s really easy to chuck in the wash.

So that’s some of the tips we have to lower the chemical load on your babe, as well as do your bit for the environment, and your hip pocket.

What tips do you have?

About Robyn:

Robyn Birkin is a author, fertility warrior and zen mama who lives in Perth, Western Australia with her husband and daughter, Chloe, a gorgeous result of IVF treatments.

She has recently shared an honest and raw account of her journey with infertility, IVF and miscarriage in her book, Screw Infertility!

When she is not trying to stop her daughter, Chloe, writing on walls and trying to give the cat a nervous breakdown, she writes stories for fertility warriors, life lovers and vegan babes on her blog, Modern Day Missus. She is a lover of veggies, surfie dudes and sunshine, and is in the juice (over smoothies) camp.

Beautiful Gifts for New Babies

November 5, 2015 · 1 Comment

Gifts for new babies can be hard to find. You don’t want to buy plastic, nasty J&J products or anything toxic or harmful. You want something safe, useful, beautiful and eco-friendly.

Well, you don’t have to look any further, because here are my picks for thethe best gifts for new babies.

Beautiful Gifts for New Babies

♥ Gaia Baby Starter Kit

Gaia are a well-known name in natural skincare and their Baby Starter Kit is a very affordable but useful gift. The range is pure, natural and organic and it’s all in 50ml sizes, so perfect as a trial kit or as a travel kit. It would also be great for expecting mums to pop in their hospital bag.

Included in the starter kit is a baby bath/body wash, shampoo, moisturizer, soothing lotion and massage oil – all in a little carry bag for just $22.95. You may be able to find this starter kit in your local supermarket, pharmacy or health food store but if not, you can always purchase online here.

♥ Cloth Nappies Direct Try Me Kit

For the eco-mum who wants to use modern cloth nappies, this little trial pack from Cloth Nappies Direct is a great idea. You get one cloth nappy (you can choose the design), one wetbag and a pack of 5 bamboo cloth wipes. All are durable, easy to wash and sustainable. You also avoid all the nasty chemicals hiding in disposable nappies and wipes.

MCNs are so easy to use compared to the old-fashioned towelling nappy squares, they are easy on our environment and work out so much cheaper in the long run. There is an initial outlay for them, so this kit is a really useful gift for new mums! You could even get together with friends and get a whole set.

Find them here.

♥ Sleep Hammock

This gorgeous organic hammock suits babies from birth up to three years. It converts from a bed into a swing as your child grows. For a limited time it also comes with a free mosquito net and a mounting bracket. This would be perfect to place in the family living areas so you can keep an eye on baby as you do other things. You can even hang it from a tree if you are out doing gardening!

It’s made from organic cotton and is really lightweight and totally portable. You can just throw it in the washing machine too! Find out more details about the hammock and watch the info video here.

♥ Maud n Lil Organic Cotton Softies

These cute organic cotton animals from Maud and Lil has been on my radar for ages and I finally get to share it with you! As well as being adorable, it’s made from organic cotton with a velvety smooth finish and presented in a gift box.

We all know babies like to chew on, sleep with and cuddle their soft toys, so there is peace of mind that this range is all organic and has a natural filling. No nasty toxins!

Get them online here.

♥ Sound of Virtues CD

A very different, but gorgeous, soulful gift. Beautiful affirmations about 26 chosen virtues are accompanied by music. Created to nurture your baby’s spiritual development and provide a calming and peaceful support for parents.

Check it out here.

♥ Amber Teething Necklace

All the hippy kids are wearing them and there is a good reason – they seem to work remarkably well for helping ease teething pain. Made from amber which is said to have electrostatic properties that warm against the skin and activate healing. For best results, make sure you buy real amber, not fake!

Check them out here.

♥ Organic Cotton Newborn Starter Gift Set

Made with hypoallergenic certified organic cotton, this ten piece set is suitable for new borns up to three months. I love the gender neutral colours and embroidery.

Get it online here.

♥ Eco Play Gym

Both my kids adored hanging around under baby gyms! It meant I could get stuff done while they were entertained for a bit. I love this eco-friendly, non toxic version. Made from sustainable birch wood, certified organic cotton and sheep’s wool, it’s height adjustable and completely safe. You can also unclip the toys and use them elsewhere. Gorgeous!

Get it here.

Need a card?

Check out Biome for a beautiful range of eco-friendly baby cards.

Where to shop?

If you want to browse for something different or grab a gift voucher, check out some of these great online stores:

Hello Charlie

Biome Eco Store

You might also like to read:

How to choose safe, non-toxic toys for kids

{parts of this post are sponsored}

Teaching your baby to sign

December 18, 2014 · 3 Comments

Today’s guest post is from the gorgeously talented and beautiful Allison Davies, music therapist at Oh My Musical Goodness. She has two beautiful kids and signs with them as a way to communicate. It’s really interesting and in this post she will give us some more info and tell us the benefits. You may remember Allison being on the blog before telling us about music therapy.

♥ ♥ ♥

Teaching your baby to sign.

Why would you teach your baby to use sign language?

Are my Children Deaf? No.

Sensory difficulties? No.

Developmental Delays? No.

Language Deficit? No.

Cognitive delays? No.

Can they still benefit from sign language? A big fat YES!!!

I have such enthusiasm for this language and the powerful effect it can have on you, your child and your attachment/relationship. Sign language is one of the most powerful gifts of communication you can offer your child.

I taught my daughter how to sign at around 12 months and now I am teaching my son. Read some more about that here.

OK, so what’s so great about it?

AUSLAN (our Australian sign language) allows for both verbal and non-verbal communication, it allows your child to express their needs before they can talk, it helps with physical development and it just gives so much joy!

Generally children develop their gross and fine motor skills before their verbal communication skills and therefore the gift of sign language is a very beautiful, empowering and practical tool for children to have.

And perhaps most importantly, the highly interactive nature of sign assists in strengthening the bond in your relationship. When you sign you face each other, make eye contact, you gesture and are animated – these elements are often eliminated from verbal language as we text, talk on the phone, call out from the next room or chat whilst doing other things – yet these elements are integral to our relationships and we should be embracing them!

And just how does giving children an outlet, whereby they are NOT required to verbally speak, encourage speech I hear you ask?

Well, sign stimulates neural development and, as opposed to spoken language, engages both hemispheres and various cerebral lobes, which in turn strengthens their capacity for learning language and communicating verbally. It will reinforce your child’s language skills by giving them visual cues, a tactile experience and greater emphasis on facial affect and body language. In young children a second language is highly recommended by pediatric specialists and sign is a fantastic option for this very reason.

So how do you start?

When your baby starts to display gross motor coordination they may be ready to start sign. It’s not something you actively TEACH them, it’s something YOU learn – then you do the signs as you speak to them and they just kind of pick it up over time. And they often pick it up very, very quickly! You may be amazed at how early on in life your baby responds to you with moments of facial recognition because they’ve understood your sign. And these moments usually start happening before they’ve developed the skill of signing back to you. (And are so completely heart warming!!!)

Introduce just a few signs to start off with, stick with half a dozen that are key words you like to use – Thankyou, please, more, finished, stop, bed, hungry, milk etc. are ideal signs to begin with.

Be patient with the process, there’s no rush for your baby to start signing back or for you to learn every word under the sun. Make it fun – learn a couple of nursery rhymes, find some AUSLAN apps to play with, look things up on Youtube, make up some sign games. Take a look at this video I did with my kids:

Don’t worry too much about whether you or your child’s signing technique is perfect – you aren’t aiming for fluent dialect – just basic communication skills. Most young children and infants will adapt signs to their own little mindsets regardless! That’s all part of the fun of it!

I guess what it comes down to is that, for a very small amount of input, (ie. the use of half a dozen signs in your routine) you can achieve extremely significant outcomes. AND IT’S SO MUCH FUN!

Where can I learn some basic AUSLAN?

Well you’re in luck because I am a Registered Music Therapist and through my business, Oh My Musical Goodness, I offer online signing workshops catered especially for you. Face to face on skype over an hour you will learn up to 100 basic signs and a few nursery rhymes. Each session is valued at $70, makes a fabulously unique gift and will leave you feeling very clever indeed as you realize how simple sign can actually be! To find out more about these workshops or for a list of other exciting sessions visit here then go ahead and book your session today!

About Allison:

Allison Davies (BMus/BTeachMasMusThy) is a registered music therapist with The Australian Music Therapy Association and owner of ‘Oh My Musical Goodness’. She lives and works with her little family in Tasmania, specialising in the areas of early childhood intervention and mental health. Alli is especially passionate about bringing music and sound based services to those in isolated and remote areas and therefore offers an array of online educational sessions.

Find out more about Oh My Musical Goodness on Facebook or on her blog. Alli can be contacted by email at ohmymusicalgoodness@gmail.com.

Special Offer:

In the spirit of the end of one year and the beginning of another Alli would love to treat NNAM readers to 20% of any online session booked in 2014. Your session can be scheduled for next year but make sure you book it this year to claim your discount! Just email to secure your space!

Why would you use Modern Cloth Nappies ??

November 5, 2014 · 44 Comments

Nappies!! I wonder how many of those I have changed over the years? I shudder to think! Not the most fun or glamorous part of being a parent, is it?

My babies are now nearly 16 and 13. So it’s been a while since I had to change a nappy! Back then, I used the old fashioned terry towelling squares, nappy pins, pvc pilchers (yikes!) and washers at home. Disposables and baby wipes were used when we went out. These days there are so many better options, both environmentally and logistically. It’s actually pretty exciting to see what has been developed.

So what are Modern Cloth Nappies (or MCNs)?

Modern cloth nappies basically combine the convenience and design of a disposable nappy into a reusable cloth nappy. So you get the benefits of both! These ones pictured are made from cloth, with a waterproof outer, elastic legs and waist, absorbent inserts and snaps for closing. It will depend on the brand as to the features.

What are the benefits of using MCNs?

1. CHEAPER. Let’s not beat around the bush, having kids is expensive! If you can save thousands of dollars using these, why wouldn’t you? It’s a one-off expense, plus laundering, but in the long run, it’s a lot cheaper than buying disposable nappies.

2. ECO-FRIENDLY. As a rough estimate, 2 billion disposable nappies go to landfill each year in Australia. (Ibis World 2009). Not cool. Apart from the landfill and carbon emission problem, there is also the environmental impact of manufacturing of the disposable nappies and their poor decomposition rate to consider.

3. TOXIN-FREE. Did you know disposable nappies can contain a toxic cocktail of chemicals that get absorbed straight into your precious bundle’s blood stream? Sodium Polyacrylate, Dioxin, Pthalates, Heavy Metals, and more may be present in your nappy. There is also concern that childhood asthma may be linked to inhaling the emissions from disposable nappies. You can see that Pub Med study here.

4. LESS NAPPY RASH. Without the plastic and chemicals, the incidence of nappy rash on baby’s bums in reduced. MCNs allow the skin to breathe better and avoid sweaty, uncomfortable bubs.

Introducing…. Cloth Nappies Direct

I have known Stefanie Samuel for a while now and have worked with her before. Last year, she told me all about the new venture with her husband, Illan : Cloth Nappies Direct.

“I always knew I’d nappy my baby in cloth, it’s just who I am. But I was not impressed with the high prices of modern cloth nappies (MCNs). $30 plus for 1 nappy seemed steep to me, but, I figured, I would just have to be smart, shopping on sale, and purchasing carefully. We started our baby on the traditional flat cloth towel nappies – our washing line would be a sea of white every day, and my husband would fold them while watching TV at night. I had purchased a few MCNs to try once baby was bigger (she had tiny little thighs). Somewhere along our cloth nappy journey, my entrepreneurial husband said, “why don’t you just find a manufacturer and make your own?” And a new business idea was born!” Stefanie

Stefanie and Illan make their MCNs and sell directly via their website – there is no other distributor, wholesaler or retailer involved, so the cost is significantly lower than most MCNs. In fact, most of their nappies are $14.95, with savings to be had when purchased in bulk. They make a ‘one size fits most’ nappy, with snaps at different positions so you can adjust as bubs grows. That makes it a lot more affordable to go the eco-friendly way!

They have also been getting a lot of great feedback from happy MCN mums. The no-leaks feature seems to be a big hit – well, that’s understandable I guess!

Stefanie

I’m really excited about MCNs! Now that I understand more about them, thanks to Stefanie, I am telling all my new mumma friends to get into them. I also love the fact that the nappy doubles as bottoms as they come in funky colours and prints. Whack on a t-shirt and you are good to go out! No need for extra clothes. Winning.

It’s the way of the future – saving our planet, cutting out chemicals and being more economical. It almost makes me want to have another baby to get to use them. Nah………… not quite!

Special Offer:

Stefanie is advertising with me on the blog now and I am thrilled to help her spread the word about MCNs! (See her ad up there on the right). If you click the ad, it will take you through to a special offer on the Cloth Nappies Direct website, just for NNAM readers. You get a FREE nappy with your first order over $10. It’s a great way to try them out.

Giveaway:

This giveaway has now closed. The winner was Jessie!

Stefanie at Cloth Nappies Direct is kindly giving one of you a ‘Try Me Out Kit’ worth $49.80! It contains:

1 Cloth Nappy

1 Swim Nappy

1 Double Pocket Wetbag

1 Pack of 5 Cloth Wipes

How to enter:

♥ Make sure you are a blog subscriber (add your email to the top right box)

♥ LIKE Cloth Nappies Direct on Facebook. Go here.

♥ Comment on this blog post, telling us what colour or print you would like in the cloth nappy and which of the three prints you would like in the swim nappy! IE so you might decide KERMIT and HAPPY HAWAIIAN. You get to choose!

Terms and Conditions: Australian residents only. Winner will be chosen via random.org from those meeting the entry requirements. Giveaway closes on 14th of November at midnite. Winner will be emailed and announced on this blog post. Good Luck!

{This post is sponsored}

Sasha’s DIY Baby Bum Wipes

October 9, 2014 · 11 Comments

We had a great discussion in our Natural New Age Mum’s Facebook chat group the other day and gorgeous mumma Sasha shared her DIY baby bum wipes recipe. With her kind permission, I am sharing it on the blog so you all have it as a reference.

So why would you DIY?

Well, apart from the obvious money saving benefits, these wipes are eco friendly and contain no nasty additives or harmful chemicals that will go into your baby’s bloodstream. You don’t even have to use them on baby’s bums. We all know baby wipes are so handy for kids and big kids for all occasions!

Essential oils for babies?

Lavender is a safe essential oil for babies, however many essential oils should be used with caution around babies. Please check before using any essential oil on babies and toddlers. This post is a good reference. Of course, using high quality oils is also recommended. Lavender is an anti-bacterial oil and it is also relaxing and soothing – perfect for nappy change time!

Sasha’s DIY Baby Bum Wipes

Okay, so this is what you need:

A roll of paper towel*

1 cup of boiled, filtered water

1/4 cup organic, virgin coconut oil

Five to six drops of good quality lavender oil

Okay, so this is how you do it:

Cut the paper towel in half so it looks like two toilet rolls. Put one roll in a container that you can seal up and it fits snugly.

Mix together the water, coconut oil and essential oils.

While still warm, pour it over the top of the paper towel and remove the cardboard roll in the middle.

Seal up the container and you are ready to use them! Store out of reach of children.

*Sasha uses Viva brand paper towel as it’s soft and doesn’t tear easily

[box] Sasha says, “My babies have not had a single rash from these wipes but if I use any brand from the shops they get instant rashes”[/box]

Do you make your own wipes? Would you give this a go?

Natural New Age Mums Chat About….. Hypnobirthing

June 14, 2013 · 34 Comments

Welcome to another instalment of, “Natural New Age Mums Chat About…”

I am so excited to be featuring some amazing Aussie mums who specialize in their own particular natural and/or new age area! The aim is to give us a little bit of inside information into some new things we may not know about, but are curious!

Today I welcoming the gorgeous Tracey Rose to the blog to talk about hypnobirthing.

Tell us about yourself….

My name is Tracey Rose and I’m a 34 year old natural childbirth educator (specialising in hypnobirthing), writer, radio journalist and mother of two adorable children, Honey (5) and Maximus (3). We live on Sydney’s Northern Beaches and I run my website www.TraceyRose.com from home.

Prior to having children I was very career focused, working my way up the ladder of several capital city radio stations.

However, my two amazing birthing experiences revealed my true purpose in life – to encourage and inspire other pregnant women to get educated about birth, so they can have the most positive experience possible too.

In my free time I love walking, taking the kids swimming, riding their scooters and catching ferries around Sydney Harbour. I’m also getting back into yoga because my 5 year old daughter really loves it and keeps asking me to do it with her – cute!

Honey has Cystic Fibrosis and Coeliac Disease, so I am committed to learning how to manage her health in the most natural way possible … and as a result I am becoming quite the gluten free cook.

What is your outlook on life?

Life is meant to be FUN and ATTITUDE is everything!

How long have you been a natural child birth educator?

I worked in the radio industry for about 10 years before I had my babies and I still use my skills as a journalist to promote positive birthing now through social media and mainstream media, but I started studying natural birth when I was pregnant 5 years ago.

What study or training did you have to be a natural child birth educator?

The best study and training I did was my own birth experiences.

I researched a lot about the mind/body connection when I was pregnant, then enrolled into a group hypnobirthing course and used the techniques to stun the medical staff at the hospital 😉 They couldn’t believe I was so calm the whole labour.

I have done various teacher training (HypnoBirthing and GentleBirth) to be able to run my own classes and I am currently doing my doula training with Childbirth International.

Teaching mothers how to use their bodies and work instinctively with their babies is truly satisfying.

So, what is hypnobirthing ?

My specialty is to help pregnant women use their own natural pain-killing hormones during labour. These can be switched on and off by the mother’s physical, mental and emotional state by the use of hypnosis, relaxation, meditation and breathing.

Using hypnosis and other relaxation techniques for birth is not new, but the philosophy and techniques were most famously noted by English obstetrician Dr Grantly Dick-Reed in the 1920’s. He observed that in the absence of fear and tension, severe pain doesn’t have to be part of labour.

Most people don’t even realise this is possible, so it’s amazing to share this knowledge.

Gentle and natural birthing is not just about the experience for the mother, but it’s also about creating the most gentle and safe experience for the baby.As a result, mothers and babies are healthier, calmer and have higher APGAR scores after birth. It also makes for easier bonding and more intuitive mothering.

How does a session work?

PRIVATE: I hold private weekend workshops with parents either at their home or via Skype.

They receive a book plus CD’s and I teach them all the skills I used (plus more) to have a to have a positive birth.

This includes lots of tips for dads and birthing partners, plus I teach them how to navigate the hospital system for the safest, most gentle birth possible.

They also receive unlimited ongoing phone/email support and access to a private Facebook group.

VIRTUAL: I have also just launched live virtual classes. This is a result of many women not being in the same city/country as me who want to attend group sessions.

These are held in a webinar format, where couples attend online for 2 hours p/week for 4 weeks.

Parents in the virtual class receive the same course materials as private clients.

They also receive a free 30 minute phone/skype chat to answer questions or assist in technique practice etc. They also have access to a private Facebook group.

PHONE SESSION: Some mums just want some questions answered or want to make sure they are doing techniques/practice correctly. I also help them shift any limiting beliefs about birth enabling them to move forward.

How much does a session normally cost?

Private classes cost $497

Virtual classes cost $297

1 hour phone sessions with me $97

Is hypnobirthing suitable for everyone?

Short answer – No.

If a mother doesn’t want to do hypnosis/relaxation/visualisation and is being pressured by their partner/friend to do it, then it’s not for them.

You need to be an active and willing participant for these techniques to work.

However, what I’d like mums to know is, that all information and techniques I teach is based on evidence and science, so it’s not just for hippies 😉

Also, even women who need to have a c-section find this information very beneficial.

Why would you recommend hypnobirthing ?

Learning how to birth your baby gently and naturally will have such a positive impact on your whole life.

It’s not just about your baby’s birth day, it’s also about how you cope during the newborn stage. Mums and bubs generally recover more easily, physically and emotionally if they have had a positive birth experience.

Hypnobirthing helps women get over the fear of birth and approach it with excitement instead of dread.

I give them the skills to work with their body and baby for a more comfortable birth, meaning they are much less likely to want or need medical intervention.

These techniques enable mothers to keep calm during birth, which in turn helps to prevent the baby going into foetal distress.

Do you have a favourite inspirational quote?

“Giving birth should be your greatest achievement not your greatest fear.”
– Jane Weideman

Check out Tracey in action:

How can people get in touch with you?

Phone: 0488 088 572

Email: tracey@traceyrose.com

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TraceyRoseLIVE

Website: www.TraceyRose.com

Giveaway:

This giveaway has now closed. The winners were Alisha and Zanni. Congrats!

Tracey is kindly offering to giveaway two of her positive birth packs to two of you!

In each pack you get:

* Tracey’s book – “How To LOVE Your Labour” (e-book download)

* Birth Affirmation MP3 (download)

* Fridge Magnets

How to enter:

♥ Be a blog subscriber (add your email address to the top right hand box)

♥ Like Tracey Rose on Facebook. Go here.

♥ Leave a comment on this blog post letting us know why you would like to win.

Terms and conditions:

This giveaway is only open to Australian residents. You must fulfill the entry criteria for a valid entry. Winners will be chosen using random.org, emailed and announced on this blog post. Please leave a correct email address and don’t forget to check your emails. Giveaway runs from now until Friday the 21st of June at midnight.

Thank you so much Tracey for a glimpse into your world of hypnobirthing!