We Got Pampered by Pampers and Tested Their Newest Product

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to attend the launch of the new Pampers Premium nappies. It was an elegant high tea affair at the luxurious 10 2nd Avenue Houghton Estate hotel (side note: this is a beautiful venue that I have been very keen to visit since it recently became Halaal, since we do not have too many upmarket Halaal venues in Johannesburg and I have heard rave reviews about their fine cuisine).

You see, Pampers have launched a new version of their Premium nappies which are soft- really soft. To prove the point, we were given various silky soft materials to feel as we entered the venue (a piece of silk, a super fluffy blanket and some cotton wool) and then given the new Premium nappies to compare and to see for ourselves just how soft they are. 

So I got to drink coffee and eat pretty cakes and sushi in the company of well known local icons and fellow bloggers, while listening to talks about all the amazing new features of this great new nappy- how soft and absorbent it is and how it does not sag.

Guess what... I already knew how awesome they are as I had a sneak peak at them as a home tester for the product. A few weeks back, I got sent a test kit and got to discover for myself just how amazing the new nappies are. I promised the folks at Pampers that I would keep my test results under wraps until after the launch but here they are and I am so excited to share them! 

As testers, we were given three tests to conduct and I am happy to say that all the tests passed the mommy test with flying colours. P.S. I am a video newbie and we all know I am a bit camera shy so please bare with me.

TEST 1:

 

The first test involved pouring blue tinted water into the nappy and then cutting through the nappy. The old nappies had a single chamber of absorbent material in the middle, which unfortunately sometimes led to that saggy bum phenomenon (yes, my son has had nappies practically sagging to the ground before but that is a thing of the past now). The new nappies have three separate chambers so that the liquid gets absorbed more evenly. By the way, the nappies absorbed an insane amount of liquid!

TEST TWO:

The second test was the wetness indicator test. I remember wondering why the newborn nappies used to have that awesome wetness indicator at the back (basically a line which turns from yellow to blue when the nappy is wet) but none of the bigger ones did. Well now they do, so there is no need to open the nappy to check of it is soiled- just look at the indicator at the back and if it is blue, it is time for a nappy change.

TEST THREE:

The thing that used to put me off the old Pampers Premium nappies was that it had a weird net thing inside which was great for keeping moisture off the skin but sometimes left checkered indentations on babies bottom. For this reason I must confess that I usually opted for the Pampers Active nappies previously. Now they have replaced it with a silky smooth interior which really does feel as soft as silk.

TEST FOUR:

The fourth and final test that I did (by chance) was the live human test, you know, the one that actually counts. We are working on potty training Squish (that is a post for another day) and he still wears nappies at night and when we leave home. These days, we mostly use pull ups but one day, I had forgotten to take nappies with me but still had the test kit so I used one of the nappies from there. It was a size smaller than what we usually use but seemed roomy enough. He had it on for a good few hours until evening bath time and was leak free even though he drank copious amounts of liquids. The soft nappy stayed dry and comfy and there were no saggy, draggy bottoms in sight!

New Pampers Pants- 5 Packs to be Won!!!

I never imagined that we would start potty training Squish yet, as he is a mere eighteen months old. To our surprise, for the past week he has actually been asking us to take him to the toilet.  Only a mom will understand the sense of pride when your baby makes that first pee and poo in the potty and for us that precious moment came last week (with a few repeats since). The timing could not have been better for our free sample pack of the new Pampers Pants to have arrived. 

We used the old Pampers Pull Up Pants for Noodle once she was potty trained in the day and just needed night nappies. Back then, they had Dora the Explorer pull ups (for girls) and Diego pull ups (for boys). In contrast, the new pull ups are unisex and look very similar to the regular Pampers Active Baby-Dry nappies, so your little one should feel right at home in them. Truth be told, I thought the Dora ones were more aesthetically pleasing, but the new ones look softer and more comfortable. 

Top: New Pampers Pants | Bottom: Pampers Active Baby-Dry

What makes the Pampers pants so unique? The new pull up pants are designed to be easy to use. They have two dry zones with an extra sleep layer that absorbs wetness and distributes it evenly across the core for twelve hours of dryness. They are breathable and non-bulky, with stretchy waistbands and leg cuffs

· 

Here is why I think pull ups are a great idea for toddlers:

1. They make potty training so much easier, as they can be pulled up and down easily and quickly when it is time to make a run for the toilet.
2. Changing a wriggly toddler lying down is just plain hard work. Pull ups are easier for mom.
3. It is a great transition between nappies and underwear and toddlers can learn independence as they are able to put these on themselves.

The Pampers pull ups have some great features:

My top tips for using pull up nappies (these views belong to Jozi WAHM and are not necessarily those of Pam):

1. Always make sure that the nappies are positioned properly (centred with no wedgies) to avoid leaks.

2. For changing wet nappies, simply pulling down and cleaning is easiest. However, if you need to change a poo nappy, I would suggest that you tear open the seams at each side of the nappy for easier clean up.

3. Ensure that used nappies are placed in a nappy bag or other recycled bag afterwards, as they cannot be resealed like the baby nappies with the sticky tabs.

Squish giggled with excitement the first time I pulled the nappy up his legs while standing, as opposed to lying down baby style. He loves being able to pull them down himself when going to the toilet.

 Do you have a toddler who wears size 4- 6 nappies? Have you tried out the Pampers pants yet? If not, read on.

How would you like to win a pack of these pull ups? Five lucky readers will win one pack each.*

Enter here to win #newpamperspants with #PampersSA:

The more steps you follow, the better your chances of winning!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Entries only open to South African entrants and winners chosen randomly using Rafflecopter and random.org

**While this was not a paid post, sample nappies were provided to us for review by Pampers. Pampers is also sponsoring the prizes as mentioned above.

 

How to Change Nappies Like a Super Pro

I was chatting to a new mommy friend who is battling with the in's and outs of nappy changes so I thought I would dedicate a post to the art of nappy changing. Here is everything you need to know about changing nappies with minimal mess and fuss.If you are new to nappy changes, please read the basics below. 

If you have an older baby, you can skip to the advanced section further on (unless you have a boy, in which case you need the advanced section anyway).

BEFORE YOU EVEN BEGIN...

The number 1 rule is to always be prepared!!! Have everything you need for your nappy changes in one place. Change mat, nappies, wipes, bum cream and any other accessories that you use (for example if you use baby powder or a sanitiser spray) should all be stored together for easy access.

Before you remove baby's nappy, be sure to have everything prepped- nappy open, bum cream open, wipes out. That way, you won't be fumbling with an exposed bottom (especially with newborns who tend to let lose with the bodily fluids as soon as their nappies are opened). After all, the most important rule is to get done as quickly as possible, before further damage is done. 

Similarly, when you are away from home, your nappy bag should be organised so that all nappy changing goodies are stored together for easy access (I have seen special organisers for this purpose but I just use a big Ziplock bag). Be sure to keep some hand sanitiser for if you happen to find yourself changing nappies and you are nowhere near a bathroom (trust me, if you ever find yourself on an overseas flight with a baby with diarrhea, as I once did, this will come in handy). Disposable change mats are also handy for shopping centres etc. (P.S. You should always know where the nearest change station is, so be sure to check out The Jozi WAHM's Directory of Mall Baby Rooms).

So now for the actual nappy change!

THE BASICS

Place the clean nappy under the baby before you start so that you can close up quickly after beginning (skip this step if you happen to have an explosive nappy leak on hand or you will dirty the new nappy too). For the actual nappy change, use the front clean part of the nappy to wipe away the bulk of the mess (from front to back of course), then use wet wipes or damp cotton wool to clean the rest. Clean till you think it is clean, getting into all the nooks and crannies and then use one more wet wipe.

Close up the old nappy by first folding in half and then roll up using the the tabs to seal tightly before disposing (you could use a special nappy bin with bag dispensers but I find that a lined pedal bin with nappy bags just for poo nappies works just as well and is more cost effective).

Now the hard part is done (unless you have an active toddler). With the new nappy slide under the baby, put a barrier bum cream of your choice. Place the new nappy on baby, seal the tabs snuggly but so that you can still fit a finger under the tummy. Make sure that the ruffly bits at the legs where the elastic is are facing outwards. If you have a newborn, fold over the top so that the umbilical cord stump is exposed (or buy the special newborn nappies with a cut out for the umbilical cord).

Ideally, you should avoid nappy rashes from developing in the first place but if it does, you need to figure out what kind of rash it is. A nurse once advised me that if the area is just red, the usual shelf remedies should work but if it is pimply or blistery it is likely to be a fungal or yeast infection, in which case you will need something appropriate for that. Ensure that bottoms are air dried and allow some sun exposure if warm enough

ADVANCED NAPPY CHANGES

N.B. There are certain special categories of nappy changes that need some special advisory warnings.

THE SPRINKLER NEWBORN BOY

An extra special word of caution is needed for newborn boy nappies, which can reduce the most composed adult to tears. Always keep the front covered at all times (a separate facecloth works well for this) unless you happen to like you and your entire house being showered in baby wee. Also, make sure that the boy bits are facing downward before closing the nappy or you will have an entire wardrobe change (for you and baby) due in the next half hour.

THE WIGGLY SQUIRMY WORMY

Once they are older and able to squirm away, be sure to have some distraction aid ready, something for them to hold like a toy or even the bum cream. A good trick is to have a change station with a mobile or stickers hanging above (you can make your own mobile out of a clothes hanger and swop the dangly bits from time to time). You could also try shifting your change spot every now and then for variety. 

DORA THE EXPLORER

At some point they are also going to want to explore their body parts (and possibly put their hands right into the soiled areas, or even worse, into their mouths afterwards). Your first line of defence is letting them hold something, as mentioned for the squirmy wormy baby. The next line of defence is to use one hand to hold baby's ankles together so that his or her legs are almost crossed, limiting his or her access to the nether regions. 

THE STREAKER

If you have a streaking toddler who runs away as soon as nappies are off (I am told it is a boy thing) try to create games to play at change time. You can get them to clap hands or make funny faces or point to body parts once old enough.

THE POO-NAMI (I did not coin this term)

Stick baby straight under shower. Please also refer to items 2 and 3 of this previous blog post.

There you have it... clean, happy baby- for the next hour or two anyway.

The Jozi WAHM's Directory of Mall Baby Rooms

Have I mentioned that I love shopping?  However, shopping with little ones, especially babies can be daunting and there are four golden rules to follow:

1. Keep it brief.
2. Make sure your nappy bag is stocked with the necessary artillery;
3. If you have a pram, know where the lifts are (if not, know which stores have those prams with the baby seat attachments); and MOST IMPORTANTLY
4. Know where the baby rooms are.

It is crucial for mommies to know where to run for that emergency nappy change or feed when out shopping. When you have a screaming newborn, the last thing you want to have to do is search high and low for the nearest baby room. While this list does not cover all shopping centres in Jozi, we hope the below will help you know where to look for nappy change and feeding facilities at some of the malls.

My own dress choice is to wear more modest clothes generally, so baring my breasts was never an option for me personally. I used to nurse Squish just about anywhere as a newborn (when I could just position a receiver or shawl discretely and feed without anybody noticing) but I find this impossible with fidgety older babies and toddlers. 

I suspect there may be moms that are about to tell me that it is their right to nurse in public wherever they want and that you do not eat in a bathroom, so why should baby etcetera.  Yes, I respect and support your right to nurse in public and also refuse to feed my baby anywhere that is dirty or smelly and would rather go back to my car and feed in such instances. However, there are more options these days than just smelly toilets.

Even for mothers who are comfortable nursing in public, there may be times when your outfit just will not allow you to nurse without practically stripping or times where baby may be over-stimulated by the mall hustle and bustle and just needs a quiet place- so it is always handy to know where feeding facilities can be found. Here is my directory of mall baby rooms, which I hope to add to in future:

SANDTON CITY

There are beautiful, very modern and clean new baby rooms in the newer section of the mall close to Mr Price. However, if you are breastfeeding and seek privacy, these rooms have semi-transparent glass, so the older one at the food court (to the right of Ocean Basket) might be a cosier option.

CRESTA SHOPPING CENTRE

The bathrooms upstairs close to Mugg and Bean, Croc and Identity has a newly revamped baby room with nappy change facilities and separate feeding area. The rest do not have baby facilities (the ones near Game definitely have no baby facilities and at the one downstairs opposite Boardmans the cleaning lady pointed me to the solid counter top in the ladies room and instructed me to change nappies there).

CLEARWATER MALL

This mall has two baby rooms, both in the corridors that lead off from the centre food court. While they are nice, whether or not they are clean and smell free is luck of the draw. However,  only the one that forks off from the corridor close to Spur has a feeding room while the other does not.

THE MALL OF ROSEBANK

After the recent revamps, this mall boasts beautiful and very clean nappy change facilities. Take note though, that only the one upstairs next to Jet has a chair for feeding. The Zone, adjacent to the Rosebank Mall has a nappy change room with a seperate feeding room at the baby rooms opposite Sowearto, while the bathrooms closer to Spur have no baby facilities. Spur itself has one of those little plastic change stations in the ladies room. Oh and the Rosebank Mall has a couple of special mommy parking bays.

Baby room at the Mall of Rosebank

CAMPUS SQUARE

Okay, this is not exactly a major mall but I am there frequently enough for it to warrant a mention. When the centre was recently revamped, I was thrilled to see that they finally incorporated a baby room. To my disappointment, the baby room just has a hard counter-top for nappy feeds and a basin, with nowhere to sit for feeds. Cleaning staff have decided that they would also use the tiny space to store mops and brooms, so it is impossible to squeeze a pram in there. You are better off going to the baby room at Pick 'n Pay, which is far better kitted and even sometimes has baby good samples.

Baby room at Campus Square

EASTGATE SHOPPING CENTRE

Changing and feeding facilities are located at the Food Court near Nando's and near entrance six.

TRADE ROUTE MALL

A baby room with changing and feeding facilities can be found at the bathrooms close to Milky Lane and Toys and Hobbies.

CRADLESTONE MALL

I was only ever here once and do not remember where the baby rooms are (sorry!), but I do remember being impressed by clean and pleasant nappy changing and breastfeeding facilities. They are there somewhere and there are definitely more than one. They also have mommy parking bays.

BABY CHANGING PODS

I have seen baby pods like the one in the picture below at a few of our malls (pretty much illuminated floating plastic containers with compact facilities for feeding and changing nappies). I have spotted these at Fourways Mall, the Glen, Trade Route Mall and Westgate Shopping Centre and I am told that Greenstone and Broadacres have them too. However, they do seem to come and go. While they are okay for nappy changes, some tend to be smelly (I guess this would depend on how well the relevant shopping centre maintains them). It is an improvement though, over malls that only have a change station inside the ladies bathrooms, which pose a problem for any daddies who find themselves alone with baby.

Baby pods found at certain malls

When there is no feeding room in site and you have a hungry, screaming baby, my suggestion would be to go to a change room clothing store, they are usually very accommodating.

We would love your feedback on the malls that we have left out so that we can update our list.

Ten Things I only Discovered after Two Babies

You would have thought that, being an educated and involved mother, I would know everything there was to know about babies after having the first one. It turns out, that after Squish was born, I discovered smarter, simpler ways to do various things. 

Hopefully, some of these epiphanies can help other new mothers to do things the easy way.

Disposable food pouches

When Noodle was a baby, the only ready made baby food was the jar variety. The newer tube varieties (like the Pure Squish brand) taste much better and are far more convenient to transport around. You can even buy little screw on spoons that attach to the tube. (P.S. In case you were wondering, that is not where Squish got his nickname from, but that is a story for another day).

Envelope vests

I always thought the wide foldback necks were there so that it is easier to get the vests over soft little heads. It turns out that they are designed so that you can pull them downwards and off babies legs in the event of emergency nappy blowouts. Who knew?

 Using disposable nappies for clean ups

Speaking of emergency nappy blowouts, when you have a baby, you are likely to face clean up of all sorts of revolting bodily fluids. I have discovered that using a (clean) disposable nappy works well to clean up the bulk of the mess. I keep the annoying ones where the side tabs have fallen off handy for this purpose. Then for sanitising and deodorising, tea tree oil, bicarbonate of soda and vinegar work better than most commercial cleaners.

  

Facebook mommy groups

I am not sure if these were around when Noodle was born, but a lot of moms benefit from having experienced mommies on hand to give immediate advice on baby related dramas. These are typically closed or secret groups so that embarrassing threads do not show up on ones facebook feed.

Breastfeeding

One would think that as a mother, this would come naturally and intuitively, but I discovered the hard way that this is not the case. I only breastfed Noodle for about a month before my supply diminished, causing her to reject any attempts at breastfeeding. This was probably due to a combination of formula top ups in hospital and me not having the right information on how to keep my supply up.

Thanks to better education the second time round, I discovered that formula top ups and a rigid three hour feeding schedule were a sure way to diminish supply. Facebook mommy groups were a saving grace in those early days with a wealth of information on how to successfully breastfeed. Squish on the other hand is still breastfed at almost fourteen months. 

Removing Super Glue

Being our resident Doc Mcstuffins toy fixer, I have discovered that if you ever get your fingers stuck with superglue, petroleum jelly can be used to painlessly remove it. Store this information in your memory bank as it is hard to Google things with your hands glued together.

Wonder weeks

When Noodle was a baby I had not even heard of the Wonder Weeks (these are weeks when babies universally appear to make mental leaps in their development, which often coincides with fussy and cranky behaviour. With Squish, they have been remarkably accurate and quite useful in making sense of bad weeks.

Baby led weaning

This basically means letting your baby feed themselves sticks of solids from the time they start solids and skipping the mushy purees completely. Babies learn to chew first and then swallow (as opposed to with purees where they learn to swallow first and chew later).

The idea seems counter-intuitive and even scary (if you do not know the distinction between gagging and choking), but I discovered that this method of introducing solids is easier for both mother and baby (and less messy). Yes, I know I spoke about the food pouches earlier in this post, which would have BLW purists burn me at the stake, but those were only there for quick snacks on the go (or super lazy days).

By eight months old, Squish was happily eating what the rest of the family eats, with very little assistance and many hours were saved steaming, blending and freezing baby foods. 

Sleep Training

When Noodle was born back in 2010, sleep training was very popular. As desperate sleep deprived zombies, we tried sleep training for one night with Noodle when she was about eight months old. It was an epic failure. My poor baby was hoarse from crying, physically ill the next day and it did not help her sleep any better. Guilt-ridden, we refused to do it for another night and our gut instincts as parents told us that we should not be doing this. More recent research shows that crying it out methods of sleep training can cause long-term psychological damage to little ones. I am glad we stopped when we did with Noodle and that we knew better by the time Squish came along.

 

Gelatine tea

A tablespoon of gelatin is added to boiling hot tea or coffee and consumed immediately, at least once or twice a day. Some claim not to notice the taste but I think it tastes aweful and the texture is not very pleasant either.

I noticed slight results but did not persevere too long due to the taste, but I have met many mommies who swear by gelatine tea as a remedy for stretch marks and saggy skin. (Note: Gelatine is available in the baking isle at most supermarkets or for SANHA approved Halaal gelatine, look at Muslim owned spice shops).