Greener choices for baby products – because you’re never too young to make a difference

When a new person comes into the world, it’s natural to want to make their environment as pure and nurturing as possible.

Here are a few choices for your baby (or that baby shower) that help care for the big planet as well as the little people.

Lotions and Potions

Keeping baby clean, moisturized and smelling sweet goes a long way to creating happiness. Here are some more sustainable options that can help make the planet a little happier, too.

Attitude Products

This Canadian company produces the Little Leaves baby care line that is hypoallergenic, vegan and comes in packaging that contains recycled plastic. Look for products that are EWG Certified (Environmental Working Group) for the most stringent ingredient standards.

 

Live Clean Baby

The gentle effectiveness of plant-based ingredients without parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), or harsh chemicals. Made in Canada.

 

Burt’s Bees Baby

A selection of products made with no phthalates, parabens, petrolatum or SLS, from a company that is CarbonNeutral® certified and supports honeybee health and biodiversity.

 

Baby Bum Mineral Sunscreen

More and more authorities are recommending mineral-based sunscreen these days. Baby Bum is free of frangrance, gluten, sulfates and oxybenzone. It’s reef-friendly too.

 

Go Organic at Feeding Time

Besides keeping your baby’s food free of pesticides, organic agriculture has been shown to help regenerate the health of soils and ecosystems.

Love Child Organics

Started in a Canadian kitchen, this brand offers the best of organic ingredients in puree pouches, snacks, and cereals.

 

Baby Gourmet

Baby Gourmet’s tasty organic baby food and toddler food delivers high quality, non-GMO ingredients, free from fillers, added sugar or salt, and artificial preservatives. And it’s Proudly Canadian as well.

 

Alb Gold Organic Kids Pasta

For toddlers and up, this certified organic pasta offers nutritious and fun eating with animal shaped noodles. Plastic-free packaging helps reduce waste.

 

Diapers

Ever wonder what’s in your baby’s diaper before they fill it? Check out these greener alternatives.

Hello Bello Diapers

Plant-derived core liner, sustainably harvested fluff pulp & processed chlorine-free.

 

Seventh Generation Diapers

Made without fragrances, lotions, or chlorine bleaching, and using only FSC® Certified, sustainably sourced wood pulp that’s a bit easier on our planet’s forests. 

Zoocchini Organic Cotton Training Pants

Made from super soft organically grown cotton certified by Global Organic Textile Standard

 

Toys and Things

Here are a few ideas for fun and function that help baby take some first steps with a smaller footprint.

BioBuddi Eco Blocks Set

These educational building blocks are made from the leftovers of sugarcane plants and are recyclable. (But still just as painful to step on)

 

Red Rover Bamboo Fiber Plates and Bowls

Made of lightweight easy-to-handle bamboo, they’re stackable, durable, dishwasher-safe and free of BPA and phthalates

 

Tot2Walk 

Help build motor skills while saving your back! This innovative toddler walking aid is made in Canada from a closed-cell foam free of phthalates, heavy metals, PVC and latex

 

How To Get Your Baby to Sleep – Baby’s Best Sleep and London Drugs Q&A

It was 3:30AM.

My daughter was 2 weeks old

I had seen every hour on the clock.

Earlier in the evening I had sent my husband to bed because he needed to work the next day. But here  I was: exhausted, desperate and about to ruin his slumber.

I ran into our spare room where my husband was sleeping, handed him the baby and tried to get two hours of sleep in a row.  I come back for the baby a couple of hours later to see HIM sleeping with the baby in his arms! It was my Oprah ‘a-ha’ moment: sleep is not a luxury, it’s a necessity!

While we may chuckle with a friend about how exhausting parenthood is, your child’s infancy (and sometimes beyond) can bring parents many sleepless nights if baby isn’t sleeping well–and that is no laughing matter.  When we have tired babies, we have tired parents and tired parents are more likely to be involved in an accident, have a higher risk of heart disease, be obese, and even experience anxiety or depression. Sleep deprivation is no joke. And we know that after baby is 6 months and their circadian rhythms look more like adult ones, having broken nights of sleep means they feel just as tired and cranky as you do!

However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. There are a few basics you need to know about baby sleep before you make any changes to way your baby falls asleep. Here are the basics that will answer the most common baby sleep questions and hopefully provide you with a starting point in helping your child become better rested.

 

Everyone has a sleep dance

“What?” you ask.

Yes! You read right. A sleep dance!

If I asked you to think about your sleep dance it would likely look like this: You hop into bed, take off your socks and turn to your right side. But in another 2 minutes you’re going to shift to your left side, put your hand under your pillow and shift your legs to and fro. These routines and actions are your sleep dance. And if your child or baby has you doing this dance for them (feeding, rocking, bouncing, swaying, pacifying etc.) it means that every time they wake, they will require that same ‘dance’ to fall asleep again…which is challenging because…

Your baby will never sleep through the night.

And neither will you for that matter! All human sleep is actually made up of several shorter cycles of sleep. Most adults have a sleep cycle of 90 minutes but because adults have independent sleep skills, we can get to the end of our cycle, wake, turn over and go back to sleep. A baby’s sleep cycle however can range between 30-90 minutes (depending on their age). This means it’s possible that a baby can wake every 30 minutes! And if baby does not have their sleep dance down, it means they will require a recital from mom and dad all night long! Some of you are nodding right now–if this is you, it means your baby does not have their sleep dance down and is lacking independent sleep skills

 

Becoming a professional soother replacer

If baby has any sleep associations (things that lully them to sleep: rocking, patting, swaying, swings, pacifiers, dock-a-tots, nursing, bottles etc.) it makes falling and staying asleep extremely challenging because these associations will all stop working. Whatever lulling effect is created by these associations will eventually wear off and you’re left swaying a crying baby for hours. How many of you have had to run back to baby’s room several times at night to replace a pacifier? When we remove the pacifier (or any other association) baby will sleep deeper and more consistently going forward.

So what now? Tips for success!

  1. Find a way to teach your baby independent sleep skills. Whether it’s with a consultant like me or with another program, method or practice that aligns with your family goals–teaching baby to sleep on their own is a must.
  2. Whenever you start a program don’t give up! Consistency is challenging with babies but its a MUST with any child. You can’t go half way and expect 100% results. If you want baby to learn to sleep, they must sleep unassisted every single time.
  3. Finally, get support. If your partner can’t be around to help, find a friend or family member to support you in helping baby sleep. It can be challenging and sometimes having another person to talk to through the challenges can be helpful (this is also why hiring a consultant is so great–we’re with you every step of the way!)

 

If you’re feeling like you’re ready to get you and baby to sleep, feel free to reach out! I (and many consultants!) offer free discovery calls to try to get a better sense of your sleep issue and let you know what working within a program may look like. You can reach me here: www.babysbestsleep.com/15mins

 

Good luck and teach that baby to dance!

 

Services and Resources for New Parents at London Drugs

A new baby brings so much joy…and a lot of questions. We’re here to help!

London Drugs aims to support new families at home and in our stores by offering a variety of services and resources to make life for moms and dads a little easier.

Mom with Baby - London Drugs Blog

1) Health Advice for Parents

If you have questions about your child’s health, our pharmacists are an accessible resource. They can recommend over the counter medications that are safe your children and provide information on proper dosage to help you treat common baby health conditions such as diaper rash, eczema, cradle cap, constipation, pain and fever, rashes, teething and others.

Our pharmacists can also refer your child to a doctor or other health professional if they feel they require further medical attention.

2) In-Store Diaper Stations

Taking the baby with you shopping isn’t always easy. Sometimes the ‘unexpected’ happens – just when you’ve run out of diapers, or forgot the diaper bag at home. That’s why we are excited to announce a new pilot project at select Calgary London Drugs stores: you’ll find our store washrooms fully stocked with change table supplies, including free Huggies diapers in a variety of sizes as well as wipes, for when you’re in a pinch.

The diaper stations can be found at:

  • Brentwood Village Mall –3603 Brentwood Road NW
  • London Place West – 5255 Richmond Road SW
  • First Calgary SE – 4701 – 130th Avenue SE
  • Royal Oak Centre – 8888 Country Hills Blvd NW

3) Breastfeeding Supplies and Tips

We carry a selection of products from trusted brands such as Medela Canada, including their mobile Freestyle breast pump system, the Easy Expression bustier, Calma feeding system and much more. If you prefer, you can also rent a complete, hospital-grade Medela kit at London Drugs.

Of course, we know breastfeeding is a topic that brings many questions for parents. To answer your most frequently asked questions, we brought together our London Drugs buyer, Medela expert and a London Drugs pharmacist for a 2-part video discussion on breast pumping. You can watch both videos here.

4) Children’s Passport Photos

Getting a passport can be challenging enough as an adult, let alone trying to take an acceptable passport photo for a squirming infant. Luckily, our Photolab Experts have some tricks up their sleeve to make your passport photo experience a breeze.

If you’re bringing your infant, our Photolab Experts recommend dressing them in an open shirt or onesie that you can easily unsnap. This will make it easy for you to put your hands under your child’s shirt to support them while the photo is being taken. They also recommend visiting the Photolab when your child is well-rested and satiated (not in the middle of nap time or lunch time) so they are more likely to be cooperative.

We are so confident in the quality of our passport photos – for parents and children alike – that we offer a London Drugs $50 Quality Guarantee. If a London Drugs passport or identification photo is declined for quality reasons, we will refund your purchase, retake the photo, and give you a $50 London Drugs gift card for your inconvenience.

Feel free to visit us in the Photolab, and we can walk you through the process and photo requirements for children.

5) Customizable Baby Announcements

The London Drugs Photolab offers an easy way to create baby announcement cards . Include an adorable photo of your newborn, and text with time of birth, weight and more, so you can share the excitement of your new arrival with family and friends. You can even choose from a selection of our baby announcement templates to help get you started. Just visit us in-store to order using our Photolab kiosks, or order from the comfort of your home through our Photolab website.

6) Shopping Essentials

You’ll find everything else you need for your children at London Drugs. From bottles and baby food, to children’s medicine and toys, we have you covered. Visit us in-store, or have it all shipped directly to your door by ordering online. Or you can order online and pick up your order in two hours or less.

Breast Pumping Discussion and FAQ – Medela & London Drugs

breastfeeding questions answers breast pumping

Among other concerns, new parents often wonder exactly how—or whether—breastfeeding will work for them. These questions can become more complex when breastfeeding moms get busy with life and/or a return to work.

A potential solution is a breast pump from Medela Canada, including the mobile Freestyle system, Easy Expression bustier, Calma feeding system, and much more. They’re all available at London Drugs. You can even rent the Medela Symphony Breastpump, which is a hospital-grade double breast pump proven to reduce pumping time through faster milk flow. The benefits of the double pump are:

  • Initiate, build & maintain your milk supply
  • Get up to 18% more milk per session
  • Cut your pumping time in half vs single pumping
  • Express more fatty milk; great for brain development

Of course, knowing where to access breast pumping products isn’t enough.

Other questions include: 

  • When to start pumping.
  • How long breast milk will keep and how to store it.
  • When to change bottles and parts.
  • Whether breast pumping costs are often covered by medical plans.
  • And more…

Luckily, London Drugs buyer Laurie Leeder and Medela expert Karli Kirkpatrick, along with LD pharmacist, Marmar Rabiei, joined forces recently on Facebook Live to answer these and other questions.

Find their two-part discussion in the video section of the London Drugs Facebook page. Or simply click below to watch now. (You’ll also find answers to some frequently asked questions in this post, below the videos.)

Breast Pumping Discussion from Medela & London Drugs

Part 1:

Part 2: 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long will breast milk last?

A: The answer depends on a couple variables. First, whether the breast milk is fresh, refrigerated, frozen or thawed. And second, whether it is intended for a healthy term infant or one that is currently in a neonatal intensive care unit. Of course, the majority of cases fall within the first category. See the chart below for complete details:

breast pumping freshness table Q: Which breast pump option best suits my needs?

A: The short answer is it varies based on your lifestyle and breast milk feeding goals! But there are two main options.

Double Pump: If you would like to provide breast milk to your baby full-time, share feedings, or return to work or school and continue providing breast milk, you will likely need a double pump. Double pumps are ideal for frequent, daily use and can be used full time, or to complement a full-time breastfeeding relationship. You can use them to pump one breast at a time (sequential) or both at once (simultaneous, which comes with some amazing benefits!).

Single Pump: These pumps are ideal to occasionally supplement full-time breastfeeding. They should only be used to fill roughly 1-3 bottles a week. This is because baby is responsible for maintaining your milk supply. So you should only be occasionally supplementing your breastfeeding with single pumping sessions.

Still Unsure? Click HERE for a great breakdown of all Medela pumps and how they should be used!

Additional Information

Did you know, many extended benefit insurance providers cover the cost of a breast pump. Check your coverage to see if this applies to you.

About Medela Canada: Many recognize Medela as the leading brand of breast pumps and accessories worldwide.  What you may not know, however, is that Medela is the world’s largest supporter of scientific research surrounding breastfeeding, breast milk, and everything to do with lactation. We support Ph.D. research, nurses & doctors at universities and hospitals worldwide to conduct rigorous research. Then, we design, manufacture and bring to market products which incorporate their findings. 

Our goal is always helping moms provide their babies with breast milk for as long as they choose. Breast milk provides three key benefits to babies: perfect nutrition, immunological protection and enhanced developmental growth.  Moms benefit too, by lowering their incidence of certain illnesses and conditions, including breast cancer, diabetes, depression and more.

About the video: This Q&A was the first London Drugs Facebook Live broadcast. It was filmed in our Learning Lab studio, located this time at the Park Royal location in West Vancouver. We plan to create more helpful Facebook Live events, featuring various LD Experts. So we would would love to hear what topics or products you think we should cover next.

Until next time, thanks for watching!

London Drugs bettercare – Baby Care


The addition of a baby to the family allows parents to enjoy the wonder of life in new ways, but it is so easy for new parents to get swept up in buying all the right equipment, reading all the right books, going to the right classes, and having a perfectly clean house. But no matter how much you prepare, there will be times when you feel like you just don’t have a clue about what’s going on with your baby. Don’t worry; that’s normal. Take reasonable precautions, follow your doctor’s advice, love your baby, and you’ll do just fine.

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