Comments (7)

By beansproutbubba, March 4, 2010 12:18 am

So where was I? Oh yes, travelling and then running out of nappies! Let’s reverse the clock a bit to when I was packing to go to Singapore.

I had packed cloth nappies, mainly Bubba J, ecoBumba and other various pocket nappies and bamboo inserts for their quick laundry turnaround and a few hybrid pocket AIOs from Baby Beehinds coupled with DIY bamboo trifolds for night use. A pack of Eenees flushable liners for quick poo disposal completed the nappy packing.

Essential when travelling with nappies - do not leave home without them!

In the first week all was fine. I used cloth nappies just like I do at home and out and about.

The only problem was that nappy change rooms in Singapore were usually not attached to toilets, so throwing out pooey liners into the toilet had to be done stealthily, well-wrapped up in toilet paper (which they did provide) and visiting the nearby ladies to get rid of them.

This also posed a problem to my toilet-aware toddler, she would wee all over the change table once her nappy is off. Usually she goes straight on the potty or toilet before a new nappy is put on.

Laundry-wise: We stayed at the YMCA One Orchard, where laundry is charged PER PIECE like a hotel.

But we found a little laundry place very close by that was filled with shiny new washers and dryers (self-service S$5 per load), and a drop-off washing service at about S$13.90 per load, including washing detergent, washed, dried and folded!! Best of all, you can drop them off just before lunchtime when they open, and then pick up around dinner time on the SAME DAY. Gold I tell you, I could use their service everyday here in Bunbury myself *sigh*

…until Chinese New Year arrived!

In Singapore, Chinese New Year is equivalent to Christmas here. It’s a time where families get together and extended family meet each other. It’s a time when downtown Singapore becomes very very quiet like a ghost town. Most places shut down for 2-3 days, and the little laundry place was no different. Except that they closed for 4 WHOLE DAYS.

I panicked. I checked with other laundry places had next day service, or worse: only collect after Chinese New Year is over!

Saw this little laundy place in Little India that was open during CNY, but just couldn't bring myself to travel by train, then walk for 10 minutes to get here! @ preetamrai

I don’t have enough nappies to last to the next wash day, let alone our clothing! What should I do?

What would you do?

Comments (0)

By beansproutbubba, September 22, 2009 12:59 pm

Yes, it’s been busy in the Bean Sprout Bubba house. I need to get some more pics up, but thought you’d like this news.

Size 2: The three-snap configuration allows the wings to be rotated upwards for increased leg room

Size 1 on the smallest setting with front flap folded down: to fit really young babies from 3kg onwards.

A shipment of hemp fleece and bamboo fleece has arrived, meaning I can start cutting and sewing up some of the sought after Bubba J fitteds. I loved how the size 1 fitted fit my daughter when she was a tiny baby, and I’m sure you may have heard some other recommendations from others as well. Now at almost 1 year old and 8kg, the same fitted nappy still fits her! I think this is what value for money is all about.

The fitteds come on two sizes, size 1 for the little bubbas (3-6kg), and size 2 for a bigger, older bubbas (6-12kg).

Both sizes contain at least 7 thirsty layers of either hemp or bamboo fleece, and close with snaps. Size 1 has a fold down flap to fit longer, and size 2 has a unique snapping configuration to allow you to rotate the snaps upwards to give more leg room.

Another package of printed PUL (polyurethrane laminate) fabric also landed on my doorstep. PUL is the high tech material I use in my pocket nappies to keep the wetness in, whilst allowing for breathability/evaporation of moisture to keep baby’s bottom cooler. The prints are cute and modern and are either cotton or polyester prints. I usually prefer polyester PUL fabric due to its resistance to wicking, but the cotton PUL fabrics were too funaky and modern to resist! There are pink circles, bright florals, muted pastel flowers & birds, frogs, flames and giraffes, when I put the pics up you’ll see what I mean.

Mamapatch Designer Pocket RS - Orange Ditte / Rimba Pocket

Mamapatch Pastel Raw Silk RS - Spring Colourway

Mamapatch Pastel Raw Silk RS - Cool Winter Colourway

I’m also happy to bring to you Mamapatch luxury ringslings, first time in Australia! I had the first 5 slings wing their way from Malaysia (2 have already been claimed). Out of the 5, two are plain cotton slings with a print fabric pocket on the tail, and the other 3 are single layer raw silk slings. They look and feel gorgeous!

These baby carriers are made at home by an artisan in Malaysia. The quality of the stitching is professional, with unique stitching embellishments I haven’t seen before in other ring slings.

The cotton slings feature a padded shoulder, while the silk slings feature a pleated shoulder. I haven’t listed them in the shop yet as I am finalising prices.

What else have I got to share?

Ah yes, the event (or non-event) of last week: my domain beansproutbubba .com . au was offline for about 36 hours on weekdays from 16 September to 18 September due to server downtime.It was incredibly frustrating, I hope I did not lose any emails during that time.

Also, my domain does not show up in google searches for Bean Sprout Bubba anymore (why so? I have no idea!). So if anyone can give me some tips on these two issues I will be eternally grateful.

Last saturday, we were invited to two birthday milestone parties (a 1st and a 50th) and a wedding! We only managed to travel to the wedding though. Sunday was another busy day, with serving duties at church in the morning for both my husband and I, plus a leadership lunch meeting in the afternoon, and finishing off with home group in the evening. We had a blast and finished the weekend on a high. Guess I’m getting the hang of having people over instead of hiding behind my introverted self.

Other than having a pretty full on week last week, I’ll be plowing through the cutting and sewing for Bubba J in earnest this week.

Oh and if you haven’t noticed, Bean Sprout Bubba now has a group on facebook. You should be able to see the Facebook widget on the right hand sidebar of this page. If you join up as a fan, you will get up to date news and announcements from Bean Sprout Bubba.

All sling pics are owned by Mamapatch and used on this blog and the Bean Sprout Bubba shop with permission.

Comments (0)

By beansproutmumma, September 14, 2009 8:43 am

Since the last market and subsequent pocket nappy stocking, the Bean Sprout girls and I have been busy taking long car trips. One day trip was to Perth for passport-y admin things on Tuesday, the other was to Busselton for church camp on Saturday.

The younger of the two usually does not travel very well, but she did quite alright.

Suffice to say we are quite tired out, hence Bubba J-wise not much has been done around here.

Next week though I intend to cut out some Bubba J Hemp size 1 fitted nappies.
I might make 1-2 special ones with quilters cotton outers if I can bear to cut into my fabric stash.

I really loved the fit of these nappies on BSBubba when she was in between small/medium sizes (when I got the nappy), when she was a few months old.
She needed the fold down front for about a week before not requiring the fold down.

Now, at 11 months and 8kg, the nappy still fits like a glove on larger snap settings, albeit a little more low cut.
The size 2 seems a little looser for her but gives ample coverage over her hips.

I have some funky printed fabrics coming in the next month or so, so stay tuned for more news.

I’ll also be testing my email newsletter system, if you see some strange test messages please don’t mind me!
Hopefully it’ll all be up and running by the end of the week.

EDITTED TO ADD: Looks like another busy night last night. Had a little baby health scare at 4.30am involving unknown pain, bouts of screaming, and high temps, so I had to rush my little one to the emergency dept. She’s fine now, but I’m dead tired.

Comments (0)

By beansproutmumma, August 28, 2009 4:24 pm

Bunbury is finally getting an expo!

Thanks to Rima Ghandour, the marketing manager at Bunbury Centrepoint, Bunbury’s very first Pregnancy, Baby & Kids Expo will be held in Bunbury this coming weekend over two days: Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th August from 10am – 3pm.

I spoke with Rima this afternoon. She mentioned that there will be a children’s play area, lots of giveaways and free samples, and prizes to be won. Eighteen exhibitors will be there tomorrow.

I had a sneak peek this afternoon while doing my shopping at Coles.
The expo is held right in front of Coles so you can’t miss it.

The Australian Breastfeeding Association Bunbury chapter will be there, as well as Inge from Earthkidz, a Bunbury-based mum who resells modern cloth nappies.
As you would imagine, the Centre’s big guns like Target will be there too.

Fluffy cuddlefleece nappy cover in grape

Bean Sprout Bubba or Bubba J will be exhibiting next time, but I hope everyone who does come out for this one will have a great time.

Read more here: Bunbury Centrepoint News list