Emma Davidson's blog

Looking for something fun to do in Canberra on Sunday 16 May 2010? Come to the Inner North Community Fair at Hawdon Oval in Dickson from 11am til 3pm. The kids can make craft from recycled materials for the chance to win great prizes with Playdates for the Planet, there will be unicorn rides from Poplar Corner, organic and vegetarian feasts plus stalls from the ACT Vegetarian Society, ANU Food Co-op, Greenwares, and Choku Bai Jo. I'm looking forward to an organic wine or chai to go with some pizza or a good vegie curry, and music organised by Canberra Musicians Club. The market stall area covers everything from handmade jewellery and bags, to natural laundry products, handmade paper and wall art, plus pet reptiles and backyard chooks.

You'll find Brindabella Baby in the Enchanted Wetlands next to Playdates for the Planet. We'll have new stock that hasn't yet hit the shop or website - fair trade toys, tote bags, and musical instruments. Plus Canberra brand Monk N Bear nappies, baby carriers and slings to try on, and more. Buy a Monk N Bear nappy at the Fair and you could win a gift pack with a Monk N Bear nappy, plus a matching pack of five cloth wipes made by a Canberra mum.

One of the things I love about Brindabella Baby is that my customers are the kind of people I'd happily invite to playgroup or ask for advice. Kind of like friends I don't see very often, but I still appreciate what they have to say. A couple of days ago, I asked on Facebook for tips for on clearing mastitis, after a customer had asked me about it. This is a regular thing - as mums, we all share tips on getting a good night's sleep, breastfeeding, dealing with pooplosions, feeding fussy toddlers... Anyway, here's my pick of the best tips posted to the Brindabella Baby Facebook Wall:

Spend the day in bed, braless & feeding babe. Baby is best at draining the breasts. Make sure their chin is pointed at where the redness/soreness is, this ensures the full, inflamed areas will be drained. Do not use a pump, will very likely make it worse. Lots of fluids, lots of rest, and lots of feeding in the right position (as described above) are *key*. - April (I've sent April a Finnstarz organic cotton breastfeeding advocacy t-shirt as a thankyou for her advice).

Get into bed snuggle up with babe and feed feed feed from affected breast. Lots of water for mum and family to be there at her beck and call. Mum needs as much TLC as possible - Monique

For people who suffer repeatedly from mastitis, ultrasound by a physio specialising in women's health might help. Firstly, the ultrasound can help them to see exactly what is going on inside your breast, and then they can adjust the ulstrasound so that the ultrasonic waves actually move the blockage. - Kim

Here's a tip I'd never heard of before - and I found the same advice on Kellymom, a well respected US breastfeeding advice website:

Alternate between a hot face cloth/pack and grated potato (raw).... don't know how it works, but my midwife told me when i was having problems with my first child and incredibly sore, and it worked a treat... Use a new potato each time..... then combine with the comments above... massage, hot showers, rest if possible etc.- Natalie

And this one sounds like it would work well for mums who are tandem feeding:

This time round I haven't got full-on mastitis cause I put my 2yr old "on" and the super-sucker goes to work. - Jess

Thankyou to everyone who posted their tips. They were all good!

If you're suffering with mastitis, or want to clear a blocked duct before it becomes infected, the best thing to do is call 1800 mum2mum (1800 686 2 686) and talk to an Australian Breastfeeding Association counsellor. You can also get advice from other mums who've dealt with mastitis at the ABA Forums.

Celebrate Fair Trade Fortnight 2010 for the next six months! When you shop at Brindabella Baby, you can be sure you're supporting ethical manufacturing practices. We source our range from fair trade programs in developing countries; local handmade crafters; or commercial manufacturers who provide evidence that their workers receive a fair living wage and have clean, safe working conditions.

Until midnight on Sunday 16 May, you can get an $80 Brindabella Baby gift voucher for just $70, with six months to spend it. Perfect if you know you'll need nappies, a baby carrier, fair trade shoes, or other baby necessities later in the year. Also perfect for Mother's Day on Sunday 9 May - we have a great range of books, bags, necklaces, and other goodies for women who shop with conscience. There's no shipping charge if the only thing you want is a gift voucher, and you can have your own message included on the card. But don't delay, this offer ends midnight 16 May!

With Fair Trade Fortnight starting in just a few days, I've decided the best way I can celebrate Fair Trade and promote awareness of the importance of fair pay, and safe working conditions, is to support fair trade producers. So today I ordered from a new supplier: instruments for budding little musicians, dolls and puppets, more of the recycled paper bead necklaces that have been so popular, and more. These products are also made in developing countries, many of them using recycled materials, by workers who are part of a fair trade program or co-op that empowers their community in economic development.

I've also ordered more shoes from brands who check up on their manufacturing factories, or directly employ the staff, to ensure the workers are paid a fair living wage (which may be significantly higher than the government-set minimum wage), and have safe and healthy working conditions. Fur-lined boots, gumboots, sneakers, Mary Janes, and soft soled shoes in sizes for newborns right through to 8 years old.

I can't wait for it all to arrive so I can show you how beautiful it is! Choosing something fair trade, functional, and fashionable is truly a joy in this consumer world.

Fair Trade Fortnight 2010 is coming up soon - May 1 to 16. I've had no success in the past organising Fair Trade Fortnight events in Canberra, yet it's a great opportunity to find out more about fair trade issues. People can taste fair trade coffee and chocolate, find out what it takes to produce a fair trade product and why trade ethics are important, and learn about the work done by organisations that certify fair trade products. So I'd like to ask you... what kind of Fair Trade Fortnight event would you like to come to? Perhaps it's all about tasting fair trade chocolate, or activities that the kids can get involved in, or meeting someone involved in a fair trade organisation to hear their story... Whatever it is, I want to hear about it so we can make Fair Trade Fortnight 2010 an informative and fun way to make a better world for our babies. I do hope you'll leave a comment...

Winter is about to hit Canberra, so now is the time to make sure your home doesn't have any draughts getting in. Woden SEE Change, a local sustainable community group with assistance from an ACT Government Environment Grant, have organised a very practical tour and workshop on DIY sealing of an ex-govie house in Holder. It includes demonstration and audience participation in:
·       Identifying common air gaps;
·       Use of gap filler materials;
·       Sealing air gaps;
·       Window product called ‘Clear Comfort’; and
·       Thermal imaging.
 
Car pool, come by bike or walk to show your support for a more sustainable Canberra!
 
When:         Saturday 1 May, 2 – 4 pm
Where:        Address provided on registration
Cost:           $5 for non-members and $2 for members
This bargain includes a snack, something to drink and basic equipment you can take home to start sealing your own home!
 
For bookings or further information contact seechange.woden@gmail.com
or call Laura Stuart on 0403 243 156
or visit www.see-change.org.au

Did you know that this year is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day? And despite everyone knowing that our environment is important, we still need a day once each year to pay special attention to how we look after our planet. I'll be taking my kids to Canberra's free, eco-focused playgroup - Playdates for the Planet - at 10am tomorrow. We're meeting at the Brindabella Baby shop at Rodney's Nursery in Pialligo to make craft from recycled bits and pieces; hold a toy swap to freecycle outgrown toys; get an eco-goodies bag; and swap tips with other parents about how we can reduce our environmental footprint. There's prizes for the Most Creative Creation, and a lucky door prize for the parents. Hope to see you there!

Last night's Facebook Garage Sale was lots of fun, and cleared some space in my store room. We had baby carriers, nappies, clothes, shoes and more for the little ones. But tonight, it's time for something for you. Fair trade scarves and shawls, bags, organic skincare, herbal tea and more, all at cost price or less. The details from last night's sale will tell you all you need to know about how the Brindabella Baby Facebook Garage Sale works. This is the last clearance I'll be doing for a very long time, as I won't have any more excess stock to clear now that I've moved into the new shop at Rodney's Nursery in Pialligo.

Our Facebook Garage Sale is looking to be another big event - it starts at 8pm Monday 19 April on our Facebook wall. Beautiful blog Little Sooti has posted about it - love their inspirational party decorating ideas. The Facebook Garage Sale is a great opportunity to sit down with a cuppa after the kids go to bed and grab some bargains - embroidered Ergo baby carriers, modern cloth nappies, BabyLegs, shoes, clothes and more... all at cost price or less!