Woolbabe Sleeping Bags {A Giveaway}

Posted on July 23, 2012 19 Comments

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When someone asks me what the most important purchase I have made for looking after babies, the answer is always the same – our King bed. Riley slept in there off and on until she was about three or so (and still comes in now in the cold weather for early morning snuggles) and Piper still sleeps in there. She usually has her first sleep of the night in her cot and then when I go to bed I take her in with me because I am not keen on getting up in the middle of the night, in the freezing cold. NOT KEEN. Often all four of us will be in there, quite comfortably. And I am grateful for the extra snuggles and the extra body heat.

There’s only one problem with this scenario. Piper rejects all form of bed covering. Doonas, blankets, sheets. EVERYTHING. She kicks everything off and when you have one doona covering four people and she’s in the middle this is a problem. It also causes me concern that she is not in fact related to me at all. Riley exhibits the kind of doona love that demonstrates our genetic connection rather beautifully.

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I had a few sleeping bags with Riley when she was a baby. They helped when the coverings came off in the middle of the night and kept her nice and toasty. I also used them when I was helping her get to sleep on her own because I would lie next to her, tuck the bottom of the sleeping bag underneath my body so she couldn’t crawl away and lie there until she finally went to sleep. Creative, yes? I hope it is considered creative and not some form of baby torture. But I always disliked that the sleeping bags were polyester. I’m not rigid about a whole heap of things but I am a bit particular when it comes to bedding. I sent my mother on a mission to find a wool doona for the cot and I’m pretty sure she went to every baby store known to man. Now if I’d known about The Sleep Store then, I think everything would have been much easier. And cheaper!

Woolbabe sleeping bags are Australian designed for babies and toddlers and it is the only sleeping bag made with a wool filling. The outer fabric is 30% merino and 70% cotton and I assure you it makes babies extra snuggly. I am a bit devastated that they don’t make them in adult size. A discerning reader might tell me that the adult version is called a snuggie. And I would inform them that I will purchase a snuggie when I have given up on life and not a minute sooner.

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I was given a front-zipper sleeping bag (great for wriggly toddlers who are excellent escape artists) which was great because it’s a double zip and Piper likes to be able to touch her own belly button to self settle, so I was able to open the zip a little for her to do that without sacrificing the warmth. But you can also get a side zipper version. They come in two sizes – 3 months to 2 years and 2 to 4 years.

And the result? A very warm baby who was happy to be above the doona for a change, and I think she even slept a bit more soundly than usual too.

I’m really excited to be giving one away too! A big thank you to The Sleep Store and Woolbabe for giving me one Woolbabe duvet weight sleeping bag to give away, valued at $129!

To Enter:

1) Like Good Googs and Woolbabe on Facebook.

2) Leave me a comment telling me what your baby (or toddler) does when they are tired or to self-soothe themselves. I am prepared for a cuteness overload!

3) Entries close on the 6th August, 2012 and you must be an Australian or New Zealand resident to enter

4) A winner will be chosen based on the most creative or unique or entertaining response.

5) And finally, use the form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received one Woolbabe sleeping bag to keep and one to give away in return for this post. All opinions are my own. 

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Touched Out

Posted on June 17, 2011 20 Comments

I love having a baby in the house. I might have horrified the husband at some stage by claiming that I could always have a baby. I love baby smell, I love baby squishiness, I love how quickly they change and how much I don’t want them to. But between breastfeeding, babywearing and the physical demands of a little baby I get touched out.

Enter superglue toddler. Riley has been hanging off any available limb for a few weeks now. I want and need to give her alot of cuddles, kisses, lap time and reassurance at a time when she’s still adjusting to not begin the only one. And whenever she notices that Piper isn’t around, she’s quick to claim the lap that was previously exclusively hers. And I know, that during this time she needs more attention, not less. Any attempt to extricate myself from superglue toddler will only end up with her feeling less secure and more left out.

I am an enthusiastic cosleeper. Anything that means I don’t have to get out of bed is a good idea in my book. We did it off and on with Riley until she was about 14 months and she was reliably sleeping in her own bed from about the age of two and a half. And although Piper sleeps in the hammock during the day, I bring her in with me at night so I don’t have to get up. For a few weeks Riley has been waking in the middle of the night and coming in as well.

And I am touched out. Especially at night, once the day is over, the very idea of someone touching me is abhorrent. So having a handsy toddler in there who is wrapping arms and legs around my body at night is not a fantastic thing. I want to love her and give her what she needs. But I also want her to just. stop. touching. me. 5 freaking minutes ago.

The last few nights I’ve left her lamp on and I’m very grateful for her staying in her room the whole night through. Although I’m sure it helps that it hasn’t been quite so freezing.

I still feel touched out, but not in that irrational, crazy, middle of the night way.

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162/365 Sleeping Like a Baby

Posted on April 14, 2011 8 Comments

Not really. No baby sleeps ‘like a baby’. Ridiculous turn of phrase. But there is a certain peacefulness that baby’s have when they sleep that is just irresistible. Exhibit A. Piper in one of her rare not being held by me sleeps. She hates to be wrapped. Hates to be in the co-sleeper when she could be in the crook of my arm instead. But every now and then she’ll sleep on her blanket or in the hammock for hours, maintaining the illusion of sleeping like a baby.

I would be very, very disappointed if she gave up on her snuggle demands any time soon.

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Parenting Choices are Not Mistakes

Posted on June 5, 2010 34 Comments


I came across this on Crunchy Domestic Goddess.

Here are what Lifescript calls the “10 Biggest Mistakes Parents Make:”

1. Sharing a bed with baby.
2. Putting your child to bed with milk or juice.
3. Buying second-hand toys or baby furniture.
4. Showing your child “smart baby” DVDs.
5. Putting kids in the basket of a shopping cart.
6. Sharing utensils with your child.
7. Delaying or avoiding vaccines.
8. Leaving your child alone in the car “just for a minute.”
9. Skipping helmets on tricycle rides.
10. Leaving your child alone in the bath or shower.

Going on that list the only things I haven’t done is skipping helmets on tricycle rides. So I guess, by that standard I’m a big fat failure.

I co-sleep.
Often, when Riley is distressed or teething and asks for a bottle in bed, I give it to her.
She has plenty of second-hand toys
She likes the baby genius DVDs because they are more simple than other shows and are all about the colour and movement
Riley prefers being in the main part of the trolley and if I can coax her into the basket I will.
Sharing utensils is how I coax her to eat the vast majority of all food.
I delay vaccines whenever she’s too unwell to have them done at the arbitrarily appointed time.
When I get petrol, I do leave her in the car “for just a minute”, sometimes two.
And once she was steady on her feet, I do leave her alone in the shower and check on her regularly.

I could easily pick the whole thing apart, but it’s pretty obvious why it’s so offensive. And although some people may disagree with my decision to not remove Riley from the car everytime I leave the car, or to leave her in the shower alone – I’m pretty sure that most parents I know would have done at least one of the things on the list.

The decision to co-sleep is not a parenting mistake. Neither are the majority of the things on the list. They are choices. Choices that parents consider and research and decide upon based on their family, priorities and values. I think mistakes are pretty personal too, I don’t think there are any universal parenting mistakes. But for me, a mistake is something that I would regret later on. Not taking the time to really enjoy being a parent, that would be a mistake. Sharing utensils? That doesn’t even make a ripple.

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The Good Goog

Posted on May 15, 2010 10 Comments


This is for the non-Australians. Who ask, what is a goog? Is it a word? Is it made up? And what kind of nickname is it anyway?

Goog is slang in Australia for egg. As some of you have pointed out, why on earth would you need a slang word for egg – egg is after all shorter than goog. One of those grand mysteries of language. I have no idea. Although for some reason googy is a child’s word for egg – and googy or goog has made it’s way into the Australian vernacular.

So Good Goog is actually Good Egg. Hence the picture of Riley in an egg.

Looking back, Riley had many nicknames – Mooshy, Googy, Shmoo, Frue, Moosh Moosh and most recently GB (abbreviation of Googy Bear). Josh came up with most of them. Only Googy and GB have really stood the test of time. And luckily, she does know her own name, which I was concerned about for awhile. I think a lot of the names go back to her pudgy, mooshy baby cheeks. Which thankfully, she hasn’t lost, even as a two year old.

I prefer good goog to good girl. And, really I am trying to avoid ‘good’ as a term of endearment altogether. Which leaves me with a bit of a dilemma with the nickname altogether. But I’m very attached to it. The goog part at least.

As with most things, I think it will be out of my hands before I even have time to think about it much. Just this morning when Riley crawled into our bed at about 6am (sleep in!) and was lying next to me, I wrapped my arm around her and she pushed it away ‘No!’ and would vehemently say ‘No!’ any time I got to close to her.

Independence is already here.

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Inconvenient, Painful and Joyful – Co-Sleeping in the Age of Toddler

Posted on April 15, 2010 11 Comments


She is a part-time co-sleeper. More full-time than part-time when she’s teething or going through a rough patch, or it’s Sunday. She likes to be in our bed the night before I go to work outside the home.

Sometimes this means that she wakes up a lot earlier in the morning, when Josh leaves for work. And for the record, 5am is not morning, it’s still night in my book. But we get up anyway. Sometimes it means that she comes in to our room in the middle of the night. Or that she wants to go to sleep there at the beginning of the night.

It always means that I’ll end up being kicked, punched, slapped upside the head and sometimes even have my skull cracked by her surprisingly hard little head. Sometimes she head-butts my nose and I see stars. When I’m really hurt, she cries too.

But it’s not something I put up with, or lack the ability to change, or even just accept.

My baby stands in the hall way. She jabs both fingers in the direction of our room. She looks up at me with big eyes. I say yes, happy that she finds so much comfort in the big bed. I treasure the fact that she can ask for what she wants. She excitedly runs towards the room, climbs into bed and nestles into the pillows to sleep. She grins at me before rolling over.

‘Mummy’, ‘mummy’. I see her head peering over our bed in the dark. I pull her up. She can climb up on her own, but not if Josh is sleeping there. Her hands and arms squeeze my neck and she presses her chubby cheek to mine before we drift off together. Often I think that if I had never co-slept I would have missed out on my life.

Sometimes as she’s drifting off, she smiles at me as her eyes get heavy. Sometimes she lifts her hands to touch my face. Sometimes she snuggles up until she is lying on my chest. Sometimes she giggles in her sleep.

Always, she is welcome.

And sometimes, I go in and get her when she is sleeping soundly in her bed. And I am grateful.

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Guest Post @ Mamamia: 7 Ways Parenthood Made Me a Hypocrite

Posted on February 19, 2010 5 Comments

AWOLI have a Guest Post over at Mamamia. It would be a massive understatement to say that I’m excited about it.

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Just Wonderful: Love and Partners and Natural Parenting

Posted on February 9, 2010 53 Comments


Welcome to the February Carnival of Natural Parenting: Love and partners!

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama. This month we’re writing about how a co-parent has or has not supported us in our dedication to natural parenting. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.

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Love and partners: How has a co-parent supported your dedication to natural parenting — or not?

When Riley was born, my relationship with my husband changed. Because all of a sudden instead of one relationship, we were dealing with three. Our relationship as life partners, our relationship with our daughter, and our relationship with one another as parents.Another interesting thing happened as well. We stopped arguing, sort of. We disagree, alot. But we stopped needing to be right. I would say what I felt, he would say what he felt. And if we still disagreed, we just let it be. This is in stark contrast to previously where we would both continue to beat a dead horse until one of us admitted that the other one was right. I don’t know why, but following the birth of our daughter, both of us stopped needing to be right, we just needed to be heard, even if that meant that nothing really changed.

I did not have natural parenting ideals when I was pregnant. And in all honesty, I probably wouldn’t have even known what natural parenting or attachment parenting was. I read What to Expect When You’re Expecting in tiny little snippets so the weight of responsibility and risk didn’t totally freak me out. In the last month of my pregnancy I watched a million b-grade documentary type series on cable all about birth (most ended in c-section) and babies (mainly focussed on why won’t they sleep/eat/sleep). I found the idea of breastfeeding beyond 6 months a little bit creepy, looked down my nose at people who had babies or toddlers who wouldn’t sleep or would only sleep in their parents’ bed and couldn’t figure out why parents would walk around carrying their baby/toddler when they were pushing a perfectly serviceable stroller.

My husband had different ideas. His number one priority in our baby shopping was to get a baby carrier so he would be able to carry her around. So I bought one of those front-pack type carriers along with a sling. The sling seemed like a good way to be able to get things done with having both hands free. I didn’t really consider all the benefits of the sling in terms of bonding, comfort and closeness. Towards the end of my pregnancy we were doing some last minute baby shopping. My husband saw a co-sleeper (a little bed that sits on the main bed). It had a night light and little sides to stop you from rolling over onto her in the middle of the night. I didn’t really see the point. I mean, she was going to be in her own room from at the latest three months anyway. But, I’d done most of the shopping for the new arrival, and I wanted him to be involved so I placated him with the purchase.

There were two things that we both agreed on while I was pregnant, we would not be smackers and we would not cry it out. I felt very strongly about both of those things.

Then our beautiful baby was born, by emergency c-section. Josh kept me calm during the c-section by asking me for my rugby league tips for that week. Excellent distraction tactic. I was ill prepared for actually how violent a procedure a c-section is. Because I had skipped that chapter in the pregnancy book. I was going to have a completely natural birth, with no drugs, and there was no reason why I would need a c-section. The googy had other plans. She had one hand on her head and the other hand was hanging on to the cord. I remember seeing Josh’s face when they pulled her out and pronounced she was a girl (he has only ever wanted girls). He looked at me with more happiness and excitement than I had ever seen, and I knew she was ok. Her birth was a physical manifestation of our marriage. We had said the words, but she brought them to life and no matter what happened in the future, we were inextricably joined forever in this tiny little person.

Very quickly, all of my ‘ideas’ about parenthood and babies went out the window. Fair warning: you should never develop any firm ideas about parenthood before you actually have a baby – you’re likely to end up looking like a bit of an ass. I slept with her in the bed with me in hospital because I couldn’t bear to put her in the bassinet, just arm’s reach away, it was too far. I mainly dozed at first, because I enjoyed the feeling of her on my chest so much. I was comforted by her heart beat and her soft breath.

Breastfeeding was a challenge. I had damaged nipples and we struggled to find a good latch. I felt I was failing her at something that was so important, and was supposed to be so natural. I cried a lot. My desire to breastfeed was strong enough that I persisted through the excruciating pain and the dread of each feeding. Two things got me through it and to the other side where breastfeeding was enjoyable and painless. Josh gave me support and understanding through the hard times, allowed me the freedom to consider other options if I couldn’t get through it, acknowledged my efforts and held my hand as I bawled my eyes out through the pain. A wonderful midwife and lactation consultant also set me on the right path with the latch and spurred me on further, telling me that it was obvious how much I loved Riley, given the extent of the damage. Once in a while though, when I was up for the umpteenth time of the night breastfeeding Riley or trying to get her back to sleep and Josh was next to me snoring, I was tempted to beat him over the head with something.

I became an avid breastfeeder, and fell quickly and easily into on demand feeding, because it was so much easier than anything else. Sometimes it seemed like Riley was breastfeeding for 6 hours straight. I loved the closeness and connection of breastfeeding and often fed her to sleep, through teething pain, or whenever she needed a little bit more comfort. Josh would often stroke her head, hands or feet while I was breastfeeding, and it was a bonding time for him too. Josh used to walk past the formula in the supermarket and say ‘it’s not right, I’m so glad we didn’t have to go there.’And although we were both ready when we stopped, I missed it once it was gone.

Josh had three months paternal leave when Riley was born. And I needed him, every day. I was so grateful that we had that time together as a young family. When I was barely conscious from exhaustion he would take Riley for long walks while I either slept or just stared off into the distance, allowing myself to unplug. He fed me at all times of the day and night, quick meals that I could scoff down before catching some sleep. He proudly set up the co-sleeper in our bed at night, and on the couch during the day. He often used the night light to look at her while she slept (or check that she was breathing). Riley stayed in the co-sleeper until she was too big at around three months. At which point she moved to the bassinet (still in our room) for the first sleep of the night and then she usually slept with us after that. I mastered the art of the night-time breastfeeding and was able to sleep through most of her latching on. When she was too big for the bassinet, we moved her to the cot (in her room) at around 6 months. But it didn’t last long and she slept in our bed off-and-on until she was about 14 months. Although she’s now in a toddler bed and sleeps in her room, whenever she wakes up in the night we still enjoy co-sleeping, even look forward to it. We both wavered at times on the whole parenting to sleep thing, due to exhaustion, frustration and no prospect of change. Luckily, we never wavered at the same time. She was over a year before she started sleeping through with any reliability. And now, with hindsight, we both realise how short that time really is. When we were in it, we were so desperate for her to sleep through. But now, we both realise that the period of babydom is so much shorter than we were really ready for it to be. Parenting to sleep can be frustrating, boring and exhausting. Parenting to sleep can also be a special time for quiet connection. Josh loves it when Riley falls asleep next to him, and he sees her heavy eyes close and her body claimed by slumber.

We both preferred the sling or the carrier to the stroller. Sometimes it was a battle to decide who would do the carrying. It was a joy to have her mushy little face fall asleep against your chest. Even better was when she would wake up, slightly disoriented, and look up to realise that we were still there and she would get a happy little smile on her face. And I am one of those parents who carries her toddler around while pushing the pram. Because contrary to some of my opinions before Riley was born, babies and toddlers are actually people with emotions and needs and preferences. Riley has a preference for being held most of the time and I count myself lucky that we have such a cuddly daughter.

I happened across a natural parenting website by accident. And there it was, our parenting style, reflected back to me. None of it by design. Josh and I had floundered our way through early parenthood all through intuition and instinct, and landed somewhere that was totally comfortable for us and all three of our relationships.

The greatest difficulty Josh faced as a parent was not anything to do with sleep deprivation, or discipline, or the fact that he occasionally struggled to engage with her when she was a little baby and she didn’t really do anything other than lie there – prepared to be entertained. It was when she was really sick and she had her trip to the ICU. And it wasn’t that it was scary, or traumatic or the fact that we were completely out of control. It was after that, when she was getting better. She would cry if he came near her, and she would push him away if he came too close. She would also cry if she ever saw us hugging or kissing. And she was still hoarse from the tubes, and any cry was devastating to hear. After the trauma of her hospitalisation, all he wanted to do was hold her and cuddle her and kiss her and keep her close. And it broke his heart, over and over again. His pain was naked and raw. It was made worse by the fact that she didn’t even have the strength to crawl or sit up on her own, but she somehow found the energy reserves to make her rejection of his advances known. It took a long time, and an absolute commitment on his part to demonstrate his adoration for her, regardless. Sometimes he was frustrated, sometimes he was deflated and sometimes he was just plain hurt. And eventually, she returned to herself again, and to him. Now, you would never know it had even happened. So when the other day she crawled onto his lap for a cuddle after her nap, or when a few months ago her first clear word was “Josh”, he treasures it all the more.

Co-parenting wasn’t always easy for us. At times we were both frustrated with her clear preference for mama. I often wished that he could put her to sleep, and while this sometimes happened, more often than not, my presence was a requirement.  Because I stay at home most of the time, it is also difficult sometimes to make that transition from me doing everything all day to us both participating equally either at night or on the weekend. That is still something we are working on. Our styles are different. Not in a core way, which definitely makes things easier. But, nonetheless, there are differences. Because I’m at home all day, I tend to pick my battles. That is something that Josh is still working on. I am more permissive than he is, and that is still something we’re working out together.

Since we both want to avoid day care if we can, Josh has started taking a day off once a month where he looks after Riley and I go into work. This has been great for both of us. He gets to see how the other half lives, has one-on-one time with Riley, and all in all tends to have the time of his life. Last time he had a day off, when i got home and asked him how his day was, he replied ‘just wonderful’.

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Carnival of Natural Parenting -- Hobo Mama and Code Name: MamaVisit Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!

Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

(This list will be updated Feb. 9 with all the carnival links, and all links should be active by noon EST. Go to Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama for the most recently updated list.)

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The Backslide

Posted on February 2, 2010 3 Comments


When Riley was about 14 months old she started reliably sleeping through the night and no needing my presence to get to sleep. Up until that point she was up three or more times a night and at nap time I would need to rock or stroke her to sleep.

Perhaps it was because I was no longer breastfeeding her, so there was less interest in night-time snacking, or perhaps it was that she had always hated the cot and I’d moved her to her toddler bed. Either way, I didn’t care. It was such a relief to have a break. It wasn’t just the sleep deprivation, it was the emotional pressure of being completely responsible for whether or not she slept.

Since her recent bout of teething and illness there’s been a bit of a sleep regression. More often than not I sit in her room so she can get to sleep. I talk to her really softly and slowly or massage her scalp or stroke her cheeks until she drifts off and I sneak out of the room. And more often than not she’ll wake up in the middle of the night and come into our bed.

It would be easy to become frustrated with this. Despite the fact that I think I would have really missed out if I hadn’t parented her to sleep all this time. And despite the fact that I enjoy the co-sleeping – even when I get kicked and punched occasionally.Which is why this article really struck a chord with me. It was a reminder that sometimes I can’t sleep and I stay up and watch TV, or I ask Josh to give me a massage, or I read a book, or I have something to eat. And sometimes I just can’t relax.The only difference is I’m capable of meeting my needs, vocalising them and in general helping myself. I don’t have someone telling me to get into bed when I can’t sleep. Or making sure I stay there.

It’s not always easy when all I want is some undisturbed sleep. But the next time I’m bored, frustrated or exhausted I will hold on to all of the things that make it just lovely. Like pudgy little arms wrapping around my neck in the middle of the night; or heavy eyes closing slowly to my touch, or chubby cheeks resting against my own for comfort.

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The Chuckle

Posted on January 12, 2010 2 Comments

After enjoying her day at home with Mr. Goog. Look at all of those teeth! There still on the move, and in all likelihood I’ll have a snuggly little companion right about midnight. When she was a baby I couldn’t wait for her to sleep through the night, but now I enjoy it when she doesn’t

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