To celebrate National Breastfeeding Week in May, we invited ThinkBaby members to sample Baby Sense breastfeeding accessories and let us know how they got on. Baby Sense is the brainchild of parenting guru Megan Faure, who has written books, become a media spokeswoman and has now launched a range of products all aimed at created a more natural experience of early parenting for both parents and babies. She never forces a 'breast is best' view on new mums, but through her advice and now her range of products, experiences such as feeding and bonding are celebrated.
Thanks so much to all of the ThinkBaby members who volunteered to put her two breastfeeding products – the Feeding Shawl (£14.65) and the Nurture Nest (£16.65) – to the test. The shawl is designed to allow mums a chance to feed anywhere they want in a discreet way and to give babies a soothingly intimate environment as they feed. The Nurture Nest is a specially designed pillow which supports your baby's head as she feeds. Unlike many feeding pillows, it's small and light so it's really easy to take with you anywhere you go.
Baby Sense - the ThinkBaby Mums' Verdict
After a couple of weeks trying out the shawl and pillow with their babies, this is what our volunteers thought…
Mum Lindsey
"Having had the Baby Sense Nest and Shawl for around a week now I thought I would write a review!
"The nest is fantastic at keeping my baby's head in position and so easy to use, it's firm enough so that it doesn't sag and soft enough to be comfortable for my baby (Sophie, eight months). It's really lightweight and easily fits into the changing bag!
"The shawl is just amazing, I used it in my garden when the weather was really hot and was worried my baby might get too hot. The fabric is so soft and lightweight that it actually kept my daughter cool. The weight in one corner is a fantastic addition and really helps to keep the shawl in place. I would highly recommend these items to any mum who is already or is considering breastfeeding!"
Mum Suzanne
"I have been using the Nurture Nest a lot and would really recommend it.
"Plus points: small enough to fit in a bag so very portable. It also brings the baby to the right height for breastfeeding, is a good shape and firm enough to support her properly whilst feeding. Plus it helps me keep my back straight so that I'm not hunching over to get a good latch (a problem I had with a previous V-shape pillow with my first daughter).
"The cover is also nice and soft, so it won't aggravate a young baby's skin. Having had a c-section, it has also been really useful in protecting my healing scar whilst feeding. Good value for money versus other larger feeding pillows. The midwives in the hospital were also impressed with it.
"Minor cons: it would be useful if it came with a spare cover or if you could purchase spare covers (not sure if this is possible) as it will get grubby quite quickly due to the colour and my daughter tends to dribble milk if she falls asleep whilst feeding!
"Luckily the cover can be tumble dried, but not everyone has a tumble dryer and if your baby feeds frequently like mine, you can't use the pillow whilst it is being washed and dried. Also, my daughter was quite small at birth (7lb 2oz) so whilst it is ideal for her size, I'm not sure how a bigger baby would fare.
"Feeding Shawl: Having previously used muslins with my first daughter whilst feeding out and about, with varying success, this shawl is a vast improvement. It is large enough for proper privacy and the weight on one corner really does ensure it doesn't fall down exposing all when you least want it to! It is also very soft and comfortable. You just have to be careful when you are finished that you don't hit your baby's head with the weight as you bring it back over your shoulder.
Cons: I think it is quite expensive for what it is and you could achieve the same by sewing in a curtain weight into the corner of a shawl you already own.
Mum Jackie
"I have tested out the Baby Sense set. I found it really lovely to use and I would recommend it to any mum. The nest is just the right size and comfy for baby and mum.
"It's easy to take with you when you go out and the shawl is great for covering you up when other people are around and it is also great for shielding little eyes from the sun too.
"Thanks for letting me have the chance to test this set."
For more about Baby Sense, go to www.babysense.co.uk.
