I was busy cleaning my kitchen after cooking today and reflecting on how for many parents the kitchen is the hub of the home, so I thought to share with you a few simple mom-dad hacks and must-haves for your kitchen. These I hope will contribute to helping you keep your sanity and save time in the midst of your busy days!

Have your kids help you with simple tasks in the kitchen

I can’t utilize this one just yet, because Lux is so young. However those of you with older children, this one’s for you. This is a great way to teach your kids responsibility and also the importance of contributing to the household chores. Invite your kids to come and help you out in the kitchen. Try not to make it a bore, and use it as an opportunity to have a conversation while you prepare dinner and ask for simple tasks to be completed, such as setting the table or folding tea towels away in drawers. Time will be saved as you have helpers and this doubles up as a bonding experience – you might be surprised how much information can be divulged during these moments. If you happen to have both a son and a daughter, try including both kids when asking for help in the kitchen. This will teach your kids that domestic labor should be split between everyone and is not gender-specific!

Use simple and natural products that are safe for the family

By now I think it’s clear that I’m a fan of natural and waste-free products for the family and home. Using simply baking soda and natural dish soap you can clean chrome, porcelain sink basins, oven tops, and stoves. You can add your favorite natural essential oil to the mix to have your home smelling sweet like lavender, or like a summer’s day, with lemon. Alternatively, you can use any white or dark vinegar and lemon juice for most hard duty jobs in and around the kitchen. Clean safely and with less stress knowing that your kitchen is phosphate- and chlorine-free. It’s great to know that you can leave your kitchen knowing that the family hub is without harsh chemical residue.

Create your own functional and stylish pantry display

Over the past few weeks I have been collecting glass jars. You’ll be amazed how many of these we go through. Pesto jars, jam jars, olive jars, the list truly does go on. When you clean these thoroughly and scrub off labels, you’re left with really cute little jars that can be put to use in a number of ways. You can store craft supplies, scrap materials and buttons, or pantry items! I love a good pantry room, but let’s face it; most of us unfortunately do not have access to one of these, living in Beijing. One hack for the pantry-less is an open display for produce, snacks, and baking supplies. You can use shelves or counters in your kitchen. Place fresh fruit in a bowl, or fill baskets with kids’ snacks and glass jars with baking items in a chic and stylish way. Trust me, the results are so cute.

Invest in a slow cooker

Now we already know the importance of owning a rice cooker here, especially if you have an ayi, who in my case would probably say it is her best friend in the kitchen. However one-pot dinners are lifesavers and one of the simplest but most efficient hacks for busy families. You can throw a bunch of ingredients into a slow cooker early in the morning, forget about it all day, and then have a slap up meal ready for everyone by the time you get home. Winning! You can also use this item to prep ahead and freeze meals, which can be thawed and warmed through in the slow cooker too. You’re very welcome.

What mom-dad hacks do you swear by for your family?

Photos: Pixabay

Last week homemade kids shampoo was on the menu, this week I thought I would share a simple and natural recipe for homemade diaper rash cream. Fortunately when my little one was born I was gifted a tailor-made remedy for my delicate baby’s bottom by Velveteen’s Potions. It was full of rich and soothing ingredients, such a beeswax and Shea butter, and although my little one, thankfully, never had any severe bouts of nappy rash, using natural ingredients can help baby’s skin stay supple and smooth.

Diaper rash can be a nasty little irritant and is commonly characterized by red, swollen, and irritated skin. It is usually caused when a baby’s skin is wet and has prolonged contact with urine or stool. However, your baby having sensitive skin, or a diaper that is too tight can sometimes also be the cause. Scented products can also be the culprit of nappy rash or a change in the baby or breastfeeding momma’s diet.

Rather than using shop-bought dense white creams that contain synthetic ingredients, give this DIY solution to baby rash a try. This natural cream is not just friendly for your little one’s skin but also for your budget – also natural remedies are all about wellness and sustainability! The cream stays good for up to 4 months and you can rest assured that only goodness is being applied to baby’s bottom!

What you will need:

• Castor oil (antibacterial) – 1 teaspoon
• Beeswax (waterproofs skin) – 1 teaspoon
• Shea butter (moisturizes skin) – 2 tablespoons
• Extra-virgin coconut oil (antibacterial and anti-fungal) – 1 tablespoon

Instructions:

• Bain-marie (hot water bath – bring water to a simmer in a pan and slot a glass or ceramic bowl on top) over the stove or hot plate.
• Put 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin coconut oil in the heat-safe bowl.
• Add 2 tablespoons of Shea butter.
• Add 1 teaspoon of beeswax.
• Let all the ingredients melt and blend together, then remove the pan from the heat.

Stage Two:

• Add 1 teaspoon of castor oil to the oil blend and stir it well.
• Transfer the mixture to a container and allow it to cool and solidify.
• When changing your baby’s diaper, rinse and clean the skin and allow it to air-dry.
• Apply this DIY homemade diaper rash cream on the affected skin before putting on a fresh diaper.

So there you have it! Give this recipe a go and comment below to let us know how you get on.

Photo: www.fabhow.com

Welcome back to my DIY series! Last week I shared a simple recipe for natural homemade baby wipes and this week I will be sharing with you how to make natural homemade shampoo for the kids. If you haven’t already noticed, I’m trying to make small decisions that will help me work towards living a more organic lifestyle and hopefully in the process influence my family to be more green!

Whether you are already living a 100 percent natural lifestyle, or are trying to make small changes when you can, this second part of my DIY series is for you. This is a very simple way to work towards eradicating chemicals in your bathroom, particularly when it comes to your little one’s personal care products. This homemade shampoo can be used by the whole family and can be switched up using different essential oils.

Homemade Shampoo with Castile Soap

What you will need:

• Unscented castile soap
• Lavender or lemon essential oil
• Vegetable glycerin (optional, for a more sudsy wash)
• Empty bottle (Preferably made using an environmentally friendly material- or reuse an old shampoo bottle)
• Organic coconut or argan oil (particular good for adding moisture and shine)

Instructions:

1. Dilute castile soap with distilled water to a 1:1 ratio
2. Add 1 tsp. of vegetable glycerin
3. Add 10-15 drops of lavender or lemon essential oil
4. Add 10-15 drops of coconut or argan oil. Mix together, and the shampoo is ready to use.

The castile soap is a great cleanser but doesn’t get very sudsy, so if the kids like to play with bubbles during bath or shower time, add the glycerin. Depending on your hair type, you may not want to add moisture to your hair, if so, don’t add the coconut or argan oils.

If you have a go at making your own shampoo for the family, I would love to know how you get on. Comment below with your natural shampoo hair journey, and any information about what you use for natural health and beauty products!

Photos: Pixabay

Welcome back to my DIY series, where this week I will be sharing with you how to make natural homemade baby wipes that are sensitive enough for our little ones’ bottoms! Do you know what ingredients are used in your go-to shop-bought baby wipes? Leading brands have a good way of hiding behind expensive marketing campaigns and glossy images of giggling babies and soft bottoms. However according to this cosmetics database, which gives you a complete list of hazard ratings for different brands of wipes, there are a number of chemicals used in our seemingly safe baby wipe choices.

Pampers

I have been using Pampers Baby Wipes ever since my son was born and have only recently stopped using them after finding out exactly what ingredients they are made with:

Water, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Caprylic Triglyceride, PEG 40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Sodium Hydroxymethlyglycinate, Citric Acid, and Fragrance.

The wipes I was using on my baby have been given a 5 for hazard (out of 10) and warnings include possible allergies, immunotoxicity, and organ system toxicity. Shocking, right?

I have a rule that I use when shopping for products and food. If I can’t pronounce what is listed as ingredients on an item, it doesn’t go into the shopping cart. Similarly, if I don’t understand what something is, it’s likely to be a chemical of some sort, and so doesn’t make it into the my basket of goods. Do you know what each of the ingredients listed above are, and are you certain that they are safe? If not, have a go at making my 100 percent natural baby wipes, which are safe for babies and kids. The following is a cost effective and simple change you can make that also has great benefits for the environment. 

Did you know: Experts warn that baby care wipes could take up to 100 years to biodegrade (break down) in a landfill, and most wipes, including those for the home and for the removal of makeup, are up to three-quarters polyester. Let’s all go green and get DIY’ing our baby wipes today!

Here’s what you will need:

• 1 roll of heavy duty paper towels (Note: I use Bounty for wipes. Stay away from cheap brands, as they won’t work as well)
• 1 old wipes container,  plastic shoe box container, old plastic coffee container, or empty plastic ice cream gallon tub
• 1 3/4 cups boiled water (or distilled) – cooled but still warm
• 1 tablespoon of pure aloe vera – check the ingredients
• 1 tablespoon of pure witch hazel extract
• 1 teaspoon of liquid castile Soap (vegetable oil based soap)
• 10 drops grapefruit seed extract or 2 capsules of vitamin E (optional)
• 1 teaspoon of olive or almond oil (optional)
• Essential oils of choice (optional- I use 6 drops each of lemon, orange and lavender from Doterra)

Instructions:

1. Cut the roll of paper towels in half using a sharp knife
2. If using a plastic shoe box or old wipe container, accordion fold the wipes into the container
3. In bowl or quart size jar mix the water, aloe vera, witch hazel, castile soap, GSE/Vitamin E and oil and stir.
4. Add essential oils if desired and stir.
5. Pour over paper towels in container and let absorb for around 5-10 minutes.
6. Flip the container over to make sure wipes are well soaked.
7. Use as you would regular wipes.

Note: If your child has extremely sensitive skin, you may need to leave out the essential oils or use calendula or chamomile.

Smile, knowing you are not causing your beautiful child any future health problems!

Photos: Pixabay

I have been using essential oils for around four years now. I remember how I read somewhere that lavender oil is great for a good night’s sleep, so I actually added some to a spray bottle of water and sprayed it around the room when my daughter was a baby. Fortunately, after abundantly spraying this mixture everywhere, I took a course at the local library with a essential oil therapist and got a bit more knowledgeable about oils and their working methods. How I could dilute them and add them to my diffuser? What oil worked for what ailment, and most important, what oil was safe to use for kids and around kids?

I bought some guides, and every “flavor” oil under the sun. I happily used to make soaps and body scrubs with my oils and diffusing oils at home when I felt sick or my daughter had a bad cough. Using oils the correct way is essential to its effectiveness and safety. Not using oils correctly can cause headaches, and is not good for you or your family. However, if you use oils the correct ways they can enhance life and have welcome benefits. Instead of using medicine I use oils, and for a good night’s sleep I add lavender oil to the bath.

Though the magic of WeChat I found a mother who is not only very knowledgeable, but also shares the love of essential oils. Elsa is a coach and promotes the use of certified pure therapeutic organic oils. She will be in Beijing in two weeks, and will give two free workshops at the Dottera office on November the 17th. For more information and how to sign up, check the poster below, and add her on WeChat.

Photos: Organizer and Pixabay

Got a question?
Dr. Melissa Rodriguez is a naturopathic
doctor and mother of two, who works at Beijing United Family Hospital. To find out more, check out her website at www.drmelissarodriguez.com

This article originally appeared on page 18  of the November/ December issue of beijingkids magazine. Click here for your free online copy. To find out how you can obtain a hard copy, contact distribution@truerun.com.

PHOTO: Pinterest.com

Our hard working School Editor, Jessica Suotmaa, is currently writing from Finland as she cares for her newborn. Below she answers this often asked question from her own perspective.

You would be surprised how many women have asked me whether giving birth naturally hurts. Or perhaps I am only surprised because men wouldn’t dare ask (of course it hurts, would you like to try the simulation?), and the women back home know it hurts. Yet, in Beijing, young women I’ve just met will ask me if it hurt, and assuming it did, how much did it hurt?

If you take into account the fact that most young women probably don’t have mothers in their network, and asking their own mother would just prompt unnecessary pressure–not to mention the fact that over 50% of pregnant women in China have cesarean surgeries, it starts to make sense. [Note that the World Health Organization recommendation is 15%]

In fact, scheduling a birth is not a trend limited to Mainland China, but has been growing in popularity in metropolitan areas, such as Taipei and New York City.  In the documentary, The Business of Being Born (a worthy watch if you plan on giving birth in the US), this trend is attributed to the fact that women are busier with their careers than before and a schedule-able surgery with predictable recovery time is easier to plan with one’s employer than the ever-so-vague, “I’ll be giving birth between Week 38 and 43, if all goes well.”

In Taipei, much like in parts of China, the traditional superstitious culture has families seeking the guidance of fortune tellers to choose the perfect date and time to induce birth.  Scheduling your child’s birth date and time is even more significant than choosing his or her DNA as it’s the divine gift of molding your child’s character and destiny! No wonder it’s popular. I would want to choose my child’s temperament too–wouldn’t you?

In Beijing, the popularity of c-sections can be attributed to a number of reasons. Yes, there are superstitious parents, but the mainland Chinese younger generation isn’t as aware or superstitious.  There are also women who prioritize their careers and intend to continue working after having a child. These women find scheduling ahead of time convenient in bureaucratic work environments.

Recently, it’s also been in the news that families want to choose an earlier birth date to ensure their child makes the cut off date for school admissions, as a means to avoid getting “left behind” and having to start a year later than peers. Ironic, given how studies show that older children outperform younger children in both academics and sports.

When we were deciding where to give birth, we researched Beijing hospitals, read testimonials, and compared price packages–did you know some hospitals will give you a 40% discount if you schedule your c-section six months in advance? That seems like a good deal in a city where the act of having a baby starts at RMB 40,000 with no ceiling.  It’s also questionable how often doctors will “recommend” a c-section either at the beginning or near the end, when families are pained and panicked, either for the monetary gain or time save.

Finally, there is just plain fear. Birthing naturally has been shown on television, movies, and TV shows when it probably shouldn’t.  Gory scenes of screaming, cursing, and wailing should be banned; scenes like those found in the Shenzhen informational video that scared women out of having babies.  Scary birth home videos should probably be kept in private collections as well, because, let’s face it, who else wants to watch it? I, for one, had banned my husband from recording in the delivery room.

I’m not a medical professional and I haven’t had the experience of a cesarean (although I was offered the choice this time because my first birth was so challenging), but I think the c-section has been over-glorified as some kind of painless option.  So many women have told me they want a c-section because they’re afraid of pain and want to be as sedated as possible during the event.

Uhh…I’m dead afraid of pain too, you know? I actually have a phobia for dentists because nothing they do feels pleasant. I dislike hospitals, the smell of antiseptic, and doctors in general. I don’t have extra piercings or tattoos not just because I have a strict Asian mom (my sister’s got a bunch), but mainly because I’ve got a low pain threshold. I still decided to go au natural though.

Why? I did a lot of research and decided to believe in the band-aid theory: quick pain (pushing a baby out) over recovery from a major surgery (cutting your stomach open). I used to work in healthcare and have witnessed how outpatient procedures hurt a lot even though you supposedly can be rolled out the same day, but in-patient surgeries? That’s a 4 week recovery at best, 3 months at worst. Yikes.

By recovery, I don’t mean you’re immobilized for a whole three months, just that it could take that long to return to your pre-surgery condition. That, to me, is much too long. But, I can see how in a culture where one should spend 30-45 days in bed post-birth for recovery anyway, the 4-week post surgery recovery estimate may sound about right.

What about the pain?
I went into surgery after my first birth and even though my numerous stitches are nothing compared to a cesarean, I was in a ridiculous amount of pain and bled for about two weeks after birth. I had really strong pain killers that I could combine to dope myself, but I was still largely immobile, struggled to produce enough breast milk, and find the energy to care for my firstborn. Then, in the end, I still had to wean myself off pain killers and just suck it up. By the time I got out of bed, my muscles were too weak to carry my son for long periods of time, I had joint and tendon problems from lifting him, and my back and butt ached from laying down too long. Needless to say, recuperation took time.

Now, I know I have been considering a cesarean only as a choice, rather than a necessity.  One of the reasons we decided to not give birth in China was because we had read too many expat birth stories where a natural birth plan had turned into a c-section (almost 20% of natural birth plans end up in c-sections). Given the difficulties I had in birthing my (rather large-sized) son, I’m convinced that, had I been in China, I would’ve ended up with a cesarean rather than just a vacuum manhandling.

But that’s why I didn’t give birth in China, or the US, but chose Finland where you don’t even see a doctor unless the midwife calls it an emergency (in comparison, China has done away with most of their midwives and now the number of midwives in China is 1/8 of Cambodia, 1/20 of the US).  They also don’t give you chemical cocktails without your permission. Best of all, once you’ve delivered and you’re all fixed up, they ask you, “Would you like some coffee or tea?” Bet that would never happen in Beijing.

Back to subject of pain. Did my second birth hurt? Yes. Did I have pain management? It was too late for any. Did I regret not making it to the hospital earlier so I could have my epidural? Absolutely. I’m a cowardly person with a low pain threshold, so I was frightened to push, but your body forces you to get it over with sooner or later.  And once it was over, I could appreciate the quick pain of sooner over the long-lasting pain of later.

Photo: Flickr

Last Friday, organic fashion brand NEEMIC launched their new fall/winter collection on a rooftop at Meridian Space. The collection, “Afternoon,” is made up of creams, mochas, muted charcoals and grays in soft draping materials from silk to alpaca and mohair. As the collection’s name suggests, “Afternoon” evokes a wearer out on a casual afternoon and offers a classic appeal suitable for women of all ages. Over sized pieces dominate the line with floor length coats, robes, and luminescent silky tops and dresses. Our favorite piece was a sesame-colored mohair and wooly knit coat with large pockets and wide sleeves.

With heightened concern over clothing safety, there has been a recent trend of more parents opting to find brands that specialize in all natural clothing for children. While a growing number of designers are feeding the market of organic fashion for kids, finding a brand like NEEMIC, which caters to sustainable fashion for grown-ups, is a breath of fresh air.

NEEMIC was founded by Hans Martin Galliker and Amihan Zemp in 2011. Zemp is the designer and creative director while Galliker is responsible for business development. In addition Galliker also founded AgraChina, a project group supporting the development of sustainable agriculture in China. Galliker and Zemp set out “to create beautiful design, make the textile industry more sustainable, and to provide a platform for artistic exchange.”  

All NEEMIC pieces are designed and made in Beijing by local tailors under fair conditions. NEEMIC is committed to responsible use of resources, predominately sourcing leftover materials from the fashion industry and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified organic fabrics.

Photo: Jessica Rapp

Don’t delay; bite the bullet today and wean you (and your baby) off store-bought foods.