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Daphne

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Baby Wipes Connoisseur

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Before I became a mom, I didn’t care much for wet wipes. It was a functional item and as long as I could use it to wipe stuff with, it was all the same to me.

Then I went and gave birth to babies and everything changed. I found myself becoming a connoisseur. Of moist towelettes. I even stopped calling them wet wipes and started calling them baby wipes because it’s the single most important item that babies need.

They make the poopy? You need baby wipes.

They smear food all over their bodies? Reach for the baby wipes.

They regurgitate? Baby wipes.

They shove their fingers in dirt? That’s right, baby wipes.

finn finn

5 years and 3 kids later, I think I’ve tried almost every brand of baby wipes available. Some were too dry, some were sort of squishy, some were rough and scratchy, some left a weird residue, some gave the baby a nappy rash, and some just smelled way too funky.

Being a connoisseur and all, here’s what I look for in my baby wipes:

1. Soft. Not just the regular kind of soft but luxuriously soft. It must feel like the gentle caress of a summer breeze on baby Finn’s bottom.

2. Thick and absorbent. I’ve discovered that 1 square of good quality thick wipes is equivalent to 2-3 pieces of inferior ones. So I end up using fewer pieces for each diaper change.

3. Textured. The best baby wipes are those that are textured but still maintaining its softness as the texture helps to pick up particles more effectively.

4. No harmful chemicals or residue. Or anything that irritates a baby’s delicate skin.

On my baby wipes scale, Pigeon has one of the best wipes and their Chamomile & Rosehip range is the one of my favorites. In fact, it’s the one I used the most in all my years of poop cleaning.

They’ve introduced a baby wipes new range called Moisturizing Cloths and after using it on baby Finn for a couple of weeks, I think it’s safe to say that I’ve got a new favorite. It’s actually recommended for newborns up to 6 months but since my 9-month-old still has the delicate skin of a newborn, I’m sticking with it.

pigeon moisturizing cloths

I didn’t think the wipes could get much softer and thicker than the ones I was already using but wow, yes it can. It’s so thick they’re now calling it a cloth instead of a wipe because it really does feel like fabric. A really soft, moist and really absorbent fabric. That comes with a new lattice-weave texture for more efficient cleaning.

They’ve also added Lanolin protection to the Moisturizing Cloths, which helps to moisturize the skin while creating a protective barrier against diaper rash. And like the rest of their wipes, they’re alcohol-free as well as free from fungus and harmful bacteria that can cause itching, skin irritation and eczema. They’ve also retained the very useful One Hand System, which allows you to peel off the reseal-able flap and pull out the wipes with one hand. Trust me, it’s a lifesaver when you’re dealing with a squirmy baby and a full packet of poop.

While I use it most frequently for diaper changes, it’s also great for using on baby Finn’s hands, face, feet and pretty much everywhere else that needs wiping.

*Pigeon’s Baby Wipes Moisturizing Cloths are available at all leading department stores, supermarkets and baby products shops. They will be retailing at a promo price of $15 for 2 twin packs (instead of $17.80) from 17 June to 31 August. 

travel

Animal whisperers

This being our third trip to Melbourne in the last 3 years, we wanted to find new things to do instead of visiting the same old attractions. Which is a good thing because we found this gem of a place called Moonlit Sanctuary.

It’s located near Mornington Peninsula, about an hour’s drive out from the city.

follow the leader

We were there on a Thursday morning and apart from a handful of other visitors, we pretty much had the whole place to ourselves. It was so nice just standing leisurely by the lake eating our sandwiches.

lake watching

Unlike the other zoos we’ve visited in Melbourne, there aren’t a lot of animals here but what’s special is that they allow visitors to get up close and personal with the animals. Like really up close. Apparently it’s one of the few rare place in Melbourne that allows you to feed wallabies by hand and cuddle a koala.

The first thing we did when we arrived was to buy 2 bags of wallaby feed before making our way down to the Wallaby Walk trail. Some of the wallabies were really shy and they hopped away before we could say hi but as we walked further along the trail, the friendlier wallabies came up to us and started eating the food right out of our hands. Some even allowed us to pat them while they ate.

Did you know that wallaby fur is ridiculously soft? It doesn’t look that soft but it is. And they’re really sweet, gentle animals. It was so, so adorable watching the kids make friends with the affectionate little wallabies and they kept asking “Can I bring this baby wallaby home? I promise I will take care of him, please please please…”

wallaby feeding

truett & the wallaby

more wallaby feeding

kirsten & the wallaby

During this trip, we discovered that Truett is quite the animal whisperer. He’s got a way with them that’s so heartwarming to watch. He’d hug the wallabies, stroke their backs and talk to them like they’re his friends.

He even spent 10 minutes cradling a ginormous python that’s twice his height and as thick as his thigh. I’m not hot on snakes and I was a little nervy when the monstrosity was curled around his body but he patted it and whispered to it like Harry Potter while it slithered around like he was a tree branch. That was both terrifying and kind of cool at the same time.

Truett the animal whisperer

And my favorite part? Koala cuddling.

Due to its endangered status, most places won’t allow you near a koala, much less cuddle it. In fact, a special license is required if you ever want to hold a koala like this lady right here.

carrying a koala

The kids loved that they got to have a meet and greet with a super cuddly koala. He was awake one moment and then fell right asleep the moment the kids started patting him. We called him Mr Sleepy Snugglebums.

Kirsten was a little apprehensive as she reached out to pat the koala but Tru was all “you’re so full of cuddly awesomeness imma hug you and squeeeeeeeze you and love you and make you my new best friend…”

hello koala

kirsten & the koala

i heart koalas

koala hugging

And here’s one more of me with my little koala.

me & truett

Finn

Full on Finn mania

We’re finally back home and I’m taking a break from all the holiday posts to say that 10 days without my baby Finn is far, far too long.

We got back at about 9 last night and I immediately broke my first cardinal rule of never waking a sleeping baby because I couldn’t bear another moment of not holding him. He was tired and a little grouchy but he rubbed his eyes and looked at me with sleepy recognition like he couldn’t believe I was home. And my heart just exploded all over the living room as we all  assaulted him with a million kisses.

Full on baby Finn mania.

Seriously, it was tougher than I expected. By day 7 or 8, I was totally baby crazy. I was like a druggie on withdrawal and my daily fix was four thousand miles away. Every single baby I saw reminded me of Finn Finn and I was turning into the creepy lady who stared too long at other people’s babies. Then after a while, even random dolls started looking like Finn. I could feel my creepiness level maxing out every time I stepped into a toy store because I would hang around at the doll section making googly eyes at all the asian dolls.

Like I saw this doll and almost bought it because it looks *exactly* like Finn but I didn’t because the husband said it was totally creepy and also, it was $69.95.

baby Finn knockoff

In other news, after 10 days of not having access to my boobs, baby Finn is now completely weaned. I brought my pump along to keep up the supply just in case and last night after I got back, I tried offering him his favorite boob but he made a face and spat it right out. Then I offered him the other one and he pushed it away with his hand.

So that’s it. The end of my breastfeeding journey.

I might have cried a little (ok, a lot), but I guess it just means my baby is growing up and I have to let him. I didn’t think I’d feel this way but I’m really going to miss it.