Baby Hub
Glass vs. Plastic Baby Bottles - What's the Difference?
PP, PPSU, or Glass: Pigeon's full range of baby bottle materials explained. Understand the key differences in safety, durability, heat resistance, and everyday practicality, so you can choose the bottle that genuinely fits the way your family feeds.
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Pack Your Hospital Bag With Pigeon
As a first-time mum, the thought of packing your hospital bag can be both exciting and daunting. What should you pack? What will you need? And when should you actually start prepping? To help you plan ahead, we’ve put together a list of what we think are the essential items, so you can have a comfortable, stress-free stay while you welcome your baby into the world. Hospital bag options Firstly, it helps to separate certain items in different bags, so you may want to start with one large bag to house 3 smaller ones. • One bag will be for your clothes and everything you need pre and post labour and birth.• One bag for baby items.• One bag for snacks and entertainment items. It’s also handy to keep one soft bag to put all of your dirty laundry in. You’ll most likely be in the hospital from 1 to 5 days, depending on whether you’re having a cesarean or vaginal birth. But given anything can happen, it’s best to prepare for both. Items to pack for you 1. Comfy clothes Pack loose-fitting, soft outfits, including a robe, slippers, and flip flops to walk around the maternity ward in. If you’re having a c-section, get yourself some soft, seamless underwear that will sit above your incision line. 2. Toiletries Your body will need extra TLC during and after birth, so pack some face cleanser wipes (so you don’t have to get out of bed), toothbrush and toothpaste, moisturiser for your face and body and some deodorant to freshen up. 3. Breast pads Breast leakage is one of the common things that happens when your milk comes in. So it’s essential to have some breast pads packed and ready to go. ComfyFeel™ Breast Pads are super absorbent and lined with aloe vera extract to improve skin moisture. They’re dermatologically tested and ultra-soft for maximum all day comfort. 4. Maternity pads Maternity pads are essential for pre and postpartum fluids and bleeding. They’re longer, softer, and much more absorbent than regular pads. You may need to change your pad every 1-2 hours after giving birth, so you’ll want to buy at least 2 or 3 packs of 12. Bleeding should reduce over the next 2 days, and then can continue for 4-6 weeks. 5. Nipple cream If you are breastfeeding, be sure to get yourself some nipple cream. A good nipple cream can ease the pain and discomfort of breastfeeding and provides moisture to help heal or prevent dry, cracked, itchy, or even bleeding nipples during the first few weeks of breastfeeding. 6. Medication Make sure you pack all of the current medication that you’re taking so you don’t miss any days or doses. 7. Electronics Along with your phone, it’s a good idea to pack a laptop or iPad with movies pre-downloaded as the hospital wifi isn’t always great. And if you’re really looking to pack like a pro, add a powerboard and extension cord to your bag so you can plug in multiple devices and be able to reach them all with ease. 8. Snacks While the hospital will have you covered for meals, they won’t necessarily have all your favourites on the menu. Pack yourself some fruit and snacks, but remember to do this as close to the date as possible, so everything stays fresh. 9. A notebook and pen While it may seem ‘old school’, when you’ve just had a baby and the doctors are telling you a lot of important information, having a notepad and pen handy is a game changer. You’ll be able to quickly jot down things like check-up dates, doctor’s names, medications you may need and more, then when you leave the hospital, you can easily add everything to your diary. Items to pack for the baby 1. Anti-Bacterial wipes Unlike baby wipes, anti-bacterial wipes keep your baby’s items clean and sterilised. You can also use them to keep your hands hygienically clean before touching your baby. 2. Moisturising wipes While hospitals usually provide wipes, it’s always a good idea to bring your own, just in case your baby has sensitive skin. Pigeon Natural Botanical wipes are made with naturally soft and sustainable bamboo eco-fibers, minimising the chance of irritation when wiping your baby’s delicate skin. 3. A pacifier/dummy If you choose to use a dummy or pacifier to help soothe and comfort your baby, the MiniLight Pacifier is a great option. It is ultra-light and made from the softest of silicone to fit comfortably in your baby’s little mouth. 4. Nappies Hospitals will definitely supply disposable nappies for you, but often they come in one newborn size only. So if you know your bub might be on the smaller size, stock up on some smaller nappies to accommodate them. And if you’re trying out cloth nappies, bring a lot of them as it will be trickier to clean them without your washing machine. 5. Baby clothes Pack 2 or 3 sleepsuits and singlets for your baby to wear while you're in hospital. And if you know you’ll be there longer, pack a few more. You’ll also want an outfit for the trip home. Something that’s all-in-one and stretchy will be the most comfortable for your baby. By taking the time to plan and pack your hospital bag in advance, you can ensure that you and your newborn are comfortable and prepared for the big day. For more tips and advice, check out our helpful Baby Hub blog. You can also find products for breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, oral care and more at our online store.
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8 Tips For Keeping Your Baby Cool on Hot Days
Summer has arrived! And with summer comes warmer nights, muggy mornings and hot and bothered bubs. So, to help your little one stay cool and protected during those hot days, we’ve put together a list of tips and tricks for you to keep up your sleeve. 1. Keep your baby hydrated The first thing to note is that unlike adults, kids sweat less when they get hot, which reduces their ability to cool down.This makes it harder for us to know when they might need to step away from the sun or physical activity. To avoid your little one overheating, try offering them a drink from their favourite cup or bottle!. A spout sippy cup is a great option as it has angled handles and a spill proof cross-cut opening, so no matter what they’re doing, at what angle, they’ll be able to stay hydrated. And for the bub? Try one of our Soft Touch PP baby bottles with fun and cute designs on them! 2. Swap your muslin wrap for a pram shade Most people feel that shading their little ones with a muslin wrap over the pram will keep them cool. Whilst it does block out the sun, it also blocks any chance of a breeze from reaching them. Pram shades are a great solution, as they are typically made from lightweight fabric that’s designed to protect your little one from UV and insects, while allowing air to circulate in the pram. They also allow your baby to see out while you’re out, keeping them entertained on the go. 3. Get your baby a cooling teether Did you know that you can buy a teether that is designed to live in the fridge? The Square Cooling Teether and Circle Cooling Teether from Pigeon are designed to ease the discomfort of teething, and doubles as a quick cool-down tool on hot days. Definitely worth adding to your cart! 4. Portable fans are a breeze To keep your bub cool while you’re on the move, try attaching a portable fan to your pram. Not only will it create a breeze on those muggy days, it’ll also create that lovely white noise to soothe your bub off to sleep. 5. Pack a spray bottle full of water A quick way to bring the temperature down is to spray your little one’s hands and feet with cool water. Sounds simple, and it is! Simply fill a spray bottle (you can purchase at most supermarkets or salons), and either keep it in the fridge, or place some ice cubes in there. It’s a low cost solution that really works! 6. A cool bath before bed We all know how good a cool shower is before you wriggle into your fresh sheets at night - well the same applies for your baby. Try giving them a lovely luke-warm bath with a natural, PH balanced baby body wash, followed by some time in front of a fan. Once your little one is nice and comfortable, pop some light jammies on them or wrap them in a light-weight sleep suit. Nighty night. 7. Keep a washcloth in the freezer A quick and easy way to cool down your little one whilst at home on a hot day is to soak a few washcloths in cold water, and put them in the freezer. After just 10 minutes, they will cool down your baby from head to toe.. Plus, they stay cool for way longer than just a wet cloth. 8. Pump the air con There’s nothing worse than getting into a hot car on a hot day. To avoid your bub being hit by a heatwave, turn the car on and pump the air con before you put them in. In just a few minutes your car will go from a desert to a delight. Keep these tips handy for the next hot day, and you and bub will stay nice, cool and comfortable. And don’t forget, while you’re keeping your little one cool, you need to look after yourself too! So, pop in an extra water bottle, wash cloth and fan. Happy mum = happy bub. For more helpful info on all things parents and bubs, visit our blog hub page.
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A Parent's Guide to Choosing the Right Baby Bottle for My Newborn
Choosing the right bottle feels overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. From newborn teats to premium materials, discover what actually makes a difference for your baby's feeding comfort and your peace of mind.
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Introducing the New & Improved SofTouch™ Bottle & Teat Range
Designed from over 60 years of breastfeeding research, we’re excited to announce our new SofTouch™ bottle range. With the same functions as you know and love, our new SofTouch™ III Bottles & Teats have been improved to encourage a smoother feed from breast to bottle. Our SofTouch™ III bottles were created to support mothers to continue breastfeeding for as long as they want. The design of our teats mimics the natural drinking pattern of a baby drinking from their mother’s breast by promoting the same 3 feeding movements - latching, sucking and swallowing. As with all of our SofTouch™ III range, our teats come with an air ventilation system that adjusts air pressure inside the bottle to support constant milk flow and helps reduce the chances of colic. So, how have our bottles & teats been improved? We’re glad you asked. Seamless switching between breast to bottle The new SofTouch™ III teats have two main new features that encourage a seamless switch for a baby between their mother’s breast to bottle. 1. Latch-On Line The latch-on line is a guide line on the teat which helps new bottle-feeding parents to know where the baby should be latching on the teat. A secure latch to the teat is crucial to successful feeds as it prevents milk leakage and promotes efficient milk intake. 2. Skin-like Teat We’ve made our teats even softer which makes the feeding experience even closer to a mother’s breast. How? The soft silicone rubber allows the baby to complete smooth peralisatic tongue movements, similarly to the natural feeding experience, which reduces nipple confusion when combination feeding. If you’re already a Pigeon SofTouch user, you’ll be happy to know that our new teats are 100% compatible with all SofTouch™ bottles. It’s what’s inside that counts Our SofTouch bottles are now available in 4 different materials, so you can pick the material that best suits you and your baby needs. 1. PP Bottle Made from light-weight plastic, the SofTouch™ III PP bottle is suitable for low to regular use and is BPA and BPS free. Bottles in the PP material are available in plain or with designs. All bottles are BPA and BPS free. 2. PPSU Bottle Made from a premium grade of plastic, SofTouch™ III PPSU bottles are naturally honey toned in colour and suitable for high usage. Bottles in the PPSU material are available in plain or with designs. All bottles are BPA and BPS free. 3. Glass Bottle The SofTouch™ III Glass bottle is perfect for transparency and will last years and years for unlimited usage. All bottles are BPA and BPS free. 4. And introducing, T-Ester A new and innovative material, T-Ester, used for our SofTouch™ III bottles that provides premium clarity (similar to glass) and has a stronger resistance* to UV degradation compared to other plastics. *After 100 hours continuous UV sterilisation, T-Ester remains unchanged Bottles in the T-Ester material are available in plain or with designs. All bottles are BPA and BPS free. Explore the new SofTouch™ range of bottles and teats today.Interested in more motherhood tips and tricks? Visit our guide to Supporting your Baby's Emotional Growth.
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Breastfeeding For New Mums
Inline with World Breastfeeding Week, we’ve created this breastfeeding guide to support new parents. Every year from August 1 to August 7, people around the world celebrate World Breastfeeding Week - #WBW2022. An entire week dedicated to highlighting the importance of breastfeeding and improving the overall health of bubs and mums around the globe. Before we go any further on this topic, we do want to do a quick shoutout to those who didn’t or can’t/couldn't breastfeed their baby. This week isn’t designed to make you feel inferior, but simply to encourage and educate governments, health systems, workplaces and communities to strengthen their capacity to provide and sustain breastfeeding-friendly environments for families. Let’s dive into all things breasts and feeding. What’s so great about breastfeeding? Besides the fact that women’s bodies are incredible and produce a complete meal for their baby, right from their breasts, breastfeeding also comes with a mountain of other benefits: • It can help you and your baby bond• It helps with bub’s brain development • It can protect your baby from infections • And, breastfeeding has many benefits for mums too! Including lower anxiety, increased bone strength, and decreased risk of heart disease How do you breastfeed? Although a natural part of motherhood, breastfeeding is no easy feat. It can take weeks, even months to get the hang of it, and it is so different for everyone. So, let’s start with some basics… How to hold your bub while breastfeeding? There really is no right or wrong way to hold your baby while breastfeeding. It all comes down to the position that you and your baby find most comfortable. Here are a few popular positions that you might like to try: 1. The cradle hold: In this position, you support your baby with the arm on the same side as the breast you’re feeding from. 2. The cross-cradle hold: In this position, you bring your baby across the front of your body - tummy to tummy. 3. The football hold: In this position, you hold your baby beside you, with your elbow bent.4. Side-lying hold: In this position, you lay on your side and face your baby toward your breast. How to know if your baby has latched properly? Sometimes it’s hard to know if your baby has latched correctly and the feed is going well. Here are a few things to look for: • The latch should not feel uncomfortable – it should be more of a tugging sensation• At first you should see short, rapid sucks. This is to stimulate your milk flow. Once milk starts flowing, your bub will suck more slowly and deeply • You should see your baby’s jaw moving, and hear swallowing. If you’re struggling with sensitive, cracked or sore nipples, Pigeon Natural Fit Nipple Shields are helpful for providing relief during feeds. They are thin and soft in design, are uniquely curved to maximise skin to skin contact, and suitable for all nipple shapes and sizes. Flat or inverted nipples Every nipple is unique. And sometimes a flat or inverted nipple can cause issues with latching. Our secret weapon is the Pigeon Nipple Puller which painlessly draws out your nipple, making it easier for your baby to find and latch on to. How long should you nurse on each side? A newborn will need to feed every 2-3 hours and usually spends 20-30 minutes on each breast. When your baby is around 3-4 months, they can empty a breast in a speedy 5-10 minutes! To pump or not to pump Pumping is a great way to get some freedom back when you need to be away from your baby for short periods of time, or just need a night off! It’s also a great way to help stimulate milk production in the early days of breastfeeding. There are two types of pumps you can choose from: • Manual Breast Pump: A hand operated pump that is used for one breast at a time. • Electric Breast Pump: A electric-powered pump that you can use on both breasts at the same time. Whichever way you pump, be sure to have some sterile milk storage bags or storage bottles on hand, so you can keep all that liquid gold stored safely in the fridge or freezer. Do you need to eat or exercise differently whilst breastfeeding? The general rules of thumb are: • Limiting your alcohol intake. Obviously no booze is the safest option • Try and exercise regularly for your mental health. ‘Me time’ is so important right now. • Eat everyday foods from all five food groups and increase your daily serves of veggies. • Drink more water - You should aim to have around 10 cups of fluids a day, but you might need more on hot or humid days or if you're very active. At Pigeon, we pledge to inform people about their role in strengthening the warm chain of support for breastfeeding in 2022. If you’d like to learn more about World Breastfeeding Week and see how you too can be involved, visit https://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/# And for more helpful info on all things mum and bub, visit our blog hub page. For additional support & information on breastfeeding 13HEALTH (13 432584) is a phone line that provides health information, referral and services to the public. https:// www.qld.gov.au/health/contacts/advice/13health Pregnancy, Birth & Baby Helpline 1800 882 436 (free call) offers free, confidential, professional information and counselling about conception, pregnancy, birthing and postnatal care. www.health.gov.au/pregnancyhelpline Child Health Service provides newborn drop-in services, early feeding and support, child health clinics. Refer to www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/community-health/child-health-service for your nearest service Women’s Health Queensland Wide 1800 017 676 (free call) offers health promotion, information and education service for women and health professionals throughout Queensland. www.womenshealth.org.au Australian Breastfeeding Association 1800 686268 (breastfeeding helpline). Community based self-help group offers information, counselling, and support services, on breastfeeding issues http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au Lactation Consultants of Australia and New Zealand (LCANZ) provides information on when and how to access a lactation consultant https://www.lcanz.org/
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Baby-Safe Cleaning Products: How to Keep Your Baby Safe & Sanitised
When it comes to cleaning your home and your baby’s products, it’s important to remember that what may seem safe for us, could be unsafe for your little one. A dishwashing liquid for example, could contain ingredients that are harmful if used to clean your baby’s bottles, however, works a treat on our drinking glasses. A disinfectant spray may kill bacteria like a boss, but could be harmful if it comes into contact with your baby's skin. So how do you know what’s OK to use and what to avoid? *Cue magical music* Look for naturally-derived, baby-safe ingredients When choosing a cleaning product for you and your little one, the key things to look for are naturally-derived, baby-safe ingredients that are free from harmful chemicals and toxins. In addition to that, seeking out products that contain biodegradable ingredients means you’re not only looking after your family but the planet at the same time! Pigeon’s Liquid Cleanser (Original & Yuzu) is a multi-purpose cleaning product which can be used to wash your baby’s bottles, teats, toys and even fruit and veggies! It effectively kills 99% of bacteria, is formulated with 100% food grade and naturally biodegradable ingredients; so it’s safe for your little one, and gentle on the planet. Plus, the baby-safe liquid cleanser smells great and is tough on milk residue and stains! Use a baby-safe laundry detergent If you have a little one with sensitive skin, you should look for washing products that are formulated for babies, fragrance-free and dye-free. Pigeon’s Baby Laundry Detergent is designed to wash away dirt, grime and everyday mishaps, without causing irritation to your baby’s skin. It’s anti-bacterial, paraben-free, dermatologically tested and safe for everyday use. Brush up on hygiene Finding the right brush to clean your bottles and teats is a must. Things you’ll want to look for are easy to grip handles (you’ll most likely be trying to wash with one hand while holding bub in the other), bristles that can get into all the little hiding places and optional brush sizes. Two magic wands that are essential for any homes that have baby bottles, are our 2 in 1 Bottle & Nipple Brush and Baby Bottle Sponge Brush. The 2 In 1 Bottle & Nipple Brush is long-lasting with proven efficacy for at least 10,000 strokes, whereas, the Baby Bottle Sponge Brush is a soft cleaning option that minimises scratching. Both bottle brushes will equally leave your bottles and teats clean and ready for sterlisation. Wash your hands It’s pretty textbook these days, but still important to remember how easy it is to contaminate equipment just by touching it with unclean hands. So, just to be on the safe side, make sure you wash and dry your hands before you handle any sterilised bottles and teats. Our hand sanitiser range is the perfect for keeping yours, and your little ones hands clean if your busy or on-the-go. We have a hand sanitiser cream and spray that is suitable for babies, and a hand santisier gel for adults. Sterilise, sterilise and did we mention sterilise? Babies have immature immune systems, and aren’t strong enough to fight off a range of infections. Milk (unfortunately) is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria to grow if not handled correctly. This is why it’s important to sterilise all feeding equipment and keep the milk/formula cold until just before feeding your baby. There are several ways to sterilise your baby bottles such as boiling, sterilising Chemicals, UV sterilisation and steam sterilising. Steam sterilising is an option many parents around the blog choose as it is an effective and easy option. The Pigeon Microwave Steam Steriliser provides a simple and easy way to effectively sterilise your baby’s bottles, teats and accessories. It fits most sizes of nursing bottles and accommodates up to 5 standard or wide neck Pigeon bottles. Just pop your products into the steriliser, put it in the microwave for 7 mins and it can maintain a sterile environment for up to 24hrs (given the lid hasn’t been opened). At Pigeon, we have all your baby cleaning needs covered. Shop our baby-safe cleaning products. For more helpful info on all things mum and bub, visit our blog hub page. Ingredients to avoid Unfortunately, most ingredients sound like chemicals, so knowing which ones are potentially harmful is tricky. Here is a quick list of ingredients that are best to avoid where possible: Artificial fragrancesOften contain phthalates, parabens, and other chemicals. Synthetic preservativesFor example, methylisothiazolinone (MI), methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI), Benzisothiazolinone (BI) and Octylisothiazolinone (OIT). TriclosanOften used as a disinfectant and/or preservative. Dyes or colorsCan contain petrochemicals or harmful chemicals. Ethanolamine compoundsListed as Monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA) or triethanolamine (TEA); cheap surfactants. Glycol ethers2-Methoxyethanol, 2-Ethoxyethanol, 2-Butoxyethanol - used as solvents in many cleaning products. Chlorine and chlorine bleachVery common in a variety of cleaners.Ammonia and ammonia compoundsCommon in glass cleaners, but also some dish soaps. FormaldehydeStill found in some cleaning products believe it or not, like laundry detergents and dish soaps.
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Baby Hygiene Tips: Keeping your baby clean and happy from hair to toe
When it comes to keeping our little ones clean and protected, there's often a long list of things we consider before buying a product. Things like ingredients, if the products are pH balanced, gentle on sensitive skin and our environment. And just like every one of our children, every personal care product is different, so which ones should you use for what purpose? Here’s our list.
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How to choose the right baby products for your newborn
Preparing for a newborn is both exciting and intimidating, especially when it comes to finding the essentials. Here’s a guide to help you choose what you will need.
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