Nappy Choices Many non-Pagan families use disposable nappies without thinking twice about it.  Pagan families and other families who care for the environment might like to consider cloth nappies.  These have come along way from the boring white square of towelling that needed plastic pants and always seemed to leak.  Now there are fitted cloth nappies that include a waterproof layer, attach with velcro and look like a disposable nappy!  For more information, see my cloth nappy page.

Home Made Nappy Rash Cream
Take a handful of dried calendula (Look for it in healthfood shops as a tea) and add to about a cup of any type of vegetable oil.  Let this gently heat for about 10 mins (Don't cook the calendula, just warm it).  Then strain out the flowers keeping the oil.  Add about half a jar of vaseline, and stir well.  When starting to cool and thicken, add a few drops of lavender essential oil.  Pour into jars.  You can store excess batches in the freezer until you need them.  The vaseline, because not natural, will not be absorbed so helps form a barrier on the skin, while the oils penetrate the skin to work on the rash.  If you want a more natural base, you can use beeswax.

Store Bought Nappy Rash/Eczema Cream
My Daughter always seems to get eczema in her elbows, behind her knees and at the front of her armpits.  The thing that helps this quickest seem to be a product called Paw Paw ointment, as is made from (you guessed it) Paw Paw.  Though there are some other chemicals and things in it, I thought it deserved a mention.  Its also fairly good as a nappy rash cream (depending on the severity) You should be able to get it in most chemists.  http://www.nbnutrition.com/Products/SkinCare/PawpawOintment

Nipple Cream
One of the best products for cracked nipples (from breastfeeding) is a lanolin product you can buy from  chemists.  Its pure lanolin, so doesn't need to be removed for breastfeeding (like some other creams). http://www.lansinoh.com

Crystal Pouch
A lovely gift for a Wiccaning or the birth of a new Pagan baby!  A pouch of Crystals  Click here for more info

Wiccaning Ceremony
Wiccaning Ceremony I wrote for our daughter's Wiccaning  For the ceremony she wore a purple cotton dress with a star print (My Aunt made it as she'd made my Niece's Baptism gown).  She wore my Pentagram and crystal necklace.  She wore the dress later to a Pagan gathering I went to, and I made her a bib from purple flannel with a pentagram made from ribbon sewn on.  I should have thought to make the bib for her Wicanning!  Click here for more info

Pagan(ish) Toys
We were at Hungry jacks/Burger King one day (yes, evil I know), and I noticed that the Kids meals had Elemental figures.  The Earth one was a brown blobby guy, the Fire was a red flamey guy, the Air was a glow in the dark yellowish guy, and the water guy was a suit to keep his watery self contained (you could fill it with water).  While not technically Pagan, I thought these would be a great way to teach a child about the Elements, so I bought them :)   You could make a version yourself using "Fimo" or "Sculpy" or other oven bake modelling clays. 

Another idea (I have yet to make), is a set of cloth dolls.  I got a book from the library once on making dolls, and they had a tribalish doll in there that gave me the inspiration to make a set of 4 Elemental dolls.  I intend to make plain calico cloth dolls, but each will have the Elemental colours, and any symbols I can find.  For example different coloured hair and clothing, with appropriate buttons and charms sewn onto the clothing.

Pagan Clothing and Accessories
Often you can find childrens clothing with a star design.  If you make your own, you could include Star buttons or embroidery for protection. If you are Pagan and Proud, and out of the broom closet, you can decorate bibs etc. with pentagram or Goddess Symbol designs. 

I made a polar fleece blanket for my baby to be wrapped in once born, and decorated it with a Pentagram.  I got a metre of Polar fleece and about half a metre of black cotton and iron on interfacing.  I used my computer to print out a pentacle design, and transferred this to the cotton fabric, and cut out the design.  Then I used the interfacing to stick it to the polar fleece, and did a small zigzag stitch around all the pentagram edges to finish it off nicely.  Then I folded it in half so the fluffy side was on both sides of the blanket (makes a small bunny rug size) and all the stitching was hidden, then used a blanket stitch to sew them together.  When she was a newborn it made a great bunny rug, and how she is older, it is a great dolls rug.  You could use it as a wall hanging once the baby has outgrown it.