I’ve just spent the day washing and drying bedding. Got two babes toileting so you can imagine the chaos and associated washing! Here are some tips that I hope you find useful!
For a start, make sure its your baby that is leading and is ready. I’m not the only one thats tried to instigate or rush the process faster than the babe wants to go – completely on accident, I didnt set out to push them! But take a step back and let your child do it! I swear its easier and faster and lots of mums agree with me!
Then grab a couple of Brolly Sheets – I got mine from thesleepstore.co.nz – Louise and her team are really helpful and friendly and if you havent already discovered their site, you’re going to love it! Loads of info and products and books – very cool!
Anyway, get the set of two Brolly Sheets as its a little cheaper. (I’ve got four since I have the two kids so close together). They are worth their weight in gold. There is no plastic and PVC so they’re safe for babe’s beds, they’re so easy to wash and dry and you wont believe how waterproof they are – no kidding – they’re absolutely amazing!
Finally, abandon all your traditions and rotuines about bed-making!!! You want to have as little additional washing as possible so change the way you do things. For example, treat your duvet cover as a bedspread – pull it off the bed at nighttime so it doesnt get wet. The more you wash and dry something, the more it fades and wears, and if you’re like me, you would have a duvet cover that matches your baby’s bedroom (one of my covers was made specially to match the room and the other is beaded and layered and simply gorgeous!).
Instead, use a woolen blanket or other small blanket that can keep your child warm and is easy to wash. I have used the cot blankets with my kids since they’re big enough to cover them up but small enough to wash easy!!
And consider the use of sheets. I have put our top sheets awayas thats just extra washing, and only use a bottom fitted sheet on one bed. For the other child who is in the stage of LOTs of night wetting, we just use the brolly sheet and a top blanket – easy!
Another thing we chose to do was buy each child a new (but cheap-ish) foam mattress. Our intention is to buy a decent mattress when they’re a bit bigger and past this stage. Frankly, it doesnt matter that we have accidents on the mattress – I just put the mattress outside in the sun on each ‘wet’ day and let the sun work its magic – it eliminates smells and stains and dries the whole mattress well and quickly. This has been working well for the last few months and now that its summer its even easier and quicker.
All the mattress protectors, woollen underlays, winter blankets, top sheets and pretty bedding has been tucked away while we go through this phase – thats to make it easier on myself and ease the stress of washing – and it seems to be working!
Good luck! Would love to hear your tips!!
