Heidi is currently recovering from a nasty cough and has a few pesky teeth pushing at her gum-line. It’s definitely been a tough few weeks for both children, but poor Heidi has had to cope without mummy as I’ve been on hospital duty with an even more poorly bronchitis-ridden Dexter. As if this wasn’t enough, being force-fed a mixture of pain killers and antibiotics these past few days have given my adorable daughter what we lovingly refer to as Baboon-Bum.

Now I’m back, all three of us have had endless cuddles. Dex is smiling, running around and causing chaos once again (albeit, a good few lbs lighter), but Heidi is still really suffering with an increasingly sore posterior and inflamed gums.

Spotting our troubles on Twitter, the seriously lovely folks at Bebe Loco sent us a few organic goodies to pamper Heidi with. Given I’m seeing these guys, and countless other local businesses at the BabyExpo Berkshire tomorrow (Reading, Rivermead Sports Centre), I wanted to make a real fuss of them and their beautiful collection of mum and baby essentials; all of which are fair-trade, organic and ethically-produced. I’m beyond thrilled to partner with a business that holds all the same core values as I do.

Just a few of my favourite things…

Babylonia BB Sling (in Blue Bell) £55.95 / Pebble Fair Trade 100% Cotton Blanket (in Pastel Rainbow) £33.00 / Peppa Comfort Buddies (Assorted) £11.99 each / Piccalilly Organic Cotton Baby Bundler Nightgown (in Funky Floral Print) £20.00 / Pigeon Organics Romper (In Elephant Silhouette) £20.70 / PUL birth to potty nappy with rayon insert (in Animal Print) £12.99 / Pebble Frog Hat £14.00 / Earth Mama C-Mama Healing Salve £34.95 / Peppa Cuddly Woodland Friends (Felix Fox) £24.99

So what were we sent?

First up was a lovely big pot of Celtic Herbal Nappy Cream. With Chamomile and Calendula this is the consistency of beeswax and smells absolutely heavenly. Crammed full of pure natural vegetable oils and carefully blended Chamomile and Calendula essential oils, there are no nasties whatsoever in this cream. Simply put, it’s a soothing and 100% natural barrier cream to fall back on when Sudocrem just isn’t doing the job.

During this time when antibiotics and teething are doing extraordinary things to her nappies (I’ll leave it at that) - she’s in a constant state of discomfort and sleeps with her bum held high in the air to minimise rubbing and chaffing whilst she rests. It’s heartbreaking really as she’s usually such a happy soul. I’ve found this cream delivers a long-lasting burst of moisture to her damaged skin and stops her nappy sticking to her bum and worsening the irritation. Much like Vaseline, her skin remains supple and lubricated until the next change.

Sure, sometimes she’ll need the antiseptic properties of Sudocrem to bring down the inflammation, but I know Heidi hates it. When we pop this on to her bum instead, she smiles so I know it’s mild, gentle and refreshing for her. The mix of chamomile, calendula, Vitamin E, sweet almond oil and coconut oil is calming and soothing and the redness has certainly eased since using it.

Not limited to bums, I’m also popping it on particularly sore-looking spots of eczema on her body, and cuts on her face whilst she’s clawing at her mouth. It’s also great for minor burns and cuts for the rest of the family.

At just £6.50 for a huge pot, it’s very hard to argue that this doesn’t deserve a spot in baby’s change bag. You can buy yours from Bebe Loco HERE.

Next up, the Celtic Herbal Baby Massage Oil is just as mild on baby’s skin. It’s one of the most simple, uncomplicated and understated massage oils I’ve come across on the baby skincare market, relying on common sense and quality organic ingredients to suit the most sensitive of skin.

An infusion of sweet almond oil, calendula, mandarin, lavender and chamomile is a wonderfully indulgent mix of calming essential oils to relax baby during times of stress. These ingredients have been carefully selected for their homeopathic properties; Lavender has long been regarded as a sleep aid, and chamomile is great for relieving anxieties and calming troubled tummies. Throw in moisturising sweet almond, and calendula to soothe the skin and baby will smell delicious and stay perfectly hydrated until the morning.

Nightly massage is also a great bonding experience for mum and baby and one I wholeheartedly endorse. Given poor Heidi is so poorly at the moment, our nighttime regime has taken on even more importance. She knows that her mummy is there and aware of her pain, and takes real comfort in just having me lavish her with attention. Massaging with such a yummy oil is prolonging her fragmented sleep and letting me recover in-between the bouts of terrified screaming too.

Priced at a very reasonable £8, you can buy yours at Bebe Loco HERE.

To see more of this very special eco-baby collection, head to BebeLoco.co.uk or say hello on Twitter and Facebook. Oh and to see the tots and I, and experience the quality of Bebe Loco’s products up close and personal (and grab 10% off everything!), head down to Reading for the BabyExpo this weekend!