Cloth Diapering a Newborn with Wool

After months of scraping, spraying, rinsing and soaking toddler cloth diapers and overcoming the tremendous challenges of potty training, I had forgotten how much I enjoyed cloth diapering a newborn.  I welcomed the simplicity of a diaper that requires nothing… extra, other than the sheer joy of gazing into my sweet newborn’s face while putting a fresh diaper in place.

When our first son was born, we had not yet discovered the joys of using wool full-time, hence the great struggle with stinky polyester covers that never seemed to breathe enough to keep the diaper rash away.

This time, everything is different, and I am thrilled to report that it is entirely possible to use wool full-time, even on a tiny newborn.  Cloth diapering a newborn with wool covers does require some preparation and planning ahead to be sure that you have the right supplies on hand, so we have compiled a few tips to make it as easy as possible.

Fitted, sized diapers will make your life a lot easier when using wool on a newborn.  You will need approximately 2 or 3 dozen fitted, organic cotton diapers in a newborn size.  If you plan on using cloth full-time for your newborn, it’s not a bad idea to invest in newborn, sized fitted diapers, such as the Organic Caboose newborn fitteds or the OsoCozy fitteds, as opposed to a one-size diaper.  You can certainly use a one-size fitted diaper, but we have yet to find a one-size diaper that actually fits a newborn baby, so unless you want a diaper that is so gigantic that your tiny baby can hardly move, it will be well worth the money spent.  Plus, newborn sized fitted diapers typically fit babies between around 7 and 13 lbs, so your baby can wear them for at least a few months.  Compare this to the cost of buying a package of disposables every week, and your savings are big.

Photo courtesy of Organic Caboose

Tie nappies are great for newborns, but with wool covers, they work best only if you have become quite skilled at tying them so that there are no gaps at the legs (to avoid messes inside of your wool cover)

We suggest fitted diapers for newborns because of the notoriously explosive newborn poo!  We love prefolds, flats, and tie nappies, but if you want to use wool full-time on a newborn, you may quickly tire of rinsing out stained wool covers, which must be hand washed.  Fitted diapers are much more effective at containing the orange explosions—far better, in fact than disposable diapers, from which newborn poo inevitably finds an escape route and ends up all over the blankets, clothes, and anything else that was just cleaned.

Wool soakers and newborn babies are a match made in heaven. We love wool soakers for newborns for so many reasons- organic, soft, warm natural fibers keep your baby just the right temperature, warm and dry, and they can wear them all the time!  With so much time spent at home just cuddling and loving, your newborn can wear his or her soaker on its own or underneath loose clothing and stay comfy and warm.  There is really no need for separate day/night covers when using wool full-time on a newborn.  The soft wool envelops their tiny bodies, rising up to the chest to keep their mid-sections warm, and the long legs of the soaker fits a newborn like a little pair of pants, keeping those tiny legs just the right temperature too.  With a fitted diaper underneath, your wool should stay clean enough to require very little washing, which is always a relief for a new mother.  A wool soaker that has been lanolized properly will keep your little one’s clothing and bed dry at night time as well.  If your budget is small, purchase a wool soaker one or two sizes up, which will fit big right now but can be used for many months, if not years.

Another type of wool cover that we adore for our newborn are the lightweight, Engel nappy pants.  Lightweight, breathable, and comfy, these little wool shorts will keep your newborn dry just long enough for you to know it’s time for a diaper change.  Since frequent changing is ideal for sensitive newborn skin anyway and helps prevent diaper rashes, the nappy pants offer just the right amount of protection.

Prep your wool covers in advance!!!  This means before baby arrives, not after.  This must be part of your nesting duties.  If you wait until after your baby arrives, weeks will pass before you have any desire to stand over a sink lanolizing and washing wool covers, so unless you have a family member who loves you enough to do it for you, prep your wool while you’re still pregnant!

This means washing and lanolizing brand new soakers several times, and allowing for a few days of drying time.  This also means prepping your cloth diapers if they are brand new- remember that cloth diapers made from natural fibers must be washed in hot water 3-5 times before they are ready for use. Do not skip these steps and attempt to put a brand new cloth diaper with an unwashed wool soaker on your newborn because you’re anxious to try them out. Skipping this important step will result in lots of leakage.

Have a wool wash bar on hand for spot cleaning.  Despite your best efforts and a stash of fitted diapers that fit your baby well, there will be times when your wool gets messy.  As a new mom, protect yourself and respect those first few precious weeks of recovering from childbirth and bonding with your baby- the last thing you should be doing is washing your wool.  With a wool wash bar, you can easily rinse out stains and rub a little soap onto the stain in less than 2 minutes, set the wool aside to dry, and by the end of the day, your cover will be good as new!  This is a great job to delegate to husbands and other family members who can offer a helping hand.

Most importantly, make sure that cloth diapering is enjoyable for you and your new baby!  If it’s too much, give yourself a break and use disposables for the first few weeks.  We moms have enough mom guilt for the rest of our babies’ lives to stress over extra laundry when we should be resting, so if you don’t have someone doing laundry for you, don’t do cloth, and don’t beat yourself up over it!  Spend every minute you have resting and cuddling with your precious new baby.  Bringing a baby into the world is hard work, and you have earned every minute of this babymoon.

Woolens for Babies During Wintertime

It’s Woolen Season! In this article: 

• The Benefits of Woolen Underwear for Babies & Children
• Which woolens are best for underwear?
• What other wool garments are good for babies for winter?

As the cooler months approach, wool is flying off of our shelves faster than we can keep up with it.  And it’s no wonder- wool is nature’s perfect fiber to bundle up your baby for the winter months.  Wool booties, wool hats, wool sweaters, wool leggings, wool overalls, wool mittens, wool blankets, wool diaper covers… and a well-kept secret, wool underwear. There is no better way to keep your baby at a perfect, consistent temperature while playing outside in the cold and snow, going for walks, hiking and camping, riding in the stroller, sleeping…and just about anywhere!

Woolen Underwear for Babies & Children: The BenefitsWhile there’s nothing like a cozy wool sweater, hat, or jacket for playing outside in chilly weather, it can be easy to overlook the tremendous benefits of how your child is dressed underneath her regular clothing.  It’s incredible how much extra warmth is provided by a simple, single-knit wool shirt or pair of leggings.

• Wool is breathable.  Unlike a synthetic long underwear for winter, a high quality wool base layer still allow your child’s skin to breathe, keeping them from overheating or sweating.  This is excellent for newborn babies who are unable to regulate their internal temperature or let us know when they feel too hot or too cold. This also makes wool excellent for sleeping- babies sleep comfortably in wool, as their skin can breathe and they are not exposed to synthetic materials, which are not breathable and can easily cause overheating.
• Wool is temperature-regulating:   Woolen underwear are wonderful for those crisp fall days when the weather could turn any way the wind blows.  If the day is warmer than expected, the temperature regulating properties of wool will prevent your child from overheating.    A lovely single-knit wool shirt or leggings are perfect for use on their own as well when the weather warms up a bit.  For very chilly days, a snug layer of wool or wool/silk blend will keep your child insulated underneath regular clothing.
• Wool is very absorbent:  Wool can absorb up to 40% of its weight In moisture before it will begin to feel wet.  This is extremely beneficial for an underwear layer because if your child is very active and begins to sweat,  the wool will absorb the moisture but will take some time to feel damp, thus keeping your baby feeling warm and dry.   Even when wool becomes wet, since it regulates temperature very well, it does not feel cold.
• Wool is self-cleansing:  Wool has naturally antibacterial properties, so it does not need to be cleaned frequently.  The lanolin that is naturally found in sheep’s wool helps to remove odors as the wool becomes damp.  This is beneficial for underwear layers because your child can wear them again and again, through sweat, urine, and dirt, and you will not need to wash it frequently!

Which woolens are best for underwear?

Single-knit Organic Merino Wool.  A single-knit, pure, 100% organic merino wool shirt and leggings is excellent for underwear during winter, and it is also perfect on its own for spring, fall, and even for summer camping trips!  Our son wears his pure wool shirt from Engel year-round, and his favorite time to wear it is for summer hiking an camping trips.

Wool/Silk Blends (Single-Knit).  A wool/silk blendis also a lovely choice because these garments have not only the beneficial properties of wool, but also the benefits of silk.  This lightweight, breathable, temperature-regulating fabric  makes an excellent combination with pure organic wool.  This blend keeps your child warm and cozy without overheating, it is easy to clean, and most importantly, these natural fibers are safe for your baby.

Photo courtesy of Living Crafts

Choosing garments that are single-knit as opposed to thicker, double-knit  garments enable you to dress your baby in other clothing over the wool.    You can also dress your baby in a single-knit garment on its own, but they are thin, so while they are wonderful for moderate weather, if the weather is quite cold, it is ideal to add an extra layer over the woolen layer or to dress your baby in a double-knit or thicker, felted wool garment.

What other wool garments are good for babies for winter?

Wool pajamas.  Investing in a high quality pair of footed wool pajamas will allow your child to sleep comfortably year round.  Wool terry pajamas are excellent for the cooler months of the year, as they are slightly thicker without being too hot, and you can still layer a single-knit layer of wool underneath them or add a thick pair of wool socks for the coldest nights.  If your baby does not like sleep sacks and still kicks the blankets off, wool pajamas will keep your baby at just the right temperature without any blankets at all.   For the warmer months, a single-knit pair of wool/silk pajamas is ideal.

photo courtesy of Engel Natur

Boiled Wool Outerwear.  Boiled wool is the warmest wool we have found, making it ideal for outdoor wear during the colder months of the year.  Boiled wool is essentially felted wool.   Water, heat, and friction are used to break up the wool’s structure, resulting in felted wool that is half the original size of the wool in all directions.  During this process, thousands of tiny air bubbles are trapped in the material, which forms an entirely natural barrier against both hot and cold temperatures, keeping your baby’s temperature constant even in very cold temperatures.

Photo courtesy of Disana

Boiled wool is soft and light, so it is very comfortable for your child to wear.  Boiled wool protects your child against the cold, is almost entirely windproof, and like all wool garments, helps balance hot and cold temperatures.   The result is a fabric that keeps your baby warm and dry while allowing your baby’s skin to breathe.

The Perfect Summertime Wool Cover: Engel Nappy Pants

At first glance, these thin, single-knit, nearly transparent wool shorts are a little perplexing.  How can something so thin function as a diaper cover?  But after your baby has pushed these nappy pants to their limit, you’ll realize why they are worth every penny.  For hot summer days, there is simply nothing better for keeping your baby comfortable.

Why we love them:

They pull on like shorts.  What’s not to love about that?  You will especially love this feature when your baby has graduated from the phase of lying calmly on the changing table and entered the phase of wildly twisting, kicking, running all over the house, resisting the diaper change.  Just pull on those shorts and you’re good to go, before your baby even knows what happened.

They are trim!  These are by far the trimmest diaper cover we have found.  This holds true for both PUL and wool covers.  When your baby wears these, they fit like a pair of underwear.   Trimness can be a lovely breath of fresh air for cloth diapering parents, especially when you’re trying to fit your baby into that one pair of pants you love so much but just never seems to fit over a cloth diaper…

They are breathable.  This is so important when cloth diapering, especially during the hot summer, and this lovely, lightweight wool exceeds all expectations in the breathability department.  A breathable wool cover helps with diaper rash problems and eliminates the concern for your baby overheating.

They are just the right thickness to encourage more frequent diaper changes.   Nappy pants are thick enough to keep your baby dry for short periods of time, but they are just thin enough that there is no question about when your baby needs to be changed.  They typically start feeling damp on the outside after one or two pees, thereby encouraging frequent diaper changes.   Why is this a good thing?  It is much healthier for your baby to be changed more often.   This is the way it should be, all the time.  What baby wants to sit in a urine-soaked diaper for hours on end?  Babies should be changed every 1-2 hours on average, and most babies pee once or twice in a 2 hour period.  The timing is perfect.   This is also fabulous for parents who practice EC (or for potty training).

They do not itch.  If you are having doubts about wool due to a dislike for itchy wool or suspected wool allergies, we recommend trying organic wool.  Organic wool is the softest wool you’ll ever touch, and it absolutely does not itch.  Often, wool allergies are caused by pesticide residues or residues from other chemical treatments found in conventional wool.   Organically raised sheep are not treated with synthetic pesticides, so the concern for pesticide residues is drastically reduced.

They are 100% organic & natural.  Engel’s nappy pants are made from 100% pure, certified organic wool.  It’s a wonderful feeling knowing that only natural fibers are touching your baby’s skin, especially when it works as a diaper cover too.

They are easy to clean.  Like any wool cover, the nappy pants do not need to be laundered frequently.  You really don’t need to clean them until they start smelling of urine (this can take a while!) or become soiled, as long as you air them out between each use.  If they are soiled in just one area, spot cleaning with a wool wash bar does wonders, and a full laundering can wait until necessary.    Also, since they are so thin, washing them is easy and quick, and they dry faster than most wool covers.

They are perfect for summer time.   These are by far the BEST wool covers for hot summer days that we have found.    In our home, we continue using wool year round, and we don’t usually have any problems with wool being too hot since wool regulates temperature exceptionally well, but our baby lives in his nappy pants during summer.  He runs around at home wearing nothing but a fitted diaper and his nappy pants, and they are truly the most lightweight, breathable, and comfy little wool shorts imaginable.

They aren’t just for cloth- they are great for using over disposable diapers too.   Even if you use disposable diapers, nappy pants are excellent to have on hand.  For nights, disposables are notorious for soaking through, and an excellent way to curb that is by using nappy pants over a disposable.  The nappy pants provide just enough wool to keep your baby dry if the disposable diaper does soak through.  The wool will absorb the moisture before your baby’s clothing does.  They are so trim that neither you nor your baby will notice a difference while wearing them over a regular diaper.

As you can see, we love these little wool shorts!  Have you tried the Engel Nappy Pants on your baby?  If so, we would love to hear about your experience.

Keep Your Baby Cool in Summertime with Organic Silk

During the heat of the summer, particularly during an exceptionally scorching summer such as this one, new parents often struggle to find appropriate clothing for their newborn baby.  The dilemma is this: how do we find clothing that will keep our babies at a comfortable temperature under the heat of the sun without exposing their delicate skin to the sun’s damaging UV rays?

Silk is one of the best natural fibers for keeping babies comfortable without overheating.  Lightweight, delicate, and incredibly breathable, babies can wear an organic silk top in the heat of the summer and feel cool and comfortable.

Take that same silk garment and make every step of its production sustainable, and you simply cannot go wrong when it comes to selecting fabric to dress your little one.  Certified organic silk is a fabric that is not widely available but that is second to none when it comes to delicate newborn skin.  Organic silk is without doubt, one of nature’s most pure and luxurious gifts to a newborn baby.

Why is silk ideal for babies?  

• Silk is gentle and soft, making it ideal for sensitive baby skin, soothing  for those with allergies.
• Silk is absorbent and stays dry.  Silk has the ability to absorb 30% of its weight in moisture while keeping your baby’s skin dry.
• Organic silk is safe for your baby.  Organic silkworms consume only organic mulberry leaves, making the final product free of any residues of harmful chemicals.
• Silk has a excellent thermal capacity.  Silk is temperature-regulating, maintaining a consistent body temperature for your baby, so your baby will not overheat or become cold while wearing silk.  Silk is perfect for any time of year!
• Untreated silk, or ‘raw silk’ has healing properties.   Raw silk has not been degummed, meaning that the natural seracin, or silk gum, has not been removed from the filament.   This type of silk does not have the typical sheen that most people associate with silk, but it is excellent for babies with sensitive skin.  Sericin is said to be healing and anti-inflammatory.
• Silk is lightweight and breathable.   Silk clothing is not bulky, enabling you to keep your baby warm with fewer layers.  It is ideal either on its own year-round or as a base layer during the cooler months of the year. 
• Silk is easy to care for.  Most silk garments may be machine washed up to 86 degrees F and dry very quickly since they do not retain moisture. 

What is organic silk?

Conventional silk is available everywhere, and its production dates back thousands of years, but few people are aware of what is actually involved in the production of this luxurious textile.  We hear a lot about organic cotton these days, but what about organic silk?

The reason there is not much talk of organic silk is that it is very rare.  In fact, there is currently only one site for certified organic silk production in the world.  The first and only certified organic silk farm in the world, SABA (Sichuan Alkena Biodynamic Agricultur), is a biodynamic farm that is certified by the IMO (Institute for Marketecology) in every step of the silk’s production, from the raw material to the fabric dyes and labor conditions.

Located in the Sichuan province of southwestern China, this project is unique in many aspects.  In a world of silk production that involves monoculture, dependence on heavy chemicals, and exploitation of poorly paid laborers, the Sichuan Alkena project is truly a gem in the textile industry.

Silk is a direct product of the silkworm, which eats continuously for approximately 30 days before building its cocoon and spinning its silk thread.  As is true with all natural fibers, the quality of the raw material (the silk cocoon, in this case) is directly related to the quality of the end product.   Essentially, the silk worm is made of mulberry leaves.  Therefore, the quality of the diet of the silkworm itself directly affects the quality of the silk fibers.  A silkworm that eats only organic mulberry leaves will produce a much higher quality silk filament that is free of any harmful pesticide residues.

If the feed does contain harmful substances, the silkworm, a highly sensitive organism, will react directly to such substances.  The silkworm will either perish or will not develop properly and will be at risk to many different types of diseases.  Cocoons produced by diseased silkworms are smaller, spotted, thin-walled and yellow in color instead of the healthy, pearl white color of the healthy cocoons.

A healthy silkworm produces a healthy cocoon, which in turn produces healthy, long filaments that may be endlessly unreeled.   This silk is a much higher quality than silk produced from an unhealthy cocoon.  Lower quality silk filaments are dull in color, which results in an uneven knitted silk fabric, often resulting in chemicals being added during the preliminary coloring stages.  As with any textile production, residues of these harmful substances will remain on the final article of clothing.

Photo courtesy of “mynameisharsha” via Flickr Creative Commons

In the organic silk production on the Sichuan Alkena project, the mulberry trees are grown organically and inter-planted with hundreds of other fruit and over 5000 other plant and tree species that provide nesting sites for birds as well as shade and protection from the wind.  The farm is run using biodynamic farming principles.  The biodiversity found on this project creates a harmonious, thriving ecosystem that mimics nature.

Poor labor conditions and low wages are another major concern in the production of conventional silk.  The labor conditions on the Sichuan Alkena farm are excellent.  The workers enjoy safe working conditions,  a casual and relaxed work environment, no child labor, and fair wages.   Sichuan Alkena’s biologically dynamic cultivation of silk improves environmental conditions, overall living conditions, and requires the need for more manual labor, which has a positive effect on the high level of unemployment among the Chinese countryside populations.

All processes in Sichuan Alkena’s organic silk production, including knitting, weaving, dyeing, printing, and sewing are inspected annually by the IMO and meet the GOTS organic production standards.  All dyes used in Alkena’s organic silk is free of heavy metals, toxins, and AOX.

Alkena’s organic baby collection includes beautiful short and long sleeved tops, trousers, rompers, bonnets, and bodysuits.  What better first outfit for a summertime baby than lovely, pure organic silk?

Organic silk apparel for babies is available for purchase at Little Spruce Organics.

Sources: SABA ((Sichuan Alkena Biodynamic Agricultur)

Organic Cloth Diapering: Getting Started

Exciting as it may be, getting started with cloth can be quite overwhelming.  The variety that exists is exhausting.   If you are familiar with our store, you probably already know how selective we are about our offering of cloth diapers.

We feel so strongly about the importance of natural & organic fibers touching your baby’s skin that we have chosen to offer only cloth diapers made from organic, natural fibers.  This eliminates any concern for artificial materials such as polyester will be in close contact with your baby’s skin.

The best part about all of this is that it makes your cloth diapering decisions much, much easier!  Once you cut out all of the choices that include polyester, the number of choices that remain is substantially smaller and not nearly as overwhelming.  Not only that, but the factors such as quality and health for your baby means that any choice is a good choice.   Now it’s just a matter of narrowing it down to what style you like best, how each diaper fits your baby, and your budget.

The beauty of cloth diapers made from natural fibers is that they are extremely absorbent- each diaper, be it a flat, tie nappy, or fitted, is 100% organic cotton and/or hemp, all of which are incredibly absorbent materials.

Organic Cotton Flats, Prefolds, and Tie Nappies

This category is important because not only is it the most simple and traditional method of cloth diapering, but it is also the most affordable.  As long as you don’t mind spending a little time learning the various folds and styles for using these diapers, you will find that they are easy to use and do the job well.

Flats, prefolds, and tie nappies all have one thing in common: they are comprised of one, flat piece of cotton (or other natural fiber).  This piece of fabric can vary in thickness and layers.  It becomes a diaper when folded directly inside of a diaper cover, folded and fastened with a pin or snappy, or tied onto your baby.  These diapers all require a diaper cover to become waterproof.

Flats are gaining popularity these days, and for good reason.  Flats have been around for years but have been overshadowed by new trendy styles of diapers.  As many parents are realizing the benefits of a completely organic cloth diapering solution, flats are making a comeback and have taken their rightful place in the spotlight once again.

There is a multitude of ways to fold a flat, and we will be featuring an article on folding flats on our blog soon!  The benefit of a flat is that it can last from the newborn stage through the toddler stage.  That’s right- one diaper, one size, cost between $3-$7 per diaper, that will have your baby covered for 2 years.   It’s hard to beat.

A flat will need a cover, of course, and our favorite cover to use with a flat is a wool soaker, wool shorts, or a wool wraparound cover.  At night time you can ‘stuff’ a flat with extra doublers, and you can even layer two flats together, fold and stuff them to increase absorbency at night.

Prefolds are similar to flats, but they can have up to eight layers or cotton sewn together with stitching throughout the diaper and around the edge  that creates absorbent pillows within the diaper.  Prefolds, like flats, require a bit of a learning curve to get down all of the folds, but once you’ve got it, it’s a wonderful diapering solution.  Prefolds are typically sized, so you will need to size up as your baby grows.

Tie nappies are a popular concept in Europe and are gaining popularity in the US these days as well.  Tie nappies are a bit more tricky to get on your baby than a flat or prefold, but once you have the hang of it, you can do it with your eyes closed.  Or in the dark, at 4 am, on a squirming toddler.  It can be done!

Tie nappies are wonderful because they require no snappior pin at all (this makes life a lot easier if your snappis have a tendency to run off and hide at that exact moment when you need them).  You simply fold, wrap around your baby, and tie with the cotton strings.  These diapers are as absorbent as you want them to be- to make them more absorbent, you simply stuff them with extra layers, which can be a prefold, a brushed cotton liner, any type of doubler, or combination of any of these.

The cuteness factor of the tie nappy tempts many a mama, and most mamas fall in love all too quickly with the tie nappy.  A favorite in our household, we use tie nappies on our son day and night.

Organic Fitted Diapers

The fitted diaper resembles a disposable diaper more, as it has been sewn into the shape of a diaper, typically featuring gussets around the legs and waist, hidden elastic at the waist, and some type of closure, usually either snaps, Velcro, or nothing at all (requiring the use of pins or snappis).

Many fitted diapers consist of multiple absorbent layers of fabric as well as extra inserts or doublers either sewn or snapped in, giving you the option of adding or removing absorbency as needed.   Fitted diapers are available in various sizes or one-size.    All fitted diapers require a cover to become waterproof.

Both convenience and absorbency are the main benefits of fitted diaper.  Fitted diapers can be quite thick, and since the entire diaper is made from an absorbent, natural fiber, every inch of the diaper will absorb moisture.  Fitted diapers paired with a wool soaker are an excellent night time diapering solution.  

How many cloth diapers to buy?

Generally speaking, you will need around 12-24 cloth diapers (depending on the age of your baby and frequency of changing) and 3-4 wool covers (if you’re planning to use only wool).   A good rule of thumb when you’re just getting started is to purchase a small sampling of various types of diapers so that you can get a good feel for what works best on your baby before investing in an entire stash of just one style of diaper.

Recipes from the Garden: Pasta with Kale Sauce

We planted kale in our garden with no clear culinary objectives.  It found its place in our garden primarily due to the fact that it seemed relatively easy to grow and could potentially withstand the winter.

This gorgeous plant, with its deeply veined, dark green leaves elegantly curving in some misshapen yet entirely perfect way, has proven itself as a staple in out winter kitchen again and again.  We have all fallen in love with kale and are thrilled to discover that there even exists a perennial variety of kale which will take root in our garden permanently, if all goes according to plan.

Kale has surprised us in many ways, but above all we have been amazed with its versatility.  We have tried kale in many ways, from baking it into crispy chips to sautéing it into limp nothingness, taking away all of its glorious raw form.  We have crunched on raw kale in salads and blended kale into green smoothies to mask its strong flavor from certain harder-to-please family members.  And recently, I have discovered the magic that is throwing kale into a blender and making a creamy bright sauce that is delicious over pasta.

As a mother in search of quick yet nutritious meals, this has quickly become my go-to way of preparing kale.  Kale sauce may not sound appetizing, but its depth of flavor, creaminess, and bright green color is enough to convince even the most steadfast doubters of the wonders of kale.

Making sauce out of kale, not unlike making a kale smoothie with various fruits, has given us an easy way to incorporate this green veggie that is loaded with nutrients, into our toddler’s diet.

That being said, he was full of surprises today… (aren’t they always?!) and enthusiastically displayed his new-found love for devouring kale…raw.   Perhaps I don’t need to spend all this time cooking, after all.

Pasta with Kale Sauce (Adapted from this recipe)

Kale Sauce
4 cloves of garlic
4 shallots
1 bunch of kale, stalks removed (I didn’t bother with removing the stalks)
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup (2 oz)  goat cheese (feta or ricotta are delicious substitutes)
Fresh lemon juice, to taste
¼ cup sliced almonds (optional)
Salt & pepper, to taste
1 lb dried pasta (any smallish type of pasta works well)
¼ cup of pasta water, reserved

The original recipe suggests to blanch the shallots, garlic, and kale before making the sauce, but when I make a pureed sauce, I am a big proponent of throwing everything into the blender raw (this will work if you have a powerful enough blender or food processor).  I love the strong bite of raw garlic and prefer to preserve the nutritional value of all ingredients whenever possible.  If you choose to blanch the veggies, just boil and generously salt the water you will use to cook your pasta and drop them in for a minute or two before cooking the pasta (I love this method of blanching kale- so simple!).

Prepare your pasta according to the package directions, reserving some pasta water.  Combine the garlic, shallots, kale, cheese, olive oil, and almonds, if using,  in your blender or food processor and puree.  Add lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste.  Add pasta water as needed to create the desired consistency.

Combine sauce with cooked pasta in a heavy pot over medium heat.  Add pasta water in small amounts as needed to help the sauce become more ‘saucy’ and adhere to the pasta.  Serve topped with slivered almonds, drizzled with olive oil, and sprinkled with goat or feta cheese.

A Homemade Learning Tower to Nurture the Senses

The kitchen for me has always been the most important room of every home in which I have resided.  The center of so many activities, it embodies warmth, love, nourishment, and now, for my son, a place for learning.

We stand together in the kitchen, side by side.  I carefully chop onions while he “chops” cloves of garlic with his wooden spoon and cutting board.   We assemble the dish together.   He pours the ingredients into the bowl.  He mixes.  He improvises.  He adds a little salt here and there, perhaps where salt didn’t really belong.  But that doesn’t matter.

He dances with joy when he sees what we have created.  I no longer feel the need to explain to him every step of what I’m doing, filling the silence with meaningless words as he tugs at my leg from below, desperately curious to understand the mystery that takes place above him at the kitchen counter.  Now we experience this magic together, in the silence, and our experience is shared.

This type of experience has become routine for my inquisitive toddler and me, and the one component that has made this possible is a simple, homemade structure that now stands in our kitchen.  This is what is known as a “learning tower,” very appropriately named.

Every parent becomes well aware during the early years of their children’s lives that young children learn a great deal through imitation.  As a parent, it is truly incredible to experience this phenomenon on a daily basis.

There is simply no better way for your curious toddler to learn than by observing you and helping you with your daily activities, especially when it comes to chores around the house and preparing food in the kitchen.

This wooden tower has created an environment that nurture his every sense.  He watches, tastes, listens, smells, touches, mimics, and explores.

A few minutes spent observing a child in this setting undoubtedly proves that this experience is so much more valuable than plopping a child in front of a lifeless TV screen while you prepare dinner.

Rather than finding another activity to keep your child busy, finding a way to involve your child in household chores is incredibly rewarding for both parent and child.  This is one of the most essential and powerful tools in a child’s development, and it is truly the easiest form of involvement and ‘education’ he can have at this stage in his life.

We are peacefully engaged in these activities together.   I do, he observes, he mimics, and we do together what must be done.

I will confess, preparing dinner takes a little longer this way.  But since he and I are engaged in dinner preparation together, I don’t consider it time wasted.  In fact, this is some of the most cherished and valuable time we have together each day.