Tommee Tippee: #Truth Is Parenting In The Dark

There may be days that you feel like you’re in the dark when it comes to parenting, whether it’s feeding, sleeping, changing or weaning, Tommee Tippee can lighten up the load and help you get the support and tools you need to do it your way. Navigating through power outages can be overwhelming, especially when you've got a little one to take care of. Tommee Tippee has put together some nifty lifesaving tips and tricks that will help you overcome some of those dark eishkom moments!

Loadshedding Tommee Tipps

Keep informed: Keep yourself updated on the load shedding schedule provided by Eskom or the local apps available, so that you can plan ahead. This will allow you to plan as far as you can. If you know you’ll be out during “chaos” hour, get all the changing, feeding and bath time essentials prepped and ready in advance, so that you can ensure your daily routine is on track.  A fun candle-lit bath before the water in the taps run lukewarm or cold could be calming and relaxing for both you and your little one.

Invest in backup power: This can keep your essential appliances and devices running, like your baby monitor or breast pump. 

Did you know that Tommee Tippee  electric breast pumps (both the single and double) are powered by a lightweight, USB rechargeable power unit? This means that once you’ve charged them fully, they give you over 120 minutes of cord-free pump time.

When it’s the middle of the night and you’re in the dark, the LED screen on Tommee Tippee single and double pumps lets you see how long you’ve been expressing for.

Save energy: Reduce your energy consumption by turning off lights and appliances when not in use and switch to energy-efficient appliances. In the event that you may not have an electric breast pump, Tommee Tippee manual and silicone pumps are the answer. Our silicone pump is a three-in-one design: use as a pump, as a let-down catcher or to provide relief to engorged breasts. It’s gentle on you, with a gentle suction pump that helps draw milk from breasts. Tommee Tippee manual breast pump needs no electricity. With its ergonomic design, specially shaped to fit women’s hands, it’s super quiet, compact and discreet enough to use anywhere.

Keeping things warm when there's no hot water

One way to keep water warm for infant feeding during loadshedding is to use an insulated flask or thermos to store the water. Fill the flask with hot water before loadshedding starts and it will stay warm for several hours.

Tommee Tippee insulated bottle carrier securely stores bottles and is portable and convenient, and has excellent thermal properties. The insulated bottle bags are designed to keep warm water warm so it’s the perfect temperature for your baby even during those moments when you’re not able to warm your babies feed. Packed as a pair, you have the option to keep one bag hot and one bag cold, so you always have baby’s feed at the right temperature when you need it.

The Closer to Nature Portable Travel Baby Bottle and Food Warmer from Tommee Tippee allows you to warm your baby’s feed to the perfect temperature. It requires no external heating source, nor electricity and is a convenient and fuss-free way to heat baby bottles and baby food. It heats everything from breast milk or formula to baby food in jars or pouches. It’s compact enough to fit in your baby’s changing bag so you’re able to heat feeds anywhere, anytime. The stainless steel, thermal insulated flask safely stores hot water and keeps it hot so it’s ready to heat your baby’s next feed.

When you're on the clock to feed baby at Stage 2 and it switches up to Stage 5.

Be mindful of water: Make sure to store enough water for cooking and hygiene as the supply of water may be affected by the power cuts. Consider using alternative cooking methods like gas stoves and portable electric cookers to prepare food during power cuts.

As the stages of loadshedding increase when the grid is overloaded, it’s worth considering using our Quick Cook Steamer Blender, which steams and blends baby food in 15 minutes. Good to know when you’ve got no time to spare in-between stages 5 and 6, 7 and 8.  If it’s a bottle you need to prep then look at the Perfect Prep. There’s no more waiting around for the kettle to boil and for the water to cool. This dream machine delivers a fresh baby feed at body temperature in just two minutes - 10x faster than using a kettle!   

Cold night made warm with no power needed

As the days get shorter and chillier, finding a way to keep baby warm when the lights are out does not need to be challenging. The best way to keep baby warm on cold nights during loadshedding is to layer up their clothing. A baby sleeping bag can keep your little one warm and snuggly. Lots of parents choose to dress their baby in a sleeping bag instead of using blankets or sheets which can pose a risk of suffocation and overheating. If you are wanting to use a blanket, make sure it's not tucked in higher than their shoulders and that they're in the "feet to foot" position, with their feet at the end of their cot.

Make sure the baby's cot is away from drafty windows and doors.

Remember not to put a hat on them when they’re indoors, as their head is important for maintaining their body temperature by releasing heat.

Reasons why you should consider a sleepbag:

1. They help baby regulate a constant temperature.

2. Your baby can move around in the bag but still stay covered and cosy. There is no need for blankets or covers that baby could kick off or get tangled up in.

3. A sleepbag can promote good sleep and become part of your little one's bedtime routine.

Swaddling your newborn can keep your little one warm during the first few months when their ability to regulate their own body temperature is still developing.  To make sure that your little one is comfortable and safe, always ensure that they’re wearing the right TOG for the season. Several factors determine which TOG rating should be used. These include the number of layers of clothes your baby is wearing, the temperature of their bedroom and your baby's health.

Because all babies are different, we recommend that you check your baby regularly as they sleep by placing your hand on their skin to make sure that they’re not too hot or cold. Don't go by their hands or feet, as they'll often feel cooler.

Take a look at the Tommee Tippee’s simple what-to -wear guide when using the Tommee Tippee Swaddlebag .