Not Exactly Rocket Science

You know that old chestnut about never being more than six feet away from a rat if you live in London? Well, if you're a new parent, the same can be said for muslin squares.
On being advised to buy loads of them in preparation for Oscar's arrival, I was a bit confused by the obsession that mums and dads seem to have with these simple bits of cloth. I now, however, have discovered the true benefits of them: they're essential for mopping up baby sick (which suddenly switches to technicolour when you start on solids). I have been known to get a couple of miles from home before realising I still have one casually draped over my shoulder. But they have a multitude of other uses: when rolled up they make a great head support for use when transporting a buggy over rough ground, as a sunscreen, a comfort blanket or a teething toy for a ratty infant, and even as an emergency nappy.
In fact, simplicity seems to be the key as far as baby things are concerned. Despite the deluge of bleeping flashing plastic toys on the market, Oscar seems to appreciate the most pared-down of objects the most. Some of his favourites include a fleecey blanket with ribbon tags around it, a soft book and some building blocks, although he seems just as happy to play with a scrunched-up piece of paper or a spoon. Actually, his absolute favourite toy at the moment is a freshly-pulled clump of my hair (which is why I'm having it cut off this afternoon).
Now we have found some re-usable nappies that fit Oscar well (Bambino Mio's for those who are interested), we haven't had a single leak from them, whereas the Huggies we've been using at night end up soaking him right through. Yes, that's right, a simple cotton square is doing the job far better than a highly over-engineered, environmentally unfriendly disposable. Hurray for simplicity.