The New Cub brings together the very best in skin, hair, and healthcare for baby, child, and mother. This online store is aimed at parents looking to save time when it comes to searching for non-toxic products to use on their little ones.
Founded in June 2021 by new mother Kirsty White when she realized how much time she had spent searching for natural, non-toxic products to use during pregnancy, and then again, once her daughter was born. Wanting to explore more of what was available than just the big name players in the industry, Kirsty discovered a number of independent brands including Mini Bloom who specialize in science-backed, family-focused natural ingredients.
The New Cub has a wide range of leading and independent brands in the wellness space, including mother and baby skincare, hair care, and supplements. Everything from gentle shampoos for all hair types to massage oils containing natural organic ingredients like sunflower seed oil, calendula, and roman chamomile.
Their hassle-free “Cub Edits” are a selection of carefully curated boxes for those looking to try a a rotation of new brands. (They also make for the perfect baby shower gift!)
What is the self-care practice you do to maintain balance?
As a trained yoga teacher I always go back to my yoga practice and meditation. Having studied the art of breathing, I find this is a great tool for calming my mind and regaining focus whenever I feel out of step with myself. With a small baby it’s not always easy to do gym workouts (which used to be my go-to), so now I just get on my mat, close my eyes, take a few minutes to pause, breath, and have a great stretch!
What is the one lesson you’ve learned that you’ll pass along to your kids?
Ah, just one lesson? To choose just one it would have to be this: Sometimes you have to let people down to be happy. Your self love must always be stronger than your desire to be loved by others.
What excites you most about being a mother?
Not needing an excuse to be silly and enjoying the world through the eyes of a child. Children have a completely different perspective. Already the way my 6-month-old daughter gazes up at the trees has given me a new appreciation for the simple beauty that is nature.
Tell us about your child’s name? Is there a special meaning behind it?
My daughter's name is a twist on the spelling of the flower Dahlia. Shortly before she was born we discovered the flower Dahlia is actually pronounced Day-lia in the UK. We weren’t fans of her name being said in this way so we changed the spelling. Hers is spelt Dhalia which means strong branch.
What has surprised you most about pregnancy?
There is this whole secret world waiting to be entered and only when you become pregnant / become a mother do you truly understand it. I thought I knew and had a good understanding of it before becoming pregnant but now I realize I had no idea!
How has life changed for you since becoming a mother?
No more lie-ins! I also no longer sweat the small things and only focus on controlling the controllable, which is an amazing change for me. I find I have more mental clarity and manage to somehow get a lot more done than I ever have before.
What is the best / most useful piece of advice you’ve received about being a mother? How have you incorporated it into your life?
That it is unrealistic to try to do everything. This is often a difficult one to accept because I feel there is a lot of pressure on mothers to juggle a million-and-one things and still appear together because of the societal rhetoric that: “We are women. We are multitaskers. It’s what we do!”
I aim to do at least one thing for myself every day and set no more than five realistic expectations of what I would like to achieve each week. This way I am not putting pressure on myself to complete a daily list of never-ending tasks.
Have you ever been mom-shamed? How did you handle it?
Sadly I have, in a supermarket car park. My daughter had a nappy disaster in the car and needed to be changed right then and there. The only way I could quickly sort the situation was by changing her on the back seat of the car. The car door was open and while I was changing my daughter a lady walked by and shook her head at me, then proceeded to tell me my child will catch a cold. At the time I didn’t say anything but looking back I wish I had told her that comments like that are very unhelpful.
What are you eating these days?
I always start my day with a bowl of porridge and chia seeds. Most of the time I try to eat a variety of foods ensuring I have a good amount of protein such as eggs, lentils, and chicken, especially at lunch to get me through the rest of the day.
What was the inspiration for starting The New Cub?
Having searched for the best and safest products to use during and after my pregnancy I came across lots of great brands online and also through recommendations from friends and family. I would spend hours visiting all of the different websites and blogs / forums reading about each product but never managing to buy anything. What I really needed was a single, trusted website that sold all of these great brands under one roof, along with real life reviews and research that allowed me to select, read, and purchase the products in one place. It would’ve saved me heaps of time (that I really didn’t have when my daughter was born) so hopefully I can help other new parents save time in finding the right products to use on them and their little cubs.
