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THE LATEST NEWS TO HELP YOU with your journey

What new parents need to know about life insurance

Who Needs Life Insurance? Becoming a parent is an exciting, often scary adventure. Long before that happy day, when you get to hold your newborn (and then swiftly hand them over to the nearest grandmother), there’s a lot you need to think about and organise. It’s easy to get caught up—in creating the ultimate, Instagrammable nursery, or squabbling over a name that won’t cause your child a lifetime of teasing—and lose track of your primary role as a parent: to simply provide for your child; both now and in the future. You may have already drawn up a budget with some estimated costs for extra food, housing (if you need a larger space), your child’s daycare, etc. And perhaps you’ve even started putting money away to go towards their future education, which we know isn’t cheap. If so, you’re doing well, but I’d bet good money that you haven’t included life insurance in there. If you’re failing to see why life insurance is relevant to becoming a family, then this article is for you. How can life insurance protect my child? Providing for your child isn’t just about taking care of their current needs; it’s about preparing for their future needs too. Life insurance covers those needs by paying out to your beneficiaries if you die or become disabled. Neither scenario is nice to think about, but not being able to provide for your child or leaving your partner with the financial burden of having to do so alone, is a far less pleasant thought. Who should get insured? Both parents should get insured because, if something happens to either one, the other will have to pick up the slack. This applies to stay-at-home parents just as much as it does to the breadwinners, because you would need to replace their contributions towards childcare and housekeeping with daycare or a housekeeper, and that costs money. Which types of life insurance should you get? There are many different life insurance products out there, which can make choosing the ones that are right for you as new parents quite overwhelming. To protect your new family, you should be looking at products that cover you if you die or if you become disabled. If you die, your debts need to be settled and having a product that pays out a lump-sum amount is a perfect match for this need. You might also want to get cover that replaces a part of the income you would’ve contributed to the household. If you were to become disabled and couldn’t do your job anymore, you’d want your family to continue to flourish with an income protection benefit that pays you a salary for as long as you cannot do your job. How much cover do you need? The right amount of cover depends on you and your situation, and would be influenced by specific details like how much you earn and how much debt you have. Whatever your situation, you need enough life insurance to cover your family’s financial needs. Now, you could calculate this the hard way, or simply get your Indie plan which will show you in under 7 minutes exactly what you need for peace of mind. How much will it cost you? We’ve already established that having a child is expensive, but losing a parent is a financial risk you just can’t afford to take. You pay for insurance on a month-to-month basis, which is called a premium. Your premium will be calculated based on your risk and will take into account how much cover you need, how old you are, your gender, your health, and whether or not you smoke or take part in any dangerous hobbies. If you’re young and healthy, your premiums could be surprisingly low. When should you get it? The good news is, the younger you are when you get insured, the lower your premiums ought to be because you’re likely to be viewed as low risk by the insurer. So it makes a lot of sense to get covered now. Also, with Indie, you have the added bonus of earning Bounty when you get insured, which is money that’s invested for you and grows until you’re 70; so you’ll be covered and investing at the same time. Talk about smart parenting. How do you get it? Traditionally, life insurance is bought through a broker, or partially online with compulsory medical screening thereafter. But between caring for your newborn, trading in the coupé for a station wagon, figuring out how on earth the car seat works, and keeping your career on track, you don’t have time to be running around in search of life insurance. You ought to be able to get it in less time than it takes to watch a “Build Your Own Crib” video and, unlike the crib, it should be instantly ready and unwaveringly reliable. With Indie you can get covered in 6 minutes, so there’s no time like the present. https://www.indiefin.com https://www.facebook.com/indiefin/ https://www.instagram.com/indie_fin/ https://twitter.com/indie_fin

July 6, 2018

Why is reading to your child so important?

As parents, we know that reading a book to our child before bedtime is a good routine to put in place. We also know that after the ‘witching hour’ (feed, bath and bed), our energy levels aren’t at their highest. As a matter of fact, reading a story, sometimes three times in a row at your child’s insistence, is the last thing you want to do. So how important is it that you introduce the concept of reading to a child from a young age? Does it really make a difference in their development? Studies and research say yes. These studies show that early language and literary development start in the first three years of a child’s life. Now this isn’t to say that your toddler should be reading and writing words. This literary development comes in the form of your young child enjoying books being read to them, exploring pictures within those books and the bonding experienced when a parent spends the time reading to them. Reading to your child teaches them all kinds of vital skills. They learn how to physically handle the book and turn pages. It helps increase their concentration and memory. You will find your child pointing to the pictures as you read the words, showing that even at such a young age they have an understanding of the story and recognise different elements and characters. Read to them often enough, and you can even video them babbling along and pretending to read themselves. Still not convinced? Did you know that most children’s books contain 50 percent more unusual or rare words than children’s TV shows, or even college students’ conversations? Which means your child is growing their vocabulary each time you read them a new story. And the better your child’s vocabulary is by the time they reach school going-age, the better chance they have at exceeding in their academic life. Now that you know the importance of reading to your children, where should you start? There are many books out there to choose from. They need to be age appropriate, picture- filled and have a fun story line to follow. Buy books that are soft-covered and small in size – meaning that your tot will be able to handle them with ease.

July 6, 2018

What I learned from my journey through Postnatal Depression…

I’m no stranger to depression. From as far back as I can remember I’ve had bouts of it, some severe, some just dragging out like a rainy British summer. So when I read about PND in a pregnancy book I felt sure that I would recognise it if it hit me. I didn’t. The first time I realised something was wrong I was already on my way to familicide. I was literally loosening the top of the gas bottle where my husband and baby were sleeping peacefully when it occurred to me that this was not normal. The thing is, I didn’t feel depressed. All that was going through my mind was how nice it was going to be to have a really long sleep.Depression in the past for me had always meant crying… And crying… And crying. This was different. It manifested as an underlying irritability. Everything and everyone was annoying. My temper was short and my tongue was vicious. And the layers of guilt piled up high on top of that. The morning after that realisation I called the PND help group. Even then I was fighting to stay off meds. I wanted to be a “good mother” and breast feed for as long as possible. I was told that a good mother is one who is alive to see her child grow up and bottle fed babies grow up too. Too true. And so began my journey to figure out what went wrong and how I could shift this depressive state once and for all. My first glimmer of hope came from a talk I went to by a prominent nutritionist. He spoke about research they had conducted into PND and how the vast majority of cases we’re deficient in omega 3s. This specifically affected vegans and vegetarians. I had been a vegetarian for 20 years. I put myself onto a high dose of omega 3 fish oils (yes, I had to do some soul searching and moral debating first) and I weaned myself off the anti depressants within 6 months. During this time I did further research into PND and found four pervasive factors that contribute to your chances of going down this slippery slope: The first is your perception of the birth. Well I definitely ticked that box. I saw the whole experience as the most traumatic event of my life. I had anger at the midwife for misunderstanding my needs and requests. I had anger at my husband for not having to go through it; for just getting to enjoy the good bits. I had anger at myself for being so traumatised that I was unable to bond with my baby. I had A LOT of emotional processing to do. I set out to acquire the skills to do that. I had no intention of spending years in a psychologists office rehashing the event. I wanted results, and I wanted them yesterday. Babies grow fast and there was one growing up in front of me needing me to be in my best possible state to raise her. The second is your relationship with your mother. Research shows that women with a poor relationship with their own mother have a much higher chance of having a traumatic birthing experience and a higher chance of depression post partum. Tick again. My relationship with my mother was not horrific, more like not there. Again, I set about finding the tools for letting go of the past and any lingering hurt, anger and resentment. What I found was a way not just to understand the past but to actually come to a place of gratitude for everything that has ever happened, even the stuff we label as bad. A life of gratitude is a long way from a life of depression. Number three is the instant and dramatic shift in values that you experience. It is like being kicked out of comfort zone so far that you have no idea what your comfort zone even looks like and no strength to crawl back in it if you did find it. It takes time and patience to form a new one and usually if the shift has been dramatic it means that your kids are coming out somewhere near the new top. The fourth idea I came across much later, and that is the link between depression and fantasies. All depression has its basis in an unfulfilled fantasy and nowhere is a fantasy more thrown in your face than in motherhood. The moving pictures and glossy pages that fill your pregnant world are endowed with images of doting mothers, smiling sweetly down at their breastfed babies. They are not filled with bedraggled mothers wincing in pain as their babies latch into their cracked, bleeding nipples. They show you images of happy families, their white clothes blowing in the breeze as they throw their giggling baby into the air on the beach. They don’t show you the mother who cannot leave the house for fear of leaking through the two boat-sized pads she is wearing to soak up the B-grade horror movies’ worth of blood she’s losing daily. They show you happy families snuggling in bed together doting on their newborn with their hair looking gorgeous and their make up already done. They don’t show you the unshaven husband sleeping in the couch because to his sleep deprived wife his snoring is more like a log than a straw breaking that poor camels back. We get sold a well-meaning lie. The truth is uglier and harsher, but real. And acceptance of reality is one of the cornerstones of emotional well-being. I had to face a lot of ugly messy truths, including the one where I was a less than perfect mother. And that is true. And that is ok. You see what makes me good at what I do is not that I was or ever will be the perfect parent. What makes me good at what I do

July 6, 2018

A balancing act: Developing your child’s vestibular system

The vestibular system is found in the inner ear and responds to head movement and gravity. It connects and organises all other sensory input, contributing to a child’s sense of balance and spatial orientation. Difficulties with vestibular processing and regulation can disrupt everything from gross motor co-ordination and learning to mood and behaviour. Impact on your child’s development The vestibular system works closely with all the other sensory systems to organise and process incoming information about gravity and movement. If you bend down suddenly when holding a new-born, you will notice the baby startle and their arms reach out as if to stop themselves from falling (protective extension). This shows the baby’s developing vestibular system in relation to gravity and space. “One of the most basic of all human relationships is our relationship to the gravitational field of the earth. This relationship is far more primal than the mother-child relationship. Sensory integration of the vestibular system gives us `gravitational security’ – the trust that we are firmly connected to the earth, and will always have a safe place to stand. Children with vestibular processing difficulties do not feel grounded or safe,” says Nicole Katzenellenbogen, Occupational Therapist and Clamber Club Franchisee Trainer. The vestibular system also sends signals to the neural structures that control eye movements, and helps us to understand if we are moving or if an object is moving. “When a child receives correct information from the vestibular, proprioceptive and tactile systems, they are able to feel and understand how their bodies are moving and working without their vision,” says Liz Senior, Occupational Therapist and Founder of Clamber Club. “This also allows for fluid bilateral integration to develop – the ability to use both sides of the body together in a smooth and co-ordinated manner,” she explains. This is necessary for gross motor skills such as hopping and skipping, and for functional skills such as tying shoelaces and cutting. The role of balance “We often take the skill of balance for granted,” says Katzenellenbogen. “Being able to balance is not only about standing on one leg, it is also about carrying a bag and walking at the same time. Balance is dependent on an adequately functioning vestibular system as the sense of movement and gravity is what keeps us upright and helps us understand our relationship to space.” Balance is also dependent on appropriate proprioceptive feedback – our unconscious awareness of our body parts in relation to each other and the environment. Vestibular and proprioceptive impulses also interact to warn the brain of possible injury to the body when it is about to fall. Activities to develop your child’s vestibular system Balance is an important aspect of a child’s development and can be improved by stimulating the vestibular and proprioceptive systems, as well as improving postural control. For babies Vestibular activities: Sitting on a lap and gently bouncing Bouncing on a therapy ball Aeroplane on your legs Swinging in a blanket held by two adults Proprioceptive activities: Massage Tummy time Have baby lie on your legs facing you with her feet on your tummy. Let her kick her hands and push against your body Postural activities: Rolling from tummy to back Teaching baby to reach for her toes Tummy time For toddlers Vestibular activities: Dancing around the room, twirling and spinning Sitting on a lap and playing Horsie-Horsie Swinging in a swing or hammock Proprioceptive activities: Crawling through and over various surfaces Pulling and pushing heavy items Create a crash pad for your child to jump and crash on to For pre-schoolers Vestibular activities: Spinning and running around in circles Holding arms and spinning Swinging in a swing or hammock Merry-go-rounds Proprioceptive activities: Pulling and pushing heavy items Climbing and crawling over various surfaces. Tug of war, wrestling Postural activities: Jungle gyms and free outdoor play Swimming Balance beams

July 6, 2018

Child drowning – a leading cause of childhood death that is entirely preventable

Drowning remains one of the top causes of unnatural childhood death in South Africa and for every child that dies from drowning, five are left with permanent brain damage from the lack of oxygen that occurs in a near-drowning. Manufacturer of the leading child safety pool cover in SA, PowerPlastics Pool Covers, is on a drive to remind parents that drownings are entirely preventable with multiple layers of safety applied to the pool. The PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover and adult supervision at all times should be included in these layers of safety at all times. The PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover offers parental peace of mind as it completely seals off the entire pool. The PVC cover is drawn over strong aluminium batons that rest on the coping, and a tamperproof ratchet fastening system makes it impossible for a small child to access the water. Small drainage holes prevent rain or sprinkler water from collecting on the cover as just a few millimetres of water can be fatal to a curious child. The cover withstands up to 220kg and is easily deployed by two people, or it can be semi-automated for single person usage. “For years we have been educators in pool safety for children and, with our solid safety cover, parents not only get peace of mind, the cover also allows significant savings on water, power and chemicals, unlike alternatives such as nets and fences which still leave the water exposed,” says Carolyn Idas of PowerPlastics Pool Covers. “But a cover only saves lives if it is actually on the pool. Being lazy about re-securing a pool after use is surprisingly common. For this reason, we developed our safety cover so that it is hassle-free and does not require brute force. Next time you ‘can’t be bothered’, consider the alternative which could be a drowning due to negligence.” The PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover is available in a range of colours, allowing it to blend into the outdoor area, or it can be custom printed with photos and graphics for a unique 3D effect. Thermal pool covers or ‘bubble’ covers that lie directly on the water should never be considered as child safety pool covers as they do not bear weight. These covers heat the pool and save water by stopping evaporation but their purpose does not include child safety. “As part of our education in the community, we launched TopStep, the home of pool safety, an educational website with tips and advice on preventing drownings. Aside from covering the pool, every adult in the home needs to know what a drowning in progress actually looks like as TV has created wide misconceptions around this. There is no noise or splashing nor calls for help. Drowning is quick and silent. Visit www.topstep.co.za to learn more about this.” Even if one doesn’t have children, it is still necessary to consider safety for visitors. Families living in residential complexes with a communal pool should insist that their body corporate install a safety pool cover. “The bottom line is that children need to be supervised around pools, and as long as the pool is covered by us and other layers of safety are in place, the likelihood of a tragedy occurring in your pool is greatly reduced.” Learn about the PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover here or email [email protected] Practical tips for pool safety Don’t let your pool’s water levels drop. Keeping the pool topped up allows for small arms to easily grab the edge if needed. For every two children in the pool, have one adult supervising. The more children, the more supervisors needed. Be aware that children’s pool parties are high risk events. For larger groups, give the designated supervisor a bright hat to wear so the children know who to call for help. Turn off fountains and water features. Not only do they waste water and power, they can cause ripples and splashing, making it harder to see when a child has encountered difficulty in the pool or has sunk to the bottom. Ensure that every adult in the home knows CPR, including domestic workers. Never hire a baby sitter or au pair who can’t swim. Don’t let anyone who has been drinking or on sedative medication supervise children in a pool. Don’t leave toys in or near an open pool as children will be tempted to retrieve them. Teach your child to swim fully clothed and with shoes on. If your child develops a fear of water, don’t ignore this – a child who panics is at greater risk of drowning. Never allow swimming after dark. Discourage your dogs from swimming. Children and pets in a pool are not a good mix. Never leave the pool without securing it with your PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover. Never design / build a pool that cannot be secured for child safety. Drowning myths Television has a lot to answer for when it comes to how drowning is portrayed and there are many myths out there. Be aware of the signs and remember that the appearance of a drowning can vary widely. Myth #1: Drowning children will shout for help Drowning children are physiologically unable to call out. The respiratory system is designed for breathing – speech is the secondary function. Drowning children’s mouths alternately sink below and reappear above the surface but while their mouth is above the surface, they need to exhale and inhale before they sink again. There is not enough time to cry out. Myth #2: Drowning children wave their arms to attract attention or will thrash in the water Drowning children cannot wave for help. A person who is drowning cannot perform voluntary movements such as waving or moving towards a rescuer. Envisage the surface of the water as a platform. Someone who is drowning often presses down on the surface and tries to use it as leverage to get their mouth above the water’s surface to breathe. So what the onlooker sees are arm movements that can appear

July 6, 2018

CAM Champion Highchair

Let your little one join in at meal times with the Campion High Chair from CAM. The CAM company from Italy is one of the finest producers of baby furniture in the world, and being forerunners in the industry they have not only the best quality products, but also mastered the art of the aesthetic. Famous for unconventional and always gorgeous enough to not have to store away after meals, the Campion High Chair is one of the products that is now being distributed in South Africa through various retailers. With 6 adjustable heights, a reclining backrest in 4 positions, 3 trays and storage compartments, the Campion is comfort, convenience and functionality all rolled into one easily folded unit. The character-based designs include owl or bear and are designed in easy-on-the-eye colour palettes, making it neutral enough to match most homes. The Campion High Chair is now available at Hamleys stores, selected Kids Emporium stores, Me Mom & Dad in Greenstone, www.takealot.com, www.loot.co.za, www.thebabyzone.co.za and www.purplepepperz.com

July 3, 2018

5 steps to getting a good night’s sleep

Tips to ensure that baby andyou get a good night’s sleep Many parents must find themselves wondering where the idiom ‘sleeping like a baby’ comes from, considering the hours of crying, feeding and frustration that usually make up the night time norm. The good news for sleep-deprived moms out there is that there is a slumber-filled solution – it just takes some patience to pull off! Sleep and your baby “Just as babies must learn how to sit, talk and understand the world around them, they also need to learn how to fall asleep on their own,” says Liz Senior, Occupational Therapist and Founder of Clamber Club. “And as with most of baby’s developmental milestones, there’s no better teacher than mom and dad,” she adds. To start with, it is important for parents to understand how babies sleep. “Babies spend more time in the REM sleep (active sleep) phases than adults because they have so much information to process,” explains Petro Thamm, Clamber Club Expert and Founder of Good Night, a certified Sleep Sense Consultancy. “This means that a parent may think that the infant is sleeping, when in fact, as soon as baby is put down he wakes up because he has not yet settled into a deep sleep.” During the night, babies have sleep cycles that are considerably shorter than adults – 45 minutes long compared to 1.5 hours for adults. Quiet sleep comes at the end of the sleep cycle so when it’s over, your baby either begins the cycle again (re-entering active sleep) or he wakes up. By the age of four months, your baby will be sleeping for six to eight hours a night and by six months, he should typically be sleeping for between 10-12 hours. Thamm offers parents five tips for raising an independent sleeper: Eliminate ‘sleep props’ Children need to develop self-soothing strategies so they’re able to fall asleep independently and put themselves back to sleep when they wake in the night. If they depend on a ‘sleep prop’ (nursing or a bottle, pacifier, rocking, bouncing, patting or riding in the car), they will need someone to help them every time they wake up! Implement an early bedtime An early bedtime is best to ensure that baby doesn’t become overtired, which makes it more difficult for her to settle down and fall asleep. Based on your baby’s age and the timing of their last nap, you should pick a bedtime somewhere between 6–8pm. Create a predictable routine A bedtime routine is most effective when it is about 20-30 minutes long, and the majority of it takes place in your child’s bedroom. Some activities that work well include a bath, massage, going potty, brushing teeth, reading, sharing thoughts or a favourite song, and cuddling. Keep baby awake while feeding Feeding (whether breast or bottle) is the number one sleep prop children begin to rely on. Keeping baby awake during feedings will help break the association that sleeping and eating go hand in hand. She will then be awake when she’s put back in bed, letting her practise her self-soothing skills. Consistency Consistency is probably the most important part of teaching your child the skill of becoming an independent sleeper. Once you choose your method, you need to be consistent 100% of the time! If you give up or change rules every night, you will frustrate and confuse your little one. Keeping all sleep situations the same also sends a clear message about what’s expected of them. It’s not always easy, but do your best to stay committed to the process, and try not to fall back into bad habits when you’re exhausted. Having a child fall asleep on her own really is the best lullaby a parent could ask for!

June 29, 2018

Arts Powered Learning: choosing a pre-school that fosters creative thinking and a life-long love of learning

Who Are We? Capriccio! Arts Powered Pre-School is a registered Montessori inspired ECD independent school in Milnerton. The Italian wordcapriccio has two interpretations: A lively piece of music; short and free in form. A painting or work of art representing a fantasy or a mixture of real and imaginary features. Both of the above interpretations are representative of our approach to education in the early years, which is designed to harness the full benefits of early exposure to the arts. At Capriccio! our focus is on nurturing each child’s cognitive, emotional, physical, social, and artistic development in a loving, creative and holistic learning environment. We are passionate about the role of art in education and recognise the power it has in instilling within little ones a life-long love of learning. What Are the Benefits of Arts Powered Learning? Studies have shown that exposure to arts education from a young age accelerates positive brain development. Art in all its various forms – music, drama, dance and visual art, has an infinite capacity to affect both the brain and the body, acting as a unifying force that supports and enhances cognitive, physical, emotional, and social skills in young children. Ainissa Ramirez once said, “Creativity is the secret sauce to science, technology, engineering and math.” Exposing young learners to arts powered education creates an open learning environment that fosters curiosity and encourages creative thinking and problem solving. These are transferable skills that are essential to building a strong foundation in other learning areas. We believe that children possess an innate property for appreciation and enjoyment of the arts. By engaging this appreciation from a young age, little ones are provided with a means by which to express themselves, which allows them to progress, self-actualise and foster healthy self-esteem throughout their lives. Our Approach to Arts Powered, Montessori Inspired Learning At Capriccio! the expressive needs and individual developmental abilities of each of our little ones are taken into account. By incorporating arts-driven learning and Montessori principals into our curriculum we create a learning environment which provides each child the opportunity to flourish at their own pace. Montessori is a child centred philosophy of education, which recognises that each child has the innate eagerness to acquire knowledge and a deep love of learning. In keeping with this philosophy, we are focused on following the individual child and acknowledging his or her ability to direct their own learning journey in a carefully prepared learning environment. We have incorporated the traditional Montessori areas of learning such as, practical life, education of the senses, literacy, numeracy and arithmetic, knowledge and understanding of the world, creativity, and outdoor learning, into our methodology and materials. As Sydney Gurewitz Clemens said, “Art has the role in education of helping children become like themselves instead of more like everyone else.” It is our belief that art has intrinsic value in giving each child the freedom of self-discovery throughout their learning journey. For more information on our philosophy and approach please visit our website:www.artspreschool.co.za

June 26, 2018

The quick and easy financial checklist for new parents

Taking your first steps to put the financial basics in place for your family can be really simple. Here is what a new parent needs to do and why, and how it can be done immediately! When you’re a young parent with a full plate of responsibilities and a host of new baby expenses, getting your financial affairs in order are typically not as big a priority as it should be. But is it worth it to put your family at risk if something does go wrong? A new parent should get at least the following in place: Update your Will to ensure you select the right legal guardians for your kids should anything happen to you and your partner – don’t leave it up to the courts to decide; Get life insurance to protect your child’s future by insuring their education; Start saving for your kid’s university/college education as soon as possible. Your kids will be financially dependent on you for at least the first 20 years of their lives. Most of us will pay for their monthly schooling from our salaries and hopefully there is enough left in the budget to start saving for that university/college fund. It is estimated that parents who send their children to public schools and pay for a three-year university degree, will spend on average about R1.2 million per child in today’s financial terms – and the figure doubles if your child goes to a private school. That is a lot of money that will come from your future salary! And it is why becoming a parent is such an enormous financial decision. Should anything happen to you in the next week, where will your family’s money come from? Very few young parents have enough savings in the bank to ensure that their children have the financial means to finish school and continue their education as needed. How do you protect your children’s future? That’s why it is so critical to have enough life insurance in place right away. It will ensure that your kids can enjoy all the opportunities you want for them, no matter what happens. Many parents already know that things like getting life insurance and a Will is important, but delay or forget about it. Or they just do not know where to start as it is such an intimidating thing to do. Research shows that young parents in South Africa need cover the most and 75%* do not have any at all. Becoming a new parent is an exciting milestone. But by checking these financial items off of your to-do list, you can sleep soundly knowing your family will be well taken care of, no matter what happens. Are you ready to take that important financial first steps? Speak to one of the Hero Life experts and see how easy they have made it. They are passionate about assisting young parents with the basics and and their experts help parents digitally at no additional cost …. so that you can get things done anytime from anywhere. Visit www.herolife.co.za for more info or email [email protected] or [email protected] directly. Or click here to chat on Whatsapp. It’s really that easy.

June 21, 2018

Why is my child not walking?

Many parents spend the first year of their child’s life focusing on motor milestones, and are hugely relieved when their baby starts to sit, crawl and walk. The variety of baby and toddler classes and other activities on offer lead to a lot of opportunities for comparison of their child in relation to others. This often leads to parents asking themselves “why is my child not walking yet?” “There are a few reasons why a child may not be walking at around a year,” says Paediatric Physiotherapist and Clamber Club Expert Nicole Hilburn. “The first thing to consider is when the baby started to sit, and crawl, as late sitters and crawlers will most likely walk late as well. From the start of sitting, a baby usually takes 3 – 4 months to start crawling, and another 3 months or so from crawling to walking,” adds Nicole. Babies with significant birth histories such as low birth weight, prematurity, hospital admissions or prolonged bouts of illness are more likely to be delayed due to decreased muscle strength, or imbalances between muscle groups. What factors prevent your child from walking? “An increasing number of babies are presenting with a condition called torticollis – which is where one of the muscles in the neck is tight due to position in utero, or often due to positioning postnatally in premature infants who have been in the intensive care unit for a while,” explains Nicole. Untreated, this condition leads to decreased use and stiffness of the arm and leg on the same side as the tight muscle in the neck, and may interfere with development. This condition may be present when a baby holds his head slightly to one side, and prefers looking to one side; or cannot look all the way to one side. Babies who use alternative methods of crawling such as bottom shuffling will not develop the core stability and pelvic girdle stability to support them in standing and walking, which will delay the onset of walking. These babies will also struggle to pull up to stand from the floor, due to being on their bottoms and struggling with kneeling. There are a few reasons for bum shuffling – the main reason we usually find that baby’s bum shuffle is due to resistance to tummy time – this leads to weak back muscles, weak arms, and the baby never really experimenting with pushing up off the ground. Excessive use of equipment such as seating devices, and walking rings may lead to walking delays. This is because the child is fully supported in these devices and is not using muscles or engaging postural control while in them. A baby’s temperament also contributes to how quickly he or she will start moving. A very easy-going baby may take longer than a very busy baby. A baby with sensory issues, or who is happy being stable will also take longer to walk, as gaining balance on two legs is much more difficult than being stable on all fours, and these babies may find this frightening. How can you ensure that your baby is on track to walk? Lots of floor play between the ages of 1 and 6 months – on the back and the tummy, which will strengthen the trunk muscles. If a baby looks like he/she is not going to crawl or is using an alternative method to move such as rolling or bottom shuffling, this should be corrected by a physiotherapist, in order to build up appropriate muscle strength in the trunk, shoulder girdle and pelvic girdle. Torticollis should be treated by a physiotherapist. Once a baby is pulling up to stand and cruising, the following tips can be used to promote walking: Use a wooden wagon to push around Play in the standing position at flat surfaces such as a fridge (e.g. playing with magnets) Encourage play while standing, and give your baby something in each hand, which will encourage standing without holding on Walking with your baby while holding his hands You can also use a hula-hoop if he tends to pull down on your hands a lot – you hold one side and walk backwards and your baby holds the other side – this will give less support, and encourage him to engage his muscles more.

June 20, 2018

Being a mom… tired is my second name

Everyone knows that the most beloved children’s franchise in the world is Disney – and children still resonate deeply with the characters despite literal generations having passed since its inception. Mickey and Minnie Mouse were two of the first creations of the legendary cartoonist Walt Disney and have truly stood the test of time in terms of becoming fast and furious friends with little ones around the globe. Disney Baby, and largely distributed through Prima Baby, have some of the greatest products in the Mickey and Minnie Baby (literal baby version of these adorable characters) and offer moms a great opportunity to collect entire ranges of products for baby’s nursery, or just buy one or two essentials at affordable prices. Disney Baby have a stunning range of products to help soothe the transition from a gummy bear to a gnashy monster, help baby fall asleep quietly or just entertain your little one in his or her own quiet time. With rattles, teething activities and doodoo cloths in both Mickey and Minnie Baby, this adorable twosome can be there for the sleepless nights and painful parts of growing up, as well as the more fun days ahead. Check out the Disney Baby ranges available at: Hamleys stores , Me Mom and Dad Greenstone, Selected Kids Emporium stores ,Dischem Centurion , www.takealot.com, www.loot.co.za, www.purplepepperz.com, www.sosobabies.com, www.thebabyzone.co.za.

June 13, 2018

The Hundred Acre Wood comes to life with Disney Baby

As long as most parents and even grandparents can recall, Winnie The Pooh and his friends of the Hundred Acre Wood have been a staple in our children’s upbringing. Stories that have transcended the ages from old library books across to iPads, Winnie is known for his kind, gentle nature, Tigger for his clumsy tomfoolery and Eyore for always being the depressed one that needed a hug. Winnie was always there for his unlikely companions and his adventures with his best friend, the wise but nervous Piglet, saw them perusing the Hundred Acre Wood in search of honey, new friends and of course, fresh adventures. Disney Baby have a range of products that will bring that tradition of friendship into the lives of your child – from rattles and mobiles, to developmental stacking toys and of course, gorgeous huge plushes that nobody could resist getting a cuddle from. Check out the Disney Baby ranges available at: Hamleys stores , Me Mom and Dad Greenstone, Selected Kids Emporium stores ,Dischem Centurion , www.takealot.com, www.loot.co.za, www.purplepepperz.com, www.sosobabies.com, www.thebabyzone.co.za.

June 13, 2018

Disney Baby helps your little one develop important skills

We all know how curious babies can be. It doesn’t stop as they grow, it just gets more intense as the thirst for knowledge increases. Developmental toys have become one of the most purchased items by new moms and one of the most important parts of a babies upbringing. From the tiniest of noises to the first touch of a strange texture, everything is new and equally important – just look at the fascination with touch phones and iPads. Disney Baby are one step ahead when it comes to incorporating learning into a baby’s playtime. With Mickey Baby and Minnie Baby as the focal play pals, Disney Baby has created products such as musical touch pads, stacking blocks and light up tummy toys that keep little minds fascinated for hours, whilst all being safe enough to take into the crib with them if they just can’t let go! And the great news is, you won’t have to spend a fortune to keep them entertained and learning at the same time – what more could a new mom want? Check out the Disney Baby ranges available at: Hamleys stores , Me Mom and Dad Greenstone, Selected Kids Emporium stores ,Dischem Centurion , www.takealot.com, www.loot.co.za, www.purplepepperz.com, www.sosobabies.com, www.thebabyzone.co.za.

June 13, 2018

Disney Baby offers you the perfect feeding solution

Disney Baby is the proud home of the world’s most beloved mouse Mickey Mouse. He turns 90 this years and is officially one of the longest standing cartoon characters of all time. Disney Baby are also proud manufacturers of some of the best baby products in the world. Known for innovation, functionality, affordability and safety, the Disney baby feeding line extends from newborn to toddler. Available in both Mickey and Minnie Baby versions, the products speak for themselves in terms of cuteness. The ‘baby’ versions of the twosome are fast becoming children’s favourite friends around the globe and luckily, Disney Baby produce entire ranges that can be collected for ultimate cuteness overload. BPA free and anti-colic for the bottles ranges, all plastic is microwavable and dishwasher safe and available in South Africa now at affordable prices. Check out the Disney Baby ranges available at: Hamleys stores , Me Mom and Dad Greenstone, Selected Kids Emporium stores ,Dischem Centurion , www.takealot.com, www.loot.co.za, www.purplepepperz.com, www.sosobabies.com, www.thebabyzone.co.za.

June 13, 2018

Oops Building Block sets

Building blocks are literally one of the simplest and most functional ways of getting your child’s mind to think strategically. Traditionally, building blocks have always been an integral part of any child’s toy chest and Oops have made sure that with both their 30-piece and 80-piece collections, the most fun is had whilst learning. Hours of play with big enough blocks for tiny hands to work with, the Oops building block lines allow endless possibilities and encourages hands on learning. The O’clock Learn Time 30-piece set is a great way to teach toddlers the time with jumbo blocks of colour and the ‘City’ landscapes create new worlds only your child’s imagination can think up. European leaders in developmental toys for many years, Oops celebrates the growing mind of every single child and ensures education and entertainment go hand in hand. Oops building block selections are available at Hamleys Toy Stores, selected Kids Emporium stores, Me Mom and Dad, www.thebabyzone.co.za, www.thekidzone.co.za, www.purplepepperz.com, www.loot.co.za & www.takealot.com

June 13, 2018

Award winning innovation with simple, functional design from Dooky

Prima Baby is a now proud affiliate and distributor of the Dooky range of products into South Africa. A simple, yet highly effective range of products to ultimately calm, protect and comfort your child, the Dooky series of products transforms some of the most commonly-used products into indispensable items. 2011 saw Dooky receiving the Netherlands Baby Innovation Award for the Dooky Universal cover, which has fast become one of the most popular items in the Dooky repertoire. Available in a variety of subdued hues, the Universal cover is a simple stroller cover that has replaced the conventional muslin blanket or parasol as a cover to calm and soothe baby whilst out in their stroller. Fitting literally every stroller on the market, the Universal is a simple clip-on, 100% cotton cover that blocks UV, sun, wind, light, cold, noise and light rain – making it perfect for walks as well as naps during outings. The Universal cover comes with a variety of complementary accessories that can also be used on their own, including the car seat ‘Hoody’, 100% cotton attachment that acts as a shield on car seats, the 100% cotton blanket, the car seat cover and the famous Dooky dribble bibs. All ranges are available in matching grey, white, pink, blue with a gorgeous star pattern. The full range of Dooky products is available at Hamleys, www.takealot.com, www.loot.com, www.thebabyzone.co.za, www.kidzone.co.zaand www.purplepepperz.com

June 8, 2018

Fisher-Price Alphabet Blocks

For decades, and indeed probably centuries, building blocks have always been a part of a child’s toy box. The traditional, nostalgic aspect of the wooden toy is one that Fisher-Price have retained through much of their new baby products line, which was launched in South Africa in April through Prima Baby. The alphabet blocks provide baby with hours of fun and entertainment, but essentially they are one of the most important developmental toys a child can own. Combining skills such as colour co-ordination, hand-eye co-ordination, balance and patience, most adults can even remember the joy and frustration these toys could bring as building large structures took loud tumbles or alternatively, became giant buildings to let the imagination run wild in. With 26 alphabet blocks, baby can create their own sets of patterns based on the prints thereon, assisting with logical thinking abilities, fine motor skills and logical combinations. A wonderful gift for newborns to grow into and toddlers to immerse their minds into, the alphabet block is a great gesture at baby showers and early birthdays. Alternatively, parents can just go pick up a set themselves instore now at Hamleys Toy stores, selected Kids Emporium stores, www.takealot.com, www.loot.co.za, ww.purplepepperz.com, www.thebabyzone.co.za & www.cleverlittlemonkey.co.za

May 4, 2018

Bring meal times to life with JJ’s Animal Snackers: A friend in a bowl

Stir your child’s imagination, excite their mind and stimulate their sensory ability with JJ’s Animal Snacker bowls, now available in SA through Prima Baby. When every spoonful activates an animal sound, what baby wouldn’t want to laugh with the roar of the hippo or the meow of the cat whilst eating? The animal sounds of the snacker teaches babies to accept new ideas and interact with challenging concepts – literally with every spoonful of food! The magic spoon is activated by moving within the bowl and in turn lets out an accompanying sound that is either friendly dinosaur, cat, doggie or pig. Despite being loads of fun and laughter for child and parents, the bowls are also microwavable and dishwasher safe too. A strong suction cup keeps base secure to table or highchair to avoid spills. Try an Animal Snacker bowl today to bring some new fun to meal times. Ages: 10 months and up. Available at: Hamleys Toy Stores, selected Kids Emporium stores, www.loot.co.za, www.thebabyzone.co.za, www.purplepepperz.com, www.takealot.com& www.sosobabies.com

May 2, 2018

Tactile Defensiveness

Ben’s* mom describes her child as “temperamental and anxious”. “He doesn’t like to go anywhere without me, even getting him to school has been a challenge. “ Ben* is tactile defensive. He does not like to be hugged and cuddled, and if his mom wants to hold his hand, he will only allow her to hold onto his little finger. He is very particular about the clothes that he wears, and will not tolerate having his nails cut. He hates getting dirty and will not play with glue or paints. He is an extremely fussy eater and is limited to very bland foods with certain textures. He gets very stressed in busy environments, and is happiest playing on his own. Tactile defensiveness is the tendency to react negatively and emotionally to touch sensations that other people may hardly feel or notice. It’s a result of poor processing of this type of sensation and thus the brain is over-sensitive to touch and views many typical touch sensations as being harmful thus resulting in the flight-fright-fight response. Signs to look out for: Dislikes having face or hair washed. Dislikes having teeth cleaned and resists tooth-brushing. Overly distressed when having hair/ finger-nails/ toe-nails cut. Dislikes being touched and pulls away from hugs and cuddles. Displays negative reactions to certain types of clothing. Dislikes putting hands in sand, paint, play-dough etc. Avoids going barefoot – especially on sand or grass. Seems overly fussy about the temperature or texture of food. If your child has more than two or three of these signs, it may be helpful to consult an Occupational Therapist trained in Sensory Integration, to see if your child presents with Tactile Defensiveness. Tips on stimulating the tactile system: Provide your baby with lots of touch input – swaddling with a blanket; cuddles, kisses, tickles and massage. Let your toddler crawl over different textures – grass, sand, carpets, floors, cushions, blankets etc. Let them play outside without their clothes and shoes so that they can experience the feel of different textures on their skin. Engage in creative tactile tasks like finger painting, paper-mache, using glue, playing with glitter, modelling with clay or dough or using tissue paper. Hide objects to be found in bowls of jelly, rice, pasta, sand or shaving cream. Allow your child to help with baking and cooking i.e. kneading bread dough or handling soggy spaghetti. Play dress up games where your child can feel different textures of clothes on their skin, clips in their hair, jewellery etc. Most importantly allow your child to get dirty and messy and to enjoy the freedom and joy that comes from exploring new sensations of touch, texture and temperature. This will allow their sensory system to learn to process this information in a way that is healthy and optimises their response to touch!

May 2, 2018

The role that father’s play in birth and beyond

We’re pregnant – words that may be met with surprise, anxiety or even unwavering joy from expectant dads. From that moment on, a father’s life changes forever, as the countdown to the arrival of the little one looms. Alan Hosking, author of the book, What Nobody Tells a New Father, agrees with this sentiment, and according to him, “Parenting is like a chronic disease. Once you’ve got it, you’ve got it for life, and you’ve got to learn to manage it”. While a large part of the birth journey, and process, is more focused towards the mother, it is also highly important that fathers are just as involved in the process. This can’t be emphasised enough given that research* indicates that children who grow up in ‘absent father’ homes show increased risk of poverty, abuse and teenage pregnancy. This truly reiterates the role that fathers play in the lives of their children – where the birth journey is just the beginning. Here are a few waysthat expectant fathers can mentally prepare themselves for the journey that lies ahead: Start the conversation between yourself and your partner – what do you think it means to be a dad? This is the most important thing a man can do to prepare for becoming a father. Physical affection, sitting down together and talking – this is needed to validate your partner and meet each other’s needs. Pregnancy can also be an uncomfortable experience for fathers and your emotional experiences can sometimes be denied. Try to express your feelings and allow your partner to listen and react to them. Learn to apologise and get rid of the emotional baggage between you and your partner before the birth, because a positive relationship between mom and dad is one of the most important factors of creating a positive birth experience and assisting healthy postnatal adjustment. Fathers play a very significant role in a child’s development and in their security. Some of these traits may come naturally and others you may need to work towards – let’s take a look: Fathers are often known to adopt a ‘tough love’ approach when playing with young children, which can sometimes result in the mother stepping in to protect her ‘little cub’. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as this helps children to build trust and courage. They say that parents are a child’s first teacher, and this couldn’t be truer when teaching your child interpersonal communication skills, as these are key in almost every aspect of life. Therefore, adopt healthy communication skills with mom, and in doing so, you are able to indirectly teach your little one how to communicate effectively. Much has been said about the importance of teaching children essential money skills from an early age, as these are skills that they are able to carry through to adulthood. As a father, you also play a role in educating your child about the value of money from as early on as possible. Over and above this, security in the form of long-term financial provision is another responsibility that you have as a father. By being proactive, and starting now, you have a say and are able influence your children’s financial future to ensure that it is secure – even when you are no longer around. Sure, parenting can be overwhelming, and a role that nothing can fully prepare you for. However, as a father, it’s important to recognise that each parent plays a different role, and brings different things to parenthood. So, work towards playing on each other’s strengths and balancing this against your weaknesses, and use these to complement each other for the greater goal – your child’s long-term development and future. * https://www.fatherhood.org/fatherhood/how-to-involve-dad-during-after-moms-pregnancy

April 30, 2018

7 Signs baby is ready for solids

Starting solids is a huge milestone for baby and for parents. Very often parents are keen to start as soon as possible. Signs Baby is Ready for Solids Check these signs baby is ready for solids before giving baby his or her first foods: Baby can hold head up well unsupported Baby sits well when supported Makes chewing motions when you eat Baby is curious when you eat (tries to grab food) Baby has doubled birth weight Baby has good coordination Loss of tongue-thrust reflex (for about the first 4 months the tongue-thrust reflex protects baby from choking) It is best to wait until baby is 6 months or older to start solids.

April 20, 2018

HOW DOES PLAY PROMOTE HEALTHY SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Play is a child’s language, his work, his relaxation and the way he builds relationships. Forming a healthy relationship with parents help children to feel secure. This sets the stage for a child’s social and emotional development for the rest of his life. Social development is how we interact with others, the ability to form secure relationships. Emotional development is the ability to regulate and express our emotions. Strong social-emotional development is the basis for all later social, emotional and academic success. According to the National Academy of Sciences there are three qualities children need to have to be ready for school. Intellectual skills, motivation to learn and strong social and emotional capacity. How do we as parents create the opportunities needed to develop these skills? It is simple, children need to play. Children use play to release emotions, work through feelings and understand their world better by play-acting in situations they can control. The give and take patterns of play allow children the opportunity to practice the skills necessary for healthy emotional development. Here are some practical ways to help: Suggest ways for children to interact and play together. If you see a child struggling to build a tower, suggest that one helps by holding it while other one builds. Help children learn to take turns, or share what they have. “Ethan wants to play too but he has no play-dough. Let’s give him some of ours so we can all play together.” Help your child build empathy and sympathy for others. If someone got hurt let him give a hug or a special toy to help him feel better. Teach him to help someone up if they fell. Build your child’s vocabulary regarding feelings. Being able to express his feelings adequately will result in less frustration and aggression. For example, disappointment, nervous, frustrated, curious, amazed and astonished. Acknowledge your child’s feelings. Help him to talk about how he is feeling. Comfort and hold him and speak to him softly and calmly. Love your child and show affection towards him. Give him lots of hugs and cuddles. Tell him that you are proud of him. Role play and pretend play are lovely ways to teach children about feelings. Tell a story about how the bear got hurt, or how someone said something ugly to him. Explain how he is feeling and give your child a chance to explain what feelings the bear could be having because of what has happened. Let him help the bear with suggestions of how he can make him feel better.

April 19, 2018

The end of day naps

Much to my horror my 3 year old daughter recently declared that she does not have day naps any more. I have tried my best to change her mind and for a good few weeks still attempted to get her to sleep but it has become clear that no matter what I try this girl has made up her mind. We have battled and once again I have lost! As much as I love my daughter I loved the short break during the afternoon when I can relax a bit, she is incredibly busy and always demands a huge amount of attention from me which can be incredibly tiring. As with any change in routine and new milestones this time is exceptionally tough. I thought the change from 2 day naps to 1 day nap was hard, this is much worse. By 3pm in the afternoon she is tired and gets progressively more difficult as the day goes on. It is hard to try and discipline her in any constructive way as she is overtired: self-control has gone out the window. She cannot listen, she gets rude and cheeky and rough. It is like trying to deal with a person drunk or high on drugs! I need to be patient and remember that she is just a little person, that is tired and going through a major change in her life. At times this is almost impossible as it feels like my child was stolen and a gremlin put in her place! The last few days have been slightly better, but to be honest I don’t think it has anything to do with her, it all comes down to the decision I made recently to stay calm, not get upset and to be more loving towards my child no matter what she does. What age did your child stop sleeping during the day?

April 11, 2018

10 Reasons why colouring pages are healthy for your child’s development

Coloring pages is an awesome and fun activity for children, as well as for adults. Coloring in may seem like it is all fun and games but the truth is that coloring pages provides many benefits for healthy development for kids. This makes coloring pages an important part of your child’s development and education. If you are looking for some reasons to encourage your child to spend some time coloring pages look no further. **Disclosure – this post is sponsored by Top Coloring Pages. However the opinions expressed in this post are all my own.** Here are 10 reasons why coloring pages are vital for your child’s healthy development: Improves Hand Eye Coordination Hand eye coordination refers to your child’s ability to guide his or her hand guided by vision. It is so important for a child to develop good hand eye coordination skills and what better way to go about it than coloring pages? Your child will need to learn how to hold the pencil, how to sharpen the pencil and how to color in the lines. Improves Concentration Now I don’t know what your children are like but mine are like Gummi Bears… on speed. My daughter is all over the place – except when she is absorbed with coloring pages and drawing. She can sit for hours at a time with her pencils. Coloring pages teaches children to focus and concentrate on the task at hand which is going to be a very important skill needed for their years at school! Improves Handwriting Skills Long before your child starts writing or even drawing your child will start coloring in. The skills they need for coloring in are going to be the start of your child writing. Your child will need hand strength to start writing and to be able to hold the pencil correctly, as well as the hand eye coordination mentioned above. Improves Fine Motor Skills Fine motor skills are the small movements that your child makes such as picking small things up between his fingers and holding a spoon. Coloring pages will help your child to develop good fine motor skills which will help your child in other areas of his or life such as mastering a knife and fork or tying shoe laces. Improves Confidence and Self Esteem Coloring pages is an excellent activity to boost your child’s confidence and self esteem. Your child will quickly improve at coloring in and every project that is completed will give your child a sense of accomplishment. Boosts Creativity Your child will use his or her imagination when choosing colors and how to go about making their coloring pages vibrant. Your child will have to think about different color combinations and play around with what they enjoy. Coloring pages gives your child an amazing way to express himself. You will find your child’s personality shining through in his coloring pages making them uniquely his. Stress Relief and Relaxation Coloring pages are incredible for stress relief for children as well as for adults. Coloring in is very meditative and calming on the mind while at the same time keeping the mind busy in a creative way. Coloring pages are just plain fun, they bring enjoyment and increase happiness. Many people, including children, can develop negative habits and coping mechanisms for stress and anxiety. Coloring pages are a great, healthy alternative to help with relieving stress and worries. Increased Knowledge Coloring pages are a fun and easy way for your child to learn new things. Your child can learn about colors, different shapes, animals, patterns and much more. You can find educational coloring pages to help your child learn about numbers, writing and many more things. You can get bible story coloring pages to help your child in bible studies and any other topic of interest that your child is learning about at the time. Boundaries and Structure Learning about boundaries is part of child development and coloring pages teaches youngsters structure with having to follow he rules of coloring in. A child must learn to color in the lines and to keep coloring in the same direction to create a neat and beautiful piece of art. School Preparation Coloring pages involves pencils and paper, just like school does. Children will be doing written work, essays and tests. Coloring pages lays down a good foundation for your child being familiar with and comfortable putting a pen to paper. The boundaries and structure that coloring provides will also help them to adjust easier to the structured work that can be expected in school. So as you can see there are loads of great reasons to get your kids coloring pages. You can even get yourself an adult coloring book and join in the fun with your kids. It will be a great for your own stress relief as well as provide a fun activity for you to bond with your children and spent some quality time with them. Let your kids have fun when they star coloring in, help them to choose coloring pages that inspire them like their favorite characters, famous people or animals they love. You can buy coloring books, or you can easily print coloring pages from the internet. Check out Top Coloring Pages for a wide variety of free coloring pages!

April 9, 2018

The power of skin-to-skin

During pregnancy, babies are as close to their moms as they can be – getting the warmth, food, protection and oxygen that they need from their mother’s body. Then, labour occurs, and babies suddenly find themselves without immediate access to those essential needs. It is not surprising that study after study has shown a host of benefits for babies who experience skin-to-skin care (sometimes called ‘kangaroo care’) with their mothers. When babies are held against their mother’s skin, it is the closest they can get to being back in the warmth and security of the womb. Huggies® expert and Childbirth educator, Lynne Bluff, sheds some light on the benefits of skin-to-skin. While most of the early research on skin-to-skin care is focused on the benefits of skin-to-skin care during the first hour or two after birth (often referred to as the “magical hour”), more recent studies show that skin-to-skin care boosts health well beyond the new-born’s first days. The power of touch is good for your baby – and good for you too. Whenever possible, mothers and babies should be in direct contact immediately after birth. When left uninterrupted the baby will pass through the nine instinctive stages where baby will move himself to the breast, find the nipple area, latch on and suckle all on his own – this is instinctive to a baby and will lead to more successful long-term breastfeeding. Long-term skin to skin can be done by mom or dad, when baby has on a nappy to prevent both of them being covered with wee and poo, but the rest of the baby is in the nude lying in direct contact with the bare chest of mom or dad and then covered with a shirt that ties the baby to mom or dad to keep them secure and in place while they can carry on the daily chores with baby attached to them. Huggies® Gold has a New Baby range which offers Huggies® Gold size 0, disposable nappy (for babies up to 4kg in weight) specifically designed for new-borns’ comfort and gentle skin protection. This nappy has special features that include an umbilical cord cut-out to allow for easier cleaning and protection of this delicate area, a wetness indicator that changes from yellow to green when the nappy is wet, fasten anywhere outer tabs to help provide the perfect fit; cottony soft breathable materials and a triple absorbent core with a quilted liner for optimal absorption and skin protection For skin-to-skin mom can also then wrap a shirt around the baby and her together keeping the baby in an upright position between her breasts. If the mother is unable to provide skin-to-skin care, due to labour or birth complications, then dad can step in. Within minutes, you will see the benefits of skin-to-skin care become evident as both mother and baby relax. The baby’s body temperature, breathing, and heart rate stabilize. Here are the five leading benefits of skin-to-skin care: Improvement in heart and lung function Babies go through a dramatic transition after birth as they prepare to take their first breaths of air outside the uterus. Those that experience skin-to-skin tend to adapt sooner than those who don’t. They also tend to have heart and breathing rates that are both more normal and stable. This benefit holds true with premature infants as well as those born full-term. Perhaps the mother’s heart sounds and breathing patterns are familiar to the baby after spending time in the womb. Stabilization of body temperature During pregnancy, a mother maintains her baby’s temperature by sweating when hot and shivering and moving around when cold. After birth, babies have yet to acquire that same ability, so they can’t adjust their own body temperature. In fact, when it comes to keeping a vulnerable new-born warm, a mother’s body is better than an artificial warmer. A mother who has just given birth has a chest temperature that is one degree warmer than normal and has the ability to raise itself by another 2 degrees or lower it by a degree in response to the temperature of her baby on her chest – this regulation occurs automatically by the mother’s body in response to her baby’s temperature. Transfer of good bacteria Babies get exposed to their mother’s bacteria through skin-to-skin contact after birth. Early exposure helps babies develop a range of healthy bacteria. Skin-to-skin contact also supports early breastfeeding. Some of the complex sugars in human milk are indigestible in new-borns, but they boost digestive function, and provide protection from harmful bacteria (pathogens). Experts believe these good bacteria may protect against allergic disease. Reduction in crying Studies show that babies who are held skin-to-skin, cry less than those separated from their mothers. Some refer to a new-born’s cry as a “separation distress call”. During the new-born period, most babies cease crying once reunited with their mothers. Mom and baby should not be separated at birth and should stay skin to skin as much as possible both day and night Relief from pain Studies of babies experiencing clinical procedures show that babies experience less pain when held skin-to-skin during (or even immediately following) the procedure and that the duration of the pain is shortened by the close contact. Skin-to-skin contact is also more beneficial than oral glucose (sugar water, a traditional solution) in relieving pain during a heel stick for blood sampling. The longer skin-to-skin lasts the better relief of pain symptoms. Enhancement of mom-baby communication The time after a baby’s birth provides an opportunity for parents to learn about their baby’s behaviour – signs of hunger, fullness, discomfort, and so on. Having the baby in close skin-to-skin contact helps to ensure that the mother will learn her baby’s signals sooner, improving communication, boosting maternal confidence as well as helping babies develop a sense of trust and security. Skin-to-skin care is a simple, easy method of caring for new-born babies. Hold your baby close and continue to greet your baby with a hug throughout

April 5, 2018

Vitamin B12 deficiency: A silent epidemic with serious consequences

Vitamin B12 deficiency isn’t a bizarre, mysterious disease. It’s written about in every medical textbook and its causes and effects are well-established in the scientific literature. However, B12 deficiency is far more common than most health care practitioners and the general public realise. Research suggests that 40 percent of people between the ages of 26 and 83 years have vitamin B12 levels in the low normal range – a range at which many individuals experience neurological symptoms. Symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency are easily mistaken for signs of other ailments. If you’re feeling more anxious, tired, or worn out than usual, a B12 deficiency may be to blame. Vitamin B12 deficiency can be sneaky and harmful, so keep reading for some insight. WHAT DOES VITAMIN B12 DO? Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin and is also the only B vitamin that is almost exclusively found in animal foods. The human body needs vitamin B12 (together with folate) to make red blood cells, DNA and help promote healthy function of nerves. In addition, B12 is one of the vitamins responsible for a well-functioning metabolism and robust energy levels. Like most vitamins, B12 can’t be made by the body. Instead, it must be gotten from food or supplements. And therein lies the problem: Some people don’t consume enough vitamin B12 to meet their needs, while others can’t absorb enough, no matter how much they take in. The absorption of B12 is also complex and involves several steps – each of which can go wrong. As a result, vitamin B12 deficiency is relatively common. WHO IS AT RISK FOR B12 DEFICIENCY? There are many causes for vitamin B12 deficiency. In general, the following groups are at greatest risk for a deficiency: Vegetarians and vegans Because B12 is not generally found in plant-based foods, vegetarians are at risk for B12 deficiencies. This explains why studies consistently demonstrate that up to 50% of long-term vegetarians and 80% of vegans are deficient in B12. People aged 60 or over The condition is more likely to occur in older people due to the cutback in stomach acid production that often occurs with ageing, making it harder to absorb this vitamin. It has been estimated to affect about 40% of people over 60 years of age. It’s entirely possible that at least some of the symptoms we attribute to “normal” ageing – such as memory loss, cognitive decline, decreased mobility, etc. – are at least in part caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency. People who regularly use PPIs or acid suppressing drugs If you take proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) e.g. omeprazole (antacid or heartburn drugs) you may be at risk for B12 deficiency. These drugs reduce acid production in the stomach and acid is needed to absorb vitamin B12. Medical conditions Conditions that interfere with food absorption, such Coeliac or Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bacterial overgrowth (intestinal dysbiosis), atrophic gastritis (thinning of stomach lining) or gut inflammation, pernicious anaemia (an autoimmune condition where the body destroys intrinsic factor, a protein necessary for the absorption of B12) can cause B12 trouble. Certain medications Use of some commonly prescribed drugs such as metformin (insulin resistance and diabetes), or anti-seizure medications such as phenytoin may cause a B12 deficiency. Heavy drinkers or alcoholism Drinking alcohol, even in moderation (more than one alcoholic drink a day), can have profound effects on the way your body absorbs vitamin B-12. Genetic variations Common genetic variations may interfere with the absorption of vitamin B12, and subsequently levels of the vitamin in the blood. Weight loss surgery People who have stomach stapling or other forms of weight-loss surgery are also more likely to be low in vitamin B12 because the operation interferes with the body’s ability to extract vitamin B12 from food. SYMPTOMS OF VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY Vitamin B12 deficiency can be slow to develop, causing symptoms to appear gradually and intensify over time. It can also come on relatively quickly. A vitamin B12 deficiency occurs in four stages. Stage 1 – beginning with declining blood levels of the vitamin Stage 2 – progressing to low B12 levels within the body’s cells Stage 3 – increased blood level of homocysteine and reduced ability to repair and produce DNA Stage 4 – finally, macrocytic anaemia Anemia A vitamin B12 deficiency can cause anaemia (low red blood cell production). Red blood cells carry oxygen all over the body. When the body does not produce enough red blood cells, the amount of available oxygen in the body, decreases as well. B12-related anaemia can cause many other issues, including: Extreme Fatigue: It’s normal to get tired during the day if you didn’t sleep well the night before, just ate a large meal, or completed strenuous exercise. But it isn’t normal to experience an overwhelming fatigue that doesn’t go away with rest. Muscle Weakness: You might experience soreness after a hard workout for a day or two, but if your muscles feel like you just ran a marathon after a simple activity like brushing your hair, you may be anaemic. Heart Palpitations: Feel a flutter in your chest? You could be experiencing heart palpitations due to decreased oxygen circulation. Breathlessness: Breathlessness is normal after activity, but if you find yourself short of breath during rest, it’s an indicator that something’s not right. Just like heart palpitations, anaemia can cause breathlessness due to a lack of oxygen in the blood. Pale Skin: Red blood cells are responsible for the rosy colour in our cheeks. When red blood cell production decreases—as it does in anaemic individuals—the skin becomes pale and colourless. Pins-and-Needles Sensation You know the pins-and-needles sensation you often get when your foot falls asleep? This sensation is called peripheral neuropathy and can be linked to nerve damage caused by a B12 deficiency. According to the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy, a B12 deficiency damages the sheath that surrounds and protects nerves, resulting in an unpleasant and sometimes painful tingling sensation. Other diseases such as diabetes can

April 5, 2018

5 Signs baby is tired

If you know the signs baby is tired before he gets over-tired it will make things much easier for you. Trying to put an over-tired baby to sleep is not easy! 5 Signs Baby is Tired ( 3 months – 1 year old): Fussing, whining, crying, screaming Rubbing eyes and/ or nose Pulling ears and/ or hair Yawning Loss of co-ordination (bumping into things, falling over, spilling things more easily) Click here for the signs baby is tired (0 – 3 months old).

March 29, 2018

Thinking about the new baby

I have been trying to prepare my 20 month old daughter for the fact that there is a new baby on the way,of course she doesn’t understand what I mean. I showed her my tummy and explained that there is a baby growing in there. She then rubbed my tummy, said baby and kissed my tummy. She now does it a few times a day and is quite determined to keep pulling my top up so she can see my tummy and kiss the baby. This is of course adorable behaviour BUT a few weeks ago when I collected her from the day mother there was a 3 month old baby there for the day. The day mother was getting my daughter’s things together and this little baby starts crying, I did what any mom would do and picked him up and rubbed his back as it seemed he had a wind. My daughter immediately fell on the floor in a crumpled heap and started screaming and thrashingaround. I got the fright of my life and it took a minute for me to realise that it is because I am holding a baby. I put the baby down and my daughter came over immediately and sat on me with a look that said “This is MY MOM”…. It was at this point I started thinking things might not be smooth sailing and that I will need to start thinking very carefully how I am going to get my girl adjusted to being the big sister. Up until this point I was thinking that I have done this before, I have been pregnant, been through a long hard labour and had an emergency c-section. I have coped with the pain of that and the tiredness looking after a newborn…. now I realise I have not done this at all. I have not had a demanding toddler and a newborn. Something that is driving me crazy at the moment is that my girl climbs all over me, elbowing me in my sore preggie boobs, jumping on my stomach and bouncing on the bed while I am trying my best not to vomit. I am now having visions of trying to juggle a newborn and my demanding toddler, I can see her climbing on me and sticking her pointy little toes into my c-section cut. I can’t even wash a few disheswithout my daughter throwing a tantrum because I am not paying attention to her, how am I going to sit down and breastfeed a baby? When I was pregnant with my daughter I did 2 birth preparation courses, saw a doctor as soon as I found out I was pregnant, went racing to see a gyni and a midwife and started reading all the books I could on pregnancy, child birth, caring for a newborn…. everything I could find. I followed my pregnancy week by week in my books and online. Looking back I think I was quite obsessed. This time I felt a bit bad because when I found out I was pregnant the only reason I saw a gyni was to figure out what on earth happened to my IUD. I haven’t been for a scan yet or a gyni visit and I haven’t read anything. The only thing I did was get some pregnancy vitamins and carry on with life as normal. This pregnancy is already very different to my first. In my first pregnancy I had no problems except a bit of fatigue which I thought at the time was bad, but no morning sickness or dizziness. This pregnancy has already been quite hard on me, I have had morning sickness (which by the way is a STUPID name for this symptom….. it’s all day sickness), dizziness and real fatigue. By real fatigue I mean that I am tired and added into that is a demanding toddler and the fact that I can’t just lie down and rest when I want to. I am responsible for another little being that needs a good healthy meal cooked every day, she needs clean clothes, her nappies changed, she needs to be bathed and she needs her teeth brushed. She is also stripping all day every day and when I try and dress her it can be so demanding on me that I am tempted to just leave her and let her run around starkers in the freezing cold. I am dreading the rest of this pregnancy as I remember just about to the day I started my 2nd trimester the “heartburn” hit… I put that in inverted comma’s because yes it was bad heartburn to me when it started but it was nothing compared to the 3rd trimester heartburn. And what to say about the 3rd trimester? It was a living hell. I had I think every possible pregnancy symptom. I had pelvic pain so bad that I could barely walk at times, I was peeing in my pants if I coughed or sneezed or laughed. I had “morning sickness” all through the 3rdtrimester and of course when I vomited I also peed in my pants. Charming isn’t it? One thing that might be different this time though is that I gained about 35kgs when I was pregnant and in the 3rd trimester I could barely move. I doubt during this pregnancy I will be given the opportunity even for 5 minutes to sit and do nothing so hopefully I won’t get so huge. So what started off as me wondering how I am going to handle a new baby and a toddler I am now wondering how I will handle the rest of my pregnancy and a toddler! I am 11 weeks and waiting eagerly for the nausea to stop and when that stops the heartburn will probably hit me. I am going for my first scan in 1 week and maybe just maybe we will find out if we are having a girl or boy. With my

March 29, 2018

Teaching table manners

Teaching table manners is something vital in my home. I’m not a mom that has loads of rules and I am quite flexible with a lot of things, but one thing that was enforced by my mother in my childhood was sitting down at the table as a family for every meal. We used to beg her all the time to sit in front of the tv with our plates on our lap. The odd times she did allow this is was a great treat! Looking back I realise that at the time I thought it was a stupid rule: to always sit as a family at the table for supper. There were times when we all sat at the table stony faced and angry because of a family tiff (either between siblings or with my mom), nobody speaking and death looks being passed around. Strange how things turned around when I first became a mom! I now look back at this simple rule and remember the wonderful family meals we had, especially when we got older and everyone was off on their own daily missions but at the end of the day we all came together for that one meal, to connect. I thank my mom for having the wisdom to do something so simple for us as a family. When my daughter was born I told my husband that it is very important to me that we get a table and sit for dinner together which he thought was strange. He was not very impressed either when I told him that part of this family dinner rule is that the tv is turned off as we have an open plan house! Not only does it bring the family together, it is also a very good opportunity to teach my children basic manners. It is also the start of teaching my children the importance of helping around the house and doing their bit. Here are the basic rules we follow: Wash hands before coming to the table. My 3 year old is responsible for setting the table. No toys at the table. No phones, iPads, laptops, books at the table. No throwing or grabbing of food. No banging utensils. No spitting food out. Stay seated at the table for the entire meal. No yelling or loud noises at the table. Asking to be excused from the table. Using the words “please” and “thank you”. Saying thank you for the meal. My 3 year old and I clear the table at the end of every meal. If you are religious it is a great opportunity to say grace together with your family before your meal. What do you do for family meal times?

March 29, 2018

How long should my baby sleep?

It is every mom’s question: How long should my baby sleep Babies needs change constantly, find below a guideline for how much sleep your baby needs at his age. AGE NIGHT TIME SLEEP DAY TIME SLEEP TOTAL SLEEP 1 month 8 hrs 8 hrs (inconsistent) 16 hrs 3 months 10 hrs 5 hrs (3 naps) 15 hrs 6 months 11 hrs 3 1/4 hrs (2 naps 14 1/4 hrs 9 months 11 hrs 3 hrs (2 naps) 14 hrs 12 months 11 1/4 hrs 2 1/2 hrs (1 – 2 naps) 13 3/4 hrs 18 months 11 1/4 hrs 2 1/4 hrs (1 nap) 13 1/2 hrs 2 years 11 2 hrs (1 nap) 13 hrs 3 years 10 1/2 1 1/2 hrs (1 nap) 12 hrs Find out how to get your baby into a routine in 5 easy steps and check how long your baby should be awake in between naps.

March 28, 2018

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