Welcoming a baby is a life-changing experience, bringing major changes to every aspect of your life. As a new parent, you can never predict exactly what is to come, but there are a few things you can do to make sure you are as stress-free and organised as possible in the hours before and after your newborn enters the world.
When your baby wakes at night and cannot settle to sleep, one of the thoughts that will go through your head is whether she is ill. If your baby is usually a good sleeper and suddenly has a few very bad nights, it is certainly a reasonable concern and worth looking into. If your newborn is never sleeping longer than 45 minutes to an hour day and night – it is also possible that health issues underlie the poor sleep. If your toddler has been a great sleeper and can self-sooth to sleep but starts waking and being unable to fall back asleep, you may need to look at health issues.
Weaning baby is such a great – and messy time. When baby is anatomically upright in posture, actively holding utensils and really enjoying their food, it makes sense to have the child part of the family mealtime.
The arrival of a new baby into the family is a time of great joy, excitement and change, and breastfeeding is known to be the best start a family can give their baby in terms of health and wellbeing. However, successfully breastfeeding a baby is not without its challenges, and there are various obstacles a new mother may need to overcome in order to achieve her goal.
When you’re preparing for the arrival of a newborn to the family, the amount of things to consider is innumerable. You thought moving house was a big deal until you’re confronted with preparing for the birth of your first child and a whole new level of responsibility dawns on you.
As many as one in five1 new mothers will experience depression just before or after giving birth, at risk to their own health and the growth and development of their newborns.
Every day with your child is an adventure, and now simplifying your routine just got easier. Enjoy each moment with Thule Spring, a lightweight, compact stroller that lets you and your family discover the world with ease.
Newly pregnant moms may be wondering, why invest in a breast pump? Truth is, owning one has endless benefits. A breast pump ensures you have the choice to offer all the benefits of breast milk to your baby at all times, even when you cannot be with them. It also enables your partner and family members to help out with feeding times.
For parents-to-be and their loved ones, pregnancy is a wonderful, almost magical time, filled with joy and anticipation. For expecting women with chronic conditions though, it can also bring anxiety and discomfort.
The range of Chicco Sippy Cups offer parents the reassurance that their oral and dental development is being looked after as baby starts drinking differently. All cups in the range help baby easily and naturally drink, respecting their abilities and age group.
As parents we always want the best for our children and so we strive to do the right thing to ensure our children grow and develop into well rounded little humans. Experts say toys are one thing parents could use to improve brain development, but do we really know what kind toys to use for this purpose?
Tip – prepare for successful breastfeeding by learning what to expect and how to do it! Attend a class if possible during pregnancy. Don’t wait for things to get better on their own. Ask for help from a skilled professional in the first few days if you need it.
There it is, that mind blowing feeling! I smile to myself as the feeling of joy sweeps through my body from my toes up. That feeling is my baby boy Rogan’s kick in my tummy! It gets me every time I feel it. It reminds me there is life growing in me and the feeling of the unknown excites me this time. You see it’s been a year since we experienced baby loss, our identical twin girls, Storm and Logan were born on the 10th of January 2019, Storm, a still born and Logan an NICU baby who survived two and a half days.
Pregnancy may seem daunting to first time moms, so knowing what to expect at all three stages is essential for a safe and stress-free pregnancy.
The Chicco range of cutlery starts when your child first begins to accept a spoon. Beginning with the Silicone Spoon, perfectly suited to small mouths and delicate gums, to the older fork and spoon sets for when baby can start feeding themselves, gradually introducing metal child-sized cutlery for baby to eat just like the grown-ups.
An amazing study done by Loewy J et al. [1] in 2013 showed that soothing music may encourage premature babies to feed better, as well as improve their vital signs (like their O2 saturation levels as well as heart rate). It is speculated that this is one of the reasons why singing lullabies to babies comes so naturally to parents and carers.
All babies deserve something truly special, and Vital Baby offers just that. New to South Africa, this family-focused range will soon be making a wave in the baby care industry.
The weaning period provides the baby with more nutrients and is also an important step for the psychological, emotional and educational development.
Breast-feeding is a special time for mom and baby alike. It creates excellent bonding, and is a primary immunity-building mechanism, but above all else, is the best way to issue nutrition to an infant. Yet it’s not always as simple as others would have us believe and most breast-feeding moms will admit to needing a little help along the way. Chicco has a fantastic range of breast-feeding accessories that can reduce some of the pain and keep breast-feeding a pleasant experience for moms. Chicco Nipple Shields are a silicone shield that fit naturally over the nipple with a tight, natural vacuum adhesion. The slit in the outer nipple allows milk to flow without pooling and the soft silicone is silky smooth, making it almost impossible for baby to tell the difference. They assist with chafing and rawness and allow nipples to recover without the risk of developing of spreading infection. Chicco Nipple Thermogels are perfect for sore, engorged breasts that would benefit from either a cold or hot compress. Easy to apply, the thermogels can be popped in the fridge to cool down, or heated in warm water, and fit perfectly around the breast inside a bra or just while mom rests. Anti-Bacterial Breast Pads from Chicco’s Natural Feeling range is most reliable and gentle way to remain dry all day whilst still breast-feeding. Made from breathable materials, the pads have anti-bacterial properties that help neutralise any bacteria that forms. They are available in packs of 30 or 60. Available at Baby City, www.takealot.com, www.loot.co.za, selected Kids Emporiums & www.Thekidzone.co.za
The Philips Avent breastfeeding range is designed to support you through every step of your breastfeeding journey. Whether you want to develop your milk supply, take care of your breasts, or simply fit more into your day, our breast care accessories make breastfeeding easier.
When my beautiful baby girl arrived, I was determined to breast feed, but, as many new moms will agree, it was far more complicated than I expected.
When little ones teeth start popping through, drool and irritation are par for the course. From as early as 4 months, small ‘baby’ teeth start appearing on the bottom gum line, causing symptoms that range from fevers, pain, upset stomach and drooling.
Surely, with how the world we live in is changing, and with all of our technological advances, something as old fashioned as nursery rhymes should be a thing of the past? Toddlers now have access to televisions, Ipads, cell phones and YouTube, and some even know how to operate these on their own…..so should nursery rhymes (which have been around for centuries) be given the boot?
As sleep consultants we rarely advise on nutritional problems and always refer our clients to registered dieticians when we do pick up on problems as we are sleep experts after all and NOT feeding experts. However, when we’re working together with parents who have smaller babies, we always address the feeding issue before addressing the sleep.
Think back to when your mom raised you, or perhaps when you had your oldest children in some cases. In those days we often co-slept with our babies out of sheer exhaustion, or found it was a guilty pleasure that made moms life easier, but ultimately it wasn’t deemed ideal for mom, nor baby.
Recent studies have proven a clear correlation between comfort and milk flow during expressing. Relaxed mothers feel more comfortable and express significantly more milk more easily. Independent research also confirms that infant suckling is a synergistic combination of breast compression and intra-oral vacuum, originating from the peristaltic action of the infants tongue.
Most pregnant moms find it hard to get comfortable in bed. Contrary to popular belief it is possible to get a comfortable night’s sleep when you’re pregnant.
A handy bottle warmer is the perfect way to ensure that food is easily warmed up without losing nutritional value, or kept warm for up to an hour – making sure that when baby needs a feed in a rush, you have the convenience right at hand.
In that moment, when this little life first comes into the world, you can’t help but become emotional. I cried big tears; I was overwhelmed with love and pride. The kind of pride that only jumps into your body the second your child is born, and it’s this newfound pride that stays with you from then onwards. “Dads, you are hugely influential in the eyes of your children. Don’t be content with the fact that you’re simply a dad. Instead, challenge yourself to become a dad who is a force in the lives of your wife and children.”
Yes! Both parents of a child have an obligation to pay for pregnancy related expenses, which are called lying-in expenses, pro-rata according to their means.
