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.
Prepare in advance for the financial changes a baby will bring. Start saving as soon as you know you are pregnant, so you get used to living on a reduced income
Kodak recently launched the CHERISH C525 Baby Monitor in South Africa and as I was looking for a video monitor for my new little baby, so I decided to give it a go. Although the Kodak brand is new to the baby monitor market in South Africa, Kodak has a proven record when producing quality cameras for many years. This gave me a sense of reassurance when purchasing a new product on the market.
Chicco introduces the 2in-1 Electric Steam Sterilizer. An easy, yet 99.9% effective sterilizer that uses the properties of steam to neutralize all known household germs within a matter of minutes. The sterilizer can handle not only feeding bottles, but also pacifiers and teething toys, due to its generous space capacity.
We ensure all our products are age and stage appropriate for your little ones.
The first time you take your baby to swimming lessons can be a slightly daunting experience for new parents. The logistics of getting them into their swimming nappy, keeping them warm and encouraging them it will be fun, is enough to put off many parents. However, most parents find there is nothing really to worry about once they try it. Remember to find a warm pool and keep swimming sessions short at first as babies can chill easily. stime you take your baby to swimming lessons can be a slightly
A soother, despite the role of calming a child and aiding sleep, plays an important role in proper oral development. It is therefore vital that it’s designed to fit perfectly inside the baby’s mouth, ensuring correct, uniformly distributed pressure of the tongue on the palate.
Starting solid foods is an exciting time for you and your baby. Research shows that it is most beneficial to introduce solid foods around 6 months of age (but never before 4 months!).
Fiber helps keep your tot’s digestion regular. Protein is a key building block of little growing bodies and is essential for muscle development.
Finding Natural and Organic snacks for our precious toddlers can be a hard task. With so many options available for us, we never know which one to purchase. The Happy Family Organics Team sent through a few samples to try and boy did they go down well with our taste testing team. The Happy Tot Fibre & protein bar is delicious. Not only is it gluten free but if you read their article on the importance of Fibre in your child’s diet, you would certainly be throwing a few into your trolley!The bar itself contains not only whole grains but the sweet delicious taste of apples really makes this an easy purchase. The bars themselves are light, soft so you know that your tot will be ok with it. It is also a great way to introduce a new texture to their feeding regiment. Then we have the Happy Baby Organic Yogis. These gluten free yoghurt fruit drops would be the best way to describe them. They are delicious. I was pleasantly surprised that although they were small, that they melted quickly in your mouth thus making it safe for your tot.Best of all there is no gelatine or artificial flavours. Your child also learns how to pick smaller items up in a safe way thus working on their fine motor skills. I certainly love the packaging. I have sat a few times at a store and wondered if my baby’s were ready to try a particular product. On their packaging they give a clear indication that your child may be ready for Organic Yogis when he or she can: Pull self up to stand with support Crawl without tummy touching the ground Use jaws to mash food between gums Pick up food to eat with thumb and forefinger This small amount of information can really be reassuring to any parent making a purchase! Happy Family Organics extensive range of products is available at all Baby City stores, Babies R Us, Dis-Chem, Wellness Warehouse, Selected Clicks, Selected Spars, Selected Pick N Pay stores, Selected Baby Boom stores and online from Takealot.com, Babiesafrica.com and Faithful to NaturePlease do remember that at all times your tot should be supervised during feeding and snack times.
Munchkin, the award-winning global baby lifestyle company expands its commitment to animal conservation organisations through a new line of its #1 selling Miracle® 360° cup, called “Wild Love,” designed to feature at-risk animals. The cups, now available at Baby City, help families teach children empathy and respect for animals at a time when more than one million species are threatened with extinction. Inspired by the important work these organizations are doing, Munchkin is making a substantial donation to both the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and The Whale Sanctuary Project.
Parenting is not easy. But, parenting a child on the spectrum is even harder. This is because there are numerous challenges that come with it. One of the challenges is explaining to your neurotypical child about their ASD sibling.
