Baby - Parenting Hub

THE LATEST NEWS TO HELP YOU with your journey

Breastfeeding rate shoots up by 357%

A third of South African children under six months old are now exclusively breastfed. This represents a nearly five-fold increase over the last twenty years.* This massive shift is largely thanks to the combined efforts of breastfeeding advocates, healthcare providers and government. The South African Breastmilk Reserve (SABR) in partnership with Provincial departments of Health in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Limpopo, Northern Cape and North West Province has aided thousands of mothers and babies with access to breastmilk banks and breastfeeding support. “The dramatic increase in breastfeeding rates would not have been possible without the sustained partnership between the Department of Health (DOH), healthcare providers and organisations like the SABR,” says Daddy Matthews, Deputy Director of Nutrition at the Limpopo Department of Health (LDOH). Last year the LDOH expanded its human milk banking activities, aiming to protect, promote and support breastfeeding, by establishing the first state-of-the-art human milk banking facility in Limpopo at Mankweng Provincial Hospital. This is the first of four new public sector human milk banks proposed for rollout in Limpopo. In 1998 the South African Demographic and Health Survey (SADHS) found that just 7% of infants under the age of six months were exclusively breastfed. The latest edition of the survey found that that proportion had increased to 32% by 2016. “The survey is welcome evidence that society can and will change its attitude to breastfeeding, given the right interventions,” says Stasha Jordan, breastfeeding activist and Executive Director of the SABR, sponsored by founding partner Netcare and Discovery. Since its inception in 2003, the SABR has set up, operated and handed over 51 human milk banks, serving over 100 hospitals throughout South Africa. These banks provide much-needed breastmilk to both premature babies of mothers who have difficulty initiating lactation, and orphaned babies. The human milk banking initiative is one of the numerous efforts that, coupled with the implementation of the ‘Mother and Baby Friendly Health Initiative’ of the NDOH, have contributed to the quintupling of breastfeeding rates for infants under six months old. “We are lucky to have great partners in the Provincial and National Departments of Health, Discovery, and Netcare. Together we have helped save the lives of thousands of premature and very-low-birth-weight infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) around the country and promoted exclusive breastfeeding for all children,” explains Jordan. “As positive as the results of the SADHS are, we still have a long way to go,” says Matthews. “In order to meet the Sustainable Development Goals set for 2025, exclusive breastfeeding rates of infants up to six months old need to increase to fifty percent. The growing availability of human milk banks means that babies without access to their mothers’ milk can still be fed on breastmilk,” he continued. “As we celebrate World Breastfeeding Week in the first week of August, we should see these results as a call to redouble our efforts,” urges Jordan. “There is no question that breastfeeding gives babies their best possible start to life. We must educate and support mothers, enabling them to breastfeed and thereby grow food security for children in Africa and decrease infant mortality and morbidity rates,” she continued. “In order to continue this positive trend, we need more active and widespread support from business and civil society,” says Matthews. “For example, breastfeeding in public is still seen as taboo, and many breastfeeding mothers are not adequately supported at their workplaces. All sectors of our society must work together if we are to reach our goal,” he concluded. To get involved and alleviate the challenges faced by the South African Breastmilk Reserve (SABR), including low breastfeeding rates in South Africa, sourcing donor mothers and funding for the operation of the milk banks, please visit www.sabr.org.za or call 011 482 1920 or e-mail: info@sabr.org.za. References: * South Africa Demographic and Health Survey 2016, Stats SA http://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/Report%2003-00-09/Report%2003-00-092016.pdf ABOUT SOUTH AFRICAN BREASTMILK RESERVE The South African Breastmilk Reserve (SABR) is a not-for-profit, human milk banking organisation, founded in 2003. While we are primarily an altruistic human milk banking network, we also focus on breastfeeding advocacy and promotion, in order to grow breastfeeding rates in South Africa. Our vision is to decrease infant mortality resulting from Necrotising Enterocolitis (NEC) and mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV through the formation of numerous community-driven, breastmilk banks and educational programmes. The SABR’s operations during the period 2014 – 2015 involved 51 human milk banking hospitals, as well as an ever-growing number of hospital facilities (currently 87) seeking assistance from the SABR Head Office. During this period, we improved the lives of 2 845 premature infants. This was a 67.8% increase from the previous year. In the period 2016 – 2017, a number of human milk banks have been emancipated and absorbed into parallel human milk banking initiatives, thus paving the way for sustainability and independent banking. The SABR is one of the key partners informing the proposed ‘Regulatory Framework for Human Milk Banking’ of the Nations Department of Health. https://www.sabr.org.za/milk-banks.html The SABR is a member of the South African Civil Society for Women’s Adolescents’ and Children’s Health (SACSoWACH), a coalition of 22 civil society organizations that work to bring health care to the needy. http://sacsowach.org/index.php/partners

August 2, 2017

Similac Mom® on the basics of breastfeeding

Many Pregnant women have concerns on whether they will succeed in breastfeeding or if they will produce enough milk. For first time mothers breastfeeding can be a harrowing experience, but it is a learned skill, help is at hand from your doctor, midwife, nurse or healthcare professionals. When it comes to feeding your baby it’s important to know and understand the benefits of breast milk: Breast milk contains the perfect balance of nutrients to help your baby fight infection and common child illness Breast milk is convenient, always available and is delivered at the right temperature Breastfeeding helps stimulate your uterus to return to its pre-pregnant state Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer Breast milk is all your baby needs in its first four to six months of life, but you need to continue eating a well-balanced diet because what you eat or drink may affect both you and your baby. To ensure that you have the right amount of nutrients, try adding Similac® Mom to your daily diet. Similac® Mom is a complete nutritional* low-fat milk-based maternal supplement shake, containing 23 essential vitamins and minerals, protein, DHA (omega-3 fatty acid), and prebiotics. It is scientifically formulated to support your increased nutritional needs during pregnancy and breastfeeding, all your need is one to two servings per day. While you focus on being a mom you can rest assured that by taking Similac® Mom you are doing the best not just for yourself but also for your baby right from the very beginning. Similac® Mom aids in the following²: For Mom²: Low-fat, low calorie, helps manage weight during pregnancy and while breastfeeding Helps build your immune defences Supports healthy digestion Helps reduce the risk of iron deficiency anaemia Vitamin D and FOS, a prebiotic, have been shown to improve calcium absorption For baby²: Improved calcium absorption ensuring sufficient calcium is available to support the development of your baby’s bones. Provides nutrients to support the development of your child’s brain Folic acid helps reduce the risk of neural tube defects “Similac® Mom is an easy and convenient way to ensure a complete nutritional solution for expecting as well as for breastfeeding moms It is really important for moms to look after themselves and to acknowledge that they also require additional support to ensure that they are happy and healthy”, says Angela Russell, General Manager at Abbott Nutrition. Similac® Mom is available at all major pharmacies, selected retail outlets as well as online shopping. SOURCE: ABBOTT NUTRITION

August 2, 2017

SIDS Explained

One of the scariest things for all parents is the reality of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is the unexplained, unexpected death of a baby who is less than one year old. Because it usually occurs when the infant is sleeping, it is sometimes called “cot death”. What catapults SIDS into pole position in the realm of fear, is that it is unfortunately the leading cause of death in babies under the age of 1 year. What you need to know about SIDS: It is a very real thing! It’s unwise to assume that “it will never happen to me”, as approximately 2500 babies die from SIDS annually in the USA. The primary age group that suffers from SIDS are babies aged between 4 and 6 months. The syndrome affects more boys than girls. SIDS occurs more frequently in cold or inclement weather. Steps to ensure that your child is safe: A safe sleep environment is fundamentally important: Make sure nothing covers the baby’s head. Use a firm sleep surface, such as a mattress in a safety-approved crib, covered with a fitted sheet. Do not use pillows, blankets, sheepskins, or crib-bumpers anywhere in your baby’s sleep area. Keep soft objects, toys and loose bedding safely stored away from your baby’s sleep area. Positioning: Always place your baby on his or her back to sleep, for naps as well as at night. While some parents are concerned that a baby sleeping on its back is more likely to choke on vomit or spit-up, according to the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP), lying on the back does not increase this risk. Babies normally cough up or swallow fluids on their own with no choking problems. Note: Parents of babies who have been diagnosed with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) or certain upper airway problems should consult their doctors about back sleeping. In some cases, stomach sleeping is recommended, but this should always be at the recommendation of the child’s physician. Make sure that your baby’s airway is not obstructed. This means that your baby should never have his/her chin on his chest. This occurs in car seats, slings, and even while breastfeeding. Keep in mind that your child breathes primarily through his/her nose and this needs to be open and unobstructed. A baby’s head is heavy. Until your little one displays good neck control, it is important to ensure that it is always well supported. How can I reduce the risk of SIDS for my child? Never EVER smoke during pregnancy or expose your child to smoke thereafter. Conform to the required and recommended health care during pregnancy. Breastfeed your baby. Ensure your baby sleeps in a room with a comfortable temperature (not exceeding 23 degrees Celsius) during sleep. Give your baby plenty of tummy-time when he/she is awake and when someone responsible is watching. Where should my baby sleep? Whether parents should co-sleep or not is heavily debated topic. Studies have proven that co-sleeping increases the risk of SIDS. In many cases, infant death associated with co-sleeping is not the result of SIDS, but rather of accidental asphyxiation. Babies can suffocate if a parent changes sleep positions and accidently blocks the baby’s airway. Infants who sleep face-to-face with a parent are more susceptible to inhaling the carbon dioxide that the parent exhales. Soft, fluffy bedding can also suffocate an infant. If you do want to co-sleep, Good Night HIGHLY recommends safe co-sleeping options such as a crib extension to the bed.

July 26, 2017

Baby’s first visit to the doctor

Diana Du Plessis on behalf of Philips Mother and Child Division It’s only natural for parents to worry about their baby’s health – they seem so fragile and as new parents, you are likely to panic about every cry, rash or change in behaviour. However, many niggles are a natural part of baby’s development and can be treated at home and as you become more experienced, you get to you know your baby better – enabling you to understand their cries and needs – where the anxiety somewhat settles and you become more adept in dealing with minor ailments. Many of the problems experienced in the early months are usually related to the baby adjusting to the new environment. Their skin might be flaky or there may be skin blotches that look unsightly. They will also be vulnerable to minor infections such as eye infections and thrush and, although it is a common occurrence, it will without a doubt worry you. In fact, it is a given that your baby will become unwell with at least one minor illness in the first year of life and you might find it difficult to assess if they need to be taken to the doctor. A rule of thumb is: They are crying more or different than usual Not taking his/her feeds Generally seem “off” – lethargic, restless or irritable for example. * See Symptom Checklist If you suspect that something is wrong, make a note of what symptoms you observed and contact your medical practitioner or clinic sister urgently as young babies can become very ill, quickly. Trust your instincts, especially in the first months. Finding the right doctor It is not necessary to take your baby to the paediatrician every time they seem ill. Your GP is well trained to manage all general symptoms, however, it is always better to choose a person who is experienced with babies and who can relate to children. If your doctor seems insensitive to the needs of the child, you may want to consider a different doctor. Ask family or friends with children who they trust – word of mouth goes a long way! Some medical centres make a real effort to accommodate mothers with young children and offer toys and books, while others do not (let this be a subtle clue to you) and as such, it might be necessary to pack your own toys and some clean clothes (if nausea is a symptom). Whatever the case, it is essential to feel comfortable and confident about who treats your baby. Ensure that the practitioner you choose is qualified and registered with the appropriate professional organisations. Ask the practitioner or receptionist about her training and number of years in practice. Trust your intuition – if you don’t like or feel confident with the practitioner you have chosen, or if the baby doesn’t seem settled with him or her, go elsewhere. Meeting the doctor If you haven’t met the doctor yet, you might feel anxious, but at the onset, tell him who you are and what you do/did before you had the baby. Make it clear that you will be with your baby throughout the consultation – this is especially essential when the child is bigger and able to understand. What’s more it’s important to keep your baby on your lap, facing the doctor, so that they feel safe and not suddenly confronted with a stranger touching them. Do not hand your baby over to the doctor without telling them you are there – make eye contact so that your baby can always see you. To ensure you get the best out of the visit, here are some tips: Have a note ready with your baby’s symptoms or some of you your concerns. Don’t be scared to tell them about the home remedies you used. Rather be open and honest, as some remedies may interfere with the treatment that the doctor prescribes. Don’t worry if you feel you are being dramatic. Babies rely on their mother to identify problems. If you are concerned about a possible contact with measles, mention it to the doctor, they don’t have X-ray vision after all. Remember, it’s not always necessary to go to a medical practitioner. Many of the first illnesses can be diagnosed and treated effectively by a good clinic sister. However, do not hesitate to obtain medical help and support if you think your baby or child is sick. Prevention or early management of small problems is much better than reactive courses. It’s natural to worry as a parent but often times a few adjustments can help the minor ailment experienced. Having said that however, it’s essential that you watch your baby, their reactions to food, their weight and of course if they are in any pain or discomfort to ensure you can consult your medical practitioner to ensure your baby’s start is a healthy, happy one. Symptom Checklist Fever (over 37,5 C) Monitor 4-6 hourly Diarrhea (very runny or watery stools & mucus) Vomiting (more than twice in 24 hours) Rashes (that do not resolve untreated within 24 hours) Sore throat & fever Earache & fever Swollen glands (which often indicate the beginning of an infection) Coughing if prolonged or accompanied by mild shortness of breath & a reddened or blue face. Eyes (reddened or pink or a mucus or pus discharge) Headache & neck stiffness General irritability and crying with a constant need for attention Abdominal pain (especially in the right lower abdomen) Shortness of breath (especially if your child is asthmatic) Burning on urination Passing mucus in the stool Joint pain especially if accompanied by fever

July 24, 2017

What is the difference between a night nurse and a night nanny?

Your babies have arrived home and you are so excited to finally have two or even three bundles to finally put into the nursery that you have spent countless hours decorating. There has been many a day you have sat in the arm chair carefully positioned staring into the cots dreaming about the moment you will get to see and touch your babies. You couldn’t wait to hear the cries and immediately kick into ‘ mom mode” and take charge of the situation offering endless hugs and kisses. That can all change in one sleepless night as you begin to wonder how you are going to get through the night and still sleep and then take care of your babies during the day. Many families resort the use of a night nanny or night nurse. This is a costly exercise but as many will tell you even one or two nights off “mom and dad” duty a week can give anybody the sanity that they miss. Aupairs Exclusive has been placing night nurses in Gauteng and KZN for ten years. They find that the most common schedule is to have a nurse work is from Sunday to Thursday night as dad is home to help on a Friday and Saturday night. Another common option is one night on and one night off, this makes it more affordable and still gives you a chance to have some sleep. For this option you are ideally looking at a Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday night. What is the difference between a night nurse and a night nanny? The biggest difference would be the qualifications. A night nurse is exactly as it states a qualified nurse who has worked either in the maternity ward, paediatrics or NICU. A night nanny is a lady who has a care workers certificate and has also completed her practicals. Both ladies could have also completed a basic sleep training course that Aupairs Exclusive offers and is taught by Pikanini Baby Academy. They ladies will also earn different salaries. Both ladies will wear a uniform when on duty How long are their contracts? There is no minimum requirement for this so one can employ a nurse for one week or for six months to a year. it is entirely up to you. The norm is to have a person for 3 months and then extend it month by month if needed until you babies are sleeping through. Nobody wants to pay someone to sit and watch their babies sleep. What do I need to provide for my night nurse? So long as there is a comfortable armchair in the room for her to sit on nothing else is needed. Some households have a single bed in the room if there is enough space. This is not always recommend as you don’t want your nurse falling into a deep sleep. Another option is to allow the nurse to sit in the lounge and watch TV quietly if you have baby monitors that she can use. Providing meals is not expected but tea and coffee and a light snack is something that should be available for her during the night Can I use a night nurse if I am breast feeding? Most definitely. The nurse will come and wake you up at the time you have asked her to and then assist you with the breast feeding. She may help you latch the babies on if you are struggling. She will then take them and burp them as they finish drinking, change their nappies and put them back to sleep. This assistance cuts down your awake time and you don’t need to stay in the room and still try and settle them. If baby drinks slowly this allows you time to bond with this baby while the other one is being attended to. What duties can you expect the nurse to perform? If it fits into your schedule she can bath the babies when she arrives. She will then prepare bottles, feed the babies, burp them and put them down to sleep. The nurse will also empty the nappy bins and wash and sterilise bottles before she leaves in the morning. You can also expect her to keep a chart so that you know what time the babies ate, how much they ate and if they had any dirty nappies. What are the working hours of a night nurse? The ladies work a 12 hour shift, the most common is 18 h00 to 6am or 19h00 to 7am. The seven to seven option is usually better as this allows the night nurse time to give a hand over to any day staff that may be arriving What should I look for when I am interviewing potential candidates? The ideal candidate will have worked previously in homes with multiples. Hospital trained staff are not necessarily the best candidates because they have many hands to help them while on shift so they have not taken sole care of a child for 12 hours. A former night nanny will have taken care of the twins on her own for 12 hours and this is the type of reference you want. You would also want to know if she knows about sleep training and if it is a method you approve of. An important question you could ask is how will she feed two babies at the same time and then put them down to sleep. Very important is that the mom feels a connection with the candidate. The bedroom is small and if your are breast feeding you are going o be spending a lot of time with her. You do not want someone that you clash with. Some moms want a nurse that comes in and takes over, this is often the case with first time moms. Other moms would prefer a nurse that listens to their requirements and follows the routine set out by the mom even if it is not something

July 17, 2017

The Importance of Early Brain Development

As parents we want what is best for our children and want to teach and help them grow into successful, well-rounded adults. To achieve this we need to invest in the development of our children’s brains. The emotional, social and physical development of young children has a direct effect on their overall development and on the adult they will become. That is why understanding the need to invest in very young children is so important, so as to maximise their future well-being. Neurological research has shown that the early years play a vital role in the brain development of children. Babies start to learn about the world around them from a very early age and these first learning experiences deeply affect their future physical, emotional, social and cognitive development. These early learning experiences start just before and after birth already, so starting young is extremely important as optimizing and investing in your child’s early years sets them up for success later in life. According to James J. Heckman, a Nobel laureate and Director of the Centre for the Economics of Human Development at the University of Chicago, “Learning starts in infancy, long before formal education begins, and continues throughout life. Early learning begets later learning and early success breeds later success, just as early failure breeds later failure. As a society, we cannot afford to postpone investing in children until they become adults, nor can we wait until they reach school age – a time when it may be too late to intervene. The best evidence supports the policy prescription: invest in the very young and improve basic learning and socialising skills.” As parents we often don’t know how to optimally develop our children’s brains and the very dedicated spend hours researching on the internet. Skidz Clever Activity Boxes has done everything for you. The age ranges start from birth until five years and the program has been developed by four experts in early childhood development. It includes an easy to follow manual and the equipment used to do the many activities. Using the Skidz program gives you time to play and have fun with your child while they learn and develop, as well as the peace of mind knowing that you are doing age appropriate activities with them. You can follow Skidz on Facebook at www.facebook.com/skidzsa The website for more info and orders is http://skidz.co.za or email us at info@skidz.co.za

July 15, 2017

Ban the baby blues

Around 20% of new mothers experience ‘the blues’ or postnatal depression, and almost all new moms at some stage in the first month or two have weepy sessions. The changes to the body both during pregnancy and afterwards are huge, but here again with the correct nutrition during and after pregnancy, you can get around many of the causative factors of the blues. Important DIY deficiency symptom tests The blues can be caused by several things, but a lack of three main ones are noted: zinc, Vitamin B6 and essential fatty acids (notably Omega-3s from fish oil). Take these three little tests to see whether you are deficient in any three nutrients. TEST 1 Are there white marks on your finger nails? Do you have stretch-marks? Is your appetite poor? Is your sense of taste and smell poor? If you answered YES to the first two and any others, you may have a zinc deficiency at this time. The worse it is, the more symptoms you will have. Zinc is such an important nutrient, and one many people are deficient in anyway, but particularly after giving birth. If you are deficient, supplement a zinc tablet of 15-22mg a day twice a day until you start to notice you are feeling better, then take just one tablet a day. TEST 2 Do you have pain and stiffness in arms and/or hands? Have you got painful ‘knots’ on the last joint of your fingers? Do you get headaches? Do you suffer from: Bad breath, dizziness, extreme nervousness? Burning pain and/or abdominal cramps? Lethargy? Dizziness? Swollen ankles? An itching red rash around genitals? Sore lips, mouth and tongue? Lots of dandruff? Do you take Theophylline for asthma? Once again the more ‘YES’ answers here, the more your need for Vitamin B6 is obvious. A good starting point is to take a quality brand B-complex supplement. Find one which has around 50mg of each B vitamin, as B vitamins work best together. Too much of one B vitamin for too long ends up depleting the others, so take a complex to avoid this happening. Check that you get about 50mg of Vitamin B6 in this supplement, otherwise if not sufficient, add a good Vitamin b6 in addition to this Vitamin B complex. TEST 3 Is your skin very dry? Do you have stretch-marks? Do you have extremely dry hair? Is there a ‘goosebump’ rash on the upper arms and/or upper thighs? Do you sometimes experience excessive thirst? Do you experience frequent urination? Do you have attention problems? Are you depressed/anxious? If you answered YES to these you are likely to be deficient in Omega-3 essental fatty acids, and a good fish oil supplement which is ultra-refined (mercury-free) will help to restore you to your old self. A supplement is strongly recommended, even though fish is the source of these helpful fatty acids, and we should be eating fish regularly as part of a healthy diet. However, we just don’t get enough of what we need anymore unless we take good quality supplements and this is no exception. Super nutrients for super milk production then are going to include foods rich in these ingredients to ensure that you are covering all those nutrients. In effect, eating a diet rich in wholegrains, fibre, vegetables, healthy fats, ‘clean’ protein free of hormones and antibiotics, together with plenty of purified water will be best for any new mom. Essential nutrients As can be seen from the above three tests, Vitamins B6, zinc and healthy fats are pivotal at this time. But they are not the only ones you should be concerned with. By taking a specialised pregnancy or prenatal supplement, you will be getting all the important nutrients needed for yourself and your baby at this time. If you find from the above tests that you are still short in Vitamin B6 and zinc, these needs to be added. Omega-3 essential fatty acids from fish oil are always needed, whether you are showing a deficiency or not. Food sources of these nutrients: Good sources of Vitamin B6 are fish, bananas, chicken, pork, wholegrains and dried beans. Good sources of zinc include pumpkin seeds, beef, lamb, turkey, chicken, salmon, wholegrain cereals, brown rice, wholewheat bread, potatoes and yoghurt. Good sources of Omega-3 essential fatty acids cannot be eaten successfully other than from a seafood source. Eating fatty fish is good, and fish oil supplements from a purified supplement is an excellent source of pure bio-available EPA and DHA. As seen earlier, flaxseed oil is not a substitute in this instance as the conversion rate is virtually non-existent. We advise against krill oil mainly for humane reasons, as this is the bottom of the food chain, and the food of penguins and whales. Studies are showing that their food source is now under threat due to over-harvesting of the drill in the oceans. We get plenty of Omega-6 fatty acids from a diet high in plants, lean meats, nuts and seeds – so there really is no need to supplement this unless you show a serious deficiency.

July 15, 2017

Do Cribs Cause Brain Damage?

We recently received a message from one of our followers to ask our opinion on the type of articles that are claiming that sleeping in cribs can cause brain damage in babies. Munchkins Coach Celeste Rushby, who is also an Occupational Therapist and mother of 3 (all of which were born very prematurely) answers: ‘’Over the past few years I have read, amongst many others, Jill Bergman’s book (Hold your Prem) and have also attended many courses presented by Dr Nils Bergman, who is an expert on Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) and its positive effects on young babies, especially premature infants. I have also attended numerous other baby sleep courses. I also studied Neurodevelopment Supportive Care of High-Risk Infants and read many articles about the research on baby sleep and the neural implications of various environmental influences that have an impact on it. Unfortunately, I have often found that a selection of social media articles incorrectly reference some of the above-mentioned books/courses – often twisting the wording in the hopes of selling their own views on the subject. Firstly, these articles often refer to studies that have been done with “infants”. The term infant can refer to any child, ranging between the ages of new born to 12 months old. The generalisation is a concern, since the actual age of the baby is extremely important in formulating relevant conclusions. Results of these type of studies done on a 2-week old baby, for example, would differ significantly when done on, say, a 6-month old baby. Personally, I encourage moms to practice Kangaroo Mother Care and baby wearing often for the first 6 weeks, while baby adjusts to the change from womb to world (or until 4-6 weeks adjusted age for premature infants). That is when babies need it. Then we gradually help baby to feel comfortable in his/her own cot by including mom’s scent on a cuddle blankie, along with slow, rhythmic patting (to mimic mom’s heartbeat in the womb) and a sucking tool to help baby transition to the comfort of the cot – but never leaving the baby to cry at this stage. Often referred to as ‘’Ferberizing’’ (thanks to Dr Ferber who first started with this method), is the old ‘’cry out method’’ where you put baby down in the cot, walk out, close the door and leave baby to scream and scream to eventually give up and pass out. Doing this can actually cause baby to go into fight-flight-fright mode, which releases cortisol and adrenaline hormones. This is what is referred to when articles start referencing neurological damage and a reduction in brain growth. It can also make baby feel rejected and unloved with possible long-term negative psychological effects. Some sleep trainers still encourage the use of this method, which is not a method that I support at all. The proposed “research” offered in the specific articlethat this response is based on, that compares co-sleeping babies to cot-sleeping babies, was conducted on a mere 16 babies. Accurate medical research would only be recognised when conducted with AT LEAST 1 000 babies. Nevertheless, the reason that babies who sleep on mom have far more “quiet sleep” versus their cot-sleeping counterparts is quite simply, due to the Moro reflex (also known as the startle reflex). If the cot-sleepers were sleeping on their tummies (like those sleeping on their moms’ chests) or if they had been swaddled when in side- or back-sleeping positions, they wouldn’t be having any autonomic responses which are caused by the Moro reflex – especially if given a sucking tool. The Moro reflex is responsible for the frequent waking (with arms flailing) in un-swaddled back- or side-sleeping babies, and continues until 12 to 15 weeks old. Articles that are written on these topics can often be disturbing due to misconstrued information that is offered up as “research”, with highlighted extracts such as “stress and lack of sleep damages brain development”.And it can, of course, but not in the way that these articles are claiming. A baby that is dependent on mom to fall asleep (after 10 to 12 weeks) is also dependent on mom to put them BACK to sleep after every sleep cycle. This broken sleep is not only bad for baby’s development and health, but terrible for mom too! How on earth are you supposed to be an affectionate, caring, nurturing mother (which is what your baby needs most) when you are stressed and severely sleep deprived? When mom and baby sleep well, both are SOOO much happier, and have better brain function and immune systems, as well as better overall psychological health and a stronger bond with each other. Babies over 6 weeks do not NEED their moms to assist them to achieve sleep happily and comfortably without any stress. Unfortunately, parents often make the mistake of teaching their babies that they aren’t able to self-soothe, and need their mother’s help. This continues to become a learnt behaviour which leads to dependence on external sources to help them fall asleep (and stay asleep). I have often found when helping parents who’s 6month+ old babies are still dependent on mom to fall asleep (and to stay asleep), that the babies are anxious at sleep time and “fight” sleep. But in the case where baby has been gradually and age-appropriately taught to self-soothe, the babies would be more likely to enjoy a little cuddle with mommy, then just about dive into their cots with the same “oh yay, it’s sleep time” feeling we experience when we get to go to bed! They are then most likely to happily roll over with their cuddle blankie and peacefully drift off to sleep. Then everyone gets good quality sleep, which results in good quality awake time too!’’

July 15, 2017

Why the is stimulation of little babies so important?

When it comes to stimulation in babies, there seems to be two camps: On the one side we have people who don’t see the need for it and say, “What can a baby do in anyway? They are still so tiny and dependant” or “There is no need to stimulate and teach children before the age of 3.” And then we have the other side, who mostly work with children, who say that it is extremely important to stimulate and teach a child form as early as possible. Starting with baby massage.” So what does the research show? Research indicates that children learn best in an environment which allows them to explore, discover and play. It is also closely tied to the development of cognitive, socio-emotional and physical behaviours. The problem, especially for first time parents, is that the amount of information and research is overwhelming and parents often don’t know where to begin. Add time constraints to this and parents find themselves spending more time researching what to do to aid in their child’s development, than actually playing and bonding with their children. Why is stimulation little babies so important? Recent brain research has found that an infant’s environment dramatically affects brain-building and healthy development. This early stage of brain development results in how and how well one thinks and learns both as children and as adults. You might have heard the expression that children have sponges for brains as they soak everything in. This is because of a biological need and desire to learn. During the first years of a baby’s life, the brain is building the wiring system. Stimulation and activity in the brain creates these connections called synapses. The amount of stimulation received directly affects how many synapses are formed and so repetitive and consistent stimulation strengthens these connections and makes them permanent. Researchers have discovered that the foundational networking of a brain’s synapses is nearly complete by 3 years of age. This shows us that we as parents and caregivers have an important job to assist in building the brain especially in the first 3 years of a child’s life. The SkidZ program focuses on one-on-one stimulation. Infants have a natural and definite preference for the human face, voice, touch and smell, above everything else and so an infant’s best toy is you, the parent or caregiver. Children learn through play and we encourage them to explore and discover, using you as their caregiver and items provided in the SkidZ Clever Activity Boxes. We as parents easily fall into the trap of constantly buying new toys, which they get bored of quickly, when research clearly shows that toys are not their first preference. Playing with a caregiver is. This starts as early as birth with baby massage. SkidZ provides you as a parent or caregiver with an easy to follow manual, filled with age appropriate stimulating activities, to help develop your child’s brain and to aid in them reaching their developmental milestones. It has been developed by four experts in Early Childhood Development, making sure that all developmental milestones are covered. We have done all the work for you, covering what to do and why, and have provided you with the information, so that all your available time can be spent with your child. What do these babies do? Well, we start with baby massage which wakes up the brain and builds brain connections regarding body awareness. As they grow older we help strengthen core muscles and encourage exploration. And so the program covers all the basics such as gross and fine motor skills, auditory, speech, language and cognitive development etc. It even teaches children some independence.

July 15, 2017

Introducing Huggies® Hugwear For Moving Babies – Mom’s Choose Your Fit

Having a newborn baby is a magical experience for many moms. It is a time for you to hug, cuddle and watch your little one grow and reach those little milestones. With each passing day you notice something different, a new movement or sound, those 0-3-month-old onesie buttons start to pop open and sleep time is making way for more play time. Before you know it your little new born is moving and wriggling all over the house. This new stage of movement and activity is an exciting time for both mom and baby. Your little one is more aware and ready for every adventure, including finding all the little hiding places around the house or in the garden. With your little one’s new sense of exploring and adventure comes a lot more movement from them and a lot more running around for mom. Studies have shown that babies can cover anywhere between 1 km and 7 km in a single day, an average of 3km, which is a lot of movement in just one day. This amount of movement comes with its own set of challenges like making sure that your little mover feels comfortable and happy while exploring. Moms know their little ones the best which is why Huggies® is encouraging moms to choose their fit between Huggies® Pants and Huggies® Gold. “Assessing your little one’s nappy during this stage is essential and we at Huggies® know that there is no better person to do this but mom. Huggies® Pants and Huggies® Gold nappies have different and specific fits with their own set of benefits. We want to encourage mom to try both the Huggies® Pants and Huggies® Gold nappies and to choose the right fit for her and her little mover,” says Morné van Emmenes, Senior Brand Manager. Huggies® Pants are as absorbent as regular open nappies, and are also uniquely designed to fit like underwear. The all-round soft and stretchy waistband prevents the nappy pants from slipping down and the double leg elastic gently surrounds and hugs baby’s legs for a secure fit to prevent any leaks. With up to 12 hours of dryness and tailored absorbency, which means the absorbent zone is more centrally placed for girls, and is higher up for boys. All of these features come together in gender specific designs to allow for more comfort and effectiveness for precious little boys and girls. And because Huggies® knows just how busy your little one is, the best news is that they are easy to put on and take off. The soft breathable outer cover also includes Disney© designs of Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Huggies® Gold has a stretchy waistband and stretchy fasteners for a comfortable fit. Apart from offering a snug and comfy fit, Huggies® Gold for Boys and Girls also has a DryTouch™ liner which is ultra-soft for improved skin protection. It draws wetness away from your baby in seconds, distributing the fluid evenly inside the absorbent core. The nappies still provide special tailored absorption, accommodating the differences between boys and girls, with the unique Huggies® Gold nappy shape, made to facilitate extra contentment. The soft, breathable designs have pictures of ©Disney’s Mickey and Minnie Mouse to suit your little Boy or Girl. “Huggies® Hugwear for Moving Baby’s will allow your little explorer to continue discovering the world without any interruptions, providing a quick and convenient solution to nappy changing, giving you both more time to enjoy your precious moments together. So moms, choose your fit and trust Huggies® Pants or Huggies® Gold to give your baby a hug that’s made for movement,” concludes Morné van Emmenes, Senior Brand Manager. Available at major retailers, Huggies® Pants for Boys and Girls are available in four sizes – size 3 (7-12 kg), size 4 (9-14 kg), size 5 (12-17 kg) and size 6 (15-25 kg). Huggies® Gold for Boys and Girls comes in four sizes: size 3 (6 – 10 kg); size 4 (8 – 14 kg); size 4+ (12 – 16 kg) and size 5 (15+ kg). About Huggies® Huggies® is known for providing a range of nappies for every stage of a baby’s life. From the very first moment up until the last time they wear a nappy. The range consists of Huggies® Preemies, Huggies® My First Nappy, Huggies® New Baby, Huggies® Pants for Boys and Girls, Huggies® Gold for Boys and Girls, Huggies® Dry Comfort®, and Huggies® Little Swimmers®. They also offer a range of wipes – Huggies® Newborn, Huggies® Natural Care and now Disney Huggies® wipes. Huggies® is part of Kimberly-Clark South Africa, a subsidiary of the US-based Kimberly-Clark Corporation which market innovative health and hygiene products that people come into contact with every day. Find us: Website – www.huggies.co.za ; Facebook – HuggiesSA and Twitter @huggies_sa.

July 14, 2017

How early learning builds a child’s other abilities

We often read articles and speak to Early Childhood Development experts such as Paediatricians and Occupational Therapists, who assess a child’s progress based on developmental milestones. Being a part of many mommy groups, I often find some moms who say that this focus on milestones is misguided. The problem is that many don’t really understand why looking at milestones as a guideline is important. Some even say things like “My child didn’t crawl and she is fine”, but what measures as fine? I’m not talking about major problems or delays in development, but things that we only see later in life. It is also important to note that these developmental skills that are learnt and developed through exploration and play, is the foundation of other skills used later in life. Investing in the development of your child especially in the first few years cannot be emphasised enough. The easiest way to explore this would be through examples, so here goes. When a baby is born, he can’t see or hear very well and his sensations are far from perfect. When looking at visual stimulation babies need to be exposed to high contrast colours and patterns. In the earliest months a baby lays down the main ‘visual pathways’ of his brain. The cortex of his brain has 6 layers of cell which transmit different signals from the retina in the eyes to the back of the brain. On layer for example transmits vertical lines, another horizontal. Others will deal with circles, triangle and squares. If, for example, a baby would only see horizontal lines, then when he crawled or walked he would continually be banging into the legs of tables and chairs because the visual pathways which where laid earlier could not process vertical lines. Here are some more examples of how what a child physically does in the first few years of life plays a major part in how well he will develop other abilities. The Brainstem: Controls the flow of messages between the brain and the rest of the body. Activity learnt: Grasping Touching Crawling Walking Reaching Turning Pushing Pulling. These activities lead to: Hand-eye coordination Gross motor skills Prewriting ability The Cerebellum: Coordinates voluntary movements such as posture, balance, coordination, and speech, resulting in smooth and balanced muscular activity. Activity learnt: Spinning Tumbling Balancing Dancing Listening Swinging Rolling These activities lead to: Balance Sporting ability Bicycle riding Writing skills Fine motor coordination Reading skills. The Emotional brain (amygdala and temporal lobe): Emotions, like fear and love as well as brain functions, like memory and attention. Activity learnt: Cuddling Stroking Playing together These activities lead to: Love Security Bonding Social skills Cooperation Confidence The cortex: Associated with higher brain function such as thought and action Activity learnt: Stacking toys Building puzzles Recognising and making patterns Playing word games Repetitive play and music These activities lead to: Math Logic Problem solving Fluent reading Spelling Writing A good vocabulary Painting Memory Musical ability Another point to consider is that for a child learns from concrete and active experiences. To understand an abstract concept he would first have to understand the physical concept. For instance, to understand the abstract concept of roundness, he must first have experienced real round things like a ball. There are endless examples that could be explored but the conclusion is the same. Experiences and active play to reach milestones are extremely important for future successes. SKidz gives you as a parent the tools to stimulate and play with your child, which encourages not only his physical ability, but also sets a firm foundation for healthy relationships, where he feels loved and secure. The program has been developed by 4 experts in early childhood development and is divided into 5 boxes so that you only need to buy the appropriate one at a time. Each box comes with all the equipment needed to do the activities as well as a step by step manual, with easy to follow instructions as well as developmental information, so that you know what areas you are developing through that activity. The range is divided into the following ages 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months, 18-24 months and 2-5 years. More info on this wonderful product can be found on the website http://skidz.co.za. All orders are also placed from the online shop on the website. For some up to date news, articles and specials follow SKidz on facebook at www.facebook.com/skidzsa.

July 14, 2017

Twin traditions in various cultures

We live in country with many cultures and traditions. Have multiples is a special experience. Speaking to various parents I have realised there are many different cutlass ceremonies and beliefs to having Multiples. We spoke to three different moms. A Hindu mom, a Shona mom and a Ndebele mom. Ashana comes from a hindi speaking family. Her husband is from a telegu speaking family. Her husband is second generation South African indian, and Ashana is fourth generation South African indian. They have no history of twins in their families, so the news of their spontaneous twin pregnancy was a shock. The twins were born on the 9 September 2015. They live in Sunninghill, Johannesburg. Do you hold any traditional ceremonies after the birth of your multiples? We follow the telegu tradition. So on the 9th day after the birth , we held a naming ceremony for our twins. A hindu priest performs a ceremony were the babies are blessed and there names are whispered into their ears. It is a beautiful ceremony. How long is it before family members can see your babies? Immediate family members, i.e. Grandparents and parents siblings were allowed to see the babies at the hospital on the day of birth. Other family members and friends generally call to congratulate and enquire as to when it will be appropriate to visit. For our twins we have decided to only really take them out and to have contact with extended family and friends after 40 days. Are any payments made by anyone ? (gifts etc) Grandparents generally purchase a piece of gold jewellery for the babies. This may be a gold chain with a pendant of a hindu deity, a gold bracelet with black beads or a small gold knife which is pined onto the childs clothes. The black beads and the knife are important as it is believed to aid in protecting the child from the ‘evil eye’. Whose custom do you follow? My husband comes from a telegu speaking family and I am from a hindi speaking family. We follow his traditions. When you give birth to twins are there any special requirements ? i.e they must be separated immediately etc. My twins are the first in both our families. There are no special requirements. Is it considered lucky to have twins, if so why? It is considered to be a blessing. Traditionally the time and date of the birth of your child is given to a hindu priest. The priest then uses Vedic astrology to determine a letter of the alphabet for which your child’s name should start with. This is then used to determine the child’s name. Samanatha Dube aged 37 years is has twin girls aged 20 years old. She is a Ndebele mom living in Johannesburg. Who chooses their names? The grandfather from their father’s side choose the names. Since they were my first babies, and the granny from the mother’s side give them second names. Traditional Ceremonies? When you are 7 to 8 months pregnant, you reside with your in-laws until you give birth. The mother- in- law will fetch you from the hospital. On your way to the house, you would stop at an intersection to light (impepha) as it is believed that if this is not done your babies will be weak, and will easily get sick. After 3 months, a cow is slaughtered and (inyongo) poured onto their heard as a sign of welcoming them to the family. How long before the family see the babies? We wait till their umbilical cords drop. This is when close family members are allowed to come in, you may however not touch or hold the baby’s before you sprinkle them with water, in their faces and you give them a drop of water before you pick them up. Are any payments made by anyone ? (gifts etc) It is a must that you pay first before you see the babies, it can be cash or any form of a present. Whose Custom do you follow? In our black culture when you are married, the children belong to the husband’s family, but when you are not married they belong to the wife’s family. When you give birth to the Twins? It is considered as a big blessing for the family, and it is made sure that nothing harmful occurs to them. If there is a full moon, you cover their whole bodies with ashes. This is done outside and they don’t look back till they get in the house. The same would occur when one of them is sick. After 3 months, a group of elder (females) come early in the morning to take you out of the yard they will be sing songs of joy and take turns to hold the baby’s. Mom would traditionally be covered in a white cloth. As this ritual is being performed, the aunt will collect soil from the intersection (where two roads meet) and they will use this soil to bath the baby’s. This is done as a way of welcoming the kids to this world and making them strong. After these rituals have been completed, everyone is allowed to see the baby’s. Tecla Gwangwaza is a 34 year old Shona mom from Zimbabwe. She has two sets of twins aged 11 and 7 years who live in Zimbabwe. Tecla lives in Johannesburg and has helped many multiple families working as a night nurse. There is a history of multiples in her family. Tecla’s father’s family has a strong twin line. Her 3 uncles have each had a set of twins and her aunt had a set of twins. Who chooses the names? The father chooses the names because sometimes they need to name them after their parents, mother can just choose the optional names or second names. Traditional ceremonies? When you are married, at 6-7 months pregnant, the husband’s family will take you back to your family, until such time as you give birth[masungiro] After the birth of the baby’s, names will be chosen and they will slaughter a goat and chicken as a way of appreciation

July 13, 2017

Steps to Successful Baby Massage

There are a few small steps to follow to make infant massage successful. Get yourself ready. Make massage part of your daily routine. Keep interaction the main aim, rather than getting the massage routine right. Keep in mind, touch is natural, and massage is simply stylised touch. Massaging your baby allows for bonding, ensuring extra feel good hormones are released by baby, mum and dad. And if you are lactating, prolactin and oxytocin are released ensuring a plentiful milk supply. Get the room ready. Usually babies are “in the buff” when getting massaged, so ensure the room is warm, put on a heater and close the windows. If you find a heater too hot and uncomfortable for yourself, then preheat the area with a heating pad under the bed linen, then switch off or onto low once you start. Ensure items like a spare nappy, massage oil and milk are ready. Babies can get thirsty after and during massage. Often it’s giving your baby the comfort of a familiar feed that allows you to continue massage. Just be warned, if your baby does feed in between, no tummy massage. Use cold pressed vegetable oil. Why not just use any oil or lotion? Cold pressed oils retain their natural antioxidant goodness. This means minerals, vitamins and omegas can be absorb by your baby’s skin. Also if baby puts her foot/hand into her mouth or eyes, there will most likely be no reaction. Steer clear of nut oils though, until you have established your baby’s unique allergy tolerance. I find Grape-seen oil a lovely light oil to start with. Where to begin massage. The legs and arms are probably the best place to start massage, whether you have done it many times before or this is your first try. This is because it feels safe for your baby, and it is easier for mums and dads to control a leg or arm. Keep the strokes going in an upward direction towards the chest, this improves blood flow around the whole body. Some babies do not like massage, and so here you have to choose whats best for your baby. Keeping massage sessions to just the legs for a while, and keeping sessions short is one way to ensure success. Under 7 mins. Or switch it up and do a few massage movements while baby is in the bath. Keep the massage short and do some more later in the day. Increase this time slowly, and suddenly you will have your kids lining up for their daily dose. Babies sometimes love massage and then suddenly not. Use this unusual and sudden change to your advantage. It may be the first clue that your baby may be at the beginning stages of getting sick. And it may also indicate that baby has had a stressful day, and so extra cuddles are required. And yet still some babies do not like massage, no matter what you try. Deep touch, light feather touch, only 7 minutes, in the morning, in the night. That’s also okay, I am sure you know a few of your friends who would rather never hug. Sensory integration takes time, patience is the answer here. Touch should never be forced, no matter the age. Keep listening to your infants unique verbal, and non verbal clues. Some parents who have children with special needs, have found massage to be an especially special bonding experience, a time of quiet non verbal communication and attachment to one another. Babies of any age can benefit from massage. Massage can help increase sleep, improve restless sleep, reduces muscle pain for toddlers who are just crawling and walking while improving motor skills, massage can reduce stuffy noses, and can improve digestion. At times babies appreciate songs or rhymes and talking during the massage, simultaneously stimulating language skills. And yet at other times a quiet peaceful room, to increase sleeplessness is most useful. Keep it fun and lighthearted, a time to bonding, a time to reconnect after being apart and for getting to know one another.The key to successful massage, make your massage routine fit your families unique needs and schedules.

June 30, 2017

Feeding Problems in the Early Years of Life

When you’re a new mom or dad, it can be a huge challenge to parent a baby who’s always cranky. Friends may say your baby is “colicky” or suffer from “reflux” What’s going on and how can you make it through this? COLIC Colic is common, poorly understood & frustrating feeding problem and cause considerable stress for parents & health professionals. Colic is the word derived from the Greek word meaning ‘colon’ and it implies that the baby cries because of stomach pain. Colic affects 10-40% of all babies. It is present equally in boys and girls and equally in both breastfed as well as formula fed babies. Crying seem inconsolably for hours at a time for no apparent reason and tends to occur in the late afternoon and early evening. Symptoms appear typically around 2 weeks of age, lasts until 4 months of age Symptoms usually peaks at 6 weeks of age Spontaneous resolution by 3-6 months of age (3 months: 60% of babies, 4 months in 90% of babies) Starts in premature babies 2 weeks after the due date Higher incidence in C-section babies Characteristics Inconsolable crying – for hours at a time, fussing & irritability in otherwise healthy baby Cry longer and louder for at least 3 days of the week and last about a minimum of 3 hours a day Present with excessive & persistent crying Difficult to comfort Screaming Drawing up of the legs/knees after feeds Tension of the body Fist clenching Arching of the back Flushing of the face Cause: Nobody really knows and the cause of colic remains a very controversial subject. What we do know is that it is related to an immature digestive system. Researchers have been trying to find out why babies cry for no apparent reason and some of the explanations include: Pain caused by build up of wind in the baby’s stomach. This may happen if they Overfeeding – swallow air when they cry, feed or suck. An intolerance to lactose A cows’ milk protein allergy/intolerance Imbalance in intestinal microflora (good and bad bacteria) Maternal smoking Whatever the reason, the most important thing to remember is that the crying is not anybody’s fault. You could be the most attentive, sensitive parent in the world and still have a colicky baby. You can be assured that colic usually resolve by itself within 4 months. Is there anything I can do to help my baby? There are many different things you can try to soothe your baby’s crying and discomfort. Every baby is different and respond differently to treatment, so if it doesn’t work today it may work tomorrow. 1. Keep a diary of your baby’s behaviour. Record your baby’s activities, sleeping, eating, crying, fussing for at least 4-7 days in a row. This will give you a good impression of your baby’s behaviour and possible triggers. 2. Positioning Hold your baby to your chest in the upright position or gently rock him in your arms. The closeness and body warmth will be comforting and soothing. 3. Getting rid of the wind When babies cry they gulp air which can make them windy. Try burping him by supporting his tummy against your shoulder and help dislodge any trapped wind. Massaging the tummy in a circular motion or a warm bath also help to relieve discomfort. 4. Making-up feeds Be careful when making feeds up, don’t shake the bottle to vigorously as this trap air bubbles. Ensure that the bottle is not in a horizontal position during feeding because it could cause your baby to swallow air. 5. Teat size An anti-colic teat or slow flow teat/bottle is a useful option to try. 6. Type of milk Breastfeeding: If a baby is breastfed, correct latching to the breast is important to prevent swallowing air bubbles. Make sure that a breast is emptied before moving onto the next breast, since the hind milk contains much less lactose than the fore-milk and by swopping breasts to quickly your baby will end up filling themselves with fore-milk which could worsen the colic. Eating rich or spicy foods, dairy products or gas forming foods have all been associated with possible reactions in babies. If you think your baby’s crying is linked to something you’re eating a dietitian would be able to assist you with an elimination diet in order to identify the possible culprit foods as well as on a suitable vitamin/ mineral supplement to avoid any nutritional deficiencies. Formula feeding: If your baby is unable to digest lactose (milk sugar) in a formula or is intolerant to cows’ milk protein then it may be beneficial to change their milk formula either to an lactose-free formula or an extensively hydrolysed infant formula. Your dietitian would be able to advise you on the most suitable formula. 7. Frequency of feeds It could benefit your baby by reducing the volume of feeds and increasing the frequency of feeding to help ease digestion.E.g. instead of having 6 feeds of 150ml at a time change it to 8 feeds of 115ml at a time. 8. Probiotics There is a possibility that the colic symptoms could be due to an imbalance between the friendly bacteria and the unfriendly bacteria in your babies’ digestive system. Thus by supplementing the so-called friendly bacteria it may help to restore the imbalance and resolve their symptoms. 9. Digestive enzymes Enzymes can be given before feeds to help with digestion. If your baby is unable to digest lactose their body most probably lack the enzyme lactase that usually digest lactose. A failure to break down lactose by enzymes causes the milk sugar (lactose) to end up in the large intestine where it starts to ferment and produces gas, eventually leads to discomfort and some cases diarrhoea. REFLUX AND REGURGITATION It is estimated that 15-30% of normal babies experience problems with mild to moderate regurgitation (spitting-up) and gastro-oesophageal reflux. It is not common immediately after birth, but normally appears within or during the first week

June 28, 2017

The Joys of Breastfeeding

On this months letter we would to share some benefits of breastfeeding, correct positioning, soreness and tenderness. “A baby nursing at a mother’s breast is an undeniable affirmation of our rootedness in nature.” David Suzuki Benefits of breastfeeding The nutrient balance in a mother’s milk is just right for her baby as he/she grows. There are at least 12 anti-inflammatory agents in breastmilk which promote a healthy immune system. Immunoglobulin-A in colostrum protects the baby against intestinal infection. Lactoferrin prevents the growth of pathogenic organisms. Breastfeeding decreases the risk of childhood asthma, bacterial infections, diarrhoea and allergies. Breastfeeding has been linked to improved dental hygiene and speech development. Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast, ovarian and endometrial cancers in mothers. Breastfeeding mothers return to their pre-pregnancy weight sooner than their bottle feeding counterparts. Correct positioning Both mother and baby should be comfortable. Baby should be chest to chest, at the level of the breast, with mother’s arm well supported by pillows. Mother should support the breast, but avoid lifting. Hold the breast with one hand and the baby with the other. Once the baby has opened the mouth wide enough, swiftly bring the baby to the breast. Soreness v/s Tenderness Soreness Caused by poor latch, incorrect positioning or bad alignment. Correct feeding techniques should be learned. Use ointment (sparingly and only on the sore area). Start the feeding on the least sore side. Tenderness Slight tenderness is normal. Initial discomfort with latch should not last more than 30 seconds, max 60 seconds. Mother should be encouraged to air-dry her breast. Use of different positions may decrease tenderness. Blisters, “lipstick” shape of the nipples, redness or any bleeding is not normal. At the end of the feeding, nipples should be round and slightly elongated. Hold the baby more closely with more of areola in the mouth. A Note from the establishers of Milk Galore brand: As a mom myself who struggled to breastfeed my son my option was formula milk of which was not my desired option as I wanted the best for my son. We then researched natural stimulators that would assist not only a 1sttime mom like myself who was struggling to feed her baby but all mothers who faced the same struggle. We at Milk Galore understand and have a heart for both the mom and the newly born. The natural instinct and incredible feeling when a mom breastfeeds is a precious gift a mom can give her baby. Our desire is to ensure that all mothers have that privilege of sharing that gift with their newly borns. Milk Galore has a solution that has incorporated natural herbs that may assist to stimulate lactation for breastfeeding women. It is rich in iron and thus very good for lactating mothers since they are more in need of iron than others. Moreover, cumin is said to help ease and increase secretion of milk in lactating women due to presence of Thymol, which tends to increase secretions from glands, including milk which is a secretion from mammary glands. Milk Galore products can be bought online www.milkgalore.co.za

June 10, 2017

What is Reflux?

Reflux is a very common problem in tiny babies. It is also known as possetting or spitting up and happens when milk that has been ingested travels back up through the oesophagus or food pipe. Babies also have stomach acids that are necessary for the breaking down of food. When you feed your baby milk, the mixture of acid and milk can be regurgitated and can make baby very uncomfortable. If you’ve ever suffered from heart-burn, then you know what it feels like. A Baby Wrap Carrier can prove to be incredibly handy to help alleviate reflux as it allows your baby to be in a comfortable upright position with no added pressure on his or her little tummy. When baby is feeling uncomfortable and a little stressed, carrying him or her in a Baby Wrap Carrier, helps to soothe and calm baby. Whilst reflux is messy and can be very frustrating, it is also very normal and at least 40% of babies suffer from this problem. Up to 5% of babies can have as many as six or more episodes a day. However, it is a temporary problem that usually gets better as baby grows and their digestive system matures. A very small percentage of babies have what is known as severe or persistent reflux (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease or GORD). Should you at any time believe that you baby falls within this percentage, we would highly recommend setting your mind at rest with a visit to your paediatrician. To understand the cause of reflux, you need to bear in mind that your baby’s stomach is very small at birth and grows bigger quite slowly as baby grows. Baby’s food pipe (oesophagus) connects the little mouth to the little stomach at the bottom of which there is a valve that is controlled by a ring of muscle. Sometimes as baby’s tummy becomes full with milk, the little valve doesn’t stay properly closed and allows some of the mixture of milk and stomach acid to move back up the food pipe. We would caution against adding cereal to make baby’s milk thicker as there is no scientific proof that this helps with reflux. Once again, if you are unsure, consult your doctor first. Reflux can be prevented in a number of ways : Feed your baby in an upright position Hold baby upright for about 20 or 30 minutes after each feed Put baby in a baby wrap carrier after each feed Try giving baby smaller, but more frequent feeds For bottle fed babies, burp every two or three minutes during feeds and also make sure that the hole in the teat isn’t too large. A teat that’s too big can cause milk to come out too fast which in turn makes baby gulp, swallowing air and exacerbating reflux Try raising the top of baby’s cot by putting a flat pillow under the mattress and whilst your baby should still sleep on his or her back, it may help if their little head is slightly higher than their feet

June 10, 2017

Why is my baby crying?

When your baby is crying a cold sweat accompanied by the question “WHY?” is the likely reaction. While we would love a recipe to interpret each cry, it is important to realise that every baby’s cry is different and every cry can mean a different thing. The best way for you to determine why your baby is crying is by process of elimination. Ask yourself these questions: Is my baby hungry? Newborns need feeds between two and four hourly. If your newborn is crying this could well be the reason. Even older babies on good routines will become teary and cry when they are hungry. Toddlers become difficult to manage when their blood sugar levels drop, If your baby is hungry feed him. Is my baby sick?When your baby cries you may well wonder whether pain or sickness is the culprit. Usually this is not the case but if your baby has been a happy contented little one and suddenly become fractious and cries a lot you should be concerned and if this is accompanied by a loss of appetite, take him to your doctor or speak to your clinic sister. Is my baby tired or over-stimulated? By far the most common cause of crying, especially colic in the first three months is overstimulation and over-tiredness. So how do you calm your baby who is already crying and unplayable due to overstimulation [unordered_list Swaddle your baby – the deep pressure and containment provided by a swaddle is the best calming measure. Your overtired baby will then no longer be bothered by his flailing arms and will feel calmer when swaddled Decrease stimulation– do not over stimulate your baby or toddler when he is already fractious. Take him to a dim room with quiet lullabies instead of swinging him through the air to make him laugh. Hold your baby and carry him – do not worry about spoiling your newborn, as babies up to four months old do not form habits. However, they do have sensory needs and movement such as that provided in a sling is a great way to calm colicky newborn or fractious toddler alike. Lie with your baby on your chest – when the wheels are falling off, and mum and baby are falling apart, Dad can be a great support. Take your little baby and lay quietly with him on your chest and sooth him with your calmness and gentle touch. White noise – white noise provided by water, a radio tuned to static or a white noise CD are wonderful sounds for calming babies. If possible play white noise at the volume of your baby’s cry and he will calm down.

June 9, 2017

Why sleep is important?

Every function in the body is affected by sleep. And for a child, the risks of sleep deprivation are much more serious than simply waking up in a grumpy mood. Research shows that children with sleep disturbances have more medical problems – such as allergies, ear infections, and hearing problems. They are also more likely to have social and emotional problems. Sleep is as important as nutrition and exercise. It’s when the body repackages neurotransmitters, chemicals that enable brain cells to communicate. 1. Sleep promotes growth – Growth hormone is primarily secreted during deep sleep. 2. Sleep helps the heart. 3. Sleep affects weight – There’s increasing evidence that getting too little sleep causes kids to become overweight, starting in infancy. 4. Sleep helps beat germs – During sleep, children (and adults) also produce proteins known as cytokines, which the body relies on to fight infection, illness, and stress. 5. Sleep reduces injury risk – Kids are clumsier and more impulsive when they don’t get enough sleep, setting them up for accidents. 6. Sleep increases kids’ attention span – Children who consistently sleep fewer than ten hours a night before age 3 are three times more likely to have hyperactivity and impulsivity problems by age 6. 7. Sleep boosts learning – Sleep aids learning in kids of all ages, and education experts are finding that naps have a particular magic. The simple fact is that kids sleep less today than they used to. And unless we make an effort to get that sleep time back, their health will suffer.

June 9, 2017

Kangaroo Care for Baby

Whilst in recent years, Kangaroo Care or Skin-to-skin care for babies, has become a very popular method of treatment particularly for pre-term babies, this form of care has been around since the late 1970’s. Kangaroo Care was initially introduced in Bogota Colombia, in the late 1970‘s due to the alarmingly high death rate of premature infants. At that time death in premature infants was as high as 70% where babies were dying from infections, respiratory problems and sadly, lack of attention. Researchers found that babies who were held close to their mothers’ bodies for large portions of the day, thrived and survived! Kangaroo care, or skin-to-skin care, is a technique practiced on newborn, usually pre-term infants where the infant is held, skin-to-skin, with mom and sometimes even with dad. This form of care is generally restricted to a few hours a day but if babies are medically stable, that time may be extended and some parents may even keep their babies in their arms for many hours per day. The benefits of this practise are astounding! The physiological and psychological warmth and bonding that takes place is phenomenal. And of course, mom or dad’s stable body temperature helps to regulate baby’s temperature more smoothly than an incubator as well as allowing for readily accessible breastfeeding when mom holds baby in this way. This is where you just cannot be without a Hugseez Baby Wrap Carrier. It is the perfect tool to use with Kangaroo Care or Skin-to-skin Contact. The Hugseez Baby Wrap Carrier, is comfortable to wear, easy to use and offers both warmth for baby and privacy for mom whilst breastfeeding. It is highly recommended that skin-to-skin contact should be initiated immediately after birth and the benefits have been scientifically proven. In terms of classification and proper defining for research purposes, the following aspects that categorise and define skin-to-skin contact have been proposed: Initiation time, (minutes, hours from birth), ideal is zero separation. Dose of skin-to-skin contact, (hours per day, or as percentage of day), ideal >90%. Duration, (measured in days or weeks from birth), ideally until infant refuses. Safe technique should ensure that obstructive apnoea cannot occur. Since the mother must be able to sleep to provide adequate dose. The Hugseez Baby Wrap Carrier is perfect in this instance as it is made of a soft breathable cotton lycra fabric that fits around mommy’s body very naturally. This cotton lycra fabric is also wonderfully stretchy with no belt and buckles! The available evidence does show that early skin-to-skin contact produces better outcomes, very specifically with respect to breastfeeding, but also with regulation of physiological outcomes. Whilst we are aware that Kangaroo Care for low birthweight and pre-term infants is a must, we have no doubt that you will agree with us that this form of skin-to-skin contact should be regarded as normal and basic for all newly born babies. Hugseez Baby Wrap Carrier is a must for all new mommies and their babies to help make this intimate and superbly natural way of caring for your baby possible.

June 6, 2017

Potty Talk…

Potty training isn’t the easiest thing to do, but for the most part it runs fairly smoothly – a couple of accidents here and there, a bit of frustration, many hours of potty entertainment, and eventual mastery. But what happens when you seem to have got it all down and suddenly your 3 year old is afraid to make a poo? Before you go rushing off to play therapy, there are a couple of things you can consider… If your child is under 4 years old, this behaviour is not out of the normal age range, but if your child was doing really well with toilet training up until this point and then suddenly regressed then it may be something that needs addressing. Firstly, make sure your child is not constipated. The majority of issues come about because of constipation, which then makes it uncomfortable or even painful to pass a stool. Make sure your child drinks lots of water (they sometimes forget when they’re having too much fun), gets enough fruit and veg every day, and maybe even add some prunes or something similar to her diet for a while. Try cutting out constipating foods like bread, pap, red meats, bananas and sugar. Constipation can also be the result of being afraid to go to the loo, where kids hold it in for long periods of time. Compacted faeces can cause greater issues, so if you suspect this, follow the guidelines above and consider seeing your family practitioner. Sometimes potty issues can come about due to strong emotional experiences at the time of potty training. Ask yourself if any major changes have happened at the same time – a parent going away, divorce, death in the family, arrival of a new sibling, even going on holiday can be stressful for some kids. If there is an emotional connection, speak to your child about this, address her fears, lay off the pressure on potty training for a while, and consider doing some relaxation exercises with your child. The next question to ask is if there are any benefits for your child for soiling her pants. Does she get additional attention (even negative) or anything like that? If there are some hidden benefits to it, you’ll need to address those in more positive ways first. You also need to look at how potty training is handled at school. It is worth digging in to this a bit, as the school may tell you that accidents and messes are handled well, but in my experience this is not always the case. Address whether it is possible that there was some shaming or embarrassment that has happened to your child, or even one of the other children at school. You need to reassure your child that everyone messes sometimes (even adults) and it is not a big deal. I would never offer rewards for going to the toilet – this may add additional stress. Your child may be genuinely unable to consciously control it. Also, never shame your child for soiling their pants. Make sure she knows that you are not cross or upset by it. The less emphasis you put on it the better. Explain that you know she is doing her best and that you are there if she needs to talk to you about anything that is worrying her. And then leave it. Don’t push for information, just be present. When your child does soil her pants, don’t make a big deal out of it. Explain that all kids do that sometimes and it is really ok (if you have a story about yourself doing it as a child then it is worth relating that). Show your child how to deal with it so that if she wants to she can clean it up herself (give her some power back in her life) – show her how to empty it into the loo, and to rinse her panties in the sink and how to put them in the wash, or however you handle it. She probably won’t do a very good job about it, but praise her for her efforts. Again, don’t force her – only if she wants to be involved. You could also offer her the option of wearing a nappy for a while until she feels ok to go to the loo again – be careful how you handle this though – she mustn’t feel like she’s regressing or that it is a punishment. Point out other kids her age still wearing nappies and explain that it is normal at her age to still have accidents. Maybe she won’t want to do this at school but may be ok to wear one at home, or even just when she feels she needs to poo. Also, make going to the toilet as natural as possible. Let her come to the bathroom with you when you go and be chatty about making a poo and how good it feels etc. You may also look for books at the library or online that can help you to address the subject with her in a fun way. Here are some you can check out: It Hurts When I Poop! a Story for Children Who Are Scared to Use the Potty Where’s the Poop? I Can’t, I Won’t, No Way!: A Book For Children Who Refuse to Poop “Bloop, Bloop!” Goes the Poop Try taking this relaxed, no big deal approach and see how she does. Be patient with her. If she did have someone shout at her at school or is feeling stressed because of it, it may take her some time to reestablish trust with the toilet! Give it a try and if you still don’t come right then consider taking your child to see a play therapist or someone with experience in dealing with these issues. Good luck!

May 29, 2017

Childhood Allergies

Spring is set to arrive soon and what a wonderful time of the year it is, unless, of course, you’re the parent of a child plagued with allergy symptoms that are exacerbated at this time of the year. Seasonal allergies, commonly known as hay fever, are caused by pollens from trees and grasses or airborne mould spores. Symptoms include sneezing, itching of the nose and mouth, red, watery and itchy eyes and a consistently thin and clear discharge from the nose that may also become blocked. However year-round allergies to house dust, animal dander, feathers, mites and chemicals may also be troubling your child. And then, of course, there are food allergies. In infants the first symptom of a food allergy may be a rash such as eczema (atopic dermatitis) or a rash that resembles hives. This may be accompanied by colic, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. However food allergies in children can also contribute to chronic health problems, such as asthma, ear infections, fatigue, headache, irritability, chronic runny nose, acne, bedwetting and even difficulty maintaining concentration (attention deficit disorder, or hyperactivity). Dark circles under the eyes (called “allergic shiners”), along with a puffy look to the face, are frequently seen. (Cow’s milk is very often the culprit here). Allergic children often look wan or pallid and lack vitality. This is because food allergies can also cause digestive problems that interfere with the absorption of vitamins and minerals, no matter how nutritious the diet In the presence of an allergen, a child’s built-in defence system releases histamines and similar chemicals to fight what it perceives as an invader. A string of reactions such as the swelling and congestion of nasal passages and increased mucous production results. Conventional medicine using prescription antihistamines, nasal sprays or decongestants, treats symptoms only. Many of these medications have nasty side-effects and if used consistently may lose their effect or rapidly produce dependency. A Nutritional Therapy Approach To Treating Food Allergies The most common foods that cause allergic reactions in children are wheat, dairy products, eggs, fish and seafood, chocolate, citrus fruits, soy products, corn, nuts, peanuts and berries. On the chemical list are additives such as artificial colourants, preservatives (e.g. benzoic acid), flavour enhancers (e.g. MSG) and sulphites found in some frozen foods, dried fruits and medications. To identify what foods are making your child miserable use an elimination diet or keep a diary recording your child’s symptoms and the foods eaten. (Some children seem to be particularly drawn to a problematic food and actually crave it, so be wary if your child wants to live on peanut butter or wheat bread or dairy products). Simply eliminate the suspected food from the diet for a few weeks and watch for improvements. Eliminating all dairy products would be a good place to start. Dairy foods can stimulate an increase in mucous production. Rice, oats or goat’s milk are possible alternatives. If your child’s allergies are seasonal, it may also be helpful to avoid whole wheat during the allergy season. Good substitutes include buckwheat, corn/maize, rice, millet and quinoa. If all the identified problem foods are eliminated from a child’s diet for at least 6 months and then introduced slowly one by one she should be able to tolerate small amounts of these foods. What Else Can Help? Encourage your child to drink lots of water to thin secretions and ease expectoration. Allergic children need a good wholesome diet comprising mainly raw fruit and vegetables. Avoid giving your child any processed foods as they will contain some of the additives mentioned previously. Nutritional Supplements That May Help Vitamin C, preferably in mineral ascorbate form with bioflavonoids, is a natural anti-histamine and a powerful promoter of a strong immune system, making it the most important anti-allergy vitamin. MSM (methylsuphonyl methane) is being prescribed more and more for its anti-allergenic properties. Essential fatty acids, such as those found in fish oil help to regulate the inflammatory response. Quercetin, a plant bioflavonoid naturally found in many fruits and vegetables, acts as anti-inflammatory agent and stabilises mast cells in allergy sufferers. Mast cells become unstable during an allergic reaction and release large quantities of histamine. A high quality green whole food multivitamin and mineral supplement will ensure optimum intake of essential nutrients and sufficient digestive enzymes. Ways To Prevent Allergies In the past it was believed that it was essential to avoid sensitization of infants before birth and for the first three years of life and so moms were advised to reduce exposure of the foetus/infant to known food allergens. However despite this, food allergy in children has increased world wide. Now there is a new take based on “The Development of Oral Tolerance” whereby it is believed that by exposing an infant before and after birth to small quantities of foreign proteins, the child’s immune system is stimulated to produce anti-bodies. Mothers are now encouraged to eat a wide range of foods during pregnancy, so that small amounts of all kinds of proteins can cross the placenta to sensitize the foetus. Mothers should also breastfeed for at least 4 months while eating a wide range of different foods. For infants that cannot be breastfed, hydrolysed infant formulas and goat’s milk formulas are a safer option than soy-based formulas. Soya is a well-known allergen which can cause as many allergic reactions as cow’s milk. Holding back on solid foods until baby is 5 months old is still recommended and using only one solid food at a time in small portions (1 teaspoon a day) to keep track of any adverse reactions. The latest research also suggests that pregnant women would do well to take supplemental probiotics every day for a few weeks before their due dates and while breast-feeding as this may help prevent childhood allergies. Bottle-fed and caesarian-section infants ought to be given probiotics orally from birth. Encouragingly most children, except those suffering from peanut allergy, outgrow their allergic response. Statistics show that 25% of infants are free of symptoms

May 24, 2017

No Such Thing As A Naughty Child

Naughty children, naughty corners, treats for good behavior, consequences for bad behavior, identifying one child as the naughty on and the other as the good one… It’s quite hard for our kids to grow up without some sense of themselves as either good or bad. The thing is that every single person on this planet has both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ traits. We are all sometimes helpful and sometime unhelpful, sometimes stingy and sometimes generous, sometimes pleasant and sometimes grumpy. Labeling a child is the first step to creating lifelong problems. When I work with parents I look at the limiting beliefs that they have picked up over their lifetime. The most predominant of these are a variation on one of the following: I am not worthy I am not lovable I am not good enough The main reason that 99% of adults are walking around with these beliefs running their lives is because they were given the message that we are supposed to always be good. Always be kind, happy, helpful, agreeable, loving, sharing. And so we end up rejecting one half of ourselves. EVERYONE is also mean, sad, uncooperative, difficult, hateful and stingy – sometimes. It depends on what is important to us how and when we display these traits, but we all have all of them. Labelling a child as naughty makes them believe that they only have the so-called negative end of this spectrum and not the ‘good’ traits. This is just as unhealthy as striving in vain to only have the ‘good’ traits and avoid the bad. In order to love ourselves and other people we need to embrace both sides. My favourite quote is by Dr John Demartini: “No matter what I have done, or not done, I am worthy of love”. Love is about wholeness. And most of our discipline gives the message of separation. No child can be one sided and this obsession with trying to make them this way is the very source of all our problems with discipline and the reason that our kids end up with limiting beliefs about themselves. Please do away with the naughty corner and the grow good corner. There is no such thing as a naughty child or a child that needs to get rid of one half of themselves to be ok. Every child will be cooperative sometimes and uncooperative at other times, helpful and unhelpful, respectful and rude – just like all the rest of us. Children deserve to be loved no matter what they have done or not done.

May 18, 2017

IS MY CHILD UNRESPONSIVE TO SLEEP TRAINING?

Sleep training. What a heated debate. Ask any parent that has been parenting in this century and they are sure to have an opinion about whether they are for or against it. In our experience, it has a great deal to do with what parents believe sleep training is, as many individuals don’t fully understand what it involves. That being said, some parents embark on the process of working on sleep problems by eliminating possible props and working on positive sleep associations… after a night or two of “sleep training” they feel that their child is “angry” at them and or more clingy than usual. Is this real? Or is it a perception that becomes reality? Laying the groundwork first Let us first stress that for the sake of this article we are going to assume that all fundamentals are in place. We cannot stress enough how important it is to have a holistic approach to sleep rather than diving straight to sleep training. Furthermore, attachment, and grounded parenting are even more important than sleep. Understand what your baby is going through If a child has always relied on drinking himself to sleep, or on multiple bottles at night, or any other series of events which have now changed with a new sleep regime, it is likely to result in some unhappiness and possibly crying – or just plainly less sleep. It is thus logical that for a day or two – while your child is going through these changes –your baby might be more cranky and/or tired. Allow them to catch up on sleep and don’t wake them from naps. Rawshanda Roth, Sleep Coach says: “You are asking him to do something new that he has never experienced before. Something that he has very few skills in and no confidence. Once the sleep skills start to develop, his confidence around sleep will improve. His temperament will be back to normal, but he should emerge much better rested which usually results in a happier, more emotionally balanced child.” Mother’s guilt – we all know this too well… As a mom you will know exactly what I am talking about. When we become parents we are born with a natural amount of guilt. We feel guilty about everything: we work too hard, we work too little, we don’t make healthy food choices for our kids, and we feel guilty for wanting more sleep or alone time… Be careful that when you are sleep training, that you are not self-projecting your own emotions and guilt onto your child. Could it be that you simply feel guilty about taking your baby’s dummy away? Could it just be a bad night? We wholeheartedly believe that babies – and adults – sometimes just have bad days for whatever reason. Never take one night or one day as an indication of how your baby responds or feels about something. It might just have been a bad night or day. (For example, if your child has been struggling with teething and you buy a product believed to help with teething, it would not be advisable to confirm the validity of the product after using the product for only one night or day). Trust yourself and your parenting There is a very thin line between trusting yourself as a parent and knowing when to ask for help. You have to trust yourself that you know your child best and that you have his/her best interest at heart. If something does not feel right, we advise you to look for all the factors that play a role – try to think about it logically, gather VALID evidence and then make a decision. Furthermore, once you have made a decision, it is important that you do not feel guilty about it, nor should you feel like a bad parent for changing your mind, changing direction or asking for help. Statistically, it does not happen often… Good Night recently conducted an informal study within the international sleep consulting sphere to determine whether other sleep consultants often get feedback from clients where they perceive their children to be clingier and unresponsive when performing sleep training and the result was a resounding “no”. More often than not it can be an empowering connecting experience if the parent can move beyond the “crying is a bad thing” to “crying is my child’s way of communicating”. In the case where your child is the exception to the rule and responds by being clingier – then respond with abundant love and assurance as in all cases where we’ve encountered this reality, it does pass very quickly. Remember also that your child’s temperament will have an effect on how they respond to sleep training. In a nutshell… Consequently, in a nutshell, do NOT ignore the root cause of any behaviour. Often, with a child not sleeping well, sleep training will be like treating the symptoms without curing the disease, in which case it is advisable to work with a professional. As Ann Caird, an expert in emotional wellness with over 30 years’ experience reminds us: “parents’ validation, connection and attuned response with crying usually has the opposite consequence of enhanced connection which supports the secure attachment.” An extra hour of time with your child with complete mindfulness might be all that your child (and you) need.

May 10, 2017

Is crawling important ?

As the saying goes, “You have to crawl before you can walk.” While there have been cases of babies bypassing crawling to go straight to walking, most babies will become proficient crawlers some time during the second half of their first year. Not all babies learn to crawl in the traditional fashion however. Some do a belly crawl (sliding along on their tummy) – and go straight from there to walking. Some babies prefer to remain upright and scoot around on their bottom rather than crawl. Others crawl backwards! Whether or not babies need to learn to crawl forwards is a matter for some debate. According to some paediatricians and paediatric textbooks, crawling is not an important developmental milestone. The method of locomotion is irrelevant, say the experts, so long as babies learn to get from A to B. However, according to childhood educator Glenn Doman, a pioneer in the field of right-brain training, crawling forwards is an essential skill to master. Doman claims that crawling stimulates the brain to develop convergence of vision – and that as a result, people who skip this phase as babies may find it extremely difficult to learn to read and write as children. In addition, children who missed out on crawling may suffer from speech problems, he says – because the same part of the brain controls both functions. In cases where a child skipped crawling or did very little crawling as a baby, Doman recommends practicing crawling every day for six months. To get a child who knows how to walk to do this, it will probably be necessary for her parents to get down on the floor and crawl around with her! (This should not be tried until two-and-a-half to three years of age, as before that, children are too enamoured with the newfound freedom of walking.) It may sound a little outlandish, but Glenn Doman mothers have attested to their success in improving a child’s speech simply by getting her to practice crawling. The prone position If the importance of crawling is a matter for some debate, the placing of babies in the prone position (on their tummies) is an even more controversial issue, because it could be a matter of life and death. The question is: does sleeping in the prone position put babies at greater risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), or crib death? According to some experts, yes – and the current wisdom is to always put babies to sleep on their backs. According to Glenn Doman, it is more natural for babies to sleep on their tummies. He adds that nighttime is an important time to make use of the prone position, as tiny babies actually belly crawl in their sleep. Which advice you choose to follow at bedtime is up to you. What seems clear though is that maximising tummy time during the day can do no harm – and can indeed encourage the development of your baby’s motor skills. Once in the prone position, your baby will instinctively lift his head (helping to develop his neck muscles), push up with his arms (helping to develop his arm and chest muscles) and push off the floor with his legs (helping to develop his leg and hip muscles). According to Doman, babies get bored when we place them on their backs and leave them to look at mobiles. What they really want is to explore the world – and putting them on their tummies gives them the opportunity to do this. Once in the prone position, a baby can see nearby objects and feels motivated to get over to them. Doman recommends that babies spend a minimum of four waking hours in the prone position – thought that time can be divided into short segments. This is in addition to the time the baby will spend on her tummy while asleep. In reality, many babies hate tummy time – especially if they have not been in the prone position much since birth. Many parents report that their baby fusses or cries to be rescued – even when the baby was the one to turn onto his tummy in the first place! How you deal with this will come down to the degree of importance you place in developing mobility early, as well as your comfort level with your baby crying. Doman recommends that you get down on the floor with your baby. In this position, you can encourage and reassure him, even while refusing to pick him up. Paediatricians generally recommend regular tummy time – although the importance they place on it varies considerably. Some doctors point out that babies are not ready to crawl until they have developed the muscles needed to sit well unsupported. Babies don’t usually cry out of a failure to do something, they say, but rather because the activity being asked of them is developmentally beyond their reach. However, the fact that babies can belly crawl from birth is well documented – and it is this at-first-instinctive crawl that usually leads to the most advanced type: crawling on all fours in a cross pattern (where the right arm moves with the left leg and vice versa). If you decide to follow Glenn Doman’s advice, and can see out the difficult initial period, you should find that your baby stops fussing in the prone position. Indeed, once she has discovered the joys of mobility, she will probably prefer to be on her tummy than in any other position. Learning to crawl Crawling – assuming your baby does it – normally starts between 6 and 10 months of age. Besides giving your baby regular tummy time, preferably on the floor, there are several things you can do to make it easier for him to get moving. Do not overdress your baby, as this would hamper the movement of his limbs and joints. When possible, leave your baby’s feet, knees and elbows bare, as this will give him better grip. To help

April 24, 2017

Beating The Baby Blues

Having a baby is a momentous event. The kind of event that kicks you so far out of your comfort zone that you don’t even know what planet you’re on. We all know about the nice side of it – the miracle of a new life, the immense and overwhelming love, the snuggling baby at your bosom. In fact, we’re inundated with images and articles and information about how wonderful it is to have a baby. But what about the dark side? What people seldom talk about is how tough it is – how those first days and weeks are so overwhelming and scary and strange and intimidating. Nobody tells you how difficult it is to care for another little being when you are trying to recover both physically and emotionally from a birth. Nobody speaks about the terror of leaving the hospital with a stranger in your arms – one that doesn’t even speak your language. Your antenatal classes were unlikely to show you video footage of what prisoners of war look like after a few weeks of sleep deprivation. The magazines are not filled with pictures of mothers crumpled on the floor in their pyjamas weeping. We see movies of mothers doting on their newborns, not mothers calling the cops to take their screaming baby away from them before they kill it. We hear stories of overwhelming love, not overwhelming disinterest. We get advice on how to breastfeed not advice on how to not commit suicide. And I feel that it is the lack of this other side of life that causes half of the problems with post-natal depression. All depression has an element of fantasy in it. We become depressed because we compare reality with how we hoped or wished it would be (the fantasy) and then find our life to be somewhat lacking. Now if you are bombarded with information telling you that motherhood is instantly wonderful, that you will fall in love with your baby at first sight, that your life will be changed forever in wonderful ways, and then this is not your experience, you’re already on the slippery slope to depression. I believe that new mothers ought to have a more balanced perspective and a more realistic picture of what they’re in for. Of course there are good sides to having kids, but they don’t always surface immediately. It is normal, for instance, to not love your baby instantly. You are tired, emotionally and physically recovering, in shock, overwhelmed, confused and often feeling a bit panicky. There may not be space in your internal world for a rush of love and affection. That’s ok. It doesn’t mean you will never love your child or that you won’t care for them, or that there is anything wrong with you. It is also normal to really struggle in the first weeks and months. Everyone tells you that caring for your child is a natural instinct, but how many of us are in touch with our natural instincts? Some things you may figure out on your own, some things you’ll mess up and others you may need to ask for help. That’s ok. You are not a bad mother if you don’t know what to do or if you can’t interpret your baby’s every cry. It is normal to lose it sometimes. Go and watch those videos of sleep-deprived soldiers! Even the toughest, trained men will fold under the pressure of not getting some much-needed rest. You may collapse in a weeping heap, you may shout at your baby, you may think you’re losing your mind, you may do crazy or irrational things. You are not insane, you are not a bad person, you are not unable to cope. Having a baby will turn your world upside down. It takes time to adjust. It takes time to find a rhythm. It takes time to feel like yourself again. You may even go through a period of resenting your baby, your partner, yourself. You may question your choices. You may want to run away. You may throw things. It does ultimately settle down. You will eventually find the good side. And if you don’t, there are plenty of people out there who can help you. Find a coach or a therapist or a good friend (particularly one who has gone through what you are going through). Most importantly, know that where there is a positive there is a negative and where there is a negative there is a positive. Babies are like life, they come with both sides. The more prepared you are for reality (and not fantasy) the more likely you are to take it in your stride.

January 9, 2017

WHY YOU SHOULD NOT BUY OR BORROW A SECOND HAND BREAST PUMP

With the cost of living these days, life can be stressful. We have been forced to cut back where we can and remove things we really don’t need, just to survive. There are certain things that are great to get second hand. Second hand clothes are also fantastic, especially with them outgrowing those cute little outfits every couple of months. So, why not Breast pumps? I am sure as tempting as it may be to save money in this department after knowing the facts, you will feel the same way I do. First, not all breast pumps are the same. Hospital grade pumps work on a “closed system” meaning the milk never touches the working parts of the pump. You buy your own Kit for these pumps and you take that home with you and sterilise it as per instructions. With personal use pumps the pump motor is open to contact the mother’s milk particles. The motor cannot be sterilised. The scary part is that milk particles may be inside the pump without them being visible. So what’s the big deal? Your milk is perfect for your baby but before giving your milk to another mom, it would need to be pasteurised to kill any dangerous viruses. These viruses can be passed on to your baby and make the baby seriously ill. A mom may have a virus in her milk without even knowing that she is a carrier. You may think a virus is no big deal but we are talking out HIV, CMV and more. These diseases can go undetected for a long period of time so the mom sharing or selling the pump may not even know she is infected yet. Another difficult thing to clear are fungal infections like thrush. Make sure to follow guidelines by manufacturers on hygiene and sterilisation to avoid this. Sore nipples are no joke and neither is a sore and unhappy baby. Don’t put your baby’s life at risk, it is not worth it. Either rent a hospital grade pump with your own kit or purchase your own personal use pump. Tips for purchasing a Breast pump: Always buy from reputable stores Make sure your box is sealed Follow all hygiene and sterilising instructions inside the box. Not sure what the best fit is for you? Every breastfeeding mum has different needs. With a wide range of breast pumps on the market, each one designed to suit a certain lifestyle or situation. Step 1: Decide how often you are going to be expressing? If this answer is more than twice a week then a double pump is necessary. Double pumping compared to single pumping has many scientifically proven benefits: You may get 18% more milk in a 15 minutes pumping session. Your milk has a higher energy content, which is especially beneficial for preterm babies. Last but not least, high energy content indicates increased breast drainage, thereby it is assisting in the maintenance of lactation. Double pumping is twice as fast as single pumping. If you will be feeding twice a week or less a manual or electric pump will suit your needs. This is perfect for the stay at home mom that plans to breastfeed her baby. She can express breastmilk occasionally when planning to be away from her baby. Step 2: Are you going back to work? Most moms have no choice and need to go back to work after the 4 month maternity leave time period. What happens if you would continue to feed your baby breastmilk? You would need to pump for every feed you will miss. This means pumping 3-4 hourly. Most moms work 8 hours a day and would need to pump between 3 and 4 times a day. If you are pumping so often, you would need the most effective and easiest option. Step 3 : Is baby premature or multiple Births? Twins? You would need to start off with renting a hospital grade pump to have the best results. This is it! If your baby was born too early or is ill. You are both still in the hospital and you need help to establish your milk supply the symphony is really the best option. This is a critical time and your breast milk could make all the difference to your baby’s well-being. Once you and your baby have both been discharged from the hospital and neither of you is experiencing any breastfeeding challenges, then you can decide on which breast pump to use depending on your needs. Well done to all the mommy’s that have persevered and continued to breastfeed and express even when it has been tough. Your baby will not only receive optimal nutrition but also protection from infection.

January 9, 2017

An open letter to divorcing parents

Dear Parents, Divorce/separation sucks for the simple reason that when two people get together and have children, they make plans to build a future together. They do not plan for an eventual separation. So when it eventually happens, everything as they know it, crumbles. Everything will be different, and that is scary as hell. Today, thanks to extensive resources available, providing a wealth of information on all aspects of separation and referencing many people having gone through a separation before, separating parents are being presented with more options to separate with less trauma, and receive more knowledge on how to face and proceed mindfully with this life changing event. It gifts them a head start to engage on this journey in a manner that will not only allow them to move forward with less anger and bitterness, but mostly in sparing their children from broken childhood memories. Yet, there is increasing evidence of a rise in parental conflicts, court battles, evasion of parental roles and responsibilities, and using the children to control certain outcomes of their agreements not being met. Life is a never ending learning process. To discard available information and valuable support, is choosing to be a victim of your circumstances. Yes, a separation is distressing and hard on a person. It can make you feel like there is little justice and that life isn’t fair, but it should not become an excuse to waste your life focusing on a dream that did not materialise. Instead, evaluate if your conflicts are about hurting your ex or rather hurting your sons and daughters, because your conflicts are wounding your children in ways they cannot control. Recognise that there is in fact no problem. What you see as a problem is actually a change of direction. It’s not the end, it’s not a beginning. It’s a transition that allows you to plan for some different and new life choices. The time has come for separating and separated parents to address the crisis their families are in when going through a divorce/separation. Parents who are hostage to an acrimonious battle over custody and/or maintenance are not fighting for what is in the best interest of their children, they are out to hurt and destroy each other, no matter who stands in the cross fire. It is time to raise awareness that being in control of your emotions is the solution to forgiveness and healing, so that you can mend, and not destroy, your children’s families. The time is now to change the way you, parents, separate, so that you can give your sons and daughters a life which feels normal being happy and not which feels normal being broken. The Law doesn’t raise children, parents do! Nadia Thonnard

November 16, 2016

IS THERE A PROBLEM IF MY BABY DOESN’T CRAWL?

You might have heard some people say that crawling is vitally important, while others say it is not. Many people have said “My baby never crawled and he is fine” or “I don’t think it’s that important”. Personally I prefer not to listen to everyone’s opinions, but to look at the research. Not only do I work in this field, but I am a mommy of a son who didn’t crawl. A super intelligent boy who has low muscle tone and is double jointed. So I too was wondering what all the fuss was about when our Paediatrician sent us to the baby Physio. What advantages are there to crawling? It is important to understand that the development of Gross motor skills is essential for the development of fine motor skills. These two go hand-in-hand. Firstly crawling builds strength in all the muscles around the shoulders. Without strength in these muscles, he will have great difficulty in stabilising his arm while doing intricate functions with his hands, such as drawing or doing a puzzle. Here you can see that crawling is essential for physical development. It develops gross and fine motor skills, balance and hand-eye co-ordination. This is where the problem was lying for us. My son is double jointed in his shoulders and he could physically not carry his own weight there. The strengthening of these muscles are vitally important for fine motor skills as well. Muscles getting tired easily and quickly means that holding a pencil in the correct pencil grip is a challenge for example. Secondly it develops bilateral co-ordination. This means that both the left and right sides of the brain and body communicate with each other at the same time. This is called cross-lateral integration, and it builds a foundation for future skills such as speech and language development, as well as movements that cross the mid-line like reading, writing and tying shoe laces. Another obvious advantage is the freedom to explore. Yes this means bumping of head and packing away anything that could be dangerous but it has so many benefits. It helps develop visual spatial skills and depth perception. It also builds self-confidence as baby learns to make his own decisions and to take risks. What do I do if my baby doesn’t crawl? There are many ways to determine the problem and help. As a start it is important to not push baby to crawl too soon. The average is at around 9 months, but if he is a little slower it doesn’t necessarily mean that there is a problem. If you are concerned have a chat to your paediatrician about it. There are also lots of games and exercises you can do to help encourage weight bearing on the arms. Before actually crawling baby needs to be able to stand on all fours with his bum in the air, you can help him do this by rolling a towel underneath his tummy and lifting him up into the crawl position. Once baby can do this himself, he will start rocking and many start moving backwards first, before crawling forward. My son did the bum shuffle, and never actually crawled on all fours. If your child is the same don’t despair you can help develop all these skills and muscles at an older age too. Play crawling games as a toddler over an obstacle course is a good option. You can also do wheelbarrow walks or races. This is where your child walks on his hands, while you hold his feet. These and many more are all activities included in the SkidZ Clever Activity Box curriculum. It includes daily activities for all the different milestones and helps baby develop all the necessary skills through play. The program was developed by experts in the field of early childhood development and so you can have the peace of mind that all areas are covered. The program is not only good for parents to know what age appropriate activities to do with baby, but it is perfect for nannies too. Children learn and build relationships through play and this is what our program aids in. For more info please contact me at chantelle@skidz.co.za You can also get in touch via our facebook page www.facebook.com/skidzsa and our website www.skidz.co.za

November 3, 2016

Breastfeeding is key to sustainable development

Breastfeeding is a critical foundation for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2015. These goals are intended to end poverty and to fight inequality and injustice, to ensure that no individual is left behind, and to direct world-wide development onto a sustainable path. “Breastfeeding is not just vital for the health and wellbeing of infants, it is vital for the wellbeing of our society and our planet,” says Chantell Witten, Senior Lecturer/Researcher at the North-West University and Breastfeeding spokesperson for the South African Civil Society for Women’s, Adolescents’ and Children’s Health (SACSoWACH). “Breastfeeding saves energy and water, eliminates hunger, reduces pollution, increases earnings, and improves educational outcomes,” says Witten, “As such we need to ensure that we prioritise breastfeeding and support mothers because neglecting these duties harms our entire society.” A month’s supply of formula for an infant is estimated to cost R700, and this increases as a baby grows. This does not include the extra costs of energy and water consumed by formula feeding. In low income households these expenses can make the difference between the rest of the family eating sufficient protein or going hungry. This can exacerbate inequality and make it harder for families to depart from poverty. By contrast, the $35 Billion (R500 billion) breastmilk substitute industry uses enormous amounts of both water and energy and produces tons of waste. This is despite the fact that scientists have proven that “breastfeeding is nutritionally, immunologically, neurologically, endocrinologically, economically, and ecologically superior to breastmilk substitutes (BMS), and does not require quality control of manufacture, transport, storage, and feeding mechanisms.”2 Breastfeeding materially affects the long term earning and educational potential of infants. The Breastfeeding Series3, an evidence-based report published this year in the Lancet, found that “breastfeeding [is] consistently associated with higher performance in intelligence tests in children and adolescents.” This increase in intelligence quotient (IQ) scores is linked directly to higher earnings throughout adulthood. Breastfeeding also has long term health benefits for children. The Lancet reports that breastfeeding reduces the incidence of type 2 diabetes by as much as 35% and the incidence of obesity by 13%. This, in turn, reduces the burden on public health systems which frees up resources to be used for poverty alleviation.2 Despite all the benefits to both infants and society, less than 7% of South African mothers currently breastfeed exclusively for six months. As such SACSoWACH has committed to accelerate improvement in breastfeeding rates over the next three years, and to both support and monitor the South African National Department of Health’s efforts in this area. “Babies need ‘Mom Made’, not man-made – science proves this conclusively. Because breastmilk is not ‘free’, it costs time and commitment, we need to invest more in building a culture of breastfeeding. We need to support, educate and encourage mothers to keep breastfeeding for at least the first 12 months of their baby’s life,” concludes Witten. To get involved please visit sacsowach.org or e-mail info@sacsowach.org

September 16, 2016

Tummy Time

As a new parent, you have more than likely been told by your doctor that baby needs to always be on his/her back when being put down to sleep or take a nap. However, it is just as important that baby does spend time on his/her tummy during the day whilst awake and during periods of time where mom or dad can supervise. Babies now spend much of their days on their back on relatively hard surfaces – at night, in a crib or bassinet, or in a bed; during the day, in a pack and play, car-seat and stroller. All of this time on their backs can lead to a flattening of the back of the head. It also leads to weaker neck muscles, as the baby never has a chance to exercise their neck lying on their back. Because of this, baby experts and health professionals now call for a prescribed amount of tummy time for baby each day, allowing baby to strengthen their neck and take the pressure off the back of their head for a while. Since your baby will be spending so much time laying on his/her back, tummy time will help to strengthen their little neck muscles which will ultimately assist in achieving other physical milestones. So what is tummy time, we hear you ask? “Tummy time is when your infant lays on his (or) her stomach while supervised,” says Wendy Wallace, DO, a paediatrician at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Care Network. Tummy time includes a variety of activities, positions, and routines to keep your infant spending a significant amount of time on his/her tummy. Whether or not they enjoy it, and it seems most don’t at first, your baby needs this time to practice lifting their head, then pushing up from the ground. Experts say that they have found that babies who don’t spend time on their tummy’s can experience certain development difficulties with their motor skills. Facing down is an unfamiliar position for baby and so it’s natural for baby to feel uncomfortable and perhaps even abandoned. And this is where ‘Baby Wearing” is proving to be more beneficial for baby. “Baby wearing” doubles as tummy time, and if you’re wearing baby for an hour, or a number of hours, each day, they receive much more exercise for their little neck and back than they would have during the prescribed amount of tummy time. The added benefit is that because baby is being kept of his/her back, there is less chance of developing a flat head. When a baby is in a sling, especially once they are in an upright position, which is possible from birth and ideal from four or six months and up, their core muscles are constantly engaged as their parent moves and goes about their day. Though baby’s body is well-supported, safe and secure in the carrier, small shifts in their parent’s body position cause them to shift as well, in turn strengthening their muscles. They also lift their heads to see or to turn their head, which strengthens their neck in the same way tummy time would. The Hugseez from BabyLegends is an absolute must for baby wearing. Manufactured in South Africa the Hugseez is highly recommended. It has been specially designed to carry baby against mom, in the most comfortable and comforting manner. Baby is kept close to mom’s heart and yes, dad can carry baby in the Hugseez too! Available in colours to suit your taste, you can visit www.babylegends.co.za to place you’re your order.

September 9, 2016

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