Advice from the experts
Prima Baby

Chicco Ohlala2 Stroller – Black Nite

When you want to make an entrance there is only one stroller that says urban cool with the utmost confidence – the Chicco Ohlala2. In slick Black Nite colouring, this diverse and convenient travel option is an all-round solution when looking for a lightweight, easy-to-fold yet durable solution to shopping, strolling and hanging out with your little one. Easy enough to ‘lift with one finger’, this 3.8kg stroller makes going out with baby so much easier when packing away in cars or accessing stairways. Fully reclining when it’s nap time for baby, you can use the extra coverage of the UV50+ protected canopy to keep harmful rays at bay. With a strong bumper bar protecting from forward falls, baby can hold on and watch the world go by whilst being strapped in with the five-point safety strap. Durable wheels make the Ohlala2 perfect for roads, pavements, malls and hard exteriors. As baby grows, the footrest will make sure they are neatly tucked in and ready to go. Pop your shopping or baby essentials in the large storage basket and be ready to make an impression with this ultra-fashion stroller. Also available in twin mode. Suitable up to 22kgs. Grab one at the reduced price of R1999 from www.shopchicco.co.za while stocks last.

Toptots Head Office

How to encourage a love of learning

We try to teach our toddlers many things now in the hopes that it will stick with them when they are older. Not all of those lessons will carry through but teaching them to love learning is one that can. This is because the positive or negative thoughts surrounding learning are often derived from an emotional connection to the concept. If your child grows up hearing negative language in reference to reading, writing and learning new things – that emotion will stick with them as they get to school age.  However, if they grow up associating learning to be beneficial, exciting and an accomplishment, they will approach their academic lives with enthusiasm.  Make it exciting As a toddler, learning should not be seen as a chore. For you or your child. If they see that the learning activity is one you are forced to do and don’t enjoy, they will mimic that. So when you are reading them a bedtime story, building a puzzle or lego, helping them draw a picture – do it with the same enthusiasm you would like them to tackle school work in a few years’ time. Answer all the questions Your toddler will probably hit a stage where they follow you around talking non-stop. It is easy to drown this out (no judgement here) and give a noncommittal nod of the head every now and then. This is the part of your child’s development process that gets them thinking in a critical and exploratory manner. Don’t just encourage it, but engage with it too. Try and really listen to what they are babbling about, give them answers they can understand and ask them questions that will make them think about it even further. It is moments like these where a child’s brain will start getting used to thinking outside of the box. Use games and toys Helping your toddler associate learning new concepts while doing something fun will change their way of thinking as they get older. If you want to help them learn new things or develop new skills, try to do it in a way that makes them feel like it is a game rather than just a learning moment. Whether they become an A grade student or not, the love of learning has more to do with their attitude and effort than the results on their report cards. Remember that learning doesn’t just happen at school but also in everyday moments. We need to try to make sure our children are open to receive those teachable life lessons.

Solarpop

The toy that grows as your child does

Since its introduction into the market, Magformers has won the hearts of parents and children alike. More than just an educational magnetic construction toy, Magformers has grown into a brand parents trust, children love and that grows as your child does.  Just as Magformers start the play journey as 2D flat magnetic shapes and transform into amazing 3D structures, so too Magformers has become a journey of growth and change you can explore with your child as they grow and develop. The award-winning design of the Magformers magnetic construction toy helps to explore and develop children’s creativity. At the core of the product, is the concept of 3D Brain Training – which helps children to develop comprehensive three-dimensional thinking through play. The Magformers family of products has something for children as young as 18 months and evolves and grows with your child to their tween years. The wonderful thing about Magformers is that even adults can’t put them down, with the “click” as the magnets meet being just too alluring to resist. Join us as we explore the Magformers family and find the perfect starting point for your child’s amazing Magformers journey. Sensorimotor Stage – 18+ months  From birth to age 3, 80% of a child’s brain development is formed. This development is accomplished through sensory stimulation activities. This positions the Stock-O range perfectly to aid in early development Magformers Stick-O’s is the chunky magnetic construction toy for little hands. Designed to be super fun, safe and durable, kids can have endless enjoyable hours making all sorts of cute and imaginative creations. It’s also a great introduction to the wonderful world of magnets. The Magformers Stick-O collection uses hidden encased magnets to ensure children’s safety and are “tiny hand approved.” The size and shape of the pieces are made to fit perfectly inside toddlers’ hands or in the hands of children with functional challenges. This feature helps develop fine motor skills while playing. Exploration Stage – Age 3-5  During this phase children passionately exlore their environment. This stimulates their curiosity and develops their symbolic thinking. It is at this stage where children engage in imaginative and pretend play. My First Magformers is the perfect guide to assist children in exploring the world around them. Learn 6 different colours, 2 geometric shapes and all 6 Magformers building techniques. Create towers, houses, and the Magformers Magic Ball. Magformers My First Sets are safety tested from ages 18 months+ allowing your child the best start to learning as soon as possible. The My First Line uses a solid colour scheme, compared to a translucent one, as young children’s eyes are still developing and recognise solid colours easily. The learning content that is included with the My First products is specifically designed to help young children learn their geometric shapes and colours as well as developing essential life skills such as 2D to 3D modelling, problem solving and more. The transition from the My First range to the Magformers Basic Plus range is seamless as all the sets are fully compatible and interchangeable. Independent Behavioural Stage – Age 5-7  It is during this stage that children’s actions are triggered by their self-reliance. This is when children truly come into their own and express and develop their own unique ways. The Magformers Basic Plus and Themed Sets are the perfect outlet for children to explore and express themselves creatively during this stage. Unlock the ultimate playtime with Magformers. Selected sets include play cards to lay ideas flat and then roll, pull-up, transform, fold combine and wall to create exciting 3D ideas. The basic principle is that your creativity and, of course, the amount of fun you have while playing is unlimited. The frequent admiring looks of those who get to see your creations are also limitless.  Concrete Thinking Stage – Age 7-12  During this phase, children are busy developing their observational and analytical skills. Children will be able to think critically about their experiences and reproduce those through play. So, what better time than this to click, connect, create, and explore endless construction possibilities with Magformers House Set. Your little one can build anything they can imagine when they use the Magformers Magnetic Rainbow shapes and the character and accessories to create and decorate houses. Each geometric shape contains magnets that never reject, so you’ll always hear the Magformers click. When playtime is over, use the magnetic power to simply stack and store. Compatible with all Magformers, add the Maggy, Milo, Minibot and Max sets, or any of the Town Sets for extended building fun! At every stage of your child’s development, Magformers will be a trusted partner helping your little ones develop and grow, and don’t be surprised if you find yourself joining in on the addictive Magformers fun.

Prima Baby

Chicco Polly Progres5 highchair

Welcome to the world of stylish baby feeding. The champion of all highchairs is back with the brand new, most versatile option yet – the Polly Progres5. As advanced as a highchair can get, this bold and daring red polka dotted high-fashion baby product is designed with convenience in mind so you can #parentmore as you give them the best possible feeding and weaning experience. Allowing you to start feeding with ease from newborn, the Polly Progres5 grows with your child until they are ready to join their family at the big table. And even then, the Polly can come along. The fully-reclining seat is a first for Chicco highchairs. Bottle feed from newborn and allow the chair to continue supporting as your child grows. The  Polly Progres5 has all the convenience of an everyday highchair with superior adjustability and functionality. 4 recline positions with one-hand adjustment and 8 height positions make it easy to bring growing children up to the table. Snap-on highchair with booster tray includes removable liner and stores on rear legs. The highchair seat easily detaches from frame to create the booster and stool configurations.  When it’s time to grow up the fold-away foot rest swings out of the way to create stool configuration. Highly space-saving, the highchair is only 11.5 inches when folded for storage in between meals. And with an extra padded cushion, the Polly Progres5 is the most comfortable seat in the house. Modes: Baby: Reclining seat mode and fully upright mode for baby feeds. Toddler Booster: Highchair seat detaches from frame to create high-back booster. Big Kid Booster: Zip-off extension panel and fold-away arm rests convert booster to a more portable seat. Youth Stool: Highchair frame converts to height-adjustable stool with snap-on seat. With a 12-month guarantee you can rest assured that the Polly Progres5 is the only highchair you will ever use again. Grab them on special for a limited time at www.shopchicco.co.za for R4499.

Parenting Hub

How does baby’s physical development contribute to learning?

Many babies learn how to crawl at the same time they learn to sit on their own. Crawling, however, takes longer to perfect than does sitting without assistance. At six months, expect your baby to sit for a second, but balance will come later; also, you will probably notice your baby get into a crawling position, but not know how to proceed after that. Even though ‘crawling’ usually means progress on hands and knees, many babies use other moves to get them where they’re going. Rolling, slithering, ‘bottom shuffling’ (when a baby pushes around while sitting, using one hand to make the propelling motion), and pulling along on elbows are all manoeuvre used instead of the conventional crawling, so don’t be surprised if you see those first. Still other babies learn to crawl in the ordinary way, and then figure out that they can move faster on their hands and feet than their hands and knees. If something is out of reach of a six-month-old baby, you may see that baby pull up the knees under the body, push up with hands and often manage to get the tummy off the floor. For that moment, the baby is in a crawling position, but needs encouragement to actually add forward motion to the mix. By the ninth month, early crawlers start to make some real progress – though it’s often backwards, away from the object they’re trying to reach! Upper-body control is more developed than leg-control, so a baby tends to push harder with hands and arms than with knees – propelling the baby backwards. Not to worry (and try to reassure your frustrated baby, too!), this is just a short-lived phase. The biggest advantage baby has when it comes to solving problems is with the development of large and small muscles over the course of the first year, helping various tasks become easier. The two-block stack that will seem too complicated for your little architect one month will become an easy three-block stack just a few weeks later. When baby starts to focus on lower muscles (around 10-12 months), you might want to put favourite toys on the couch, encouraging your child to stand in order to reach them. This helps build balance and strong leg muscles necessary for cruising, a forerunner to walking. Once a baby solves the problem of how to stand and balance, and how to move one foot in front of the other, watch that glowing smile of accomplishment – your baby is now beginning to walk. Who’d ever thought it would happen so fast? Once you’ve reached this stage, you know your baby really ‘did it’ – and your family will never be the same. Talk about an accomplishment you can be proud of! Our parenting advice is given as suggestions only. We recommend you also consult your healthcare provider, and urge you to contact them immediately if your question is urgent or about a medical condition. A perfect product to help a child develop like this would be the Fisher-Price® 4-in-1 Ultimate Learning Bot available at retailers nation wide. The Fisher-Price® 4-in-1 Ultimate Learning Bot is a transforming playtime buddy for baby featuring 4 ways to play and lots of fun music, lights and hands-on activities. Each bot has its own fun for little ones to discover, from spinning eyes to silly popping balls to exciting crawl-and-chase play.  Baby can play and explore each bot individually or build them up into one big interactive buddy with fresh music, sounds and phrases! And with Smart Stages® technology, you can switch up the learning content to best fit your child’s age and stage. 4 toys in 1 to keep playtime going as baby grows from infant to toddler to preschooler (ages 6 months-5 years) Each individual toy is filled with fun activities for babies to explore. Put them all together to build an interactive electronic robot buddy! 3 Smart Stages® learning levels with 120+ songs, sounds and phrases about numbers and counting, the alphabet, shapes, colors and more Press any button on the motorized bot to send it zooming forward with music & lights, encouraging baby to crawl and chase Lots of hands-on activities for sitting babies, including press-down antenna, twist & flip gears, ball-popper, and spinning & clicking arms By Dr. Bettye M. Caldwell Ph.D. Professor of Pediatrics in Child Development and Education.

Parenting Hub

WEANING 101: HOW TO START SOLIDS

It’s something to celebrate when your tiny tot tastes something other than formula or breast milk for the first time. But often, the overload of information makes parents fearful of starting solids. Go with your gut and take your cues from your kiddie. If they’re old enough and face-planting into your plate to try to share your lunch, it’s usually a sign they’re ready! Here are some simple tips for a solid start to solids. Nadia Jansen van Rensburg, co-founder of Rooted Natural and a clinical dietitian with a special interest in paediatric nutrition, says, “We started Rooted Natural because we wanted children to have a healthy relationship with food right from the get-go. It’s natural for parents to be preoccupied with whether their little ones are eating well. But it can become an unhealthy obsession very easily, which means missing out on the joy of the experience.  “The best advice is to be relaxed and let your baby lead the process. Repeated exposure of as many tastes, textures, smells and colours as possible. We eat with all our senses!” Here are van Rensburg answers parents’ most pressing questions when it comes to solids: When should I start solids? It’s different for every child. From four to six months, infants are developmentally and emotionally ready to start exploring a new method of feeding – and new foods, flavours and textures. Their nutritional needs increase and the introduction of solids helps to optimise growth and brain development. Plus, more energy from food supports their increasingly active bodies as they begin to sit, play and crawl. It’s a wide window period, so take your cues from your little one. They need to be able to sit with minimum support and have good head and neck control. Children often show you when they’re ready by grabbing at food, and sucking their lips or opening their mouths when morsels are nearby.   How do I set the scene for success? It’s a great idea to get into regular feeding rhythms right from the start. Sit your little one at the table in a chair or in a chair with a clip-on tray and make sure their feet are supported. Avoid screens and any distractions. Try to get them excited about the food – its taste, textures, colours and smells! Positively talking about food is an important part of the process.  Allow them to play! Play is a pivotal part of children’s learning process so let them have fun with their food. That’s how they’ll learn to eat by themselves.  Time it well. Your baby should be rested, hungry and interested; not overly hungry, overtired, stimulated or fed. Importantly, you need to be relaxed as well. Go with a single flavour at first. Think about starting with vegetables, then progressing to fruit, grains and protein combinations.  Should I do the puree or baby-led weaning approach?  That’s up to you! The more traditional take is for first foods to be smooth, soft purees, then there’s a progression to textured purees and, eventually, whole meals. The latest trends and research are seeing parents include the baby in the meal – e.g., if they reach for a whole broccoli stem, let them try it. There’s no right or wrong! We recommend combining the two methods. This way, you ensure adequacy, but baby also gets to play, participate and explore, which fuels tactile development. Remember, the bigger the mess, the higher the success!  Van Rensburg concludes, “Our Rooted Natural brand was designed to bring fun to the feeding process, with wholesome, sugar-, salt- and preservative- free foods that let children play with new tastes and textures. Healthy kids are happy kids. I’m a dietitian and my co-founder, Kirby, is a professional chef. We combined our love of food to create a range of organic, earth-friendly baby and toddler food that takes the stress out of solids.  “We encourage you to relax and enjoy this new chapter. It’s a beautiful, exciting one. Most importantly, you’ve got this. You’re a brilliant parent. Go with your gut and learn with your little one.”  For more information on Rooted Natural, visit RootedNatural.co.za or follow on Instagram and Facebook.

Prima Baby

Chicco launches new e-commerce website

Leading baby products supplier Chicco has just launched their brand new, e-commerce website, www.shopchicco.co.za. Shop Chicco is finally ready to supply consumers with top quality baby products straight from the heart of the company. Chicco has been on the forefront of the baby world in European and American markets for almost 65 years. As a heritage brand that started off in the medical field, all Chicco’s products are quality controlled and tested in the Osservatorio in Como where Chicco is based. A laboratory within the company ensures that no item leaves the company without rigorous and methodical testing.  It is through this strict attention to detail that Chicco has continued to be the preferred supplier to parents across the world for so long. When you shop on www.shopchicco.co.za you get access to not only a wide variety of Chicco products, but you also get the opportunity to sign up to the newsletter and receive further discounts. When you check-out, receive a free baby hamper gift worth R500*. Shop Chicco South Africa offers reduced pricing on selected goods, making it more than just an online portal, but a club to belong to in order to receive the very best deals on Chicco favourites. Shop world-class strollers, car seats, high chairs, bouncers, cribs, slings, carriers, toys, nursing products, grooming products and so much more on www.shopchicco.co.za today. Free gift valid until stocks last

Boomerang

Boomerang lives it up in New York with Tom and Jerry!

Brand-new show launching this October… Winning the hearts of millions is no easy feat, but after more than 80 years and countless accolades, the iconic duo, Tom and Jerry,  are back, better than ever, leaving the suburbs behind for new escapades in New York City. To say Tom and Jerry have been around the block would be the understatement of the century! This pair, who love to hate each other, have been around the globe, gone through time travel, into outer space, down every nook and cranny imaginable, and are now running wild in Manhattan. From Monday, 04th of October, Boomerang Africa will premiere Tom and Jerry in New York, the show parents have been waiting for to introduce their kids to. Follow our favourite cat and mouse as they settle into their new digs at the Royal Gate Hotel and unleash mayhem across The Big Apple, inciting hilarious chaos uptown, downtown, and everywhere their manic escapades take them. So, best believe, Central Park, giant museums, department stores, and even subway cars will be turned upside down, inside out or just be totally annihilated in this brand-new Tom and Jerry series! All these chases and games have not been in vain; in fact, with their lengthy history on the small and big screen, Tom and Jerrycontinue to bring on the childhood nostalgia and fresh memories with equal measure. The two have also been over-achievers in their own unique way, having garnered 13 Oscar nominations for best short subject cartoon and winning seven of them in the franchise’s history. Plus, they did all that without even saying much; legend has it that the first time Tom and Jerry spoke at length was in their 1992 feature film. It does not get any more iconic than that! Get excited for the hilarious return of everyone’s favourite frenemies, as Tom and Jerry in New York premieres on Monday, 4 October at 07:25 CAT on Boomerang Africa! Watch. Play. Laugh.

Impaq

How to handle angry feelings

Once there was a red balloon that lived in a house with a family. Every day the red balloon got bigger and bigger without anyone noticing. One day the balloon popped with a loud bang and everyone in the house got a nasty fright.  Anger is often like the red balloon in that it builds up slowly over time until it explodes over a seemingly small incident/event. Aggressive behaviour is learned through the modelling of significant others. If you handle your anger like the red balloon, your children might learn that aggression is the best way to deal with uncomfortable emotions. Eventually these emotions could cause school difficulties, anxiety and relationship problems.  Emotional control, however, creates a feeling of security and peace within a family. It is thus important for us as parents to ensure that our emotions and our reactions in response to our emotions are equal. For example, when you are angry, you do not have to express that anger by yelling or throwing things. Feeling angry is not wrong, but the way you express it might be wrong.  As parents we have the responsibility to teach our children how to deal with their emotions in effective and appropriate ways. The following tools can help you manage your emotions more effectively: If you realise that there are often outbursts among family members, write down your emotions and thoughts. Keeping a journal will help you gain perspective. Humour can help you feel more in control over stressful circumstances. Take deep breaths. This will help to not only relieve some of the tension but will also give you a few moments to think more clearly. Focus all your attention on something in your environment or something on yourself, like the garden outside your window or the pattern on your dress or shirt. This technique can help you gain control over your emotions. Research has shown that there is a close link between a healthy marriage and successful parenting. It is therefore a good idea to invest in building a healthy relationship with your wife/husband. A good way to do this is by going away for a weekend or having planned date nights, to help you reconnect with your partner. Build your self-knowledge. Who am I? What is my personality like? Self-knowledge can help you gain insight into your own behaviour and emotions. Be mindful of external factors that could contribute to your emotions. For example, are you eating healthy foods, exercising, getting enough sleep? Are you stressed and worried? 

Toptots Head Office

How to parent a strong-willed Toddler

If you find yourself with a toddler who is outspoken, demanding and opinionated – you are probably trying to parent a strong-willed toddler. While this may not be the easiest job in the world, it is not only possible but having a strong-willed toddler is a blessing.  Firstly, most toddlers are defiant. It’s pretty normal. It is their way of exploring their boundaries and the world around them. If you have a toddler that is showing signs of stubbornness, it’s likely that they will grow up to be adults that know their own minds and can set their own boundaries – great, right? Let’s get you there first! Give them choices. The one thing that will set a stubborn toddler to dig their heels in is when they are completely controlled. Yes, as their parent, it is your job to tell your child what to do at such a young age. But you know what you can also do? Give them choices. Perhaps eating vegetables is the war in your house. Instead of forcing your child to eat broccoli, give them the choice between broccoli or butternut.  Let them learn by doing As long as their health and well-being are not at risk, let your strong-willed toddler learn by doing. This allows them to explore their world and learn from experience instead of things being told to them. The next time they demand to bite into a lemon, hand it on over.  Set rules for strong-willed toddlers Yup, strong-willed children are also in need of set rules and boundaries. The vital thing is to lay out all the rules from the start and stick to them no matter what. This gives your toddler a strong framework to work within and knowing the rules upfront will make it feel like you are ‘bossing’ them around at every point.  Dial down the punishment  Trying to punish a strong-willed child almost never works. No matter what you do, they will not give in. Sound familiar? That doesn’t mean your toddler mustn’t experience consequences, just that you may have to tailor the experience for them. The best way to do this is through using your words and trying to understand them. Saying something like, “that lemon wasn’t nice, was it – that’s why I said it wasn’t a good idea to eat it”.  Meeting your stubborn toddler halfway by using empathy will help immensely.  Be kind Often, strong-willed children will mirror the emotions that you are showing. If you are angry, so they will be too. If you are kind and understanding, you will find they mimic those emotions from you. Next time you are at your wits-end, take a breath and try to approach your child with kindness and see how they respond to you.

Toptots Head Office

Children’s games that help development

Occupational Therapist, Megan Smith, suggests some age-appropriate games that your children will love to play. They have the added benefit of being fantastic for their development too. Development games for 0-12 months  Game: Peek-a-boo How does this game help development: During the end of your baby’s first year, they start to develop a cognitive concept called ‘object permanence.’ Ultimately, this is the brain’s ability to note that when an object is no longer within the visual field, it still exists. You will notice that your baby will start showing signs of separation anxiety around eight months of age. For instance, when you leave the room, your baby may begin to whine or make louder noises. This is their brains exploring the concept that when you disappear visually, you are not disappearing off the face of the earth.  Boost the gameplay: Play the game with various other objects, hide bears and toys under blankets or balls in boxes and tins and encourage exploration. Show your little one that the object exists even when it is covered and cannot be seen.  Use your voice when your face is hidden, this reinforces the concept that she cannot see your face, but because she can hear you, it is still there.  Development games for 1-2 years  Game: Finding objects hidden in the sand How does this activity help development? This is another great game to reinforce the concept of object permanence as the toddler’s brain develops. It challenges them on a higher level to search for an object when they do not know what it is. The game provides sensory stimulation through tactile (touch) and visual (sight) systems and challenges the brain to interpret this sensation and simultaneously execute bilateral hand coordination to dig through the sand and locate the objects.  Finding hidden objects in sand provides an opportunity for the toddler to start the early development of different visual perceptual skills. Some of these are: Visual Form constancy: to distinguish one similar object from another.  Visual figure-ground: the ability to identify an object from different backgrounds.  Visual Closure:  To identify an object when only half of the object can be seen.  Boost the gameplay: Make sure the objects you hide are brightly coloured and can easily be seen against the background of the sand, the objects should also be large enough to fit in the toddler’s palm, any smaller, and they may struggle to find them.  Use familiar toys, such as toy fish, flowers, pets and cars. This assists them with identification and will elicit feelings of success.  As the toddler ages, you can make the game more challenging and exciting by hiding smaller objects that are more difficult to find and hiding two of each object and encouraging the search for pairs. This can assist in the development of early number concept development.  Development games for 2-3 years old  Game: Throw the bean bag in the hula-hoop  How does this game help development? This game challenges the gross-motor developmental skills and visual perceptual skills, as it requires hand-eye coordination to work alongside visual perception to create success.  The use of bean bags provides the toddler with proprioceptive input (this is when the muscles and tendons provide input to the brain explaining where the limb is in space), which is very important information needed to plan and execute a movement appropriately.  Boost the gameplay: Put little treats in each hoop that they can win if they get the bean bag in – it will be like taking them to a carnival!  Development games for 4-5 years old Game: Hop-scotch How does this game help development? Hop-Scotch is a gross-motor based game. This means that the game itself focuses on developing and challenging gross motor skills, including hand-eye coordination and hand-foot coordination. These games also challenge the child’s bilateral integration, which is the ability to use both sides of the body, in different movement planes, at the same time. This is a skill that is later refined and needed for writing and cutting at school.  Boost the gameplay: Make use of bright colours and shapes which the child can hop and jump onto. This is a fun way to incorporate basic concepts (counting, colours and shapes) into playtime. 

Prima Baby

Chicco Mosquito Perfumed Clip and Bracelet

Mosquitoes are arguably among the most dangerous animals on the planet accounting for millions of deaths every year. These flying parasites have the ability to carry and transmit diseases to humans.  For the most part, mosquito bites are nothing more than an itchy nuisance that will go away on its own after 24 hours. But prevention is WAY better than any cure! INTRODUCING THE CHICCO ANTI-MOSQUITO RANGE: Our Anti-Mosquito Natural bracelets are perfectly designed to keep mozzies at bay.  Lightly perfumed with a delicate lemongrass flavour, their active ingredients are natural and harmless to your child. A cute accessory for wrists, ankles and even in ponytails, these handy bracelets are great for holidays and summer nights.  Alternately you can use this safe-to-wear perfumed clip keeps mozzies at bay without having to apply any product to your babies skin.  With natural effective ingredients, the clip easily sits on clothing and has a pleasant, light smell. The perfumed Chicco Natural perfumed clips allows you to customise kids garments like t-shirts, hats and backpacks offering easy protection from mosquitos. Suitable for use from 3 years on, this anti mosquito range will give you peace of mind. From R39.99 at participating outlets.  For more information head to www.chicco.co.za 

Parenting Hub

Soothe Operator

BIRTH TO 6 MONTHS, 6-12 MONTHS Picture this: You spend nine months in the cosiest of cocoons, digging the darkness and white noise, when one day with zero warning – boom! – you’re thrust into a big, noisy, unfamiliar new world. It’s no wonder your baby might be a teensy bit teary (or full-blown bawling!) as she adjusts to life on the outside. She’s turning to you, the close comfort of your baby-warming arms, and your newly minted sh-bounce moves to feel calm and content. No pressure or anything! The good news: There’s more than just one way to soothe your wee one. Here, we’ll show you tricks that’ll help you help him learn to calm himself – a beautiful lifelong skill we can all appreciate. Cuddles, please! Your touch, from soft caresses to gentle strokes, makes your mini-me feel safe. It also releases the feel-good hormone oxytocin, which helps you two bond. So try some “Kangaroo Care.” Simply lie down and place your baby on your bare chest; drape a light blanket over her back to keep her nice and toasty. During bathtime or nappy changes, gently massage her head, tummy, arms, legs, hands, and feet, and follow her cues, from coos to body language that says “More, please!” Physical touch releases happy neurotransmitters in you, too! Win, win. You’re getting very sleepy… Mellow music, a good book, Netflix in bed – the need to wind down before drifting off is real. Your baby craves a similar comforting routine. Sure-fire winners: Reading her a board book, singing a lullaby, or giving a gentle massage. When it’s time to say goodnight, she’ll be chill. Night, night. Up, up and away! When you’re not carrying baby in your arms or a sling, you can recreate that magic movement with a swing. It’s fun to discover what your baby digs: Does he like to shimmy side to side, or rock forward and back? A few minutes at a time in a swing, or a vibrating rocker, can be the dose of womblike movement he loves. Plus, you get some much-deserved hands-free time. All by myself Your baby’s favourite spot is near you (obviously), but you don’t need to spend every moment interacting with him. Like us, kiddos need some alone time, too. If he’s yawning, arching his back, or simply seems zonked and needs a break, give him a safe space (like on a cushy playmat) to peace out. Bring the noise Make a ruckus to calm your cutie? It works. Think about it: The womb isn’t exactly a serene sanctuary, between the pounding of Mom’s heartbeat and other pleasing background noise. Those sounds are home to your baby, and you can recreate them with a fan, a vacuum, shushing, or a white-noise machine (Think waves, rain, and waterfalls!). Walk this way Can’t stop your cutie’s tears (and maybe even your own)? When in doubt, head out! A walk can be a (literal) breath of fresh air for both of you. Nature offers all kinds of soothing sounds and feels, from warm sunshine on her face to the rustle of the trees. Bonus: There’s an excellent chance she’ll see other babies out in the wild (always a welcome sight). So, strap on a carrier to keep her close and take a stroll. You can find baby buddies via a playgroup at your local library or a neighbourhood meet-up. Time with your people is magic – and you’re never too young to learn that. Product Features Include: The Fisher-Price® Baby Bear & Firefly Soother starts as a tabletop sound machine for your nursery with customizable music, sounds, twinkling lights or overhead light projection to help settle your baby for sleep. As your baby grows, the cuddly plush bear detaches for your convenience. The Fisher-Price® Baby Bear & Firefly Soother starts as a tabletop sound machine for your nursery with customizable music, sounds, twinkling lights or overhead light projection to help settle your baby for sleep. As your baby grows, the cuddly plush bear detaches for snuggle time while the take-along lantern becomes a comforting nightlight for toddlers. Don’t worry, Bear, the fireflies will light the way! Tabletop light-up sound machine that grows with baby from newborn to toddler Sleep expert-approved Ready, Settle, Sleep™ playlist of gentle music, sounds and lights helps baby fall and stay asleep Lantern’s twinkling lights and light projection options becomes comforting nightlight for toddlers Snuggly plush bear toy detaches from lantern for take-along cuddles For use from newborn baby and beyond Available from leading retailers

Parenting Hub

Play & Social Development

If you ask any 4-year-old what he does in preschool, he will probably say something close to, “I do my work and I play with my friends”. Of course, that 4-year-old’s ‘work’ includes painting, listening to stories, carrying out suggestions made by teachers – ‘play,’ in most of our vocabularies. But we all know what is meant by ‘play with my friends.’ It involves the interaction between and among children by which they learn how to get along with one another, to be helpful and share, and to understand the consequences of their own behaviour. In short, in their social play, they are full participants in the laboratory of life. Although cognitive development tends to be stressed in today’s world, many parents enroll their children in early childhood programs primarily because of the unparalleled opportunity it provides for social play. Just as is true for muscular advance and cognitive development, social play in young children goes through several stages. One classification that teachers find helpful is as follows: Onlooker The child remains at the edge of the group, possibly playing half-heartedly with a toy of her choosing, but merely watches the other children at their play. Solitary Play The child plays intently with available materials but remains totally alone. Parallel Play The child does the same things that a group of children is currently doing but does not interact with them to any extent. Cooperative Play The child truly plays ‘with’ other children—takes roles (‘You be the mummy and I’ll be the daddy’), gives instructions (‘No, that chair belongs in the corner’), offers and asks for help. During the early childhood years, the social play goal of parents and teachers is to help children move through these different levels until they become successful at cooperative play. This is not to suggest that the earlier levels are inappropriate, as children will switch from one level to another on the same day. But, in general, they move toward true interaction with one another, recognizing the needs and interests of all the children in the group. Although I am descoting social play as consisting mainly of interaction between children, much of it also involves interaction with adults. For example, it has been shown that if an adult occasionally joins in the play, the level of complexity and creativity can be sharply increased. Children often engage in repetitive activities in their play with one another—pouring coffee, putting bread in the toaster, putting hats on and taking them off. A participating adult (who should not take over as director of the play) can enrich the level of play by commenting, ‘Watch that coffee; it’s hot.’ Soon the ‘pouring’ child will be cautioning the other children not to burn themselves. Or, ‘I think you look better in the red hat’ can launch a search among the play hats requiring identification of the correct colour. And the parent or teacher can help establish an awareness of the excluded or ignored child. ‘I think Heather would like to join your group. Do you have a cup for her?’ In their social play, children develop an awareness of their own effectiveness with others and have an opportunity to try to improve it. The girl who is listened to as she assigns roles to the other children gets a boost as she strives to develop a positive self-concept. A child who refuses to sit in the circle next to a classroom bully can exert influence to help the bully learn more constructive ways of dealing with anger and frustration. Parents and teachers need that kind of ally. Our parenting advice is given as suggestions only. We recommend you also consult your healthcare provider, and urge you to contact them immediately if your question is urgent or about a medical condition. A perfect product to help a child develop like their social skills & play at the same time with their friends would be the Fisher-Price® Little People® Load Up ‘n Learn Construction Site™ available at retailers nation wide.  Suitable for ages 3 and up! By Dr. Bettye M. Caldwell Ph.D. Professor of Pediatrics in Child Development and Education

Prima Baby

Chicco Toothbrush Range

Cleaning and caring for your children’s teeth early on set up good dental care habits for life.  It’s not always easy to do in reality though so here are our tips and tricks to help you on this journey… THE BEST WAY TO CLEAN BABY TEETH: Position your baby so you can see baby’s mouth, and baby feels secure. It might help to sit on a bed or the floor with your baby lying down so that baby’s head is on your lap. Cup your baby’s chin in your hands, with baby’s head resting against your body. Lift your baby’s lip to clean teeth using soft, circular motions. Make sure you spend time on the front and back of each tooth and also the gum line. If your baby doesn’t like having teeth brushed, you could try make brushing more fun by singing songs or letting your baby play with a toy.   Even a quick attempt at brushing is better than nothing, so your child starts to learn that brushing is a normal part of the daily routine. Have a cute toothbrush also goes a long way to motivating your little ones to keep brushing for longer! Chicco has a wide range of toothbrushes for every stage of your little one’s dental development. Our Chicco toothbrush is suitable from 6m+, has non abrasive, gentle bristles to brush those first milk teeth and get baby learning about dental hygiene from a young age.  With it’s large handle for easy grip and small head for little mouths, this is the perfect first toothbrush! New to the Chicco dental range, the Electric Toothbrush allows children to get a deeper clean to their milk teeth. Gentle, but firm, the small head reaches inside little mouths and the non-abrasive bristles offer a perfect clean.  For our sustainable parents our new eco-bamboo toothbrush is perferct for toddlers that need a gentle brushing soloution.  These biodegradable toothbrushes keep toddlers teeth clean with a gentle, non-abrasive bristle on a small head, to reach all parts of smaller mouths. From R79.99 at participating outlets.  For more information head to www.chicco.co.za 

ChildSafe

Prevention of Falls

From the moment a baby starts to crawl, the world is a magical place filled with new adventures and discoveries. From their perspective, everything is a potential mountain to climb (that giant bookshelf), obstacle to overcome (those pesky stairs) or mysterious place to investigate (anywhere beyond the safety gate). Little bumps will happen, but ChildSafe is here to help so these brave expeditions do not result in something more serious.

Prima Baby

Chicco Toothpaste Range

One of the best ways to set your little one up for oral hygiene success is to establish a baby dental care routine from the very beginning.  Besides laying the groundwork for good hygiene habits later, it’s a fantastic way for parents to interact with their little one.  Cleaning your baby’s mouth can also become a special time for snuggling and bonding with your child. The goals of this routine should be to: Establish a habit of brushing at least twice a day Keep baby’s mouth clean Help baby get used to the feeling of having a clean mouth. These goals are simple enough, but many parents aren’t sure when to start brushing baby’s teeth and gums, the simple answer is from as early as possible! Chicco’s range of toothpastes contain low abrasion formula’s that use xylitol and fluoride as their main bacterial control. Our awesome flavours are mild and will get your little one’s brushing for longer!  Available in Apple-Banana, Strawberry, Fruit Mix and Mild Mint flavours from only R79.99 at participating outlets. For more information head to www.chicco.co.za 

Parenting Hub

Thomas & Friends™ 2-in-1 Transforming Thomas Play-set

Young conductors can create their own Sodor adventures, at home or wherever they travel, with the Thomas & Friends™ 2-in-1 Transforming Thomas Playset from Fisher-Price®. This awesome train set features a large push-along Thomas, which stores die-cast engines inside, and Young conductors can create their own Sodor adventures, at home or wherever they travel, with the Thomas & Friends™ 2-in-1 Transforming Thomas Playset from Fisher-Price®. This awesome train set features a large push-along Thomas, which stores die-cast engines inside, and large passenger cars Annie & Clarabel, which open to reveal all the pieces kids need to build out a full track set! The 2-in-1 Transforming Thomas Playset comes with a die-cast, push-along Percy engine, a working Cranky the Crane™, and cool elevated track pieces for gravity-defying railway play. Large Annie & Clarabel cars transform to a Thomas & Friends™ push-along train and track set with large Thomas for die-cast engine storage Annie & Clarabel open up to reveal track and play pieces for kids to build out Working Cranky the Crane™ lets kids load and unload cargo Comes with 20+ pieces, including die-cast Percy engine and 8 track pieces. Compatible with all Thomas & Friends™ track, except wood. (Additional track sold separately.) For preschool conductors ages 3 years and older Take the railway play anywhere ​The Thomas & Friends 2-in-1 Transforming Thomas Playset lets young conductors take their favorite engines wherever they go and create their own exciting railway adventures. The large, push-along Thomas engine and Annie and Clarabel cars open up to transform into a full-size train set with elevated track and lots of fun cargo loading action. ​Push to send Thomas, Annie & Clarabel racing around, no track required ​Thomas conveniently holds up to 5 die-cast engines (Additional engines sold separately and subject to availability.) ​Turn the dials on Cranky the Crane to lift and load cargo Everything stores inside the car for take-along play ​All aboard for adventure and fun! ​Fisher-Price Thomas & Friends trains and track sets let young conductors live out their own Island of Sodor stories with all their favorite characters from the show. As kids race from Brendam Docks to the Blue Mountain Quarry and beyond with Thomas, Percy and the rest of the Steam Team, they’re practicing important skills like taking turns, working together, and how to make the perfect train whistle. Don’t forget to watch Thomas & Friends on Netflix!

Toptots Head Office

Why socialising your child is important

With the onset of Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdowns, social distancing has become the new norm. While this is essential to protect ourselves and those we love, it has had a noted impact on our children. Never has the importance of children socialising and its benefits been more highlighted than in the past year when they have not been able to.  However, with the adoption of Covid-19 best practises, safely socialising our children is important for their development. According to Child Psychologists, here are some of the top reasons why your young child should be safely socialising. Developing language skills in children Socialising from a young age helps children develop language skills and increase future vocabulary. It also helps them learn what the appropriate things to say are in different situations. Developing empathy in children Having your child interacting with others will assist them in developing empathy. The ability to be kind, considerate and thoughtful of how others are feeling is possibly one of the most essential components of someone’s Emotional Intelligence. The earlier these skills are learned and used, the better. Developing self-esteem in children With socialisation comes an improved and developed self-esteem. This is because when children learn to make connections at a young age, their ability to make friends as they grow older will directly improve how they feel about themselves. Also, having someone other than a parent give them praise is an important boost at any age. Developing conflict resolution in children Having your child play out different scenarios with other children will assist them in learning how best to resolve conflicts in a peaceful manner. If possible, it is ideal for this skill to already be developing before children start school. Developing happiness in children Besides spending time with other kids being fun, studies show that socialisation also floods our child’s brain with oxytocin – better known as the love hormone. Research also indicates that socialisation improves your child’s memory and brain recall function. Choosing a safe environment that has Covid-19 safety protocols for your child, and you, to interact with others will ensure they are getting the socialisation they need along with all its benefits. Toptots Parent and Child Workshop is a safe place to do just that – find a branch near you to register.

Prima Baby

Chicco Multifunction Gum Gel

Teething!   The bane of many a tired parent’s life… as exhausting and as challenging as it can be, it can also be a fun time in yours and your babies life as with little teeth comes a lifelong skill of dental care. WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO INTRODUCE DENTAL CARE? Dental care for baby teeth can start before your baby’s first tooth appears. Once your baby is about three months old, you can gently wipe your baby’s gums using a damp, clean face washer or gauze twice a day. This helps your baby get ready for brushing when the first tooth appears. From around 4 months old, we recommend that you use Chicco’s Multifunction Gum Gel either on your finger or a finger toothbrush to get baby used to the feeling of dental care. Our multifunction gum gel kills bacteria in the oral cavity, whether teeth have started sprouting or not.  Made from Chamomile flowers and containing xylitol, it prevents accumulation of bacteria.  It is totally harmless if swallowed and has no flavour or preservatives. Available at participating baby retailers you can get if from R99.99 For more information head to www.chicco.co.za 

Parenting Hub

From Babbling to Talking

Parents are excited by every indication of developmental advance shown by their baby. ‘Look, he’s pushing his head up off the mattress!’ ‘Did you see her grab that rattle and hold on to it?’ These advances may not appear to be ‘great leaps forward,’ but they are. And the advances that perhaps produce the greatest delight in parents are those that offer proof the baby is becoming truly human—he or she is producing sounds that will eventually be shaped into words and used in communication. Nothing is more thrilling for parents, and in no activity are they more involved. Although the human infant is born with the capacity to become a talking—and reading and writing—organism, a great deal of loving care and nurture has to take place before this miracle is achieved. The earliest manifestation of this ability is the babbling that we hear babies doing from 2-3 months of age onward. When you go in to pick her up out of the crib, you hear ‘ahhh’ or ‘oooh.’ Chances are you will either repeat that sound or, in a higher pitch, say something like, ‘I think you’re ready to get up.’ With that response, she will kick and thrash about excitedly—and repeat her sounds. If you don’t say anything back to her when she babbles, or frown as you change her wet diaper, she won’t babble as frequently as she would if you had responded to her sounds. Thus, the first absolute necessity for parents who want to help their children move along the ‘Babbles to Books’ trail is responsivity. It’s so wonderful that, if we respond to our children as infants, they will respond to us. Language development moves along through that reciprocal process. Your talking offers much more than encouragement, of course. It also provides a model of the sounds that register in the baby’s world. Research conducted at different sites over the last 30 years has consistently shown that infants in about the first six months of life can discriminate among all the sounds produced in all languages. But they gradually lose this ability and become unable to distinguish between sounds they don’t hear regularly in their home environments. So modeling is a key function for parents in helping their babies learn to produce the sounds that will mean the most to them in their daily lives. The third key component is stimulation. All children babble, even those born deaf. But without responsivity to their efforts and good models to learn from, infants babble less and less. And, when they cease babbling, they are no longer practicing the complicated movements of the tongue and lips and other parts of our anatomical speech mechanism. Furthermore, their brains then have less opportunity to make the connections needed to relate sounds to other sensory information. But, no matter how much they babble, they still have ahead of them mastery of the technique of converting sounds into real words—real words that stand for real objects and real events. Here is where stimulation is so important. Parents need to label objects and experiences for their pre-verbal infants. ‘Would you like your MILK?’ asks mother, stressing the word ‘milk’ and holding out the bottle before offering it. ‘Look, here comes DADDY. Let’s WAVE to him,’ as she takes the baby’s hand and makes a waving movement. (In fact, a wondrously effective way to comfort a crying infant is to hold him close and walk about the house just ‘naming’ or labeling ordinary objects: ‘Feel the WALL; the WINDOW seems cold; the DRAPES are soft.’ Word games, such as ‘Pat-a-cake’ and ‘So Big’ are wonderful during this transition period (from babbles to words), as they allow the baby to do something physically as part of the language game. And don’t overlook reading to your baby as an important technique for providing stimulation. Some people think babies are too young to respond to books, but, if so, they’ve never read the right kind of book to an infant. Simple books, with plenty of pictures and few words to a page, are marvelous. Your local librarian will help you choose several excellent ones. Or, make up your own: snapshots from a family vacation put in plastic holders, with just a few words printed per page, work beautifully, as can clippings from magazines and catalogs. By the time children reach two years of age, a weekly trip to the library should be a must for all children whose parents are truly concerned with fostering language development. Toys are a big help along this trail. Precisely because young children love toys and engage in activities with them during much of their waking time, they are important words to verbalize and get into the system. And talking with toddlers about toys provides an opportunity to bring verbs—much harder to master than nouns—into the conversation. ‘BRING me your truck.’ ‘TAKE the dolly to her bed.’ ‘Do you want to RIDE your horse?’ Children need to have verbs labeled as much as they do nouns. The best-laid plans for guiding children will not be successful, however, unless they are delivered in an atmosphere of love and nurture. If you get upset when your 9-month-old still won’t imitate the gestures for Pat-a-cake after half a dozen sessions and say, ‘You’re going to get it this time—or else,’ forget it. He won’t do it. Sometimes, just about the only language children hear is either criticism or a command. And that kind of language world is not conducive to having a child want to talk. There is a story told about Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, in the early 18th Century. (The story may be apocryphal, but I’ve seen it in many child development texts over the years.) He wanted to know what language children would speak if they never heard language, his theory being that they would speak Hebrew, the language of the Old Testament. To test his theory, he established a foundling home for a number of abandoned children. The caregivers were ordered to

NutriPure

Delicious Vitamins – A treat for daily maintenance

In today’s world, more people are in need of food supplements to support their diets, but do not enjoy taking pills. That’s why Nutripure fruity chews make vitamins easy and painless to take.  The delicious tasting Nutripure fruity chews are specially  formulated with natural fruit pectin for adults and kids. Here are a few reasons why fruity chew vitamins are so popular: They are easy to take, especially for adults and children who struggle to swallow tablets. They are very convenient, you don’t need to have a glass of water with you, you can take them anytime and anywhere. They are easily digested. They are delicious and come in a variety of fruity flavours. Gelatine Free No Sugar Coating Vegan  Gluten Free No Artificial Colours or Sweeteners No Preservatives No GMO Ingredients   FOR KIDS: MULTI VITAMIN Complete (60)  – R109.95 NutriPure Multi-vitamin Complete have been specially formulated into a soft and chewy treat, making vitamins fun and easy for children 3 years and older. Multivitamins contribute to the normal function of children’s immune systems and the normal function of many other systems in the body contributing to general wellbeing. Each NutriPure MultiVitamin Complete contains 11 Essential Vitamins & Minerals: Vitamin D, B6, B12, C, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid and Niacin help to metabolise carbohydrates, fats and proteins and are factors in the maintenance of good health. VITAMIN C (60) – R109.95 Contributes to the normal function of the immune system* Research shows that in the winter months children are at a higher risk of colds and flu due to the decline in their immune system. NutiPure Vitamin C is the tasty and effective solution to compensate for the deficiency of this vitamin and to contribute to the normal function of the immune system. Vitamin C also contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system, normal energy- yielding metabolism and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. One Nutipure bear contains 80mg of Vitamin C which is 100% of the EC RDA. PRO BIOTICS (60) – R153.95 With 1 billion live friendly bacteria. At any age, a balanced intestinal micro-flora is highly important in keeping the body in healthy working order. The healthy bacterial micro-flora in the gut is a key element for overall well-being. NutriPure Probiotics is formulated with Bifidobacterium infantis & Lactobacillus rhamnosus, two scientifically tested bacteria strains. Each Nutripure bear contains 1 billion live cultures to help your child boost his daily culture intake.  Ideal to use every day.  Important to take when children are on antibiotics. IMMUNE SUPPORT + (60) – R109.95 A factor in the maintenance of good health* NutriPure Immune Support + contains a unique blend of 6 essential vitamins and minerals that all contribute to the normal function of the immune system. Vitamin C, B6 and B12 help to metabolise carbohydrates, fats and proteins and are factors in the maintenance of good health. VITAMIN D Gummies (60) – R109.95 Helps maintain strong bones and teeth plus is great for the immune system and is known to aid in the fight against viruses. Extra soft so suitable for even the fussiest eaters. Vitamin D contributes to: The normal function of the immune system, the maintenance of normal bones and teeth, the maintenance of normal muscle function, normal absorption/utilisation of calcium and phosphorus. FOR ADULTS MULTI VITAMIN Complete (60) – R134.95 NutriPure Multi vitamin Complete has been specially formulated for adults. Each NutriPure Multivitamin chew contains a balanced dosage of 12 essential vitamins and minerals: Vitamin D, B6, B12, C, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid and Niacin help to metabolise carbohydrates, fats and proteins and are factors in the maintenance of good health. IMMUNE SUPPORT – Vitamins C, D, B6 & B12 (60) – R134.95 NutriPure Immune Support has been carefully formulated with 6 essential vitamins and minerals: Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Zinc and Selenium are all a factor in the maintenance of good health. VITAMIN D – High Strength (60) – R109.95 Helps maintain strong bones and teeth plus is great for the immune system and is known to aid in the fight against viruses.  Vitamin D contributes to:      the normal function of the immune system, the maintenance of normal bones and teeth, the maintenance of normal muscle function and the normal absorption/utilisation of calcium and phosphorus APPLE CIDER VINEGAR  – Gummies (60) – R159.95 A great natural Immune Booster. At last taking apple cider vinegar has been made easy and great tasting. Nutritional highlights:  500mg of Apple Cider Vinegar per serving for immune support and metabolism, Vitamin C for immune health, Vitamin B6 for energy yielding metabolism and Vitamin C & B6 to reduce tiredness and fatigue. A delicious array of vitamins and minerals for every occasion. There is now no excuse not to stock up and maintain your health.

Squish

Tantalising the Toddler’s Taste Buds

Did you know that you can influence your child’s taste buds from when you are pregnant? Starting much earlier than we realised, your baby gulps amniotic fluid in your womb and this healthy eating journey continues during breastfeeding, too. While these opportunities may have passed by the time you have a baby and toddler, it is good to know that there are still practical ways to help the not-so-exploratory little tastebuds discover the wonderful and varied world of flavours. The Spice of Life Gone are the days of boring, bland, and tasteless foods for babies and toddlers. Just like adults, our little ones, too, appreciate flavourful food. It is important that, soon after starting your solid journey, you introduce a range of flavours such as fresh herbs (e.g. mint, basil, thyme, etc.), mixed dried herbs, cinnamon, cumin, curry, garlic, cocoa powder, and the like. Sugar-free nut butter also packs a flavour punch, but always check for allergies first. Stir into a warm bowl of oats in winter or offer up on a slice of wholewheat toast as a snack. Luckily for busy moms, Squish 100% fruit and veg purees come in a range of delicious flavours so exploring many different flavours from baby, toddler and up will be easy for your little one with Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Purees. Mealtime = Fun Time Children eat with their eyes. Make mealtimes fun, interesting and appealing. Call in the help of your child’s favourite superhero or princess with colourful kiddie-friendly cups, plates, utensils, placemats, and lunch boxes. Cut and arrange assorted coloured fruit and vegetables into interesting shapes and funny faces. Use cookie cutters on wholegrain sandwiches or arrange mashed sweet potato into fun shapes. Squish 100% fruit and veg purees come in a convenient pouch which is safe for your little one to explore eating on their own. Squish is a convenient, tasty meal or a snack, or for older kids, try it on the side for dipping – they’re sure to love it. Game On As any parent can attest, it is a daily struggle to get children to eat their fruits and vegetables. Fruit and vegetables are some of nature’s most perfect foods: rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients and fibre, highly nutritious for preventing illness and disease and overall health. To encourage variety, print a picture of a rainbow and place on the fridge or in your child’s room. Encourage your child to choose a fruit or veggie each day from a different colour of the rainbow. For example, tomatoes and watermelon are red, berries and beetroot are purple, and mangoes and carrots are orange Rewards systems like using star charts to mark off how many fruit and vegetables are eaten are also a fun game for your child. Place somewhere visible and offer your child a reward when a goal is reached, such as going to the park or an extra story at night before bed. Another fun way to get your child to eat fruit and veg is by offering them Squish 100% fruit and veg purees and pressed 100% fruit and veg juices. The convenient pouches are well-loved amongst mommies and are perfect for babies from the first introduction of solids, right through the weaning process – from babies to toddlers and beyond. And the 100% fruit and veg pressed juices are deliciously refreshing and a good way to get babies, toddlers and young kids to enjoy fruit and veg. Get Green Fingers Children love being outside and getting their hands dirty. Use this to your advantage and build a vegetable garden. If you do not have a garden, windowsills and vertical/hanging gardens are good alternatives. With your child, plant various herbs and vegetables, and, when ready to be harvested, pick the vegetable with your toddler. Little Chef Older toddlers and young children will enjoy being in the kitchen. Let your children watch you prepare family meals and talk to them about what you are cooking. Let them help you set the table, stir ingredients in plastic bowls, and older children can help chop soft vegetables like baby marrow with a butter knife. One at a Time As much as we want to encourage a variety of flavours, it is important to introduce new foods and previously disliked foods one at a time. Children are naturally wary of anything unfamiliar. Always offer up new food with well-liked food to help increase your child’s acceptance of the food. Remember, it can take up to 15 exposures of food before your child likes it, so keep being patient and keep trying. And if all else fails, there is always the Squish 100% fruit and veg puree range with enough delicious flavours to please even the fussiest of eaters.

Prima Baby

Chicco Akita Fix Air 123 Car Seat

We get asked by a lot of parents – what do we do when our baby outgrows the infant car seat that came with our Travel system?  What is the best option to keep baby safe?  When will we know to “upgrade” to the next level of car seat? In an ideal world, parents will only need one homologated seat that can be used from birth till your child is 12 years of age – but this is not always possible.  Often, parents use previously purchased travel systems in the case of a second or third child joining the family or are using gifted items from loving friends and family.   Once your baby reaches the age of approximately 9 months, they will have outgrown their infant car seat also known as group 0+ (unless you have a fully homologated option – we have a few in our range that you can research) and it will be time to transition them into a group 1/2/3 seat to ensure they are kept safe in the car. INTRODUCING THE CHICCO AKITA FIX AIR 123 CAR SEAT The Chicco Akita Fix Air 123 is a comfortable and safe solution for children that have grown out of their Gro 0+ travel system car seat and now require a front-facing car seat. Installed either with Isofix connectors or your vehicles 3-point seat belt, this seat can be used from 9 months till 12 years of age. It is imperative that the belts and headrest of the seat be perfectly adapted to your child’s size – there is no one size fits all when it comes to safety after all – but this is simply done as the Chicco Akita Fix can be adjusted simultaneously with just one movement. A seat reducer provides a supportive and comfortable cushion for smaller children. Once your child reaches the age of 4, they are considered tall enough to be buckled up with your car’s own seat belt. The built-in belt system of the child car seat can be dismantled easily – that way, the Chicco Akita Fix can be transformed into a group 2/3 child car seat in no time at all. To ensure the best possible positioning of the lap belt, an additional belt positioner forms part of this versatile seat.   Equipped with a side impact protection system for maximum protection, the comfy and elegant Chicco Akita Fix will convince the whole family and remain a loyal companion – for many years.  Get yours from any participating baby outlet for R5499.99. For more information head to www.chicco.co.za

Toptots Head Office

Intentional Parenting

The term Intentional Parenting has become a hot topic in recent years, but many people are not exactly sure of what it means. Intentional Parenting is a method where parents deliberately plan ways to be present in their children’s lives. And not just physically present – but emotionally, communicatively, and educationally too.  While not every moment of our lives can be planned, adapting an Intentional Parenting style helps provide us with ways to bond with our children. Science has shown that when parents deliberately spend time with their children, it assists in future academic achievement, improved relationships, and greater emotional well-being.  To children, love equals attention. With the world today being so distracting and parents being busier than ever, children seem to be missing out on the undivided attention that they need. We can’t give all of our attention, all of the time, to our kids. That would be impractical. However, this is where Intentional Parenting comes into play. It is a way to try and plan your life to fit in moments of attention. Whether it be a 10 minute cuddle in the morning before the rush starts, one-on-one story time in the evening or a walk around the block pointing out interesting things – it is these small moments that are not only doable, but will make all the difference in your relationship with your child. Another important aspect of Intentional Parenting is making teachable moments instead of letting them come by naturally. Schedule the time to teach your child to water plants, tie shoelaces, pack away toys, tummy time or help in the kitchen. Not only are you teaching them valuable skills, you will also be setting rules for them. When it comes to Intentional Parenting, setting rules and boundaries is not only about discipline but giving your children stable guidelines with which they can grow. Here are a few ideas on how you can introduce Intentional Parenting to your child’s life simply: Ages 0-4 Join a parenting and child class like Toptots [INSERT FIND A BRANCH LINK] Cuddle and sing songs Read a book Go for a walk Blow bubbles Play pretend games Water plants Ages 5-10 Join a parenting and child class like Toptots [INSERT FIND A BRANCH LINK] Play games Build with Legos or blocks Work on a puzzle Fly a kite Draw pictures outside with sidewalk chalk Throw/kick a ball Bake together

Squish

Snack Like Little Superstars

The tiny tummies of busy little bodies mean that frequent eating is a must for babies and toddlers. Healthy snacks between main meals are a great way to help your little one reach their energy and nutrient needs each day, which is why we’ve come up with a range of fun and creative snack ideas to form part of your baby and toddler’s diet. Fruity Fiesta Quick, easy, and big on nutrients, fruit is nature’s original fast food. Fruits contain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients and fibre, highly nutritious for preventing illness and disease, and better overall health. Squish fruit purees for babies and age-appropriate soft whole fruits for toddlers are your number one snack option Apple Sandwiches: For older children, “sandwich” apple slices with nut butter or cream cheese. Apple Sauce Dip: Encourage toddlers to dip baby carrots into Squish 100% apple puree, or try any of their favourite Squish flavours. Berry and Cream Cheese Squares: As a snack, spread crème cheese on wholewheat bread and top with diced strawberries or raspberries. Cut into squares. Cinnamon Orange Slices: Slice oranges or cut into wedges and sprinkle with cinnamon. Fruit Kebabs: Skewer small diced fruit (e.g. apple chunks, banana, peach slices, berries, etc.) onto a kebab stick. Dust with cocoa powder or cinnamon and dip into baby’s favourite Squish 100% fruit and veg puree. Fruit Popsicles: For a summer treat, blend fresh fruit of choice or with Squish Summer Berries fruit puree and some water. Freeze in lollipop molds. Legen-dairy Dairy products like milk, yoghurt and cheese pack a powerful punch as part of our children’s daily snack choices. In fact, studies have shown that yoghurt-loving children have healthier weights. It is generally advised that children stick to full cream dairy options because of their higher energy needs. Squish has a new range of 100% fruit and veg purees: Apple, Sweet Potato & Sweet Corn or Pear, Mango & yoghurt and Sweet Potato, Apple & Cinnamon. Perfect for a meal or a snack anywhere, at home or on the go. Free from preservatives, colourants and flavourings, and with 8 tasty options to choose from, you can rest assured you are giving your baby or toddler a filling meal or snack that they are bound to enjoy. Here are some ideas on how to add dairy as a snack to your child’s diet: Smoothies: Blend fruit with Squish fruit and veg purees with yoghurt to make interesting smoothies, such as banana and dates, or berries and beetroot. Thin with milk to serve as smoothies for toddlers or keep thicker to spoon feed to younger babies. Cracking Crackers: Spread cream cheese or cottage cheese on wholewheat crackers Frozen Yoghurt: Freeze Squish fruit and veg purees with yoghurt for a chilled snack on a hot summer’s day, with or without blended fruit. Also the perfect way to ease sore gums when your baby is teething. Egg-cellent Eggs No food is as versatile as the humble egg. An American study reported that early introduction of eggs to a child’s diet can significantly improve their growth. This is because eggs are high in good quality protein, with 7g of protein per egg containing all the essential amino acids the body needs for good health at all ages. Eggs also contain nutrients like vitamin B12, biotin, selenium and manganese, and a source of vitamin D and iodine. If you’re worried about introducing potential food allergens to your child, consult with a paediatric healthcare professional for more advice. Scrambled Egg: For younger babies, keep it soft, simple and scramble an egg with pureed veg like butternut, carrot, sweet potato, or gem squash as a snack. Try adding a few spoonfuls of baby’s favourite Squish veg puree, a clever way to incorporate veg into baby’s diet! Egg Muffins: Egg muffins are a winner as a finger food for older babies and toddlers. Scramble a few eggs with a good portion of small diced veg, like carrots, baby marrows, spinach, red onion, mushrooms, and the like. Pour into a greased muffin pan and bake until set at 180C for about 10 – 15 minutes. Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to five days. French Toast Fingers: Scramble one egg with a dash of milk, vanilla essence, and cinnamon. Dip one slice of wholewheat bread and fry up in a hot pan. Sliced into smaller pieces or fingers, this is a good snack idea for toddlers for hand-eye coordination. In these financially challenging times, eggs offer a cost-effective meal or snack option with excellent nutritional value for your money Fabulous Fats Healthy fats like avocado, olives, nuts (if your child is not allergic), and their oil contain more energy than carbohydrates and protein, helping our busy little bodies meet their growing needs. Healthy fats provided by foods such as avos, olives, nuts and nut betters help keep the immune system strong and provide essential fatty acids for healthy eyes and brain development. Nut Butter Fingers assuming no nut allergies: For older babies and toddlers, spread some sugar-free nut butter (e.g. peanut, macadamia, almond, etc.) on wholewheat toast. Slice into fingers and serve. Chocolate Pudding: Blend together 1 banana, ½ avocado and 1 tsp cocoa powder. Avo Cream Cheese: Blend together 1 avocado and 1 tub of cream cheese. Serve as is to younger babies or as a spread on wholewheat toast or high fibre crackers for toddlers. Since fats are high in energy, drizzling olive oil or avocado oil over meals is a good way to help smaller babies and toddlers who need to pick up some weight. For a convenient and tasty meal or on-the-go snack, why not try Squish 100% fruit and veg puree and Squish pressed 100% fruit and veg juices? Squish offers a range of 100% fruit and veg purees and pressed 100% fruit and veg juices. The convenient pouches are well-loved amongst mommies and are perfect for babies from the first introduction of solids, right through the weaning process – from

Glenoaks Remedial and Special Needs School

Your children with disabilities want to do it themselves!

From my 20 years of professional experience and a lifetime of personal experience with disability I can honestly say that helping your children with disabilities to learn and participate in activities of daily living is probably one of the most important things you will ever do for yourself and for them. Activities of daily living (ADLs) are essential and routine self-care activities that most young individuals can perform without assistance. The concept was originally proposed in the 1950s by Sidney Katz and his team at the Benjamin Rose Hospital in Ohio. Healthcare and educational professionals often use a person’s ability or inability to perform ADLs as an indication of their functionality, particularly in regard to people with disabilities. A person’s ability to safely care for themselves will significantly impact on their quality of life, will set the stage for future performance in school, work and independent living, and determine their need for different levels of care and support in adulthood. Most people engage in daily tasks, almost automatically with little thought. But for individuals with mental and physical impairments, these essential daily living skills can present barriers to leading a happy, healthy, fulfilling life. Types of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) ADLs are skills needed to manage one’s basic physical needs, as well as more complex activities associated with living independently in the community. They include a person’s ability to: Move around independently. Use the toilet independently. Feed oneself. Bathe / shower and groom oneself.Drive or organize alternative means of transport to get around.  Shop for groceries and other items like clothing. Prepare meals.  Pay expenses, use a banking service and manage money. Clean a home, do laundry and basic home maintenance. Communicate using technology. Obtain medication and take as prescribed. Do you do too much for your child? When children are young parents intuitively take over the executive functioning role of their child’s brain. They make important decisions for their children, organize their lives, and create structure and routines.  Most of the time, the responsibility for these processes moves from the parent to the child as they get older. This is an important part of a child’s development, and a clear indication of this is when children start saying ‘I want to do it myself!’ But what about children who have barriers to learning or disabilities? In these children their executive functioning skills are often compromised, negatively affecting their ability to naturally learn important life skills. These children will need more help and support to participate in ADLs and become more independent. This can be an emotionally taxing and time-consuming burden for parents and becomes a dysfunctional habit which disempowers children and increases stress, burnout, and resentment for parents. Why parents do too much for their children Parents tend to be more protective of children with disabilities, believing that their children won’t manage these responsibilities. Some parents feel sorry for their children with disabilities and believe they shouldn’t have more responsibilities when they already find many aspects of life challenging. It takes a lot of time, energy, and patience to teach children with disabilities to be more independent. Parents struggle to set aside time for this with the demands of work, running a household and caring for other siblings. Many parents believe their children with disabilities will learn daily living skills naturally when they are older and that there is no reason to start earlier.  Children are very aware that parents or the helper manage these tasks at home, unfortunately creating the perception amongst children that they will never have to do these tasks themselves.     Benefits of teaching your children daily living skills The benefits of teaching your children ADLs are endless, and although the choice to do this could be perceived as the more difficult option, it certainly results in long term advantages for both parents and their children. Increased independence. Improved confidence and self-esteem. A sense of purpose. Reduces the burden on parents. Teaches responsibility and perseverance which are critical life skills. Improves a child’s chances of being a more independent adult.  Builds an understanding of following structured activities which is vital for entry into the workplace.  Introduces the concept of being rewarded for ‘work’ if incentives are used.  How to teach daily living skills Teaching a child with a disability to be more independent will require some planning and different approaches to ensure a positive and successful experience. Do the tasks with your children. Children with disabilities learn and retain information better when the skill is demonstrated, and they can model someone else doing it.  Step1: Let them watch you first while you explain what you are doing. Step 2: Allow them to try small parts of the task while you instruct, watch and guide.   Step 3: Prompt them to explain to you what needs to be done, allow them to try on their own, observe, assist only if needed and give feedback.  Step 4: Leave them to do the task on their own by following a checklist and give feedback once complete. Teach the task where it usually happens – if you are teaching your child to use an ATM do so at a real ATM so that learning is more tangible. Break the task down into simple steps. This helps explain the correct sequence of events so that children know where to start and what comes next. Use visual reminders – checklists, a photo sequence, rosters, and videos. Visual tools work best for children with disabilities and should be exciting to look at, visible, accessible, and linked to a child’s interests where possible.  Explore using assistive devices and technology that make elements of the task easier to manage such as alarms, reminders, and adapted / assistive tools. Advances in technology and creative tools can make the impossible possible. Continuously praise and reward. Positive reinforcement is so important for children, it encourages them to keep trying and helps them to believe in their abilities. Use star charts or a points system and link achievements to

Squish

First Finger Foods Fun Time

The World Health Organization recommends that infants are introduced to solid foods from 6 months, in combination with milk feeds, to help meet their changing nutritional requirements. Soon thereafter, your baby will be eating pureed solids like a pro. And just like your baby progressed from rolling to sitting to crawling and standing, a similar yet less obvious developmental progress also occurs in the mouth as little mouths, often toothless, work out the munching movements needed for more challenging textures of the next exciting feeding journey: finger foods.  When is my baby ready for finger foods? Did your 8-month-old just launch for your dinner plate? While then it is time to shake things up with finger foods. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends starting finger foods when a child can sit up without support and bring their hands or other objects to the mouth.  These foods should be soft, easy to swallow and cut into small pieces. Some babies may have teeth at this point, some not. Either way, you can still introduce finger foods. You will be surprised at how powerful those little gums chomp away at more solid and textured foods. Watch out for foods that are too small or large as this could cause a choking hazard. Why must I start finger foods? Introducing your baby to a variety of foods is important not only for exposure to various tastes and textures but also to encourage adventurous eaters to learn to eat on their own and to master the art of grasping food and objects, which is especially important for a baby’s brain and eye development and coordination. Finger foods are not only important developmentally, but also a useful reminder to recognize a baby’s hunger and fullness cues.  Your child may be hungry if he or she: Puts hands to mouth Turns head towards mom’s breast or reaches for a bottle Puckers, smacks or licks lips Has clenched hands Which foods are good finger foods? Finger foods should be small, bite-sized, and easy to dissolve in your baby’s mouth. Continue to be wary of foods that pose a choking risk, such as foods that are hard (firm pieces of meat, hard blocks of cheese, raw vegetables, hard candy, nuts), round (whole grapes and olives), chewy (gummy sweets) or sticky (peanut butter). This is a great time to make the most of your baby’s enthusiasm for food and offer up a variety of healthy foods with fun flavours and different textures, such as: Rice cakes or crackerbreads, broken into smaller pieces dipped in any of the delicious Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Purees Soft fruit like raspberries or blueberries, cut in half, or chunks of banana perfect for dipping into som Squish Pear, Mango and Yoghurt Diced or sliced avocado Small blocks of soft cheese like cream cheese Scrambled eggs Omelette, made with some mozzarella cheese and soft veggies like spinach, mushrooms and onion, cut into blocks Well-cooked, soft peas, fresh or frozen Small pieces of broccoli florets, steamed until soft  Small pieces of cubed butternut pumpkin, potatoes, or sweet potatoes, steamed until soft Small pasta shapes like tubes or shells mixed with their favourite flavour of Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Puree Finely shredded chicken with a side serving of Squish Sweet Potato, Apple and Cinnamon Puree Grated cheese Small pieces of a healthy treat, like homemade bran muffin or blueberry pancake with a side serving of Squish Summer Berries Puree Steamed and flaked fish High fibre grains like wholewheat couscous, quinoa, or bulgur wheat, cooked until soft and mixed with avocado or cream cheese For a convenient and on-the-go snack, why not try Squish? Squish offers a range of 100% fruit and veg purees and pressed 100% fruit and veg juices. The convenient pouches are well-loved amongst mommies and are perfect for babies from the first introduction of solids, right through the weaning process – from babies to toddlers and beyond.   When feeding your child finger foods, why not offer them a side dish of Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Puree and allow them to dip their bread, vegetables, crudites or fruit into it. How do I offer up finger foods? Start with longer, finger-like pieces of foods which are easier to pick up. As your baby masters the art of picking up food with the pincer grip, progress to smaller pieces. The Baby’s tongue is also a powerful muscle in the chewing process. The key is to make sure that the foods are soft enough for them to chew and the pieces are an appropriate size. At this stage, babies may still not be able to fully feed themselves to meet their high energy and nutrient needs. For this reason, it is important to continue to offer spoon-fed meals, adjusting consistencies from puree to lumpy to match the baby’s new-found finger food skills. Offer up finger foods in addition to these meals, possibly at one or two snack opportunities a day. It is a good idea to not place out too many pieces at once as overeager little fingers may try to eat all the finger food pieces at once. And just like with the first solid foods, your baby will not be a fan of all finger foods. It may take several attempts so practice patience and enjoy these fun times on the next part of your feeding journey.  

Toptots Head Office

3 healthy foods to feed your toddler

We all know the importance of our children having a healthy diet, but it’s not always easy to get your toddler to eat what they should. We know the struggle of trying to get your child to eat what they should, and so we have put together a list of ‘Superfoods’ that aren’t only amazingly good for your child’s health, but also taste great. 1.Bananas for a healthy child This simple and affordable fruit is packed full of nutrients for your child.  What do they have: Vitamin B6 for producing red blood cells and keeping up a healthy nervous system Vitamin C to prevent tissue and cell damage, boost their immune system, absorb iron and help them produce serotonin (the hormone that amongst other things helps them sleep better). Potassium to grow a healthy heart and keep a stable blood pressure. Fibre to keep a healthy gut, control blood sugar, aid digestion and minimise constipation. Energy that is slow releasing and will give your child what they need to play and learn If your child doesn’t like the texture of bananas, try incorporating them into this healthy flapjack recipe instead: Mash one ripe banana well with little to no pieces. Add 1/8 tsp baking powder, 1/8 tsp of salt, 1/4 tsp of vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon of raw honey to the bananas Combine banana mixture and two eggs thoroughly Cook on medium heat using a non-stick pan 2.Sweet potatoes for a healthy child Again, these are easy to make, affordable and tasty. They also have numerous health benefits for your child. What do they have:  Beta Carotene helps raise Vitamin A levels in their blood – and works really well in children Vitamin C to prevent tissue and cell damage, boost their immune system, absorb iron and help them produce serotonin (the hormone that amongst other things helps them sleep better). Potassium to grow a healthy heart and keep a stable blood pressure. Vitamin B6 for producing red blood cells and keeping up a healthy nervous system Vitamin E to protect their bodies against oxidative damage. Fibre to keep a healthy gut, control blood sugar, aid digestion and minimise constipation. Energy that is slow releasing and will give your child what they need to play and learn You can cook these like potatoes and mash them up, for a sweet potato mash dish. Or try this Sweet Potato chips recipe: Pre-heat your oven to 200C Wash the sweet potatoes thoroughly, dry them and slice them into chip sized strips with the skin on. Coat the strips with a tablespoon of olive oil Sprinkle with salt Sprinkle with Rosemary (only if your toddler doesn’t mind seeing green things on their food!) Bake in the centre of the oven for 35-40 minutes, shifting them half-way through 3.Plain Greek yoghurt and Blueberries for a healthy child Even though both of these foods carry their own benefits, together they taste good enough for most fussy toddlers to eat. What does Greek yoghurt have:  Calcium for optimal bone health and growth in children Protein is essential in any diet; it also helps them feel fuller for longer and keeps their metabolism functioning. Probiotics to balance your child’s gut with good bacteria, which has an effect on many things within their bodies.  What do Blueberries have: Vitamin C to prevent tissue and cell damage, boost their immune system, absorb iron and help them produce serotonin (the hormone that amongst other things helps them sleep better). Antioxidant compounds to help your child’s cells fight damage, help prevent chronic diseases, and boost brain function. Blueberries have the highest levels of antioxidants compared to other fruit and vegetables Fibre to keep a healthy gut, control blood sugar, aid digestion and minimise constipation.  While blueberries are great to eat as is, depending on the age of your toddler, they may be a chocking hazard. Try incorporating the Greek yoghurt and make this Smurf Shake for your child. Blend together: 1 cup of blueberries  1 banana ½ cup of plain Greek yoghurt ½ cup of milk of your choice ½ cup of water Raw Honey to taste

Squish

Super Immunity, Super You

In a world where regular hand washing and sanitising, social distancing, and wearing of masks has become the new normal, so too is more attention being placed on the immune system than ever before. The immune system is the body’s natural defence, working 24/7 to protect our bodies from diseases and infections caused by invading viruses, bacteria, and other germs. Think of the immune system like an army of soldiers always ready to defend their battlefield. And just as soldiers have a range of protective equipment and tools, if these germs do get into the body, these intruders are backed up by white blood cells, proteins, tissues, and organs like the skin. The good news is that there are ways that we can support our family’s immunity through good food and nutritional choices. Vitamins and minerals, known as nutrients, fuel the body for healthy functioning each day. Like superheroes that each have different superpowers and strengths, so too do the various nutrients help you and your family be stronger every day in different ways. Let us take a closer look at a few key immune-supporting nutrients that you can include in your child and family’s diet on a daily basis to help give their immunities a fighting chance. Vitamin A We do not really think about it, but our skin is an organ that can provide great support to our immune system as the first line of defence against invading bacteria and viruses. To stay healthy, our skin needs vitamin A. Almost 4 in 10 South African children under 5 are vitamin A deficient, which can irreversibly affect the growth and development of a child as well as weaken the immune system. Butternut, pumpkin, and carrots are examples of foods that contain beta-carotene, which  the body converts into vitamin A. Beef or chicken liver is also a cost-effective source of vitamin A. Find fun ways to eat more of these vegetables. For toddlers try grated carrot salads with raisins and pineapple or offer up butternut purees to your baby, with added flavours like cumin or cinnamon for variety. For a convenient and tasty meal or on-the-go snack, why not try Squish 100% fruit and veg puree and Squish pressed 100% fruit and veg juices? Vitamin C We all know that vitamin C is important to keep the immune system strong, protecting the body cells from damage. It also supports the normal function of the skin. The body cannot make or store vitamin C, so it needs to be eaten regularly. Luckily, many fruits and vegetables contain vitamin C. Unfortunately, our South African children are not eating enough fruit and vegetables. Citrus fruits like naartjies and oranges are a good source of vitamin C, as are strawberries, paw, mango, kiwi, peppers, and broccoli. Squish offers a range of 100% fruit and veg purees and pressed 100% fruit and veg juices. The convenient pouches are well-loved amongst mommies and are perfect for babies from the first introduction of solids, right through the weaning process – from babies to toddlers and beyond. Zinc Zinc is an essential mineral that is not made or stored by the body, which means that we need to eat enough every day to meet our needs. Zinc is found in almost every cell of the body, supporting immunity, wound healing, and normal growth and development in children, teenagers, and pregnant women. It is concerning to think that 1 in 2 children in South Africa is at risk of zinc deficiency. In these tough financial times, focus on the more affordable foods that help us meet our zinc needs such as baked beans, porridge, and yoghurts which have added zinc, as well as small portions of chicken and beef. Try to incorporate your little one’s favourite Squish into the meal or as a side.

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