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- 1 September 2009
One idea to keep the memories alive is to take digital photo’s of their art pieces and then arrange it with captions and dates and have a photo-book printed. It’s nice to page back years from now and see at what age they created things what the theme was, etc.
Kids who are exposed to reading from an early age are more likely to achieve academic success later in life. Readers become successful and confident writers later on. A child encouraged to question and query the motives of a character or an author,begins his first steps towards independent thought and opinion. These comprehension skills will greatly benefit the child when formal schooling begins.
When is the best time to teach your little one to swim? Click here to find out more about the Toddler Swimming Tips offered at the Your Baby Show.
At birth, baby skin is virtually sterile and is up to ten times thinner than adult skin. Baby skin is easily damaged as it has not yet formed the protective acid mantle which at a pH of 5,5 can effectively fight its own infections. This takes some time to develop and stays vulnerable during most of early childhood. Only once the acid mantle has fully formed at a pH of 5,5 can the skin successfully perform its own defenses.
If your baby/toddler has a sensitive skin or is genetically predisposed to dry/eczema skin, is it then vital to cleanse and care for his/her skin with soap free, pH 5,5 products. This supports and strengthens the acid mantle thus reducing the risk of diseases developing and rebalancing the skin’s own ecological system.
Remember that our skin is the largest organ in the human body and must be treated with care and high quality pH 5,5 products to maintain optimal health into adulthood.
“Only Healthy Skin is Beautiful Skin”
Read about Baby Sebamed's skin care products
ICE campaign - "In Case of Emergency"
We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory but nobody, other than ourselves, knows which of these numbers belong to our closest family or friends.
If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn't know who to call. Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency? Hence this " ICE" (In Case of Emergency) Campaign
The concept of "ICE" is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency situations. As cell phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name "ICE" ( In Case Of Emergency).
The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when he went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they didn't know which number to call. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name for this purpose. In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital Staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialing the number you have stored as "ICE".
Please forward this. It won't take too many "forwards" before everybody will know about this. It really could save your life, or put a loved one's mind at rest.
For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 etc.
A great idea that will make a difference!
Let's spread the concept of ICE by storing an ICE number in our cellphones today.
Travelling with little ones can be exhausting. When the open road beckons, sanity saver and one of the leaders in safe and fun family transportation, Peugeot offers the following advice.... Click here to read more about travel tips
This is one I learnt in antenatal classes in London, and it was brilliant for both my babies! Some newborns really find nappy changes very upsetting. This is apparently because they are just not used to the feeling of cold air on their skin. If you gently blow their tummies with a hair-dryer on the lowest setting, while changing them (you need two of you to do this, initially!), they are completely content. The warm air and the sound of the hair-dryer seems to be very soothing. Double bonus: you will keep their cord nice and dry and infection-free! After not very long, newborns do get over this stage and the hair-dryer is no longer necessary to ensure happy nappy changes!
Here are ideas on how to help your child get through a "monster phase" that worked for us.
About a year ago, an older child at a park educated my 2 and half year old about monsters. She started seeing them coming through the window, etc so I gave her a polished stone to put on the window sill and it works like a charm - her bedroom is now a monster-free zone.
It was during this "monster" phase that she'd come through to us during the night just to get a hug. Sometimes we'd be woken every half hour on a bad night, until I made her a special cushion that dad and I "load up" with hugs
(by hugging it) every night just before we put her to bed so she can just hug the cushion if she needs a hug during the night.
The following exercises should be done at a time when your baby is relaxed and calm. We suggest that you try to do these exercises each day just after bath time or a different time in the day that suits both you. Play some gentle music in the background, remove as much of your baby's clothes as you dare, relax and enjoy. Always maintain eye contact with your baby and tell her softly what you are doing, should you find that she does not enjoy an
exercise or is simply not in the mood, then try at another time.
Sit
with
your legs open in front of you and your baby on a mat or towel between your legs. Repeat each exercise 3 - 5 times.
Arms: Lay your baby on her back.
- Take her hands in yours and gently lift them above her head saying, "How big are you?" You are soooo big." Bring the hands down to her hips and then repeat.
- Take her hands in yours and lift one above her head at a time so that when one is up the other is down.
- Take her hands in yours and open the arms away from the body. Bring them in to cover her chest saying "Let's hug and hug and hug." Each time, ensure that a different hand is on top.
Legs: Lay your baby on her back
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Hold her feet in your hands and gently press her legs inwards so that her knees touch her tummy, straighten her legs and repeat.
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Hold her feet in your hands and now repeat the above exercise but one leg at a time, like riding a bike. While one leg is straight the other is pressed into her tummy.
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Take her right hand and left foot and make them touch by lifting both
Now repeat with the left hand and right foot. Bring both hands and feet together and rock her body from side to side.
Copyright Toptots South Africa 2004. For more information and contact details on a workshop near you, please click here to visit our web site.
I would like to emphasise how important your time with your child is.
I have learned how her face just lights up everytime she pulls my finger towards her room to play, how many times have I said, "Not now, Sweetie, mommy's busy", but not anymore, I have realised that face thrills me deeply - the face she puts up when I actually sit down and play with her, colouring in, putting the dollies to sleep, whatever SHE wants to do, not me.
No parent can resist seeing their child happy and satisfied, not even the hardest of hearts.
She can't really say it, but I know what she is feeling - "Mommy, thanks for your love, thanks for making me feel special and for sitting down with me and playing, I really appreciate it, even though you might not hear my inner voice, one day, when I can speak, I will tell you "Thanks" in every way I can".
"Just a little tip that helped me…when it’s time to go back to work and you have to take baby off the breast and he/she refuses to take the bottle, ADD A LITTLE NESQUIK TO THE FORMULA."
"I firmly believe that the most important way to ensure a child’s happiness is to set very clear boundaries with discipline, to love your child as much as you possible know how, to let your child know how important he is, how much you love him, and how special he is.
I am a mother of a precious 3 and a half year old. His name is Jordan and he is the light of my life and the apple of my eye. My husband and I try to focus on positive discipline as far a possible. We make sure we praise him for good behaviour and I absolutely swear by the behaviour chart. I got this specific idea from a reality programme on BBC PRIME called “supernanny”. The chart is made from a big sheet of blue cardboard, cut out clouds, a cut out sun, and a little plastic airplane. The idea is that the airplane moves from cloud to cloud depending on the behaviour. If the child behaves well, the airplane moves up by one cloud until it reaches the sun. Once the airplane has reached the sun, the child gets a special treat (be this a favourite sweet, a small toy, or a trip to a favourite place – the child gets to choose). My son thrives on this and his face just glows with pride when he reaches the sun (and, of course, we shower the praise on him).
I also firmly believe that, as a parent, one has to try to understand that we are also human and do sometimes make mistakes. Our children also have to realise this. I make a point of acknowledging when I have been wrong and apologising to my child (if it is he that I have wronged). When I have done this I feel better about myself and I know that my child learns from this. It is sometimes hard to be perfect and I accept this and turn it into a learning opportunity for my son."
brought to you by the Layers of Safety Campaign
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brought to you by Baby Hands SA
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brought to you by Baby Sebamed
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brought to you by Bennetts
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"Give your toddler an apple to eat in the car, it will keep him/her busy for a while. Before you do so make sure your toddler can eat an apple without choking or it could get messy, in which case leather seats are adviseable." - Cara Mullin, KZN.
"A tupperware or small bucket filled with smaller tupperware, tupperware lids and other plastic goodies (especially formula scoops) will keep your little one entertained for longer than a minute or two. Be prepared to pick up the bits from all over the house!" - Cara Mullin, KZN.
"Collect the lids of Purity baby food jars. Wash out a formula tin and then cut a slot in the plastic lid to the size of the Purity lids. Show your baby how to post the lids into the formula tin. This is a great exercise for fine motor skills. You can also use formula scoops in another formula tin for variety of shapes and sizes." - Cara Mullin, KZN.
"Whilst you are pregnant I recommend excercises to build up the muscles on your arms, you will need them. If you do not get around to it, nevermind, the first couple of months of carrying your baby around in his/her snug 'n safe will do it." - Cara Mullin, KZN.
"You don’t need to be breastfeeding to wear a feeding bra … particularly in the last 6 weeks or so, normal bras will be hellishly uncomfortable, whereas feeding bras made of nice stretchy cotton still do the job, but far more comfortably…" - Kerry Haggard, Highlands North, mother of Daniel, 11 months.
"When you pack your bag for hospital, don’t forget to pack normal clothes as well as night clothes. As much as you’re in hospital, you’re not sick, and you’ll feel far more comfortable receiving visitors, and far more human in yourself, if you’re wearing clothes and not pyjamas." - Kerry Haggard, Highlands North, mother of Daniel, 11 months.
"Don't kid yourself that you're going to get "so much done" when you're on maternity leave. You won't." - Kerry Haggard, Highlands North, mother of Daniel, 11 months.
"Have a support system in place, even if it's just a mother(in law), friend or neighbour who will take the baby away from you for an hour once a week - you'll need the headspace for yourself. Never ever be afraid to ask for help." - Kerry Haggard, Highlands North, mother of Daniel, 11 months.
"Make sure that you get out of the house at least once a day, even if it's just to walk around the block - cabin fever is the first step to post natal depression, I reckon." - Kerry Haggard, Highlands North, mother of Daniel, 11 months.
"It’s a well kept secret – babies are tough little creatures! While you’re obviously extremely careful from the word go, there’s very little that you can actually do to hurt them in the normal run of things, and I’m told that they feel more secure if you hold them firmly. They pick up if you’re nervous, and then get scared, and then wail – so handle them with relaxed confidence, and you’ll have a peaceful baby." - Kerry Haggard, Highlands North, mother of Daniel, 11 months.
"Don’t be worried or think any less of your self if you aren’t immediately blown away by The Miracle. Babies are hard work when you’re sleep deprived, sore and unsure of yourself, and when your whole life has been tumble-turvied while everyone else’s (read: your partner’s) life carries on just as it was before. The first few months are particularly difficult – you feel a bit like you’ve given birth to a fragile Tamagochi, but every minute is worth it – when they start responding to you, even if it’s just a glint of recognition in the eye, to when they start smiling and giggling, pulling themselves up, all those amazing things, the penny will drop as to why everyone raves about the experience. As they develop, you’ll marvel more and more at how absolutely fantastic your own body was to create this whole, amazing, special creature, with its intricately functioning parts, its personality, and you’ll wake up excited (even if you’ve been up four times during the night) every morning to see what your little miracle gets up to in that day." - Kerry Haggard, Highlands North, mother of Daniel, 11 months.
"If you plan to have an age gap of less than 3 years between your children, I would strongly advise buying a double stroller/push chair when the second one arrives, or you could just stay at home for a few years." - Cara Mullin, KZN.
"Some moms just have a camp cot until baby is big enough for a real bed. We’ve found that Daniel’s outgrown his already, but he doesn’t yet have any fear of falling, so we’ve had to buy him a cot, at the age of 8 months. If you can afford both, the campcot does make sleep-outs a lot easier, and don’t forget to have a look at second-hand shops." - Kerry Haggard, Highlands North, mother of Daniel, 11 months.
"Apart from the overhead light in your room, have a table lamp with a dimmer switch in baby’s room. This will mean that you can check on him/her without blinding both of you with bright light." - Kerry Haggard, Highlands North, mother of Daniel, 11 months.
"Even if you’re planning to use disposables, buy a pack of old fashioned nappies to use as burping towels, or for general mopping/wiping up." - Kerry Haggard, Highlands North, mother of Daniel, 11 months.
"Don’t spend outrageous amounts of money on a baby bath. You’ll only use it for about 3 months, and then baby will be too big. At most, buy a good old fashioned Addis laundry tub, and use that until baby’s big enough to go into the grown up bath, with bathing support goodies." - Kerry Haggard, Highlands North, mother of Daniel, 11 months.
"Keep your traveling bag stocked at all times, with duplicates of things like wetwipes, dummies, spoons, toys etc packed and ready to go. That way, when you do need to go out, you can just pick up the bag and go, and you won’t forget any important things in the rush to leave the house." - Kerry Haggard, Highlands North, mother of Daniel, 11 months.
"No matter how much your baby is crying for a feed, go to the toilet before you feed... You may not really need to, but as soon as about 3kg or more lands on your bladder, you will." - Kerry Haggard, Highlands North, mother of Daniel, 11 months.
"Even if you're planning to breastfeed, have some bottles and formula ready. If your milk doesn't come in straight away, or if you don't have enough initially, you can top baby up with formula - if you don't, neither of you will sleep for weeks. There's nothing wrong with alternating breastmilk and formula feeds – Daniel seems to have survived it…" - Kerry Haggard, Highlands North, mother of Daniel, 11 months.
"If you’re going to use formula, instead of worrying about whether the water’s the right temperature in the middle of the night, get yourself a good flask, and get the water right once a day, for the rest of the day." - Kerry Haggard, Highlands North, mother of Daniel, 11 months.
'Great teething relievers: biltong or dry wors stick, raw butternut, raw carrot." - Cara Mullin, KZN.
"If baby's constipated, there's nothing you can really give them before 3 months...except brown sugar. Put two teaspoons of brown (not white) sugar in about 60mls of warm water, whoosh around to dissolve and feed by bottle.
If that doesn't work, put some normal cooking oil in a bottle and give to baby. By the time s/he realises how yuck it tastes, enough will be in to work its magic... Olive oil is apparently healthier, but it tastes far worse… you’ll be able to tell by the expression on baby’s face…" - Kerry Haggard, Highlands North, mother of Daniel, 11 months.
"The following toys have been a hit with my two kids:
- Wooden Cart with blocks
- Foam squares that have pictures/letters/numbers on them and can be used to make blocks or a floor mat
- 3, 4, 5 and 6 piece jigsaw puzzles
- Touch 'n feel books
- Stacking cups
- Miniature plastic shopping trolley with make believe groceries
- Shape Sorters
- Finger paints (if you can cope with the mess)
- Bags - any kind of small bag from backpacks, string bags to suitcases on wheels
- Balls of all shapes, makes and size
- Sandpit with bucket, spade and shape makers" - Cara Mullin, KZN.
"Keep some new toys hidden for the day when you have to get something really urgent or important done." - Cara Mullin, KZN
"Reward your child with a fun sticker or stamp or you can even make a star chart everytime they use the toilet correctly." - Cara Mullin, KZN
"The best way to avoid nappy rash is airtime… at least once a day, let baby lie on the changing mat or on some soft towels on the floor, with no nappy on, to let the important bits dry out and breathe. Best to do this on towels or on a wooden floor, because accidents do happen… " - Kerry Haggard, Highlands North, mother of Daniel, 11 months. |
