My Child Magazine March 2019 Issue + Excellence Awards 2019

ISSUE 90 - MARCH 2019

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What are Speech and Language Delays?

EXCELLENCE

Awards 2019

WHAT IS

NDIS? THE FOUR TYPES OF PARENTING STYLES: AUTHORITARIAN, AUTHORITATIVE, PERMISSIVE, UNINVOLVED.

Top 5 Things Kids learn from Participating in School Fundraisers HOW TO SPOT MOTOR SKILLS AND COORDINATION ISSUES

8

12

48

CONTENTS FEATURED ARTICLES

EVERY MONTH

YOUR CHILD

8

6

EDITORS LETTER

40

7

EDITOR PICKS

WHAT IS NDIS?

12

HOW TO BEAT CAREGIVER BURNOUT

16

LEARNING DISABILITIES IN CHILDREN

20

WHAT ARE SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DELAYS?

2 March 2019 | mychild

INSPIRING READS

50 40

KEEPING YOUR MARRIAGE STRONG WHEN YOU HAVE A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD SIMPLE WAYS TO MAKE READING FUN FOR YOUR TODDLER

44

SIMPLE WAYS TO MAKE READING FUN FOR YOUR TODDLER TOP 5 THINGS KIDS LEARN FROM PARTICIPATING IN SCHOOL FUNDRAISERS

PREGNANCY

28

LINEA NIGRA: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!

32

BRAXTONHICKS VS. REAL CONTRACTIONS

LIFESTYLE

68 58

70 100 66

GET THE LOOK – INTERIORS RECIPES

BOOK REVIEWS

SHOPPING

7 80 62 86

PRODUCTS WE LOVE

SHOP KIDS FASHION

TOY REVIEWS

FASHION

79 March2019 | mychild

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EDITOR BIANCA MEDINA

ASSISTANT EDITOR CAROLINE MEYER

ART DIRECTOR NICOLE CAYABYAB

CONTRIBUTING EXPERTS AMY ADENEY SHEREE HODDINETT KARLI STEENKAMP LANCE GREEN ANNIE WYLIE KYLIE KADEN

EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES EDITORIAL@MYCHILDMAGAZINE.COM.AU

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES ADVERTISING@MYCHILDMAGAZINE.COM.AU

CONTACT: MYCHILD MAGAZINE PHONE: 0411 572 877

My Child magazine and mychildmagazine.com.au are wholly owned by MyChild Magazine (ABN 79 167 787 662). No other parties or individuals have any financial interest in the company or in My Child or mychildmagazine.com.au. My Child contains general information only and does not purport to be a substitute for health and parenting advice. Readers are advised to seek a doctor for all medical and health matters. The publisher and authors do not accept any liability whatsoever in respect of an action taken by readers in reliance on the recommendations set out in this magazine. Reproduction of any material without written permission by the publisher is strictly forbidden. We cannot accept responsibility for material lost or damaged in the post or for any unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. All reasonable efforts have been made to trace copyright holders.

4 March 2019 | mychild

March2019 | mychild

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EDITOR’S LETTER Hi Everyone, I love March!

This is the time of year that makes me nostalgic. My baby girl Max was born in March and as each year that passes, it reminds me of all the dreams I had about becoming a mother and how those dreams have been surpassed with the reality I have been blessed with.

My darling daughter is the wish I wished for (Max even got the eye colour I dreamt of – she has these beautiful blue eyes however both my husband and myself have brown). Max is such a pleasure in my life and her arrival marked the biggest transformation from who I was.

Now as an almost 4-year-old, I have noticed that Max has lost her toddlerness this pass few weeks and is now a little girl! She is loving all things JoJo Swia and has been driving me crazy with listening to her music. Every time we get in the car, it’s JoJo time. Now, this wouldn’t be so bad, however my darling daughter loves the music loud and we must look so silly driving around in our little Fiat with the roof down with “Like a kid in a Candy Store” blasting from the speakers.... It is a sight I can assure you, but it’s even funnier when her dad and her are cruising around Now let’s take a look at what’s in the March Issue. This month is the Special Needs Issue month. We have some great articles on: What Is NDIS?, How To Beat Caregiver Burnout, Learning Disabilities In Children, What Are Speech And Language Delays?, How To Spot Motor Skills And Coordination Issues.

We’ve also covered: Linea Nigra: What You Need To Know!, Braxton-Hicks Vs. Real Contractions, The Four Types Of Parenting Styles: Authoritarian, Authoritative, Permissive, Uninvolved, Simple Ways To Make Reading Fun For Your Toddler , Top 5 Things Kids Learn From Participating In School Fundraisers, Why You Shouldn’t Let Your Kids Win When You’re Playing Games And Keeping Your Marriage Strong When You Have A Special Needs Child All the usuals, interior, reviews blog and much more can also be found in this issue too.

Bianca xxx

and the My Child Team

6 March 2019 | mychild

EDITOR’S PICKS 1

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March2019 | mychild

7

WHAT IS

NDIS? Written by Caroline Meyer

8 March 2019 | mychild

FEATURED ARTICLE As parents, we all want the very best for our children. When a child is born with a disability or develops an impairment through illness or injury, it can be a heartrending experience. It may also be difficult to cope with the different needs or added support for the child. This is when the NDIS can be of help.

What Is The NDIS The NDIS is the National Disability Insurance Scheme which the Australian government has put in place to help carers when it comes to permanent disability. There is a number of requirements to be eligible for the insurance. If you qualify the insurance can assist with early intervention with regards to developmental delays. The NDIS provides support with regards to cognitive, intellectual, sensory, physical and psycho-social disabilities.

The NDIS is not designed to be a welfare system but more as a support to improve skills and encourage independence. The scheme is controlled and operated by the NDIA (National Disability Agency). They make decisions on eligibility and the amount of funding applicants receive.

What Support Does the NDIS Offer?

When you have to deal with a disability, whether congenital or sudden onset, being able to access information is very important. The NDIS allows you to get the information you need as well as get access to services that can help you and your child. There is a range of services and support available through the NDIS which includes employment opportunities, social participation, education, development of independence and help with living arrangements, health and well-being.

What is notable is that the NDIS treats every situation individually. The look at your situation and offer funding and support to best suit your needs. This could mean help to make modifications to your home such as a wheelchair ramp, personal care support, someone to help around the home, special accommodation, technology and equipment needed such as modification to cars, purchasing wheelchairs and more.

The NDIS can also help you with early interventions such as behavioural and speech therapy.

The main aim of this scheme is to support you and your child and hopefully assist with interventions to improve capabilities and quality of life. They also offer information that can help improve the long term future of a child with a disability such as potential job opportunities in the area.

How is eligibility determined?

Early interventions are offered for babies and children from birth to 6 years old. Support is offered for disabled people from the age of 7 up to 65 years old. For 7 years and older, the disability would need to be significant and permanent. The disability could be cognitive, physical, intellectual or psychological. For children under 6, no disability diagnosis is required.

You would also need to be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident or hold a special category visa. Unfortunately, NDIS needs to be available in your area as well for you to receive assistance.

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How can you apply?

You can ensure that you tick all the boxes for the eligibility requirements by getting the checklist either online or from your local NDIS office. They will ask you for citizenship information, age, the type of disability and what type of equipment is being used for assistance as well as the type of support you are wanting to apply for.

If you meet the requirements and are eligible for assistance, you need to complete an Access Request Form (ARF) or make a Verbal Access Request (VAR). Once you have given them all the information they need, the request goes to the NDIA for a decision. They will send you a letter to let you know if you are going to receive assistance. The letter is referred to as an “access decision” letter. If you are approved for assistance, the next step is a planning meeting. They will contact you to set this up. In the meeting, your support and funding needs will be discussed.

What is an NDIS plan?

Once you receive the “access decision” letter and you are notified of your meeting, you need to lay out a plan in writing. In your plan, you need to make sure that you list what you aim to achieve and what sort of support you need.

You will need to make note of the disability of your child or children, what you have at home or what you need to set up. List the daily activities and how they are performed and the sort of support you require to improve on these. You will also need to indicate support you are getting from friends and family that would not require funding. The plan needs to be centred around your child and his or her individual needs.

If you need help laying out your plan, officials at the NDIS offices can help you with this as well as advise what the NDIS can offer in the way of support. Over and above funding, the NDIS can help you link up with service providers, people in your community that can support you as well as other government departments that can assist.

Coordinators that deal with early childhood intervention assist with children from birth to 6 years. The main aim for the NDIS and the Early Childhood Early Intervention Coordinators is to help disabled children to develop to the best possible levels and be better able to cope with their disabilities. Their aim is to help young disabled children develop the skills they need for their everyday tasks.

These coordinators can help you get involved in your local community for information and support as well as get your child involved in community activities. They will assess the support you currently get and help you lay out the support your child needs now and for the future.

They will help you determine your family’s needs to be able to support your child as best as possible.

The Local Area Coordinators work with children and adults with disabilities from the age of 7 and up to the age of 65. They will assist you in understanding how to set up a plan and access funded support to improve independence and quality of life. They can also help in your progress reviews. Specialised assistance in the form of a Support Coordinator may also form part of your plan. They are available for people in difficult situations who require help in accessing the services and support they need.

10 March 2019 | mychild

How is your plan managed?

Once a year the NDIS will review your plan. They ensure that it is functioning correctly and actually helping the people involved. Your coordinators will do a review to check what is helping and what isn’t. They can then adjust your plan. Where there is no further need for assistance such as a case where early intervention has worked successfully, participants are removed from the scheme.

I’m not eligible, now what?

Even if you are not eligible to access funds, the NDIS can still be of assistance. They can refer you to other organisations or agencies that may be able to help. They can offer information with regards to alternative support services such as the Department of Social Services.

They can offer information on community resources you may be able to contact. They have experience with families dealing with disability and may be able to offer other valuable resources to assist you.

If you have a disabled child or family member, you can contact the NDIS on 1800 800 110 during the week (Monday to Friday) between 8am and 8pm. You can also direct emails to them at: enquiries@ndis.gov.au

March2019 | mychild

11

How to Beat Car

Written by Ca 12 March 2019 | mychild

FEATURED ARTICLE

regiver Burnout

aroline Meyer March2019 | mychild

13

As a caregiver, it is easy to lose yourself in taking care of someone else. You may find yourself stressed and your energy drained. You could be heading towards a burnout physically, mentally and emotionally.

What are some of the signs you may be heading for a burnout?

• • • • • • • •

You aren’t interested in hobbies or other activities you used to enjoy.

You aren’t spending time with family and friends as you normally would.

You find yourself feeling irritable or without hope quite often.

You find yourself getting sick a lot more than normal.

You get angry easily and sometimes irrationally.

Your eating patterns change and you gain or lose weight unintentionally.

You suffer from insomnia or you want to sleep constantly.

You think about hurting yourself or the person you are caring for.

Being a caregiver is a stressful thing and you should not feel embarrassed or ashamed if you start feeling like you cannot cope. If you are also having to take care of a home and family or work full time or part time as well, it can become too much to handle. If you feel you are heading for a burnout, here are a few ideas to help you beat the burnout.

Organize When you have multiple appointments, chores and tasks to complete in a day, trying to remember everything and get it done in time can exhaust you. Make a to-do list with times and make sure there are gaps for a break or if something crops up that has to be dealt with immediately. You can do this on your smartphone or laptop or the old fashioned pen and paper method.

Tick off the tasks as they are completed for a sense of accomplishment as well. Reduce unnecessary tasks and outside commitments to allow yourself enough time to get the daily activities completed.

Stay Healthy While being a caregiver and looking out for someone else’s health and well-being you may forget to take care of your own health. You can’t help someone else if you are unwell. You have to ensure you get enough sleep, eat nutritiously and get exercise.

Take care of your teeth, your eyes and get your overall health checked regularly. Exercise alone will help reduce stress. Take 20 minutes to do exercise you enjoy such as a walk, cycle or a yoga session. A 10-minute meditation can help you centre yourself and calm your mind during the day.

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14 March 2019 | mychild October 2018 | mychild

Emotions health Along with physical health, you also need to ensure your emotional needs are taken care of. Connect with friends and family regularly. It will help to have conversations that are not focussed around caregiving now and then. It also helps to have someone who can give you support and a willing ear when you do need to vent about your situation. If you don’t have close family and friends you may want to get involved with a support group in the area or find a counsellor. Having an outlet is essential for your emotional health.

Educate yourself Finding out as much as you can about the health issues and other aspects of the problems the person you are taking care of may face or is facing can help a lot. You can find information on ways to mitigate risks and understand all the implications of the illness or disability. You may also learn ways to help the person help themselves, which may take a little of the burden off you as well.

Aromatherapy It seems like a simple suggestion but scent can actually help relax you and reduce stress. You can use it in the living area in a diffuser during the day, add some scented oil to your bathtub to relax at night or even a few drops on your pillowcase to help you sleep.

Recommended scents include lavender, geranium, chamomile, jasmine, peppermint and lemongrass for stress reduction and calming properties.

Take a Break It is very important that you get a break even if it is just an afternoon off once a week. Get a friend or family member to help out so you can get a little time off. If there isn’t anyone to help, looking into a special needs daycare or adult day care centre that could offer a few hours care. Don’t feel guilty about taking the time out to do something for yourself. Your loved one may even enjoy the change in routine as well. If you aren’t sure what to do with your time away, look into having a massage or even a Reiki session to help you relax.

Get help Everyone needs a helping hand now and then. Family, friends, community resources and even government assistance should be called it to help you in times when you just can’t cope.

Illness, physical and mental reserves being depleted and a lack of time to get everything done are all times when you need to reach out. Join support groups which can help you de-stress and support you as a caregiver. Network with others to learn about essential services that may be available.

Recognize the symptoms of potential burnout and get help before it gets to the point when you are seriously ill or you break down physically or mentally. You do not have the bear the burden alone. No two situations are exactly the same, just as caregivers are unique. Look at what works for you so that you are able to relax and recharge now and then.

March2019 | mychild

15

Learning Disabilitie s

in Children Written by Caroline Meyer

16 March 2019 | mychild

FEATURED ARTICLE

While many children may struggle with learning-related tasks at some point in time, this does not necessarily mean that they have a learning disability. If you think your child may have a learning disability, there are a number of signs that would give a clearer indication. The most noticeable is that the learning problem does not get any better over time.

There are many different types of learning disabilities and if you suspect your child has a problem, it is best to get them screened by a therapist as soon as possible.

Children may struggle with reading, writing and maths without having a disability.

These are a few of the possible warning signs to look for :

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Struggling to pay attention or follow directions Easily distracted, cannot focus A poor memory Unable to stay organized Clumsiness Acting impulsively Unable to express thoughts clearly Acting inappropriately in social situations or at school Speaking on the level of a much younger child Unable to listen properly or understand words and concepts Struggling to deal with change Poor performance at school that does not improve.

Different learning disabilities also have their own signs. A person with a disability may show only a few of the signs, so it is best to have your child seen by a professional if you think there may be a learning disability. We take a look at some of the more common learning disabilities in children.

Dyslexia • • • • • • • • • • •

A delay in speech and difficulty in expressing thoughts and feelings Trouble understanding questions or general speech Problems with organizing spoken and written language Struggling to learn new words from sight or sound Difficulty with rhymes and songs Slow reading, whether out loud or not and not completing reading tasks Unable to learn a different language Bad spelling Unable to follow directions Difficulty in learning number sequences Trouble differentiating left from right

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Dysgraphia Dysgraphia is often characterized by bad handwriting that does not improve over time.

Children may actually tense up or twist their bodies or hands in unusual ways when holding a writing implement. Signs of having dysgraphia include : • Problems with grammar • A dislike of drawing or writing • Unable to write thoughts in sequence • Mouthing or saying words while writing • Losing interest in writing soon after starting • Omitting words or leaving words unfinished in a sentence

Dyscalculia The most common characteristics of dyscalculia is an inability to understand the basic arithmetic concepts such as negative and positive numbers, fractions and so forth. Children may also display the following characteristics: • Unable to work out change when dealing with money • Trouble with word problems related to numbers • Untidiness when writing down a maths problem • Unable to understand logical sequences in maths and even time • Difficulty in being able to describe a mathematical process

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) This is a condition that affects how sound is processed and interpreted. Slight differences in words are hard to recognize and they cannot always work out where a sound is coming from. They struggling to pick out what they want to hear from competing noises. Some of the common signs include : • Difficulty in remembering and processing verbal tasks • Similar sounding words are misspelled or mispronounced (e.g. batch/bash) • Ideas and thoughts seem to be processed slower • Difficulty in explaining concepts • Confused by figurative language, puns and jokes • Words are processed too literally • Easily distracted by sounds • Unable to follow verbal directions • Gets confused by rapid speech or complex sentences • Ignores people or says “What?” often, even when they can clearly hear

Language Processing Disorder This disability is actually a form of auditory processing disorder which focuses on difficulties in understanding the meaning in sound groups, APD affects all sounds entering the brain, while LPD is associated with language only. Signs include : • Unable to understand spoken language • Poor writing ability and reading comprehension • Trouble expressing thoughts verbally • Unable to name objects from their labels • Frustrated by not being able to verbalise well 18 March 2019 | mychild

• Are able to draw or describe something while being unable to remember the word for it • Seldom understand puns or jokes • May show signs of depression

Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities This type of disability is characterized by a large discrepancy between verbal skills which may be quite high versus poor motor, visual-spatial and social skills. Children with NVD struggle to understand body language and facial expressions. They often demonstrate poor coordination.

Signs of NVD include : • Unable to “read” other people • Can be clumsy especially when walking • Struggles with fine motor skills such as using scissors or tying laces • Has problems with time and space (gets lost, is often late) • Cannot summarize learned information • Struggles with instructions containing multiple steps • Translates words very literally • May interrupt often and repeatedly ask the same questions • Appears competent on the surface due to strong verbal skills

Visual Motor/Visual Perceptual Deficit This is a disorder where the information that the person sees is not always understood correctly. They may struggle to copy or draw. Slight differences in printed letters and shapes are missed. The child may struggle to use scissors or hold a writing implement correctly. Eye and hand coordination is often poor. The most common signs of this disability are : • Reversal or inversions of letters such as p for q or w for m • Struggles with direction and may get lost easily • Complains of blurring or itchy eyes when reading • Holds paper at an angle or turns head at an angle when reading • May yawn often or close one eye when reading • Loses place on the page when reading quite often • Unable to copy accurately • Struggles with cutting and pasting and holding a pencil or crayon • Unable to line letters up and use accurate spacing when writing • Letters may appear bunched together and writing is usually messy Most children who suffer from learning disabilities are at least average to above average intelligence. People will often comment that they are not achieving their potential as there appears to be an obvious discrepancy. Learning disabilities are often not diagnosed and children are noted as being lazy, unfocussed or disruptive. The child often appears smart but are unable to complete tasks at the level they should be capable of.

There is no cure for a learning disability. Children with a learning disability will carry this disability with them through life. That does not mean they cannot lead successful, fruitful lives.

Early intervention can go a long way to recognizing their disabilities and helping them seek treatment to lessen the effects of the problem on their mental and social growth. It is possible to achieve success at school and in life even when suffering from a learning disability.

If you suspect your child may have a learning disability, seek professional help as soon as possible. Experts can help your child learn skills and improve their learning through focussing on their strengths as opposed to their weaknesses. The interventions offered will usually be based on the child and the type of disability.

March2019 | mychild

19

What are

speech and

language delays?

By: Caroline Meyer

20 March 2019 | mychild

FEATURED ARTICLE

March2019 | mychild

21

Speech and language delays are a development problem that is characterized by speaking and vocabulary that is not at the expected level when compared with the child’s peers. It is not uncommon and as many as 1 in 10 children share this development problem.

These delays can take the form of receptive or expressive delays or a combination of these. A delay in receptive language is when a child battles to understand language.

A delay in expressive language is when a child battle with verbalizing.

My child doesn’t talk much, is this a speech delay?

Some children develop faster than others and some a little slower. If you notice that your child does not talk as much as other children of the same age, there is a possibility that he or she has a speech and language delay. Based on age, there are a few milestones your child should pass when it comes to speech.

If they are unable to do the following, you may want to approach a professional for assessment: • • • • • • • • •

Not babbling by around 12 to 15 months Say basic words such as mama, dada, baba by 15 months Does not understand basic words such as yes and no by 18 months Not talking by 2 years old Cannot talk in sentences by 3 years Unable to tell you a story by 5 years old Unable to follow directions Poor articulation or pronunciation of words Leaving important words out of sentences

What could be the cause of the speech delay?

There are a number of issues that can cause a speech delay. These are the most common factors : • • • • • • • • • •

Hearing loss/impairment Mental retardation Mental disability Autism Slow development Severe neglect Psychosocial deprivation Being a twin Cerebral palsy Elective mutism (the child chooses not to talk)

Who is at risk for speech delays?

Speech and language problems are a lot more common in males than in females. Children born prematurely or who had a low birth weight are more likely to have language development problems. Families that have a history of speech and language problems or who have low levels of education are more likely to be below average in this area of development. A child brought up in a bilingual home may also take longer to talk or may talk in only one language for some time.

22 March 2019 | mychild

How will I know if my child has a speech and language delay?

If you suspect that your child might have this developmental problem, you need to make an appointment with your doctor to assess the situation. Your doctor will listen to the child’s speech as well as run tests to check basic mental development. A hearing screening may be needed. An audiologist would check your child for hearing problems.

A speech and language pathologist would be the next step. This specialist will run a comprehensive assessment of receptive and expressive language to work out if your child has a speech and language delay. The assessment focusses on non-verbal and verbal communication. After this assessment, further testing may be recommended.

How can I prevent a speech and language delay for my child?

There are some causes that cannot be mitigated and there is not much you can do to improve the situation. If your child has difficulty due to hearing loss, implants or hearing aids may help improve your child’s speech and they may be able to reach the same levels as other children their age quite quickly. You can spend time from young talking to your child and encouraging them to interact with you to improve their language abilities.

You can talk to your child about anything, just ensuring the words are being said and hopefully understood. If your child speaks to you, listen and respond to encourage them to talk.

How can you treat speech and language delays?

SFor some children, no treatment will be needed. They may just take a little longer but will start talking normally eventually. If treatment is needed, this will be based on the individual child’s needs. A treatment plan may be laid out with a speech and language pathologist to develop language skills so they can speak and understand better.

They can also be taught to read lips. For other children, specialists such as audiologists, occupational therapists, psychologists or social workers may be involved to remedy or mitigate the causes of the speech and language delay. If there is an underlying health problem your doctor may refer you to a neuropsychologist. If this is needed, your doctor can arrange a referral for you.

Will my child’s speech and language improve?

Some children will catch up on their own. Some children may improve with treatment. Some children face issues such as problems reading or behavioural problems due to the delay in their language development. The sooner a diagnosis is made, the sooner treatment can be implemented and the more likely it is that the situation will improve.

Day to day living with a child with a language delay Not being able to express feelings in words can cause a child to become frustrated and may cause them to behave in an unacceptable manner. They are likely to be more aggressive and may try inappropriate methods to get your attention. This can be upsetting for both you and your child. Encourage speech and praise your child when they do verbalise their emotions.

Spend time with your child talking or reading a book to encourage language development.

There are some disabilities both mental and physical that could result in long term language delays. Unfortunately, in these cases, you may not be able to bring your child up to the level of their peers, but encouragement and praise can still bring some improvement over time.

Encourage language as much as possible by singing, reciting rhymes, reading out loud and responding to your child’s attempts at speech.

March2019 | mychild

23

How to spot m

Coordina

Written by: Ca

24 March 2019 | mychild

FEATURED ARTICLE

motor skills and

ation Issues

aroline Mayer

March2019 | mychild

25

Ever noticed that your child has problems with basic ball skills such as kicking, throwing or catching? Do you find that your child battles to sit upright and may appear clumsy when standing or moving? This may be a problem with their motor skills. These are the skills that involve the core stabilising muscles of the body and also includes hand and eye coordination.

What is the importance of motor skills?

Motor skills come in to play every day for most children. These skills allow them to skip, run, climb, play with a ball and take part in sports. They even affect crucial skills essential for daily living such as getting dressed. They can affect posture and being able to sit upright. Poor motor skills can even effect fine skills such as using scissors, drawing, painting and writing.

They can even impact on endurance such as sitting up for long periods or carrying around a school bag all day.

How can you spot a problem with motor skills?

Fine motor skill weaknesses can affect the movement of smaller muscle groups such as those in the hand. Gross motor skills affect larger muscle groups such as the legs. Problems with co-ordination can even affect being able to get dressed as tying laces and buttoning clothes may be difficult. It can even affect speech if the muscle groups in the mouth are affected by this problem

What are the most common signs?

Heating up a glass of milk is another effective way to help your child go to sleep with ease. If you find that your child gets hungry in the middle of the night, this may do the trick and curb their hunger pangs and enable them to sleep uninterrupted.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Writes very slowly or refuses to write or draw Is unable to hold a pen or pencil correctly Has been unable to learn to ride a bike Has difficulty with throwing, catching, jumping, running etc.

Is very clumsy and appears to have poor balance Drops things often Battles with basic skills used in grooming and dressing Has difficulty with feeding himself Slurs when speaking Has trouble when it comes to rhythm Has a bad sense of direction Slow in achieving milestones involving motor skills (sitting, crawling etc.)

Battles to maintain posture for prolonged periods Prefers sedentary activities to taking part in sport or outdoor games

26 March 2019 | mychild

When do I need to be concerned?

If you have noted a number of these signs and they continue for at least 6 months, you need to consult a professional to discover the causes behind their motor skills and coordination problems. In babies, you may want to discuss issues such as missing developmental milestones even sooner.

What are some of the causes of motor skills and coordination issues?

Dyspraxia: This is a common condition where the brain and the muscles are not in synch and it can make even simple movements difficult to carry out. This affects the fine motor skills such as writing as well as gross motor skills used in running and playing ball. Dyspraxia can also cause problems with balance, coordination and even speech. A child may show some or all of these symptoms and the problem can be mild to severe. The condition can also change over time.

Dysgraphia: This is another condition which affects fine motor skills. Children with dysgraphia often struggle to hold writing implements properly and their handwriting is usually messy.

They may also struggle to tie their laces and similar tasks.

Sensory Processing Issues: This condition affects eye and hand coordination in particular.

Children with this condition may also be clumsy and fall a lot. They may battle to skip or walk.

They may also exhibit extreme reactions to sound and touch.

How can I find more information?

The first step would be to talk to your doctor about having your child assessed. You may also want to share your concerns with your child’s teacher who may be able to give you more insight into the child’s problems at school as well as offer resources that can help. Your doctor may recommend ruling out any medical causes. If nothing comes up, he may then refer you to specialists such as an occupational therapist.

How can I help my child?

Whether or not your child has a condition which is causing the problem with motor skills, you can help improve his skills by encouraging play which improves balance and motor skills such as skipping. Stay positive and encourage your child. Understand that your child may be struggling and needs your compassion as well.

Connect with other parents who may be dealing with similar issues. Networking in this way may bring to light new strategies and ideas. It also gives you some support and makes you realise that you are not alone. Most children do not outgrow their problems with coordination and motor skills but their skills can be improved. Therapy and support from you can help your child gain more confidence in their abilities. Improved motor skills and coordination improves confidence and self-esteem as well. There will be plenty of challenges ahead, but with guidance and support, you and your child will get through them.

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28 March 2019 | mychild

PREGNANCY

Linea Nigra :

What you need to know

By Caroline Meyer

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29

Your body undergoes a vast array of changes while you are pregnant. You may find hair growing where it didn’t before, your organs may be in places they are not used to being, you might crave the strangest things and for some women, they even experience colour changes to their labia from pink to bluish in colour. Another colour change which is a lot more common is a line which runs down the belly, which is known as the Linea Nigra.

What is the Linea Nigra?

It is theorized that the body may produce more melanin (skin pigment compound) during pregnancy which results in the line which usually runs from the belly button down to the top of the pubis, although it can extend upwards as well. This line is usually unnoticed and is where the connective tissue of the abdominal muscles meet. The fluctuating hormones in the body may be the reason for the excess melanin.

It doesn’t matter what colour your skin is naturally, you can still develop a Linea Nigra (Latin for black line) although it presents more often in women with darker skin tones. Women who develop a Linea Nigra often experience other skin colouration changes such as on the areola and face. Up to 75% of pregnant women will experience some skin pigment changes.

It is completely natural and of no concern to your baby’s well-being.

How long before it goes away?

Some women enjoy the look of their pregnancy stripe but it is a temporary addition to your belly. The Linea Nigra will start fading once your hormones start settling back down and will be gone within 3 months after having your little bundle of joy.

Can I prevent it?

The Linea Nigra is not preventable and is perfectly normal during pregnancy. There is nothing that prevents it and once you have it, it has to go away naturally. Do not use bleaching creams or lighteners on your belly while pregnant or breastfeeding. It is unlikely to change the look of the Linea Nigra but it can potentially harm your baby.

Once you have had your baby, and only if you are formula feeding, you can try a skin lightener, fade cream or topical retinol to lighten the skin but there is no need to use chemicals on the line. Some women swear by rubbing a little lemon juice on the skin to remove the hyperpigmentation, but there is no scientific proof of this phenomenon either.

The best way to treat your belly during pregnancy and breastfeeding is to gently exfoliate and rub your belly with a blend of cocoa butter and vitamin E. This will keep your growing tummy nice and smooth and may also help with stretchmarks without doing any harm. Keep the belly unexposed to the sun without strong sunscreen.

It is preferable to keep your tummy covered while you are in the sun. A tan on the skin can make the Linea Nnigra present even darker. Don’t use tanning beds during pregnancy and avoid them until after the line has completely faded.

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Myths of the Linea Nigra IAlong with tales of determining the babies gender by how you are carrying or what your cravings are, comes the myth of the Linea Nigra. The theory is that the Linea Nigra can determine whether you are having a boy or a girl. If it is a boy, the line will extend past your navel and upwards and in the opposite direction if you are having a girl. This myth proves true about half of the time, the same as other stories. Nowadays, if you want to know the gender, it is probably easiest just to ask during your scans.

Your body may go through many strange and wonderful changes while you are pregnant, but rest assured, most of these changes will disappear within a few months of having your little one. For some women, there will be reminders such as stretch marks or scars, but the Linea Nigra is not going to be one of them. It will fade away naturally, leaving your tummy unstriped (or not so you would notice) until the next time.

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31

BRAXTO

vs

REAL CONT

Written by Kar

32 March 2019 | mychild

BIRTH ARTICLE

ON-HICKS

s.

TRACTIONS

rli Steenkamp

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33

Every pregnancy is different, whether it is your first or fourth, just like every woman is different too. Not all women experience all the symptoms of pregnancies and then you get women that experience them all. It can be quite an uncertain time in your life because you don’t know what to expect. Braxton-Hicks Contractions is one major cause of distress in parents-to-be because it often gets confused with real contractions. It is important to know the difference between these two, but each plays a vital role in bringing your baby into this world.

Braxton-Hicks Contractions Braxton-Hicks can often be misinterpreted as real contractions and women can find themselves sent home from hospital because they are not really in labor. There are a few differences between these two types of contractions.

Braxton-Hicks Contractions are your body’s way of preparing and practicing for labor. It can feel like menstrual pains or a tightening in your abdomen. They do not last long and they are usually not painful, although they can be uncomfortable. You can experience Braxton-Hicks Contractions in your third trimester, but they can start in the second trimester. You do not need to worry that Braxton-Hocks Contractions will lead to labor; your body is practicing for when it really needs to start the labor process. It can happen quite often during the day. If you had a busy day and you experience Braxton-Hicks Contractions try and relax by putting your feet up or taking a warm bath. Changing positions can also relieve the contractions.

The thing about Braxton-Hicks Contractions to remember is that the cramps won’t get worse and it won’t happen in regular sequence. They happen randomly and they are not too painful.

Many women don’t even feel it or know what it is.

Braxton-Hicks Contractions Braxton-Hicks can often be misinterpreted as real contractions and women can find themselves sent home from hospital because they are not really in labor. There are a few differences between these two types of contractions.

Braxton-Hicks Contractions are your body’s way of preparing and practicing for labor. It can feel like menstrual pains or a tightening in your abdomen. They do not last long and they are usually not painful, although they can be uncomfortable. You can experience Braxton-Hicks Contractions in your third trimester, but they can start in the second trimester. You do not need to worry that Braxton-Hocks Contractions will lead to labor; your body is practicing for when it really needs to start the labor process. It can happen quite often during the day. If you had a busy day and you experience Braxton-Hicks Contractions try and relax by putting your feet up or taking a warm bath. Changing positions can also relieve the contractions.

The thing about Braxton-Hicks Contractions to remember is that the cramps won’t get worse and it won’t happen in regular sequence. They happen randomly and they are not too painful.

Many women don’t even feel it or know what it is.

Real Contractions You can go into labor any time from 37 weeks. Any real contractions before that time are known as pre-term labor. Real labor is intense waves of contractions that could start in your back and move down or start in your abdomen and move up. Unlike Braxton-Hicks Contractions real contractions can start lightly and get worse as time goes on. They can be timed, because they happen in a timed sequence and the times between them gets less. These contractions could last for about a minute each. Real contractions lead to labor, so it is important to contact your away to make sure that you are not going into early labor.

34 March 2019 | mychild

midwife or doctor to hear when you should go to the hospital. Labor can take hours, therefore doctors and midwifes suggest you only go to the hospital if your contractions are a certain amount of minutes apart. Every woman is different though and has her own medical history.

Rather phone your midwife or doctor when you think you are in labor and they can guide you on the necessary steps forward.

If you experience any contractions before 37 weeks, phone your doctor or midwife straight Tips for Labor-Day: • Have a journal where you record your contractions. This way you can compare them and decide which ones could be real contractions or Braxton-Hicks Contractions.

• Make sure your bags are packed by 34 weeks, just to be on the safe side.

• Talk through a Labor-Day plan with your partner or person you decide to have with you for this big occasion. You want to know who grabs the keys and who grabs the bags. Who is on stand-by to look after kids if you are not first-time parents.

• Have a route to the hospital as well as a back-up route for in case you are in labor in peak time traffic.

• Make sure the car is filled with gas at all times • Stay calm. It is exciting and soon you will meet your baby.

It is an exciting time in your life but can be filled with uncertainty and anxiety. Talking with other women about their experiences can help, but also know everyone’s story is different. Your doctor or midwife is there to answer any questions you might have. Write questions down and ask when you go to your appointments. If you think you might be in labor, rather phone your doctor or midwife and they can talk you through it by asking you questions to identify if you are really in labor. This is a great experience and no matter how your baby gets into this world, enjoy the experience, it will be with you forever.

References: Healthline.com Webmd Wikipedia

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35

BABY ARTICLE

THERE ARE FOUR KINDS OF PARENT;

Which Kind Are You? By: Kylie Kaden

36 March 2019 | mychild

We’re all perfect parents – full of ideas on how to do it best - until we have our own, that is.

Then most of us find parenting demands a more complex skillset than we’d anticipated.

Decision fatigue, inconsistencies due to being human, or simply being exhausted and outnumbered – many factors stand in the way of being an effective caregiver at times.

We start out wanting to be good parents. Exactly what ‘good’ looks like is not always clear, and even if we could agree, simply knowing the ‘best’ approach, doesn’t mean it magically channels itself into our brains – we’re all influenced by our own experiences of what parenting looks like, and are limited by communication styles and temperaments.

What the experts do agree on, is that the way you parent has life-long influence on your child’s self-esteem, relationships – even their weight. No pressure!

So, what do the experts reckon?

Research that began in the 60’s came up with four clearly defined styles of parenting; authoritarian, authoritative, permissive and (the newcomer) uninvolved. And while aspects of all styles may come in to play at different times in our lives (or different challenges in the day), most parents tend to find characteristics of one overarching style best describe their approach.

Authoritarian Obedience: ‘No ifs, buts or maybe’s!’ Instead of including children in decisions, the view is that kids should be seen and not heard, do as they’re told – or else. ‘I told you so’ is the main explanation for rules. No negotiation. No exceptions. Rather than teaching a child to make better choices, they’re invested in making kids regret their mistakes. This ‘strict’ style was employed by many baby boomers to raise their (now adult) kids. Punishment is preferred over ‘new age’ star charts and other ‘soft’ approaches that they feel do not instil enough discipline.

Children who grew up with parents with these attitudes tend to follow rules, but at the cost of their self-esteem as they learn their opinions aren’t valued. Anger, lies and deception to avoid punishment are also more likely behaviours of children raised in these dictator-like households.

Signs that this may be your MO include; incessant nagging, barking orders constantly, making every activity a learning experience, listing rules of the house, having a zero tolerance for silliness, making outrageous threats and rarely offering choice.

Authoritative Consultation: These are the parents that bend down calmly to their child and explain the reasons behind their request (most of us do this in public all the time!). Positive Relationships are paramount for this parenting style, which includes explaining the meaning behind the rules, enforcing consequences for breaking them, and teaching children alternative choices.

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37

While they still make clear that adults are in charge, authoritative parents validate their child’s feelings during the process. They’re about preventing challenging behaviour through praising often, ‘catching’ their kids doing something good, and designing star charts and other reward systems that focus on the positive. They exhibit warmth and understanding and communicate their expectations calmly.

Children growing up within this calm, consultative environment are more likely to be happy, successful, more securely attached to caregivers, become better decision makers and make safer choices on their own because they have the confidence to try.

Permissive Indulgence: ‘Kids will be kids!’ Permissive parents are often very loving and nurturing, offer treats and toys. Punishment and rules are rarely given or enforced as they feel their child will learn best by figuring it out for themselves without them interfering. Permissive parents are rather lenient, only stepping in when there is a serious problem, and even then, may give in if the child begs. More friend than parent, they are interested in being popular rather than enforcing rules and usually allow their children to make most decisions in their lives.

Any child would love to get permissive parents who let them live on junk food and play the iPad all day, right? In fact, children with lenient parents often struggle at school as they have little structure or routine in their lives, develop weight and dental problems (as parents let them eat whatever they want) and, because they had little expectation placed upon them, have little to strive for. Having their way most of their lives, many struggle with the realisation that you can’t always get what you want, and as adults, often, bleakly, turn to substance abuse.

Uninvolved Dismissive: These parents are too overwhelmed with their own lives to have the emotional energy to tackle parenting, and simply expect kids to fend for themselves. They aren’t demanding, threatening or violent, they simply aren’t responsive to their child’s needs.

They provide little guidance, supervision or support and may become emotionally distant, and even deliberately avoid their kids.

While this sounds dreadful, often parents become inconsistent in their availability to parent, or completely uninvolved due to health problems, substance abuse, custody battles or excessive work to reduce financial stress – factors that often are beyond their control.

Nevertheless, neglectful parenting results in unhappy children who do miserably at school with frequent behavioural problems. Often adults who parent in this manner were raised by rather dismissive caregivers and had poor relationships with them – and so the cycle continues.

While most of us can pick our usual MO, we are human, and even the most competent parents find themselves becoming unreasonable and impatient when stressed (or perhaps slip into permissive complacency on a Friday night after a glass of wine). There may also be periods where we are less involved than we hope to be for various reasons beyond our control.

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Research is clear, however, that warm, nurturing authoritative parents who show an understanding of their child’s feelings, set clear, firm boundaries and reward positive behaviour choices create happier, healthier children. Sounds easy, right? We’d do anything for our kids, so, surely, we can listen and be there for them?

But in reality, with (often) more than one child’s needs to meet and your own lives to lead, these skills are hard for many of us to maintain consistently…for a lifetime.

If, like many of us, you’re looking for ways to vamp up the authoritative parent in you, here are some strategies; • Be a fair judge. When intervening after an incident - rather than assuming what went down and sentencing before hearing their side - listen and validate your child’s feelings.

You may still impose the same consequence, the child may still get upset, but the child feels like their voice was at least, considered.

• Offer warnings for minor misdemeanours; be consistent, but flexible when it’s reasonable to do so.

• Offer consequences that intuitively fit the crime (eg. a ban from the iPad if they continue to play once told to get off). If a rule is broken, imposing logical results that avoid shaming, turn a mistake into a learning opportunity, and offer life lessons (eg if I don’t get off, I miss out tomorrow), not simply ‘punishment’ because they were ‘bad’ and ‘deserve’ it.

• Allow choice (when you can live with either option) to empower your child. (Would you like an apple or banana today? Do you want a shower or a bath today?).

• Boundaries and rules actually allow children and teenagers to feel safe and secure, so don’t feel guilty for sticking to them. Effective parents are confident parents.

• Remind yourself that the days seem long, but the years are short. If you don’t listen to the small things when they’re small, they won’t tell you the big things when they’re not.

Not only is child-focused authoritative parenting great for children, modelling better parenting makes for more relaxed adulting and happier families - now and in the future.

Brisbane writer Kylie Kaden is a self-diagnosed bookworm and recovering chocoholic.

Raised in Queensland, she lives in Brisbane with her husband and three young sons. As the only female in a house of males, Kylie tops up her sanity by writing whilst her youngest naps (and the washing mounts). She is adamant the next addition to the Kaden household will be female…and canine. For more information visit www.kyliekaden.com.au

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39

Simple ways to make

make reading fun for your toddler

By Caroline Meyer

40 March 2019 | mychild

TODDLER

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41

Establishing a love of literacy starts very young. As a parent, we all want our kids to succeed and prosper in life. Giving a good grounding in reading at the start of their lives can pay off enormous dividends later on in life. It is also a wonderful way to bond and spend quality time with your little one.

Toddlers can be a handful and reading with your small ones may seem more like a chore than fun at times. The best way to get them interested is to get them involved and make reading fun. Here are a few ideas of how to make reading fun your toddler.

Make books accessible If you are worried about damage, start them off with cloth or vinyl books and progress on to board, hardcovers and paperbacks. Bright colours and a variety of books to choose from is a good way to build your toddler’s knowledge without it becoming boring. They will usually have a few favourites that you can always grab for a quick read. If affordability is a problem, you can always shop at used bookshops, markets or even online. Put the books where the little ones can see them, touch them and explore for themselves.

Lead by example Children love to copy what we do. Show them how much fun reading is by reading yourself.

Even if you don’t enjoy novels, brightly printed magazines are a good way to show your toddler that reading is something good to do.

Read aloud There is no need to restrict reading to bedtime. Why not have older siblings read aloud to your toddler while you prepare breakfast? Older children can read to the family pet to encourage reading aloud without concern for judgement. Have a family book reading get together where everyone gets to read a page and then passes the book along. Get your toddler to “read” a page as well, with your help.

Read books with rhymes that your little one can learn and “read” back to you. Have your toddler sit on your lap and point out things in the pictures and turn the pages for you. The more involved they are, the more fun it will be (for everyone).

Reading everywhere Books are portable entertainment. Take one with you on outings. You can read to your toddler while you wait at the doctor’s office or in a restaurant. Take your books with you on holiday so you don’t miss out on the daily reading time. If you go on an outing to the zoo, take a book of animals with. This helps relate the animals to the words and the pictures. You can even take a well-behaved toddler to a local library’s story hour.

Bring the book to life In the same vein as taking an animal book to the zoo, you can read the book at home before a visit to the zoo. Your toddler can then see the book animals come to life. Or read a book about trains and then take them to see a real train. Bringing the books to life will make them more interested in reading the next story to be able to relate it to real life.

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Implementing the big move MIt is going to take lots of patience and positive reinforcement to make the transition from crib to bed. Continue or start a good bedtime routine that suits you. It should include calm activities to wind down after a busy day such as reading a book or taking a bath just before bedtime. It really depends on what works for you as a family. Some kids prefer to fall asleep with a parent in the room, but this can be a timely process.

Saying goodnight and leaving the room helps them fall asleep independently. Toddlers might get out of bed or ask for something to drink or eat (a couple of times), set your boundaries and stick to them. Explain to them the whole process and what will happen in the morning, and then they know what to expect. Be patient and praise your child for sleeping in their own room and about how big they are. This is a process which might take a while, but soon your child should settle, but stay calm and consistent.

Making the move from the crib to the bed is a huge change. It should not be a rushed process.

Make your child feel as if he or she is in control with a special toy to sleep with. Involve them in every step of the new bed, even the setting up part. Praise is of the utmost importance so that they know that they are being very brave and that you are proud of them. That might empower them to sleep through the night and everyone can have a good night rest.

References: Better Health Raising Children

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43

Top 5 Things K Participating In Ch

Written by Ja

44 March 2019 | mychild

KIDS

Kids Learn from harity Fundraisers

ade Crerand

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45

As a parent we want to ensure that our child has a balanced lifestyle, so encouraging them to take part in fundraising and charity activities either at school or outside of the classroom can be beneficial. Not only can it help foster integral life skills at a young age, it can also help aid their overall development. Here are 5 key things that kids can learn from participating in fundraising experiences:

Empathy Young kids who take part in fundraisers can learn the valuable life lesson of being able to understand the difference between empathy and sympathy. This can help give them a wider perspective on the world and the potential to build strong connections with others more easily. Children are not born with empathy, it is a skill that they can learn and acquire from a variety of situations in their early years. For example, fundraising activity involvement can help develop a child’s empathy and children who are empathetic are reported to potentially do better in school, in social situations and in their adult careers.

Empowerment Children who have taken part in fundraisers can feel a great sense of achievement and success in taking part, having found the strength to complete the challenge they have set themselves. Empowering kids can also help them figure out their values, develop healthy boundaries and advance how they are able to relate to others. The acknowledgement and praise that they receive from their family and friends for taking part in fundraising activities can also help them to feel empowered

Philanthropy Children who take part in Philanthropic activities such as fundraisers can feel more connected to the wider community and potentially are able to acknowledge the differences between people and putting others first. Exposure to Philanthropy at a young age potentially leads to them taking a stand and developing leadership skills early on. Children as young as 5 have been reported to have an emerging sense of self and are at an age that is potentially appropriate for growth and achievement through new challenges such as fundraising.

Community Values Fundraising initiatives within schools can encourages a sense of community between the pupils and the staff, in the same way that when a parent and their child get involved in their local neighbourhood charity drive, they can feel closer to their community. This involvement helps re-enforce important values to the child, such as caring for others in their network and to have compassion and resilience. Fundraising activities have the potential to bring entire schools, neighbourhoods and communities together.

Social Conscience A child’s conscience is formed through three processes that happen during the early and middle years of their lives, so it’s important for them to be involved in activities that help progress and develop these first stages of their social conscience. By being exposed to charity fundraising, children can learn how they can help others. When educated on how their contribution helps, it allows them to put themselves in someone else’s shoes, someone who may not be as fortunate as them. This potentially contributes to developing a child’s social conscience and perception of the wider world.

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Getting your child to participate in charity fundraisers isn’t as hard as you may have imagined.

There are many fundraiser’s that you can participate in as an individual, as a family or even as a school group. One example of a charity fundraiser that you should consider getting your child involved in is the World’s Greatest Shave.

The World’s Greatest Shave is the Leukaemia Foundation’s biggest annual charity fundraiser and takes place from the 13th - 17th March 2019. It’s a great way to introduce your child to the fun, excitement and fulfilment that you feel when participating in fundraising activities.

This fundraising event has seen a significant 63% increase in children participating and with a goal of raising $16 million in 2019 that will help provide support, education and services to Australians that have been diagnosed with blood cancer, there is no time like the present to get your child involved.

If you want to find out more or register your child, yourself, your family or maybe even get your child’s school involved, simply visit https://worldsgreatestshave.com/ or call 1800 500 088 to speak to the one of the friendly team who will help with your queries..

A Little Bit About the Leukaemia Foundation!

The Leukaemia Foundation is the only national charity dedicated to helping more Australians survive blood cancer and live a better quality of life. Leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood disorders are all types of blood cancer, which can develop in anyone, of any age, at any time.

More than 100,000 Australians are living with blood cancer or related disorders, and the equivalent of one person every 41 minutes is diagnosed. Although research is improving survival, sadly an Australian loses their life to blood cancer every two hours, claiming more lives than breast cancer and melanoma. For more information, please visit leukaemia.org.au or call 1800 620 420.

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47

Why you shouldn’t let

your kids win you’re playing games

By: Lance Green

48 March 2019 | mychild

DAD READ

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49

A common question I get from Dads is: “ Should I let my child win at games?” The simple answer to that is “Sometimes”. You may look at you little one, those uncoordinated hands and legs, those big eyes and undeveloped minds and feel like you are obligated to let them win. You don’t want to damage their psyche right? Will beating them at games harm their egos and give them insecurities they carry with them for life?

Games can be life lessons as well as fun times spent with the kids.

Teamwork and sportsmanship When kids are small, around the toddler age, games are not really about winning and losing.

The focus is on sharing and taking turns. This is the time for them to learn to play well with others. There is no real competitiveness yet. Focus the games on spending time together and having fun. When they get a little older and a skill element is introduced in to the games, things start becoming a little more competitive. This usually happens around preschool age.

This is when you focus on playing by the rules.

Playing by the rules Once you get to the competitive aspect of games and there is winning and losing involved, things change a little. Kids need to learn that there are rules to the games as well as how they play the games. They need to enjoy the thrill of winning but also to be able to accept defeat well. At this point, you may want to let them win now and then so that you can lead by example. Show them good sportsmanship and how to accept a loss with dignity.

Stack the deck Unless your child is amazing at a game and you aren’t, generally you will beat them every time without trying too hard. You need to show them how to be a good winner. You can make adjustments to allow them to win and explain that the handicap is due to your size and age and that when they are on equal grounds, they won’t get an advantage. You do not want to make it obvious that you are allowing the win as this can be just as humiliating as a bad loss.

A good way to make sure a child wins sometimes is to play games that involve luck instead of skill, such as dice games. A fair win in games like snakes and ladders is a wonderful way to have your child enjoy a victory and it is a teaching moment for you

My child is a sore loser When kids are younger it can be hard for them to articulate their feelings. Losing can lead to a fit of rage if they don’t know how to cope with it. Talk to them about it. Calm them down and get them to say how they are feeling. You can then explain that games are meant to be fun. Compliment them on where they did something well during the game. You are the example to them of handling winning and losing. Tell them stories of your own failures.

Explain that not everyone is alike and we are all good and bad at different things. Teaching a child to cope with losing will build a strong character trait.

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My child is a bad winner Sometimes a lesson in humility is called for. You may need to play games that give the child an awareness of how it feels to lose. Talk to them about losing and how it makes them feel. Knowing how it feels to lose develops empathy for opponents and may mitigate bad behaviour when winning.

It is important that your child learns to win well and lose well. Losing helps build character and empathy. It helps the child deal with adverse situations in a more controlled way. They learn to express themselves better and handle disappointment, which is guaranteed at some point in life. Help build a strong team player with good ethics, who plays by the rules. A child that knows that it is not all about winning or losing but about how you play the game.

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51

How self-care will make you a better parent

BY: ANNIE WYLIE

52 March 2019 | mychild

RELATIONSHIP

By: Caroline Meyer

KEEPING YOUR MARRIAGE

strong when you

HAVE A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD

Marriages are not all sunshine and roses. For better or worse may include a lot of “worse”. Marriage takes work and for both partners to step up. When you add kids to the mix, things can get even more complicated. When you add in a child with a disability, the stress is amplified even further.

You love your child, you love your partner but there is just so much more to deal with when you have a special needs child. Worrying about your child’s health and wellbeing, visiting therapists and doctors, fighting with the insurance companies, dealing with issues at school. There are so many problems that can cause irritation and stress.

This can often result in partners snapping at each other or taking out their frustration on their spouses.

Taking care of a child with special needs can also be physically exhausting. You may have to do a lot during the day and may also not sleep well at night. Sleep deprivation and tiredness can also make you very grouchy and your partner may take the brunt of your moods. Sometimes one partner can put so much into the caring of the special needs child that they cut themselves off from their partner. There is minimal interaction and the connection between the two people disintegrates over time.

Things can be a lot more difficult between partners with a special needs child than in most households. There is often a lack of time and even a lack of finances. You have to accept that this is going to be tough, but as partners, you can use this challenge to develop a stronger partnership instead of letting the struggles push you apart. There are ways you and your partner can increase your bond of marriage even with the added challenges of taking care of a special needs child.

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Parent partners Stop being parents all the time, sometimes you need to be partners. Make time during the day to connect to each other as people and use this time to talk to each other about your relationship and each other. Keep the household and children conversations for later.

Celebrate your differences You may not always agree on raising your child or children. You may argue about the running of your household. You may have different expectations when it comes to treatments for your special needs child. You may even have differences in how you feel about your child’s diagnosis. One view is that you should tolerate the differences between you. A better way is to celebrate the differences. Stand in your partners shoes and embrace their thoughts and emotions. See things from their perspective. You do not have to think alike to love each other. Embracing the differences will also help you reach compromises.

Be proactive If there are household or childcare niggles, don’t let resentment against your partner build up. If either of you needs help, you need to talk to your partner. Sometimes just having the discussion will be enough to resolve the little issues which could have become ticking time bombs in your relationship. Don’t get angry. Have a conversation, not a shouting match and you are more likely to sort things out.

Don’t lose that loving feeling You may not be able to schedule a date night once a week, but that does not mean you can’t be romantic. You may have to be a little more creative, but the benefits far outweigh the input. Take a candle-lit bath together. Spend a few minutes sitting on the swing together holding hands. Don’t be afraid of little hugs and glances of affection. You have to make time for each other. As difficult as it can be, you need each other and making sure your bond is strong will help make your relationship last.

Appreciate each other You both need to be involved in the care of the special needs child. While one partner may need to take on extra burdens with regard to therapy and caring directly for the child, the other partner can take up the slack in other ways. Both parents need to be involved with the child, besides developing a bond with your child, it is important to give your partner a break now and then. Appreciate what you both do in the home and out. Say thank you and give credit where it is due. Knowing you are loved and appreciated by your partner makes you feel more united.

A marriage is a journey meant for two people. The challenges and struggles belong to both of you, in the same way as the celebrations and good times do. Love your children together, but never forget that you are partners too. Make time for each other, appreciate each other and work together to overcome all obstacles.

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REAL READ

Geelong mum, Vanessa Eldridge, and Managing Director of b.sirius, is a butterfly in the design world. In 2017 she left her corporate job to follow her passion for creativity.

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After completing her degree in Occupational Therapy and moving to Melbourne, Vanessa and her husband, Justin, felt Geelong was the perfect place to raise their children where she practiced rehabilitation and management. She found her work “extremely rewarding, as I helped people achieve their personal goals.” But after becoming restless in her everyday job, and seeking something more flexible so she could give more to being a mum, Vanessa felt that it was time for a new venture, “I’d always loved craft, fashion and design but never thought of it as more than a hobby.” From a very early age she has been described as a butterfly, being able to “move from one project to another, never satisfied, forever growing and changing, grasping at opportunities with both hands.” As such, her next new venture b.sirius was born.

Vanessa has always felt the need to help people who need it most. Part of her business model was to align to those who need her help, including partnering with a not-for-profit organisation that employs people with disabilities to provide meaningful work and an opportunity to enter the work-force. ”They store, pack and dispatch all of my orders. I’m committed to helping people to foster their confidence by providing them with employment opportunities. So this way, I’m using my Occupational Therapy skills, my passion for creativity and my business skills”.

Vanessa finds inspiration in nature that surrounds her and aims to create collections of original bags and accessories that are both fashionable and long-lasting for the modernday woman who loves functional fashion – rather than fast-fashioned pieces. “My latest new item, the Big Bag, can be a nappy bag or an overnight bag – because I like things that have multiple purposes and that are affordable”. When designing each new collection , she always remembers that “I’m the kind of woman who invests in trusted brands and products that serve me well and make me feel good… things I know that will last me for a while!”

Vanessa believes that her path to b.sirius has been a way to reinvent herself, “growing from the chrysalis to the butterfly,” she says. While many people fear the idea of change, it’s what inspires Vanessa to continue chasing her dreams.

One of her strengths lies in her ability to keep a work-life balance, ensuring that she can spend time with her husband and daughters, Millie (12) and Lucy (9), sometimes bringing them into the design process. “When I was younger, my mum and I bonded over our love for craft and design. I love that I can teach my own daughters these same skills.” Their latest project? Making mosaic artworks for their garden at home. Vanessa inherited her love for design and art from her mother and felt it was time to turn that passion into a full-time career with b.sirius now available in over 150 stockists in Australia and New Zealand and continuing to expand globally.

Natural earthy colours, durable materials and affordability are all signature traits of b.sirius products. Vanessa aims to maintain the highest quality in all her designs, while also only using ethical materials and ethical manufacturing processes. “I’ve always loved nature. Each of my designs is inspired by what surrounds me, and I pride myself on using only vegan materials.”

Vanessa’s two tips for launching a business: embrace your individuality and persevere, “Trust in yourself and stay true to your values. There will definitely be days when you just want to give up, but if you push through, you will flourish.”

And, what does 2019 hold for b.sirius? Vanessa has big plans, including the recent launch of the Autumn/Winter 19 Collection and a brand new website, “I want b.sirius and myself to keep evolving”, all while staying true to her signature style.

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Favo Cordles Honeycomb Blinds

Looking for a window covering solution for your nursery, kid’s bedroom or playroom? Veneta Blinds is committed to helping families create the perfect sleep environment for their baby’s nursery or update their homes as their children grow, with not only beautiful but also affordable window coverings. Born and bred online, we don’t ask you to pay for the stuff you don’t get!

Just great quality window coverings. At Veneta, we have combined the resources of the world’s leading window covering manufacturer, with an easy to use website, providing you with stylish, functional and affordable window fashion solutions, delivered promptly to your door.

Child Safety he most important factor to consider when purchasing new window coverings for your home is the safety of your child. Whilst a newborn may not necessarily be able to reach curtains or blinds at such a young age, as they grow and develop, this will quickly change. Those tiny hands will soon be interested in grabbing anything at arm’s reach, so it’s important to choose a safe window covering right from the start.

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The best option for ensuring the safety of your child, is to go with a cordless window covering.

Eliminating all dangling cords ensures that no child can grab or tug on the cords and prevents strangulation. Window covering cords and chains are by nature very strong and loose cords or chains within reach of children can be fatal. If you do purchase corded or chain window coverings, ensure child safety devices are installed and that all cords are mounted out of reach (a minimum of 1.6m from the floor) and safety guidelines are left attached to the cord.

Veneta understands the importance of selling child safe blind products and this is why we have a range of Cordless and Motorised Honeycomb Blinds that require hand or remotecontrol operation. By eliminating cords or chains to operate a blind, you can reduce the risk and potential danger to younger family members and pets.

TIP: Keep all furniture (cribs, changing tables, armchairs) and anything climbable away from window coverings to prevent easy access.

Honeycomb Energy Efficient Benefits As much as 50% of your homes heating and cooling energy may be lost through your windows.

Uncovered glass windows and doors act as large holes in the home, which can cause heat transfer and contribute to a high level of energy loss. This results in a reduced effectiveness of your homes heating and cooling energy.

By covering your glass windows and doors, you can protect your home against heat loss in winter and unwanted solar heat gain in the hot summer months, creating a comfortable indoor living environment, all year round. This is particularly important for a nursery or a small child’s bedroom, where controlling the temperature of the room throughout the day can be a tricky task.

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Veneta Honeycomb Blinds are made with a unique cellular structured fabric, that traps air within their cells to create layers of insulation (a similar principle to double glazed windows).

Whilst the Honeycomb Blind cell structure is working to trap air within its cells, it is also adding a layer of protection to your windows and doors. Honeycomb Blinds in a blockout fabric are the most energy efficient, with the insulating foil lining inside the cells helping to regulate room temperatures, making them a superior solution for children’s bedrooms.

Light Control Light control in a nursery or small child’s bedroom is required all throughout the day.

Children, especially newborns, need a lot of sleep and ensuring natural sunlight does not affect this is essential. Invest in a window covering that will completely blockout any sunlight during the day and at night, any street lights or headlights from cars. Honeycomb Blinds are available in Light Filter and Blockout fabric:

Light Filter – Energy Efficient Light Filter fabric offers full privacy as well a great amount of light into the room. An excellent choice for children’s playrooms.

Blockout – Super Energy Saver Blockout fabric is a cost-effective insulator with a slimline profile and is great for darkening a space. This is a superior choice for a nursery or a child’s bedroom.

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Noise Reduction Reducing noise in your child’s bedroom will help towards a better sleep. The most important noise to reduce is the outside noise such as trucks and cars passing by or noisy neighbours. Similar to how the insulating properties of the Honeycomb Blind work, the blind will add a layer of protection to your glass windows and help to minimise noise. The Honeycomb Blinds cells will trap that sound and create a barrier between inside and out. Whilst not completely eliminating outside noise, they will help to reduce a significant amount and help to improve your child’s sleeping environment.

Favo Cordless Honeycomb Blinds offer the superior insulating benefits of the original Honeycomb Blind, now in a low-cost ready-made solution. With the launch of the Favo Honeycomb Blind into the Australian market, there is now a superior alternative to the popular, Roller Blind. Families can now cover their windows and doors with a budget friendly, super insulating, noise reducing, child safe blind that offers minimal light leakage.

Favo Features • Unique honeycomb structure creates a stylish way to keep your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

• Light Filter or Blockout fabric both available in White in a Single Cell 38mm, to suit all rooms and shading requirements.

• Excellent sound absorption properties to reduce street noise and dampen sounds in rooms with hard flooring or energetic children.

• Ready-Made in a variety of standard sizes and can be DIY custom-fit to your exact window dimensions.

• Features an easy light weight operation and slim stack height when fully raised.

• Favo Honeycomb Blinds are cordless to keep your young family members, relatives and friends safe and sound.

At Veneta, we understand that raising a family is an expensive task and finding a window covering solution for your home that is child safe and budget friendly, shouldn’t have to be a tricky task. Go online from the comfort of your home, explore our Favo Cordless Honeycomb Blind range and have your new window coverings delivered direct to If you are looking for a custom-made window covering solution, try upgrading to our custommade Honeycomb Blinds with more colour options, more model options, different cell sizes, and the ability to customise your Honeycomb Blinds to your family’s needs.

MyChild readers Save 20% on Veneta Favo Cordless Honeycomb Blinds!

Use code MYCHILD at checkout to redeem this offer. Offer ends 30 April 2019.

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62 March 2019 | mychild

TOY REVIEWS

TOY REVIEWS

BY: SHEREE HODDINETT

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TOY REVIEWS JELLYCAT BABY POPPET SHEEP & CARAMEL POPPET BUNNY

$ 20.00 RRP

A yummy jumble of cream and cappuccino, Poppet Sheep is the sweetest sheep we know. With his dreamy fleece and soft little hooves, it’s not hard to see why he gets so many tickles! He loves to go exploring on the hillside with his mummy and snaffle buttercups for his tummy! Need some help on the Easter egg hunt? Call Poppet Caramel Bunny. A pocket pal and super soft sweetie, this funny bunny has the fluffiest two-tone ears. Diddy and divine, OUR VERDICT 5/5 They’re so cute, soft and tiny and fit perfectly in your hand (and little hands too, of course), what’s not to love really?!

These little guys are great for soothing toys for your little one, pretend play for those with vivid imaginations (my girls to a tee!) and just for all round cuddling because they are very soft! Once you have them, you won’t give them up easily, even to the littlest members of the household! they’re having a down day. Grab Bashful Gorilla and help share his love around!

Available from: mightyape.com.au BOUNCY BALL LIP GLOSS

$ 7.95 RRP

A real bouncy ball with a lip gloss inside! It really does bounce and you get to keep your lips looking pretty and shiny at the same time, what more could you ask for?! As an added bonus the lip gloss has a moisturising formula which includes Vitamin E. The bouncy ball also comes in two assorted colours - Rainbow and Pink/Blue/Purple with lip gloss flavours - Pink Strawberry and Coconut.

OUR VERDICT

4/5

It’s double the fun with two little girls who love their lip gloss (yes, I’m raising two little princesses!) and throwing bouncy balls. There’s something about bouncy balls it seems, that creates never ending fun in my house. Or maybe it’s because they can just split the ball open and put lip gloss on whenever they want.

Either way it’s a winner here. The only downside is the very obvious split created for the lip gloss to sit within the ball. But it hasn’t deterred my girls and the fun continues.

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Available from: www.isgift.com Available from: Independence Studios – www.isgift.com, Kidstuff, Embellish Gifts, Buy My Things

VTECH DIGIART COLOUR BY LIGHTS

$ 35.00 RRP

Let lights guide the way as you create your next masterpiece with DigiArt Colour by Lights. The lightup board identifies each of the 50 included colouring pages and responds by showing what colour to use in each section. Connect the light-up dots to draw shapes, objects and animals. The art board features a dry-erase surface and a stencil card for more creative play, plus a variety of melodies to enjoy while creating your work of art. Colour and create with light!

OUR VERDICT

4/5

And the little budding artist in my house just got very excited! My eldest daughter loves drawing things and this little masterpiece has just taken things to the next level! What makes it even better is the way it lights up, encouraging her to colour in particular shades and also get used to drawing shapes, doing dot-to-dot and overall, just have some fun. Nothing beats pencils and paper but this is definitely something a little different to encourage kids to think outside the box and colour things a little differently.

Available from: Big W, Yogee Toys LEAPFROG MUSICAL RAINBOW TEA PARTY

$ 35.00 RRP

This spiral art board is an excellent way to inspire your little artist’s inner creativity. Watch as they make their own magical spiral art using the 5 gears and 4 animal stencils. The interactive frame recognises the animal stencils, triggering fun responses, music and poems while your little artist gets to work. Easily store the gears and animal stencils on and inside the board. Enjoy 2 modes of play; music mode and free play mode. Includes 4 animal stencils, 5 gears and 1 pen.

OUR VERDICT

5/5

And the little budding artist in my house just got very excited! My eldest daughter loves drawing things and this little masterpiece has just taken things to the next level! What makes it even better is the way it lights up, encouraging her to colour in particular shades and also get used to drawing shapes, doing dot-to-dot and overall, just have some fun. Nothing beats pencils and paper but this is definitely something a little different to encourage kids to think outside the box and colour things a little differently.

Available from: Big W, Yogee ToysAvailable from: Independence Studios – www.isgift.com, Kidstuff, March2019 | mychild Embellish Gifts, Buy My Things

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66 March 2019 | mychild

BOOK REVIEWS

BOOK REVIEWS march 2019

By: Amy Adeney

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THE HUG

By Eoin McLaughlin & Polly Dunbar The Hug is two stories in one sweet little book. When read from one end, it tells the tale of Hedgehog, who is feeling sad and desperately in need of a hug, but unsurprisingly, it proves impossible to find an animal willing to hug him. When read from the other end, we discover that tortoise is also in search of a hug to brighten his day, and similarly, none of the animals want to hug his hard shell. But when the two animals meet in the middle pages, we find the real magic of this adorable book, which will be enjoyed by young readers aged 2-6.

THERE ARE FISH EVERYWHERE

BY BRITTA TECKENTRUP

From the author/illustrator of last year’s beautiful book We Are Together comes this visually stunning nonfiction book dealing with all things fish-related. Primary school-aged children will love poring over all the details – discovering what’s inside a fish, the types of fish that live in different bodies of water, how fish live, and what they need to survive. The book is filled with many interesting facts to satisfy curious young minds, and Teckentrup’s signature vibrant illustration style brings the fish to life, so that they seem to be almost swimming off the page!

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WHERE HAPPINESS LIVES

By Barry Timms & Greg Abbott This is a wonderful book to spark discussion with children about the idea that, as Theodore Roosevelt said, ‘Comparison is the thief of joy.’ Each mouse in the story is happy, until they discover a bigger house down the road and assume that the mouse who lives there must be even happier. Of course, when the meet the mouse in the grandest mansion, she is sad and lonely, and longs for the joy and companionship experienced by the mice in the smallest cottage in the woods.

Children aged 3-6 will love the cute characters and the flaps to lift on each page, and will begin to understand the story’s message, that “Whatever your home, it is happy indeed…If you love what you have…and you have what you need.”

THE MAN WITH SMALL HAIR

BY JANE JOLLY & ANDREW JOYNER This fabulous Australian book is a tale of individuality which will be enjoyed by children aged 3 and up. The man with small hair just wants to fit in with the people in his town, who all look almost identical to each other. And so he grows his hair and hides away his favourite clothes and shoes, until one day upon looking in the mirror, he feels as though he has completely lost all sense of who he really is. The book shares a fantastic message of selfconfidence, bravery, and celebrating the things that make each person unique.

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GET THE LOOK

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K: INTERIORS

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KIDS ROOM Image credit: Nanette Wong 72 March 2019 | mychild

KURA REVERSIBLE BED

$229.00 ikea.com/au

CATHERINE LANSFIELD POLKA DOT EASY CARE DUVET SET

$24.00 iwantoneofthose.com

Teal Duke Wingback Armchair

$579.00 templeandwebster.com.au

MERCATOR EFFIE TABLE LAMP

$59.95 zanui.com.au

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KARTELL INVISIBLE SIDE LOW

FEATHER WING BOOKENDS

$875.00

$54.95

spacefurniture.com.au

MAMMUT CHILDREN’S STOOL

$7.99 ikea.com/au

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templeandwebster.com.au

HIPPO PRINT ART

$129.95 zanui.com.au

HIPPO PRINT ART

ABC BEAR PRINT ART

$129.95

$129.95

zanui.com.au

zanui.com.au

WATERCOLOR WREATH BLUSH PINK INITIAL BABY ROUND CUSHION

$49.20 zazzle.com.au

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NURSERY ROOM By: Akin Design Studio 76 March 2019 | mychild

MARLIN FLOOR LAMP

FJORD COT

$269.00

$749.99

templeandwebster.com.au

lovencare.com.au

PIA ARMCHAIR

$599.00 brosa.com.au

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LORAIN SIDE TABLE WITH WHITE IMITATION MARBLE STONE AND GOLDEN

MARILYN MONROEâ„¢ GLAM TRELLIS RUG

$395.00

$649.00

interiorsecrets.com.au

aurugs.com

CASA UNO COCONUT OTTOMAN

$79.00 earlysettler.com.au

78 March 2019 | mychild

EVA FAUX FUR CUSHION

$12.00 kmart.com.au

BILD 3 PACK FLOWER POSTERS

$12.99 www.ikea.com/au

RIBBA WHITE FRAME

$9.99 www.ikea.com/au

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SHOP:

KIDS

FASHION

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SHOP KIDS What’s in our store this month

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BABY

UNDER

$

20

GIRL Dymples Baby Party Playsuit - Pink

B Collection Girls Tunic Dress - Pink

$ 20.00

$ 12.00

Wishes Baby Hair Wrap with Bow White Shoes

B Collection Infant Girls Patent Ballet Flats - Pink

$ 5.00

$ 8.00

www.bigw.com.au

ORGANIC COTTON LOGO T-SHIRT

$ 49.95

UNDER

$

80

COUNTRY ROAD Cross Over Sandal BABY RUGBY STRIPE COTTON DRESS

$ 49.95

$ 79.95 www.au.tommy.com

CAROLINE BOSMANS Print crumple satin dress

$ 287.00

splurge BILLIEBLUSH Sequined flats KENZO KIDS Dress and matching bloomers -Tiger and Friends www.melijoe.com/au

$ 132.00

$ 228.00 March2019 | mychild

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BABY

UNDER

30

Dymples Baby Shirt and Bow Tie - White

$ 18.00

$

Dymples Baby Stan Casual Shoes - White

$ 10.00

BOY

Dymples Baby Short & Vest Set Blue

$ 25.00

B Collection Boys Games All Over Print

$ 5.00

Jack Senior Lace Up Canvas Shoes

$ 15.00

B Collection Boys Injection Lace Ups - White

$ 12.00

www.bigw.com.au

UNDER

BOYS 3-7 ESSENTIAL COTTON LOGO T-SHIRT

90

$

$ 39.95

BOYS 3-7 ORGANIC COTTON CHINO SHORTS BABY RUGBY STRIPE COTTON DRESS www.au.tommy.com

$ 79.95

$ 89.95

KENZO KIDS Graphic sweatshirt - Multi Icons

splurge

$ 180.00

KENZO KIDS Fleece tracksuit pants - Fantastic KENZO KIDS T-shirt and tracksuit pants www.melijoe.com 84 March 2019 | mychild

$ 155.00

$ 116.00

ADIDAS ORIGINALS Superstar leather sneakers

$ 122.00

SHOP KIDS What’s in our store this month

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Embroidered Sleeve Linen Dress

for $110.00 88 March 2019 | mychild

Bell Sleeve Flower Embroidered Dress

for $179.00 March2019 | mychild

89

Black Embroidered Dot Pocket

for $119.00 90 March 2019 | mychild

Floral Print Swing Dress

for $119.00 March2019 | mychild

91

Rose Print Swing Dress for $119.00

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Embroidered Dot Lace Yoke Dress for $119.00 94 March 2019 | mychild

Embroidered Trim Blouse for $79.00 March2019 | mychild

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Embroidered Dot Scollop Hem Dress for $119.00 96 March 2019 | mychild

Embroidered BabyDoll Top for $89.00

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100 March 2019 | mychild

Recipes JANUARY 2019

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Puff Pastry Waffles Directions 1. Line a cutting board with parchment paper.

2. Unfold puff pastry onto cutting board.

3. Cut each sheet into 4 equal squares.

4. Preheat a waffle iron according to manufacturer’s instructions.

5. Grease with cooking spray.

6. Place one puff pastry square in the preheated waffle iron; cook until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes.

7. Repeat with remaining puff pastry squares.

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• Prep: 5 m • Cook: 3-5 m • Servings: 8 • Ingredients • 1 package frozen puff pastry, thawed • cooking spray

break

Zucchini Bread • Prep: 20 m • Cook: 1 h • Servings: 24 • Ingredients • 3 cups all-purpose flour • 1 teaspoon salt • 1 teaspoon baking soda • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon • 3 eggs • 1 cup vegetable oil • 2 1/4 cups white sugar • 3 teaspoons vanilla extract • 2 cups grated zucchini • 1 cup chopped walnuts

kfast

Directions 1. Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans.

2. Preheat oven 165 degrees C 3. Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.

4. Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini and nuts until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.

5. Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.

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Strawberry Spinach Salad • Prep: 10 m • Ready In: 1 h • Servings: 4 • Ingredients • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds • 1/2 cup white sugar • 1/2 cup olive oil • 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar • 1/4 teaspoon paprika • 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce • 1 tablespoon minced onion • fresh spinach - rinsed, dried and torn into bite-size pieces • 1 Punnet strawberries - cleaned, hulled and sliced • 1/4 cup almonds, blanched and slivered

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Directions In a medium bowl, whisk together the sesame seeds, poppy seeds, sugar, olive oil, vinegar, paprika, Worcestershire sauce and onion. Cover, and chill for one hour.

In a large bowl, combine the spinach, strawberries and almonds. Pour dressing over salad, and toss. Refrigerate 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

lun

Chicken Noodle Soup Prep: 10 m Cook: 20 m Servings: 6 Ingredients 1 tablespoon butter 1/2 cup chopped onion 1/2 cup chopped celery 1.5 litres chicken broth 500 mls vegetable broth 500 grsm chopped cooked chicken breast 1 1/2 cups egg noodles 1 cup sliced carrots 1/2 teaspoon dried basil 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano salt and pepper to taste

• DIRECTIONS In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter. Cook onion and celery in butter until just tender, 5 minutes. Pour in chicken and vegetable broths and stir in chicken, noodles, carrots, basil, oregano, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes before serving.

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Pizza Chicken Directions • Preheat oven to 200 degrees C • Combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper in a shallow bowl; place flour into a second bowl. Whisk egg and lemon juice together in a third bowl.

• Dip each chicken breast in egg mixture and dredge in flour; dip again in egg mixture and dredge chicken in crumb mixture until coated.

Place coated chicken breasts into a baking dish.

• Bake in the preheated oven until chicken is heated through and crumbs are golden, about 20 minutes.

• Spoon 2 tablespoons pizza sauce onto each chicken breast, sprinkle each with half the mozzarella cheese, and top each with half the pepperoni slices.

• Bake until chicken is no longer pink inside and the juices run clear, about 10 more minutes. An instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a breast should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).

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• Prep: 15 m • Cook: 30 m • Servings: 2 • Ingredients • 1/2 cup Italian-seasoned bread crumbs • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese • 1 teaspoon salt • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour • 1 egg • 1 tablespoon lemon juice • 2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves • 1/2 cup pizza sauce, divided • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided • 4 slices pepperoni, or to taste - divided

din

Easy Vegan Sheet Pan Roasted Cauliflower, Tomatoes, and Garbanzo Beans

DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminium foil and grease with cooking spray.

2. Combine olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Add cauliflower, tomatoes, and garbanzo beans; toss until well coated. Spread in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Add lime wedges.

3. Roast in the preheated oven until vegetables are caramelized, about 25 minutes. Remove lime wedges and top with fresh coriander.

nner

• Prep: 10 m • Cook: 25 m • Servings: 2 • • Ingredients • cooking spray • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper • 4 cups sliced cauliflower • 2 cups cherry tomatoes • 1 can garbanzo beans, drained • 1 lime, cut into wedges • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh coriander

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Tres Leches (Milk Cake) Directions • Preheat oven to 175 degrees C. Grease and flour one 9x13 inch baking pan.

• Sift flour and baking powder together and set aside.

• Cream butter or margarine and the 1 cup sugar together until fluffy. Add eggs and the 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; beat well.

• Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture 2 tablespoons at a time; mix until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pan.

• Bake at 175 degrees C for 30 minutes. Pierce cake several times with a fork.

• Combine the whole milk, condensed milk, and evaporated milk together. Pour over the top of the cooled cake.

• Whip whipping cream, the remaining 1 cup of the sugar, and the remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla together until thick. Spread over the top of cake.

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• Prep: 1 hr • Cook: 30 m • Servings: 4-8 • Ingredients • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 1/2 cup unsalted butter • 1 cup white sugar • 5 eggs • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract • 2 cups whole milk • 1 can sweetened condensed milk • 1 can evaporated milk • 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream • 1 cup white sugar • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

dess

Ice Cream • DIRECTIONS • Beat milk, light cream, sweetened condensed milk, and eggs together in a bowl on low mixer speed; slowly add sugar while continuously beating, followed by vanilla extract.

• • Pour milk mixture into ice cream maker’s container and freeze according to manufacturer’s directions.

• Prep: 10 m • Ready In: 1 h 30 m • Servings: 8-10 • • • • • • •

Ingredients 2 cups light cream 6 cups whole milk 1 can sweetened condensed milk 4 eggs 1 3/4 cups white sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

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t x e n r u o r o f t u o k o o L e u ss i y l h t n mo t a s u t i s i v o s l a and WEB

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WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MYCHILDMAGAZINE INSTAGRAM

#MYCHILDMAGAZINE

MYCHILD MAGAZINE PHONE: 0411 572 877

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e t o V w o N

EXCELLENCE

Awards

2019

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

1

Favourite

baby bath PRODUCT

GAIA NATURAL BABY Bath & Body Wash gaiaskinnaturals.com

2

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

MUNCHKIN White Hot Inflatable Safety Duck Tub au.munchkin.com

PLAYGRO Paddling Bath Fish playgro.com

BUBBA BLUE Aussie Animals Novelty Towels bubbablue.com.au

STOKKE Flexi Bath stokke.com

MUSTELA Multi-Sensory Bubble Bath www.mustela.com.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

3

Sleeptime Bath gaiaskinnaturals.com

NATURES CHILD Certified Organic Baby Wash www.natureschild.com.au

SHNUGGLE Baby Bath thestorknest.com.au 4

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

Favourite baby bath continued.

GAIA NATURAL BABY

Favourite

baby wash PRODUCT

LITTLE INNOSCENTS Organic Spearmint & Orange Hair & Body Wash littleinnoscents.com.au

GAIA NATURAL BABY Sleeptime Bath gaiaskinnaturals.com

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

5

LITTLE INNOSCENTS Organic Cherry Coconut Hair & Body Wash littleinnoscents.com.au

LITTLE BAIRN Gentle Baby Wash littlebairn.com.au

6

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

MUSTELA Gentle Cleansing Gel mustela.com.au

WOTNOT NATURALS 3-in1 Baby Wash wotnot.com.au

Favourite

baby skincare PRODUCT

LITTLE INNOSCENTS Organic Intensive Soothing Cream littleinnoscents.com.au

GAIA NATURAL BABY Baby Moisturiser gaiaskinnaturals.com

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

7

MUSTELA Hydra Bébé Body Lotion mustela.com.au

LITTLE INNOSCENTS Organic Cherry Coconut Conditioner littleinnoscents.com.au

8

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

LITTLE INNOSCENTS Organic Moisture Rich Body Lotion littleinnoscents.com.au

LITTLE Little Eyes littlerange.com.au

HONESTLY STORE Baby Lotion Bar honestlystore.com.au

LITTLE INNOSCENTS Organic Massage Oil www.littleinnoscents.com.au

LITTLE BAIRN

NATURES CHILD

Organic Soothing Baby Lotion littlebairn.com.au

Certified Organic Wonder Balm natureschild.com.au

Favourite baby skincare continued.

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

9

Favourite

baby care PRODUCT

GAIA NATURAL BABY Hair & Body Wash gaiaskinnaturals.com

10

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

LITTLE INNOSCENTS Organic Milky Whites Toothpaste littleinnoscents.com.au

LITTLE INNOSCENTS Organic Hair Fudge littleinnoscents.com.au

LITTLE Little Eyes littlerange.com.au

LITTLE Little Coughs littlerange.com.au

LITTLE INNOSCENTS Organic Winter Blues Balm littleinnoscents.com.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

11

PEA PODS 100% Bamboo Liners peapods.com.au

CHRISTIE & CHRISTIE Nail Snail - Baby Nail Trimmer nail-snail.com

12

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

NUBY Nana Nubs Massaging Toothbrush nuby.com/au

FESS Little Noses Saline Spray and Drops fess.com.au

MUSTELA Stelatopia Emollient Cream mustela.com.au

BUBBLEBUBS Botty Balm bubblebubs.com.au

NATURES CHILD Bottom Balm natureschild.com.au

MUNCHKIN Medicator au.munchkin.com

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

13

EUKY BEAR Euky Bearub eukybear.com.au

EUKY BEAR Sniffly Nose Room Spray eukybear.com.au

Favourite baby care product 14

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

BUBBA BLUE Breathe EasyÂŽ Infant Head Rest bubbablue.com.au

t continued. excellence awards 2019 | mychild

15

Favourite Favourite

baby thermometer sleeping aid baby PRODUCT

123 NOURISH ME Sleepy Head Balm 123nourishme.com.au

16

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

LITTLE BAIRN Organic Sleepy Time Nursery Spray littlebairn.com.au

THE GRO COMPANY Ollie the Owl gro-store.com.au

COCOONABABY Cocoonababy Nest cocoonababy.com.au

ORICOM AD100 Aroma Diffuser Night Light oricom.com.au

THE GRO COMPANY Groclock gro-store.com.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

17

BABY SHUSHER Baby Shusher babyshusher.com.au

VICKS Warm Steam Vaporizer vicks.fgb.com.au

Favourite baby sleeping aid continued.

18

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

EUKY BEAR Sleepy Time Room Mist eukybear.com.au

PLAYGRO Goodnight Bear Nightlight and Projector playgro.com

Favourite

baby swaddle PRODUCT

SNUGBAGS Snuggle-UP Swaddle snugbags.com

LOVE TO DREAM™ Swaddle Up™ Warm 2.5 Tog lovetodream.com.au excellence awards 2019 | mychild

19

LOVE TO DREAM™ Swaddle Up™ Original 1.0 Tog lovetodream.com.au

PLUM Swaddle Suits plumcollections.com.au

20

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

SLEEPY BUB Zip-Arms Organic Swaddle sleepybub.com.au

THE GRO COMPANY Swaddle Grobag gro-store.com.au

TILLY & OTTO Couture Stretchy Swaddle tillyandotto.com.au

Favourite baby swaddle product continued.

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

21

Favourite

baby sleep bag PRODUCT

SNUGBAGS Merino Sleeping Bag snugbags.com

22

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

LOVE TO DREAM™ Love To Dream Sleep Suit™ 2.5 Tog lovetodream.com.au

LOVE TO DREAM™ Love To Dream Sleep Suit™ 1.0 Tog lovetodream.com.au

PLUM Sleepbag plumcollections.com.au

SLEEPY BUB Organic Sleeping Bag sleepybub.com.au

THE GRO COMPANY Grobag gro-store.com.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

23

Favourite

baby sleep suit PRODUCT

THE GRO COMPANY Groromper gro-store.com.au

24

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

PLUM Walker Suit plumcollections.com.au

X-TEND

SLUMBERSAC

Sleepsuit sleepycompany.com

Sleepbag with Feet Tog 2.5 slumbersac.com.au

SNUGBAGS SnugnGo snugbags.com

Favourite baby sleep suit product continued.

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

25

Favourite

baby monitor PRODUCT

UNIDEN Baby Watch Monitor BW3101R uniden.com.au

26

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

ORICOM Secure870 3.5� Touchscreen Video Monitor with Starry Lightshow oricom.com.au

ORICOM Secure720 2.4” Video Baby Monitor oricom.com.au

VTECH BM4500-OWL Pan & Tilt Video and Audio Monitor auphones.vtech.com

VTECH VM9900 HD Pan & Tilt Video Monitor with Remote Access auphones.vtech.com

ORICOM Secure895 5” Video Baby Monitor with Motion Tracking oricom.com.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

27

Favourite

baby thermometer PRODUCT

BRAUN ThermoScan 7 Ear Thermometer braun.fgb.com.au

28

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

ORICOM HFS1000 Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer oricom.com.au

SAFETY 1ST 3 In 1 Nursery Thermometer safety1st.com.au

DREAMBABY Bath & Room Thermometer dreambaby.com.au

THE GRO COMPANY Groegg2 gro-store.com.au

Favourite baby thermometer product continued.

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

29

Favourite

baby safety product PRODUCT

SNUGBAGS Merino Sleeping Bag snugbags.com 30

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

CHERUB BABY Cherub Baby 4 in 1 Ear and Forehead Thermometer cherubbaby.com.au

SLEEPY BUB Zip-Arms Organic Swaddle sleepybub.com.au

THE GRO COMPANY Grobag gro-store.com.au

BABY JOGGER City GO Capsule babyjoggerstrollers.com.au

Favourite baby safety product continued.

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

31

Favourite

breast pump PRODUCT

DIFRAX Breast Pump kidslifestyle.com.au

32

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

TOMMEE TIPPEE Closer to Nature Electric Breast Pump tommeetippee.com.au

MEDELA

MEDELA

Swing Single Electric Breast Pump medela.com.au

Swing Maxi Double Electric Breast Pump medela.com.au

MEDELA Freestyle Double Electric Breast Pump medela.com.au

Favourite breast pump continued

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

33

Favourite

breastfeeding product PRODUCT

NIBBLY BITS BB Necklace nibblybits.net

34

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

MAMMA-PILLO Wearable Over-Arm Feeding And Maternity Pillows mammapillo.com.au

CHERUB BABY Re-usable Temperature Sensing Breastmilk Bags cherubbaby.com.au

PEA PODS Bamboo Nursing Pads peapods.com.au

GAIA SKIN NATURALS Nipple Balm gaiaskinnaturals.com

FRIDGE-TO-GO Small Lunch Bag fridge-to-go.net.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

35

TOMMEE TIPPEE Closer to Nature Electric Breast Pump tommeetippee.com.au

RITE AID Hydrogel Breast Discs riteaid.com.au

36

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

NATURES CHILD Organic Cotton Breast Pads natureschild.com.au

TOMMEE TIPPEE Express and Go Breast Milk Pouches tommeetippee.com.au

MOBY Evolution Wrap Batik theamazingbabycompany.com.au

BRAVADO DESIGNS Clip and Pump Hands-Free Nursing Bra Accessory thestorknest.com.au

TOMMEE TIPPEE Closer to Nature Express and Go Starter Kit tommeetippee.com.au

MEDELA Breast Milk Storage Bags medela.com.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

37

MEDELA Maternity and Nursing Pillow medela.com.au

DESIGNER BUMS Reusable Bamboo Nursing Pads designerbums.com.au

Favourite breastfeeding product continued.

38

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

Favourite

baby formula PRODUCT

MUNCHKIN Munchkin Grass Fed au.munchkin.com

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

39

NAN Organic 1 www.nestle.com.au

BUBS Goat Milk Infant Formula Stage 1 bubsaustralia.com

40

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

BELLAMY’S ORGANIC Organic Step 1 Infant Formula bellamysorganic.com.au

NAN OPTIPRO 1 Gold www.nestle.com.au

Favourite

baby bottle PRODUCT

TOMMEE TIPPEE Closer to Nature Easi Vent Bottle tommeetippee.com.au

MUNCHKIN LATCH Munchkin Latch Bottle au.munchkin.com

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

41

AVENT Classic Bottle philips.com.au

PIGEON Wide Neck Feeding Bottles pigeonbaby.com.au

42

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

NUK First Choice Plus nuk.com.au

AVENT Natural Baby Bottle philips.com.au

Favourite

baby steriliser PRODUCT

TOMMEE TIPPEE Closer to Nature Electric Steam Steriliser tommeetippee.com.au

MUNCHKIN LATCH Munchkin Latch Sterilize Bags au.munchkin.com

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

43

MILTON

PIGEON

Antibacterial Tablets 30 Pack miltonbaby.com.au

Steriliser Microwave pigeonbaby.com.au

MEDELA Quick Clean Microwave Bags medela.com.au

44

Favourite baby steriliser product continued.

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

Favourite

baby food PRODUCT

WHOLE KIDS Organic Sweet Potato Rice Wafers wholekids.com.au

BABY MUM-MUM Rice Rusks BabyMumMum.com.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

45

BELLAMY’S ORGANIC Organic Food Pouches bellamysorganic.com.au

HEINZ Farex Baby Rice Cereal heinzforbaby.com.au

LITTLE QUACKER Sprouted Brown Rice Puffs LittleQuacker.com.au

46

Favourite baby food product continued. excellence awards 2019 | mychild

Favourite

toddler food PRODUCT

WHOLE KIDS Organic Apple Cookies wholekids.com.au

123 NOURISH ME Magic Sprinkles 123nourishme.com.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

47

LITTLE QUACKER

LITTLE BUD Healthy Ready Meals littlebud.com.au

Rice Biscuits LittleQuacker.com.au

LITTLE QUACKER Coconut Rice Rolls LittleQuacker.com.au

48

Favourite toddler food continued. excellence awards 2019 | mychild

Favourite

baby food storage PRODUCT

SINCHIES 150ml Top Spout Reusable Pouches sinchies.com.au

CHERUB BABY Re-usable Baby Food Pouches cherubbaby.com.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

49

HEINZ BABY BASICS Infant Formula Dispenser nicepak.com.au/heinz-baby-basics/

NUBY Stainless Steel Suction Bowl nuby.com/au

50

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

MY FAMILY KIDS BRAND School Lunch Bento Combo myfamilykidsbrand.com.au

TOMMEE TIPPEE Pop Up Freezer Pots tommeetippee.com.au

B.BOX Insulated Food Jar bboxforkids.com

Favourite baby food storage product continued. excellence awards 2019 | mychild

51

Favourite

baby feeding utensil PRODUCT

SINCHIES Less Mess Silicone Lids sinchies.com.au

52

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

HEINZ BABY BASICS Unbelievabowl and spoon nicepak.com.au/heinz-baby-basics/

MUNCHKIN

CHERUB BABY Universal Food Pouch Spoons cherubbaby.com.au

Munchkin White Hot Infant Spoons au.munchkin.com

NUBY EZ Squeeze Feeder nuby.com/au

Favourite baby feeding utensil continued. excellence awards 2019 | mychild

53

Favourite dinner service PRODUCT

B.BOX Bowl + Straw bboxforkids.com

54

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

EMONDO KIDS Bamboo Cloud Egg Cups emondokids.com.au

MUNCHKIN

EMONDO KIDS Bamboo Karri The Koala Plate emondokids.com.au

Stay Put Suction Bowls au.munchkin.com

EMONDO KIDS Bamboo The Bowl With Suction emondokids.com.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

55

EMONDO KIDS Bamboo Rainbow Plate with Suction emondokids.com.au

Favourite dinner service product continued.

56

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

Favourite drinking cup PRODUCT

NUBY Tritan Twin 360ยบ Wonder Cup nuby.com/au

TOMMEE TIPPEE Transition Cup tommeetippee.com.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

57

B.BOX Sippy Cup with Weighted Straw bboxforkids.com

MUNCHKIN Munchkin Miracle 360 Cup au.munchkin.com

58

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

MUNCHKIN Click Lockâ„¢ Weighted Flexi-Straw Cup au.munchkin.com

B.BOX Tritan Drink Bottle bboxforkids.com

B.BOX Insulated Drink Bottle bboxforkids.com

TOMMEE TIPPEE No Knock Cup tommeetippee.com.au

Favourite drinking cup product continued. excellence awards 2019 | mychild

59

Favourite reusable nappy PRODUCT

BAMBINO MIO Miosolo All-In-One Nappy bambinomio.com/au

60

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

DESIGNER BUMS ART POP All-In-Two Cloth Nappy designerbums.com.au

BABY BEEHINDS Magicall All-In-One babybeehinds.com.au

PEA PODS ONE Size Nappy peapods.com.au

BABY BARE Cloth Nappies babybare.com.au

SEEDLING BABY Multi-fit Pocket Nappy seedlingbaby.com.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

61

HIPPYBOTTOMUS Stay-Dry Bamboo Nappy hippybottomus.com.au

ECONAPS Modern Cloth Nappy econaps.com.au

NATURES CHILD Towelling Nappies natureschild.com.au

BUBBLEBUBS One Sized Candie bubblebubs.com.au

Favourite baby resusable nappy continued.

62

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

Favourite

disposable nappy PRODUCT

EENEE DESIGNS Eenee Compostable Nappies eenee.com.au

BABYLOVE NAPPIES CosiFit Nappies babylovenappies.com.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

63

MAMIA Unisex Nappies aldi.com.au

THANKYOU Nappies econaps.com.au

HUGGIES Essentials Nappies huggies.com.au

64

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

Favourite baby wipes PRODUCT

WATERWIPES WaterWipes Baby Wipes waterwipes.com/au/

GAIA NATURAL BABY Bamboo Baby Wipes gaiaskinnaturals.com

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

65

BABYU Fragrance Free Wipes nicepak.com.au/babyu

LITTLE INNOSCENTS Natural Baby Wipes littleinnoscents.com.au

66

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

PEA PODS Bamboo Reusable Wipes peapods.com.au

MUSTELA Soothing Cleansing Wipes mustela.com.au

BUBBLEBUBS Premium Bamboo Velour Wipes bubblebubs.com.au

MILTON Anti-Bacterial Wipes milton.com.au

Favourite baby wipes continued.

WOTNOT NATURALS Baby Wipes wotnot.com.au

LITTLE Little Eyes littlerange.com.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

67

JOONYA Joonya Eco Wipes .joonya.com

Favourite nappy rash cream continued.

Favourite baby wipes continued.

68

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

Favourite

nappy rash cream PRODUCT

BUBBLEBUBS Botty Balm bubblebubs.com.au

HONESTLY STORE Nappy Balm honestlystore.com.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

69

GAIA NATURAL BABY Soothing Cream gaiaskinnaturals.com

LITTLE INNOSCENTS Organic Intensive Soothing Cream littleinnoscents.com.au

70

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

SUDOCREM Sudocrem 125g nicepak.com.au/sudocrem

MUSTELA Vitamin Barrier Cream 123 mustela.com.au

Willow by the Sea

LITTLE BAIRN Organic Bottom Balm littlebairn.com.au

WILLOW BY THE SEA Bottom Balm willowbythesea.com

Favourite nappy rash cream continued. excellence awards 2019 | mychild

71

Favourite

nappy bag PRODUCT

BAMBINO MIO Baby & Beyond Change Bag bambinomio.com/au/

72

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

STORSKAK Stevie Nappy Bag storksak.com.au

BABYMEL Robyn Convertible Backpack babymel.com.au

BABYMEL Cara Ultra Lite Scuba babymel.com.au

STORSAK Hero Backpack storksak.com.au

PETUNIA PICKLE BOTTOM Little Mermaid ACE Backpack theamazingbabycompany.com.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

73

SKIP HOP Main Frame Open Wide Back Pack thestorknest.com.au

Favourite nappy bag continued.

74

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

Favourite

baby carrier PRODUCT

POGNAE AUSTRALIA No.5 Plus All-In-One Baby Carrier pognae.com.au

MOBY Evolution Wrap Batik theamazingbabycompany.com.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

75

ERGO BABY

BABY TULA

Omni 360 Cool Air Mesh ergobaby.com.au

Explore Carrier www.babytula-australia.com

MIAMILLY HIPSTERâ„¢ Plus miamily.com

Favourite baby carrier continued.

76

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

Favourite pram PRODUCT

REDSBABY JIVE² redsbaby.com.au

SILVER CROSS Pioneer silvercross.com.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

77

SILVER CROSS Wave silvercross.com.au

SILVER CROSS Special Edition Surf Henley silvercross.com.au

BABY JOGGER City Select Lux babyjoggerstrollers.com.au

78

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

Favourite stroller PRODUCT

REDSBABY SKIP Stroller redsbaby.com.au

EDWARDS & CO Otto edwardsandcobaby.com

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

79

SILVER CROSS

BABY JOGGER

Jet silvercross.com.au

City Mini GT 10th Anniversary babyjoggerstrollers.com.au

JOOLZ Hub Stroller my-joolz.com.au

Favourite stroller product continued.

80

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

Favourite

baby toy PRODUCT

THE MIBBLERS Teething Toys themibblers.com

JELLYSTONE DESIGNS 100% No Nasties, Silicone Pastel Stacker Teether and Toy jellystonedesigns.com.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

81

SOPHIE LA GIRAFE So Pure Bath Toy lesfolies.com.au

SOPHIE LA GIRAFE Senso Ball lesfolies.com.au

82

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

SOPHIE LA GIRAFE Sophie La Girafe lesfolies.com.au

PLAYGRO Music and Lights Comfy Car playgro.com

SOPHIE LA GIRAFE Star comforter lesfolies.com.au

MIZZIE THE KANGAROO 100% Natural Rubber Teething Toy mizziethekangaroo.com

SKIP HOP Explore & More Follow Bee Crawl Toy thestorknest.com.au

CARIBOO NZ Made Cariboo Classic Activity Gym cariboo.co.nz

Favourite baby toy product continued. excellence awards 2019 | mychild

83

Favourite toy

PRODUCT

BUBBLEBUBS Reusable Doll Nappies bubblebubs.com.au

84

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

GULULU Gululu Talk mygululu.com

LEAPFROG

VTECH Toot-Toot Drivers Fire Station vtech.com.au

LeapStart® 3D leapfrog.com/en-au

PLAYGRO Push Along Ball Popping Octopus playgro.com.com

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

85

Favourite nursery PRODUCT

SILKY TOTS Silk Cot Slip silkytots.com

86

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

TILLY & OTTO Couture Fitted Sheet tillyandotto.com.au

PLAYGRO Woodlands Music and Lights Projector Gym playgro.com

SNUZPOD SnuzPod3 edwardsandcobaby.com/

JUCA Juca Cot jucacotz.com

THE GRO COMPANY Ollie the Owl gro-store.com.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

87

THE GRO COMPANY v

Groegg2 gro-store.com.au

4MOMS Mamaroo 4 Cool Mesh theamazingbabycompany.com.au

VENETA BLINDS Favo Cordless Honeycomb Blinds venetablinds.com.au

88

SPEWY Spewy spewy.com.au

Favourite nursery product continued.

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

Favourite Interiors PRODUCT

THE FAIRY DOOR STORE Fairy Door thefairydoorstore.com.au

LEROY MAC DESIGNS 100% Pure Australian Merino Blankets and Throws leroymac.com.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

89

TILLY & OTTO Couture Cot Quilt/Playmat tillyandotto.com.au

LITTLE P Rugs And Home Decor For Babies & Children little-p.com

VENETA BLINDS Favo Cordless Honeycomb Blinds venetablinds.com.au

90

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

Favourite cot

PRODUCT

JUCA Remote controlled cot jucacotz.com

COCOON FURNITURE NEST cocoonfurniture.com.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

91

STOKKE

COCOON FURNITURE

Sleepi stokke.com/en-au

EVOLUER cocoonfurniture.com.au

BOORI Perla Cot Bed boori.com/au/

92

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

Favourite

bassinet PRODUCT

CARIBOO NZ Made Classic Bassinet cariboo.co.nz

HALO Swivel Co-Sleeper Bassinet halosleep.com

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

93

BOORI

TUTTI BAMBINI Cozee Co-Sleeper Bassinet tuttibambini.co.uk

Bassinet boori.com/au/

SHNUGGLE Dreami Clever Baby Sleeper thestorknest.com.au

94

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

Favourite

baby travel product PRODUCT

BAMBINO MIO Reusable Wet Bag bambinomio.com/au

THE MIBBLERS Teething Toys themibblers.com

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

95

JELLYSTONE DESIGNS Grapple jellystonedesigns.com.au/

LITTLE INNOSCENTS Summer/Winter Travel Packs littleinnoscents.com.au

96

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

CHERUB BABY Car & USB Bottle Warmer cherubbaby.com.au

PLAYGRO Toucan Musical Play Arch playgro.com

MUSTELA Nourishing Stick with Cold Cream mustela.com.au

MIAMILY Hipster Plus 3D theamazingbabycompany.com.au

BABY JOGGER City Tour 2 babyjoggerstrollers.com.au

BRICA BY MUNCHKIN Brica Baby In-Sight Mirror au.munchkin.com

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

97

DISNEY X B.BOX Travel Bib + Spoon bboxforkids.com

MIZZIE THE KANGAROO 100% Natural Rubber Teething Toy mizziethekangaroo.com

98

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

FRIDGE-TO-GO Medium Insulated Lunch Bag fridge-to-go.net.au

POGNAE AUSTRALIA No.5 Plus All-In-One Baby Carrier pognae.com.au

DESIGNER BUMS Change Mat designerbums.com.au

Favourite baby travel product continued. excellence awards 2019 | mychild

99

Favourite child travel PRODUCT

BABY JOGGER City Tour 2 babyjoggerstrollers.com.au

100

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

BRICA BY MUNCHKIN Are We There Yet Travel Tray au.munchkin.com

GULULU Gululu Talk mygululu.com

SNUGBAGS SNUGnGO Sleeping Bag with Feet snugbags.com

TRUNKI Trunki Ride On Suitcase trunki.com.au

SEEDLING BABY Home+Go Mat seedlingbaby.com.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

101

DESIGNER BUMS

FRIDGE-TO-GO

Wet Bag designerbums.com.au

Medium Insulated Lunch Bag fridge-to-go.net.au

SPEWY Spewy spewy.com.au

102

Favourite child travel product continued.

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

Favourite

highchair PRODUCT

STOKKE Tripp Trapp High Chair stokke.com/en-au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

103

PHIL & TEDS Poppy High Chair philandteds.com/au

IKEA Antilop ikea.com/au

104

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

IKEA Blames ikea.com/au

PHIL & TEDS Lobster Portable High Chair philandteds.com/au

Favourite

keepsake PRODUCT

BABYINK® Colour Ink-less Print Kit babyink.com.au

LEROY MAC DESIGNS 100% pure Australian Merino Blanket eroymac.com.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

105

JADE READ

BABY MADE

Newborn & Maternity Photography jadereadphotography.com.au

The Original Baby Inkless Print Kit babymade.com.au

BABY MADE ‘All About Me’ Baby Book babymade.com.au

106

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

Favourite mum PRODUCT

NIBBLY BITS Abacus Necklace nibblybits.net

BUGGYCART BuggyCart V2 buggycart.com.au

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

107

BOOBIE BRANDS Boobie Bikkies boobiebikkies.com.au

BELLY BANDIT Viscouse from Bamboo Belly Bandit bellybandit.com.au

108

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BELLY BANDIT Upsie Belly bellybandit.com.au

BELLY BANDIT Mother Tucker Nursing Tank bellybandit.com.au

LITTLE INNOSCENTS Organic Paw Paw Balm littleinnoscents.com.au

SOPHIE LA GIRAFE Sophie La Girafe lesfolies.com.au

LITTLE Little Eyes littlerange.com.au

HYDRALYTE Hydralyte Ice Blocks hydralyte.com.au

Favourite mum product continued.

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WILLOW BY THE SEA Belly Oil willowbythesea.com

OMUM L’Expert - Stretch Mark Minimiser 100ml encorebeauty.com.au

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OMUM La Surdouee - Stretch Mark Oil 100ml encorebeauty.com.au

OMUM Le Cajoleur Soap 100g encorebeauty.com.au

4MOMS Mamaroo 4 Silver-Plush theamazingbabycompany.com.au

GULULU Gululu Talk mygululu.com

BUBBLEBUBS Bamboo Velour Breastpads bubblebubs.com.au

MEDELA Easy Expression Bustier medela.com.au

Favourite mum product continued.

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PROJECTME INTIMATES Warrior Balconet Nursing Bra au.projectmeintimates.com

MIZZIE THE KANGAROO 100% Natural Rubber Teething Toy mizziethekangaroo.com

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B.BOX Stroller Organiser bboxforkids.com

MY LITTLE LOVE HEART Bandana Bibs mylittleloveheart.com.au

MILTON 3 In 1 Milton Anti-Bacterial Surface milton.com.au

DESIGNER BUMS Reusable Bamboo Nursing Pads designerbums.com.au

LITTLE Little Coughs littlerange.com.au

SPOTTY KITES Children’s Lullaby spottykites.com

Favourite mum product continued.

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DESIGNER BUMS ART POP Smock designerbums.com.au

Favourite mum product continued.

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Favourite baby fashion LABEL

ATTIPAS Baby Shoes attipas.com.au

PETIT BAMBOO Bamboo Baby Wear petitbamboo.com.au

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CHI KHI Kids Cliothing chikhi.co

WILSON AND FRENCHY Kids Clothing wilsonandfrenchy.com.au

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MUNSTER KIDS Kids Clothing munsterkids.com

DESIGNER BUMS Baby & Kids Products designerbums.com.au

Favourite online STORE

BUGGYCART BuggyCart V2 mybuggycart.com

LEROY MAC DESIGNS 100% Pure Australian Merino Blankets leroymac.com.au

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BUBBLEBUBS Modern Cloth Nappies bubblebubs.com.au

TINITRADER Baby And Kids Products. tinitrader.com.au

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THE STORK NEST Baby Products Online Store thestorknest.com.au

DESIGNER BUMS Baby & Kids Products designerbums.com.au

Favourite online store continued.

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Favourite outdoor PRODUCT

THE MIBBLERS Teething Toys themibblers.com

GLOBBER Elite globber.com.au

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GLOBBER

CHILLAFISH

Flow Foldable globber.com.au

Fixie chillafish.com

CHILLAFISH Bunzie chillafish.com

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Favourite outdoor product continued.

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Favourite

swimwear PRODUCT

PEA PODS Swimming Nappies peapods.com.au

BABY BEEHINDS One-Size Reusable Swim Nappy babybeehinds.com.au

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SEEDLING BABY Paddle Pants seedlingbaby.com.au

BAMBINO MIO Swim Nappy bambinomio.com/au

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PLATYPUS AUSTRALIA Tutu Swimsuit - Gelato platypusaustralia.com

BUBBLEBUBS Swim Nappy bubblebubs.com.au

DESIGNER BUMS Swim Nappy designerbums.com.au

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Favourite sun smart PRODUCT

LITTLE INNOSCENTS Natural Sun Lotion SPF30+ littleinnoscents.com.au

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123 NOURISH ME Hello Sunshine Sunscreen 123nourishme.com.au

BANANA BOAT

LULLABY SKINCARE Sunscreen for Delicate Skin lullabyskincare.com

Baby Roll On bananaboat.com.au

WOTNOT NATURALS Baby Sunscreen wotnot.com.au

favourite sun protect product continued.

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Favourite teething PRODUCT

MY LITTLE LOVE HEART Bunny Teething Ring mylittleloveheart.com.au

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THE MIBBLERS Teething Toys themibblers.com

JELLYSTONE DESIGNS Star Teether jellystonedesigns.com.au

SOPHIE LA GIRAFE Coloring lesfolies.com.au

SOPHIE LA GIRAFE Sophie La Girafe .lesfolies.com.au

SOPHIE LA GIRAFE Teething Ring lesfolies.com.au

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PLAYGRO Squeak and Soothe Natural Teether playgro.com

CHEEKY CHOMPERS Neckerchew cheekychompers.com.au

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NUBY Teethe-Eez nuby.com/au

MIZZIE THE KANGAROO 100% Natural Rubber Teething Toy www.mizziethekangaroo.com

Favourite teething teething product continued.

Favourite product continued.

excellence awards 2019 | mychild

Favourite

toilet training aid PRODUCT

BAMBINO MIO Toilet Training Undies bambinomio.com/au

LITTLE Little Parachoc littlerange.com.au

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WEE TARGET Toilet Target For Boys weetarget.com.au

BABYU BabyU Cushie Step Up nicepak.com.au

PEA PODS Reusable Toilet Training Pants peapods.com.au

Favourite toilet training aid continued.

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