AUSTRALIA’S BEST PREGNANCY, BABY & PARENTING MAGAZINE ISSUE 47
* AUGUST 2015
Win your share of $15,000* towards your child’s education
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Tips
TO AVOID BEDTIME BATTLES
Water Births ...
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW SURVIVAL SKILLS FOR GOING BACK TO WORK 1
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11TOP Concerns of labour and Delivery
Protect your BUMP from everyday radiation
“My baby is going to have a great body because I drink milk formula ensuring we both get all the calcium that we need for strong bones.�
As a mother you want the very best future for your baby and that future starts with you. Oz Farm Pregnant Mother Formula is formulated with 19 essential vitamins and minerals to help your baby grow and develop. In addition, the milk formula is reduced in fat, it contains only 2% of healthy fats to support appropriate weight gain and to provide valuable nutrients. Avilable at Priceline and Terry White Pharmacy
Oz Farm is a registered trademark. Distributed by Park , ABN 5916247837. 120 Frankston 2Australian mychildDairy | august 2015 Gardens Drive, Carrum Downs Melbourne VIC 3201
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www.ozfarmhealth.com.au
The monkey with the prankster’s look and the light coloured belly, has transformed kids’ rooms into jungles and sparked dreams of far-away places since 1951. Kay Bojesen Monkey $225.00 from Great Dane furniture.
Editor’s column
SAM REES-JONES
Brrrrr...It’s chilly at the moment! In our house we have made the most of the weather. the slow cooker has come out of hibernation and with the various TV cooking shows, there has been a lot of experimentation in the kitchen. Mind you not all of it successful with a few last minute dash to the supermarket to restart, but it is all good fun and a way to test the taste buds. The hardest part of winter is the piles if washing in my lounge as I try to dry it all! As wonderful as it is to put on the boots and jackets. I know for one I am eagerly waiting for the warm balmy evenings and longer days. This issue is filled with lots of information for you to enjoy.
Sa m
Sa m
Our beautiful August cover was photographed by Katrina, owner of Katrina Christ Photography from Brisbane. 07 3891 5885 http://www.katrinachrist.com.au
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contents 63 96 COVER 11 36 50 72 90 95
Top concerns of labour and delivery Water Births all you need to know 7 Ways to survive going back to work Protect your bump Tips to avoid bedtime battles Win your share of $15,000 towards your childrens education
BIRTH
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PREGNANCY 30
Do this Don’t do that-How to deal with unwanted advice
BABY 42 50 56
Caring for your baby’s Skin 7 Ways to survive going back to work How to introduce solid food
IIDEAS
15 My 5 Favourites Bec Bennett from Eyetribe shares her top five 18 My Business: Green is beautiful Wonderful cardboard toys 66 Creative Space for a budding Picasso TRUE LIFE 74 How to protect yourself from everyday 24 Trusting Tallulah: Our second winning radiation entry 28 32 36
A dozen or more-How to find out if your eggs are running out Birthing from within 11 Top concerns of Labour and delivery Water Births all you need to know
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66 63 Tips on buying second hand child restraints 102 12 ways to entertain kids
FAMILY
WHAT WE LOVE
NEWS
40 95
Roll Around Rattles Win your Share of $15,000 towards your children
TODDLER 82 90
A different look at children and media Tips to avoid bedtime battles
HEALTH 98
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48 96
How pets benefit kids
Baby and Toddler Toddler and Preschool
SHOPPING 46 60 96
Pregnancy and Birth Baby and Toddler Toddler and Big kids
RECIPE
How can I keep my toddler from getting 78 sick in winter
Brown rice and Mushroom Risotto
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PUBLISHER & EDITOR SAM REES-JONES ART DIRECTOR & STYLIST MORGAN ZELL ONLINE EDITOR JORDAN VON HAGAN NEWSLETTER EDITOR & WRITER JORDAN VON HAGEN WRITERS & SUB-EDITORS
JESSICA RILEY, GEORGIA WARD, THE EXPERT EDITOR
EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES editorial@mychildmagazine.com.au CONTRIBUTING EXPERTS DR MARCIN STANKIEWICZ ROZ HALL FARLAM DR. JENNIFER MOORE DR KATRINA WARREN KELLY WINDER STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY iStock ADVERTISING DIRECTOR SAM REES-JONES m 0426 790 398 e sam@mychildmagazine.com.au
CONTACT 61 2 9446 1614 mychildmagazine.com.au
MY CHILD IS PRODUCED & PUBLISHED BY LITTLE BLUE DOG ABN 611 996 81 521
My Child magazine and mychildmagazine.com.au are wholly owned by Little Blue Dog (ABN 611 996 81 521). 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.
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s m u b g n i sav saving babies
ipes BUY Red Nose Baby WORE & HELP US SAVE M BABIES’ LIVES
Available at: IGA, SUPA IGA, BIG W & TARGET or buy online at aussiewipes.com.au & check out our great promotions! Selected IGA & Super IGA Stores only. Selected range available in Big W. august 2015 | mychild
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IDEAS
EDITOR’S PICKS ALL KINDS OF PRODUCTS CROSS SAM’S DESK EACH DAY. HERE ARE A FEW OF HER FAVOURITES
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A fairytale carriage to pull for the little King of mice Maileg . $32.41 Perfect for long adventure days on the beach. $69.69. www. biobu.com MP3 player made out of wood. Looks like a radio.$349.44. from www.dewand.com Using natural pine wood for creating desk and chair set. Includes drawer, two gaps for pencils. www.MacarenaBilbao Escritorio.com $314.35 Set up your own little puppet show for your infant with these cute puppets. Little Mermaid Finger Puppets $12.24 each. www. thegiftoasis.com Save the Whales! “piggy” banks. Made in porcelain with a tactile rubber finish $36.55 www. maiamingdesigns.com Made from recycled fabrics Dino is an exclusive addition to the Mintchi family..$59.95 This wall sticker depicting iconic London red buses and black cabs is as nostalgic as it is contemporary. AUD 45.10 www. kokokids.com
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Sleep with greater peace of mind
VALUE PACK
BS2SC850
The next level of care. You’ve been asking for it, now it’s here. BabysenseTM2 Infant Respiratory Monitor continually monitors the breathing movement rate of your baby, while the 4.3" Secure850 Digital Video/Audio Baby Monitor places you virtually in the nursery. Oricom’s wide range of baby monitors are available from leading baby stores. Visit www.oricom.com.au to find your nearest stockist.
®
Connecting you now.
Babysense2 is intended for use as an Infant Apnoea Alarm. ALWAYS READ THE LABEL AND USER GUIDE, USE ONLY AS DIRECTED.
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MY CHILD PROMOTION
THE BEST IN WEBSIT
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> JUST FOR MUMS BOOWIGGIE
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Luxurious leather nappy bags in the disguise of a designer handbag. Designed in Australia.
BabyBjörn’s new generation baby carriers are easy to use whenever and wherever you need it.
> JUST FOR MUMS TOTAL BAG ENVY
totalbagenvy.com.au Professional nappy bags for the working mum. looking good but being practical.
> MATERNITY FASHION MATERNITY SALE
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> MATERNITY FASHION FERTILE MIND
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The best place to start the minute you’re pregnant. Early stage accessories, bellybelts, bandos, bellybra plus load more
> OUT & ABOUT FAIRY BLOSSOM fairyblossom.com.au Stocking over 2500 products from leading brands, Fairy Blossom and Friends welcomes you
> OUT & ABOUT BELLAS LITTLE ONES bellaslittleones.com.au Baby Carrier Specialists, Ergobaby, Manduca, lillebaby,Hugabub, Boba – Huge Range
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> OUT & ABOUT
mychild | august 2015
> TOYS/PARTIES/GIFTS SOLVEJ solveJswings.com.au Babies and children love to swing. Swinging has really great benefits for your baby and child
> TOYS/PARTIES/GIFTS Bellabuttercup bellabuttercup.com.au Play Space is a portable, cushioned space, ideal for tummy-time, nappy time and for learning to sit and roll
> TOYS/PARTIES/GIFTS MISS KIKI OF CHERRY BLOSSOM LANE
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Award winning stories that take children on an imaginative journey full of sleepy little creatures
> TOYS/PARTIES/GIFTS PIKAPU
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A nappy to take bub from newborn to toddler, the pikapu nappy’s original design is all you need
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Recycle the outgrown clothes from your children in bundles by swapping them online. Save time
Tiny Tribe - Australia’s new online destination for fashionable baby and kids clothing. For 0-3
> BABY FASHION SOOKIbaby
sookibaby.com.au Unique clothing for your baby and child available online and in store
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A unique childrenswear collection fit for boys and girls from newborn to twelve years
> BABY FASHION
> NUTRITION/FEEDING QUIBIES quibies.com.au Food storage containers give you a simple way to store and freeze breast milk and purees
> NUTRITION/FEEDING DIFRAX Kidslifestyle.com.au The Difrax S-bottle features a unique S-shape. This S-shape ensures that the teat contains only your baby’s food and no air
> NUTRITION/FEEDING
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CHERUB BABY
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Beautiful clothing for your baby for all stages and ages.
Reusable baby food pouches are a portable way to store, freeze, warm and serve homemade baby food.
> SMART INTERIORS THE LITTLE KIDz CLOSET thelittlekidzcloset.com.au The little kids closet- Ingeriors for the modern child. Furniture -Bedding-Decor.
> SMART INTERIORS LILLY & LOLLY lilly&lolly.com.au Lilly & Lolly produce kid’s furniture and bed linen with distinctive designs and
> SMART INTERIORS
SPECKLED HOUSE
speckledhouse.com From decals, to storage and blankets – we are all about creative, fun and practical decorating for kids.
> SMART INTERIORS PETIT
petit.com.au All you will need in bedding and decor to create a dreamy nursery or your child’s first big kid room!
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IDEAS
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PRODUCT
OF THE MONTH
INDIVIDUALIZED MOBILITY
The requirements of a pushchair and travel system are as diverse as life itself, because when you´re out and about with children, things don´t always according to plan. The PRIAM is an ideal companion because it meets all requirements right from the start. $1699.99 from CNP Brands.
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IDEAS
BITS&BOBS
BEST BOOKS Astrotwins A team of middle schoolers prepares for blastoff in this adventure from the author of the New York Times bestselling Mousetronaut, based on the childhoods of real-life astronauts Mark Kelly and his twin brother Scott. $19.99 Hit for six Davey Warner bets school bully Mo Clouter that he can hit six sixes in the Sandhills Sluggers’ upcoming battle against their club rivals. But after a disastrous school excursion to the local lawn bowls club, Davey is in trouble again, then forgets to hand in his assignment. $14.99 Gooseberry Park There has been no rain for months, and all of the animals in Gooseberry Park are in danger. Can the gang of dear friends come up with a brilliant solution in time to save the day? Absolutely! $19.99
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loves Dreambaby®’s new range of step stools make standing tall a whole lot safer for little ones. Featuring Dreambaby®’s sure-grip surface coverage, these new stools are perfect for many areas of your home. The new range of Dreambaby® Step stools include the Multi-Purpose Step Stool and the 2 Up Step Stool. They are just the solution you are looking for in your home to help young ones to reach up with confidence, be it at the bathroom sink at teeth brushing time or at the kitchen bench as “Assistant Chef “.
HAPPY BEAR Keep that kiddie clutter out of sight and out of mind with this adorable 3 piece storage system featuring our friendly bear friend Chocolat au Lait, make your bedroom a Happy Bedroom. $129.99 from CNP brands
RESEARCHERS ISOLATE THE CULPRIT IN PRETERM BIRTH University of Adelaide researchers have identified a key sensing molecule that controls the timing of birth. The discovery is expected to generate new therapies to prevent preterm labour. The laboratory study found that activation of the TLR4 molecule is a trigger common to both preterm and on-time labour. As well, TLR4 is essential for successful progression of labour to maximise the baby’s chance of survival. “Preterm labour, birth at less than 37 weeks gestation, affects 5-13% of pregnancies worldwide. It accounts for 28% of all neonatal deaths and can result in major health consequences for surviving children,” says Professor Sarah Robertson, Director of the University’s Robinson Reseåarch Institute and lead author on the study. “We know that several agents can bind and
trigger the molecule TLR4 after release from fetal and maternal tissues in late gestation, including proteins that are released from a baby’s lungs just before birth. “Other molecules that activate TLR4 are produced in the mother’s tissues due to uterine stretch, or when the placenta begins to reach the end of its life. “However, a local bacterial infection, damage to the placenta due to inflammation, or even multiple pregnancy can result in a surge of agents that activate TLR4 before the expected end of pregnancy, resulting in premature birth,” she says. This study will ultimately lead to the development of new drugs to assist women at risk of preterm labour. This work was supported by project and fellowship grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Australian Research Council.
S-Bottle
The ideal bottle to reduce stomach cramps
Advantages • The S-shape provides an ergonomic, natural and relaxed feeding position and encourages bonding between the nursing parent and child. • The valve prevents vacuum suction of the bottle teat and allows a constant flow of nutrition. This reduces the chance of burping, colic, cramps and vomiting. • The removable base of the S-bottle makes it easy to clean and enables it to be filled with ice cubes of frozen breast milk.
Air milk
S-bottle
Breastfeeding
Normal Bottle
Distributed by Exquira www.exquira.com.au www.difrax.com.au
• S-bottle can be used with breastpump of other brands. august 2015 | mychild 15
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IDEAS
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My favourites
BEC BENNETT, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF EYETRIBE, DESIGNS AND MANUFACTURES KIDS SUNGLASSES INCLUDING FASHION COLLECTION FRANKIE RAY, SQUIDS AND MINI SQUIDS, AS WELL AS WOMEN’S RANGE STICKS & SPARROW.
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Beautiful bed linen is my total indulgence and I keep going back to the gorgeous hand printed collection by ‘Louli’. There is now a kids’ collection too called ‘Little Louli’ which is absolute heaven on a bed for the little ones. www.littlelouli.com.au
I always like to keep a tube of handcream ‘handy’ and my ultimate favourite is the MILK hand quench as it feels and smells totally delicious. www.milkandco. com.au
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I am a little obsesse a pair of my Sticks More importantly, I their 100% UV prot within reach to ens protected. It’s a bo eyetribe.com.au
I love bringing the o increasing my colle crew from Unearth range of lightweigh a burst of indoor lu
THIS PAGE: Frankie Ray fashion sunglasses from Eyetribe
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ed with sunglasses and always have & Sparrow sunglasses close by. I always make sure my kids have tective Frankie Ray sunglasses sure their little peepers are well onus that they look great too! www.
outdoors inside and am forever ection of indoor plants. The clever hed have created the most amazing ht spun aluminium wall planters for ushness. www.unearthed.net.au
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I was recently given a beautifully simple silver & tan leather watch by The Horse. I had admired it on a friend who gave a wink to my daughters, who in turn suggested it to their dad as a gift for me for Mothers’ Day. I love the thought behind it and the fact the secrecy was a total success! www.thehorse. com.au. *
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Green is beautiful BRILLIANT! 100% RECYCLABLE LAMINATED PRINT BOARD, STURDY, SNAPTOGETHER PLAYSETS THAT ENCOURAGE FINE MOTOR SKILLS, IMAGINATION AND LOGIC
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THIS PAGE: Fairies Tree 3D playset RRP $29.95
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ideas
SHIPS OF ALL TYPES ARE ENOUGH TO SPARK THE IMAGINATION AND DREAMS. COOPER PIRATE PLAYSHIP SET RRP $49.95
K
ooom’s founder and chief design officer Nitzan Bertele, is an architect by profession, a parent of two little children and a person who has put her passion into into two pursuits: design and ecology. Krooom has been “vrooming” away and churning out a new age concept – eco-friendly furniture fashioned from reinforced corrugated cardboard. Krooom’s innovative products contain at least 60 percent recycled paper and cardboard. And the recycled items are themselves fully recyclable at the end of their lives. But beyond being environmentally conscious and friendly, Krooom’s designs are beautiful.
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We caught up with Nitzan, Co-Partner of Kroom and asked her about the business.
WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE BUSINESS? I studied architecture in London, and during my first years I worked in design and planning cardboard point of sale displays for large companies. That’s where I discovered the amazing things that you can do with cardboard and how much potential it has, that it can be as strong as wood and also can be 100% recyclable and contain at least 60% postconsumer paper. But most of all an ideal platform for any graphic design!
MERMAIDS 3D PLAYSET PERFECT FOR GROWING MINDS. RRP $ 29.95
WHAT PRODUCTS DO YOU OFFER? We have a line of big playsets like dollhouses, princess castle, knight’s castle, 3D playsets, jigsaw puzzles and small items like Fold My Car.
CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE TEAM? The team is made up of designers, marketing and sales people, young talented people with lots of enthusiasm for toys and design.
HOW LONG HAS THE BUSINESS BEEN OPERATING? The business started in 2006, at the beginning we concentrated on kids’ furniture and storage solutions. After a few years in this field, and
after the birth of my daughter, I felt a need to create toys that are both educational, fun and eco-friendly – toys that reminded me of my childhood. I feel that children today spend too much time in front of the computer and one of the important aspects of our toys is that they enable parents and children to spend quality time together, something that is not evident in our hectic world.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF SETTING UP THE BUSINESS? Cardboard toys are a relatively new concept in
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the market and so there has been an element of re-education of the consumer, who until now was used to dollhouses made of wood or plastic, and needed to believe in the idea that cardboard can be attractive, hardwearing and sturdy just like wood or plastic.
IS THERE ANY ADVICE YOU WISH YOU’D BEEN GIVEN? Don’t spend too much time planning what you’re going to do, sometimes it’s better to just do it.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT THE BUSINESS? I love seeing the customer feedback and hearing that the kids love playing with our toys, because after a long process of design and manufacture, at the end of the day this is the reason we do what we do.
HOW IS YOUR BUSINESS DIFFERENT TO OTHER SIMILAR BUSINESSES? We put our passion into two pursuits: design and ecology. Our products are not only attractively designed, but are also excellent from an environmental point of view – 100% recyclable! Each idea that is proposed by our designers is rooted in the company’s collective desire to create what is stylish and beautiful, and the ability to meld the aesthetics with sustainability.
WHAT GIVES YOUR PRODUCT THE EDGE? The fact that we manufacture from cardboard gives us the advantage of being able to create amazing graphic design on the entire product. In addition our designs appeal both to parents and children, and even to collectors.
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WHY SHOULD PEOPLE SHOP WITH YOU? Our innovative design and rigorous production process creates exceptionally durable cardboard based products that are both extremely sturdy and lightweight. All products are coated with waterproof coating, require no tools for assembly, are 100% recyclable and contain at least 60% post -consumer paper. Patented techniques and folding methods, developed over a course of 3 years, provide the products with hard-wearing durability.
HOW DO YOU MARKET THE BUSINESS? We attend toy fairs all around the world, we also use social media like Facebook, Instagram, blogger reviews and our distributors in each country do their own marketing to consumers.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE BUSINESS? We would like to expand to territories that we have not reached yet, develop our product range and products that combine the use of cardboard with other materials like fabric.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE MY CHILD READERS TO KNOW? I would like to know from them! We love feedbacks from kids, such as what would be the next toy they would like to see from Krooom.*
WHAT LITTLE GIRL WOULDN’T LOVE A MELLROSE - DOLLHOUSE PLAYSET. RRP $39.95 august 2015 | mychild
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TRUE LIFE
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MY CHILD MAGAZINE WRITERS COMPETITION We had an incredible response to the story competition and it was not easy choosing the winners. Over the next few months we will publish the top ten entries. This beautiful story by Roz Hall Farlam , was an extremely close second.
Trusting Tallulah BY ROZ HALL FARLAM
T
he paediatrician smiled kindly at me. “We’re hoping you’ll be able to tell us,” she said. I stared at her, unable or unwilling to comprehend. Surely this wasn’t her answer to my question of how we help our daughter, Tallulah, with her now officially diagnosed condition of autism?
“ we’re only starting to do research now so we won’t have any results or answers for at least ten years” This woman was the specialist, if she didn’t have answers who would? I looked at the Occupational Therapist sitting to the doctor’s left, then at the Child Psychologist on her right waiting for them to offer me some suggestions, some cold hard medical facts, their informed opinions, even some good old
fashioned advice, something - anything. But they just gazed at me with sympathetically tilted heads and sad smiles. “We don’t see a lot of girls with autism,” the doctor went on, “and we’re only starting to do research now so we won’t have any results or answers for at least ten years.” There it was then; confirmation of our unspoken fears that we were going into this unchartered world alone. With no family support and our recent move to a small rural town where we knew no-one, my sense of utter isolation, fear and disbelief twisted my insides into icy knots while my brain overheated trying to understand what I was hearing. I looked at my husband’s devastated face. He looked exactly how I felt. It felt like a death sentence had been passed
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true life on the bright, shiny future we had imagined with this sweet little toddler who sat at my feet meticulously lining up rows of toy cars. All our plans and hopes for us as a family seemed in that moment completely dashed. But what that moment really marked was the beginning of an extraordinary journey; one that would take us from emotional despair, isolation and frustration to a discovery of everyday joy, unexpected laughter and profound insights. I immediately began researching everything about autism but it made for depressing reading. There was little available information about autism in girls and what I discovered about the condition in boys bore little resemblance to Tallulah’s behaviours. Believing that help would come from outside we tried various specialists to help her with her almost non-existent speech. We took her to see a recommended and very expensive speech therapist in Canberra who had had success with boys with autism. However, if I needed proof of what worked for boys wouldn’t work for Tallulah, I had found it. Traumatised by this therapist’s tough, bullying methods, we grabbed Tallulah and fled the appointment. “Home, Mummy, home,” was all our normally silent daughter could whisper between sobs. This harsh method may work with autistic boys but it was devastating to a sensitive little girl who wanted to do what was asked of her, if only she could understand it. It was then I decided to stop. I stopped combing the internet, I stopped reading the books, stopped asking advice from professionals, stopped being part of on-line groups and decided to let go and let Tallulah become the teacher. I realised I only needed to be an expert on my daughter, not on the causes of autism or how it manifested in others. We removed her from anything and anyone that caused her discomfort. She attended
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pre-school a few days a week but outside of it we closed the door on the world and voluntarily isolated ourselves allowing Tallulah to guide us on how much interaction she wanted with the outside world, with whom and when. “You’re taking a big risk, she could regress and become even more anti-social. Then where will you be?” One “professional” warned me. But it just felt right. Overnight we went from being the teachers to being the students. By letting her lead us, ensuring she felt safe at all times, her confidence blossomed allowing her to develop a natural curiosity about her world, a passion for drawing and dancing, her quirky humour and a healthy obsession with Dorothy the Dinosaur. But most importantly she discovered her voice and the power of words. There were many times we struggled. My best friend of thirty years informed me I had become “...too emotionally needy” before dumping me. He was right; I was often desperately lonely. But the relief that came from Tallulah’s happiness and remarkable development made it all worthwhile. Trusting Tallulah and letting go of the belief that as adults we knew better than her has made for a joyous experience with this extraordinary child. She continues to teach us to notice the detail and minutiae of our daily lives; shapes, textures and patterns, the play of light and shadow and the layers of sounds and rhythms from city streets to our own back garden. Tallulah forced us to slow down, to really look and listen, not just to her, but the world around us and she has enriched and united us as a family in a pleasure in life and each other that we could never have imagined. She has also taught us that there is not much in life that cannot be diffused or even defeated by a good set of crayons, dancing, laughter and Dorothy the Dinosaur. *
Baby Carrier One www.babybjorn.com.au
This product features the characteristic BABYBJĂ–RN parallel line design.
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PREGANANCY
A dozen or more DR MARCIN STANKIEWICZ IS MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF CITY FERTILITY CENTRE AND HE OFFERS SOME ADVICE ON HOW TO FIND OUT IF YOUR EGGS ARE RUNNING OUT 28
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he average age of a first time mother in Australia has gradually increased and is now 28 years of age. This delay in starting a family has happened due to a range of reasons including careers, travel and other matters. What it means though, is that many women are having their first child well into their thirties, and unfortunately, the facts are that as a woman’s age increases, her fertility decreases, particularly after the age of 35. Females are born with their lifetime supply of eggs which naturally decline gradually in quantity and quality from the age of 25, until being almost non-existent by the time of menopause.
However, it is important to note, that many women who have low AMH levels still fall pregnant. It is therefore essential for this test to be ordered by gynaecologists and fertility specialists who are trained to interpret the results and explain them in detail to the woman involved.
WHEN SHOULD A WOMAN CONSIDER AN AMH TEST?
A common question I get is: “When should a woman consider having her AMH levels tested?” Below are three groups of women I believe could consider having an AMH test. • Young women wishing to delay childbirth. “Females are born with their • Women under the age of 35, who seek lifetime supply of eggs which fertility advice because they want to delay child bearing may request testing naturally decline gradually in of ovarian reserve. quantity and quality from the • Failure of IVF cycles in young women age of 25,” with low egg count achieved. • Some young women respond poorly to So with this increase in maternal age, more stimulation unexpectedly. A low AMH women than in previous generations are can sometimes be the reason for this experiencing fertility issues, often due to their and indicate why they are having a declining ovarian (egg) reserve. lower chance of success with IVF When investigating the cause of infertility treatment. in a couple, Dr Marcin looks at a range of • Women at increased risk of low ovarian factors that may be impacting their ability to reserve. conceive. Checking a woman’s anti-mullerian • Women with a family history of hormone (AMH) levels is one such test that premature menopause, women who had can help towards giving an indication of what multiple operations on the ovaries or is going on from medical perspective. have undergone chemotherapy may be The AMH test or as some dub it “egg timer” at risk of premature menopause or low test measures the AMH levels in the blood future fertility. which reflect the number of small follicles Over the past few years AMH has emerged present in a woman’s ovaries. These follicles as a marker for ovarian reserve as it is enable reproduction by ensuring monthly reliable, the test is inexpensive and can be ovulation (release of eggs). tested at any time of a menstrual cycle. Low levels of AMH in the blood are However it is impossible to entirely predict indicative of poor ovarian reserve and in the future of a woman’s fertility chances and many cases is therefore often a useful marker a normal result should always be considered of fertility. cautiously in relation to future fertility.* august 2015 | mychild
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PREGNANCY
Do this, Don’t do that... HERE SOME SIMPLE TIPS TO SUBTLY IGNORE UNWANTED ADVICE
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s soon as you announced your pregnancy, you probably started receiving unwanted parenting advice. From your mother in law monitoring your diet, to the stranger at the bus stop giving you a dirty look for drinking a coffee, it may seem that your pregnancy is up for discussion. Add
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to this the number of people trying to touch your bump without permission, and it’s understandable that you’re getting a bit fed up. Unfortunately, this unwanted advice probably won’t end when the baby is born. You’ll have strangers wandering over to you,
desperate to stroke the cheek and squeeze the hand of your newborn. While they stop to tell you how beautiful and precious your newborn baby is, they’ll also probably drop a few parenting tips into the conversation. Your friends and family may also join in offering unsolicited advice at every opportunity.
SLEEP For the first few months, it may seem like the entire world is waiting with baited breath to find out how your little one slept last night. You’ll be offered outdated advice, and may even be made to feel that you have a ‘bad’ sleeper. Firstly, all babies are bad sleepers, that’s how they’re designed. Secondly, how they sleep at eight weeks does not determine how they will sleep forever. Yes sleepless nights are hard, yes having a newborn can be exhausting, but it won’t last forever. Don’t waste time worrying about sleep, just grab it while you can and make the most of this time with your newborn.
quickly as possible, what your baby needs so you can soothe him. What you’ll get is a load of unwanted advice, “give that baby a bottle”, “he’s cold” and “get a dummy in him” being favourites. Ignore the advice, ignore everybody apart from your crying baby. You are his mother, you know what he needs, and if you don’t, you’ll figure it out in a few minutes. Breathe, and try to stay calm.
PARENTING CHOICES Parenting can be a bit of a battleground, and almost every choice has two opposing sides. It is up to you how you decide to raise your baby. Bottle or breast, dummy or not, pram or carrier – all of these choices should be made by you and your partner. It’s not up to your mother in law to persuade you to use formula milk, it’s not your friend’s choice to give your baby a dummy, and you shouldn’t let other mums make you feel bad for letting your baby nap on you. Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing, just do what works for your family.
SIZE
CONFIDENCE
There isn’t much to say about babies really, because they don’t do much. They’re cute, they have beautiful big eyes, and they are big, or small, or average. Everyone will comment on your baby’s size, probably because they’ve run out of other compliments to throw at him. As long as your healthcare provider thinks that your baby’s size is ok, then you have nothing to worry about.
As a first time parent, you are likely to lack confidence when looking after your newborn. It can be an overwhelming time, and you may feel a lot of pressure from various people to conform to their parenting ideals. Don’t. Feel confident in the choices you have made, and focus your energy on being the best parent you can be, ignore the unwanted advice and comments from other people.
CRYING
Supplied health and parenting This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice.
There is nothing more stressful than being out and about when your newborn starts to wail loudly, going redder and redder in the face as he screams. Oh wait, yes there is: it’s when strangers choose that moment to come over and offer advice. What you really need is to be left alone so you can figure out, as
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PREGNANCY
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11 Concerns of labour and delivery ACCORDING TO THE AUTHORS OF BIRTHING FROM WITHIN, THE FOLLOWING ARE THE TOP 11 CONCERNS OF LABOUR AND DELIVERY FOR PREGNANT WOMAN.
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t is apparently natural for women to worry about all sorts of things prior to giving birth. Most of this worry and concern comes from a sense of not knowing what to expect, and of course the worries that everything will work out as planned. We are conditioned to feel like we are in control of our lives, and the unknown (as well as the high
stakes of labor and delivery) tamper with our sense of control. The good news is that a little bit of worry and apprehension is okay. Your concern for what might happen stems from the love you feel for your baby. But rather than let your worries get the best of you, try these simple tips for regaining your sense of control.
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pregnancy
1 2 3 4 5
Not being able to stand the pain Not being able to relax Feeling rushed, or fear of taking too long My pelvis is not big enough My cervix won’t open
First, make sure that you have a birthing plan that you go over with your family members and your doctors. Most birthing centres will have you fill one out when you visit the hospital. This gives you time to make clear decisions about your wishes during labour and delivery, and enables you to have some records on file so that doctors and nurses can make sure your wishes are
“Women have been giving birth since the beginning of time, and while many people will fill you with horror stories – others will reassure you that all will be well.” followed. Plus, making a birthing plan ahead of time ensures that you won’t have to make snap decisions in the delivery room when your thinking wont be as clear. Talk to other pregnant mums and family members and friends. You are not alone in giving birth. Women have been giving birth since the beginning of time, and while many people will fill you with horror stories – others will reassure you that all will be well. Another good piece of advice is to trust your body. Thoughts like “What if I can’t give birth,” or “What if my cervix won’t dilate,” are normal concerns. But trust in your body. Your body
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6 7 8 9 10
Lack of privacy Being judged for making noise Being separated from the baby
Having to fight for my wishes to be respected Having intervention and not knowing if it is necessary or what else to do
knows what it is doing, and as long as you listen to what it is telling you, you will fine. Plus, medical intervention has come so far today that there are very little things that could happen that a doctor won’t be able to help you with. Remind yourself that your labour and delivery is a personal part of your life. YOUR LIFE. Who cares what others think? Who cares if you poop, or make noise, or if you cry? This is about YOU and YOUR family. The people who are there with you love you and if they respect you, then you should have no worries about being embarrassed or ashamed of ANYTHING that happens during labour and delivery. Recognize that worrying about pain is normal. It does not mean you are selfish. And just because people tell you that you won’t remember the pain afterwards doesn’t mean that you can easily dismiss a fear of pain. Doctors today can make labour and delivery as comfortable as possible, and YOU ARE TOUGHER THAN YOU THINK! When the worries get the best of you, just sit back and relax and breathe. Think about your future with your baby. Think positive thoughts and try to keep yourself busy. Find people to talk to about your feelings, and don’t hold anything in. Remember, YOU GOT THIS!*
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BIRTH
Water births - all you need to know FIND OUT ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HAVING A WATER BIRTH IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE THAT INCLUDES INFORMATION ON THE BENEFITS AND POTENTIAL PROBLEMS 36
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birth
W
omen aren’t dolphins” is a phrase often bandied about by those who question why women want to immerse themselves in pools or warm baths during labour and birth. They forget that we’re not mountain goats or birds, but that doesn’t stop us from rock climbing or hang gliding. Water births are becoming an increasingly popular option as many women find them more relaxing and less stressful than a traditional labour. To help you decide whether this is something you might want to incorporate in your birthing experience here’s a comprehensive guide to giving birth in water:
intervention this in itself could mean you have a more pleasurable birthing experience. • As the water supports your body it is easier to move from position to position when you are in the birthing pool and this can help to make you more comfortable and your contractions more effective, potentially making for a shorter labour. • Many believe that being born into water is less ‘traumatic’ for baby as they enter a warm, wet environment similar to that which they are used to in the womb before being introduced into the ‘real world’.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A WATER BIRTH?
‘Water births are also said to reduce the likelihood that you will tear or need an episiotomy as the water helps to soften your skin so that you are better able to accommodate your baby’s head..’
While not a suitable option for everyone, many women find that a water birth gives them a more enjoyable labour and delivery; reported benefits include: • Being submerged in warm water can help you to relax and feel in control of your body by reducing some of the discomfort and tension associated with a birth ‘on land’, making for a less stressful birth experience for you and your baby. • Many believe that water births help you better cope with contractions and research has shown that fewer women require additional pain relief or medical intervention with this type of birth. • Water births are also said to reduce the likelihood that you will tear or need an episiotomy as the water helps to soften your skin so that you are better able to accommodate your baby’s head. • During a water birth you will have a qualified midwife with you at all times and as the mere presence of another women during labour is said to reduce the need for additional pain relief and
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WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS OF HAVING A WATER BIRTH? While there is very little conclusive research into the safety of water births, the general consensus is that they pose no additional harm to mother or baby than that associated with a regular birth out of the water. Having said that there are some points to consider: • To ensure the health of mother and baby it’s recommended that the water in the birthing pool is maintained somewhere between 36 and 37 degrees, however your midwife should keep an eye on this for you. The birthing room should also be kept to a comfortable temperature. • It’s important not to overfill the birthing
pool and the ‘ideal’ depth is where the water covers your tummy completely and reaches just under your bust when you sit back on your heels. • There is a slightly increased risk of a snapped umbilical cord during a water birth however, with proper monitoring this should not pose too much of a health risk. • There is potential to be disappointed with your water birthing experience if it did not provide the pain relief that you had hoped for or if you require further pain relief that you had not planned. • You may be concerned about the risk of infection however all maternity units have strict cleanliness standards that they must adhere to and any birthing pool will have been cleaned thoroughly so this risk is minimal.
‘Don’t be surprised if your baby doesn’t start crying right away, water birth babies often appear more serene for their first few moments of life.’ HOW DO I USE A BIRTHING POOL? It’s possible to remain in the birthing pool throughout your entire labour and for the birth however you are free to get in and out as you please. Some hospitals will recommend that you don’t enter the water until you are 5cm dilated as for some women the soothing effects of the warm water can actually slow the progression of labour. Additionally, others will ask you to leave the water for the birth itself. You should stay in the birthing pool for as long as you feel comfortable doing so although you will need to get out to use the
bathroom at regular intervals. It’s much easier to move around and adopt different positions while you are in the water and squatting, kneeling or lying out flat either on your side, tummy or front (gripping onto the sides and using a waterproof pillow for support) are all good positions to try. When writing your birth plan you should mention whether you would prefer to be in the pool by yourself or whether you would like your partner or midwife to accompany you (some hospitals will have a policy on this so it’s important to check first). When its time for your baby to be born your midwife will make sure that you are positioned so that your baby’s head is completely under water during the delivery. This is because your baby will not start breathing until they feel the air on their skin as they are still receiving oxygen from the placenta. Once your baby’s body is delivered your midwife will pick your baby up and place him or her straight on your chest so that their head is held out of the water and their body is submerged against yours. Don’t be surprised if your baby doesn’t start crying right away, water birth babies often appear more serene for their first few moments of life. This is thought to be because they have enjoyed a more gradual introduction to the world. Most hospitals will have a policy that dictates whether you will be able to deliver the placenta while in the water (some prefer you to do this out of the water so that they can monitor how much blood you lose), otherwise its entirely up to you whether you choose to do this or not.
HOW WILL MY BABY BE MONITORED? It’s a requirement that a midwife stays with you at all times during a water birth and they will use a water proof doppler to monitor your baby’s heartbeat at increasingly regular
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intervals as your labour progresses. They will also monitor your temperature and heartbeat and if deemed necessary may also give you an internal exam. If your midwife becomes concerned about how your labour is progressing at any stage she will simply ask you to leave the birth pool so that she can carry out further checks.
CAN I USE OTHER FORMS OF PAIN RELIEF? While being submerged in warm water will help to relieve some of the discomfort associated with labour you may find that you need some additional pain relief to help you cope as your contractions become more intense. Gas and air (Entonox) is suitable for use during a water birth as it provides some pain relief without making you drowsy so it is safe to use while you are submerged in the birthing pool. Massage is a good option for everyone and aromatherapy is used by some although this will need a little forward planning as you will need to consult a qualified aroma therapist and check with your maternity department as to whether aromatherapy oils can be used in the pool. Stronger forms of pain relief such as Pethidine or an Epidural will not be administered during a water birth as they can limit your mobility and make you drowsy so are not safe for use in water. However, if you change your mind part way through and do feel that you need further pain relief, as long as you agree to come out of the water completely for the remainder of your labour, your midwife may make these options available. Additionally, Tens is not a compatible form of pain relief for use during a water birth as it is electrically powered and therefore cannot be used with water.
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CAN I EAT AND DRINK DURING A WATER BIRTH? Whether you’re in the water or not it’s incredibly important to drink plenty of fluids during your labour as you will need to keep yourself hydrated. Ask your birth partner to keep a glass of soft drink in close reach so that you can take a sip whenever you feel you need to; a bendy straw can come in useful here. As for food, in principle there is nothing wrong with eating during a water birth (as long as it’s nothing to heavy) as the extra calories you consume will help you cope with the demands of labour. However, some maternity units do not allow you to eat in their maternity / water birth suits so it’s important to find this out in advance.
‘While being submerged in warm water will help to relieve some of the discomfort associated with labour you may find that you need some additional pain relief to help you cope as your contractions become more intense.’ WHAT SHOULD I WEAR FOR A WATER BIRTH? While many women feel comfortable being completely naked during their water birth others don’t feel as confident at least when they first use the pool. In this case wearing a sports style bra, baggy t-shirt or tankini style top may make you feel more at ease. You should also have a warm dressing gown, large towel or sarong to hand to help you keep warm if you need to leave the pool for a break or to go to the toilet.
WILL I BE ABLE TO HAVE A WATER BIRTH?
Providing that your local hospital has the resources to accommodate a water birth when you go into labour and you have discuss it well in advance with your midwife you should be able to enjoy a water birth. However, there are some circumstances when a water birth is not thought a suitable option so as to protect your own and your baby’s health these include: • If you are having twins or multiple babies • If your baby is premature • If you have a chronic illness such as diabetes or heart problems • If you have very high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia • If your baby is in a breech position • If you have experienced bleeding during the final weeks of your pregnancy • If you have previously had a c-section • If you have been induced
HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HAVING A WATER BIRTH? If having a water birth is an option that you would like to consider the best person to talk to is your midwife. They will be able to give you more information about the maternity services available at your local hospital and the resources that are likely to be available to accommodate a water birth either here or in the privacy of your own home. Your midwife will also be the best person to advise you on the suitability of a water birth on the basis of your health and your pregnancy. While women may not be dolphins, they are drawn to water during labour and birth, with little evidence of harm and some evidence of benefit. And once experienced, women usually make the same choice for a subsequent birth and report many benefits to this style of birth.*
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BABIES
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Caring for your baby’s skin ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT KEEPING YOUR BABY’S SKIN AS SMOOTH AS IT SHOULD BE
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our newborn is home now, and you’re settling into a daily routine. Keeping your baby warm and nourished is tops on your list. Baby skin care is just as important. Newborn skin is delicate - and so is the baby’s immune system. Chemicals, fragrances, and dyes in clothing, detergents, and baby products can cause newborn skin irritation, dryness, chafing, and rashes. However, there’s much you can do to protect your baby from these skin problems. The upside to baby’s skin sensitivity? Your touch on your newborn’s skin has a soothing, nurturing effect and is critical to your baby’s development.
NATURAL BABY SKIN CARE A newborn baby is born with wrinkly skin and a protective covering called vernix that naturally peels off during the first week. There’s no need to rush it, rub it, or treat it with lotions or creams. (If baby is born past the due date, this process is likely finished while she is still inside the womb.) With newborn skin care, the adage is “less is more.” Here are tips to help protect your baby from developing allergies and rashes: Resist the urge to bathe your baby frequently. Too-frequent bathing; more than three times per week during the first year of life removes the natural oils that protect baby’s skin. That leaves baby’s skin vulnerable, so it reacts to any potential allergen triggering a
reaction like eczema. Except for drool and diaper changes, newborns don’t get very dirty. Babies aren’t working 9 to 5 and hitting the gym afterward! For the first month or so, a sponge bath two or three times a week will keep your baby safely clean. In between, simply clean baby’s mouth and diaper area with a little water or cleanser. • Once-a-week sponge baths (or even less) are best for newborns with darker skin tones These infants tend to have dryer skin and have a higher risk of skin problems such as eczema. • Don’t use baby products in the early months. The immune system is still developing. If you have a family history of skin problems, allergies, or asthma, it’s especially important to protect your baby’s immune system and protect baby from irritating allergens. • Wash baby’s clothing before it’s worn. Use only baby laundry detergents that are fragrance- and dye-free. Wash baby clothes, bedding, and blankets separately from the family’s laundry.
NEWBORN DRY SKIN: ECZEMA Most newborn skin problems, such as eczema or diaper rash, don’t develop for the first month or two. Eczema appears as a red, itchy rash mostly on face and scalp, at the elbows, and behind the knees. Looks like: A red, inflamed, itchy rash that may be scaly, crusty, or oozy. Eczema usually
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babies shows up around the three-month mark as dryness on the cheeks, and over the course of several months it may move to other parts of the body, like the folds of the neck, arms, and legs. How to help: Keep your baby’s nails trimmed to prevent her from scratching at the rash. Make bathtime short (but don’t avoid it), use lukewarm water and gentle cleansers, and apply a fragrance-free cream or ointment afterwards. Messy feedings and drool can further irritate sensitive skin, so dab on a bit of petroleum jelly before her meals and at bedtime.
A FEW TIPS ON PREVENTING DRY, IRRITATED SKIN AND ECZEMA: • Try once-a-week bathing to allow skin to retain natural oils. • Limit your use of baby skin products. If necessary, use only a small amount of lotion on dry skin areas. • Make sure baby wears only soft clothing. • When baby has an allergic reaction, the result can be a rash. Rashes under the diaper can actually be eczema and not a diaper rash. An allergy to dyes in the diapers themselves can cause this reaction. Switching to dye-free diapers may be all that’s needed to prevent future outbreaks. • Check with your paediatrician about using over-the-counter lotions or creams to treat eczema. You may need a prescription treatment.
BABY SKIN CARE: DIAPER RASH Looks like: Flat red patches in the diaper area. If you see little red bumps at the edges of the rash, or if it starts to extend to the folds of the skin, it’s probably a yeast infection. What’s going on: The sensitive skin on your baby’s bottom can become irritated from being in close contact with urine and stool in diapers.
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How to help: Change your baby’s diaper frequently, pat her bottom dry, and let her spend some time diaper-free, when you can. Always use a thick diaper cream or an ointment like zinc oxide or petroleum jelly. They create a barrier, protecting skin from irritants and allowing the area to heal more quickly. Wipes can aggravate raw skin, so when your baby has a rash use cotton squares and mineral oil (a better choice than water because it requires less force and creates less friction), If the rash worsens or doesn’t respond in a week, see your paediatrician. Your child may have developed a secondary yeast or bacterial infection, which needs to be treated.
CHECK DIAPERS FREQUENTLY. • Change diapers immediately when wet or soiled. • Wash the diaper area with mild fragrancefree cleanser or plain water. If the rash is severe, use a squirt bottle to cleanse without rubbing. • Use a soft clean cloth, not baby wipes. The perfume or alcohol in some wipes can further irritate and dry baby’s skin. • Pat baby dry. Don’t rub. Let the diaper area air-dry fully before putting on a fresh diaper. • Apply a thick layer of petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) or a protective ointment. • If using baby powder, take care to keep it away from baby’s face. The talc or cornstarch in the powder can cause breathing problems. • See your paediatrician if the rash doesn’t clear up in two to three days. If the rash is caused by eczema, a bacterial or yeast infection, or other condition, you may need a prescription treatment.
BABY ACNE Looks like: Little zits on the cheeks and nose. Neonatal acne usually surfaces in the
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first few weeks and can last up to three or four months. How to help: Neonatal acne should clear up on its own -- gently clean your baby’s face at bathtime and avoid using any thick moisturizers. If the pimples persist or look particularly angry, see your paediatrician. For infantile acne, the doctor may suggest topical medications like the ones teenagers use -antibiotics, peroxides, or retinoids -- and may also refer you to an endocrinologist to make sure your baby’s hormone levels are normal.
CRADLE CAP Looks like: Waxy pink or orange scales on the scalp. They can be mild or can grow so thick it looks like your baby’s wearing a cap. Cradle cap generally shows up in the first month or two but can pop up anytime within your baby’s first two years. What’s going on: This is a form of seborrheic dermatitis, which is also responsible for dandruff in adolescents and adults. Cradle cap may look kind of funny, but it’s not dangerous.
VERNIX CASEOSA What’s going on: A white, cheesy coating that shields your newborn in utero from the drying effects of amniotic fluid. How to help: At birth, a nurse will wipe off the vernix. The skin underneath may peel a little; this is normal and will last for about two weeks after birth.
BLUE FINGERS AND TOES What’s going on: A newborn’s immature nervous system makes her sensitive to cool or even normal temperatures. How to help: The condition usually lasts for a few days after birth; the colour should disappear when you move your baby to a warmer room or wrap an extra blanket around her.
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JAUNDICE What’s going on: Yellow skin in newborns. It occurs when a baby’s immature liver can’t process bilirubin (which is produced when red blood cells break down). How to help: Mild cases go away on their own. However, if your infant’s jaundice hasn’t disappeared within ten days, he may need special light treatment to eliminate the bilirubin. Doctors often detect jaundice in the hospital, but it can crop up after you’ve returned home, so keep an eye out for the telltale yellowish hue.
PRICKLY HEAT What’s going on: Tiny red bumps that erupt when underdeveloped sweat glands become blocked. Prickly heat occurs mostly in warm weather and during the first three months of life. How to help: Keep your baby as cool and dry as possible. Don’t apply powder to the affected area; it will only trap sweat and make the condition worse. Giving your newborn a massage is important one-on-one time. Like cuddling, a massage is a way to convey your love and affection for your baby. In fact, research shows that a baby’s very survival depends on being touched by others -as touch triggers hormones, boosts immunity, and helps fight disease. Also, massaged babies are calmer, sleep better, and cry less - every parent’s dream! There’s no special technique to massaging a baby. Find a carpeted floor in a warm room. Simply lay baby on a soft blanket or fabric. Get a little baby oil or a gentle lotion. Warm it in your hand. Then gently massage baby’s chest and tummy - using a gentle yet firm touch. Try to make eye contact and talk to your baby. Sing softly. It’s the time spent together that’s most important.*
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SHOPPING
PREGNANCY&BIRTH
MOTHER’S GROUP ENVY STARTS HERE! The new MOD COLLECTION from Petunia Pickle Bottom is bold and bright, simply chic, with versatility to travel from the city to the shore, and from baby to beyond. Inspired by travel, vintage textiles and a desire to bring style and sophistication to the world of modern parenting, these bags are glamorous enough to be worn without a baby at all! Available from www. babykingdom.com.au, prices start from $179.95.
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MAKE THE SWITCH
LONG LASTING CARRY ALL
You never know unless you try and here is the chance to try before you buy. The starter pack from Hippybottomus is perfect. For $99 you will get a pack of 6 Stay-Dry Natural Nappies an extra Bamboo Insert with gussets, 1 Roll of Nappy Liners plus 2 Reusable Bamboo Wipes and a Wetbag.
This versatile and contemporary moses basket comes in a variety of colours. Moba Basket Includes a liner made from 100 pure cotton waffle and a L70cm x W30cm bespoke Moba mattress. The basket has ergonomic shaped handles with a soft grip for comfort. They are strong and durable so they will never break! The special material is hypoallergenic, nontoxic and FDA approved. It looks and feels great! Moba Moses Basket RRP$269.95 – colours available Raspberry, Apple, Rose, Cornflower, Dove, Linen To find your nearest stockist visit www.exquira.com.au
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LOOK OUT THEY WILL BE BACK The NEW Ergobaby Natural Curve Nursing Pillow offers the enduring support you need to relax, feed comfortably and bond with your baby. THE FIRST BATCH HAS ALREADY SOLD OUT! Shaped from unique solid foam that maintains its form over time, the Nursing Pillow offers ergonomic support for baby and a tension-free posture for you. Ahead of the curve in comfort and support, the Ergobaby Nursing Pillow gives you the confidence to establish a healthy and comfortable breastfeeding relationship. $129.99 from Baby Bunting stores
NO MORE WET PATCH
SMOOTH AS SILK
These reusable Nursing Pads by Pea Pods, $19.95, are an environmentally friendly alternative to standard disposable pads. They’re breathable and made from soft bamboo with a waterproof outer layer. See peapods.com.au.
Enriched with natural colloidal oatmeal and rich emollients, this non-greasy, soothing cream absorbs quickly and is proven to restore lost moisture for 24 hours. Hypoallergenic and fragrance-free, it’s gentle enough for daily use on infants and babies with dry, sensitive skin. $9.99 from Priceline Pharmacy
BUB IN THE TUB
WATER BABY
Keep your bub’s skin soft with Milk Baby Bath Time Wash 375ml, $12.95. A naturally derived bath wash, it will gently clean your bub. Finish off with the Moisturising Qweam 150ml, $9.95, a non-greasy moisturiser formulated to rehydrate their sensitive skin. Head to milkandco.com.au for details.
The Oricom Digital Bath and Room Thermometer is designed to monitor the temperature of baby’s bath or bedroom and to use as a fun toy for babies of all ages. It also has an LED alert if the temperature goes above 39 Degrees! The Duck floats in water making it fun and easy to use. $14.95 from www.oricom. com.au
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NEWS
BABY&TODDLER Tummy TIME REBEL
To make tummy time less torture and more fun, try these tricks: put him tummy down on your chest while you do your sit-ups and add some funny faces with each rep; lie on your bellies together, side by side or face-to-face, then coo at each other; add a baby-safe floor mirror to provide him with a distracting image of himself.
LIGHTS and
Sounds
Babies learn so much by looking and listening. They’re also very curious, so exploring toys that unexpectedly light up and make interesting sounds is an appealing way to learn. Toys that play music or songs stimulate your baby’s auditory development. They’ll enjoy listening to the words or melody, and may even babble or gurgle along! Older babies will work out that either shaking, pulling or pushing different parts of their toy will produce a different sound. Toys like this teach your baby about rhythm, as well as sound concepts like high/low, soft/loud, long/ short sounds. They’ll be motivated to reach out and manipulate them by pressing, pushing or grasping, which develops their fine motor skills. Another benefit of toys that light up and make sounds is that your baby will feel a sense of achievement when they manipulate a button, flip a switch or pull a cord to make something happen. This teaches the concept of cause and effect.
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MEET THE world
Don’t feel like you need to stick close to home those first couple of weeks. A healthy, fullterm baby is hardy enough to handle any number of excursions — whether it’s a stroll in the park or a trip to the market. Just be sure in the first six to eight weeks to limit exposure to large indoor gatherings, particularly during flu season when germs are everywhere, until her immune system has a chance to strengthen.
IDEAS
WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT… ROLL AROUND RATTLES
GRAB, RATTLE & ROLL Market leading parenting brand Skip Hop is adored by families around the globe, and it’s not hard to see why. The Roll Around Rattles from the EXPLORE & MORE range receive top marks for quality, creativity, safety and educational benefits. Faces familiar to the well known Skip Hop Zoo animal range grace a collection of easy to grasp rattling balls which encourage rolling, shaking and tossing, and engage babies in developmental play. The addition of teethers and beads give teething toddlers more to chew, touch and explore. Recent winners of the prestigious ToyAward at
the Spielwarenmesse International Toy Fair, the judges comments included “ A pleasant material, pretty colours and shapes and lots of ways to hold the Roll Around Rattles – you just have to reach out and grab them. And if they drop onto the floor, they jump back, but very quietly, which is a real treat for the parents. The Roll Around Rattles help with the motor development of the little ones and foster their haptic abilities.” Skip Hop’s EXPLORE & MORE Roll Around Rattles are available in 3 super cute animal designs: Owl, Hedgehog and Bee. RRP$15.95 Stockists: David Jones and urbanbaby.com.au
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7 Ways to survive going back to work LOTS OF MUMS RETURNING TO WORK KEEP BREASTFEEDING. IT HAS BENEFITS FOR YOU, YOUR BABY AND YOUR EMPLOYER. DR. JENNIFER MOORE HAS SOME TIPS FOR YOU.
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he day is fast approaching when you and your breast feeding baby will have to part ways, at least for a few hours each day. Whether your baby is 6 weeks, 12 weeks or 6 months, there are some ways to make the transition be a less stressed one.
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GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK. Ultimately, breast feeding and working away from your baby was not how breast feeding was intended to be. Lesson number uno of being a parent is knowing the fine art of compromise. (a good lesson in business too!) ANY breastmilk/breast feeding your baby gets
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is better than no breastmilk/breast feeding. REPEAT for those type A personalities out there. ANY breastmilk/breast feeding your baby gets is better than no breastmilk/ breastfeeding. There are nutrients and antibodies and all that good stuff in there whether she gets 5 ounces a day or 30 ounces a day. Think about this while you are pumping instead of OMG, what am I going to do if I only pump 5 ounces and he’s gobbling up 10 at day care.
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DON’T LEAVE FINDING THE RIGHT CHILD CARE TO THE LAST MINUTE. Finding the right place for your baby is really important to making the transition back to work easier. Nothing is worse than worrying about your job AND your baby on the first day. As a breast feeding mother, it is especially important to ask the child care provider what their philosophy on breast feeding is. You have worked hard to make breast feeding work at home; don’t let an unsupported caregiver sabotage your efforts once you return to work. You should ask specifically how many other babies are breastfed, what would the caregiver do if there wasn’t enough breastmilk, and how they feel in general about breast feeding. It’s just defeating to spend all your breaks at work pumping to get 10 ounces only to have the day care say your baby took 12 ounces and what are you going to do about it tomorrow. (and the look on the face is “you bad mummy – why are you starving your baby?”)
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REMEMBER THE GOLDEN RULE OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND. Don’t get caught in the supply/demand downward spiral. Many mums think they need to pump and pump and pump before going back to work. This isn’t true, and unless you are going to be away from your baby for many days at a
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time, can actually sabotage your supply. How can that be you ask? Well this is a little tricky, but I will give it a try… Let’s assume Johnny eats about 30 ounces of breastmilk a day. (BTW, that is about the maximum all babies SHOULD take in a day by the time they are 3-4 months – breast or bottle). Now you go to work and you pump your little heart out every chance you get and you make about 13-14 ounces (about average what most mums make in a 8-10 hour period at work). Now you go pick up your baby and the caregiver says, Johnny was really hungry today, he drank all his milk you sent- can you send more tomorrow? Ugh… okay so you pack up the 13 ounces you pumped from yesterday and throw in an “emergency” 4 ounces just in case. Now you go to work and pump about 13 ounces again and you pick up Johnny and the caregiver is all smiles cause today Johnny was happy as a clam – he ate ALL the milk you sent, including the emergency supply. (oh and also took a nice 3 hour nap) Besides being a real confidence buster, this can mess you all up. Now you go home that night and Johnny who usually eats voraciously at the breast the second you see each other, isn’t quite as interested as he usually is. He eats, wakes as usual in the night to eat, eats in the morning and goes off to day care again. The tally for the 24 hours?
“As long as you transition to this schedule over a few days to weeks, your breasts will adapt easily.” Well, Johnny ate his usual 30 ounces, 13 pumped, 4 from the freezer and 13 directly breast feeding (when he usually takes 17 directly). So the breasts are really smart and they say, hmmmm, I guess Johnny is growing up and getting his food from somewhere else and I don’t have to make so much any more. Tomorrow your breasts make a little less. If
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you keep this up and your breasts will make They could go most of the day without much less and less everyday. So what should you do? to eat and do all their eating when they are with mummy. ONLY GIVE WHAT YOU PUMPED IN THE This works well in a baby that isn’t really LAST 24 HOURS sleeping through the night already cause they Notice I said in the last 24 hours. Many are already used to getting up a lot to eat. mums make pumping and working possible Some babies will actually do this on their own because they pump at home too! No one said – much to their family’s distress! it had to all happen at work. Actually pumping at work is usually the ONLY BREASTFEED WHEN YOU ARE worst place to pump given the lack of privacy, TOGETHER. the pressure to produce and the time This survival tip goes back to lesson number constraints. I’ve heard all kinds of solutions to uno – compromise. Some mothers make it all this problem. One mum pumps on the train on work by giving formula during the days, not the way to and from work. pumping much at work and only breast She said it is so noisy that no one has any feeding directly when together with baby. This idea what is going on under all those clothes, might look like: breastfeed before work and jackets etc. Another mum pumps in the car to when baby goes to sleep in evening. As long as and from work with a cigarette adapter for the you transition to this schedule over a few days pump. (This might not be legal?) I think to weeks, your breasts will adapt easily. finding a consistent time in the early morning, Remember that your boobs are really smart usually after nursing the baby at the breast and so is your baby! and another short pumping session before you go to sleep are great times to add a few extra GIVE IT A “WET RUN”. ounces to the supply for the next day. Whatever you decide, you will have The more consistent the timing of your enough craziness on your first day back at pumping , the better the results. Over a few work without having to worry about how days/weeks, your body will adjust and you will much you are going to pump, whether your make more. A little fenugreek might help here. baby will take a bottle, how much he will drink in the bottle and of yeah, figuring out how to “As long as you transition to use the darn pump. this schedule over a few days to I recommend a “wet run” for a few days weeks, your breasts will adapt before going back to work. Now some easily. Remember that your mummies want to squeeze out every last boobs are really smart and so is minute of breastfeeding, but in reality those first few days will go much better if you your baby!” “pretend” you are at work while still REVERSE SCHEDULE. at home. This means waking up at the time This is only for those of us hardy soles you will be waking, pumping, feeding etc. all that don’t mind waking up at night – even like it will be with you at work. when we need to go to work. Since most babies You WILL THANK me for this little tip. With can go 6-10 hours without eating once they all this practice for both mom and baby, you reach 3-4 months of age (meaning they can can go off to work with confidence. “sleep through the night”) why not flip their And with all that confidence - the milk will schedule? flow!* http://theboobwhisperer.blogspot.com.au/
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new range
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How to introduce solid food WATCH YOUR BABY, NOT THE CALENDAR!
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hen should I introduce solid food to my baby? You can introduce solids any time between 4 and 6 months if your baby is ready. If baby refuses solids, try again later (maybe a week or two), and maybe with a different food. Some babies may refuse solids until 8-9 months or even longer.
SHOULD SOLIDS REPLACE BREAST MILK? No. Solids during the first year are only meant to complement breastmilk, not take precedence over it or replace any breastfeedings. It is more of a way to add textures to the baby’s diet, to allow the baby
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baby new experiences, and to help her develop hand/eye coordination through finger feeding. Your baby should still be allowed to nurse on demand, as your milk should be her primary source of nutrition until closer to the end of the first year. Continuing to allow on-demand feedings also better ensures your milk supply.
HOW OFTEN AND HOW MUCH? Introduce your baby gradually to solid foods. Once she accepts them (it might take some time), continue breast feeding as often as before and add solids as your baby’s appetite increases. A few bites once a day is enough in the beginning, but gradually increase.
SOME REASONS TO NURSE FIRST: Too many solids too early often leads to early weaning, whether or not mom intended to wean early. Giving baby solids first (depending upon how often, how much, etc.) Could start you down this road. Many babies, if they eat solids first, will take in less milk afterwards even if they nurse just as long. If you nurse first you don’t really have to worry if you’re giving baby too many solids – you can just go ahead and let her have as much as she wants.
On the other hand, feeding solids before nursing might work very well for you if: You’re making sure that nursing stays primary by limiting amounts & frequency of solids and increasing both very gradually. You’re planning on weaning early (between 6 and 12 months) or are already in the process of weaning
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If your baby is younger than a year (and you are not weaning), make sure that you always nurse before offering solids. Babies who start solids early, and babies who eat a lot of solids tend to wean earlier. It often works well to offer the solids about an hour after you nurse. If nursing has come before the solids you can continue feeding your baby the solids until she shows signs of fullness; i.e. turning her head, closing her mouth, batting at the spoon, wanting down, spitting the food out, trying to feed past this point is overfeeding. Most babies will balance their milk intake with their solid food intake well if you feed in this way.
SHOULD I OFFER SOLIDS BEFORE OR AFTER NURSING? What we’re aiming for during the first year is to have solids complementing breast milk, not replacing it. This means that when solids are introduced the breast-feeding pattern is not interrupted at all, but baby is fed solids in slowly increasing amounts as his appetite increases. Baby will be getting about the same amount of breast milk as he gets older, with increasing amounts of solids on top of that. The main point in the matter is maintaining breast milk as baby’s main source of nutrition throughout the first year. T his is important both to baby’s good nutrition and good health. The nutrients in breast milk are particularly important for growth and development during baby’s first year. In addition, some (but certainly not all) of the health benefits of breast feeding are directly related to the degree of exclusivity of breast feeding (the greater the percentage of baby’s diet made up of breast milk, the greater the health benefit). Nursing before (rather than after) the solids is a good way to help keep the transition to solids proceeding slowly so that mum’s milk supply is maintained and baby gets the breast milk that he needs.
WHAT IF MY BABY REFUSES ALL OR MOST SOLIDS? A lot of babies are slow to take to solids. It’s not uncommon for some babies to take several months once solids have been introduced before they really take to them well. Babies who are slow to teethe and babies who have food sensitivities are often the ones who are slower to begin eating solids. This “slowness” may be their bodies’ way of protecting them until the digestive system is more ready to accept new foods. Rest assured that as long as your baby is continuing to gain weight and grow as she should, your milk is meeting her needs well. Solids during the first year should only *complement* your milk anyway. Your milk should still be the primary source of nutrition for most of the first year. All you need to do is to continue to *offer* foods. Don’t worry if she’s not interested or takes very small amounts. Your only true
responsibility is what you offer and when you offer it, not whether or not baby eats it. That has to be up to her. Trying to force, coax, cajole, her into eating is never recommended. Some babies prefer to eat foods that they can pick up and feed themselves, rather than foods that must be spooned to them. A lot of babies, also, would rather have food right off the table than the blander-tasting baby foods. Try offering your baby a variety of finger foods (see below) during family mealtime. You may also find that it’s helpful to make finger foods readily available throughout the day, so that baby can “graze” often. Some parents keep a variety of foods out in an ice cube or muffin tray. Small children often need to take in several smaller snacks throughout the day rather than eating 3 large meals. It’s best to follow your baby’s cues to determine how much and how often she wants to eat solid foods. Sourced from http://kellymom.com
S-bottle warmer
The perfect solution to a sleepless night
Advantages “goo goo ga ga”;)
Admit it, this is pretty awesome
• In 3 minutes it will reach the breastfeeding temperature (37°C). • Nutrients and vitamins of breast milk are preserved. • The heated bottle can be used instantly for feeding whilst retaining all benefits of the S-bottle such as the anti-colic system. • No batteries.
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• The S-bottle warmer is compatible with all sizes of the Difrax S-bottles Natural and Difrax S-bottles Wide. august 2015 | mychild 61
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SHOPPING
BABY&TODDLER
ROCK-A-BYE
NAPPIES OF NOTE
4moms may be a small company, but they have some big ideas. They are dedicated to finding innovative solutions that make parenting tasks easier and more enjoyable for families all over the globe. The company is named after the first focus group of 4 real live mums. Their insights helped to get them off the ground, and ever since then they have continued to look to them and all the other parents who use 4moms products for ways to make them even better. The search for experts didn’t stop there. Together, they design and build the innovative product they hope will help out parents and babies everywhere. $399.99 from CNP Brands.com.au
You’ll know you’re buying the best when you purchase Mater newborn nappies because they’ve been developed by Mater Mothers’ Hospitals, the first maternity hospital in the world to develop them. With 80 percent of babies too small for traditional newborn-size nappies it’s important to get the size right. The 24-pack of Newborn First Weeks nappies are $11.99 and the 28-pack of Newborn nappies are $12.99. Also available are Infant, Crawler and Toddler options. Visit matermothers.org.au for stockists and online ordering.
MESS MATE! Wipe your little one’s messy face and dirty fingers with Aussie Wipes, the only Australian owned and manufactured baby wipes. And the bonus? They’ve partnered with SIDS and Kids to launch Red Nose Baby Wipes, for which five percent of sales are directed to funding vital research into stillbirth. Get them from aussiewipes.com.au in travel packs, unscented and scented. They are priced from $4.50.
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DINE IN STYLE
STRONG BONES
Feast your eyes on the Baby Bjorn High Chair! Its slick styling, safety features and ease of use makes this high chair a must have for any household. With no hidden areas for food to hide cleaning the Baby Bjorn High Chair literally takes minutes, with a simple wipe down. If you’re searching for a high chair that’s safe, easy to use and will last though many, children, the Baby Bjorn fits the bill.! $329.96
Protein is essential for muscle development during a period where the child has rapid growth. Toddler Formula is an alternative milk drink for your children from the age of 12 months and older. Toddler milks may contain additional vitamins and minerals. OZ_FARM_03 Oz Farm Infant Formula Milk Powder Step 3 Oz Farm Step 3 has been formulated for children between the ages of 12 moths to 36 months of age In this formulation the protein content is increased further than step 2 and the case in ratio is also increased closer to regular cow’s milk. Available from Priceline and Terry White Pharmacy.
SAVE $1000’s per child • EnVironmEntAlly Friendly EASy to Use • BAmBoo Absorber Included
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100% bamboo liners
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NEWS
BABY&TODDLER
PREGNANT AND
Hush LITTLE
The ligaments that control your lower back are softened during pregnancy, so they are more at risk of being stretched and damaged. The problem with high heels is that they alter your posture and put a strain on this already weakened area. This could contribute to lower back pain, which can be severe. Flat shoes are therefore a better bet on a day-to-day basis. They will ensure that you are comfortable and minimise the strain put on your back. To compromise, you could spend part of the day in heels and keep a pair of low-heeled shoes in your bag to change into later. All in all, it’s best to save your high heels for special occasions. Especially as your feet can get wider in pregnancy, so if you have a much coveted pair of Manolos, they may stretch and not fit you afterwards. The horror!
During the first 12 months of life, your baby’s brain grows rapidly, and getting enough restful sleep is vital for assisting this growth. But as well as promoting brain development, quality sleep restores your baby’s energy levels, supports their physical development, and helps them maintain an even temperament and mood. How does sleep help your baby to learn? During restful sleep, the connections between the left and right sides of your baby’s brain are strengthened, which means your baby’s capacity to learn, be creative and remember information are increased. If babies don’t get sufficient sleep, they may not feed as well, they may become irritable during playtime, and they may find it more difficult to settle when it comes to their next nap or bedtime.
Heels?
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BABY
TIPS ON BUYING SECOND-HAND CHILD RESTRAINTS Any new parent would know that the costs that come with welcoming a new baby can be significant, so it’s no wonder many turn to the internet and stores for a second-hand bargain. To help parents make wise decisions when considering buying a second-hand child restraint, RACV recently investigated the second-hand child restraint market to see what the quality and safety was of child restraints available to parents in stores and online. Only buy a restraint that meets the Australian Standard A sticker will show that it meets the AS/NZS 1754 standard. It is illegal to use overseas models or restraints meeting the 2000 or older standards. • Don’t use a restraint that’s more than 10 years old. • A separate sticker should show the year of manufacture. Consider how long your child will need the restraint. Newer restraints are
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likely to be safer. Check that all parts are in good condition. There should be no signs of wear and tear, and the buckle should click in to place securely. Know the history: Damage might not be obvious, so it’s important to check if the restraint has been in a crash. A restraint that’s been in a crash must be destroyed and should not be for sale. Check the safety rating: Compare the safety of seats at childcarseats. com.au Check the restraint is suitable for your needs Is the restraint the right size? Will it fit in your car? Ask for the instruction manual: The manual will have instructions on fitting the restraint correctly. Some manuals can be downloaded online from manufacture.
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Win your share of $15,000* towards your child’s education!
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WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT… OUR KIDS EDUCATION.
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SG is dedicated to supporting children’s education – it’s all we do. A quality education is undoubtedly one of the greatest gifts parents can give to their children. For more than 40 years, ASG has been helping families to prepare for the costs of their children’s education. Since 1974, more than 515,000 children have been enrolled with ASG and more than $2 billion in education benefits and scholarship payments have been returned to members and their children. At ASG, we believe that every child deserves a quality education – regardless of wealth, status or capability. Our Education Programs gives parents a simple and effective way to prepare for the
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costs of education and give their children the best chance of a bright future. ASG also provide a range of information, tools and resources to support children’s education from their early learning stage right through to post-secondary studies. Now ASG are giving you the chance to win your share of $15,000* towards your child’s education. Plus there’s also ten of ASG’s Little Learner Packs and ten memberships to MY ASG for a year to be won. Imagine the difference this could make to your child’s future. For more information about ASG or to enter, visit www.asg.com.au/child-win * Terms and Conditions apply – visit website for details
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INTERIORS REPORT
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Creative space A PERFECT SPOT FOR A BUDDING PICASSO
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GET THE LOOK
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ideas
HEALTH
BELLY BAND FROM BELLY ARMOUR
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How to Protect Yourself from Everyday Radiation CAN YOU BALANCE THE HEALTH RISKS FROM EVERYDAY RADIATION AND EVERYDAY CONVENIENCE?
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ncreasingly, everyday radiation is being shown to have adverse health risks, but we also get huge benefits from our technology. Because of work or just the demands of modern life, giving up our electronics is usually not possible. There are some very simple adjustments we can make to significantly reduce our exposure without dramatic changes to the way we live.
DISTANCE Keep your cell phone, computer and other electronics from being in direct contact with your body. (Read the fine print that comes with your cell phone – most manufacturers direct you to always keep 1/2 – 1-inch between yourself and your phone.) You can do this by: • Using earphones and speaker phones (but be sure to keep the phone away from your pregnant belly as well). • Don’t place laptops or tablet computers directly on your body, especially your pregnant belly – and if you must, then use a pillow between the device and your body. • Don’t carry your cell phone right next to your body – carry it in your bag instead. If you don’t have a bag and must put it in your pocket, face the front to your body so the radiation is directed away from you or turn it to airplane mode. • Text instead of calling, but be sure to keep your phone away from your pregnant belly. • Don’t sleep with your phone under your pillow or close to you on the night stand.
AIRPLANE MODE Turning your device to airplane mode turns off
the cellular and wireless signals. If your child must use a cell phone or tablet computer, switch it to airplane mode. Any time you don’t need your device to be on (especially if you are carrying it next to your body), turn it to airplane mode (this will also save battery life).
LIMIT TIME When possible, limit your time using your cell phone and other devices. Use a corded landline for long calls.
BUY SMART Not all cell phones are created equal. The radiation emitted varies significantly between them. Cell phone manufacturers are required by law to list a measure known as the SAR (specific absorption rate) of the phone, which is a measure of the radiation absorbed by the user. CNET, Environmental Working Group, and others keep up-to-date compilations of the best and worst phones for radiation emission and can be found by searching for “cell phone SAR ratings”. However, regardless of the SAR, avoid using cell phones directly next to the body.
SHIELDING Shielding is a safe and convenient way to reduce radiation exposure while you are using radiation emitting devices, as well as helping to reduce ambient radiation from cell phone towers and wireless networks. Reducing this exposure is especially important during times of high risk – pregnancy, early childhood, and even while trying to conceive. * august 2015 | mychild
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IDEAS
BELLY BLANKET FROM BELLY ARMOUR
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Protect your bump WE MEET THE WOMAN WHO IS ON A MISSION TO MAKE OUR EVERYDAY ENVIRONMENTS HEALTHIER, PARTICULARLY FOR OUR CHILDREN
A
ileen Chen is a mother of two little girls and the co-founder and CEO of Belly Armor, we caught up with her and asked her abut her innovative Belly Armour.
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE IN THE BUSINESS? Along with my co-founder Michael, we oversee all aspects of the business, including product development, global distribution, marketing, and manufacturing.
WHEN DID YOU LAUNCH YOUR LABEL AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU? The concept of Belly Armor began when I was pregnant with my first child. I was a banking executive who was constantly connected to my mobile phone, smart phone and laptop. Like most expectant mothers, I researched extensively on how to give my child the best start in life. All sources advised pregnant women to eat healthy, exercise, and avoid toxins like alcohol and certain chemicals – all of which I did diligently. However, one obvious
component in my everyday life which concerned me, about which there was little advice, was the radiation-emitting devices that surrounded me at home and at work. What were the health impacts of those? I researched more into this “everyday radiation” exposure, and was shocked at what I discovered. Increasingly, research was indicating potential health risks from everyday radiation (nonionizing radiation emitted by sources like cell phones, computers, wireless towers and power lines). Already it was well-accepted that this type of radiation can have a biological impact and there was much confusion and debate around how it impacts our health. The concern is greatest for young children and during pregnancy when DNA replication and cell growth are at their highest rates. The current safety standards in most developed countries are outdated, created nearly 20 years ago when the usage and infrastructure of wireless technologies was not nearly what it is today. The standards also did not account for the
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ideas
NURSING COVER FROM BELLY ARMOUR
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younger population, which now comprises a large percentage of the population utilizing wireless devices. Almost all cell phone manuals direct the user to keep at least 1/2-1” distance from the users’ body at all times (this is not how most people use their phones!), and some include warnings for pregnant women and children. In 2011, the World Health Organization categorized cell phone radiation as a possible carcinogen, and many governments worldwide have already been advising precautionary measures against the growing prevalence of everyday radiation, particularly for more vulnerable populations like pregnant women and children. France had previously banned the marketing of cell phones to children, and went even further with recent legislation to ban Wi-Fi in environments catered to children under 3 years old, due to health concerns. Given the mounting evidence and advice of health experts, my co-founder and I felt compelled to inform more people and seek viable solutions to reduce this exposure. We started Belly Armor on a two-fold mission of (1) increasing awareness of this health issue so others can make more informed decisions for themselves and their families, and (2) providing effective solutions and simple tips for those who want to lower their exposure. We started out with maternity apparel, and have since expanded our collection to include nursery (with nursing covers and low-radiationemitting baby monitors) and fertility (with men’s boxer-briefs) to address customers’ needs in different phases of their lives. Our products are now distributed in more than 30 countries, and we work with our distributors globally to continue educating about this issue wherever we have presence.
CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE TEAM? We are a group of conscientious parents who are passionate about this health issue we address, and importantly, about leaving a
healthier, better world for the next generation.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF SETTING UP THE LABEL? The health issue of everyday radiation is admittedly not yet common knowledge in many countries. Most scientific and medical experts who are vocal about this health concern compare the current awareness of this issue to that of tobacco in the 1960s. As with tobacco, asbestos and x-rays, they warn that it could take years for scientific evidence to conclusively affirm health risks and then translate into policies to safeguard people, but that there is sufficient scientific evidence to warrant precautionary measures. Educating about the issue can be challenging, but the awareness globally has already increased dramatically in the past couple of years with a lot more discussion about this issue, even in mainstream media. We are ever more dedicated to our mission given the strong feedback and support we’ve received globally. In this increasingly wireless world, it’s impossible and impractical to disconnect. However, given the emerging evidence, it seems prudent to reduce radiation exposure and foster a more balanced relationship with the technologies we enjoy and benefit from -- with simple precautions like shielding the pregnant belly from direct contact with wireless devices, limiting toddlers’ use of tablets (also prevents weakened hand dexterity from excessive tablet use), keeping cell phones out of pockets and bras and away from bodies, and turning off wi-fi routers when not in use. Of particular concern are children, who will be using electronics and wireless technologies throughout their entire lives (and probably in ways we cannot fathom today). To me, it’s similar to taking simple but riskreducing actions such as wearing seatbelts
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and staying within speed limits when driving cars.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF WORKING FOR YOURSELF? I can have direct impact on almost every aspect of the company. I can combine my passion for an issue with my passion for entrepreneurship and creating something of value. I can also have the invaluable flexibility needed as a parent of young kids – I am able to control my days and adjust my schedule as necessary when personal matters arise.
HOW IS YOUR LABEL DIFFERENT TO OTHER SIMILAR LABELS? There are some other brands in this product category, particularly in some East Asian countries where this product category is more established. However, Belly Armor is currently the leading global brand of anti-radiation protective apparel and accessories, because of our commitment to the quality of our products, and the ease of incorporating our products with one’s existing wardrobe and lifestyle. We have been fortunate to receive multiple industry awards and coverage by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Pregnancy and Newborn, amongst others. Safety and effectiveness are paramount for us, and our products have been independently tested to be 99.9% effective in shielding the radiation emitted by electronic devices, and to be free of toxic chemicals, heavy metals and common allergens. We design our products around the modern, active parent, making it easy for them to provide protection and incorporate our products into their wardrobes and lifestyles. For example, many expecting mothers already wear maternity bands – so we provide bands that can be discreetly worn under any clothing and provide some belly support (Belly Band Embrace), or bands that can be worn outside of
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clothing (Belly Band, offered in neutral colors as well as Hot Pink!). Our customers love the versatility of our Belly Blanket Chic, which is super light-weight and great for the home, office and travel, able to be draped under any device on the lap or near the belly. Many multi-tasking moms who leverage nursing time to catch up on calls and emails love our stylish Nursing Covers which have the valuable features of other premium nursing covers (such as a rigid neckline for view of the baby, contoured shoulders for discreetness, and pockets for storage) while providing the shielding functionality. We also designed our apparel products to be washable and easy to care for. In addition, our brand focuses on increasing awareness about the health issue and advocating for safer use of technology. We partner with the scientific and medical community to educate about the state of the science, including organizations like Healthy Child Healthy World (the leading non-profit in the US addressing environmental hazards facing children), of which we are one of their Trusted Partners.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER PARENTS WANTING TO START THEIR OWN LABEL? Do something you are passionate about, something that you strongly believe in. Otherwise, your interest and motivation may wane over time, and you may feel increasingly conflicted about your time and energy spent on the venture versus on other responsibilities and interests in your life. Also, do good planning upfront before you dive in – understand the market demand, target customers, competitive landscape, differentiators of your products/services, your strengths/weaknesses, and the resources/ support required to get started and keep things going for a period of time. Knowing these, you will be able to test the
Vomiting? Diarrhoea? When sickness strikes offer fluid replacement (Hydralyte) immediately.
Suitable for the whole family
Always read the label. Use only as directed. If symptoms persist see your healthcare professional.
ASMI 24148-1014
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COOKING
Winter is a time for rugging up and indulging in warming, comforting foods – which, for many of us, results in some unwelcome extra kilos. However, at The Healthy Mummy, we believe it’s possible to enjoy cold-weather comfort foods while staying healthy and actually losing weight! They have created our easy-to-follow Winter Weight Loss Cookbook & Plan to show you how you can LOSE WEIGHT not gain weight this winter.
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Brown Rice Mushroom Risotto INGREDIENTS 5 Ingredients: 3 tbsp olive oil 1 brown onion, diced 2 garlic cloves, crushed 2 cups brown rice (quick-cook rice recommended) 6 cups reduced-salt chicken stock, warmed 2 cups chopped mushrooms 2 cups baby spinach 2 tbsp fresh chopped chives 25g parmesan cheese, shaved Salt and pepper, to taste METHOD • Heat oil in a large pan. Add onion and sauté until translucent. • Add garlic and rice, and stir to coat with oil. Pour the chicken stock slowly into the pan, one cup at a time, stirring constantly – only add the next cup of stock once the first cup is nearly all absorbed by the rice. Because brown rice takes a while to cook, it may take 40-50 minutes before the rice is tender; use quick-cook rice for a faster result. • When the rice is almost done, add the mushrooms and a last ladle of stock. When the rice is cooked, stir through the spinach and chives, season with salt and pepper, then top with parmesan to serve.
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COOKING
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Warm Lamb Salad INGREDIENTS 400g butternut pumpkin, roughly chopped Olive oil cooking spray Salt and pepper 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar 600g lamb backstrap, fat trimmed 1 bunch asparagus 1 large red onion, chopped 60g baby spinach leaves 40g low-fat feta cheese METHOD • Preheat oven to 200C. Place pumpkin on baking tray, spray with oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast until golden and tender. • Transfer to a large bowl. • Whisk oil, vinegar, salt and pepper in another bowl. Add lamb to the marinade, cover and refrigerate. • Heat a pan over a medium-high heat. Lightly spray asparagus and onion with oil and season. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until tender. Set aside. Remove lamb from marinade and barbecue for 3 to 4 minutes on each side for medium, or until cooked to your liking. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil. Stand for 5 minutes, then thinly slice. Add spinach, feta and pumpkin to onion and asparagus, and toss gently to combine. Place salad on serving plates, top with lamb and serve. august 2015 | mychild
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TODDLER
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A different look at children and media
ARE THERE ANY MEDIA BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS?
Y
es! Television, movies, computer games and the internet can be a positive influence on your child, especially if you get involved when your child is using them and help your child make good choices.
MEDIA BENEFITS AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT There are many negative messages about media, and how viewing and interacting with it might harm your child.
But children can also benefit from media. The benefits depend on how old your child is, and what kind and quality of media your child is using. For children under two years, we don’t know of any benefits from any media. But for children aged 2-8 years, carefully chosen TV programs, movies, apps and computer games offer many developmental and social benefits. These can have even more value through middle and later childhood.
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toddler Also, social networking sites can have social benefits for teenagers.
HOW MEDIA CAN BENEFIT CHILDREN For younger children, the developmental benefits of media include developing: • literacy skills – learning letters of the alphabet through programs such as Play School and Sesame Street, or through educational computer games and apps like Teach Your Monster to Read • numeracy skills – learning to count or identify shapes through programs includingSesame Street and Play School • social skills – learning cooperation by watching TV programs and using computer games and apps like Toca’s Tea Party, and websites such as ABC for Kids, which show cooperative and helping behaviour.
FOR OLDER CHILDREN, THERE ARE: • intellectual benefits – developing problem-solving and critical thinking skills by playing computer games designed to develop these skills, or developing ethical thinking by comparing family values with values in fiction or documentaries • educational benefits – encouraging reading, particularly after watching a program or movie based on a book • social benefits – joining online clubs such as Club Penguin, which teach children strategies for effectively and safely using social networking sites, or playing computer games with friends and family • creative benefits – developing skills in imagination, art and modelling, music and media, through using software and apps like My Story or Bubl Draw, or being inspired to make something by a TV show. Teenagers can develop their: reading, writing and critical thinking skills through using blogs
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and chat rooms • social skills through connecting with others on social networking sites • political and social awareness by watching news, current affairs and documentaries, or reading about issues online • values through observing good role models in the media. Children can be media creators, not just consumers. Making their own movies, taking photographs, and creating online content can help them develop critical thinking, social, technical and artistic skills.
‘Good role models are people or characters who are doing things or behaving in ways that you wouldn’t mind your child copying, or that you would like your child to copy.’ HELPING YOUR CHILD GET MEDIA BENEFITS You can help your child get media benefits by being involved with your child and her use of media – you can visit quality websites together, encourage your child to use educational software, and view TV shows that offer extra learning opportunities. When you’re watching TV and movies together, try discussing how the plot works, how your child feels about what’s happening and what would happen in real life if you behaved badly or illegally. You can also talk about how the people are actors, and how special effects make things seem to happen.
DECIDING WHAT’S ‘GOOD’ Deciding whether a TV program, movie, computer game or website is good quality can be tricky. You can be guided by the age classification,
and you can use your own judgment of whether it’s high quality, challenging and well made. Other parents and your child’s teachers can also be a useful source of information about quality media that’s good for kids. Content with a good story that doesn’t depend on violence for its entertainment value is always worth looking for. You can also look for TV programs and movies that give your child the chance to find out about places, animals, people, ideas, issues and cultures he couldn’t see or connect with otherwise. These can inspire him to try new activities and think about new ideas. This can be done through playing, creating something or finding out more about a topic. Movies or TV programs with good role models can also positively influence your child. Good role models are people or characters who are doing things or behaving in ways that you wouldn’t mind your child copying, or that you would like your child to copy. Some movies and TV programs can expose your child to diversity, especially ethnic diversity, which is a good thing. Software, apps and websites that get children drawing pictures or making up stories or rhymes can foster creativity. For preschoolers especially, this can also be a way for them to express ideas and feelings. Computer games that give young children simple choices – choosing a character or finding a background for a picture – can also help your child make creative decisions. The more interactive computer games and websites are, the better they’ll be in helping your child learn more effectively. Avatars and games can give older children and teenagers the opportunity to develop their identity by letting them them ‘try on’ different physical and psychological characteristics.*
early learning lands in Bondi... specialist preschool programs
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FAMILY
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How Pets Benefit Kids EVERY CHILD WANTS A PET AND IT HAS SOME BENEFITS, DR KATRINA WARREN OFFERS SOME GOOD ADVICE
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family
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here’s no doubt about it, owning a pet is a big responsibility, but as any pet owner would testify, it’s also a hugely rewarding experience. Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world. Perhaps it’s got something to do with the profoundly positive influence pet’s yield in our lives. Pets and children in particular often share a remarkable bond. Apart from unconditional love and companionship, there are many other benefits for children sharing their lives with a pet:
PETS TEACH RESPONSIBILITY Children learn responsibility by helping with the caretaking of a pet. They learn about the requirements of a living being- such as food, water and exercise. Fish are a great first pet because it is easy to give children and active role in feeding them. Pets that require more attention, like a cat or dog, can present an ideal opportunity for parent and child to spend time together doing activities such as walking the dog or preparing the food.
PETS ARE A FRIEND TO CHILDREN
social skills. Developing positive feelings about pets can aid self-esteem and help children develop non-verbal communication and compassion. Studies of school children have shown that pet owners are not only more popular with their classmates but seem to be more empathetic as well.
PETS TEACH LIFE LESSONS Pets are often the first experience a child has with death and grieving. Pets also help kids to learn about health and illness and visits to the veterinarian reinforce that pets need good health care too. Pets help teach respect for other living beings.
PETS ARE FUN Pets provide unconditional love, affection and comfort. Children can participate in safe games with their pets and those who participate in walking/exercising the family dog have the added benefit of extra physical activity. Kids enjoy helping with tasks like washing the dog or brushing the cat (always under supervision).
PETS ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO EXERCISE
Children turn to pets when they need a friend, confidante or protector. In fact, studies have shown that pets often hold a similar status in children’s lives to parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles, teachers, best friends, and child minders. The study found that dogs, in particular, often superseded humans as a child’s ‘best friend’. Pets do not judge children or get angry at them which can help with self esteem. Children often trust their pets with their secrets and private thoughts.
Physical activity in children results in social, mental and physical health benefits, to maximise these benefits it’s important to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour in Australian children. The Children’s Leisure Activities Study (CLASS) was undertaken to look at the family environment and its influence on children’s physical activity and sedentary behaviours. Preliminary findings indicate that playing with pets is in the top ten physical activity choices for children and families; owning a dog may encourage children to exercise and help reduce childhood obesity.
PETS AID CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
PETS MAY HELP TO REDUCE ALLERGIES AND ASTHMA
Pets help children develop nurturing and
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Western cultures report increasing rates of asthma and allergic disease, with pets often implicated as a causal factor. An interesting development in research in recent years, however, has demonstrated the opposite may in fact be the case: the presence of cats and dogs in the home from an early age may actually ‘acclimatise’ the developing immune system so that it is less sensitive to allergens in later life. A well behaved, happy dog provides amazing companionship and is a joy to own. Dr Katrina
Warren and professional dog trainer Kelly Gill run a fun, interactive four week online program called the Wonderdog School where puppy and dog owners use the program to become confident, knowledgeable dog owners with social, well behaved, happy dogs. Lessons include basic obedience, housetraining and sleeping arrangements. More information about the Wonderdog School can be found at petlovers.com.au. For more pet tips from Dr Katrina, follow her on Facebook at “Dr Katrina”.
GIVE TICKS AND FLEAS THE BOOT WHAT Bravecto® represents a quantum leap forward in tick and flea protection. It is the first and only oral chew to deliver extended protection for three months against fleas and four months against paralysis ticks – all in a single chew. WHEN Full year flea protection is achieved in just four tasty doses of Bravecto – protection at every season. It can be given to a dog at any time of day, however, it is recommended that Bravecto be administered at or around the time of feeding due to its greater absorption into the circulation. Bravecto starts working within hours, providing effective control of fleas within 8 hours of administration and effective control of pre-existing paralysis tick infestations within 24 hours. Bravecto fits easily into gastrointestinal worming programs, where treatments occur every 3 months. HOW Bravecto is administered orally in a highly palatable chew format. There is no mess to administer and no liquids to spill or transfer. It also won’t wash off or rub off, so dog owners can keep doing things they
love with their dog without interruption. Coat length, grooming or brushing have no impact on how Bravecto works. WHY To date, protection from fleas and deadly paralysis ticks has most commonly been gained from products that require fortnightly or monthly application. As a result, many pet owners may forget to treat, leaving dogs unprotected, and pet owners worried. One dose of Bravecto does what some other products do with three. WHO It is available for a range of dog breeds and sizes and can be used on puppies from 8 weeks of age weighing at least 2kg. It is also safe to administer to breeding, pregnant and lactating dogs. WHERE Bravecto is available at leading vet clinics across Australia. Dog owners can register for the free Bravecto reminder email service at www.bravecto.com.au to ensure they don’t miss a dose. The free Bravecto reminder app is available for iOS and Android.
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8 Tips To Avoid Bedtime Battles IF YOU THOUGHT BABY BEDTIME BATTLES WERE BAD, YOU’RE IN FOR A SHOCK. KELLY WINDER IS A DOULA HAS SOME VALUABLE TIPS
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uch as they might tell you otherwise, toddlers need on average 11 – 13 hours’ sleep each day. That’s a lot of sleep! And if they have to be up for kindergarten or playgroup in the morning, you need to find a groove with bedtime to ensure they get enough. Toddlers are masters of negotiation (‘five more minutes please’) and could write a series of bestselling books on how to delay bedtime. From requesting another drink to begging for another story, your toddler has got all the skills necessary to set bedtime back by at least an hour each night. After a long day at work, whether that’s in a busy office or at home with your kids, you can be forgiven for shedding a few tears as you feel your evening slowly but surely disappear. It’s not a nice feeling to be clock-watching under a restless toddler when you should be collapsed on the sofa downstairs. To help avoid that end of day battle of wills, here are some tips for how to achieve a hasslefree toddler bedtime:
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BE PRESENT
Your toddler’s bedtime delaying tactics could simply be her way of getting to spend some present time with you. Think about your day: has she had much one-on-one time with you where you were able to fully focus on her?
If not, add this into your daily routine. It could be a 15 minute cuddle and chat after work, or an hour of uninterrupted play during the day. Banish your phone to another room, turn off the television and enjoy spending time with your child. If you carve out special time together, bedtime will no longer be filling that gap and you may find that bedtimes become easier as a result.
2
RELEASE ENERGY
3
HEAD OUTSIDE
You probably already know this, but toddlers are full of energy. When you’re out of breath and in need of a sit down, they’ve still got plenty of run left in them. Make sure your toddler has a daily outlet for all of this energy and that physical play is an important part of her day. By regularly and consistently doing this, you might well find that she falls asleep a little easier at night. From football classes to clambering across gymnasium equipment, you should be able to find a group your toddler will love. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune, though – a trip to your local playground or a kick about in the garden will be enough to help your toddler disperse of some energy.
You may have noticed that a day spent outdoors usually guarantees you a better night’s sleep. Children are no different, so try
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toddler to incorporate outdoor play as part of your daily routine. Head out for a walk in the countryside, meet up with friends in the park or spend an hour making mud cakes in the garden, and you may notice an improvement in your toddler’s sleep.
4
EAT TO SLEEP
What you eat throughout the day can affect how you sleep at night. Pay careful attention to your toddler’s diet to see if it is having an impact at bedtime. Consuming caffeine could be keeping your child awake, so try cutting out chocolate in the afternoon to see if that helps. If your toddler is breastfed, you may want to reduce the caffeine in your diet to see if that has an effect. Sugar can also interfere with your child’s sleep pattern, so try to avoid dessert and other sugary foods at dinnertime. It could even be something as innocent as strawberries, tomatoes or oranges affecting sleep, so it’s worth keeping a daily diary of food and sleep so you can determine if there’s any pattern.
5
GET THE TIMING RIGHT
Timing is everything when it comes to bedtime. Attempt it too early and your child won’t yet be tired enough for bed, and attempt it too late and you’re likely to have an overtired toddler on your hands. Over-tired children don’t fall asleep easily! In fact, they could win awards for fighting sleep. For this reason, it’s important to take your child to bed before she is too tired to sleep. Instead of waiting for tell-tale signs of tiredness, head upstairs before they appear and aim for a slow and relaxing bedtime routine together.
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DEVELOP AND STICK TO ROUTINE
Toddlers are dealing with huge developmental, social and emotional leaps on a pretty regular basis, all while their little body is constantly growing and changing. This can make life pretty daunting! Routine helps
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toddlers to feel safe and secure because they know what’s coming next this, and this becomes a part of life they can depend on. A bedtime routine can help your toddler to feel safe and relaxed. The routine doesn’t need to be a strict list of things that must be ticked off each and every day, but should be quite similar from one day to the next. The bedtime routine can be as simple as cleaning teeth, putting pyjamas on, choosing stories and snuggling in bed to listen to them. You should aim to start and end the routine at around the same time each day as this will help your child to know what is coming next.
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GIVE CHOICES
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NARRATE BEDTIME
Many of the battles you have with your toddler probably come down to control. Your toddler has a strong sense of self, but isn’t yet independent enough to take control of all areas of her life. This can be very frustrating for her, but you can make things easier by giving her a bit of control. She may feel frustrated that you are telling her to go to bed, but you can hand her back some control by allowing her to make some choices along the way. Which pyjamas would you like today? Where shall we clean your teeth? Which three stories would you like? Consistently providing your child agency like this in little yet meaningful ways (to her) can really make a big difference.
Prepare your toddler for bedtime by talking about what will happen. Doing this early will mean your toddler is mentally prepared for bedtime when you get there. Explain the order in which things will happen, and keep reminding her throughout the routine that it will soon be time for bed. Kelly Winder is a doula (birth attendant), the creator of the BellyBelly pregnancy, birth and baby website, and a mum. Check out bellybelly.com.au for more informative articles.*
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Nicole Proy of Mockingbird Photography
The
T H IN K ING WOM AN’S website
For Conception, Pregnancy, Birth and Baby
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NEWS
GAMES KIDS PLAY Generally, preschoolers love: Dramatic play: preschoolers use games like dress-ups to act out scenarios that are confusing or scary Messy play: play with paints, water or in the sandpit is a great outlet for expressing emotions Physical play: clambering over playground equipment teaches preschoolers a lot about coordination, balance and how far they can push their physical abilities Simple board games: these give preschoolers the chance to learn about taking turns, following the rules, counting and being a gracious loser Songs, books, riddles and silly rhymes: it’s great fun to share these with your preschooler because you’ll really see her sense of humour come to life. They also extend your child’s vocabulary and understanding of words.
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&
TODDLER PRESCHOOLER
DIFFERENT RATES Children grow and develop at different rates. Most skills and events happen in the same order, but the age they happen might vary for each child, even for children in the same family. Some parents worry about when their child will walk, and others worry about why their child isn’t using the potty yet. Some might be concerned about when their baby will grow her first teeth. It might help to remember that development is different for every child. If you’re wondering about whether your child’s development is ‘normal’, it might also help to know that ‘normal’ varies a lot. For example, the normal age range for children to start walking is 8-18 months. So if your child isn’t walking at 14 months, that’s OK.
“Did you know the average toddler body needs 500 milligrams of calcium a day? Give my growing body all the nutrients it needs.�
It is important that toddlers are provided with all the essential nutrients and energy to support growth and brain development. Oz Farm Premium Toddler Formula is specially formulated to help meet the nutritional needs of your little one. Providing them with hard-to-get nutrients, all the vital fatty acids, minerals and vitamins necessary for growing bodies and inquiring minds
Oz Farm is a registered trademark. Distributed by Australian Dairy Park , ABN 5916247837. 120 Frankston Gardens Drive, Carrum Downs Melbourne VIC 3201
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SHOPPING
TODDLER&BIGKIDS
MAKING MEMORIES Write down and remember all the funny things your kids say and do every day. As a parent you know your kids can say some funny things. “When I grow up I want to be a circus princess in space”. With the Milestone Mini Cards, you can capture and remember them as years go by. This set contains 100 beautiful unique printed cards. Simply fill in the date and the quote, Milestone Mini Cards RRP$24.95 – to find your nearest stockist visit
FUN AND GAMES
NO MORE MESS
Whether storing the baby’s toys or your shopping treasures, strolling together has never been more fun! smarTrike® & Go is the ultimate combination of parents’ needs and baby’s fun. The unique cart is designed to attach to the standard smarTrike® providing maximum comfort with HUGE storage space. The smarTrike & Go maneuvers smoothly and easily with the patented Touch Steering® technology and the built-in suspension offers super comfort rides. The cart separates from the trike and transforms to a freestanding, independent cart.$99.00 from Toys R Us
NUK No Mess Weaning Bowls with deep rounded sides are perfectly sized for weaning portions. The bowls come with a vented lid for the microwave and a seal-tight lid for when you are out and about. The bowl also has a non-slip suction base that helps avoid messy feeding times. A suction base helps reduce spills and two lids make meal preparation simple - one lid is vented for microwave use and the other is ideal for storage and travel. Microwave safe & dishwasher safe. For 6 months + Available at Target & Babies R Us from August 2015 RRP: $14.99
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ZOOM ZOOM Keep little fingers busy with super-cute Fold My Car and Fold My Robot designs. Perfectly priced at $9.95 each, these eco-friendly laminated puzzles will provide hours of imaginative play. Keep them stashed away as a reward for good behavior. Our favourite is the Scientist - he’s the smartest robot of the group and works all day long perfecting his secret formulas for keeping kids happy! The Hippie Van has a racoon with a free spirit... he took the day off work to go to the beach, surf and swim with his buddies! Available from www.bugsandbutterflies.com.au.
SAVE OUR SEATS Cinched down seats, snacks and sippy cup spills! Your car’s upholstery doesn’t stand a chance with the wear and tear kids and their seats put on it. Family owned business Prince Lionheart’s 2 Stage seatSAVER was inspired in 1980 after someone (who was then little and is now a director) stepped on gum and climbed onto the back seat of the family’s brand new car. Ouch!!! Now 35 years later and the #1 selling seatSAVER worldwide! The bottom tray can be used for rearfacing seats, conforms to car’s seat, easy to wipe clean and patented spill barrier contains spills and kick guard stops scuff marks. Now
WINTER BUGS
READY MIXED
With Prospan, your cough is not blocked – it is soothed and calmed. When treating your cough or your child’s cough, taste is important. Prospan Cough Relief does not have a synthetic or chemical taste and they don’t mask the flavour with foul-tasting cherry or orange flavourings! Prospan Expectorant and Prospan Lozenges taste naturally sweet, some say like ‘honey’. $15.99 from Chemist Wharehouse
These mini bottles are perfect for everyone to use. JHydralyte Ready to use Electrolyte solution is suitable for the entire family, including babies, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. it may be taken on the first signs of fluid loss due to vomiting and diarrhoea. Just perfect to keep some in the fridge so no need for emergency runs to chemists. Available at st major pharmacies for $15.99.
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How can I keep my toddler from getting sick in winter? GOOD QUESTION! SINCE AS SURE AS THE MERCURY DROPS, COLD AND FLU VIRUSES MAKE THE ROUNDS THROUGH HOMES AND DAYCARE FACILITIES EACH YEAR.
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any common winter viruses are airborne, so if your toddler takes a breath within, say, 4 to 6 feet of someone who’s sick, he can easily catch the bug himself. What’s more, most people stricken by winter viruses are contagious before they develop symptoms. So pulling your child away from a sniffling, coughing, or sneezing pal doesn’t guarantee that he won’t come down with similar symptoms himself. Neither will bundling him up: Studies have shown that exposure to cold or damp weather
doesn’t increase a child’s likelihood of catching a cold. Still, don’t give up without a fight. There are several simple steps you can take to help fend off germs and keep your toddler as healthy as possible this winter.
SO WHAT SHOULD I DO? While it’s practically inevitable that your toddler will get a few colds this winter no matter what you do, it won’t hurt to try these germ-fighting strategies:
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toddler
MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD WASHES HIS HANDS.
IF YOUR CHILD’S IN DAYCARE, CHECK THE “SICK-KID” POLICY.
Regular hand washing is the simplest, most effective way to get rid of cold and flu bugs. So help your child wash his hands with soap and warm water after he uses the toilet, before meals and snacks, and as soon as he comes home from daycare, the playground, or a friend’s house. You wash up, too, especially before preparing food and after you change a diaper or wipe a runny nose. No need to pay extra for fancy antibacterial soaps — any soap will remove germs from the skin’s surface. Make sure your child’s caregivers are vigilant about hand washing, too. If your toddler’s in daycare, ask what the official hand-washing policy is. If it’s less than satisfactory, don’t be shy about requesting a change and reminding caregivers that this protects their health as well.
Make sure your child’s daycare center has a reasonable policy on keeping sick kids away from healthy ones. Many facilities require a child with a fever, the flu, vomiting, diarrhea, or an eye infection to stay home until these symptoms subside. If you notice obviously sick kids at your child’s daycare on a regular basis, it’s probably time to chat with the caregiver or director about enforcing the rules on sick kids more stringently. (Of course, these kids were contagious before their symptoms showed up, but you still don’t want them sneezing or coughing around your toddler.)
TEACH YOUR CHILD NOT TO TOUCH HIS EYES OR NOSE.
DO WHAT YOU CAN TO BOOST YOUR TODDLER’S IMMUNITY NATURALLY.
At any given moment, the unwashed human hand is covered with thousands of germs. When a child rubs his eyes or nose, he’s depositing those germs directly onto his mucous membranes, where they’re rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. So in addition to having your toddler wash his hands frequently, remind him not to touch his eyes or rub his nose. Instead, begin teaching him to use a tissue — or at least a clean sleeve — to dab at teary eyes or an itchy nose. While you’re at it, you can start teaching him to use tissues when he sneezes or coughs — or to “catch” his coughs and sneezes in the crook of his arm. This won’t prevent him from getting a virus, but it will help keep him from giving one. Of course, he’s only a toddler, so expect this process to take a while.
Offer your child a variety of healthy foods so he gets the nutrients he needs. Make sure he gets plenty of sleep each night as well as lots of physical activity every day.
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GET YOUR CHILD VACCINATED. You can help protect your toddler from some viruses and bacteria simply by making sure his vaccinations are up to date and that he gets a yearly flu shot.
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CHILD GETS SICK Since children average eight to ten colds a year, it’s a good bet that your toddler will bring home a few bugs this winter — no matter how hard you try to prevent it. When that happens, the best you can do is make him comfortable until the virus works its way out of his system. A few tips: • Try saline nose drops. • You might get some complaints about this one, but saline drops help to thin and clear nasal mucus and relieve congestion.
• For best results, try using a bulb syringe: If your toddler will let you, tilt his head back slightly, then gently squeeze the bulb to deposit the saline drops in his nose. Next, use the bulb to remove the mucus. Repeat this process several times a day.
MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD GETS ENOUGH REST. While this may be easier said than done, the more rest your child gets, the sooner he’ll feel better. Even if he no longer naps regularly, encourage a siesta or two each day. When your child’s not resting in his crib or bed, find some quiet activities to share — read to him, watch a video with him, or play with puppets together.
HOOK UP THE HUMIDIFIER. This is especially important at night and during naps, when a persistent cough or difficulty breathing can prevent your child from getting the rest he needs. The moist air from a humidifier or vaporizer will thin your toddler’s mucous secretions, helping to calm his cough and relieve congestion.
URGE YOUR CHILD TO DRINK UP. Children lose body fluids quickly when they’re sick — especially if they’re running a fever or have diarrhea. To replenish these fluids, encourage your child to drink plenty of liquids, such as water, juice, an electrolyte solution, or milk. (There’s no scientific proof that dairy products make congestion worse.) If your child balks at slugging down a tall drink, try offering extra-juicy fruit (such as watermelon or oranges) or even a frozen juice pop. One old wives’ tale that is worth taking to heart: Warm chicken soup helps relieve cold symptoms by soothing a sore throat and thinning nasal secretions.
KNOW WHEN TO CALL THE DOCTOR.
While most winter viruses clear up on their own within several days, some can turn into more serious conditions that require prompt treatment.
CALL THE DOCTOR IF YOUR CHILD HAS ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS: • Ear or face pain, which can signal an ear infection • A very sore throat that interferes with drinking enough fluids • Wheezing or trouble breathing (a possible sign of a bronchial infection or pneumonia) • Diarrhea or vomiting, which can lead to dangerous dehydration • A fever of 103 degrees or higher, or a milder fever that lasts for more than three days • Make time to snuggle. When kids are feeling under the weather, they need a little extra TLC. So in addition to cooking chicken soup, running for the tissue box, and keeping a constant watch on your toddler’s temperature, make time to simply snuggle with him. Give him plenty of hugs and time on your lap during the day, and if you normally have a “no kids in the big bed” rule at night, think about temporarily relaxing the policy. (Of course, you may soon be sniffling yourself, but such is the price of parenthood.)
KEEP IT ALL IN PERSPECTIVE. When you’re taking care of a sick, miserable toddler, try to remember that most winter illnesses pass in a week or so — and all of them will ultimately help strengthen your child’s immune system. As your toddler gets older and builds up immunity to viruses, including many of the 200 that cause the common cold, he’ll log fewer and fewer sick days. In the meantime, keep up the hand washing — and stock up on tissues.* august 2015 | mychild
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news | baby & toddler
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12 WAYS TO ENTERTAIN KIDS In the majority of cases “I’m bored!” often actually means “I really would love you to come and play with me.” So be prepared to get stuck in with them and have fun!
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Create a Bored Jar – A jar full of slips of paper with activities on them For example – Choose a recipe and make it, go for a bike ride, fold the laundry – there are plenty more examples online. NOTE: make sure you have everything you need for each activity, nothing worse than them getting excited they are going to be playing with bubbles only to find you don’t have any. Make a Tent – A sheet over the dining table or some chairs makes a great cubby, and can amuse for hours. Have a building challenge – Using Lego or other blocks; see who can build the tallest, the widest or the wackiest building. What can they build using only the yellow blocks? Create a masking tape road – Using masking tape on the floor and over the sofas, create a series of roads for your car lover to entertain himself for ages. Craft – All kids love to craft. Add an extra dimension by using their toys to make fun shapes in paint or sand. Create a Crime Scene – If you have an older detective child then create a crime scene for them to solve. You could include footprints, tire prints etc. You could make it doll sized or life size. Your imagination is the limit
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.Papier Mache – All it takes is newspaper, glue, paint and a balloon or two and the imagination can run wild. Kids love this as it is messy, fun and at the end you can fill it with lollies and use it as a piñata. Scavenger Hunt – Take photos of a number of things, the number depends on the attention span of your children and how long you want the game to go on for, then provide the photos to the kids and they track down the item. Scavenger Hunt Take 2 – Get the kids to create a scavenger hunt, or a treasure hunt, for you to complete. Set a specific date for the parents to go hunting, a weekend day usually works best, and gives the kids a week to prepare it. Obstacle Course – Create an indoor obstacle course. Tie string across a door way, like a spiders web, and challenge the kids to get through without touching the strings. Board Games – Many competitive and fun hours can be spent playing board games. Snakes and Ladders, Rummikub or even Monopoly or Chess depending on the age of your child. Origami – Children with a bit of patience will love this. The possibilities are endless and the finished product so delicate and beautiful.*
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Every child is a different kind of flower, and all together, they make this world a beautiful garden.
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