RRP $7.50 (incl GST)
SUPPORTING PARENTS THROUGH THE EARLY YEARS
JUNE 2017 – JULY 2017
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Be a star for a day!
Enter the Huggies cover star photo competition
Back to basics
Building self-identity and self-esteem
Push play
Find a way to play every day
In the blink of an eye Family first aid
ALSO INSIDE:
The magazine of Parents Centre New Zealand Inc
Parenting tips • Childbirth • Dad's Blog • Breastfeeding • Lifestyle • Family health
TAPSPP5881
“The one thing my pregnant friends and I discussed at length was stretch marks – once you’ve got them, they’re there for good! I used Bio-Oil throughout, morning, noon and night... in fact, I haven’t stopped using it since Liam’s birth. Now that I’m pregnant with twins, I’m going to be using it more than ever! What’s also nice is that it’s not oily – you can put it on and then get dressed immediately and it doesn’t stain your clothes. You’ve no idea how many friends and family I’ve told about Bio-Oil!”
The product most recommended by doctors for pregnancy stretch marks. Colmar Brunton, 2016
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Tracy with Liam
Bio-Oil® helps reduce the possibility of pregnancy stretch marks forming by increasing the skin’s elasticity. It should be applied twice daily from the start of the second trimester. For comprehensive product information, and details of clinical trials, please visit bio-oil.com. Bio-Oil is available at pharmacies and selected retailers. Individual results will vary. Bio-Oil is distributed in New Zealand by Douglas Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Auckland.
Great parents grow
great children Arm yourself with knowledge as you grow as a parent by taking part in one of the Parents Centres programmes that run nationwide. These fun and informative programmes aim to assist parents with the various ages and stages of their children, giving them the knowledge and skill sets to be effective. The programmes are well supported by volunteers within each Centre as well as invited speakers who are knowledgeable about a wide variety of topics. As well as providing antenatal classes, Parents Centres also offer core parent education classes which include:
Conscious Parenting – Parenting with Purpose
This programme encourages parents and caregivers to consciously look at parenting styles and to consider how some are more effective than others.
Conscious Parenting – Magic Moments
Magic Moments teaches how to use effective nonphysical methods of discipline, and encourages parents and caregivers to build strong and caring relationships with their children, while still giving clear boundaries.
Music and Movement A fun, interactive, and developmentally stimulating programme for little ones and their parents or caregivers.
Tinies to Tots Discover more about your child as they transition to independent toddler – the course covers the introduction of play and how it stimulates learning, a focus on keeping your baby safe, introduction of new foods, prevention of tooth decay, and a whole lot more.
Return to Work
Developed to meet the specific needs of parents returning to paid employment, this programme is a practical guide covering topics like Early Childhood options, insurance and banking, breastfeeding, and tips for reviving your career. This programme is proudly supported by Porse and Au Pair Link. To find out more about the classes on offer in your area visit: www.parentscentre.org.nz
Baby and You Learn all about the exciting yet challenging early months of parenthood: feeding and sleeping, infant care and challenges, baby massage, and plenty more.
Moving and Munching This wide-ranging programme explores diverse topics like safety-proofing in the home, intellectual and social development, solids, healthy attitudes to food, and much more.
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The Best family getting excited to meet new baby Kendra – mum Sarah with Lucy and Sophie. Photo Credit: Mandi Lynn, A La Mojo Studio alamojostudio.com
Special Features
Features
Be a star for a day
Great parents grow great children.......................................... 1
Huggies cover star competition.................................................. 8–10
Back to the basics
Letters to the Editor........................................................................ 4
Kerstin Kramer and Amelie Gingras........................................12–17
Get down, get low, get out
Product pages.................................................................................6–7
NZ Fire Service...............................................................................18–19
Are you scratching yet? Nomi Elisar......................................................................................20–22
Making the best of themselves...............................................29 What happens to milk when you breastfeed...........30–33
Fidelity Life Parents Centre Member offer launch.....................................24–28
Parents Centre Pages.............................................................39–43
On becoming a domestic diva Ben Tafau.........................................................................................34–38
Find a centre.....................................................................................44
Peace of mind Cot safety standards....................................................................46–48
Hitting...................................................................................................45
In the blink of an eye Family first aid................................................................................50–53
Two for one Protecting mums and babies....................................................54–56
Fuelling the first 1,000 days Emily Parks......................................................................................58–61
Push play!
What’s in a Tiki’s pocket?...................................................66–67 Winners................................................................................................73 Our partners...............................................................................74–75 Shopping Cart...........................................................................76–79
Sarah Glensor Best.......................................................................62–65
Space to learn and play........................................................68–72
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Giveaways .........................................................................................80
SUPPORTING PARENTS THROUGH THE EARLY YEARS
JUNE 2017 – JULY 2017
278
We’re in the same boat now I’ve been thinking about identity recently, about how we develop our sense of self and of self-esteem. What shapes our values system… and what values do we want to pass on to our children?
Back to the basics Self-identity is one of the trickier contributors to children’s healthy development. While you can create an environment that allows their self-identity to evolve naturally, you are not the only part of their environment that contributes to the architecture of their self-identity … media, fashion and peer pressure all play a part. One thing is true though, before the age of three, you will have the biggest influence on their development.
Peace of mind Looking to buy a bassinette or cot? When looking to buy furniture for your nursery – either new or second-hand – it is important to ensure that it is compliant with the mandatory safety regulations. All cots sold in New Zealand must comply with the relevant standard. We look at what the legislation means, and what things to look out for when making this important purchase.
In the blink of an eye As bumps and scrapes are just a normal part of growing up, it is pretty certain that you will have to stock up on plasters and antiseptic cream as your little bundles of joy become small dynamos fuelled by curiosity and energy. But it is useful to have some basic first aid techniques so that you can cope with most family first aid emergencies in the home.
Kiwiparent – Since 1954 the magazine of Parents Centres New Zealand Inc Editor
Leigh Bredenkamp Ph (04) 472 1193 Fax (04) 938 6242 Mobile (0274) 572 821 leighb@e–borne.co.nz PO Box 28 115, Kelburn, 6150
Editorial Enquiries Ph (04) 233 2022 or (04) 472 1193 info@e–borne.co.nz
Advertising Sales
Taslim Parsons Ph (04) 233 2022 x8804 Mobile 021 1860 323 t.parsons@parentscentre.org.nz
Design
Eden Design
Proofing
Megan Kelly
Subscriptions
info@parentscentre.org.nz
Publisher
Viv Gurrey, Chief Executive Officer, Parents Centres New Zealand Inc Ph (04) 233 2022 Opinions expressed in the magazine do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher. Advertising in this magazine does not imply endorsement by Parents Centres. Generally material in this publication may be reproduced provided it is used for non-commercial purposes and the source is acknowledged. However, written permission must be sought from the editor. Kiwiparent is proud to support the WHO/UNICEF International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes adopted by the World Health Assembly in 1981.
ISSN 1173–7638
Printer
Image Centre Group
Not long after we commemorated the solemn sacrifice of so many on ANZAC day, our sights turn to Matariki – the time when we celebrate our national identity. What do you think makes us unique? Iconic emblems that spring to mind include the haka, buzzy bees, po-hutukawa, kiwi, koru, All Blacks and the hotly disputed pavlova. Research shows that we generally like to think of ourselves as fair-minded, friendly, easy-going, and proud of our can-do attitude and beautiful country. Traditionally Matariki symbolises new beginnings just like the birth of a baby. When families welcome a new pe-peinto their family, they often reflect on what sort of New Zealander this little scrap of humanity will be in the future. What treasures can you put in their basket to nurture them on their journey through life? What values will sustain and support them to reach their own potential? In pre-European days, Matariki was a dynamic, vibrant celebration, a great annual event that began with the preparation and storage of the harvest. Offerings were given to the land gods Rongo and Uenuku, with the wish of a bountiful harvest for the coming year. Once this task was complete, people had time to reflect on the year gone by and have a bit of fun with activities like games, weaving and carving, spending time with wha-nau and fostering inter-tribal relationships by sharing ideas and new technologies. And feasting of course! In modern day Aotearoa, the tradition of celebrating Matariki is alive and growing. Varying in style from coast to coast, the exhibitions, concerts, cultural performances, festivals and star-gazing hold true to the underlying spirit of Matariki – a time of sharing, learning, feasting and festivity. Although we live in a bicultural country founded on the Treaty of Waitangi, we are also part of a society rich with diverse cultures that have made their homes here. Up until the early 1960s, most migration was from Europe, but since then growing numbers of settlers arrived from Australia and the Pacific and in the 21st century, migration from Asia, Africa, the Middle East and America took off. In 1983 we moved to New Zealand after leaving South Africa with our precious baby, knowing no one. Baby number two arrived a few months later and that increased our sense of belonging – we put down roots and became part of our communities. We never looked back. New Zealand is our home. The wider world seems a harsher place recently – the rise of protectionism and populism combined with hostile rhetoric seems to have become the norm in many parts of the world. Walls are being built – both physically and mentally – and gates slammed shut against anything that is new or different. We feel lucky to live here. To all the Kiwi parents who come from different places and call Aotearoa home, welcome. Your arrival enriches us all. In the words of the great Martin Luther King: “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.” Leigh Bredenkamp
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letters to the editor Congratulations to the top letter winner Tania North from Auckland, who will win a prize pack from Natural Instincts.
Top Letter prize The winning letter receives the complete Natural Instinct face care range, truly natural skincare products with active anti-ageing plant-based ingredients and 100% free from over 400 potentially harmful ingredients to you and the environment. Available from leading pharmacies. RRP $102.
Top letter
My speaker arrived – we know each other well and got to chatting about how her youngest was about to turn one. I asked her if she was looking to have more babies... she told me she would love to but was trying her best to get through PND. It set me back as I didn't know (as most of the time one doesn't)... I don't know what made me ask but straight off the bat I explained to her how I was taking the session straight after her and was covering PND... and asked how she would feel about instead giving these mums a first-hand account of what her personal experience had been like? She jumped at the opportunity to share her current journey with PND... It was the best session we have had on that topic. She was honest – open – caring. We had 13 mums at that session. Tears were flowing from a few of them.
An empowering session I just wanted to share something that happened the other week. I host our Baby and You sessions at our local Parents Centre. Over a period of five weeks we host guest speakers who cover a range of topics. I also take a session on Transition to Parenthood that covers, among other things, Postnatal Depression (PND). One of our morning sessions in April was scheduled to be about ‘Baby Wearing’ with one of our favourite speakers from Sling Babies coming to talk to us. Then I was planning to spend the next hour on ‘Transition to Parenthood’.
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After the session, quite a few mums came to our speaker to thank her for sharing her story. They said that it was so good hearing her talk while knowing they were having similar feelings themselves and questioning things etc. But hearing her be so open and relaxed and honest about it made them feel they should talk to someone. I had a bit of a teary moment myself. Sitting in that room with another mum baring her soul to a group of new mums just felt so empowering and reminded me yet again why I love what I do.
Tania North, Auckland
The way we were An extract from 'The Trouble With Women' The Story of Parents Centre New Zealand By Mary Dobbie Published by Cape Catley Limited.
s Join u and
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The woman’s viewpoint was nurtured by the Family Planning Association (FPA), and Helen Brew was an obvious choice of speaker in 1951. Her subject was natural childbirth. She told them about her own three childbearing experiences, her discovery of Grantly Dick-Read’s methods, and the immense satisfaction of knowing it was possible to be in control of her labour. She spoke of the comfort and support of her husband’s presence, the joy of hearing her baby’s first cry, the peace of mind in having her baby close by her, and the pleasure of being able to put him to the breast so soon after birth and to feed him at his need. She sensed a rapport with her listeners, evident in the discussion that followed. Woman after woman spoke of loneliness in labour, of fear and the sense of inadequacy which had greyed the whole experience of childbirth for them. Lack of knowledge was the problem. Why had no one told them what to expect or how to cope? Why should a mother have to feel guilty for wanting to unwrap her own baby, count its toes, keep it a little longer the ‘five minutes each side’? After the meeting, one woman waited at the back of the room, a friend from Christchurch days, Christine Cole. Helen Butler and Christine Bull, as they then were, had known each other as students. There had followed a gap of years, Helen had worked as a speech therapist, married, and moved to Wellington. Christine’s career in journalism and radio had brought her to Wellington to work and to marry librarian and writer John Reece Cole. Helen Brew’s name had caught her eye on a notice from the FPA. That and the topic, Natural Childbirth, had brought her along.
lth o rs a e w in a othe h t i w ts benefi e Fre
Connect with parents at your stage, discuss with others, find local babysitting and coffee groups!
Access a wealth of helpful resources – TIPS, INFO, PRODUCT REVIEWS, CONTACTS, NEWS & more
Interact and ask questions, give answers, share your story or knowledge with forums.
Receive entry to prize draws, free product samples, plus relevant info emails through each stage.
It seemed a propitious meeting. Christine had recently written a series of newspaper articles under the title ‘Having a baby’. It was the first time the subject had been dealt with frankly in a New Zealand daily paper. She was still feeling frustrated at the uncompromising attitude of her obstetrician at the birth of her second child, a birth she felt could have been managed very well and could have been completely enjoyed, given the right encouragement and help. “I was ready for what Helen had to say. We talked for a long time, and out of that meeting I think the Parents Centre movement came. Helen would have begun such a movement without me. I would never have begun it without her. My dissatisfaction with childbirth practices and attitudes was being expressed in radio talks and press and magazine features. “Helen was the one with the vision, the energy and the unstoppable determination to bring her vision to pass. For myself, I wanted to help other parents enjoy two things I’d had – a conscious although virtually untrained and hence painful first birth, and rooming in, which I’d managed to arrange with my second child.”
Win $2500 over
ducts of pro
E n e r o n li n
Helen remembers Christine’s saying, “If you ever decide to start something, remember I have a typewriter.”
Simply go online
www.bounty.co.nz RATING EB
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Look for a short extract from this iconic book in each issue of Kiwiparent. It details the struggle women and men had to persuade hearts and minds to adopt a less medicalised approach to childbirth and child-rearing in the 1950s.
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Y EA R S
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product information page Are you ready to declare War on Nits? A new generation of head-lice treatment that works while your child plays. Natural actives neem & quassia break the digestive system of lice, starve them and leave them unable to breed. TCJ-Kids products are effective, smell great, are hassle-free and fit right in to your current family routine. Proudly NZ made. RRP Leave-In Treatment $23.00 RRP Shampoo $18.00 RRP Conditioner $18.00 RRP Styling Paste $13.00 RRP Spiral Groove Nit Comb $16.00 www.tcjkids.co.nz
Introducing the new Eco Stand The latest addition to the Natures Sway family is a beautiful wooden stand which is both light and strong with a small footprint. Made from sustainably milled, heat-treated pine it naturally compliments and enhances the space saving and portable qualities of the hammock. Natures Sway baby hammocks have been loved by Kiwi’s for over 20 years. They are a bed and sleep-aid all in one. Sweet dreams to you and your new baby. www.naturesway.co.nz
The Baby Show: 18 – 20 August at ASB Showgrounds The Auckland Baby Show offers not only an abundance of products for babies, toddlers, pregnancy, and parenthood, but also a range of clever features like the Parents Room, Seminar Room, Entertainment Stage, Kids Activity Area, and Natural Products Zone. It’s the giant show that’s all about the littlies. Tickets on sale from July 3rd at babyshow.co.nz.
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N EW
ZURU Micro Boats Get ready for some epic speed boat racing action with ZURU Micro Boats! Speed through the water in four directions and do 360° doughnut turns. With micro-robotic sensor technology, hit a wall and reverse. They’re great fun in the bath or a swimming pool. Or speed up the fun factor and create a racing world with the Racing Playset or Boat Ramp Set. Let the race begin! ZURU Micro Boats, 1 pack, RRP $14.99. Water-activated, fully motorised speed boats. Collect them all! ZURU Micro Boats Racing Playset (incl 2 boats), RRP $44.99. Get ready for some epic speed boat racing action with ZURU Micro Boats! Launch your water-activated boats and see them speed in four directions, spinning out in a 360 degree doughnut. Think you can speed faster than the shark can bite? Prove your need for speed - the race starts now!
www.zuru.com
BECAUSE EVERY DROP OF BREAST MILK COUNTS
Download the Red Cross app today Our first aid and emergency app is designed to give people life saving skills at their fingertips. The free app features simple, easy advice on everyday first aid scenarios, tips on how to prepare for natural disasters and step-by-step instructions on what to do during an emergency. Preloaded content on the app means you have instant access to important first aid and emergency information, even without cell phone reception or an internet connection – anytime, anywhere. E mergency guide – get simple step-bystep guides to help you deal with first aid emergencies.
Introducing making life simple for mums who express Our Express and Go range makes everything easier. By using a single pouch to EXPRESS, STORE, WARM and FEED, there’s no need to transfer breastmilk between bottles so you’ll never lose a precious drop!
K nowledge and advice – learn first aid using easy-to-understand animations and videos. M -learning – use the app to contribute towards a workplace first aid certificate. G lobal Mode – get local emergency numbers and ‘help’ phrases as soon as you touch down in another country. www.redcross.org.nz
tommeetippee.co.nz
Worth capturing, because there’s nothing like a hug
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® Registered Trademark Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. © KCWW
Have your hug
on the cover of Kiwiparent RRP $7.50 (incl GST)
SUPPORTIN
G PARENT
S THROUG
H THE EAR
LY YEARS
APRIL 201
7 – MAY
2017
Happy
Mother's D
ay!
– Welcome, Mama – The resili ent woman – Getting one step ahea d
Room
to grow
Creative ideas
for kids' bedro
oms
Everyone’ s a ge
Recognising
nius
early signs
Home
of dyslexia
grown
Options for
in-home child
Touch
A powerful
care
primary sense
ALSO INS IDE
:
Pare ntin g
Put your photographic skills to use and enter the Huggies Cover Star photo competition! Hugs are worth capturing, so we would love to see images that show loving connections – parents, children, siblings, grandparents, pets – those special moments that illustrate closeness and attachment. If your image is selected as the winning photo, you will receive a prize package worth over $8,000!
What we are looking for:
tips • Chi ldbi rth • Dad 's Blog • Brea stfe edin g
The magazine Parents Cent of re New Zeala nd Inc
• Life styl e
• Fam ily hea lth
As if all this was not enough, the winner will also receive six months’ supply of Huggies products including: 24 packs of Huggies nappies bulk packs
Huggies Baby Wipes (four pop-up tubs and six 240 refill packs)
H ighlight expressions that capture happy baby moments, eg warm-hearted, “happy eyes”. S how the connection between baby and parent/ caregiver, eg eye contact between baby and parent, a loving touch.
10 packs of Huggies change mats; 8 packs of Little Swimmers Swim Pants
C andid everyday moments, eg playing at home, relaxed, comfortable. The winning entry will receive a photo shoot with a professional photographer with an image to appear on the cover of Kiwiparent, and potentially within the October/November issue as well. The photo shoot will take place in Auckland the week commencing 24 July. The lucky winner will be a star for a day with: flights to and from Auckland (if necessary) t ransfers to and from the photo shoot if local – or to and from the airport hair and make-up by a professional stylist wardrobe styling p rofessional photo shoot at the Ogilvy Advertising Agency food and refreshments provided. And, at the end of this magical day, the winner will receive all the images electronically from the photo shoot.
Entries open at 10:30am on Monday, 29 May 2017 and close at 10:30am on Friday, 30 June 2017. To enter, simply visit the competition post hosted on the Huggies New Zealand Facebook page. In the Post Comments the entrant should share ‘a photo of you and your bub sharing a hug’. www.facebook.com /huggiesnewzealand/
prize Total over ge packa 00! $8,0
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A Hug is Essential for Human Development It’s a universal language and the first one that humans learn.
The very act of hugging releases oxytocin (known as “the bonding hormone”), a process beginning immediately after birth. But, the benefits of touch are not just for Baby. Skin-to-skin contact reduces the stress level for Mum too, allowing her to be more attentive and receptive to her baby’s needs. As creatures beginning to grasp their surroundings moment to moment, a hug alone can literally make bub feel more comfortable in their own skin. An affectionate hug aids in the development of interpersonal relationships and can promote feelings of devotion to and trust in Mum. Newborns are neurologically wired to stop crying when held, and, particularly in infancy, a hug-induced reduction of stress hormone, cortisol, can even encourage more restful sleep. Hugs have been part of Huggies® Nappies’ DNA since 1978 when Kimberly-Clark employee Boyd Tracy thought to combine the words ‘hugs’ and ‘babies’, and came up with a brand name that communicated how the nappy “hugged” the baby’s shape.
Terms and conditions (Full Terms and Conditions available online) Entry is only open to New Zealand residents who are aged 18 years or over. Employees of the Promoter and their immediate families, participating suppliers and agencies associated with this promotion are ineligible to enter. Entries open at 10:30am NZST on Monday, 29 May 2017 and close at 10:30am NZST on Friday, 30 June 2017. To enter, entrants must locate the competition post hosted on the Huggies New Zealand Facebook page and share their photos in the Post Comments. Valid entries will be judged on the basis of their relevance and creativity and judging will be done by Resolution Media.
Huggies New Zealand will comment on the winning entries to notify the winners. It is the responsibility of the winner to check back on the post to determine if they are the winner, and to send an email containing their contact details within 7 days of the Promoter’s post which announces the winner. For privacy reasons, the Promoter will not contact the winner by private message to notify them of their winning entry. If for any reason a winner does not contact the Promoter to provide their details within the time stated above, then the prize will be forfeited and the Promoter may choose to judge additional entries.
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The prize, or any unused part of the prize, is not transferable or exchangeable and cannot be taken as cash. The entrant confirms that their entry is their own original work and not copied in whole or in part, and that the entry does not infringe the intellectual property rights of any third party. By submitting an entry, the entrant grants the Promoter and its affiliates, agents and representatives an exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, transferable, worldwide license to use, edit, reproduce and exploit their entry by all means whatsoever (including, without limitation, in print and electronic
format) for any purpose. All entrants agree that the Promoter may repost their image entry including on the Promoter’s Facebook, Twitter or Instagram accounts and the Promoter’s websites. The Promoter’s decision is final and the Promoter will not enter into any correspondence with entrants other than the winner(s) in relation to this Promotion or the prize. The use of any automated entry software or any other mechanical or electronic means that allows an entrant to automatically enter repeatedly is prohibited and will render all entries submitted by that entrant invalid.
The first hug they ever feel is from you. Make sure the second hug feels just as good.
Every hug is doing your baby the world of good. You might not know it but hugging can lower their heart rate, help them relax and encourage brain development. Hugs can also help release oxytocin - the bonding hormone. HUGGIES® Nappies understands the power of a hug. That’s why we’ve designed our nappies to hug your baby gently with the Triple Protection of our unique GENTLEABSORB® layer, stretchy, Pocketed Waistband and soft, Breathable Cover to help keep precious skin perfect. They are clinically proven to help prevent nappy rash, and together with HUGGIES® Fragrance Free Wipes, are endorsed by Plunket.
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® Registered Trademark Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. © KCWW.
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Back to the basics: Building a solid
self-identity
12 kiwiparent – supporting kiwi parents through the early years
When you ask most expectant parents what they want in life for their bundle of joy, HAPPINESS, ASSERTIVENESS, BEING STRONG are some of the most common things you will hear. It is interesting how, as parents, we put this into practice; there are a huge variety of ways this can happen. And whatever way we choose there are always side effects. Take, for example, three-year-old Isabella and her mum Sarah Bryan from the UK. In January this year, Sarah was heavily criticised via social media for sending her friend a bill of the equivalent of NZ$562 because Isabella’s designer shoes had been marked with a pen at a playdate with her daughter. It turns out that Sarah wanted only the best for her daughter growing up. Now no one was judging her for that, but for Sarah ‘wanting the best’ translated into dressing her little girl in designer clothes and putting her on a path to becoming a child model. In the background was Sarah’s own experience of being bullied while growing up. The world went viral judging Sarah for using her toddler as a tool and damaging her self-identity forever. Sarah’s best was judged as worst in the world. So what are the guidelines on fostering healthy self-identity in children? Self-identity is one of the trickier contributors to children’s healthy development – it is difficult to train your child to develop positive self-identity using parenting tricks like the good old sticker chart. All you can do is create an environment that allows their selfidentity to evolve naturally. But remember, you are not the only part of their environment that contributes to the architecture of their self-identity – some would say that there are stronger forces at play … media,
A messy child will be a smart adult. fashion, peer pressure, just to name a few. So it is important to keep that in mind. One thing is true though – before the age of three, you will have the biggest influence on their development.
Start with a blank slate When it comes to identity, children are born with a blank slate, a clean sheet of paper. As they grow, the people and environment around them are like mirrors reflecting back to them the values that will shape their identity. Self-identity is about children finding answers to questions such as: Who am I? What makes me special? What can I do? Why am I here? Where do I come from? Self-concept is the mental picture we develop about ourselves. From about the age of two, children begin to understand things about themselves that are unique to them. They can recognise themselves in mirrors and in pictures. They learn things about themselves and begin to compare themselves to others (eg, “Sally has the same hair colour as I do, but Nancy has more of a yellow colour”, “Paul can run really fast but I am faster”). We see many worried parents in our practice that fear their children have little self-esteem and are at risk of following their peers blindly or being bullied. So how do we help our little ones develop a solid self-identity that is not easily swayed? It is good to start early with this.
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talk about, or what you eat or drink, your self-identity, as expressed through how you live your life, will dictate to a large extent your children’s self-identity. As they get older your children are bombarded by messages from media that are entirely out of touch with reality (eg you can become rich and famous without any talent or effort). Media constantly tell children that they should value themselves based on what they look like or what they have. In an ideal world, children should learn to value themselves based on their unique capabilities, such as their academic, athletic, or artistic achievements, their relationships with family and friends, their passions and interests, and anything else they believe, feel, or do that originates inside of themselves. Your goal is to constantly expose your children to the real world – the one that accurately depicts appropriate behaviour, reasonable expectations and consequences, suitable responsibilities, and the inevitable imperfections, challenges, and failures that are the rich mix of everyday life.
The everyday picture: Let children play, play, PLAY The best way children learn about themselves – what they are good at, what they need more practice with, what feels right and what makes them uncomfortable – is through healthy activities. Exploration through play is key. Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury, it is a necessity.
The bigger picture: Do as you want them to do! It is never too early to focus on healthy values that help shape your children’s sense of self – things like working hard and giving your best for what you want, respecting others, taking responsibility, and being kind and caring. For much of your children’s early years, you are their most important influence. They initially look to you to decide who they should be, what they should value, and what they should do. “Do as I say, not as I do” does not work so well, whereas “do as I do” is the better mantra to follow. Whether it is the people with whom you interact, the activities in which you are involved, what you
Children learn by exploring their environment. That means trying new things to test their boundaries and testing the consequences for their actions. All parents know that a toddler can only improve on their climbing skills by having lots of experiences climbing in different environments. That’s how they discover ways to coordinate their bodies, as well as learn about height, problem-solving, and a lot more. Yes, it will involve a few scratches and bruises, and most likely ruin a few pairs of pants and shoes. But that is the reality of childhood and you can’t teach children about how to move their bodies and what their physical limits are unless you let them push their limits. It is something that just cannot be learned in books or on screens. Children who learn to try again after a fall and improve by repeated trials gain great pride and a very important life lesson – perseverance. Of course, giving children opportunities for exploration means it is also essential to provide adequate supervision to prevent severe harm, but a few bruises and scratches along the way are simply part of growing up.
Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Continued overleaf...
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But what about the mess?
on designer clothes during any of these exercises unless you are not worried about them changing colour!
It is all well and good knowing about the importance of exploration but what if that means getting really messy? Many parents, just like Sarah, struggle with mess, especially if they have invested in their belongings. We have run parents’ groups who have watched their children with horror through a one-way mirror as they explore food with their senses in order to help them eat – for some parents it is not easy to watch their children smear food on their face, in their hair, fling it around the room, or even smother it on an adult. Getting messy helps children understand the physical characteristics of their environment.
This also applies to children’s natural environments and play experiences. Preschoolers learn a lot from their environment when they get messy. Covering their hands in paint helps them understand about its consistency and texture, how it will spread on the paper, and how fast it dries. Splashing in the puddles shows them the characteristics of the water: how runny it is, how some objects float and others sink, depending on their density. Children learn constantly, and getting messy opens the door to a world of information.
Babies and young children left to explore food presented to them will experience it with all their senses – sight, smell, touch, taste and even hearing. Sight and smell often offer them the first cues about what is in front of them – whether it is food or a toy. The touch experience will inform them about the food texture, consistency and temperature. They will usually judge at that point whether they are ready to have a taste, and they will have had the first information about how to manage the food once in their mouths. Solid foods will require chewing, while purees can usually be licked, spooned and swallowed quite easily. It’s best not to put
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The ongoing picture: Highlight their intrinsic passions and strengths Once children have had lots of opportunities to explore the world around them, they will have learned about their strengths and the things they find challenging, the things they enjoy and those they dislike. Then it is time to support them in doing more of what they enjoy and what they are good at – this is helping them develop good self-esteem. And that might be regardless of what most others their age do or have.
Why not take your baby or toddler out on a rainy day? Get them splashing in the puddles, making some boats with leaves and sticks they can find or get them playing in the mud. Get the paint and paper out and let them play with the paint, do some finger-painting, or maybe experiment with shaving foam. We don’t think there is anything wrong with children having designer clothes – it’s about keeping a healthy balance so that a child’s development is not restricted. As parents we run the risk of upsetting this balance when we want to achieve our own potential through our children. Getting messy, taking risks, and having fun are essential ingredients to help children to achieve their potential. If you think back a couple of decades, children had one good outfit that was reserved for special occasions. This might be worthwhile rule of thumb – it might also save a lot of money! And remember: a messy child will be a smart adult. Now, if you find yourself stressing about mess – or you are worried about your baby or toddler being hesitant to explore through their senses, then seek support. You can talk to your GP, Plunket nurse or seek advice from a developmental psychologist or occupational therapist.
Amelie Gingras Amelie is a Paediatric Occupational Therapist working privately with children and their families. She has over ten years’ experience working with children, both in Canada and New Zealand. She lives in Wellington and has two children, aged two and four.
Kerstin Kramar PGDipClinPsych, NZCCP Kerstin is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist in private practice supporting children and their families who has worked in Europe and New Zealand. One of her passions is writing about general child development, for which she draws knowledge from her practice as well as homespun wisdom. She lives in Wellington with her husband and three children aged 2, 4 and 14, whom she considers her most valuable teachers.
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Get down, get low, get out... and stay out Have you ever wondered what would happen if a fire broke out in your house? Would you be able to get everyone out safely? How quickly would it spread?
New Zealand Fire Service Station Officer and Training Officer, Chris Kennedy, says that until you experience a fire, you’ve got no idea what it’s really like. Thankfully, most people will never experience a house fire first-hand, but we all need an escape plan in case the unthinkable happens. In March, the New Zealand Fire Service launched a world-first initiative – a 360° virtual reality experience called Escape My House. For the first time ever, you can experience a real house fire first-hand and, along the way, learn why every family needs an escape plan. The Escape My House activity allows anyone to see and hear for themselves what a house fire is truly like. “We don’t want to
scare people,“ explains Chris. “But it’s an activity to teach others how to get out safely and quickly. It also shows why we all need working smoke alarms, a clear escape plan and a safe meeting place.” The Escape My House VR experience is all real video footage from an actual house burning down. The house in Palmerston North, where all filming took place, was a derelict home donated to the Fire Service for training purposes. The fire was ignited by a clothes horse left too close to a heater and catching alight – one of the most common ways house fires are started. No fire accelerants were used on the walls or ceiling. Frighteningly, everything catches fire exactly as it would in a real situation. The 360˚ cameras set up to capture the fire had to be
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proofed to withstand extreme heats, between 300–600 degrees Celsius, which has never been done before. “We think people will be surprised by the speed of the fire,” Chris says. “The VR experience really shows you how quickly it all happens. For the first 30 seconds you might not even know about a house fire, then suddenly you’re hit with thick black smoke, you can’t see and you’ve got to get out straight away.”
House fires become unsurvivable in less than five minutes, so people need to know how to get out fast.
Recent research shows that 61% of Kiwis claim to have an escape plan; however, only 29% have a detailed plan with multiple exits, as most people think it will be easy enough to get out the front door. This data also shows that less than half are confident that everyone in their household knows where their safe meeting place is. Chris want to drive the message home to all households. “We want to help people understand they need an escape plan and a safe meeting place for their own home. So many people don’t realise how such a small thing can save lives. We’ve had terrible situations when people will get out of their house fire but can’t find the rest of their family, so they run back in to help them and unfortunately don’t make it back out. When, all along, the others had escaped but gone to a different location. It’s an awful tragedy that can be avoided if people have an escape plan and agreed safe meeting place.
...they run back in to help them and unfortunately don’t make it back out. When, all along, the others had escaped but gone to a different location. “We now have the perfect tool to show the public what actually happens in a house fire and why they need to be prepared to survive.” People are prompted to enter their address when commencing the Escape My House VR activity. Once they reach the end and have made it out of the house safely onto the street, they will be confronted with an image of their own home burning down in front of them, pulled in via Google StreetView. They will then be asked to make their own escape plan for their homes. The Escape My House
experience flows into an online escape planner tool that prompts them to check smoke alarms, clear
windows and exit paths and, most importantly, set a safe meeting place.
Fire Service safety tips: Make sure everyone in the household knows the safe meeting place so you know if everyone has safely escaped Have an escape plan to get everyone quickly to the safe meeting place. Your escape plan must start with having working smoke alarms to alert you to a fire. Have more than one exit from every room. Be aware of what obstacles are in your way that could block your escape path. In the event of a fire, leave your possessions behind, just get out fast! Close doors to prevent the spread of fire. Get down, get low, get out and stay out.
Escape My House is best experienced through a VR headset or Google cardboard, with a smart phone and headphones for an immersive experience. It can also be used on mobile, tablet and a computer, without the VR component, as a 360° video. www.escapemyhouse.co.nz | #EscapeMyHouse
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Are you scratching yet? It seems that some families are simply prone to having trouble with head lice and others aren’t. Some families can treat it once and off they go – not to be repeated until a note comes home from school the following year. But for others it’s a continuous battle. A lot of research and speculation has taken place as to why this is. Many wrongly presume that it is due to lack of care, hygiene, or even that they’re not treating them correctly, when in fact the opposite is most likely true. I stood in a primary school classroom during a prize-giving event and listened to mothers with no understanding of the struggle others go through, pointing out in loud whispers all the children with lice that should be avoided. It made me feel so angry as they stood there adding to the stigma that clouds this topic. I know with our own family we not only spent megabucks on treatments each month, but the amount of precious family hours we lost each day to treating head lice was astounding. Let’s face it, even if you try to make it as fun as possible, or put a movie on while combing, there is nothing fun for a child in getting their hair treated by traditional means, or having their hair half ripped out with an inefficient comb. Our life became an endless cycle of school, homework, treating, combing, bed, with the unpleasant struggle that goes with that. Going through the process with one child is enough but try it with two, three, or more – it’s a complete nightmare. Add to that the fact that most treatments only have between one and three applications in them, the dollars soon stack up. Parents become desperate, try anything and everything. The fact is lice need three things to survive – a human host, food and 75% humidity. It is this last fact that I believe explains why some families are constantly infested and others are not. I’ve spoken with many families on the topic of head lice and I’ve come to the conclusion that it has a lot to do with the thickness and the quantity of the hair. A good way to create a lovely warm environment for lice is to do what most schools and preschools require
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us to do in order to contain lice – wear your hair tied back. This keeps the hair tight and firmly in place over the scalp trapping heat over the entire feeding and breeding ground of lice. For children wearing hats, the same applies. Parents and grandparents told us to brush our hair 100 times every day. It’s not as silly as it sounds, as this had the effect of aerating the hair, separating the strands and making them light and free to be picked up by the wind to keep the air flowing over the scalp. This helps to cool the head down, reducing humidity and making it less attractive to lice looking for a home. Lice appear to have have built up resistance to many conventional treatments and have become immune to them. Super Nits are a very real thing. Ask parents who have been forced to use prescription treatments after a long struggle and they will be the first to tell you, they were great the first two times, but now it doesn’t seem to do a thing.
What’s important for parents to know: Firstly, you’re not alone. Just because your friends aren’t talking about it doesn’t mean they’re not struggling. Many mums will discuss head lice in general terms but those that are really struggling will often not admit it. Some families, through no fault of their own, are more susceptible to head lice, whether this is due to diet, blood type or hair type has not yet been conclusively established but it is accepted that some families will treat and be done with it, while others will treat constantly for years. Don’t let others make you feel that you’re not doing enough. Nits love clean hair, so don’t think your child is not clean because they have head lice. They don’t discriminate between, race, age, gender, or socioeconomic status. Shaming those struggling with head lice is never okay. Lice need three things in order to survive and without them they will not survive more than 24 hours: –– a human host –– food –– 75% humidity. Many parents are shocked after days of treatment to discover their child still has eggs. But don’t panic – first consider the following: –– Eggs that are found more than 2.5–3cm from the scalp are dead or hatched shells. –– As eggs hatch or die they turn white making them appear a lot more visible on the hair.
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–– The saliva (or super glue) that the lice use to attach their eggs to the hair strand is extremely adhesive, and the white, hatched or dead eggs will move down the head as the hair grows. Unless physically removed they can remain in the hair for up to six months. Super Nit is a term given to lice that have genetically mutated after becoming immune to certain chemical treatments. Treating head lice does not need to be expensive, horrendous and time-consuming. If it is for your family, look around for new products that do away with the hassle. Don’t give up. You can make a difference.
Our family story Our experience with treating head lice in our children was not pleasant and left us thinking that there had to be a better way. This led us to spend several years researching and developing a range of products to tackle head lice proactively. We identified the main problems with many treatments were ineffectiveness, harsh chemicals, they were unpleasant to use, impractical and unattractive clinical packaging, time-consuming and complicated treatment processes and of course cost. We're convinced the answer lies in nature and finally deciding on our chosen active ingredients, neem and quassia. The neem tree is indigenous to India and Asia, and every part of the tree can be used for a variety of medicinal ailments. It is often referred to as “the village pharmacy”. Quassia is a shrub indigenous to South America, also known to treat a long list of illnesses in both traditional and western medicine. Both neem and quassia are known for their natural ability to protect themselves from pests and it is this quality that we chose to harness in the fight against headlice. The two plants work as anti-feedants that interfere with the louse’s digestive system, causing them to starve and rendering them incapable of reproducing. We developed a range of products that can be used as a treatment as well as a preventative against head lice, and all are safe to use on a regular basis as your normal everyday hair cleaning routine. This eliminates the need to double up on expensive shampoos and conditioners. It also allows families to be proactive rather than sit back and wait until their kids are already infested. Good luck with tackling head lice!
Nomi Elisar Co-creator of TCJ-Kids Neem head lice treatments, Nomi spent four years in the research and development phase becoming somewhat of a head lice expert in the process. It was an act of desperation after a 10-year struggle with head lice. Nomi lives with her husband and three children in the north of New Zealand.
22 kiwiparent – supporting kiwi parents through the early years
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A team approach Over the following pages you will read about the exciting and ground-breaking group offer that is now available to all Parents Centre members. We are the team who will be working with you to ensure you understand what this offer means for your family – and we’ll be here to support you to make the most of this unique opportunity that is available with no medical underwriting* for a limited time.
Should you have any questions about insurance, you can get advice from a financial adviser. SHARE is a network of Financial Advisers who offer specialist financial advice regarding personal insurance needs. SHARE have a number of advisers around the country, so for more information please call 0800 02 00 55 or email pcnz@sharenz.com SHARE advisers with Parents Centre team: Back Row: Gari dos Santos, Scott Begbie, Fergus Smith, Russel Whitlock, Hayley Kerr, Sonja Barrett, Rowan Shanks, Taslim Pasons (Parents Centre), Dryden Thomson, Terri Maguire, Mark Armstrong and Jim Dowsett. Front Row: Zeke Boggs (Fidelity Life), Sharon Pearce, Michelle Burton and Liz Pearce (Parents Centre), Mark Nalder (Fidelity Life).
Our advisers are some of New Zealand’s top performing specialists. We bring with us the highest level of knowledge and will be able to offer significant insight on which solution is the right one for your family needs. We are driven by a genuine desire to help individuals and families to ensure they have financial security when the unforeseen happens – be it illness or accident. We know this adds more burden to your family at a time when you are already dealing with high levels of stress. Most of the advisers either have young families of their own
(or young grandchildren), so understand first-hand the need to be with them at those times. These chosen advisers can be found right across New Zealand and will work closely with each Centre in your area. We are proud and honoured to have been able to negotiate along with Fidelity Life on behalf of all Parents Centre members an offer which we believe is a first in Australasia. We look forward to meeting with many of you over the coming months.
*Some conditions apply.
Helping Kiwis plan for their future. SHARE is NZ’s largest adviser-owned financial services cooperative. We are a nationwide network with 76 advisers in 21 offices throughout NZ. SHARE advisers work hard to get their clients the right cover for their needs - at an affordable price. Importantly, we will be there to help you when you need it most - at claim time. www.sharenz.com
For more information contact a SHARE adviser on 0800 02 00 55 or email pcnz@sharenz.com
24 SHARE kiwiparent – supporting through the early years - proud to bekiwi in parents partnership with Parents Centre New Zealand and Fidelity Life.
We help protect Kiwis
big and small.
For over 40 years, Fidelity Life has been providing life insurance to Kiwis. If you haven’t already, now is the time to find out how you can protect your family’s future with a New Zealand insurer. To get started, call Terri or Sharon at SHARE on 0800 02 00 55 or email them at pcnz@sharenz.com
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Exclusive offer for Parents Centre members
Protect them now
and in the future Just
$14.75
per person / per month
Limited time only
• $100,000 Life Insurance Cover + $20,000 Trauma Cover * + $10,000 Trauma Cover per child. If both parents buy cover, this becomes $20,000 per child ** . • No health questions for members up to age 45 • Offer only available until 30 June 2017
An exclusive opportunity to provide your family with financial protection – at a parent-friendly price. If you’re an existing Parents Centre member, you can get life insurance cover for your family for only $14.75 per month. Plus, if you’re under the age of 45 there are no prerequisite health questions. This is a limited time offer, available until 30 June 2017. To get started, call Terri or Sharon at SHARE on 0800 02 00 55 or complete the form on the next page and email it to pcnz@sharenz.com
Protecting the NZ way of life Terms and conditions apply
26 Exclusions kiwiparent supporting kiwi parents through the early years for pre-existing –conditions apply. *
**
The maximum payment per child is $20,000.
Application Form Please complete and return: Scan and email to pcnz@sharenz.com or post to SHARE Parent Centre Offer, PO Box 38 455, Wellington Mail Centre 5045.
YOUR DETAILS Member Number
Local Parent Centre Title
Mr
Mrs
Ms
Miss
Mx
Dr
Other
First Name Surname
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Male
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Month
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Year
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Signature
Day
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DECLARATION Your Duty of Disclosure for the Life to be Insured Before you enter a contract of insurance and before your contract of insurance commences you have a duty to disclose to Fidelity Life every matter that is relevant to Fidelity Life’s decision whether to accept the risk of insurance and if so on what terms. If you fail to comply with your duty of disclosure, Fidelity Life may cancel your policy from inception, or at its discretion, alter the amounts and terms of the insurance or decline to consider any claim/s. If Fidelity Life cancels your policy from inception, all premiums paid may be forfeited. I confirm that I have not been diagnosed with any illness or disease that is expected to cause death within 12 months. I confirm that I am a citizen/permanent resident of New Zealand and living in New Zealand. I acknowledge that this application collects personal information about me that I have the right to access and to correct. The information may be used by Fidelity Life, its officers, and third parties for processing on Fidelity Life’s behalf, its reinsurers and its advisers to calculate and administer the policy and for the purposes of promotion of insurance and investment services. This information may also be used for statistical purposes provided I am not identified. The information is securely held by Fidelity Life Assurance Company Limited at 81 Carlton Gore Road, Newmarket, Auckland or at a secure location to be determined by Fidelity Life. The information may be disclosed outside of Fidelity Life’s group of companies where the disclosure is necessary for one or more purposes for which the personal information was collected, to the adviser named on this application (or allocated to my business), where required by law, to the policy owner and with your consent.
Parent Centre Application Form 0417
I declare that I have read the notice explaining duty of disclosure, and have completed or read this application and the information given is true, accurate and complete. I have not withheld or misstated any material fact. No statement affecting this insurance has been made to any representative of Fidelity Life that is not recorded in this application. The information I have provided and the information provided by anyone else on my behalf in this application will form the basis of the contract between Fidelity Life and me. The contract of insurance will not start until Fidelity Life has accepted this application.
A- Excellent Fidelity Life has an A- (Excellent) financial strength rating given by A.M. Best. SECURE A++, A+ (Superior) A, A(Excellent) B++, B+ (Good) VULNERABLE B, BC++, C+ C, CD E F S
(Fair) (Marginal) (Weak) (Poor) (Under Regulatory Supervision) (In liquidation) (Suspended)
The A.M. Best financial strength rating relates to Fidelity Life’s insurance and investment business. For the latest ratings, visit www.ambest.com. The rating should not be read as a recommendation. The scale of which this rating forms part of is available from Fidelity Life. Fidelity Life Assurance Company Limited Auckland – Head Office Fidelity House, 81 Carlton Gore Road, Newmarket 1023 PO Box 37-275, Parnell, Auckland 1151 Telephone: 09 373 4914
Protecting the NZ way of life
If I have provided my contact details in this application, or if I provide them at some stage in the future, I consent to be contacted by Fidelity Life or a SHARE adviser in respect of this application for insurance and any further services. subscribe online at www.kiwiparent.co.nz –
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Name on my account to be debited (acceptor):
Initiator’s authorisation code
0 3 3 0 8 8 8
Name of my bank:
Approved
My bank account number:
3088 Bank
Branch
Account
05/17
Suffix
From the acceptor to my bank: I authorise you to debit my account with the amounts of direct debits from Fidelity Life Assurance Company Limited with the authorisation code specified on this authority in accordance with this authority until further notice. I agree that this authority is subject to: • •
The bank’s terms and conditions that relate to my account, and The specific terms and conditions listed below.
Please include the following information on my bank statement: Authorised signature/s: Date:
/
/
SPECIFIC CONDITIONS RELATING TO NOTICES AND DISPUTES 1. For scheduled payments the initiator is required to give you a written notice of the amount and date of each direct debit in a series of direct debits no less than 10 calendar days before the date of the first direct debit in the series. The notice is to include: • The dates of the debits, and • The amount of each direct debit. • If the initiator proposes to change an amount or date of a direct debit specified in the notice, the initiator is required to give you notice no less than 30 calendar days before the change, or For variable payments the initiator is required to give you a written notice of the amount and date of each direct debit no less than 10 calendar days before the date of the debit, or For customer-initiated payments the initiator may only send a direct debit if you have: • Asked the initiator to send it, and • Agreed the amount of the direct debit, and The initiator is required to give you a written notice of the amount and date of each direct debit no less than the date of the debit.
DDSA 0317
2. I may ask my bank to reverse a direct debit up to 120 calendar days after the debit if: • I don’t receive a written notice of the amount and date of each direct debit from the initiator, or • I receive a written notice but the amount or the date of debiting is different from the amount or the date specified on the notice. 3. If the bank dishonours a direct debit but the initiator sends the direct debit again once within 5 business days of the dishonour, the initiator is not required to give you a second notice of the amount and date of the direct debit.
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Making the best of themselves Wanting the best for their children combined with a lack of junior te reo books was the impetus for two Dunedin mums to start their own bilingual publishing company, Reo Pe-pi. Cousins Kitty Brown and Kirsten Parkinson, of Nga-i Tahu decent, came up with the idea three years ago when they became parents. “When you have little children, you start thinking that you want to make the best of yourself,’’ Kitty said.
have plans for further publication as well as digital copies at a future date. They are focusing on early childhood themes and hope to get their books into early learning centres and schools. www.reopepi.co.nz
“We wanted to make te reo and reading an integral part of our wha-nau. It just so happened that we were thinking along the same lines. There weren’t a lot of te reo books for babies and toddlers available and I thought ‘Well there could definitely be more in this space’.’’ Kitty wrote the books while Kirsten, an artist, illustrated them. All the books and cards are bilingual in te reo Ma-ori and English. The illustrations are original, hand drawn artworks inspired by real life experiences of tamariki and each pukapuka features a glossary and a phonetic guide to help with tricky pronunciation.
As learners ourselves and ma-ma- we feel a strong impulse to enable ourselves and our pe-pi in te reo. We’re keen to produce really simple, user friendly bi-lingual board books in te reo Ma-ori for Ma-ori and Pa-keha- wha-nau alike.
They received a start-up grant from South Island iwi partnership fund Te Pu-tahitanga, and self-published the books with help from editor Fern Whitau and printing company Everbest.
Our passion for Reo Pe-pi has grown from our own wha-nau. Between us we have four tamariki, Joe, Jake, Tama and Mihiata who inspire us and keep us very busy.
Kirsten and Kitty are working to have the titles stocked in bookstores around the country and already
Kitty Brown and Kirsten Parkinson
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What happens
to milk when you breastfeed
30 kiwiparent – supporting kiwi parents through the early years
For the first few days, up to and including the point at which mum’s milk “comes in”, milk production does not depend upon milk being removed from the breast. After those first few days, it is necessary for milk to be regularly removed from the breast (either through your baby sucking or by pumping) to continue milk production. Breasts will begin to shut down milk production within a few days if milk is not regularly and effectively emptied. During the early weeks, if breastfeeding is going well, a mum will often have more milk than baby needs. Many mums also experience varying degrees of leaking and very full breasts – even engorgement – in the early weeks. Don’t worry, this is not the norm for your entire breastfeeding experience but simply a period of adjustment as your body adjusts to the amount of milk your baby (or babies) actually needs. In exclusively breastfed babies, milk intake increases quickly during the first few weeks of life, then stays about the same between one and six months, although it should increase for short periods during growth spurts when baby gets hungry and nurses more. Sometime between six months and a year, when solids are introduced and gradually increased, baby’s milk intake may begin to decrease. After the first six weeks to around three months the high prolactin level (the protein that enables mammals to produce milk) gradually decreases to the lower levels which is normal for breastfeeding older babies. Around this time, the mother’s breasts may feel less full, leaking may decrease or stop, let-down
may become less noticeable, and the amount of milk produced when pumping may decrease. These are all normal changes and do not necessarily mean that milk supply has decreased.
Are there different types of breastmilk? The breast only makes one type of milk, which has a relatively high fat content, but because of the mechanics of the way the breast releases milk, the amount of fat in the milk gradually changes as baby’s feed progresses. Foremilk is the term for the milk (lower in fat) available at the beginning of a feeding; hindmilk is the term for the milk at the end of a feed, which has a higher fat content than the milk at the beginning of that particular feeding. There is no sharp cut off between foremilk and hindmilk – the change is gradual. Research from the Hartmann Human Lactation Research Group tells us that fat content of the milk is primarily determined by the emptiness of the breast – the less milk in the breast, the higher the fat content.
A newborn baby has only three demands. They are warmth in the arms of its mother, food from her breasts, and security in the knowledge of her presence. Breastfeeding satisfies all three. Grantly Dick-Read
Supporting successful breastfeeding We are dedicated to encouraging breastfeeding and provide a range of breastcare accessories to help you with some challenges you may face along the way. Our disposable breast pads with their contoured shape are discrete, silky soft and superabsorbent with unique moisture channels and a one-way barrier which traps moisture inside the pad. Our thermopads can be used warm to stimulate milk flow or cold to soothe sore and engorged breasts.
Available from and other leading retailers Follow us on Facebook www.philips.co.nz/avent
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Do breasts need time to refill after a feed? Milk is produced at all times, not just between feeds. Between feeds, milk collects in the mother’s breasts. As you would expect, the amount of milk stored in the breast is greater when there has been a longer time between feeds. The milk storage capacity in the breast between feeds varies significantly from one mum to the next and is not related to breast size – women with small breasts can breastfeed as successfully as bigger busted women. For most women there is not a great deal of storage room. Although mums with both low and high milk storage capacities can produce
enough milk for their babies, mothers with a greater capacity may be able to go longer between feedings without impacting milk supply.
available milk. Trying to completely empty a breast is like trying to empty a river. It’s impossible, since more milk will keep flowing in while milk is being removed.
Many people mistakenly think that once the breasts are completely emptied they will need time to refill before baby feeds again. This is not how milk production works. Breastmilk is being produced at all times, so the breast is actually never totally empty.
Research also tells us that the emptier the breast, the faster the breast makes milk. So when baby removes a large percentage of milk from the breast, milk production will speed up in response.
Research has shown that babies do not take all the milk available from the breast – the amount that baby drinks depends on their appetite. The amount of milk removed from the breast varies from feed to feed, but averages around 75–80% of the
Waiting a set amount of time to feed your baby because you believe that breasts need time to “refill” is actually counterproductive. Delaying nursing will lead to decreased milk supply over time because milk production slows when milk accumulates in the breast.
www.humanlactationresearchgroup.com
GET SUPPORT IN MANY WAYS MEET breastfeeding mothers CONTACT a trained breastfeeding counsellor READ a book from our library BROWSE our website JOIN for Aroha magazine BUY books and leaflets DONATE to help La Leche League help more mums like you
32 kiwiparent – supporting kiwi parents through the early years
help@lalecheleague.org.nz | facebook.com/LLLNZ
|
lalecheleague.org.nz
Protecting tiny tummies from harmful germs Good hygiene is crucial in baby’s first year. Sterilising is all about protecting your baby from harmful bacteria until their immune system is strong enough. Our range of steam sterilisers are quick, effective and chemical free.
If things aren’t working out, get help early Breastfeeding should feel good – if it doesn’t, start again, as letting baby suck the wrong way can cause problems. Slip your finger in the side of your baby’s mouth to break the seal and try again. If you feel pain in your nipples or breasts get help by contacting one of the following: your midwife or other lead maternity carer your local Well Child/Tamariki Ora nurse your Plunket nurse family Centres La Leche League A lactation consultant – hospital-based or private. Phone your local maternity hospital or 0800 452 282 (during the day) to find the name of one a breastfeeding clinic near you. For help and information please call the Well Child Telephone Advice Service on 0800 611 116 or PlunketLine on 0800 933 922 If the advice isn’t working or you’re not happy with it, get a second opinion.
Available from and other leading retailers Follow us on Facebook www.philips.co.nz/avent
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On becoming a
domestic
diva
34 kiwiparent – supporting kiwi parents through the early years
Just to make it perfectly clear – I hate cleaning. Cleaning feels like an eternal battle against an infinitely respawning enemy – every time you finally slay that pile of dishes that’s been taunting you with its growing size and unbalanced-ness, it comes back the next day to torment you, and the next day, and the next, wave after wave after wave… And when you’re a single parent, time is not on your side, so there are soooo many other things I’d rather be doing with my time than tidying up that minefield of toys for the umpteenth time. Make no mistake, I’m not one of those weird people who love cleaning, or have a compulsion to ensure the kitchen is thoroughly sterilised every time I make a sandwich. My ideal scenario would be having the ability to summon a cleaning-apparatusequipped Gilgamesh to take care of the chores while I do anything else not cleaning-related. However, once you enter One Player solo parent mode it’s an unfortunate reality that you’re probably going to be in charge of a household by yourself, which means you’re the only one who can keep it habitable (until your children are old enough to help you/get tricked into doing it for you). So, if you’re not sure which end of the toilet brush to use, or you can’t guess the original colour of your shower floor anymore, it’s time you unlocked your own Domestic God Mode. Here are some of the strategies I have developed to dominate my household cleaning routines:
Defeating the dishes Of all the domestic cleaning tasks I need to do on a regular basis, washing dishes is the one that I hate the most. Dirty dishes are the everlasting Zombie mode of your home life. I can vacuum once or twice a week, do the washing a few times a week, but dishes somehow magically appear after every meal.
Vanquish the dreaded task when your energy is highest… And they’re the last thing I want to do after putting my daughter down to bed and finally managing to sneak out of her room without waking her. More often than not, I’d find myself doing dishes at ridiculous hours of the evening, after my daughter was asleep and all the other chores had been done. Not. Fun. At. All. I finally worked out the best way to manage this task is to make it my priority when my energy is the highest – whether that be straight after dinner, or right after I put my daughter to bed. If I sit down for a while to relax or do some other work, minutes add up quickly and my energy for doing my most hated of chores decays significantly. Whether it be the dishes or some other regular task that takes the top spot in your most hated list, bite the bullet and get it out the way first so you can relax sooner.
Clean as you go, or at least rinse/stack dishwasher When you finally get down to the dishes, you know what sucks? Trying to contend with baked on food crap. If you can wash dishes as you go during the cooking process you can combine two tasks into one time period, or at least rinse off/soak the dirty ones to weaken them before you come back to finish them off.
Cooking up a storm If you’re going to cook, you might as well save yourself some time and effort and cook double, triple or more and save portions for later. Cooking extra usually doesn’t add much more to prep and cooking time, but being able to save yourself cooking a whole meal the next
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Cooking = Prep + Pickup Handy hint This is a little trick I learned recently, which is handy for being able to defrost meat as quickly as possible. I used to portion up meat into ziplock freezer bags and squeeze the air out of the bags so they end up in cylinder-like shapes to save space, however when it comes to defrosting this shape is inefficient as the meat in the middle takes longer to defrost. By flattening the bag before freezing it, it has a larger surface area and less meat inside the middle of the bag which helps it defrost much quicker.
day is a huge time and effort saver (as well as saving clean up – and if it’s not clear yet, I hate doing dishes!). On the nights I have my daughter, I usually cook a ‘family’ sized meal and divide the leftovers into lunches and/or dinners for the evenings I don’t have her, or freeze. This saves me time and energy on the nights I don’t have her, because the last thing I want to be doing on the nights I don’t have my daughter is… you’ve guessed it, more cooking and more dishes! It also saves time and money on preparing lunches for work, and my work colleagues are always commenting on how good my lunches smell when I’m heating them up in the kitchen.
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I learned this strategy from Tim Ferris’s book The 4 Hour Chef. Professional chefs do not prepare and cook a meal in one go, rather they do the ‘prep’ work (cutting vegetables/meat, pre-cooking parts of meals) hours or even days prior to the ‘pickup’ or actual cooking of the food, so that everything is ready to go and the least amount of work is needed when it comes to cooking the meal. By doing as much of the ‘prep’ work as you can before you need to cook, you can significantly cut down your time in the kitchen before meal time, which is very useful when you’re cooking for cheeky little monkeys who can get up to mischief as soon as your back’s turned for a second. On the nights I have my daughter during the work week, I’ll do as much of the evening meal prep as I can either the night before or in the morning before work and lay out all the tools I need in the kitchen, so that as soon as I get home it's go time, and I can get straight to business without having to worry about laborious prep work.
Stick the tools where you need them! One of the (many) things I sucked at cleaning-wise was cleaning the bathroom mirror. I’m usually too busy staring at my reflection to notice the toothpaste scum accumulating on the mirror’s surface. When I moved into my own place in One Player mode, my thought process for cleaning the mirror usually went something like this:
“Hmm, that mirror looks a bit dirty, should probably clean it…glass cleaner’s upstairs, so are the paper towels…which means I have to go all the way up there and come back, then take it back upstairs…yeaahhh, maybe later.” Or, “Ok, that’s it, this mirror is getting way too dirty! Time to clean it. Where’s the cleaning stuff? Oh yeah, upstairs… (goes upstairs)…hmm…why did I come up here again? Oh look, the fridge. I’m hungry! (Later) I’m sure there was another reason I came upstairs…oh well, internets!” I finally worked out how to solve this problem by using a principle described by Ramit Sethi, personal finance author/blogger at iwillteachyoutoberich.com. In one of his articles he describes how he increased his gym attendance by putting his gym clothes right beside his bed before goes to sleep, so that when he wakes up in the morning his feet hit his shoes as soon as he gets out of bed. Doing this eliminated some of the major psychological barriers he had that were preventing him from getting up early in the morning to go to the gym, and his attendance rate skyrocketed. Using this idea, I now keep the glass cleaner and a roll of paper towels within arm's reach of the mirror (but out of reach of little hands!) so that when I finally stop looking at myself and notice the dirt, the tools I need to get it sparkly clean are close at hand.
Wipes for everything! One thing I’ve learned in having to clean a whole apartment for flat inspections, is that baby wipes do a great job of cleanups for far more than the baby bottoms they were originally designed for. Bathroom walls need cleaning? Baby wipes! Appliances getting dusty? Baby wipes! Kitchen floor needs a clean up? Baby wipes! Window sills need cleaning? You know the drill. They’re not for everything, but when you need to clean something quick, they can’t be beat.
Use 80/20 rule for tidying The Pareto principle states that for many events, around 80% of results come from 20% of causes. For example, a general rule of thumb in business is that 80% of sales come from 20% of customers; and by contrast, 80% of complaints come from 20% of customers (I’m guessing a different 20%). In my ongoing search for efficiency and time-saving, I try to find ways to apply this rule in as many areas of my life as possible (to compensate for the many other areas of my life where I’m not so efficient). When facing the aftermath of a toddler tornado having laid waste to the apartment, I used to stare blankly at the carnage wondering where to start. Now, by applying the lens of the 80/20 rule, I try to work out the quickest way to get it close enough to tidy without having to put every single toy back in its place. Focusing on one or two things that are taking up the most space, such as a Megablocks minefield or clothes airer obstacle
course, can make a huge difference and give you the quick wins you need.
Shake it off, shake it off! Yes, give in to your inner T-Swift…ahh, I mean… ummm…wait, what was I saying? Oh yeah. Washingslash-laundry. If you need to do ironing on a regular basis, this trick is a lifesaver. I found this tip posted on a menswear store’s Facebook page with a bold “You’re Welcome” underneath. Well, thank you very much indeed Mr Star-Lord, because this tip is indeed the business (shirt). Giving your shirts, jeans, tshirts etc. a sharp shake-out before you hang them on the line decreases creases like you wouldn’t believe. I’m not sure if this is a thing that everyone knows and I missed the boat on, but I only learned it recently and it cuts my ironing time down significantly. Shake it off, indeed.
Open windows when drying clothes indoors Most of my adult life, I’ve lived in apartments or houses where I’ve had limited or no access to outdoor clothes lines. Due to this, I’ve become familiar with the art of strategically hanging my clothes on indoor clothes airers to maximise airflow and dry my laundry as efficiently as possible (I’ve even tried researching this online…yes, I’m that weird). One thing that helps the indoor clothes drying process is to open windows in the room your clothes are hanging to increase airflow and help move moisture out of your clothes and into the great beyond. I usually find myself doing washing during the evenings after I put my daughter to sleep, so before I go to bed I’ll open a window near where the clothes are hanging, and in the morning they’re well on their way to being dry. I know, I said I was weird…
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Using micro-breaks to chip away at domestic tasks As a child, Bruce Lee’s family nicknamed him ‘Mo si ting’ which translates to ‘never sits still’ due to his active nature. I tended to fidget a lot as a child, and still do, so Lee and I are essentially the same person. It’s a habit I try to harness to take advantage of the short moments when I can chip away at cleaning tasks while waiting for other things to happen. While waiting for the jug to boil and my cup of tea to brew, I’ll unload the dishwasher or stack the dishes. If I’m heating something up in the microwave, I’ll try to use that time to give the living room a whip around, or wipe the table down if it’s still dirty from when we last ate. Another way to have little cleaning breaks is to crank up a song and give yourself til the end of the track to clean as much as you can. “I Want To Break Free” by Queen is relevant, but something that gets you motivated is key.
Apartment inspections – spread out the cleaning plan And finally, the big daddy of them all if you’re renting – the apartment inspection. I have quarterly apartment inspections which, on the face of it, is a major inconvenience (“I have to clean the toilet AGAIN? But I did that last year!”). However, it’s actually a blessing in disguise because it forces me to keep the apartment in a habitable state by requiring me to attend to those areas that I would normally not worry about, like bathroom/kitchen walls, dusting, and cleaning windowsills. “But wait – I’ve gotta clean this whole place by myself?!” Well, yes – unfortunately, if you’re living in a place on your own and your children aren’t old/ competent enough to help, that’s the reality of the situation. Unless you can somehow con your friends/ family into helping you out with bribes/blackmail/ other coercive techniques, or pay a professional to clean it for you (which might not be a bad idea if your
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budget permits), you’re on your own. This is the ship I’m in, so when it’s coming up to inspection time I get my ‘Method Man’ on and break down cleaning my apartment into a manageable work plan. My property manager sends me an email two weeks out from the inspection date as a reminder, so once I get the email I create a ‘to-do’ list on my phone with a list of all the cleaning jobs that need to be done. I put them in order from tasks that can be done now and will still be relatively clean by inspection date (like cleaning the fridge, window sills) to tasks to do a few days out (tidy my office, vacuum, clean oven) and finally things to do the night before which will be messy right up until the last day (put away toys, mop floors). Spreading it out over two weeks saves spending a whole evening cleaning the night before the inspection date (which I ended up having to do before my last inspection due to being busy and poor planning – the exhaustion at the end of the night was a great reminder to get my plan sorted better next time!).
IDDQD – Domestic God Mode Activated So there you have it, some of my strategies for keeping your home in a livable state, if only until the next onslaught of cleaning chores respawns and challenges you once more.
Ben Tafau Ben is the author of The 1 Player Dad Strategy Guide and 1PlayerDad.com. He’s a single dad with shared care of an amazing 3-year-old daughter, and writes about his journey playing the parenting game in ‘1 Player Mode’ in Wellington.
Supporting parents through the early years because great parents grow great children Parents Centres are passionate about the importance of quality parenting and how this affects children’s futures.
In this section Exciting new partnership announced
Each stage of child development is so very different so we offer programmes for all stages – from your pregnancy and those memorable first newborn months right through to the developing years and onto school age.
Rolling for a good cause
We know what it takes to be an effective parent. While it can be hugely rewarding it can also be very challenging and we focus on giving parents the knowledge and tools they require to raise capable, confident and contributing children and give them the best start in life.
Spotlight on Baby and You Programme
Thumbs up to the new Early Pregnancy Programme
We are well known for our expertly facilitated Childbirth Education classes, using qualified educators, but that’s not all we do! Our renowned parent education programmes focus on children up to 6 years of age and include: Baby and You – advice and tips on surviving and enjoying those first months with your newborn. Moving and Munching – exploring your baby’s first foods and developmental stages. Music and Movement – stimulating music activities for your baby and toddler. Tinies to Tots – your emerging adventurous toddler and coping strategies.
To locate a Centre near you and to find out more about programmes running in your area visit:
www.parentscentre.org.nz
Parenting with Purpose – consciously focusing on how you want to parent your child. Magic Moments – strategies for discipline and communication with your child. Return to Work – advice for parents on returning to the paid workforce after taking time out to have children. Our Centres throughout New Zealand also run numerous other specialised courses, primarily driven by local needs, including the brand new Early Pregnancy Programme which is being piloted at present, profiled on page 42.
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A perfect fit Building community health hubs As a not-for-profit organisation, strategic partnerships and alliances are essential to our organisation and enable us to fund the work we do as well as provide resources and benefits to our Centres and – most importantly – our membership. When we enter these partnerships we make certain there is a philosophical alignment between our organisation and the company. I am convinced that, as New Zealand’s largest network of pharmacies Life and Unichem are a perfect fit for our organisation and will enable us to work towards building community health hubs in every region. Our relationship with a community pharmacist often begins when we are pregnant and have small children. Pharmacists are trusted clinicians that have a wealth of advice that can help a new parent in the early days and throughout their parenting journey. Your local pharmacy has the expertise, services, products and care and advice you need to support your family’s health and wellness.
on several member benefits and I look forward to sharing them with you in the very near future. Taslim Parsons Social Enterprise Manager Parents Centre New Zealand Inc
With a presence in New Zealand communities since the early 1980's, Unichem is a familiar local health professional. Unichem offers care and advice, products and services which you, and your family, can trust for all your health and wellness needs. Life Pharmacy also offers a full range of health, wellness and luxury beauty products to keep you looking good and feeling great. Alison Van Wyk Group Manager Professional Services Green Cross Health
I believe that this unique partnership benefits not only our two organisations, and our Centres at a regional level, but most importantly, families nationwide. We are working
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“The Jaffa Race is an awesome example of how a partnership between business and community can help achieve better outcomes for New Zealand families. The support of Cadbury means every dollar raised goes into services and support at our 46 local Parents Centres” Kim Black Funding Manager
Every year Taieri Parents Centre takes the lead in organising the race and coordinating ticket sales on behalf of all centres. This is a massive effort by Taieri Parents Centre volunteers and is much appreciated by our Centres. Funds raised in 2016 have enabled Taieri to offer free childbirth education classes in their community, as well as building a new outdoor deck area and more secure fencing at their centre premises.
Every dollar raised supports Centres nationwide For over a decade Parents Centre have been involved in the Jaffa Race, part of the Cadbury Chocolate Carnival in Dunedin.
Please support our fundraising by purchasing some Jaffa tickets. There are always fantastic prizes. This year they include grocery vouchers, petrol vouchers and chocolate hampers. To purchase you can contact your local centre through www.parentscentre.org.nz Or keep an eye on our Facebook page facebook.com/ParentsCentres
How it works
Each year $25,000 is raised to support Parents Centres across New Zealand, with each centre keeping all the proceeds of their ticket sales, ensuring local communities benefit.
25,000 tickets per race. Tickets $1 each.
This year we are delighted to be recipients of the 2017 Jaffa Race on Friday 21st July. The past few months have been a difficult time for Cadbury’s staff and the Dunedin community. The Chocolate Carnival and the Jaffa Race were created and are run by Cadbury Dunedin staff to raise money for local community groups. This race is a fantastic opportunity to support your local centre with fundraising for pregnancy, childbirth and parent education and support services. Tickets are just $1 each with every cent going directly to local services.
The ticket with numbers which correspond to the numbers of the first 5 Cadbury Jaffas down the chute at the bottom of Baldwin Street per race will win one of five prizes. Results will be announced following each Jaffa Race and published in the Otago Daily Times and at:
100% of ticket sale goes to the charity organising the race.
www.chocolatecarnival.co.nz www.taieriparentscentre.co.nz
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Thumbs up to the new Early Pregnancy Programme Our Early Pregnancy Programme has been met with great enthusiasm and excitement in the communities of the regions where this programme is being piloted. The midwives have been very keen to embrace this programme, and encourage their clients to attend. Greymouth Parents Centre began their programme on 27th March and Cambridge Parents Centre started offering this programme on 20th April. We are working with Hamilton, Tauranga and Ashburton Parents Centres to support its implementation into their communities over the next few months. By the end of the year we want to be able to offer this through all Centres across New Zealand. We have been thrilled with the support from our strategic partners, and in particular, Beef and Lamb, PORSE/Au Pair Link and Baby on the Move who have provided resources and promotion. Sally Hastie from Cambridge was one of the first to sign up for the Early Pregnancy Programme at her local centre. “I want to be able to learn about the development of my baby and the different stages we both go through during the pregnancy,” Sally explains. “As well as to learn about ways I can help us both to be the healthiest and strongest we can be. The chance of meeting other mums and forming relationships for future friendships and support is also very appealing.” Sally is also looking forward to learning new ways of being able to make her husband feel more included with the pregnancy, as well as having the opportunity to learn all about their baby and ask any early questions
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or talk about concerns that we have in a safe environment. “Knowing what options we have so that we can start creating a plan for our baby's birth and future family life early in our pregnancy is very exciting,” she says. One of the many topics offered in this programme is a discussion around antenatal anxiety. There is clear evidence of a correlation between antenatal anxiety and postnatal depression. Understanding the symptoms early in pregnancy, its implications and gathering tools for managing this potentially challenging time prepares parents for the rollercoaster of emotions that pregnancy and parenting can bring. If you are keen for your Centre to offer this programme, please let them know! You will find your Centre’s contact details on the Parents Centre website. Liz Pearce Pregnancy, Childbirth and Parent Education Manager, Parents Centres New Zealand
To find out more about the topics and outline of the programme visit: www.parentscentre.org.nz/ childbirtheducation/ whatischildbirtheducation.asp
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Each edition of Kiwiparent will profile one of Parents Centre's renowned parent education programmes.
This month the spotlight is on:
Baby and You Early parenthood is a life-changing experience into which we all go unrehearsed. The ‘Baby and You’ programme follows on from antenatal classes and offers sound tips and strategies as you begin your remarkable journey into parenthood. In your newborn child, you have a very special little individual who will grow and develop with your care and guidance. Contributing to the growth and development of your child can be hugely rewarding. To see your baby smile, play and grow – so helpless and dependent – can be an extraordinary experience. You will have feelings of tenderness, closeness and a sense of awe at the miracles of ‘first milestones’ – smiling, crawling, steps and games. But with a new baby comes uncharted waters. Your tiny bundle may rule the entire household through their routines, sleep patterns and behaviours. This can be very challenging. Many parents, particularly new mums, find the information and support in the ‘Baby and You’ programme extremely helpful in managing the challenges, and making the most of the rewards, that a new baby brings into their lives. Parents Centre believes strongly in the strength of support networks in getting through – and enjoying! – those early months. Firm friendships are often formed between course participants, through shared experiences and understandings. Discussion topics include issues around postnatal realities, indentifying physical, emotional and relationship changes. For example: what are some successful infant feeding practices? How do you handle other people’s often well-meaning advice about
feeding? There are often very simple strategies for coping, and discussing issues as they arise is often the first step to successful feeding. Discovering that other new parents experience similar difficulties or have the same questions can be hugely supportive. Babies grow quickly and they go through a variety of stages. ‘Baby and You’ explores the first three months of your baby’s life and gives practical information about stimulation for babies, age-appropriate toys and the key milestones of your baby’s growth. The programme also recognises the heavy demands babies have on parents’ time and attention. It is common for parents to experience a loss of independence, a huge lack of sleep and worries around employment and financial changes. Included is a section on self-care strategies for parents – it’s a challenging time and let’s not forget to meet the needs of mum – and dad! Baby and you is proudly supported by Johnson and Johnson and AVENT SUPPORTING HEALTHY BABY DEVELOPMENT
Participating in the ‘Baby and You’ programme will give you the much-needed tools over those first uncertain months to enable you to grow in confidence. Your baby, and you, will benefit enormously.
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Find a Centre near you Parents Centres span the entire country with 47 locations around New Zealand. Contact your local Centre for details of programmes and support available in your area, or go to:
www.parentscentre.org.nz
North Island Auckland Region 1 Wha-nga-rei
Bay of Plenty
Waitemata
Whakatane
Bays North Harbour
Rotorua
Hibiscus Coast
Taupo
Onewa
Taranaki
Auckland Region 2
New Plymouth
Auckland East
Stratford
Papakura
South Taranaki
Manukau
East Coast North Island
Franklin
Central Hawke's Bay
Auckland Region 3
Hawke's Bay
West Auckland
Central Districts
Central Auckland
Palmerston North
East & Bays
Wairarapa
Waikato
Wellington
Hamilton
Kapiti
Cambridge
Lower Hutt
Putaruru
Mana
Otorohanga
Upper Hutt
Morrinsville
Wellington North
Thames-Hauraki
Wellington South
Tauranga
South Island Northern South Island Nelson Marlborough Greymouth Canterbury Region Ashburton Christchurch Timaru Oamaru Southern Region Alexandra Balclutha Dunedin Gore Taieri
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Hitting Hitting is often how kids show their frustration. It’s hard not to overreact, but how you handle it will affect how long the hitting continues. Here are some ways to prevent your child hitting and things to do when they lash out.
Make sure everyone at home is setting a good example Do you, or anyone else in your house, hit or smack? If you do, kids quickly learn it’s OK to use force to get what they want, so make sure everyone at home is showing by example how to deal with frustration without lashing out. Remind your kids regularly to use gentle hands, especially in situations where they might be getting frustrated and more likely to hit. Encourage them to use their words rather than their hands to solve squabbles and give them specific praise when they do well, eg “Ka pai! I like the way you asked for that toy instead of grabbing it off your sister – well done!“ Help older siblings understand younger ones are still learning to use gentle hands. Explain that their brother or sister is ‘just learning,’ like they had to when they were that age. If you can, share a funny story about when they were little.
Focus on the person who has been hurt Avoid giving your child attention after they’ve hit someone. Instead show immediate concern for the person who has been hit. Say something like, “It’s not fun when someone hurts you, is it?” This helps your child realise how their behaviour has affected other
people and made them feel sad. It also prevents them from getting attention for negative behaviour.
Have reasonable and related consequence for hitting Clearly explain what will happen if they hit – “If you hit your sister, you will need to play on your own for a while.” You might need to remove them physically to stop them hitting – try to do this firmly and calmly, not roughly. By calmly removing the hitter and making them play on their own, you’re giving them a logical consequence for the unwanted behaviour.
Have a ‘gentle hands’ rule If the same rule applies to everyone in the family, your child will be more likely to stick to it. Draw a picture together as a reminder and stick it on the fridge, add your family rule – ‘We always use gentle hands in our house.’
Try time out… or time in If the hitting continues, a ‘time out’ space might be needed. If you do decide to use time out, be consistent and focus only on one behaviour at a time to avoid confusing your child. Another option is ‘time in’, where you remove your child from the situation but stay with them until they calm down. This might be a gentler option than time out, especially for younger children – when kids feel better they usually behave better Sometimes if a toy is causing arguments, you could try putting the toy in ‘time out’ instead.
Prepared with the assistance of SKIP www.skip.org.nz For support, information or advice call PlunketLine 0800 933 922 24 hours, 7 days a week.
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Peace of mind Buying bassinettes & cots
One of the safest places for anyone should be tucked snugly in their warm, cosy bed for a restful night’s sleep. Babies and young children in particular need a safe sleeping environment so their parents can leave them to rest, confident that they will come to no harm. Tragically, every year we lose far too many Kiwi babies who die suddenly in their sleep. Heartbreakingly, many of these deaths could have been prevented. Babies can suffocate during sleep due to unsafe cots and bassinettes when the infant’s face, neck or chest become wedged between sleeping surfaces and bedding. This is called ‘unintentional suffocation’ and is preventable. The risk can be minimised if the right precautions are taken when purchasing sleep products. According to the Child Youth Mortality Review Committee (CYMRC) some infant deaths occurred when cots and bassinettes had an incorrectly sized mattress that allowed for wedging between the mattress and the base of the cot. Another common factor was that the sides of the cot were faulty and allowed babies to slip through and become trapped. In New Zealand, many infant products are covered by standards which aim to prevent these injuries or at least reduce the risk. The CYMRC emphasises the following guidelines for families and wha-nau when they buy cots or bassinettes.
Mandatory standard When looking to buy a cot – either new or second-hand – it is important to ensure that it is compliant with the mandatory safety standard AS/NZS 2172:2003. All cots sold in New Zealand must comply with this standard. It requires that the cot must not have any gaps or protrusions that could trap a child or catch their clothing, and it must not have any sharp edges. Additionally, the sides must be high enough to stop a small child climbing out and there should not be any footholds.
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It is important to note that if a cot is old or damaged, it may no longer meet the requirements of the standard. Also, products bought overseas might not comply with NZ safety standards. When buying a cot or bassinette always make sure you get good assembly instructions as you will need to know how to set up the product and use it safely – not always a straightforward task! If you are buying second-hand, check the manufacturer’s website to see if the instructions can be downloaded.
What to look for when buying a bassinette While there are no Australian or New Zealand safety standards for bassinettes, there are helpful guidelines to use when you are looking at different options: The bassinette should be sturdy and durable with a wide base.
by the Standard No and a Licence No) or the Australian ‘tick’ mark. There may also be some other certification body’s logo referenced. If you are buying a second-hand cot, look it over carefully: Check there are no broken or wobbly bars. All bolts and screws should be firmly in place and not protruding. The corner posts should not stick up more than 5mm. Make sure the mattress fits the cot snugly, and that there are no gaps which would allow a child to become trapped beneath the mattress. The mattress should be firm and flat.
Safe sleeping for babies
Mesh sides provide good ventilation.
Put babies to sleep on their backs so they can breathe unobstructed, and make sure there is no bedding nearby that might cover their faces. Avoid using pillows or loose blankets, remove any cords from bedding, and ensure there are no gaps in their bed in which they might become wedged.
What to look for when buying a cot
Make sure babies sleep in a smoke-free environment and that the room is not too hot, so they will not overheat while sleeping.
As soon as babies can support their own weight and lift themselves, or when they outgrow their bassinette, they should transition into a cot. Look for a certification mark that shows the product complies with the AS/ NZS 2172, such as the ‘S’ mark (must be accompanied
Ensure the person looking after the baby is sober, drug-free and alert to the baby’s needs.
The mattress should be firm and fit snugly around all sides with no gaps larger than 25mm. There should be no sharp edges or protrusions that could hurt a baby or snag their clothing.
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What to look for when buying a portable cot Again, there are no Australian or New Zealand safety standards that apply to portable or folding cots, but there are some key things to watch out for:
Find out more The Health Quality and Safety Commission www.hqsc.govt.nz The Commerce Commission www.comcom.govt.nz
Avoid cots that have puffy fabric sides. The cot should have two locking mechanisms to prevent it from collapsing accidentally. The cot should be stable and have good base support. The mattress should fit snugly with no gaps at the sides or ends. Only use a mattress that was designed specifically for the cot. Inside the cot, there should be no footholds that could allow the child to climb out. Make sure there are no protrusions or sharp edges. There should be no gaps that could trap a child’s finger, limb or head. If the cot has a removable base, check that it is firmly secured. Mesh sides give good ventilation and allow you to easily see the child. A pocket on the outside of the cot is good for storing small items or toys.
Some key features that meet AS/NZS 2172regulations Space between bars between 50–95mm No protrusions (which measure more than 5mm) that a child could fall on or could snag clothing (for example, nuts and corner posts) Minimum depth of 600mm from the mattress base to the lowest point on any side or end No horizontal or diagonal bars or other fixtures that would allow a child to climb over the sides Space between the cot ends and sides and mattress sides no more than 20mm when the mattress is centred Permanent warning and information label on mattress base.
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48 kiwiparent – supporting kiwi parents through the early years
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In the blink of an eye
You look away for a second and suddenly there’s a scream. Your toddler has fallen off the couch onto a pile of lego and cut her lip. Blood everywhere and plenty of tears. Or your baby who has just learned to crawl starts choking – goodness knows what he has found to put in his mouth. Would you know what to do? As bumps and scrapes are just a normal part of growing up, it is pretty certain that you will have to stock up on plasters and antiseptic cream as your little bundles of joy become small dynamos fuelled by curiosity and energy. But it is useful to have some basic first aid skills so that you can cope with most family first aid emergencies in the home.
Choking and suffocating While it’s natural for babies and young children to put things in their mouths, there are lots of things that bring a heightened risk of choking or suffocation: small hard pieces of food like apple, meat and whole nuts small toys
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long things like ties and ribbons which can get caught on furniture, and strangle a baby (or a baby might suck on them and choke) plastic bags, as they can fit over a baby’s head and suffocate them. You can make your house safe from choking and suffocation in these ways: Vacuum and sweep floors regularly to make sure there are no loose or broken parts where children play. Remove ties and ribbons from the neck of your baby’s clothes. Keep small objects out of reach. Encourage your child to sit down when they’re eating and drinking – if children eat while they are playing or running, they might choke. Tie a knot in plastic bags and keep them out of reach. Read the labels on your child’s toys for a warning about small parts. Anything smaller than a golf ball is a choking hazard for children under five. Check around the cot for cords, toys and low mobiles. Remove anything they could twist around
their neck or fingers, or pull over their head. (See article on cot safety on page 46 of this issue.) Don’t using bumper-pads, because the pads can suffocate and ties can strangle.
What to do if your baby is choking If baby can still breathe or cry, let them cough the object out. But if baby can’t breathe, cry or cough dial 111 and then take the following actions:
Avoid toys tied to the cot, or toys with elastic, ribbons or strings. Take baby’s bib off before putting them to bed. Place the cot away from curtain and blind cords, and keep them rolled up and out of reach. Always remove the original plastic wrapping from mattresses.
Here are some simple first aid techniques you can use if your child gets hurt.
Lay baby face down on your forearm, supporting their head and jaw in your hand. Use the heel of your free hand to give five firm blows between the shoulder blades.
Grazes, cuts and bruises can be painful, so starting with a cuddle and a calm voice can help to comfort a child. If they think you are panicking they will be more distressed.
If this doesn’t dislodge the object, and baby is still unresponsive, start CPR.
If your child is bleeding: Apply pressure to the wound with a clean cloth for a few minutes. Raising the injured part may help to slow down the bleeding. But if the bleeding won’t stop, or if blood is spurting out, keep pressure on the area and call 111 urgently. Cleaning wounds such as grazes and cuts helps to stop infections. Many wounds contain dirt and small stones, which can cause infection. Wash your hands before starting to clean the wound then wash the area gently with soap and clean water. If you can’t remove the dirt, take your child to the doctor.
Turn baby face up on your arm or lap. Put your middle and index fingers at the centre of baby’s breastbone, about one fingerbreadth below the nipples and give 30 hard and quick thrusts to the chest. Don’t worry about pushing too hard – good CPR means you need to push hard and fast.
If the wound seems clean, leave it to heal without any treatment, simply cover it with a dressing for the first day or two. This can help keep the wound clean and may make your child feel better. Avoid dressings that might stick to the wound. Wounds can become infected easily and the infection can spread around the wound, and sometimes to the whole body. See a doctor if you think a wound is infected.
Go to the doctor if any of these things happen: the area around the cut, scratch or graze gets red, swollen or painful
Once you have completed 30 pushes on the chest, breathe into baby’s mouth two times. Keep the head in a neutral position with one hand, seal your lips around bay’s mouth and nose, and gently puff into baby until you see the chest rise. Remove your mouth, take a fresh breath, and puff into baby again.
you notice any pus red lines on the skin spread out from the infected area
Continue with the cycle of chest compressions alternating with two breaths until the ambulance arrives. Don’t give up!
your child feels unwell or has a fever.
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A bloody nose Sit your child upright and pinch the nose just below the middle until the bleeding stops – about 10 minutes. Try to encourage your child to breathe through their mouth. If your child’s nose bleeds often, see a doctor to get treatment for the cause.
Burns Contact with any source of heat can cause a burn or scald injury – hot metal or electricity, hot liquid or steam. Clothing over the area may retain the heat and cause further injury so remove it quickly and carefully. Remove the heat source from the patient, or the patient from the heat source, whichever is easiest. Immediately cool the affected area for up to 20 minutes using cool running water from a tap or shower. You could use a first aid burn gel in place of water, provided there is enough to cover the burn.
Get your first aid kit sorted Keep your first aid kit in a handy location to ensure it can be easily found – the kitchen or bathroom are good places but make sure it is in a secure place out of reach of small people. Regularly review the contents of your kit to make sure supplies are topped up (bet you will need more plasters), and that creams and other items haven’t passed their expiry dates.
If your child is badly injured, or the burn is causing significant pain or involves the eyes, call an ambulance. See a doctor if the burn is causing ongoing pain, or involves the face, hands, joints or genitals.
Check the water temperature from your hot tap – a safe temperature is no more than 50 degrees Celsius. Ask a plumber how the water can be lowered to a safe temperature.
A good basic home first aid kit should include: antiseptic wipes crepe bandages eye pads an instant ice pack non-adhesive pads non-woven swabs a resuscitation mask or aid saline solution scissors (keep a set with the first aid kit)
eye wash solution and container a survival blanket triangular bandage safety pins waterproof plasters plaster strip dressings sterile gauze a roll of adhesive tape disposable gloves.
Bites and stings The danger with bee and wasp stings is that stings around the mouth, throat or face can swell and cause airway obstruction. Also, some people have an allergic reaction to bee venom and may collapse within two or three minutes after a sting, requiring resuscitation and urgent medical treatment. If your child is stung by a bee, immediately scrape the barb off the skin to stop any more venom being injected. Then apply a wrapped ice pack and leave in place for up to ten minutes. Repeat if more pain relief is needed. If your child is allergic to the venom, call 111. Warning signs of an allergic reaction include wheezing or coughing, swelling around the face, eyes and neck, and a rash on the body.
splinter forceps Once you have the basics, you can add additional items specific to your family needs – like allergy or asthma medicines, pamol, antiseptic creams, etc. It is also a good idea to keep a first aid manual handy – there are instruction books specifically designed for families with babies and children.
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Domestic animal bites usually result in an infected wound, so see your doctor who may prescribe antibiotics and a tetanus injection. If the wound is bleeding, apply a firm pad. If it is a minor wound, clean thoroughly, apply a protective dressing and seek medical advice. Jellyfish stings are common in New Zealand. Stop your child from rubbing the sting area, flush the area with water, and gently remove any tentacles. If you can access hot water, put the stung area in hot water for about 20 minutes – as hot as they bear but not so hot that it burns. A hot shower works well. If hot water isn’t
available, you could try ice instead. As before, call 111 if there is a severe reaction – difficulty breathing, fainting or swelling.
Poisons Poisons can enter the body as liquids, solids, gas and vapour fumes. If you suspect your child has been poisoned, call 0800 POISON (0800 764 766) for advice. Do not induce vomiting or give fluids without advice as it may make things worse. We will look at poison prevention in more detail in the next issue of Kiwiparent
First aid courses Arm yourself with knowledge – enrol in a first aid course that will help you to take the best action if your children get hurt. New Zealand Red Cross .....www.redcross.org.nz St John .......................................www.stjohn.org.nz Medic First Aid .......................www.medicfirstaid.co.nz Triple One Care ......................www.tripleonecare.co.nz First Aid First ...........................www.firstaidfirst.co.nz
Article prepared with information from Red Cross, St John and Plunket.
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Two for one
protecting mums and newborn babies Vaccinating when you’re pregnant
Experts suggest that choosing to have the influenza (flu) and whooping cough booster vaccines during pregnancy is a safe and effective way to help protect mum and baby against two very serious diseases. In New Zealand, influenza and whooping cough immunisations are recommended by health professionals such as midwives, GPs and obstetricians, as well as the Ministry of Health. These types of vaccines are used internationally during pregnancy with no evidence of harm for the mother, her baby or the newborn. They are not live vaccines. Dr Nikki Turner, Clinical Director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre, comments that immunisation is still the best form of protection from influenza for mothers and to give protection for the newborn. “The influenza vaccine can be safely given during any stage of pregnancy,” Nikki says. “There is no increased risk of reactions to the vaccine for pregnant women and you cannot get the flu from the vaccine. Infants of immunised mothers are nearly 50 percent less likely to be admitted to hospital with influenza than those of unimmunised mothers.” Pregnancy makes women more vulnerable to developing complications from influenza due to changes in the way their lungs work, the extra demands on their heart and
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changes to their immune response. A pregnant woman is nearly five times more likely to be admitted to hospital with influenza compared with a non-pregnant woman. Research also shows that pregnant women are at risk from complications associated with influenza, including bronchitis that can develop into pneumonia.
When are the immunisations given? Influenza immunisation is given at any stage of pregnancy. A whooping cough booster immunisation is given from 28 to 38 weeks of pregnancy.
There can also be concerns for the unborn baby if the mother is unwell with flu. Influenza during pregnancy increases the risks of premature birth, low birth weight, miscarriage or stillbirth, and birth defects. Babies that are under a year – particularly those who are under six months – have the highest risk of all children of developing serious complications if they catch flu. There is no vaccination available against it until baby is six months old. Immunising against influenza during pregnancy stimulates the mum’s immune system to make protective cells called antibodies.
What are the responses to the vaccine? The most commonly reported response to the influenza or whooping cough vaccines are redness, soreness, and/or some swelling at the site where the injection was given. Some women may experience a mild fever, headache, or aches and pains. We recommend discussing the best methods to relieve any discomfort you may experience with your midwife, nurse or doctor before you have your immunisations. For all vaccines, as with any medications and foods, an extremely rare allergic reaction called ‘anaphylaxis’ can occur. Anaphylaxis after immunisation occurs about 1–3 times in every one million doses. All vaccinators in New Zealand have training and equipment to deal with this situation in the unlikely event of it occurring.
These antibodies circulate in her bloodstream to protect her from getting sick and also travel through the placenta into her baby’s bloodstream. This helps to protect baby for up to six months after birth. Health professionals stress that flu should be taken seriously and not dismissed as simply a cold – it can be a serious disease and complications,
Whooping cough If babies catch whooping cough they may not be able to feed or breathe properly and may become so ill they need to go to hospital. In worst cases, they could end up with serious complications such as pneumonia or brain damage.
such as pneumonia, can put people in hospital or, in worst case scenarios, kill. Influenza is an infection of the respiratory tract, which typically results in fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, and muscle and joint pain. Being a common illness, often with vague symptoms, means it is prone to self-diagnosis as well as misdiagnosis, and this can affect the spread of the illness and impact healthcare services. Influenza spreads through tiny droplets in the air caused by coughing and sneezing or by direct nose or eye contact with the hands of someone who is carrying the virus. Communities where families struggle with limited budgets and overcrowded houses are going to be at much higher risk of contracting infectious diseases, such as influenza. To prevent the spread of flu, people are encouraged to be vigilant about hygiene and to stay away from those already infected, although this is difficult as patients can be infectious before their symptoms become apparent.
In New Zealand, influenza is at its peak mainly in the winter months – right about now. It has been estimated that in a routine influenza season around one in ten pregnant women are exposed to the virus. While not all pregnant women will be exposed to influenza viruses it is difficult to avoid because it is so infectious and spreads rapidly. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends influenza vaccination for pregnant women before and during winter months, as it is the most effective strategy for preventing the spread of the illness to these women and also provides some protection to newborn babies.
Protecting against whooping cough Tiny babies have the highest risk of hospitalisation and even death from whooping cough. Although infants are immunised against whooping cough at six weeks, three months and again at five months of age, they don’t develop the best protection until after they have completed the third dose. Receiving a booster immunisation against whooping cough from 28 to 38 weeks of pregnancy stimulates the mother’s immune system to make antibodies that circulate in her bloodstream making her less likely to get sick with whooping cough. Most importantly, antibodies also travel across the placenta into her baby’s bloodstream and help protect her baby from severe
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whooping cough for up to eight weeks after birth. The whooping cough booster immunisation is so important for infant protection that pregnant women are recommended to have one every pregnancy. Our health system provides free influenza and whooping cough immunisations to eligible groups – including all pregnant women. Those not eligible for free immunisations may buy and receive vaccines from a doctor, nurse or participating pharmacist. There are some areas where midwives can give a flu vaccine at the antenatal clinic, while in others you will need an appointment at your GP practice to have it administered by the practice nurse. You can also get immunised/flu vaccine at pharmacy. www.greencrosshealth.co.nz/flu-shots’ A barrier to vaccination can be public perception over safety. There is alarmist information on the internet from groups that campaign against immunisation, stating that vaccines are not necessary, effective or safe. A good place to go for information is the Immunisation Advisory Centre based at the School of Population Health at The University of Auckland. They are a local source of independent, factual information based on international and New Zealand scientific research regarding vaccine-preventable diseases and the benefits and risks of immunisation. Being informed about the benefits and risks of immunisation will mean you fully understand what advantages immunisation provides, as well as understanding any risks associated with any given vaccine or disease. The right to make an informed choice and give your informed consent when using a health service is guaranteed under the Code of Health
and Disability Services Consumer Rights. Talk with your midwife, GP or other health professional about the immunisations recommended during your pregnancy. The Ministry of Health continues to promote influenza and whooping cough vaccinations during pregnancy as a strategy for preventing influenza in pregnant women and providing some protection to their newborn babies.
Flu facts Influenza isn’t just a bad cold – it can be serious and can kill. A human sneeze can contain millions of individual influenza viruses. Influenza virus can remain in the air, or on surfaces, for some time, so it can be very difficult to avoid. More than 200,000 New Zealanders contract influenza each year. Of these, it’s estimated that approximately 400 people will die either directly or indirectly as a result of influenza. More than a million Kiwis get an annual influenza immunisation. Immunisation helps prepare your immune system to fight influenza. Influenza vaccination is moderately effective. It cannot guarantee you will not catch flu but has been shown to significantly reduce disease and time off work. Influenza immunisation is free for those most at risk of complications from influenza. You cannot get influenza from the vaccine.
Learn more about immunisation Talk to your midwife, nurse or doctor | www.midwife.org.nz
56 kiwiparent – supporting kiwi parents through the early years
www.immune.org.nz
www.health.govt.nz
Your baby’s protection starts with you.
Your baby’s protection starts with you.
The National Immunisation Schedule is a series of vaccinations that help protect your family against preventable diseases.
The National Immunisation Schedule is a series of vaccinations that help protect your family against preventable diseases.
During pregnancy, you are eligible for a free whooping cough booster vaccine and influenza vaccine. These vaccines will help protect you and give your new baby protection, before baby is fully immunised.
During pregnancy, you are eligible for a free whooping cough booster vaccine and influenza vaccine. These vaccines will help protect you and give your new baby protection, before baby is fully immunised.
Immunising on time gives the best protection.
Immunising on time gives the best protection.
The Immunisation Advisory Centre and Healthline provide evidence‑based information about the New Zealand Immunisation Schedule.
The Immunisation Advisory Centre and Healthline provide evidence‑based information about the New Zealand Immunisation Schedule.
Call us on
Call us on
0800 466 863
0800 466 863
www.immune.org.nz
www.immune.org.nz
or visit
or visit
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Fuelling the first
1,000 days
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The first 1,000 days of a child’s life begins at conception and finishes on their second birthday. This 1,000 day period is a golden window of opportunity to lay the foundation for a healthy life, and proper nutrition during this period is of great importance. When it comes time to introduce solids we’re nearly halfway through the 1,000 day journey. You’ve nourished your baby with healthy food during pregnancy and breastmilk or formula gave them everything they needed for the first few months of life. At around six months, milk alone is not enough to support your baby’s growth and development milestones and you should start to offer a range of solid foods. Every baby is different and some will show signs of being ready for solids earlier, or later, than others. As a guide, don’t introduce solids before four months and no later than seven months. The general advice to “choose healthy foods” sounds simple enough but can easily become daunting when first introducing solids to your baby. What do we introduce first? How much and how often? There is really no set rule as to what foods you give your baby from the start but you should focus on including a range of iron-rich foods, such as lean meats, alongside vegetables and fruit. Iron is an essential mineral needed for brain development, learning and memory, and plays a role in the immune system. At around six months, your baby’s iron stores are running out and solid foods need to step in to provide this nutrient. Other important nutrients needed by babies are zinc, vitamin A and vitamin D. Ideas for first foods include: Cooked and puréed carrot, kumara, pumpkin or broccoli Cooked and puréed apple or pear Mashed banana or avocado Cooked and puréed lean beef, lamb, chicken or fish Start with one single food at a time and stick with this for two or three days before adding another type of food. This gives time for you to pick up any reactions your child might have to a particular food. After a few weeks, your child should have tried a range of vegetables, fruit and protein foods, and will start to increase their one or two meals a day to a more regular breakfast, lunch and dinner pattern. Remember, breastmilk is still very important at this stage, and up until your baby is around nine months old, you should offer their milk feed first before offering solids. You might like to prepare special meals for your baby, freeze in an ice-cube tray and reheat as needed. An iron-rich puree made from lean beef mince, apple and kumara is a good option. However, you can also adapt the family meal to save time and ingredients.
Simply reserve a small portion of cooked mince or roast vegetables to purée for your baby before adding the rest of the ingredients for your main meal. Lean meats are an excellent source of haem iron which is easily absorbed by the body. Non-haem iron is found in a wide range of plant foods, such as green leafy vegetables and beans, but is poorly absorbed. If you are not giving your baby meats as a first food, it’s important to offer other sources of iron, such as iron-fortified baby cereal, green vegetables, lentils and beans. You should also add vitamin C-rich fruit and vegetables to their meals as vitamin C helps the body absorb iron. The nutrition your child receives in their first 1,000 days will impact their ability to grow and thrive. Stick to the basics and make sure to offer your child a wide range of healthy, whole foods right from the start.
Baby’s beef mince with kumara Suitable from six months
Ingredients 300g to 450g lean Quality Mark beef mince 1 cup peeled, grated kumara 400g peeled, grated apple 1 cup water
Method
1 2
Put mince, apple and kumara into a saucepan. Add water and bring slowly the boil. Simmer gently for about 45 minutes, stirring often, until reduced and thick but still moist. Puree to a smooth consistency.
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Moroccan diced lamb
Emily Parks Emily is a degree-qualified nutritionist working as the nutrition manager for Beef + Lamb New Zealand. She is looking forward to becoming a first-time mum in June and learning to juggle work and family life.
Once your baby is comfortable eating red meat, around six months, you can begin preparing meals for your baby from the main meal. Meals need to be bland for your baby, but flavours can be ‘revved up‘ at the end of cooking for the rest of the family, as indicated in this recipe.
Ingredients 500g lean diced Quality Mark lamb 1 tablespoon oil 1 onion, peeled and diced* ½ teaspoon ground cumin* ½ teaspoon paprika* 1 carrot, peeled and diced 12 dried apricots, diced 300g can chickpeas 1 cup reduced-salt beef stock or ½ tsp reduced-salt beef stock powder to 1 cup water
*Reduce the amount of these ingredients for babies around six months.
Method
1 2
Pre-heat oven to 160°C.
3
Add the onion*, cumin* and paprika* to the pan and cook in the residue oil until lightly brown. Scatter over the lamb.
4
Add carrots, apricots, chickpeas (including liquid from the can) and stock.
5
Place casserole dish in oven and cook at 160°C for approximately 1½ hours until the lamb is tender. Serve with seasonal vegetables and mashed potato or couscous.
Heat oil in a frying pan and brown diced lamb well. Place in a casserole dish.
Smooth Stage – Babies around six months *To begin, you may need to reduce the amount of spices and onion until your baby is familiar with the flavours. Purée meat and vegetable mixture. Mix with a little baby’s milk to achieve a smooth consistency.
Mashed Stage – Babies seven to eight months Purée the meat and vegetables into a lumpy, mashed consistency so your baby can experience the different textures.
Chopped Stage – Babies from eight months Chop up any large pieces of meat and serve with mashed potato and chopped vegetables.
Toddlers and family foods – From 12 months Chop up any large pieces of meat as necessary. Serve with couscous or flatbread as an alternative to potato.
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61
Play. Every day. What is play? How can we find play in the everyday? As adults, play can feel elusive, some long lost magic we no longer remember the spell to create; a recipe we used to know by heart but now is a distant dream. We’ve replaced play with work (we generally believe the two are mutually exclusive and that one necessarily comes before the other). We’ve turned our focus to the future, forgetting the beauty of the present. How can we recapture the magic of play? What are the secrets to creating play whilst still getting the work done? Why would we want to do this anyway? I believe that play is an attitude. The basic ingredient of play is a smile. Play certainly doesn’t have to cost anything. Bought toys are not necessary. The treasures all around us, including ourselves and other people, are more than sufficient for play. We don’t need to go anywhere special to play. We are playing whenever we decide that we are playing, no matter what we’re doing. Washing dishes? Playing. Grocery shopping? Playing. Weeding the garden? Yes, you guessed it. Playing!
Push play Finding play in the everyday
Play is what we’re doing all day, every day, whether we are aware that’s what we’re doing or not. When we notice an opportunity for play (and every moment can be an opportunity for play) and embrace this as an important part of our day, our children benefit greatly. Oh, and so do we. Play is a beautiful way to delight in being human and, as it so happens, our brains are designed such that we learn about life very easily while playing. OK, this is all very well, but isn’t play supposed to be fun? And some of the jobs we have to do each day just aren’t fun! And what’s more, there’s just not enough time to play! Hmm, yes, well this is where it gets interesting… Let’s take a look at some of the things we need to do every day…
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Getting up in the morining What’s the first thing we do and say to our children once we’re awake? Do they know we’re happy to see them? Are they feeling excited about the day – safe and inspired to get on with the important work of growing their brains? Here are some ideas to support a positive start to a play-full day: Smile. Acknowledge that it is a special moment you are sharing with your child, the first for this day. Create a morning song or dance together – or even better, do both at the same time. Work out a ritual to share every morning celebrating those first moments together.
Create a fun or crazy naked dance to celebrate your beautiful human bodies.
Hold a hug longer than usual.
Enjoy your child’s growing creativity and sense of self as they choose their own clothes; resist the urge to comment.
Develop a hand-clapping routine. Have a little game of peek-a-boo or hide and seek. Sit together for a few moments and look out the window, at something beautiful, at each other.
Dress yourself in their clothes briefly with a cheeky smile, amazement or other theatrical expression.
Talk about what you’d really like to enjoy together on this particular day.
Get dressed together while chatting to each other.
Wish each other a wonder-full day ahead.
Dressing for the day When we dress each morning we have moments of vulnerability, of creativity, of contemplating the outside world, of autonomy. Each stage of dressing can be done such that we feel safe and confident in ourselves, ready to engage with other people and the world. Play can be utilised throughout this process: Smile. Notice the special time you are sharing with your child, preparing for the day together; tell them. Sing a song about the weather as it is today, or what you have planned to do. Act out what it could be like wearing something too cold, too hot, too flowing, too tight.
Put clothes on different body parts for fun.
Eating together Eating food is ideally a very pleasurable experience. Within our families’ boundaries for acceptable eating behaviour we can spice up the mealtimes to support children’s optimal brain development, enhance our relationship with them and generate positive attitudes to food and eating: Smile. Take a moment to breathe before eating and appreciate this moment you are about to enjoy with your child. Create a song, words of gratitude or a ritual together for the food you’re about to eat. Discuss where your food has journeyed from and what it’s experienced to get to your plate. Lay out the food in a fun way.
Have your child serve you. Put out an array of food options and allow children to serve themselves. Tell your child you love eating celery when you’re really eating carrots (or watermelon instead of grapes, desert sand instead of cheese…). Children love a silly game or two here and there. Expand your creativity and theatrics. No limits. Enjoy! Close eyes or use a blindfold and have a tasting session together. Pretend you’re a waiter and take your child’s order (and vice versa).
Washing dishes or clothes Water play! What more can I say? Smile. Embrace the opportunity for another special moment to share with your child. Let your child go for it handwashing a selection of the family’s clothes (with you nearby as safety around water is of paramount importance). Consider together which dishes could possibly break, separate them out and make a plan for who washes what. Work together side by side with both hands in the sink, tub or bucket.
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Stand on towels and swish your bodies around to dry up the water off the floor. Create and sing a happy working song. Take a break and dance around together before continuing. Get wet while washing up – splosh!
Driving around These days we seem to spend a lot of time in our cars, driving here, going there. How we are behaving while transporting our little ones around is influencing how their brains are developing; shaping how they’ll view the world – now and into the future. When we are relaxed and happy our children pick up that energy and can enjoy a period of restoring calm and balance to their bodies – so important within the busyness of our lives. Long journeys can often be a source of bonding and enjoyment. Let’s consider how. Smile (even in the back seat your children can pick up when you are making a conscious effort to relax – and for those who really do have eyes in the back of your heads, your children can feel the sparkling, safe energy emanating from them). Appreciate this time of sitting and breathing together, noticing that because you are breathing that means you are alive.
Sing songs about anything, everything. Explain what you’re doing with the various knobs and levers and pedals. Let your child sit in the driver’s seat while the car is off and use these intriguing devices. Create a quiet space. Sometimes children love to look out the window and dream while you focus on smiling and driving safely. Play car games such as I Spy, Spotto, What am I?, looking for number plates, looking for colours, or shapes, or buildings, or vehicles, or people, anything goes… Create your own favourites together. Ask your child to give you directions to get home (and sometimes go the wrong way on purpose).
Hmmm – housework It’s got to be done. By someone. At some point. Before the rats take over. Since it’s so necessary, let’s support children getting involved as early as possible. Babies will be taking in all the various household activities we’re engaged in even from inside the womb – the sounds, the rhythms, the routines and the energy we create within and around us. After a while they’re keen to give it a try too. It’s never too early to have a little apprentice learning the
64 kiwiparent – supporting kiwi parents through the early years
ropes, so take my advice and never (ok, hardly ever) say no to their request to help. Let’s also consider how we’re doing these jobs and inject fun and playfulness into them all. Smile. Breathe and notice that you are alive and have a chance to interact with another human being whilst contributing to all of your well-being. Take on the job slowly and commentate each stage. Have your child work alongside you and copy your every move. Have your child lead the proceedings and you do what you’re asked to do. Set a timer and work together to complete the job within that time. Dance or sing while doing the work, or if possible do them all at once. Act as if you’re not sure what is needed and ask your child for help. We can bring out the play in everything we do. We begin, and when the mood and time are right, our children can accept our implicit invitation to embrace this precious moment together. There’s no need to announce that we are about to play nor that they must join us in our playful activity. Once we are engaged, having generated the
attitude of play (start with a smile and see where it takes you), children are likely to want to get involved. Even if they don’t, you’ll have more fun with your jobs – and fun takes far less energy than slog. And just in case you’re needing any more to be getting on with today, here are some “Right Now Play” ideas for creating play-full experiences wherever, whenever, whatever: Smile. Extend the smile right down into your heart and right up into your eyes. Stretch your smile further so that it fills your very fingertips, the ends of your hair, the tips of your toes.
Mmmmoooovvvveeee sssslllloooowwwwllllyyyy. Speed up for a few moments before going back to slow or normal speed. Twirl around and around just for fun. Walk somewhere backwards, or sideways, or using tiny steps. Hold hands and dance around. Turn whatever you’re doing right now into an adventure utilising wide eyes and an air of mystery and intrigue. Use your whisper voice or suddenly lose your voice altogether and try to still communicate.
Give your eyes a little flash for extra special impact.
Random tickles or cuddles or a spontaneous hand or back massage.
Notice that children are already playing and resist the urge to intrude or judge.
Stop, drop and roll – just do it, baby!
Use big hand, arm and body gestures and theatrical facial expressions to mix it up, no matter what you’re doing together. Pretend to forget what you’re supposed to be doing and ask your child to guide you through each step. Look all around the room with big eyes then suddenly lock onto your child’s eyes; do this over and over.
Anything goes. These ideas are just the beginning, the tip of an infinite iceberg of everyday play opportunities. To bring our inner playfulness out into our experiences with our children all we really need to do is recall the love of life we have inside of us, appreciate the moments of togetherness with another human being; focus on the present as if it were all that mattered right now. Because it really and truly is. Happy playing . Arohanui, Sarah x
Sarah Amy Glensor Best Sarah lives a play-full life in Wellington with her partner and children. Involvement in Playcentre first sparked her interest and enthusiasm for play and its critical role in healthy child development. More than seven years working for Brainwave Trust Aotearoa have further solidified this understanding. Sarah published her first book “Changing the World is Child’s Play” in 2015. Her business – Children Change www.childrenchange.co.nz – has a mission to inspire, educate and motivate people such that their choices and interactions support children, themselves and others to reach their potential.
Sarah Amy Glensor Best wants adults to remember how to play and enjoy every moment they have to spend with their children, often less time than they would like. Sarah has written a book packed full of ideas on ways to spend quality time together. Even something as ordinary as a trip to the park, beach or supermarket can provide a golden opportunity to maximise the time with your child – and help to unlock your inner child so that you remember that play is learning, and having a laugh together can do a world of good!
“So, go forth and play! Play with love, play with life and give yourselves a pat on the back for what you are doing: for yourselves, for children and for our world.” $24.95 +pp Order at www.childrenchange.com
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What’s in a Tiki’s pocket? It could be a lost key, or a golf ball … or even a Taniwha’s toenail! But you would have to watch Pu- koro to find out. Pu- koro is a half hour TV show for children five years and under, using 100% te reo Ma- ori. In each show, the members of the Pu- koro crew dress up in a new set of clothes based on that show’s theme – everything from a space suit for space exploration to a pair of dungarees for the farm. The crew then explore that theme through the items they find in the pockets of three giant Tiki – Tama, Hine, and Pe- pi.
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Based on content developed with an early childhood expert, Pu- koro uses a modern pop-star style including singing, acting, and dancing, to educate and entertain our tamariki. Every episode has a distinct theme. Throughout the show, each presenter completes a job related to that theme. Presenters help the children guess what those jobs are by finding clues in the Tiki pockets, then using those clues in an activity. At the end of each activity, the presenters reveal what the job is, followed by a field insert of that job in action. Pu- koro engages children by making each job a puzzle to solve. The presenters regularly prompt them as they work out the answer from clues. Based on research that shows the benefits of solving puzzles to children’s cognitive development, each episode of Pu- koro is designed to be played five days in a row. At the beginning of the week, children are just behind the presenters in guessing the answers to puzzles. By mid-week, they are guessing at the same pace. By week’s end, they are pre-empting answers. With songs, stories and activities, Pu- koro provides a fun and educational way for preschoolers to experience different environments and situations holistically, while at the same time giving them the vocabulary they need to participate in those worlds.
Why not try introducing some basic Ma-ori words into your everyday life. Here are some suggestions from the Pu-koro team: one tahi two rua three toru four whafive rima yellow ko-whai blue kikorangi red whero white magreen ka- ka- riki cat ngeru dog kuricow kau horse hoiho chicken heihei apple a-poro banana panana orange arani carrot kareti big nui long roa small poto fast tere slow po-turi good pai bad kino happy koa sad po-uri shy whakama-
Presenter Naomi Toilalo has two preschoolers of her own and says they adore Pu- koro. “It’s really cool to do a show that your kids love!” she laughs. “I wasn’t raised speaking Ma- ori, but learned te reo when I was a teenager. The reo that we use in the show is really simple, so it’s a great way not only for kids to learn but for adults as well. If you
watch the show you should be able to pick up stuff along with your kids.” All episodes of Pu- koro are available to view on Maori TV and the accompanying lessons can be found at www.pukoro.co.nz. The show is currently scheduled at 6.30am and 3pm daily.
give me homai pick up tangohia give away hoatu put back whakahokia come here haere mai go away hoki mai Kia pai tou tatou Matariki Happy Matariki!
www.maoritelevision.com/tv/ shows/pukoro/on-demand
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Space to
learn and play
68 kiwiparent – supporting kiwi parents through the early years
Playtime is fun, but it also has a much deeper importance for a child’s development. A collaborative research project between a group of scholarly organisations, including Columbia University, Cornell University Medical College and Yale University, found that how ready children feel for school largely depends on the parent-child relationships forged within home-learning environments. Researchers wrote: “Increases in a parent’s understanding of play and ability to facilitate a child’s learning predicted several positive behavioural outcomes in the classroom, including increased independence and creativity/curiosity.” Designing or decorating a playroom is a great way to offer a space that not only lets kids be kids and have some fun playtime, but also helps them learn and grow. These interior design ideas should help you tick off both boxes.
Storybook walls Think of the walls as the pages of an illustrated children's book, something to enjoy looking at and always finding a new detail to admire. A good way to achieve this is by installing a richly colourful and detailed wall mural. Kid-friendly ones include the Belly Button Bears and the Farmyard Fun murals. Both of these are great for storytelling, letting your kids' imagination run wild as they name the different characters and develop narratives for each of them. The famous nursery rhyme ‘Old MacDonald had a farm’ can happily be sung while playing in front of the farmyard mural, complete with you and the kids calling out the different voices of the animals as you point to them on the wall!
Soft flooring Carpet the floors if possible, or pile on a bunch of textured, fluffy rugs to invite the kids to lie on the ground, curled up with a book or video game. A nice tip to make the playroom seem wider is to lay down a mat with long horizontal stripes. Toss some cosy beanbags around so when friends come over for play dates there is plenty of seating for all the little ones.
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Friendly furniture In a playroom, the only need for furniture is if you want to add an art station for the kids to do crafts or colour, and for storage. Oh, yes, the storage. Nobody wants to have to tidy up a messy playroom each and every day, so make tidying up a game for the kids with colourful cupboards. Colour-coordinate the shelves and drawers by painting them with a range of bright shades such as Resene Adrenalin or Resene Bright Lights. Allocate specific storage areas for different items, such as all crayons and art supplies should go into the red drawer, and all toys must go on the blue shelf. If you want to spell things out so the kids never forget what goes where, paint a rectangular section onto the cabinets using Resene Blackboard Paint and use chalk to write what should be stored inside.
Learning through play While we may miss the days when physical books were some of our best friends growing up, these days technology is all the rage and kids are using smartphones, tablets, laptops and iPads for reading. Bring them the best of both worlds by keeping a bookshelf with some classic fairytales proudly on display, as well as keeping a small fold-away table for putting the digital devices onto nearby. Win-win.
Imagination station Provide a mystical, magical area for the kids to come up with their own imaginary adventures. Nail two hooks onto the corner walls and hang shimmery curtains across to create a triangular corner space that’s their hideaway from the rest of the playroom. They can ‘close’ themselves inside by drawing the curtains and have a field day inside. Instead of curtains, you could also get the same look by building a fort. Who knows, you might crawl in there yourself – forts are for the young and the young at heart, after all!
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70 kiwiparent – supporting kiwi parents through the early years
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– 84
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– 93
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Create a feature writing wall Use Resene Blackboard Paint to coat an entire wall to create a giant scribbling surface. Christie Burnett, an early childhood teacher and writer and editor of Childhood 101, suggests identifying clear and familiar places to put certain belongings. You can write simple directions, such as which toys go where. For example, “teddies go in cupboard” or “blocks go in red box” are great instructions that are simple enough to help your child to learn where each item goes while incorporating the learning of colours. If you’re not too keen on chalk dust filling up the room (important to consider if your child has asthma or allergies) then try Resene Write on Wall instead. This turns your walls into a coloured whiteboard which is a great way of introducing a classroom-like scenario before your children are off to ‘big kids' school’. The ability to write on a wall offers many solutions to making packing up fun. If you have multiple youngsters, then make it into a friendly competition. Create a tally for each kid that picks up the ‘special item of the day’ – something you single out, whether a toy truck or a crayon, to earn points. This will foster a greater sense of fun to pick up as many toys as possible in the hopes that they get the winning item before anyone else.
Make it magical Resene Magnetic Magic is a great paint to use to create custom magnets to label where each thing goes and on which shelf/box. Child Care Lounge explains that by using pictures and words, you create a skill-building matching game. This encourages logical thinking skills, as well as seamlessly turns playtime into packing up where it's just another fun activity and not a chore. Another great idea is to create a magnetic feature wall similar to the blackboard or whiteboard wall. It’ll keep those annoying small magnets away from your fridge so you and your child can store them all in one place. It creates a hands-on educational place where your child can see the alphabet or picture magnets all at once without hanging around underfoot in your kitchen, so it’ll consume their growing minds while keeping them out of your hair.
But if you make it fun, then it doesn’t have to be the case. The ideas for fun pack-up times are endless! All you need is a few minutes and a little imagination.
72 kiwiparent – supporting kiwi parents through the early years
Entries must be received by 5pm June 23, 2017. Winners will be published in issue 279.
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It’s great to nurture a child’s imaginative and inquisitive mind with educational and stimulating toys, but let’s face it, there are often tantrums and tears when play time comes to an end and everything has to be packed away.
Enter online at kiwiparent.co.nz and follow the instructions.
Date of
Speaking of tidy-up time…
Be in to win one of two Resene vouchers worth $50 each.
25501
It’s also easier to pack up because all your child has to do is stick each magnet up onto the wall. There’ll be no more hard plastic alphabets falling off and rolling under the fridge each time you close the doors. It’s also very visually stimulating as they can create a different magnetic wall look each and every day while learning letters and numbers, as well as objects.
Giveaway
winners
Congratulations to the lucky winners From issue 277
Sway Pouch
Rising Tide
Julie Aitkin Pukekohe
Stephanie Watt Auckland Lee Baldwin Lumsden Vicky Chan Auckland Rebecca Grove Auckland Sarah Cliffe Wellington
Ultimate Nappies
Resene Vouchers
Annette Hynes Christchurch
Nicola Sandbrook Cambridge
Sarah Blair Te Awamutu
Melissa Rathgen Oamaru
50
$
Elyse Orr Gore
25501
Matt Howard Fielding
fifty dollars only
Valid at Resene owned ColorShops for 12 months from issue date. Can be used with Resene ColorShop/DIY Card discounts. Cannot be used with any other cash or credit trade or retail accounts (EC41/ EC42 discount accounts). No change will be given. Please use this voucher before it expires. Sorry this voucher cannot be replaced or redeemed if lost, damaged, stolen or expired.
Hamsters in a House
Philips Avent Monitor
Gloria Sorenson Auckland
Sally Kardos Auckland
Date of issue
Visit www.resene.co.nz or call 0800 RESENE (737 363) to find your nearest Resene ColorShop.
Emma Bentley Porirua
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partners Partnering to support families I am so thrilled to announce our new strategic partnership with Life and Unichem Pharmacies. This initiative has been in the pipeline for a number of months now and we are delighted to welcome such a great new partner to the Parents Centre family. With over 350 pharmacies around the country, this partnership will enable our families to access care and advice nationally as well as tap into some great member offers, and will add significant value to being a member of Parents Centres New Zealand.
and benefits to our members. Our partners invest in programmes and education for members, volunteers and educators. We work very hard to ensure that all partnerships are collaborative and are a win/win for everyone concerned. We are delighted to be able to support our partners by ensuring our members and Centres have access to the best products and services that they have to offer.
Taslim Parsons
As a not-for-profit organisation, we rely on strategic partnerships and advertising to ensure that we can fund programmes and deliver meaningful information
Social Enterprise Manager Parents Centre New Zealand
Introducing Unichem and Life Pharmacy Lovely to be introduced to you all. Unichem and Life Pharmacy are delighted to announce our strategic partnership with Parents Centre. We are passionately committed to providing support, care and advice to our communities delivered by more than 350 Unichem and Life pharmacies the length and breadth of New Zealand. With similar philosophies and a focus on convenience and access when you need it most, it made sense for Unichem and Life Pharmacies to partner with Parents Centre and we look forward to sharing some great offers and more reasons why you should pop in to have a chat with your Pharmacist, you’ll be amazed at the health and wellness services you can access. With over 350 Unichem and Life Pharmacies throughout New Zealand you’ll find one of us in your Community. We hope to see you soon at your local pharmacy. Alison Van Wyk, Group Manager – Professional Services, Green Cross Health
SUPPORTING HEALTHY BABY DEVELOPMENT
Johnson & Johnson For over 100 years, JOHNSON'S® baby has been dedicated to designing gentle and mild products, especially for baby. We continuously apply our knowledge and research to create innovative products with safety at their core. That's why parents and healthcare professionals around the world have trusted JOHNSON'S® baby to nurture the little ones in their care.
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Philips Avent Choosing Philips AVENT means you have the assurance of superior quality products, designed with you and baby’s needs in mind. Interchangeable design features mean products can be adapted to meet baby’s developing needs. Phone: 0800 104 401 www.philips.co.nz/AVENT
74 kiwiparent – supporting kiwi parents through the early years
Huggies online pregnancy and parenting The HUGGIES® website is about pregnancy and parenting. Check out features such as special offers, info on sleeping and settling, plus hundreds of recipes and kids activity ideas! And it’s all free to HUGGIES® Baby Club members. Phone: 0800 733 703 www.huggies.co.nz
supporting Kiwi parents
Life Pharmacy & Unichem Everyday Life and Unichem pharmacists provide their communities with Friendly professional health care and advice. With over 300 Pharmacies throughout NZ there's one of us in your community. www.lifepharmacy.co.nz www.unichem.co.nz
Au Pair Link New Zealand Since 2006 we've been flying loving au pairs from all corners of the globe to join busy Kiwi host families, providing quality in-home care and education for their little ones. Today we have hundreds of families enrolled in early learning programmes and staff across New Zealand. This means our customers benefit from a personal, safe and reliable service throughout New Zealand. www.aupairlink.co.nz
Fidelity Life From humble beginnings, Fidelity Life has become the country’s largest locally owned and operated life insurance company. We believe good insurance cover gives you peace of mind that you, your family, your people and your business can be looked after financially if things go wrong. www.fidelitylife.co.nz
SHARE SHARE is New Zealand's leading network of experienced financial advisers, providing specialist insurance, investment, KiwiSaver and mortgage advice to all New Zealanders. SHARE has advisers around the country, for more information please call: 0800 02 00 55 or email pcnz@sharenz.com
0800 222 966 / www.babyonthemove.co.nz
PORSE Our babies are born with the need to connect. PORSE in-home educators, nannies and au pairs provide a calm and stable home environment to nurture close connected relationships, setting the foundation for lifelong learning. Phone: 0800 023 456 www.porse.co.nz
Baby On The Move Specialists in quality, affordable baby products that you can hire or purchase new. Our qualified team can help you select the correct restraint. Plus if you hire or buy from us we will install your car seat for FREE! Stores nationwide. Phone: 0800 222 966 www.babyonthemove.co.nz
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Beef and Lamb Beef + Lamb New Zealand is responsible for the promotion of beef and lamb in New Zealand. The organisation is voluntarily funded by Kiwi farmers, retailers and processors, and focuses on promoting the nutritional aspects of lean red meat including the importance of iron during pregnancy and for infants and young children. For healthy recipe ideas using lean beef and lamb, visit: recipes.co.nz
JEWELLERY NZ
The Sleep Store Since 2006 The Sleep Store has been helping babies sleep with FREE expert sleep advice and a huge range of hand-picked baby, toddler and preschooler essentials. All with excellent customer service and prompt nationwide delivery. Recently voted the best online baby store. For details on the exclusive Parents Centre offers visit: www.thesleepstore.co.nz/ content/parentscentre
Mumma Bubba Jewellery A safe alternative to costume jewellery providing relief to tender gums, these products provide an innovative solution , to teething Accessorytroubles with a range Fashion essityseasonal, ! of colourful, fashionable ec N y b Ba accessories which young babies and their mums love. www.mummabubbajewellery.co.nz Silicone Jewellery Free of BPA & lead Dishwasher safe www.mummabubbajewellery.co.nz
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Shopping cart THE LATEST INNOVATION IN BREAST PUMPS
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76 kiwiparent – supporting kiwi parents through the early years
Simply apply over your existing light coloured wall paint. Then once dry and cured you can use whiteboard markers to write all over the wall without damaging the surface. And when it’s time to delete an idea just grab a soft cloth or whiteboard eraser, rub out the marker and start again. With Resene Write-on Wall Paint there’s no limit to your ideas.
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Conscious parenting – want to know more? Check out upcoming programmes at your local Parents Centre: www.parentscentre.org.nz Browse through the resources here: www.skip.org.nz Join ‘Conscious Parenting’ pages and groups on Facebook Research online and read, read, read!
25% off for Parents Centre NZ members use code PCNZ
Where do you find a Mum like you? Enrol your little one with PORSE today, and rest easy knowing your child will be getting flexible and attentive care second only to yours, in a nurturing home environment, with one loving educator or nanny.
If staying at home is where your heart is... Contact us today to find out how you can earn an income as an educator, while growing little minds at home.
0800 023 456 porse.co.nz subscribe online at www.kiwiparent.co.nz –
kiwiparent
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win great giveaways
Enter online at kiwiparent.co.nz and follow the instructions. Entries must be received by 5pm June 23, 2017. Winners will be published in issue 279.
2 Worry Bug prize packs to be won We all experience anxiety at times in our lives and often it can be triggered by an event. The experiences of the children of Canterbury first inspired these resources, however they can be used by any children, parents and teachers who wish to support children experiencing mild to moderate anxiety in a lowintensity way in times of change and stress and to support the worries that come with navigating family and school life. RRP $55. www.theworrybug.co.nz
Enter to win a Philips Avent electric breast pump
Be in the draw to win a Woolbabe sleeping bag
The Philips Avent Comfort single electric breast pump allows you to sit comfortably when expressing while the unique soft massage cushion gently stimulates your milk flow. We have this great breast pump and a 10 pack of 180ml milk storage cups to be won. RRP $340.
97% of parents that own a Woolbabe Sleeping bag would recommend them to others. The awardwinning Woolbabe Duvet sleeping bags are one of the warmest and snuggliest sleeping bags available! Made with a unique Merino and organic cotton blend, combined with a quilted wool filling for additional warmth and temperature regulation and lined with soft organic cotton, they help to keep baby at a cosy constant temperature all night. RRP $179. Find the full range of Woolbabe and much more at www.thesleepstore.co.nz
Win an X-Shot Bubble Ball prize pack X-Shot Bubble Ball is the hottest new item that takes contact sports to the extreme! Run, Crash, Roll and Smash with its durable material and easy to inflate system! The Bubble Ball can inflate up to four feet and withstand tremendous impacts! Use it in your backyard or in a sports field and get your game on! Blue team against Orange team! Who will be the last one standing? Literally! The prize pack includes two Bubble Balls worth $69 each. #bubbleball #zuru @zuru.toys Available July 2017 from The Warehouse, Farmers and Whitcoulls
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Always close to your baby. The Philips Avent SCD 620 Video Monitor enables you to maintain a secure and private connection with your baby at all times. Hear your baby with perfect sound quality and see them in crystal clear vision, whether it is day or night. With the freedom of up to 10 hours of cordless monitoring, a convenient talkback function and 5 soothing lullabies, you can connect with your baby and soothe them back to sleep, from anywhere around the home.
SCD 620 Video Monitor
www.philips.co.nz/avent www.facebook.com/Philips.Avent.NewZealand
Meet your local
Pharmacısts E
veryday our Pharmacists
Most of our pharmacies have a
provide their communities
private area so you can discuss
with friendly, professional
your health related questions in
SOME OF THE SERVICES YOU CAN FIND AT YOUR LOCAL UNICHEM AND LIFE PHARMACIES INCLUDE: • Prescriptions for you and your family • Vaccinations for flu, whooping cough, meningococcal disease and shingles
health care and advice.
private and absolute confidence.
• Antibiotic treatment for Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
They can recommend products
Conveniently located and with
• Emergency Contraceptive Pill (ECP)
and services to keep you and
no appointment needed you
• Blood pressure checks
your family healthy and treat a
can drop in and have a chat
wide range of common ailments
with your Phamacist where and
• Blood glucose checks
and illnesses.
when it suits you.
• Medication Information • Treatment for erectile dysfunction • Bowel health checks
With over 300 Unichem and Life Pharmacies throughout New Zealand there’s one of us in your community. Proud Supporter of Parents Centre New Zealand
Services available at selected Unichem and Life Pharmacies www.unichem.co.nz www.lifepharmacy.co.nz
Together we’re New Zealand’s Pharmacy
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