It’s been confirmed – boys are a lot more difficult than girls! Well, Ok so it’s not scientifically confirmed, but there’s substantial evidence to suggest when it comes to baby’s sleep patterns, boys tend to cause a lot more sleepless nights than girls. Why? Well, that much is unclear, though there are some pretty logical arguments floating around as to what could be causing the problem. [Read more…]
How To Handle Unwanted Parenting Advice
The minute you become a new parent, it seems the world and his wife has some piece of advice on how it should be done. As useful as some of this advice can be, there are times it can get more than a little overwhelming. Unwanted advice is something that’s really difficult for new moms to deal with. You don’t want to be rude, but you also want to be left to do things your way.
So how do you handle unwanted advice without causing offense? Well, the truth is, sometimes you can’t. However, what you need to remember is this is YOUR baby and you need to put yours and their feelings first. If unwanted advice is stressing you out, it’s going to affect your little one too. It’s also going to get a lot worse if you bottle it up.
If you’re sick of being told what you’re doing is wrong and how you should be doing it, below you’ll discover the best ways to deal with persistent unwanted parenting advice. [Read more…]
10 Tips For Dealing With Toddler Sleep Troubles
Sleep deprivation is something all new parents are far too familiar with. During the infant stage many parents suffer from endless, sleepless nights that slowly make you feel like you’re going insane, leaving you desperately wondering if they’re ever going to end. Then they do and its sheer bliss which forces you into a false sense of security. Because what many parents don’t realize is those sleepless, agonising nights are planning an epic comeback.
Welcome to the toddler sleep regression stage! However, the good news is, there are ways you can solve your toddler’s sleep troubles. So, before you sink into depression at the thought of suffering those sanity-draining sleepless nights, check out the 10 tips below… [Read more…]
10 Things You Won’t Expect To Happen After Giving Birth
Over the course of your pregnancy, you get told a lot of information about what to expect throughout the different stages. You’ll likely even receive advice about the birth and common things to expect afterwards. However, there are some things that you aren’t told about which can be pretty disturbing. While you can never truly prepare for motherhood, here you’ll discover some of the more unexpected things you have to look forward to… [Read more…]
Teaching Your Toddler To Swim – 5 Mistakes You Must Avoid
As the weather heats up, one of the best ways to stay cool and have fun with your toddler is to teach them how to swim. However, as many parents have tragically found out, teaching your little one to swim can have serious consequences if done incorrectly. Water safety is paramount and there are many mistakes you could end up making without realizing it.
If you want to ensure your toddler stays safe and happy throughout the lessons, below you’ll discover 5 mistakes to avoid when teaching your toddler to swim. [Read more…]
What You Need To Know About Slapped Cheek Syndrome In Babies
One of the cutest things about babies is their rosy red cheeks. However, did you know that it could be a sign of Slapped Cheek Syndrome? If you’ve never heard of it, don’t worry – you’re not alone! The majority of new parents have no idea what Slapped Cheek Syndrome is or that it even existed. If your baby’s cheeks have suddenly become redder than usual, it could be an indicator of the condition.
So what is Slapped Cheek Syndrome and is it something you need to worry about? Here you’ll discover everything you need to know. [Read more…]
Postpartum Depression – Everything You Need to Know
When you have a baby your whole life changes, so it’s not surprising you are likely to experience a wide range of emotions after the birth. As well as the initial joy you feel when your little one comes into the world, fear and sadness are also common emotions that many new parents experience. The problem comes when these emotions start to have a major impact on your life.
Postpartum (sometimes called postnatal) depression is something that isn’t often talked about, yet it’s surprisingly common. It is said to affect over 1 in 8 women and can occur anytime in the first year after the birth. What’s more surprising is that it can also affect men, though this is pretty rare.
Suffering from postpartum depression is terrifying for new mothers. Having a baby is supposed to be one of the best times of your life, so if you start feeling depressed, it can be extremely confusing. Many sufferers of postpartum depression feel like they must be terrible parents for feeling the way that they do. As the condition isn’t something women like to talk about or admit to, it often goes undiagnosed.
If you’re concerned you may be suffering with postpartum depression, it’s important to seek advice from a doctor as soon as possible. Below you’ll discover everything you need to know about the condition and the types of help available. [Read more…]
Could Introducing Solid Foods Earlier Reduce The Risk Of Infant Allergies?
Infant allergies are common, particularly in the Western world. While more frequent in babies who are bottle fed, allergies still affect two to three out of every 100 babies who are breastfed. They can be a nightmare to deal with and aren’t very pleasant for your little one either!
However, hope has been provided to parents thanks to the Australian Society of Clinical Immunologists and Allergists (ASCIA). The new ASCIA guidelines of 2016 claim that introducing solid foods into a baby’s diet earlier could reduce the risk of infant allergies. [Read more…]
Learning To Embrace Your Strong-Willed Child
After giving birth, you tend to get an idea in your head of how parenting is going to go. You imagine how this perfect little human will turn out, what they will be when they grow up and how you’re going to teach them all the important things in life. It’s a blissful, magical time full of endless possibilities. That is of course, until your little dreamy bubble is ripped apart by constant tantrums, very little sleep and you slowly start to lose the will to live.
Children come in all shapes, sizes and personalities. While parenting any child can be challenging enough, raising a strong-willed child is one of the most difficult, sanity testing experiences you’ll ever go through. All of the discipline techniques you’re told are guaranteed to work such as the “naughty step”, fail miserably, regardless of how persistent you are. And as for sleep, wait, what’s that? 😉
If you’re just about ready to give up, pack your bags and disappear onto a remote desert island to escape this terror, stop. The answer is to learn to embrace your strong-willed child. So how exactly can you do that when you’re practically pulling your hair out in frustration? [Read more…]
Could These Desserts Really Help Your Baby to Sleep?
Are you trying desperately to remember the last time you got a good night’s sleep? For most new parents, one of the hardest things to adjust to is sleep deprivation. It’s one of the most talked about parenting issues and can have a seriously drastic impact on your sanity.
The good news is there are plenty of things you can try to help your baby drift off. One thing you may not have considered is food. Once your little one reaches the age of at least 4 months, there are some foods you can introduce which can encourage sleep. Below you’ll discover some great desserts that have proven to soothe infants, sending them off into a deep, happy slumber. After all, who isn’t blissful and content after a good dessert? [Read more…]
Is White Noise Helpful Or Harmful To Babies?
As baffling as it seems, white noise has proven time and time again to help soothe babies and get them to sleep. There’s even white noise machines you can invest in to help your little one drift off into a deep slumber. It’s one of the only fail-safe methods proven to help reduce crying and improve sleep, but yet there’s some information out there claiming it can actually be harmful to baby’s ears.
So what exactly is white noise and can it be harmful to your infant? [Read more…]
How To Deal With The Emotional Issues That Come With Parenthood
Becoming a parent is one of the best, yet also one of the most frightening experiences you’ll ever go through. It’s a time full of joy and happiness, as friends and family bombard you with gifts, cards and messages of “congratulations!”. However, what you aren’t often told or warned about, is that initial joy can soon be replaced with a whole host of emotional issues.
Being a new parent is scary. No amount of preparation sets you up for the sheer terror you face when you realise it’s your sole responsibility to keep your baby safe and healthy. It’s not just fear you have to contend with either. Guilt, stress and the feeling of not being good enough are just some of the emotional issues that can present themselves.
If you’re struggling to cope with any of these unexpected and difficult emotional problems, the first thing you need to know is you are not alone. It may not be talked about very often, but most new parents have felt the way you feel right now. The good news is there are ways to deal with these issues and survive the first year (and those after it) 😉 without losing your sanity. [Read more…]
Soy Milk For Babies: Everything You Need To Know
Thinking of trying your baby on soy milk? Advertised as a healthy alternative to cow’s milk, soy formulas have become particularly popular. However, experts warn that while soy milk is recommended as a safe alternative to use right after birth, it could actually do more harm than good in the long-term.
There’s a lot of conflicting advice out there which makes it extremely difficult to know whether soy milk is safe or not. Below you’ll discover everything you need to know about this popular cow’s milk alternative. [Read more…]
Healthy Eating For Your Toddler – 7 Top Tips
Getting your toddler to eat healthily can be extremely difficult. Of course, all children are different. Therefore, some parents struggle a lot more than others to get their little one to eat anything remotely good for them. No doubt you’ve come across those parents who gleefully tell you about their child’s love of sprouts – making you feel like a complete failure as a mother.
Don’t worry though, it’s normal for children to be suspicious of healthy food. The question is, how can you encourage your toddler to eat these foods they seem utterly disgusted by? Below you’ll find 7 great tips that can make mealtimes a lot less stressful for you and your child. [Read more…]
Breastfeeding Vs Bottle Feeding – The Pros And Cons
Being a parent isn’t easy! From the very first day your little one is born to the day they leave home, you are faced with many difficult decisions. One of the first challenges you’re faced with is what should be the simple task of feeding.
The breastfeeding and bottle feeding debate has been around for years and it’s one thing you’ll never be short of advice on. Everyone has an opinion, but it’s important to make the decision based upon what’s right for you.
So how do you decide whether to breastfeed or bottle feed? Here we’ll look at the pros and cons of each option to help you make a more informed decision. [Read more…]