Have you ever wondered why some people appear to be much happier with parenting than others? Well, according to science, it could be down to hormones.
Research carried out over the past decade, has shown that Oxytocin has a direct impact on how you feel and respond to your little one. So how exactly does it affect your parenting skills and is it possible to manipulate your Oxytocin levels to become a happier, better parent? [Read more…]
5 Common Breastfeeding Problems You Should Expect
Breastfeeding is considered one of the most natural things in the world, yet as many new mothers discover, it’s not always as easy as it seems.
There are a surprising number of difficulties you can face when it comes to breastfeeding your little one. It’s a completely new process for both you and your baby, so it can take a little time to get used to. So, if you’re struggling to breastfeed your new-born, don’t worry – It’s not because you’re bad at parenthood! It’s actually a lot more common to have breastfeeding problems than it is for it to go smoothly. Here you’ll discover 5 of the most common breastfeeding problems and how to solve them. [Read more…]
Chickenpox – Everything You Need To Know
Chickenpox is a very common disease that typically affects children under the age of 10. Many children will catch it at some point, but that doesn’t stop you from worrying when you wake up one day to find your little one covered in nasty looking spots!
In order to deal with the condition as quickly and effectively as possible, it helps to have a good understanding of what it is, the symptoms to look out for and the treatment options available. Here you’ll discover everything you need to know about chickenpox and what to do if you suspect your little one has it. [Read more…]
20 Essential Tips For First Time Parents
Being a first-time parent can be terrifying. From the minute you discover you’re pregnant, to the minute you take your little bundle of joy home, fear has a tendency to creep in and fill your head with doubt. It’s a massive responsibility taking care of such a fragile little human. As a parent you have an overwhelming urge to protect them as you see for the first time just how scary the world can be.
With every milestone comes a fresh wave of worry. So how can you stop this and just enjoy being a new parent? The truth is, you can’t. Part of being a new parent is worrying about what could happen. It’s completely natural and all part and parcel of being a parent.
However, the good news is women have been having babies for centuries. That means, there’s a lot of advice out there that can really help to make being a first-time parent a lot less terrifying. Here you’ll discover 20 essential tips that will help you survive the first year of parenthood… [Read more…]
10 Diaper Hacks You Need In Your Life
There are a lot of amazing, beautiful things about parenthood, but diaper changing isn’t one of them! In fact, it can be one of the most disgusting, nausea-inducing things you’ve ever done. However, it’s not the actual sight of the dirty diaper that makes it so unpleasant. What should be a simple enough task can actually turn out to be extremely challenging!
To make this essential, yet unpleasant task a little more bearable, here you’ll discover 10 fantastic diaper changing hacks that can help. [Read more…]
15 Ways To Keep Your Toddler Entertained On A Flight
Trying to keep an energetic toddler entertained at home is hard work, but when you’re enclosed on a plane for hours at a time it adds a whole new challenge entirely. Many parents dread the thought of flying with their toddler and for good reason. The last thing you want to encounter on your flight is a full-blown toddler tantrum.
If you’re jetting off with your little one this year, it doesn’t hurt to learn a few useful tips before you go. Below you’ll discover 15 of the best tried and tested tips that will help keep your toddler entertained on a flight. [Read more…]
Does Gender Determine Your Baby’s Sleeping Pattern?
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…]