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Introducing Solid Foods to Your Baby

According to experts, the best time to start feeding your baby solids is when he’s four to six months old. By doing so, some claim that it helps increase the weight of your baby and make him sleep better at night. However, some experts also argue that a baby’s immature digestive system should not be taken for granted and mothers should be careful in feeding her child solid foods that may trigger allergies and encourage obesity.

The Australian Breastfeeding Association highly encouraged mothers to delay introducing solid foods until six months of age. For the first six months, ABA strongly suggests that babies be only breastfed. Even if babies are gradually introduced to solid foods, mothers should ensure that they breastfeed their infant until one year and beyond.

So will solids help my baby sleep better at night?

Not really. It has been found that babies won’t necessarily sleep any longer on solids than on a sufficient feed of breast milk. Some infants require more feeding at night and some babies become irritable and will likely sleep insufficiently when solids are introduced earlier than it should be.

How to know when is the right time to offer solids?

Only your baby can tell when he is ready for solids. This is usually around six months. If he seems unsatisfied even after frequent breastfeeds then he might be ready. If your baby would like to eat when you are eating then this is a good indication as well. But if your baby does not show interest on your foods then he’s not ready. Some babies need to be at least seven or eight months old before they start appreciating solids.

Finally Starting Solids

Keep in mind that similar to learning how to walk; your baby will eat solids when he is developmentally ready. Though we understand that milestones such as this may be exciting, it’s best if you don’t rush things. By listening and observing your baby, you’ll know when he’s ready to eat solids with you.

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Baby Nursery Checklist

Preparing for the arrival of your baby can really be exciting especially if you are a first time mum. Below are some of the essential items you’ll need to prepare before the arrival of your baby.

If you still don’t know the gender of your baby, it’s better if you just buy gender specific necessities after giving birth.

Sleeping Necessities

  • Cot
  • Cot mattress
  • Cot sheets
  • Swaddles, blankets or wraps

Changing or Bathing Necessities

You can bath your baby in the sink or you can shower with them. However, if you want things to be a bit easier, you need the following:

  • Baby bath
  • Change table
  • Towels
  • Facewashers
  • Nappies
  • Wipes, cotton balls, cotton buds, a good rash cream

Going Out Necessities

  • Baby carrier or sling
  • Pram
  • Baby capsule or a carseat

Dressing Necessities

There’s no point in buying your baby too many clothes before he arrives. Just make sure you have what’s really needed on hand. Below are some of the clothes your baby needs regardless of the gender.

  • Singlets
  • Short-sleeved bodysuits
  • Long-sleeved growsuits
  • Socks

Feeding Baby

If you are planning on breastfeeding your baby, you really won’t need much but your breastmilk. But if things don’t go as planned, you can easily buy feeding equipment in most cities and towns. What you really need are the following:

  • Breastpads
  • 2 bottles or more if you are bottlefeeding
  • Special feeding pillow
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Comfort And Savings: The Unbeatable Advantages Of Using Washable Breast Pads

Mothers are keen on using only the best quality products for their babies to use. From the texture of the clothing that will come into contact with the baby’s sensitive skin to the hypoallergenic substances found in soaps and bath products, mothers cast a scrutinising eye over every item to ensure that their child will become healthier and safer from their use, and not the other way around.

However, mothers need to experience quality care themselves to enable them to provide the best care for their precious little ones. Breastfeeding, for example, is one of the most important practices that can facilitate the continued nourishment of a newborn baby until one year or however long a mother chooses to nurse her child. It is important for mothers to choose quality products for themselves as well to help them in breastfeed their baby better. A breast pad is one product that can help mothers experience comfort and safety from infections during their breastfeeding period, but how can they be sure that they’re using the best one out of all the variants available in the market? It would be wise to compare washable breast pads against disposable ones to see whether they’re getting the best value for their money and the best quality for their baby.

Disposable breast pads are common choices for mothers who lack sufficient time to wash and reuse washable pads. Disposable ones can be simply fitted into the bra to absorb the breast milk leaking while the mother is not nursing. After use, mothers can simply remove and discard the pads and use a fresh one. The downside of using disposable pads is that the anti-slip layers that keep the pad in place can stick to the clothes, or worse, to the skin, making it difficult and painful to remove. Also, the plastic layer meant to prevent leakage can cause infections on the nipples from exposure to moisture. In addition, having to frequently buy new disposable pads can cause a considerable dent on the mother’s daily finances.

Washable pads, on the other hand, are made of soft fabrics—such as bamboo fabric, which is anti-bacterial and biodegradable to boot–that provide comfort for breasts, whether they are sore or not. The fabric comes in thin and thick variants to ensure maximum absorbency for light and heavy flows of breast milk. They can be easily washed along with a normal load of laundry and they retain their absorbent properties even after multiple washings, eliminating the need to buy new ones often. What’s more, the need to discard washable pads less often produces less waste, whereas disposable pads only accumulate in landfills.

Mothers need to take care of themselves well so that they can care for their babies, too. Choosing the best breast pads help keep them in good health and in the best condition to continue breastfeeding their babies, ensuring that their child stays equally healthy, safe, and nourished. With undeniable savings and comfort, washable pads can be one of the smartest choices for baby care products mothers can use today.

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Why Bamboo Breast Pads Are The Best Choice For Breastfeeding Mums

Motherhood brings to mind a number of pleasant experiences. Any new or experienced mum would surely appreciate and treasure the moments when they cuddle their sleeping baby close and breathe in the clean smells of cotton and soap, the times when the baby grips its mother’s finger in its tiny hands with all the strength a tiny baby can muster, or the nights when a baby settles into sleep in its crib and indescribably assumes a sleeping position characteristic of either the mother or the father. During these quiet, tender moments, mothers get to savour the wonder of beholding a perfect little creature that is so tenderly fragile and trusting in its mother’s ability to nourish and provide for its needs.

Breastfeeding is yet another experience that most mothers would be excited to begin, but many will quickly realise that there are certain issues involved in this practice that can be considered uncomfortable or undesirable. Breast milk can leak from the breasts during times when the mother is not nursing; sometimes, walking through the shops for a quick errand and hearing a baby crying somewhere close by can cause milk to flow uncontrollably, or merely thinking about the baby in the other room can trigger the reflex. Constant exposure to wetness can cause nipples to become sore or even cracked, making the breastfeeding experience difficult and uncomfortable. Many women have found that breast pads are ideal for keeping the fluid away from the skin, but they can’t be made from just any type of fabric. Bamboo breast pads work best in keeping mothers clean, dry, and comfortable during their nursing phase.

Breast pads in the market come in washable and disposable variants. Disposable breast pads often come with anti-slip materials or plastic layers to keep the pads in place on the breasts and prevent leaking. While disposable pads are considered by some to be the more convenient option because there’s no need to spend time washing and reusing pads, they can be uncomfortable to wear because they stick to the skin and the plastic material can trap moisture and may cause infection on the breast or the nipples.Washable pads, on the other hand, are often made to be form-fitting and thin or thick enough to be worn for either light or heavy flows of breast milk at different times of the day. Breast pads made with bamboo fabric in particular are especially favourable because they are soft and highly absorbent—approximately 60% more absorbent than regular cotton. The softness provides comfort for already sore breasts and the material naturally draws moisture away from the skin; it’s also important to note that bamboo fabric has anti-bacterial properties and is hypoallergenic, meaning it will not irritate the skin or hold odours. What’s more, breast pads made with bamboo are 100% biodegradable and pesticides are not required in growing the material.

Choosing the best products for the baby’s benefit can also mean making the best choices for the mother as well. Breastfeeding becomes an even healthier and more nourishing activity for mothers and babies when breast pads that provide comfort, safety, and overall protection are used.

 

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Is it safe to breastfeed after you have had a drink or two?

Below are some of the things you need to know about breastfeeding and alcohol consumption.

When you consume alcohol, it takes about 30-60 minutes for it to reach your breastmilk.

The level of alcohol in your breastmilk and blood is the same. If you have 0.07 blood alcohol level then it’s the same with your breastmilk.

It takes at least two hours for your body to metabolise alcohol. Depending on your weight, your breastmilk should be free of alcohol after two hours; so if you’ve consumed two drinks, it may take four hours before your milk is free of alcohol.

No need to pump and then throw away your milk. You’ll get rid of the alcohol in your milk in due time. You just need to wait.

If you intend to drink a lot, it’s good if you express some milk in advance and store it in bottles for your baby. If you have missed feeding your baby and your breast gets engorged while you still have alcohol in your system, then the best thing to do is to express and throw out that milk.

If you can it’s better to abstain on drinking while breastfeeding. If you can’t help it, experts recommend that you at least avoid drinking on your baby’s first month or limit drinking to two standard drinks a day.

It’s better to drink when you already know the feeding routine of your baby so you can schedule your drink knowing that your baby will not feed in a few hours. Newborn babies have irregular feeding patterns and it’s not advisable to drink during your baby’s first month.

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Learning Breastfeeding Basics: Using Breast Pads To Manage Leaks

For many expectant mothers, the anticipation for the act of breastfeeding their newborn can be just as strong as their desire to finally see and hold the baby in their arms. Having the ability to provide the only food that a newborn baby will need can be a source of pride for mothers; the knowledge that their own bodies are strong enough and fully equipped to carry a baby throughout the nine months of pregnancy as well as provide the nourishment the baby needs can give any new mum that encouraging rush of fulfilment and happiness. The miracle of life and the continuing cycle of birth and providing care can be awesome to behold and experience.

Of course, along with the intoxicating delight of bringing new life into the world, there are unexpected things that can happen to a mother’s body to accompany the arrival of the young one. Breastfeeding means that the baby will have nourishing milk available to it whenever it needs to feed, but new and experienced mums alike are highly likely to experience breast milk leakage—the uncontrollable flow of breast milk when the baby is not nursing. This may not seem like much of a problem to a person who has yet to experience having a baby, but once the experience actually sets in (the soaked shirts throughout the day, the wet blankets throughout the night), mothers will realise that they will need something to help them manage this condition. The best solution yet, many have discovered, is the use of high quality absorbent breast pads.

These specially designed pads can be placed inside the bra while a mother is not nursing her child. There is a “letdown reflex” that occurs in breastfeeding women; this refers to the reflex that releases milk from the mother’s breasts that can be triggered by a variety of things or events–hearing the sound of a baby crying, thinking about or even just looking at the baby, or when the breasts become uncomfortably full of milk from going through prolonged periods without nursing.

The reflex may be unnoticeable at first, and some women do not even experience this during their nursing phases at all. For those who do, however, the experience can range from slightly inconvenient to embarrassing; having to change shirts repeatedly at home can be troublesome, and one would imagine that going back to work and needing to make an important presentation when wetness and stains begin to appear on one’s power suit can be extremely awkward and unsightly.

There are plenty of brands and makes of breast pads available in the market to suit a mother’s specific needs. Some pads are thin for daytime use while others are thick for heavier leaks during the night. They can come in plain white or more colourful variants to stay discreet underneath clothing. In addition, mothers can choose between disposable and washable breast pads, depending on their preference after having tried both. Some women like the cost efficiency and eco-friendly nature of washable pads while other may prefer the protection and convenience of using and discarding disposable ones. No matter which products they choose, mothers can expect more comfortable and hygienic nursing days with their precious babies thanks to special breast pads that make the experience a whole lot easier to manage.

 

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Dealing with Baby Blues

Are you feeling moody, anxious and finding it difficult to sleep a few days after giving birth? If yes, then perhaps you have the “baby blues”. According to doctors, baby blues refers to the mood swings, tearfulness and anxiety of new mums. While some mums do not experience this, some do and it is said to be associated with the stress of late pregnancy, labour, and delivery.

Although for some women baby blues are short-lived, those women who experienced it longer than a week is said to be at a risk for Postnatal Depression in the postpartum period.

There are several ways on how you can battle baby blues.

Check out our tips below:

1. Get Organised

It’s better if you have support from a family member during the first few months after bringing your baby home. Doing so will minimise stress. It’s also better if you don’t move house or change jobs during the first few months of motherhood to reduce the feeling of anxiety.

2. Get Support

Create a support system and have yourself surrounded by family and friends as well as health professionals. Doing so will give you the opportunity to trade stories and experiences about motherhood.

3. Stay Healthy

Make it a point to always eat healthy food and to exercise regularly. Sufficient amount of sleep is also important in keeping yourself healthy so ensure that you have enough rest. This can be difficult with a newborn, however if you try and nap when they do this will help.

4. Learn to manage stress

Whenever you are feeling stressed, try to write it down on your diary of feelings and note how you were able to battle that particular type of stress. By doing this, you will be able to understand the factors that make you feel stressed and think of ways on how to avoid it.

5. Take some time out

Set time for yourself. If you can arrange a childcare service or have someone look after your child occasionally then the better. Use the time to do what you enjoy doing such as reading a book,having a relaxing bath or watching your favorite TV show.

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How to Cure Your Morning Sickness

Unfortunately many pregnant women will experience some form of morning sickness during the first trimester. It can be just feeling nauseous as you step out of bed, to feeling sick and sometimes being sick all day long. For myself it was the later and unfortunately lasted longer than the first term. However this is out of the ordinary and for most women it will have eased off by 12 weeks.

According to doctors, if you are healthy before pregnancy and then continue to be healthy during your pregnancy, then you reduce the chances of having morning sickness. Many say that the best approach is to really listen to your body. Though tuning to your body may seem hard, it is not. So long as you practice listening to what it wants then you’ll be able to understand how several changes in your body can affect your digestive system and the pathways that can contribute to nausea or morning sickness.

  • Hormonal change
  • Changes in blood sugar
  • Stress and anxiety
  • Heightened sensitivity to certain smells or taste triggers

Below are some ways on how you can battle morning sickness:

  1. As mentioned above, you need to eat what your body wants and that you always need to constantly nurture and keep yourself healthy.
  2. Make it a point to eat regularly. Avoid starving yourself for more than 3 hours. Remember to eat small snacks every hour.
  3. Related to the 2nd point, don’t overeat. You don’t want to feel nauseated or bloated.
  4. Eat simple and home-cooked food. Don’t go for rich and creamy foods as they can make you feel heavy right away without having the right nutrients for you and your baby. Greasy and heavy foods are also hard to digest and make you feel sick.
  5. Avoid consuming foods which you are allergic, sensitive, or intolerant too.
  6. Even if you are not feeling hungry, make it a point to eat something. A piece of fruit or toast would be good.
  7. Give yourself a relaxing bath. It will also help if you add some essential oils that can soothe your nerves.
  8. Avoid places that are moldy and damp. Stay away from strong smells such as diesel and petrol.
  9. Don’t focus on your nausea. Just keep calm and keep your mind busy with other thoughts.
  10. If you are already frequently vomiting, acupuncture and other homeopathic remedies can help you feel better and ease nausea.

Battling morning sickness is all about taking care and responding to what your body needs. Hopefully the remedies we mentioned can help ease your morning sickness so that you can enjoy your pregnancy. If however everything seems to fail speak to your doctor as they may be able to prescribe something for the sickness.

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Breastfeeding and returning to work

Most mothers can still successfully breastfeed when they return to work. As our workplace environment changes more and more companies are understanding the importance of family responsibilities and thus include this in their workplace policies. Though legislation states that no employer should discriminate against individuals with family responsibilities, only few companies allow mothers to breastfeed at the workplace. Below are some tips on how you can possibly feed your bubs at the workplace.

  • If you can discuss your breastfeeding requirements with your employer before you go on a maternity leave. By doing so, you know what to expect when you return and you know if your employer can accommodate your request.
  • If you have an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Officer or a Human Resources Department check if they know your company’s breastfeeding policies and their attitude towards it.
  • Ask if your employer can provide a private room with a comfortable chair and a refrigerator where you can store your expressed milk.
  • You might want to buy an electric breast pumps to make expressing sessions easier and quicker at work.
  • You might find it hard to express at work during the first few weeks but some mothers say it will improve quickly and the benefits are definitely worth the effort.

 

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Baby Shower Gifts

Most people when they have their first baby will more than likely have a baby shower. If you have never been to one before or don’t have kids yourself it can be difficult in choosing what to buy. There are the fail safe essentials that every new mum will need, plus a few that mum to be may not have thought of yet. Here are a few suggestions to help.

ESSENTIAL / EVERYDAY ITEMS

–          Bath thermometer

–          Baby bath wash

–          Nail clippers

–          Baby panadol

–          Nappy rash cream

–          Wipes

–          Nappies

–          Face washers

–          Bibs

–          Singlet jumpsuits

–          Wraps

OTHER ITEMS FOR BUBS

–          Sleeping bag

–          Picture books

–          Comforters – my kids love the blankets with the toys attached

–          If you can sew or knit something handmade is always lovely

–          Baby carrier

ITEMS FOR MUM

–          Breast pads – Bambooby Buddies of course!

–          Baby book to record all the first milestones

–          Breastfeeding bracelet – to remind you what side you are up to

–          Breastfeeding cover

–          Frozen meals – a lifesaver for any new mum

–          Massage voucher

–          Pyjamas

–          Pregnancy or birth books