The first year with your bubba is certainly busy, tiring and so rewarding. It is when you realise what true love is and how much you love your children. I have asked Tayla from Gum Valley Glam Interiors who has 3 children under the age of 4 to  share some of her tips that has helped her survive and thrive the first year…

We recently celebrated our darling Dashell’s first birthday and naturally I started reflecting on the past year. While it has flown by in somewhat of a haze, I feel that I have enjoyed his first year even more so then that of our first two children. I guess you could say that by your third baby you realise how fleeting this stage is and you want to soak it all up. I have felt more confident and less rigid than I would have been with the others (mostly by default as things simply have to give or you end up tying yourself in knots!)

I won’t lie, when I found out I was pregnant with Dash anxiety kicked in; how would I cope with three (boys!) under four? My husband is a farmer so he works long hours and I was setting up a business. Immediately I went into crisis mode; what strategies could I put into place to make life a bit easier and feel as though I was taking back some control of the situation.

So here are some tips and products that have helped me keep my sanity this year and be the best Mum I can be. I would love to hear your tips too because by all means this list is not exhaustive. Here goes –

I can’t speak highly enough of Lil Fraser wraps. Large and stretchy they are great for swaddling in the early days and then for laying on the floor and clipping over the pram as baby gets older. They are available at From Baby to Kids www.frombabytokids.com.au

I have been lucky enough to breastfeed my babies all past the age of one. My absolute favourite maternity bras are by Cake Lingerie. They wash and wear like a dream and are comfortable enough to sleep in.

I am sure that many, if not most, of you will have found that by laying out clothes and packing lunchboxes etc the night before the morning rush is easier to manage. I have on more than one occasion taken it one step further by sleeping in my comfy bra or breastfeeding singlet and yoga pants. That way you can jump up in the morning and without fuss to do the drop off. Or at least be clothed when someone knocks on the door (I am still baffled by the amount of people who just ‘drop in’ when you live on a farm and Murphy’s Law says you will only be half-clothed nine times out of ten!).

It doesn’t take long to get to the milestone of starting solids. The difference between my approach with child one and three was markedly different. Rafferty was by the book, slowly introducing new foods and doing lots of purees. It was a case of ‘quick he has made a mess’ and I would instantly wipe his hands. The third time around, I couldn’t let Dash feed himself fast enough! For making mealtimes both fun and a little less messy we stock the tried and tested Design Letters melamine tableware and sleeping bear ‘placies’ (placemats), both available here. I don’t love them because I sell them, I sell them BECAUSE I love them 😉 They are great under playdoh and arts/crafts too.

Having a gorgeous keepsake book to record milestones throughout that first year is essential. Some of the best ones are RhiCreative or Forever 3. Down the track both you and your children will love reading them. I will be the first to admit my digital filing is not the best but I do like to make photobooks using Blurb. It is very easy to use and excellent quality; if you sign up to their newsletter they regularly do sales of 30%-40% off so you can have your book saved and ready to print when the next sale comes out.

Rafferty is in Kindy two days a week and we have care for Jagger 3 days a fortnight. It is on these days I try to get my work done for my own business with Dashell in tow. When the big boys have been out for the day I ask them to share with me one thing that made them happy, one thing that made them sad and one thing that was funny. It definitely doesn’t happen every night but when we get the chance to chat it is a good way to take stock and make their feelings heard, I don’t think enough can be said for emotional wellbeing.

That goes for Mums too. Even when it is the LAST thing you might feel like doing, sometimes you just need to force yourself to get out of the house. Almost always you will come home feeling better for it. Go for a walk. Take the kids to the playground. Have a coffee with a friend while the kids play. And JUMP at any chance you can to get out of the house ON YOUR OWN! Don’t feel selfish about doing it – you can’t pour from an empty cup 😉

To add to this, have something on the side which you do for yourself, for some that may be playing sport, doing a hobby or going back to work part time. Even in all the chaos I can pinpoint that part of being able to cope better, yet having more on my plate, is that I am ‘ticking more boxes’ that contribute to my wellbeing. Having my business is something that I do for myself. It keeps me in touch with the world outside of being Mum and is something creative that I am passionate about. To help with trying to juggle it all, we have a cleaner come in once a fortnight which may sound ‘luxurious’ but it is not really. It is worth every cent and takes the pressure off. And I never thought I would say this but as a Mum, happiness at the end of the day is going to bed at night to the hum of the dishwasher and washing machine ha!. Staying on top of things and waking up to a clean kitchen makes all the difference.

My final parting words are when you get to the end of the first year – have a party to celebrate! And outsource, outsource, outsource. We kept it simple for Dash but still wanted to go to a level of effort that we did for the other boys. We ordered decorations from Fete Cartel and got help with the invites and cake. Ask your loved ones to bring a plate of food so you can sit back and take it all in. After all aren’t first birthdays more for the parents than the kids anyway? Cheers to you (& Me!) for surviving the first year. How blessed we are to have these little people in our lives.

Tayla

Images by One of a Kind-Alysha Sparks and Little River Love

10 ways to connect with your child

Our lives have become so busy that we are often doing many jobs at the same time whilst trying to cook, clean and be with the family. I know that I often feel like I don’t get jobs done as I am doing too many things at the same time and never get the time to finish them. Plus there is the parents ‘guilt’ that comes because you want to be doing fun things with the children, but other things need to be done. I have asked Julie from Julie’s Tutoring to write about some ideas on how to be with your family and connect with your children. Relationships from an early age is so important and will build the trust with your child so that when it comes to the teenage years they know they can rely on you. So read the article, then put the phone away and have fun doing family time.

1. Family meal time. No screens (including the TV), just conversation and sharing a meal. Implement this as often as you can.
2. Age appropriate physical activity. Walk the dog together, go to the playground, play one-on-one basketball, go for a walk, play classic catch…
3. Rituals. Rituals are incredibly important for families. Keep it simple and to something that works for you with minimal extra effort. A favourite ritual in my house is Pancake Sunday.
4. Shared activities. Conversations are far easier when you are both engaged in an activity. If you want to have a tricky conversation, have it side by side (go for a walk, do the dishes) rather than face to face (across the dinner table). Allow your child to avoid eye contact. Trust me, it works.
5. Ask them what they would like to do, then join in with it (without any distractions ie – your phone).
6. Create something together (cooking, gardening, craft, a playlist for the school drop off or an upcoming road trip).
7. Physical connection. Hug, cuddle, kiss, shake hands, high fives, fist bumps, thumb wars, brush hair, tousle hair, tickle. Keep it age appropriate and to what is comfortable for you both.
8. Extended family gatherings. Catch up with your cousins, aunties, grandparents. Research shows children who are connected to their extended family are more resilient. And resilience is one of the most important traits your child needs to enjoy life and maintain mental health.
9. Connect with your community. Another key to resilient kids is connection to community. So attend a local event, join a club (sports or otherwise), have the neighbours over for a barbecue. Do something to interact with the people who share your town or region.
10. Nature based activity. Head to one of the national parks and go for a walk, have a fish, go for a swim. Explore the natural world together. Having a connection with nature is vital for wellbeing.

Julie is based in Port Lincoln and offers tutoring services to children who are needing that little bit of extra help. Contact Julie via her Facebook page www.facebook.com/juliestutoringportlincoln

You may be thinking what a strange title, but for many babies and children this is a reality for them as they are sleeping in polyester sleeping bags each night. As I continue researching to find quality products for my baby and children’s store From Baby to Kids (www.frombabytokids.com.au) I am horrified to learn that polyester is made from coal and petroleum and is actually a plastic. Polyester is made from the same plastic that the PET bottles that hold water and other food products in.

Natural fibres like cotton and bamboo are fibres that breathe rather than synthetic fibres like polyester that hold the heat in. When a child is wearing a sleeping bag or is covered with a blanket made of polar fleece or polyester, it actually makes them overheat and sweat which is a risk for SIDS. Their little bodies then become sweaty and this then cools their body down as the moisture sits on the skin.

Babies and children who experience allergies and skin conditions like eczema can become worse when they overheat. One option to alleviate overheating and to encourage self regulation is to sleep in natural fibres like cotton and bamboo and even better when it is organic. I personally recommend and sell ErgoPouch sleeping bags and sleepsuits. They have been certified by the eczema association.

When a baby or children can self regulate their temperature, they sleep better. This is what all parents want and this is one way to help achieve it. Our sleeping bags and sleepsuits are available on our website https://frombabytokids.com.au/products-page-2/ergopouch/ or can be viewed in our store at 34 Lincoln Highway, Port Lincoln, South Australia.

Sleeping bags, swaddles and bedding often have a TOG rating which describes how warm a particular sleeping bag is and is based on the British unit of measurement called Thermal Overall Grade.

As a mum to two young children, I have found sleeping bags so valuable and gave me a piece of mind to know that during their sleeps they were covered, warm and safe. Both my children were wrigglers who would move from one end of the cot to the other so it was impossible to keep a blanket on them and also potentially dangerous. By using these sleeping bags, it meant I didn’t have to continue getting up in the middle of the night to re-tuck them in. I have used Purebaby and ErgoPouch sleeping bags with both my children as I found it really important that they slept in material that was organically grown, but that would also breathe well so they didn’t overhead and sweat like the polyester versions do.

Sleeping bags can have a rating from 0.2 TOG to 3.5 TOG with the lightest being used in our summer through to the warmest being used in our winter. Typically the winter sleeping bags have a rating of 2.5-3.5 tog and making a choice depends on a number factors like what heating you use in your house, what type of pyjamas your child wears, what your house is made of and whether the afternoon sun hits their windows. It also depends on what your child is like as some babies/ children are hot little bodies and will overheat if you put too much on them and other children need to be layered up to keep warm.

I have found using the ErgoPouch temperature guide that comes free with their sleeping bag helpful to use when working out what to dress your child in eg if your child’s room is 16C and they are wearing a 3.5 tog sleeping bag, then they could wear a long sleeve singlet and warm pyjamas plus their sleeping bag to stay warm.

How to choose a sleeping bag for the different seasons

Winter- choose a 2.5 tog -3.5 tog which is suitable for bedrooms with a temperature of 15-23C.

Autumn and Spring, a 1.0 tog sleeping bag is more suitable when the bedroom is 21-24C

Summer is normally a 0.3-1.0 tog sleeping bag which suits bedrooms with a temperature of 21-27C.

(All of this depends on where you live and what type of air conditioning/ heating)

At From Baby to Kids, we stock a variety of ErgoPouch sleeping bags with sleeves and some without sleeves and we have 2.5 tog and 3.5 tog options. We also have Purebaby long sleeve sleeping bags and they are rated with 3.0 tog.

Visit our website to see the amazing variety of sleeping bags for all seasons- https://frombabytokids.com.au/products-page-2/sleep/

Two weeks before school starts is a good time to start practising some of the things the children will have to do by themselves like going to the toilet, putting their jumper on or off, tying shoelaces, opening their lunch box and choosing what they should eat at the right time, asking a teacher a question or help and learning how to sit on the floor with their legs crossed etc.

Now is the time to start getting your child ready and practising something that they will need to do at school by themselves. First thing this week to practise is opening the lunch box by themselves and learning how to put it in and out of their bag. The teacher will be able to help, but with often 20+ children it can take a while to get around the class.
Also talk to your child about what they should eat at fruit time, recess and lunch time. Often they will eat everything at recess and have nothing for lunch.
Some children also feel they need to eat everything in their lunch box and as a result have no time to play at lunch. Explain what you would like them to eat and then let them finish it off after school because all kids are ALWAYS hungry then.

Children will need to learn where the toilets are at school and will have to go to them unassisted. This means they need to feel confident about pulling their uniform/clothes down s…o they can use the toilet. Often new uniforms have zips, buttons or stockings etc that children haven’t had to use by themselves before. A good idea is for the children to wear the uniform at home and try to go to the toilet by themselves. That way you can watch them and can keep practising if they are having trouble.
Always pack a second pair of clothes in their bag so they can change their clothes if they get wet or they can tell a teacher and often the front office people will have spare clothes they can borrow.
You and the teachers will need to explain what the pictures outside the toilet mean so that they can tell what one is the girls and what one is the boys toilet.

I have been fortunate to have been invited by different websites and magazines to write some back to school articles that contain hints and tips for starting school and to ensure the school transition goes smoothly. There are also ideas on what to pack for a healthy lunch and how to improve their fine motor skills.

http://www.brisbanekids.com.au/back-school-tips-parents-prep-students-teacher-persective/

http://www.familydealfriday.com.au/healthy-food-ideas-for-school-children/

http://www.globalkidsoz.com.au/helping_new_esl_students.php

http://www.familycapers.com.au/fine-motor-skills-improving-their-effectiveness/

It is your baby’s first Christmas and you are so excited to celebrate it with them, but you don’t know what to get them. At this age, they often don’t need much, but at the same time they keep growing so you are always buying clothes, nappies and then trying them with new foods. I found with my own kids at this age that they loved the boxes and the wrapping paper and watching the Christmas lights on the Christmas tree.

Here are some ideas on what to get a newborn – 12 month old baby for Christmas. They may not use it right now, but it will come in handy in a few months when they reach the next developmental stage.

1. Wrapping paper

2. Boxes- big, small, colourful, cardboard. They will love them.

3. Musical instruments- We stock two types of maracas that little hands can hold on to and they come in a variety of designs. https://frombabytokids.com.au/products-page-2/wooden-toys-and-puzzles/baby-maraca-rattle/ and https://frombabytokids.com.au/products-page-2/wooden-toys-and-puzzles/mini-maraca/

4. Babies and little children love to hold on to things and move things around. These little rocking bead animals can rock when you push it and the beads can be moved around which helps to build on their fine motor skills. https://frombabytokids.com.au/products-page-2/wooden-toys-and-puzzles/wooden-rocking-animal-beads-wooden-toy-kaper-kidz/

5. Pram liners are a nice way to brighten up a pram and also help protect it. Bambella Designs pram liners come with a built in waterproof layer and handle straps are included for free. https://frombabytokids.com.au/products-page-2/bambella-designs/

6. Sleeping bags- Often babies start transitioning from swaddling to a sleeping bag after 3-5 months. Sleeping bags are a great present to give as they will use it every day and every night. Organic cotton ones breathe better than the polyester ones and we stock two options- Purebaby and ErgoPouch.  https://frombabytokids.com.au/products-page-2/sleep/

7. Playmat / Cot quilt- Buster Boo have handmade these beautiful cot quilts that are made with the softest cotton. They are reversible and machine washable. Check out their range at https://frombabytokids.com.au/products-page-2/buster-boo/

8.  Teether are a nice soft option for babies who are getting their teeth. Some teether contain nasty chemicals in their plastic like BPA which is why I have chosen a natural product made out of rubber called Natural Rubber. https://frombabytokids.com.au/products-page-2/organic-and-natural-products/natural-rubber-teether/

9. Stainless drink bottle- When a baby gets to about 6 months, they are encouraged to drink water and choosing a stainless steel bottle is a better alternative than a plastic bottle. H2o onya bottles are made tough and can withstand a lot of throwing on to the floor etc. They come with a sippy lid which can also be changed to a teat using the avent lids. https://frombabytokids.com.au/products-page-2/eat-and-drink/

10. Finally a baby needs love for Christmas and lots of cuddles. Christmas is often a time when families get to spend extra time with each other so enjoy it because time really does go quick and it will be another Christmas soon enough.

Merry Christmas and I hope you find these ideas useful.

Sara

Breastfeeding tips

Ask for help, especially in hospital. It is so much easier trying to master breastfeeding in hospital as you can ask the midwives at anytime of the day. However you need to feel comfortable with the midwife otherwise you won’t relax and your baby will sense that. Keep pressing the button until a midwife that you like responds.The first time with my son I had to ask for so much help as he wouldn’t latch on properly and it was weird at first having someone help me and focus on my breast, but I was so happy I kept asking as I still had difficulties at home, but had the confidence to keep persevering.

Second time around with my daughter I was also having trouble and the midwife who was helping me made me feel SO uncomfortable. She marched in, grabbed my boob, grabbed my daughters head and shoved them together. I was uncomfortable, she was screaming and no breastfeeding was happening. Because I was confident I could do it by myself, I said to her ‘thanks, but I’ll keep trying”.

Believe in yourself and your baby. It probably took me 6 months until I felt comfortable with breastfeeding .

I found I was so confused with what the midwives said, the Child Nurse, books and family members all said. Listen to your baby and they will let you know when they want to be fed. If your baby sleeps lots, then you may have to ensure they are getting enough feeds. (My kids never slept that long so didn’t have that problem.)

Read the books, listen to the advice and then make YOUR own mind up about how and when you want to feed your baby. Some babies love to be fed on demand, some are happy with routine and some just go with the flow of what the parent wants to do.My first child had a relaxed ‘routine’ which I loved and he loved as he never had to cry for food as he was fed before he got to that stage. My second child didn’t want a routine and wanted to be fed more often so she was fed every 2-3 hours.

As long as your baby is happy, having lots of wet nappies then you are doing a great job!

Product Review – August 2013

Date of review: 20th August 2013

Product reviewed: Itzy Ritzy Capsule Cover

Name of advertiser: From Baby to Kids

Packaging:

The capsule cover arrived quickly in a parcel post bag. It had its own packaging within the parcel which can be used to store and keep the cover clean.

Instructions:

The labelling is very clear. It has the washing instructions both symbolised and written and explains simply how to put the cover over the capsule.

Suitable for:

The capsule cover is suitable for use over most standard capsules. The colours are nice and bright and I think suitable for use with both boys and girls. From Baby to Kids also have several more designs to choose from.

Quality of materials:

The capsule covers are made from 100% cotton and are of a very nice quality.

Value for money:

The RRP of $44.95 for the capsule cover is very good value for money. I have not been able to find any other specific capsule covers that are similar to this. It is nice and bright and will definitely be used for my daughter.

Would you recommend this product and business to others?

I would definitely recommend this product to family and friends. It is bright and colourful and is much easier than throwing a blanket over the top of the capsule and trying to secure it with pegs on a windy day. The peek-a-boo pocket makes it very easy to check on bubs without having to disturb their sleep.

Overall:

The cover fit perfectly over my capsule but it also fit over our pram with the carry hole to the front. It means when my daughter drops her dummy I can simply reach in to retrieve it instead of having to lift the shade cover and then re-adjust it. We did get caught in the rain but the colours did not run and when it was washed, it maintained its shape and colour. I have received many comments from my mothers group who have also thought it is a great idea!

 Order your Itzy Ritzy cover here https://frombabytokids.com.au/products-page-2/itzy-ritzy/

CapsuleCover review- FFD

Kiddi Kutter Review- By Stephanie, mum to 3 children

We were recently given the Kiddi Kutter knife to try out with our three children aged 6, 5 and 2.  I have previously shielded away from letting my kids do any independent cutting with sharp knives for fear of an accident if they slipped or my attention was diverted when I supervised them.  I was thrilled to be able to give them something to use that was going to be safe and foster their sense of autonomy at the same time.

The Kiddi Kutter is a sturdy knife with a rubberised grip handle and a serrated metal blade.  It is child size and a comfortable fit in their small hands.  The cutting action is more like sawing than chopping but the blade is capable of getting through even the hardest foods like carrots, although I found it was more suited to softer foods like cold meats and cheese.  My daughter who is 2 got the most enjoyment out of using the Kiddi Kutter and she is delighted to help out with lunch and dinner preparation in a more hands on way than she was ever able to do previously.

I also think that now that my older 2 sons have had some experience cutting foods independently with the Kiddi Kutter, that they are ready to move onto a sharper knife with less risk of accident and injury .  I think this is because they are  more practiced at how foods respond to pressure and they have more idea just how much force they have to use for different foods.

Overall I am very impressed with this knife and would recommend it to other parents who want to get their children involved in the kitchen and give them some freedom at the same time.