Infant formula is the only safe alternative to breastmilk for the first 12 months of your baby’s life.
What is formula? Infant formula is not the same as cow’s milk. All infant formula has added vitamins and enzymes and different fats that babies need, which they can’t get from straight cow’s milk. This is why experts say you shouldn’t give cow’s milk to your baby as the main milk drink until your baby is over 12 months old.
Which formula is best? Every formula you can buy in Australia meets strict Australian Standards.
There is a range of cow’s milk formulas on the supermarket shelves. Most of them are of similar quality and nutritional value.
Some expensive formulas have special additional ingredients. You can pay more for this kind of formula. On the whole, though, there is no significant evidence that these formulas are better. There is some evidence that formula with added LCPs, naturally found in breastmilk, assists in brain development.
A brand might be more expensive, but that doesn’t mean it’s better for your baby. A hospital’s use of a particular brand of formula does not mean that brand is the ‘best’.
Preparing formula Infant formulas are most commonly available in powder form. The formula is prepared by adding the powder to cooled boiled water. Until your baby is 12 months old, it’s very important to sterilise bottles and teats. This will stop the formula from being contaminated by any bacteria that might make your baby sick.
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recommends regular formula over soy milk formula for most infants.
This is because consuming high levels of soy can have potential risks for young children. In particular, the NHMRC notes that phytoestrogen compounds in soy formula might affect the growing neuro-endocrine systems and immune system. But there is no compelling research to either prove or disprove that these compounds harm infants.
If you don’t want to use regular formula, soy formula will provide your child with all necessary nutrients. For example, you might be vegan and want a vegan diet for your child. Your baby can’t get necessary nutrients from soy milk for adults.
Some infants are allergic to both cow’s milk and formula. If you think your baby has an allergy, talk to your doctor before switching to a different formula.
Some formula has the following elements added to make it closer in composition to breastmilk:
Once you’ve settled on a formula for your baby, it’s better not to change formulas too often. This might upset your baby’s feeding routine.
Follow-on formula Some parents change to a ‘follow-on formula’ when their baby reaches six months:
Sourced from the Raising Children Network's comprehensive and quality-assured Australian parenting website http://raisingchildren.net.au
Start simple: along with iron-fortified cereal, baby’s first solids can be single foods such as mashed banana or avocado, or cooked and pureed apple, pear, pumpkin or potato.
Once baby is enjoying a good range of fruits and vegetables, introduce some fresh beef, lamb, pork or chicken (not pickled, salted or smoked). Combine meat with vegetables or even fruits such as apple or pear.
Gradually become more adventurous with different foods and textures. When teeth start coming in, try flaky loose fish, mashed legumes and couscous. Include fruits such as berries, citrus and stone fruit that has been deseeded and mashed.
Step 1: to make baby food, first peel the skin off fruits and vegetables, trim the fat off meats, and remove any skin from chicken.
Step 2: steam, microwave or boil the foods until cooked, and set aside some of the cooking liquids.
Step 3: puree in a food processor or with a hand blender. Add some cooking liquid if you need to smooth out the mixture. For babies over eight months, chop meat finely. Mash other foods with a fork. If using fish, remove any bones.
Pureed baby food can be frozen in clean ice cube trays. Spoon the puree into the trays and cover with plastic wrap. Freeze for 30 days maximum.
Solids can also be stored in plastic containers or glass jars. They’ll keep for up to two days in the fridge or one month in the freezer. Label containers with contents and use-by date.
To serve, pop out food cubes into a glass or ceramic bowl. Warm the solids in the microwave or on the stove. Stir well to get rid of hot spots. Test temperature with a clean spoon on your lip before serving to baby. Discard any leftovers – don’t refreeze.
Breastfeeding is a learning curve for both mum and baby, so it’s no wonder there can be some sore nipples and other challenges at first. Most issues can be easily resolved, and getting help early can make all the difference.
Did you know that breastfeeding women are entitled to two unpaid 30-minute lactation breaks? When, how and where you take them is up to you to discuss with your employer.
If you’re finding breastfeeding hard in any way, it can be a great help to speak to your maternal and child health nurse, GP or a lactation consultant. An Australian Breastfeeding Association counsellor can also help.
You’re bound to get lots of different advice – take the advice of the person you trust most, and stick with it.
The idea of sore nipples can be frightening. While having sore nipples isn't uncommon, it usually doesn't last more than a few days. If this happens it may discourage you from breastfeeding, so it's good address the problem as soon as possible.
Sore nipples are often caused by not feeding correctly, so a good start is to check your breastfeeding technique.
If you’ve checked your technique and your nipples are still getting sore, it’s good to address the problem before this discourages you from breastfeeding. There’s a lot you can do to stop soreness from getting any worse, and your maternal child health nurse or lactation consultant will be able to help.
Some tips for alleviating soreness are:
Another tip is to try avoiding using nipple shields or breast pumps, rough towels and any creams or liquids (such as shampoo) that may dry out your nipples.
It is unusual for sore nipples to persist, and worth speaking to your maternal and child health nurse if they do.
Many mums worry that they aren't making enough milk for their baby. This is particularly the case in the early days when a newborn's main way of communicating is to cry, and a baby might cry after a feed. Mums and dads are still trying to work out which cry means ‘hungry’, which cry means ‘tired’ and which cry means ‘I'm not hungry now, but I've got a tummy ache’.
You don’t need to give your baby a bottle to make sure she has enough food. If your baby has at least six to eight wet cloth nappies or five very wet disposables in 24 hours, you have plenty of milk. If you don't think your baby has that many wet nappies, there are ways to increase your supply of milk.
By breastfeeding often, you'll be helping to ensure you have enough milk. Your baby will let you know when she is hungry, and responding to this (even if it seems very frequent) will increase your supply.
If you are already breastfeeding every two hours (a gap of two hours between feeds, not two hours from the start of one feed to the start of the next), you could try to fit in a few snack breastfeeds in between.
If your baby is asleep for a long time, it can also help to express for a couple of minutes – but if this makes you tense or tired, don’t bother.
You can also try the following:
If you are concerned about your baby’s weight gain or anything else, talk to your maternal and child health nurse.
If you feel like you have too much milk or a fast flow and your baby is being swamped, you might like to try any of the following:
To gain relief from engorged breasts, try the following tips:
If you have a breast that is inflamed, sore, swollen or red, or if you have the chills or just feel like you have the flu, you may have mastitis, which is a serious infection. If you think you may have mastitis:
Sometimes, women may develop nipple or breast thrush (candidiasis) following a course of antibiotics. Symptoms of nipple or breast thrush may include sore nipples, shooting pain in the breast, and possibly white nipple discharge. Not only is nipple thrush particularly painful but it can be passed back and forth between mother and baby.
Research has not come up with a standard treatment for nipple or breast thrush. Different doctors treat it differently, depending on their own clinical experience. Treatment is likely to involve an oral gel for baby’s mouth and an ointment for mum's nipples and, sometimes, baby’s bottom. Antifungal tablets may also be prescribed for the mother.
Many women feel overwhelmed when they experience mastitis and may find it difficult to continue breastfeeding. Many do overcome mastitis and continue to breastfeed for some time with great success. Getting the support you need to get over this hurdle will help. You are not only learning to look after this new baby and are tired because of it, you are also unwell. You need help!
Once you are at home with your baby, she should generally want to feed. If your baby is persistently not feeding it's best to consult a professional in case there is a problem.
Having said that, now and then, a baby refuses the breast. There are many possible reasons for this, some related to the baby and some to the mother, and it is often just a passing phase. Here are some possible causes of breast refusal (but there are many more):
Most of these causes of breast refusal will either go away on their own or can be solved with a few simple changes to your routine. None of them mean you have to give up breastfeeding.
If your baby is feeding but you are worried that she might not be getting enough milk:
As babies grow older they get more playful, and they get teeth. It’s almost physically impossible for a baby to bite while sucking, but she might find it fun to bite your nipple once she’s finished (particularly if she thinks you’re not paying her enough attention!). If your baby does bite, say ‘No’ calmly and remove her from the breast. If you protest too loudly, this will just contribute to her amusement. Luckily, biting is usually a passing phase and probably won’t happen more than once or twice. You can also try offering your baby something else to chew on, like a teething ring. Some mothers switch to expressing if their baby keeps biting, but try to avoid this – it's just more work for you.
While many women keep breastfeeding when they go back to work, many still feel that their only option is to wean their baby. If you are thinking about going back to work and want to keep breastfeeding, here are some issues to consider:
Many women worry about talking to their employer about this issue. According to the Federal Sex Discrimination Act, it is illegal to discriminate against a woman on the basis that she is breastfeeding. That means that employers must make reasonable attempts to accommodate you if you want to breastfeed or express milk while at work.
Nappy rash is common and may occur despite the most careful attention to your baby. Almost all children wearing nappies get nappy rash at some stage.
Take your child to the doctor if:
In cultures where nappies are not worn, nappy rash is unheard of. Cloth nappies tend to cause fewer problems than disposables, which do not let air circulate as much. If possible plastic overpants should not be used for the same reason.
Various factors combine to cause nappy rash. The main cause is prolonged contact of a wet or dirty nappy with the baby’s skin. Ammonia may be released from the urine and this further irritates the skin. The use of plastic pants may make the rash worse because air cannot reach the skin and, as a result, moisture is retained. Associated conditions such as eczema or thrush may make the rash worse.
The skin in the nappy region looks red and sore. Some areas of skin may be raised or swollen and there may even be ulcers present. Skin folds are usually not involved because they are protected from exposure to urine. The rash may cause discomfort or pain, which may make the baby irritable and cry more often.
Simple measures will usually work and the rash will improve or disappear in a few days. A good course of action will include:
Secondary infection can sometimes occur, especially thrush (fungus or yeast). These bugs are normally present on the skin, but are real opportunists and multiply when the chemical balance has been disrupted in their favour. Thrush appears as bright red and shiny areas in the napkin area; they have clearly defined borders and also affect the skin folds. Numerous red dots (satellite lesions) may be studded beyond the outer edge of the rash.
Treat with an antifungal cream which will be prescribed by your doctor. As opposed to a simple nappy rash, which clears up quickly, thrush can take longer to clear, and has a tendency to recur. Treatment can be prolonged, and sometimes very frustrating.
If used consistently, the simple measures outlined above should help prevent nappy rash. Keep the nappy area clean and dry, and use protective sorbolene creams (often containing a zinc oxide base).
If your baby has been crying a lot and has watery diarrhoea, you might be thinking he has lactose intolerance. This condition is not very common in full-term babies, but if your child is showing typical symptoms, it’s important to diagnose and treat them appropriately.
What is lactose intolerance? What causes lactose intolerance? Common symptoms of lactose intolerance Diagnosing lactose intolerance What can I do about my baby’s lactose intolerance? Eating solids: lactose intolerance and diet Lactose overload Food allergy versus lactose intolerance
Lactose intolerance occurs when the body can’t break down a sugar called lactose, which is present in all breastmilk, dairy milk and other dairy products.
Lactose makes up around 7% of breastmilk (and a similar amount in infant formula). Lactose provides around 40% of your baby’s energy needs, helps your baby absorb calcium and iron, and helps ensure healthy development.
Usually, the enzyme lactase, which is produced in the small intestine, changes the lactose into glucose and galactose — sugars which are more easily absorbed. Sometimes babies don’t produce enough lactase to break down all the lactose and the unabsorbed lactose passes through the gut without being digested. Undigested lactose irritates the gut and causes build up of wind and diarrhoea.
There are two types of lactose intolerance: primary and secondary.
Primary lactose intolerance occurs when babies are born with no lactase enzymes at all. This is extremely rare. It’s genetically carried and babies who have it need a special diet from the time they are born, in order to thrive.
Secondary lactose intolerance can occur if a child’s digestive system is disrupted by illness, affecting healthy production of enzymes like lactase, or if there is inadequate production of lactase.
Illnesses that might lead to secondary lactose intolerance include tummy bugs that cause gastroenteritis and coeliac disease.
Gastroenteritis can cause temporary irritation to the lining of the stomach and small intestine, but this will usually clear up with time:
Secondary lactose intolerance due to inadequate production of lactase most commonly develops after the age of three. Some people are more likely to develop it than others. For example, people from a Northern European background are generally less likely to develop it; Indigenous Australians and people from Asia or Africa are more likely to do so.
Sometimes lactose intolerance is confused with other digestive problems such as a food allergy or lactose overload. This is because these conditions have similar symptoms. Food allergies and lactose overload are not the same as lactose intolerance, and do not affect a baby’s production of lactase.
Without lactase, the lactose in milk remains unabsorbed and stays in the intestines. As bacteria in the gut feast on the lactose, they produce large amounts of gas by fermentation. This causes a range of symptoms including:
The diarrhoea occurs because unabsorbed lactose forces the intestines to retain excess water, causing frothy green diarrhoea.
Note: Lactose intolerance does not cause vomiting, but food allergies do.
Even if your child has these symptoms, it doesn’t mean he is lactose intolerant. Some or all of these symptoms are common in healthy breastfed infants, according to research. They can occur in the first week of life and last up to six weeks or as long as five months. It is also highly likely that the symptoms will disappear. As long as your baby’s weight and health aren’t suffering, it’s not likely that there is a problem.
Because the symptoms for lactose intolerance and food allergy are similar, clearly diagnosing lactose intolerance can sometimes be difficult.
Methods used to diagnose lactose intolerance include:
The treatment for lactose intolerance in your baby depends to some extent on the cause. If your child has primary lactose intolerance, your doctor, paediatrician or nutritionist will help guide you.
For secondary lactose intolerance caused by gastroenteritis:
If you are breastfeeding, persist if possible. Weaning is not recommended, because of the nutritional value of breastmilk and the benefits of lactose for your baby’s growth. Also, if your child can tolerate a small amount of lactose then gradually increasing lactose can help his body produce more lactase.
And remember that one of the most important things you can do is soothe and comfort your baby when he’s showing symptoms.
If your child is older and diagnosed with lactose intolerance, here are some tips for watching his diet. These also apply to adults with lactose intolerance. Foods that are OK Foods to watch out for Check the ingredients Bread and cereals Rice and pasta Fruit and vegetables Meat, fish, chicken, pulses, legumes, nuts Cheeses with very small lactose content: brie, camembert, cheddar, colby, cotto, edam, fetta, gouda, havarti, mozzarella, parmesan, Swiss, Tilstat Soy yoghurt Milk, yoghurt, ice-cream, milk desserts, cream cheese, processed cheese, cheese spread, cottage cheese, ricotta Yoghurt coated muesli bars Instant mashed potato and vegetables with added milk, white or cheese sauces Fish pastes, meat pastes, frankfurts Creamy Italian or French cooking Biscuits Cakes Cake mixes Creamed soups Mayonnaise Milk chocolate Flavoured chips and cheese Flavoured snacks Artificial sweeteners Here’s a quick reference chart for the lactose content of common foods:
Cream, 20 gm (1 tblsp)
0.6 gm
Lactose overload is not the same as lactose intolerance – that is, it’s not a problem with the production of lactase. Rather, lactose overload occurs when a baby consumes large amounts of lactose at the one time and can’t break it all down.
Lactose overload can occur when:
Trying to slow down or lengthen the feed may help with lactose overload.
Read more about breastfeeding problems and solutions.
Sometimes, symptoms we think indicate lactose intolerance are actually caused by a food allergy. An allergy to milk, for example, affects bottle-fed babies more than breastfed babies because the majority of infant formulas are based on cow's, goat's or soy milk.
It’s very rare for babies to be allergic to human breastmilk, although a protein allergy might develop from proteins eaten by a breastfeeding mother, which are then transferred into her breastmilk. An elimination diet can be used to diagnose such an allergy. This involves removing dairy foods such as milk, cheese, yogurt and cream from the mother’s diet. If the baby’s symptoms improve, but return when mum reintroduces the foods, this may suggest an allergy.
Reactions to food allergies are more severe than allergies to lactose intolerance. If your baby is allergic to food such as cow’s milk, soy products or egg, you may notice the following symptoms:
Sourced from the Raising Children Network's comprehensive and quality-assured Australian parenting website
http://raisingchildren.net.au
Hygiene is important for anyone taking care of children and one of the most effective ways we have to protect ourselves, and others, from illness. Hygiene means washing your hands especially, but also washing the rest of your body. It means taking care when handling and storing food. It also means being careful not to cough or sneeze on others, cleaning things that you touch, throwing away things such as tissues that might have germs on them and using protection when you might be at risk of catching some infections.
Most of the infections we get, especially colds and gastro, we catch when our hands get germs on them, and we then put them in our mouth.
Some illnesses we can get when other people's dirty hands touch the food that we eat. So it is important to keep hands as clean as possible, particularly if you are around food. Some of the times that it is important to wash hands are:
Washing hands
Food poisoning is an illness that you can develop after eating food that has harmful germs in it, or food which contains a toxin (poison) made by some germs. This is called contaminated food. You can feel sick, vomit, have abdominal (tummy) pains and diarrhoea (runny poo), starting a couple of hours to a day or so after eating the contaminated food. You usually can't tell if food has been contaminated because the germs usually don't make the food smell or taste different.
Ideas about ‘hygiene’ were first of all thought of to stop the spread of infection, but now we also use the word hygiene to mean the way to make sure that our body is acceptable to others.
What you do about personal hygiene is very much dependent on the culture in which you live.
In some groups it is expected that you will wash your body at least every day and use deodorants to stop body smells. In other groups different 'routines' may be usual.
Some people do make judgements about others based on what they look like and what they smell like.
Body smells are:
There are always bacteria on the skin which ‘feed’ on dead skin cells and fluids such as sweat. Some of these bacteria make chemicals which smell unpleasant, such as methane and hydrogen sulphide (rotten egg gas). Washing and using deodorants gets rid of many of these smelly chemicals for a while but they build up again every day.
Clothes (especially socks and underwear) can be smelly and unpleasant to others after they have been worn for more than one day.
Cigarette smoke, whether you are a smoker or are around people who smoke, can cling to your clothes with an unpleasant smell.
Making sure that underwear and socks are changed each day is usually the thing to do in places where it is easy to wash clothes. In some places this may not be possible.
Shoes often get very smelly. Put them outside to dry completely, killing the bacteria in them which make the smell.
Having clean hair is also something that many people prefer.
Vaginal hygiene The vagina is an area of the body that is able to clean itself.
No special care is needed other than washing the outside of the genital area like you wash other areas (e.g. in a bath or a shower).
Putting anything into the vagina can damage the delicate skin inside, making it easier for germs to cause an infection. Tampons can damage the skin of the vagina, as can douches (preparations that can be bought to clean the vagina).
For most male babies and many young boys, the foreskin is attached to the glans (the tip of the penis).
Forcing it away from the glans may cause damage to the tip of the penis or the foreskin - so it is best not to force back an infant's foreskin.
Like every other part of the body, the tip of the penis and underneath the foreskin should be cleaned regularly once the foreskin moves easily. Don't use soap when washing under the foreskin because it can irritate the skin.
Boys should learn how to wash their penis and scrotum (balls) in the same way they learn how to wash other parts of their body.
With time the foreskin moves back more easily, and boys should be encouraged to wash under the foreskin every time they bath or shower.
The white stuff (smegma) under the foreskin is natural and does not cause health problems - it simply needs to be washed away regularly.
There are several things that can cause bad breath, for example, diseases of the teeth, gums and mouth, indigestion and some other health problems.
Most people have ‘bad breath’ first thing in the morning because not much saliva (which ‘washes’ the mouth) is made while they are asleep.
After having something to drink and eat, and when teeth are cleaned, the breath will smell better again.
Some things that you eat or drink can cause your breath to smell ‘bad’ for a while, such as garlic, onion and alcohol. The body gets rid of these unwanted chemicals by moving them from the blood in the lungs into the air that is breathed out. It can take many hours for the smell to disappear. Because the smell is in the air that is breathed out, cleaning teeth will not get rid of it.
Cigarette smoking can make breath smelly and stain teeth yellow.
Bad breath can also be caused by decaying teeth or a gum infection. There may be some bleeding from the gums. It is important to have regular visits to the dentist and brush and floss often.
Mouth washes, mouth sprays and flavoured chewing gum can make your breath smell better for a little while, but if you have a health problem in your mouth, the smell will come back, so see your dentist.
If you are not sure whether the water that you can use for hygiene is safe, take special care. A shower with hot water is probably OK, but do not use tap water for cleaning your teeth unless you are very sure that it is safe.
If you need to use water that you are not sure about to wash your hands, make sure your hands are totally dry before you touch any food (and do not wash fruit or vegetables in unsafe water).
If you do not have a safe water supply, make sure the water is boiled before you drink it (it is usually recommended that the water be held at a rolling boil for a minute).
Make sure any washed dishes are clean and totally dry before they are used again.
Infections can be passed from one person to another by contact with blood. It is wise to think of all blood as possibly infected so that you always do the things you need to do to keep yourself safe. However:
If someone is bleeding and needs your help:
If you do need to touch something with blood on it, or you do so accidentally, it is unlikely that you will get an infection, since most blood-borne infections need blood to blood contact (e.g. through sharing drug injecting equipment or getting blood into a cut that you already have on your body). If you are concerned, see your doctor who will be able to talk about the risk, and have blood tests done if needed.
Dried blood on tampons or pads used during a menstrual period, or on used tissues will not cause an infection, but they are unpleasant for others to have to touch, so make sure you dispose of them carefully. Wrap them in paper and put them into a bin. Do not flush them down the toilet.
Some blood-borne infections can be passed on during sexual intercourse. You can protect yourself from infection by practising safe sex and always using condoms.
Here are some things that we did to prepare him for school:
1. Leave your child with a babysitter or carer other than yourself to get familiar with being in someone else’s care and away from you as the primary caregiver. We did this twice a week: Crèche at Church and a weekly meeting at our Church where Crèche was provided.
3. Provide activities for your child to do which will be familiar and that is commonly done at schools or Childcares such as play dough, painting, puzzles etc.
4. Get excited about school together talk about it regularly.
The exact cause of cradle cap is not known, but it is thought to be related to the influence of the mother’s hormones, which still circulate in the baby’s bloodstream after birth.
Most often cradle cap appears as a pale yellow scale or crust (which has an oily texture) at the back or on the top of the head, which can also spread to the eyebrows and behind the ears. It is difficult to peel off. The baby is not irritated by the rash, and it is not itchy or sore.
Applying olive oil or baby oil can help to soften the crusts, and this may be all that is needed. Make sure you wash the oil off after an hour, otherwise it may aggravate the cradle cap. Try using a soft brush to gently lift out some of the scale. There are also special shampoos that can be bought over the counter at the chemist without a prescription and that are effective in treating cradle cap; use them in accordance with the instructions.
Mild jaundice in babies is very common: around half of newborn babies get it. It is most noticeable from the third day after birth.
Jaundice is usually harmless and disappears after a week or two without problems. Nonetheless, a nurse or doctor should check and monitor all cases of jaundice in newborn babies. Some babies have severe jaundice, which very occasionally can lead to deafness and even brain damage if not treated promptly.
The normal breakdown of red blood cells causes jaundice. This process releases a chemical called bilirubin, which makes skin yellow. Babies break down red blood cells very rapidly, but their livers aren’t really developed enough to dispose of bilirubin. This overload causes physiological jaundice.
Newborns can also get breastmilk jaundice, where a chemical secreted in the mother’s milk interferes with the disposal of bilirubin. This usually fixes itself after several weeks and does not require treatment.
A rare type of jaundice occurs when the mother’s and the baby’s blood groups are incompatible. This is not usually a problem during a first pregnancy because the mother’s and the baby’s bloodstreams do not mix. However, during the delivery, some of the baby’s blood may mix with the mother’s blood. The mother then develops antibodies which become active during the next pregnancy and cross the placenta to attack the second baby’s red blood cells. Their destruction releases bilirubin into the baby’s bloodstream, and jaundice appears.
If this has happened, it usually becomes apparent in the first 24 hours after birth.
Treatment depends on what caused the jaundice and how bad it is. Babies who develop jaundice several days after birth usually just require careful monitoring, sometimes with heel prick blood tests to check the bilirubin levels in their blood. If these are high, the hospital staff may recommend a few days’ treatment with phototherapy. This technique uses ultraviolet light to help to break down excess amounts of bilirubin. The baby is placed naked, with eyes covered to protect them, in the cot, under a blue phototherapy lamp for 2-3 days. Most babies tolerate the treatment and there are minimal side effects – possibly a mild rash and watery bowel motions for a few days. Because more fluid is lost during phototherapy, your baby may require extra feeds at this time.
More severe jaundice, in which bilirubin levels are very high, may require treatment with an exchange transfusion in which your baby’s own blood is replaced by compatible fresh blood. This is not common.
Only ‘incompatible blood’ jaundice is preventable. The mother is given an anti-D injection immediately after delivery and this prevents complications in subsequent pregnancies.
How do you know when your child's illness is minor and when it might be more serious?
Read info and watch film clips especially for dads, or meet other fathers in the discussion forum.
Recent research has pointed to signs which might indicate that your baby or young child should be seen immediately by a doctor. Signs of illness to watch out for:
The more of these signs your baby or young child has, the more chance there is that they have a potentially serious illness. See the doctor if any one of these signs is present in your child.
If your child shows more than one of the following signs, seek urgent medical attention.
Drowsiness
Your baby is less alert than usual. She makes less eye contact, and is generally less aware of sounds and movement and of the immediate environment. The more drowsy the baby, the greater the chance of serious illness.
Decreased activity
Your baby is less active, and moves her arms and legs less. She may just tend to lie around, or want to be cuddled by a parent, rather than be involved in activities that she usually likes.
Breathing difficulty
This is an important sign of a potentially serious illness. The baby may be breathing very quickly, or grunting with each breath. She may be coughing continuously. With each breath you may notice the muscles between the ribs being sucked in, or the baby may be blue around the mouth.
Poor circulation
Your baby may look paler than usual, and this can last for up to several hours. Your baby’s hands and feet may be cold or even blue.
Poor feeding
Your baby drinks much less than usual. Breastfed babies will suck less strongly and for shorter periods of time. Bottle-fed babies take less than half the normal amount of milk that they normally drink in 24 hours. The baby may not be very interested in feeding in general.
Poor urine output
The baby has fewer than four wet nappies in 24 hours.
In babies and young children, illness can progress more quickly. If in doubt, seek medical advice.
You might put off seeing the doctor for all kinds of reasons. You may not want to worry the doctor, with what may turn out to be a trivial illness, especially at night, or if you think that the doctor is very busy. You may be anxious that your fears are groundless and that you will look foolish if your baby turns out to have a minor illness. The doctor’s job isn’t just to diagnose and treat illness: doctors are also there to reassure you that your child is well. Seeing the doctor can make you feel a lot less anxious.
Most general practitioners will always find time to see a child if the parents are worried. If you have repeated difficulty getting an early appointment for your baby to be seen by a doctor, or if you are made to feel guilty for ‘wasting the doctor’s time’, then it may be time to find a different doctor. Most accredited GP clinics allow for emergency appointments throughout the day. Make sure you have phone numbers for the clinic’s after-hours services.
If you are worried about your baby or young child for any reason, seek medical advice straight away.
In those first hours and days of life, your baby will have some important ‘screening’ tests. If everything is OK, you’ll feel reassured. If something unusual shows up, your doctors can assess what, if anything, needs to be done.
All Australian states regularly review information from other parts of the world to make sure their testing is kept up to date. Any new tests are trialled to make sure they are accurate and useful for people living in Australia.
Most newborns are perfectly normal. A very small minority, however, have disorders or illnesses that might not be obvious at birth. Screening tests do not diagnose illnesses as such – they simply indicate whether your newborn needs more tests to rule out serious conditions. They can identify signs of more than 30 congenital disorders.
Screening tests help your doctor identify any problems before your baby becomes sick.
In their first few days, most babies with disorders look healthy and act normally. If disorders are picked up with screening tests, most of these babies can be treated and will do well.
What to expect
Apgar is a scoring system used to assess the condition of a baby at birth. Your baby is first checked at birth, at one minute and five minutes. Five physical characteristics are observed – skin colour, heartbeat, reflex, muscle tone and breathing. A score of 0–2 is given for each characteristic.
If your baby is born with an Apgar score of 0-3, active resuscitation begins immediately. If your baby has required resuscitation and the five-minute Apgar score is less than seven, the score is repeated at five-minute intervals until 20 minutes.
Scores: 7-10 = normal, 4-7 = some resuscitation, 3 or below = immediate resuscitation
Why is it done?
This test checks your baby’s vital signs and helps the doctor and midwives decide whether any medical help or treatment is needed, at the time of birth or later.
This test is done when your baby is between 48 and 72 hours old.
You and your baby may be taken to a quiet room, where your baby’s heel will be pricked. A few drops of his blood will be collected on special filter paper. If you are concerned about the pain this might cause him, you could breastfeed him while the test occurs. Research indicates that this can comfort him.
The filter paper is left to dry, then sent to a newborn screening laboratory where the sample is tested for different conditions.
The heel prick test is done to detect rare genetic disorders. In Australia, it usually screens newborn babies for the following conditions:
There are other conditions that are only tested in some hospitals throughout Australia. If people in your local community have these conditions, your hospital is more likely to test for them:
Tandem mass spectrometry test
Blood from the heel prick test is sometimes also used in a test called the tandem mass spectrometry test. This test can detect more then 30 extremely rare disorders related to how the body breaks down protein and fat. Disorders screened include:
Previously referred to as Congenital Dislocation of the Hip (CDH), this condition is usually checked for by a doctor immediately after birth or in a newborn’s first few days. The test is repeated at six weeks.
Your doctor will put your baby on his back and move his leg, while feeling and listening to each hip for signs of dislocation – a ‘click’ or ‘clunk’ sound. Sometimes doctors may use an X-ray or an ultrasound to test for this condition.
How common is the condition?
It affects one in every 700 babies. Some babies are at higher risk, such as those born after a breech presentation or where there is a family history of DDH.
Hearing
Small sensor pads are put on baby’s head while he is quiet or asleep, usually during his first week. Specific sounds are played into his ears through a soft ear tip or earphone and his responses are recorded.
Is it compulsory?
This hearing test is not compulsory in all Australian states. If your baby is not tested at birth, your maternal health nurse or doctor will do the test at one of your follow-up visits.
Usually you will be told about your baby’s test results only if there is a problem. If your baby’s results are normal they will usually be mailed to the centre where your baby was born, or your midwife, about two weeks after the test. If your baby’s test results are abnormal, you will be told straight away and given instructions on what to do next.
Only a few babies need to have more tests. This is usually because the first test did not give a clear result. Your hospital or midwife will contact you if there are any concerns with the test results, but this does not necessarily mean your baby has a problem.
If your baby’s test results are abnormal, your doctor or midwife will usually ask you for permission to do extra tests and ask you to consider treatment for your baby if necessary. If you are asked for a repeat test, it is important to take your baby for testing as soon as possible.
If there are any problems with your baby’s hearing test, doctors will usually do two more before you are referred to a specialist for a more detailed examination.
Newborn screening is free in Australia. Also, the heel prick test is completely voluntary, so your doctor, midwife or nurse must ask you if you want your baby to be tested.
Some parents are not keen on subjecting their child to the pain caused by a needle prick, but if you are concerned, weigh up the momentary experience of discomfort with the knowledge that your child will be safe from illness if you take advantage of these valuable tests. Although the heel prick test measures rare conditions, children in families with no history of health problems still have a small level of risk.
In fact, most children with these disorders come from families with no previous history of the condition.
In Australia, the National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council requires all blood samples to be stored in a secure location for a minimum of two years.
When children eat lots of different healthy foods, they get the nutrients they need for growth and development. It also helps them learn healthy eating habits for life.
Fruit and vegies Compounds in fresh fruit and vegetables help protect the body against all kinds of diseases, including cancer. Fruits and vegetables are also full of fibre and water.
Grains Most cuisines rely on grains (such as rice, pasta and noodles). They provide an important energy source to the body. Grains with a low glycaemic index give the body slow-release energy. This is why cereals like breads and pasta are the main component of a child’s diet. Read the Choice article on glycaemic index to find out more.
Lean meats, fish and poultry These foods – and alternatives such as eggs – supply vital iron, zinc and vitamin B12 as well as protein. These are things children need to grow.
Dairy Dairy is high in calcium, which builds strong bones.
As long as children eat a variety of nutritious foods, it’s likely they won’t be missing out on any important vitamins or minerals. It also makes it less likely they’ll be eating harmful amounts of anything. Fish, for example, can contain traces of pollutants such as mercury, which are dangerous in large doses.
It’s easier for children to make good food choices if you offer them a healthy assortment of food from an early age.
Vegan and vegetarian diets Children require many different nutrients for healthy growth and development. So a vegan diet suitable for adults might not be nutritious enough for the growing bodies of babies and children. You will need to compensate for the lack of vitamins. For example, vitamin B12 is essential for brain development and can only be found in animal products.
A vegetarian diet that includes dairy and eggs is fine for most children.
If you follow a vegan or vegetarian diet and are concerned about your child’s nutrition, consider consulting a dietitian.
These mini muffins are the perfect size for school lunch boxes and afternoon snacks.
Makes 24
150 gm self-raising flour 150 gm mixed fruit muesli 180 gm carrots, grated (about 2 medium carrots) 100 gm brown sugar ½ tsp cinnamon 2 eggs 150 ml olive oil
This delicious banana bread has the goodness of yoghurt and wholemeal flour and keeps for several days.
Makes 1 loaf
115 gm butter, softened 115 gm brown sugar 2 eggs 3 medium ripe bananas 200 gm vanilla yoghurt 250 gm wholemeal self-raising flour 1 tsp mixed spice
Tip: keep your bread in an airtight container, and it should stay fresh for 3-4 days.
For something different, you can serve this nutritious fried rice in Asian-style bowls with spoons.
Serves 4 Preparation: 10 mins Cooking time: 10 mins 2 tbsp oil 2 eggs, lightly whisked 100 gm green prawns, peeled, de-veined and chopped (optional) 1 carrot, grated 1 stick celery, finely chopped ¼ Chinese cabbage, shredded 2 cups cooked long grain rice ½ cup frozen peas 2 tbsp light soy sauce 2 tbsp tomato sauce
Tip: if your children don’t eat prawns, try this recipe with chicken strips or tofu instead.
Kids love burgers for dinner. These chicken burgers contain lots of hidden good stuff and come with a side order of sweet potato wedges.
Serves 2 (1 burger each) Preparation time: 15 mins Cooking time: 15 mins
250 gm lean chicken mince ½ cup canned chickpeas, drained, rinsed and chopped 1 zucchini, grated 1 egg 2 spring onions, chopped 3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into fingers 2 tbsp honey, warmed 1 tbsp sesame seeds 2 small wholemeal bread rolls, split 2 slices cheese 2 butter lettuce leaves, washed and dried 2 slices beetroot 1 tomato, sliced
By the end of this month, your baby:
… should be able to:
… will probably be able to:
… may possibly be able to:
… may even be able to:
Babies all develop at different rates, so there is a huge variety between them. Because of that, it's a good idea to treat percentile chart measurements as a guide. The most important thing is that your baby is healthy, responsive and happy, not how he compares with other babies on a chart.
Growth refers to an increase in size. This is easy to gauge by measuring your baby’s length, weight and head circumference.
Normal growth in healthy babies is obvious as they grow out of their clothes and suddenly become too large for a bassinet or baby bath or other item that seemed enormous when they were just a newborn.
Percentile charts are based on measurements of babies and children from a certain population (for example, all the Australian babies in a certain year). The Victorian government percentile charts have been updated recently using data drawn from between 1963 and 1994. These charts, along with many other percentile charts used in Australia, are based on United States surveys.
As normal variations in height and weight are considerable, the percentile charts are drawn to allow for the variations. If you look at percentile charts you will see that the lines represent the 5th, 10th, 25th, 75th, 90th and 97th percentiles for weight, height and head circumference.
Length is measured when the baby is lying down. Height is only measured for children over two years of age when the child is standing. Most babies’ weight and length fall somewhere between the 5th and 97th percentile, although certain populations (e.g. people of Asian origin, people with specific disabilities such as Down syndrome) may fall outside the ‘normal’ range.
If a baby is on the 5th percentile for height and weight it means that 95% of babies are taller and heavier than he is. And a baby on the 90th percentile for height and weight, is taller and heavier than 90% of other babies. In both examples, the baby, although very different in size and at different ends of the percentile range, is within the normal range.
Head circumferences can also be charted on the percentile chart. A baby’s head grows rapidly in the first year making it easy to check that it is growing at the right rate.
WHO Child Growth Standards In April 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) released the WHO Child Growth Standards. These new standards are based on a survey of children from Brazil, Ghana, India, Norway, Oman and the United States. Similar to percentile charts, the WHO standards use Z-scores to show the spread of growth data for children of the same age.
Development is the term used to describe the physical changes in your baby, as well as his amazing ability to learn the skills he needs for life. As your baby grows these skills and abilities become more and more complex.
Most healthy babies who have plenty of love and attention develop new skills in a completely natural and continually surprising way. So much development takes place in the first 12 months that this is an amazing process for parents to watch.
Babies grow and develop at tremendously different rates – and with blissful disregard for what parenting textbooks say they should be doing.
Your instincts, plus knowing that your baby eats and sleeps well, and is not grizzly whenever awake, tell you more than a growth or development chart can.
Enjoy the variations. Your baby is letting you in on an important secret. These variations are what make development so exciting and memorable – both for you and your baby.
Developmental achievements are called ‘milestones’. Growth and development milestones are a useful guide, but they aren't something to agonise over.Developmental milestones are grouped under headings according to the parts of the body they refer to:
Developmental progress can be affected by delays. These delays may be temporary or, less often, permanent. Premature birth and illness are two things that might cause temporary delays. Some disabilities can cause permanent delay. A baby’s development can also suffer because of his environment.
Milestones are only a guide. Unless you are seeing delays in a few different areas over several months, it is unlikely there is anything wrong if your baby seems slow to do some things compared to other babies.
Babies do things at their own pace, particularly when it comes to walking and crawling.
But if you are ever concerned, do ask a professional. You know your baby better than anyone and you will have a good feel for what’s happening.
As a general guide, seek help if you notice any of the following:
Newborns come in all shapes and sizes. Just visit a parent group to see how different they can be.
Although boys usually weigh more than girls and are slightly longer, there is no ‘right’ size for a newborn. If your baby is active and feeding well, there’s no need to worry if she doesn’t fit neatly into the weight-length chart you see on the baby health centre wall.
In the first nine months, your baby will roughly triple her weight. If she is not gaining weight at a healthy pace, it could be a feeding problem and your child health nurse will be able to help you sort that out.
All babies pick up new skills in their first year. These are called milestones. Here’s a guide to some of the major milestones.
Your baby may be a late starter with milestones. Don’t worry, they nearly always catch up.
It’s a good idea to have her checked by your doctor if your newborn shows any of the following signs:
You know your baby best. If you are worried about your newborn’s development, speak to your GP or child health nurse.
Striking a balance between work and family can be difficult. When you are on top of it, the rewards can outweigh the challenges, but when you are still trying to find that balance, it’s not uncommon to experience a range of conflicting emotions.
If you have taken leave from your job to care for your child, returning to work poses a major change to your day-to-day life. You may feel:
Tips for returning to work
The transition from spending most days together with your child to being apart all week can be tough. Parents often worry how their child will be affected by the separation, and feel nervous about leaving their child in someone else’s care. Here are some ideas that might help you both adapt:
Read some more ideas to help you and your child adapt to your return to work.
If you have a partner, your relationship with him or her may be affected by your return to work. Here are some tips to make the most of your time together.
Getting the work-family balance right can be stressful. You will be trying to cope with more responsibilities and even less time for you. Stress has a way of sneaking up on you slowly, or it can sometimes be more like a volcanic explosion, particularly if conditions at work or home are difficult.
Give these ideas on reducing stress a go:
How are twins formed? Pregnancy and birth with twins Preparing for twins Breastfeeding twins Bottle-feeding twins Caring for twins at home
Once you have found out that you are expecting twins it can be very exciting. It can also be scary as you think about how you will manage two babies at once.
The following information aims to help you to understand more about twins and offers some ideas about how to care for them. Most of the information also applies to triplets and other multiple births.
Identical twins (or monozygotic twins)
Non-identical twins (or dizygotic twins)
Siamese twins (or conjoined twins)
A vanishing twin With ultrasound being done early in pregnancies, it has been found that many more pregnancies start as twin pregnancies (up to 5% at 12 weeks), but one of the babies stops developing. The other baby develops normally.
Knowing if twins are monozygotic or dizygotic Usually your doctor will work out whether your twins are monozygotic or dizygotic soon after the birth. If they are different sexes they are definitely dizygotic. Monozygotic twins are more likely to have some physical problems at birth, and also more likely to have similar health problems when they are older – so it can be useful to tell if they are identical or not. Since monozygotic twins can look very different at birth, the doctor may have the placenta very carefully examined, or do blood tests.
It is important to prepare your mind as well as your body for the twins’ arrival.
Because breastmilk supply increases with extra demands, most women can breastfeed twins well. This can mean much less work compared to preparing and giving formula.
Taking folic acid before pregnancy and for the first three months of pregnancy can reduce your chances of having a baby with spina bifida. Spina bifida is where the spinal cord, and the bones, muscle and skin that cover it, do not form normally.
Research has shown that the chance of having a baby with spina bifida or similar problems (called neural tube defects) is much less if a woman increases her intake of folic acid for at least one month before she gets pregnant and for the first three months of her pregnancy. Every woman who could become pregnant should be sure she gets enough folate and this is best done by taking folic acid tablets.
Taking folic acid before pregnancy may also lower the risk of some other heart, kidney and limb abnormalities. The evidence for this is not as strong as for spina bifida, and more research is being done.
There is no evidence that other vitamins or minerals will protect your baby against spina bifida.
Folic acid is a water-soluble B-group vitamin that is needed for healthy growth and development. The vitamin is known as 'folate' when it is found naturally in food, and 'folic acid' when it is added to foods or when it is in tablets. Folic acid is turned into folate in the body.
It can be found naturally in most plant foods, especially green vegetables, wholegrain breads and cereals, peas and dried beans.
Extra folic acid is also added to some foods, such as breakfast cereals. If folic acid is added, this will be marked on the labelling.
The easiest and most effective way is by taking a daily folic acid tablet. A healthy diet is important, but it is very difficult to get enough folate from foods to prevent spina bifida.
Folic acid tablets are quite safe to take. The tablets recommended are 0.5 milligrams (which is 500 micrograms). One tablet each day is enough.
Folic acid tablets are available from chemist shops (without a prescription), health food shops and some supermarkets.
Some multivitamins contain folic acid but often at a lower dose, so it is best to take the separate tablets.
Folic acid works best if it is taken for at least one month before starting a pregnancy.
As many pregnancies are unplanned, it is recommended that all women of child-bearing age who could become pregnant take a folic acid tablet (0.5 milligrams) every day.
If you have a family history of spina bifida, or take medication for epilepsy, you may need a higher dose of folic acid. Ask your doctor about this.
Extra folate is not as effective if you start to take it after you know you are pregnant but it is worth taking it if you suspect you may be pregnant (for example, if you have missed a period).
The risk of having a baby with spina bifida if extra folic acid was not taken is still small.
Spina bifida is a serious abnormality of the spinal cord, and the bones, muscles and skin covering it. Babies with spina bifida usually have an obvious abnormality on their back when they are born. Some will die soon after birth and most need a lot of treatment.
Spina bifida can cause permanently weak legs, no feeling in the legs and problems walking. Many people with spina bifida will need to use a wheelchair.
There can also be problems with bladder and bowel control.
Other neural tube defects affect the development of the brain as well as the spinal cord.
The problems occur when the spinal cord and brain are forming during the sixth week of pregnancy (four weeks after conception). This is often before a woman knows that she is pregnant.
There is no cure for spina bifida.
Any woman could have a baby with spina bifida or other neural tube defect.
About 1 in 1000 babies in South Australia is born with spina bifida and another 1 in 1000 babies has another type of neural tube defect.
The risk is higher if another family member has had spina bifida. You can have tests to check for neural tube defects during pregnancy.
Most women in Australia have an ultrasound examination during early to mid pregnancy. Most babies with spina bifida will be found by that ultrasound.
Blood tests which find most neural tube defects may also be done.
In the USA and Canada there has been mandatory (enforced) addition of folic acid to flour since 1998. That has successfully reduced the risk of spina bifida without any other health risks.
Regulations insisting that folic acid be added to flour or to bread will come into force in Australia soon.
For more information about folate in pregnancy talk to your family doctor, obstetrician, community health nurse or a dietician.
Prenatal anxiety and depression are common (and a predictor of postnatal depression) so getting help and support before the baby is born may help you manage better after the birth.
Children often experience some anxiety about going to child care for the first time. Their parents often feel anxious too! There are things you can do to make the process easier for both you and your child.
Babies and toddlers can experience stranger and separation anxiety when starting in a new care setting. Often it's because children can't communicate as effectively with their new carers as they can with their parents. But everyone learns to understand each other eventually.
Children have different experiences of settling into child care. The way they settle can be affected by:
Separation anxiety (baby gets upset when you leave him) and stranger anxiety (baby gets upset around other people) are a normal part of development. Almost all babies and children go through this to some extent. It usually starts at around six months and peaks at 12 months.
Around the same time, babies develop an understanding of object permanence. This means your baby understands that you exist, even when you’re not with her. Unfortunately she doesn’t understand that you’ll be back if you leave her, so she might initially become upset when you go. This generally passes once she learns through experience that you will return.
All of this is going on just as many parents are thinking about going back to work and leaving their child in care. It’s not your fault – it’s just how babies develop.
Try not to worry – children usually adjust as the new faces in their care setting become familiar. You can help your child overcome these anxieties by spending some time together in the new care setting, before you start leaving your child there without you. If you can, try leaving your child for just short periods, and build up to a whole day. This will help teach your child the concepts of leaving and returning.
Preparing children for their first day in care will help them settle more easily. Although it’s difficult, it’s important for you to be positive about the experience. Children have an amazing ability to detect when their parents are worried or anxious. The following suggestions might help.
Leading up to the first day (2-3 weeks prior)
The night before
The first few weeks
Despite your best preparations, your child might still find it difficult to separate from you and will probably become upset and start crying. You can help by acknowledging your child’s feelings, giving him words to help express himself, and comforting him. You might also like to:
If you are feeling distressed after seeing your child upset, call the centre about half an hour after your departure to see how your child is. Most children stop crying shortly after their parent departs.
Your child might settle happily in his new setting within a few days or few weeks. Some children continue to be distressed beyond the first few weeks. Others might settle initially and then later become upset (often when the novelty of the new environment has worn off).
In all cases, stay calm and allow your child to express his distress. Listen to what your child is saying. Is he showing signs of separation anxiety? If so, it’s worth persevering for a little while, to give your child time to adjust. It is also important to communicate with the centre’s staff – you can work together to develop settling strategies that you and the staff are comfortable with. The centre’s group leader should be able to suggest some ideas that have helped other children in the past. As difficult as it might be, try to stay positive about your child’s transition to care.
Sometimes, it might be that the care setting just isn’t right for your child. For example, he might seem afraid of the care setting or a carer, or be going backward in his development. You might want to consider finding a different centre, or a different
type of child care.
To monitor how your child is settling into her new care setting, you can ask carers questions about:
Children with special needs or disabilities attach to their parents just as other children do. But some can find it more difficult to express their feelings. The following might help your child with a disability settle more easily:
Many care settings provide for children who need additional assistance with communication, language and literacy skills by using alternative communication methods, signs, symbols, large print, symbol text and materials that can be accessed through sight, touch, sound and smell. You might wish to consider a different care setting if the centre you have chosen does not provide this assistance.
Once you’ve decided which school you would like your child to attend, the next step is enrolment and preparing for this new phase in your child’s life.
Research shows that having mum or dad come to activities such as reading or sports days helps children do better at school.
Enrolling your child can be as easy as contacting the school of your choice and filling in the relevant forms. Or it could involve putting your child’s name down at a private school from shortly after birth. Our tips on
choosing a school might help if you are still deciding which school is right for your child.
Your child will need a lot of support when school starts. There are simple things you can do to help these first few weeks go smoothly:
If you show your child that you think he can manage at school, he will start to believe it too. Try not to let your child know about any worries you might have. Sometimes it’s helpful to talk to other parents about how they are doing this.
Inviting a school friend to play helps strengthen the links between school and home.
You can be an active partner in your child’s education. At home you can help her with reading and any
homework
such as finding interesting show-and-tell or costumes for special days.
In the whole new world that is school, it will help if your child understands the following:
Thanks to Haydi and Chloe from WA for sending in their delicious recipe!
If you have a great recipe to send in to us please do so and please take a photo of the end product too!
Turn the batter into the prepared tin and back for about 1 hour or till a testing skewer comes out clean. Turn the cake onto a wire rack to cool.
Chloe with her Yummy Yoghurt Loaf and modelling a Vintage Kid's apron! Our Recipe Book Recommendation for Mums with Children from 0-6 years old is ‘The Big Book of Recipe’s for Babies, Toddlers and Children’ http://www.fishpond.com.au/Books/Cooking,_Food_Drink/Cooking/General/9781844830367/?cf=3&rid=273683944&i=11&keywords=starting+school
Chloe with her Yummy Yoghurt Loaf and modelling a Vintage Kid's apron!
The Morgan Family - Marc, Jade and our feature Mum for February Tanya
“Wow... what a journey! My transition into motherhood has been one of the most terrifying and yet amazing experiences of my life. I had no idea that one little person could have so much influence on the way I saw the world, the way I saw my friends, family, and the way I saw myself.
Meet Annabelle who is modelling pair of Vintage Kid China Doll Ruffle Pants. Annabelle is 18 months old and loves to dance! Isnt she gorgeous! Thanks so much to Mum Felicity for sending her picture in and sharing. Please send in your photos to berns@thebeeskneeskids.com.au with your child's name, what they are wearing or using from The Bees Knees Kids as well as their age and favourite activity. Thanks so much we always enjoy seeing all the gorgeous photos so keep them coming!
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Welcome to our new and improved newsletter - 'The Buzz': the newsletter of The Bees Knees Kids. We aim to assist parents in the nurture of the children in their care. In each edition of 'The Buzz' we will be featuring practical parenting strategies; a Mum of the Month highlighting pregnancies, birth stories, the first few weeks of the new arrival and more; child friendly recipes; latest news on The Bees Knees Kids products, grabbing the latest bargain; book recommendations; helpful videos; and the opportunity to show off your child on our Fan Photos Wall of Fame! Check out the new competition - vote for your favourite child for them to appear as our March child of the month! As an Early Childhood Teacher I really believe that by providing our children with the best start to life with as many fun filled learning experiences in their own home we can nature a real passion for learning!
Settling Your Child Into Care and School By Bernice Greenacre BEd (Early Childhood Studies) The best way to get you child to settle into Childcare or School is to prepare them for what is to come that way they will have a better knowledge of what to expect when it actually happens. Even if your child has already started this transition which many have it is great to use strategies and activities that will ease them into this transition and provide some experiences which they can relate to and built upon. To prepare our son Eli for Kindergarten we began introducing books, DVDs as well as well as many activities early on in order to make the experience and transition as enjoyable and positive as possible. He honestly was so ready to start Kindergarten this year and his first day was a huge success! Here are some things that we did to prepare him for school: 1. Leave your child with a babysitter or carer other than yourself to get familiar with being in someone else’s care and away from you as the primary caregiver. We did this twice a week: Crèche at Church and a weekly meeting at our Church where Crèche was provided. 2. Find as many resources such as books and DVDs about school that you can share with your child and talk about them continually. 3. Provide activities for your child to do which will be familiar and that is commonly done at schools or Childcares such as play dough, painting, puzzles etc. More... Photo above right: Eli’s first day at Kindy. Why do they not look at the camera when they are supposed to?!
Perfect Little Helpers for School
Get Organised! If you need your child to get organized this product is a must for you! Cubeo™ is a revolution in organisation! Attaching easily to backpacks, the compact colourful Cubeo™ helps children remember what they need to bring to school each day of the week. With the Cubeo™, getting ready for school is a breeze, and remembering what to take home, as easy as 1-2-3. $19.95
Further Reading Settling into Care 0-3 years Settling into School
Useful Videos Settling Your Child Into Childcare Finding Quality Childcare
Book Recommendations
Mum of the Month
The Morgan Family - Marc, Jade and our feature Mum for February Tanya (below)
More...
Dr Harvey Karp Promo The 5’s in action by a Dad - See how it works in action!
Bees Knees Kid for February
Annabelle Age 18 months wearing China Doll Ruffle Pants by Vintage Kid.
Healthy Lunch Snack Recipe Thanks to Haydi and Chloe Heslin the Mum and daughter team for sending in this delicious recipe in! YUMMY YOGHURT LOAF: Use the yoghurt container to measure out all the ingredients - it saves on the washing up! 1 x 200g fruit yoghurt 1 x 200g castor sugar 1 x 200g oil 3 x 200g self-raising flour 3 large eggs, lightly beaten. Preheat the oven to 160 deg Celsius. Spray a medium sized loaf tin (23x11x7cm) with non-stick spray. Measure all the ingredients into a mixing bowl. Beat together for 3 minutes with an electric beater or 6 minutes by hand. Turn the batter into the prepared tin and back for about 1 hour or till a testing skewer comes out clean. Turn the cake onto a wire rack to cool.
Photo (right): Chloe with her Yummy Yoghurt Loaf and modelling Vintage Kid's apron!
Kind Regards,
Bernice
The Bees Knees Kids www.thebeeskneeskids.com.au
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