January 20, 2012
Filed under: Baby health — Alan @ 3:44 pm
If you have recently had a child then there are several things that you must remember to take with you if you are going on a trip away. There are many items that parents might forget at first when they are taking their new baby for a trip or holiday.
Taking the car seat is it something that you must do even if you are taking a flight to your destination. It is usually possible to check it in with the airlines for no cost. Normally there is a fee attached to checking extra items but often airlines will oblige to check a car seat with no extra charge. If you have purchased a separate ticket for your child then the airline will probably fit the car seat into the airplane seat for you.
Always remember in advance that despite your baby being very young, they all have to have their own passports and cannot travel on yours. This is an oversight many parents make and when they get to check in they find out that they cannot fly. A birth certificate will not do any good, so ensure that you order your child’s passport in plenty of time for it to arrive before you travel.
Clothing is something that most parents will certainly not forget to pack and it is important to remember about the climate you are travelling to. While you might be wearing shorts because it’s hot the chances are your baby will require long sleeved clothes because these help to protect t heir skin from the sun.
On the other hand, if you are travelling to a cold climate make sure that you have plenty of clothing to keep your baby warm. It is also important to make considerations about laundry facilities. If you know there is going to be a place to wash your babies clothes then take half as many as you might if there was not.
Toys are another consideration you should make, but if your baby is very young you will probably not need to bring the normal toys with you as you will be able to find something for them to play with at the destination. If your child is a little older the chances are they will have a couple of favourite toys, take the smallest one of these for them to play with while you are on holiday.
It is also important to make food considerations and if your baby is feeding on formula then remember to pack enough bottles to keep them satisfied. Remember that airlines restrict the amount of fluid you can have in your hand luggage so limit the amount of bottles of milk that you have with you and put them into clear plastic bags.
It can also be a good idea to pack enough of your baby’s favourite snacks and foods so that if you can’t find their regular food when you are away you’ll have plenty to keep you going. The great thing about taking food is that once it is used up you have plenty of space in your luggage for bringing back souvenirs for friends.
January 18, 2012
Filed under: Baby items — Alan @ 6:50 pm
It has always been a challenge to find suitable gifts or beauty products for pregnant women and new mothers, but that could now be a thing of the past thanks to a new online service.
My Beauty Bundle, found at www.mybeautybundle.com has been designed to deliver a perfectly matched monthly package that suits the respective stages of the recipient, whether they are pre or post natal. My Beauty Bundle also contains corresponding tips and hints on how to keep fit both during pregnancy and after, as well as offering information on things such as ‘what is my baby doing now?’.
Priced at only £15 a month, including postage and packing, the My Beauty Bundle’s cay an average value of £20 a box. Every box contains 4 or 5 tried and tested products, both sample and full sized. These are suitable to use from the start of a pregnancy right through to being a mum, and there are also products included for the baby too.
Subscribers can also purchase full size or additional items from their My Beauty Bundle boxes through the My Beauty Bundle website.
My Beauty Bundle is the brainchild of Brother and Sister team Kevin Lorch and Hannah Hargrave:
“We understand that busy and tired pregnant women and new Mums don’t have the time to go research and discover new products which are going to ease their symptoms or give them a much needed beauty boost so we’ve done all the hard work for them,” said Hannah.
“Based on our experience in this sector we’ve designed My Beauty Bundle boxes so that they not only provide functional and practical products for pregnant women and new Mums but that they also include products designed to pamper as well.”
January 17, 2012
Filed under: Baby items — Alan @ 10:53 am
Top-of-the-range wireless baby monitor from Samsung
One of the leading electronic manufacturers in the world, Samsung, are launching their new wireless baby monitor. This top of the rangedevice will have the model number SEW-3035. Hope to build on the success of last years monitor, the SEW-3030, this neew monitor includes a slot for an SD card so you can save all the cameras recorded images and video footage to watch at a later date.
The use of an SD card makes it incredibly easy to upload your data onto social networking sites or to send images attached to email, the perfect way of sharing video or images of your baby with family and friends. The SEW-3035 essentially brings together all the best elements of traditional baby monitors, digital video cameras and home CCTV in one easy to use unit.
James Smith, the European Marketing Manager for Samsung Techwin Europe Ltd has said the the SEW-3035 is the latest welcome addition to the successful lineup of baby monitors that Samsung currently produce. He added that is was one of the most highly specified baby monitors on the market, and thanks to its advanced features coupled with the reliability of expertise of Samsung it was a global innovation is wireless security.
The stylish white SEW-3035 consists of a high resolution 3.5 inch wireless LCD video monitor with rechargeable batteries and a separate compact portable wireless camera, making it easy to check on your baby wherever you are in the home or garden. The camera can be easily picked up and transferred from room to room if necessary, while the lightweight pocket-sized monitor comes with a belt clip for hands free carrying, allowing you to move around yet still see and hear any sound or movement your child makes. As the system is so portable and easy to set up, it is also ideal for use when travelling.
Thanks to Samsung’s latest secure digital wireless technology, both sound quality and reception are of the highest standard with no static or interference, so you can hear your baby’s tiniest breathing noises, which is very reassuring. The monitor also has a wide range up to a distance of 100 metres so you even when you move between different floors of your property or go into the garden, there is no loss in reception and you can hear and see your baby clearly.
The large, super bright 3.5” LCD monitor screen makes it easy to check on your baby at any time of day and night without waking them. Built-in ‘Night Vision’ infra-red light sensors automatically switch between a detailed colour image during the day and high contrast black and white images at night, with no extra lighting required. A 2x zoom feature allows you to zoom in on the image of your baby and pan the camera left or right, providing complete peace of mind and letting you clearly see if your baby’s eyes are open or closed, even in complete darkness.
The baby monitor allows for up to four cameras to be viewed via the single LCD video monitor, which is ideal if you have twins or want to monitor more than one room in the house. It can also easily be expanded into a high-end home security solution if required.
In addition an ‘AV out’ port allows easy connection to a TV so you can see live or saved images of your baby on your TV; and if you use the ‘Picture in Picture’ feature, you can even monitor your baby during your favourite television programmes. The Samsung SEW-3030 can also easily be connected to a PC for remote monitoring via the internet using Skype or MSN – a great option for busy working parents.
Thanks to two-way audio between the camera and video monitor, you can quickly calm and soothe your baby the moment he or she starts crying. Other unique features include remote night light and a room temperature indicator which lets you know if your baby is too hot or cold, providing reassurance at all times.
The innovative Samsung SEW-3035 wireless baby monitoring system is available now in the UK with an RRP of £159.
For more information please visit www.samsunghomesecurity.co.uk or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO3-3uP0ZOY&feature=related
January 14, 2012
Filed under: baby development — Alan @ 11:42 am
A baby is constantly developing by learning new skills from the moment they are born, and these help them understand the world around them. To help in the development of your baby, one of the best things that a parent can buy are toys, as they help stimulate brain function and increase dexterity and understanding.
Mobiles are particularly popular toys for children as babies spend most of their time on their backs staring up at the ceiling. This type of toy promotes and hand eye coordination which is stimulated by the movement of the toy.
Toys that can be grasped are another good idea as grasping is something your baby is born able to do. Think about the times you have put your finger in the middle of your baby’s palm and they have gripped it. It is important to provide a wide range of toys for your child so that they can experience different sensations on their hands as this helps them learn and develop.
Once your baby has grown older, the skills they have learned can be expanded upon and toys that change shape and offer feedback to the child can be introduced. An example of this sort of toy would be one that emits a sound when it is moved around. This encourages a baby to realise that their actions will have consequences on the toy.
When you leave your baby to play with their toys, you will notice various actions and a baby can often be left to play with simple toys for a very long time before it requires attention. One of the things you will notice the most is that the baby will start to make noises at the toy and this is something that is important in the development of speech.
Building blocks can be another great toy as they help improve the babies dexterity. Picture books can also be used as a toy, and not just an educational material, as they can be a great way for a parent to interact with their baby.
When a baby starts to gain mobility through being able to crawl, more toys are within their reach and those which the baby can move around become more appealing to them. Those which involve a chase element can really be great fun for a baby and it can help them learn to move around more easily.
With added mobility, toys such as a tunnel will start to appeal to a baby and you will find a baby will have hours of joy simply crawling through a tunnel or hiding within it.
So many milestones are achieved within the first year for a baby and it is important that toys are changed on a regular basis to match the level of development. It is important to find toys that stimulate both physical and mental development and different sorts of toys need to be purchased to meet both these needs. In the first year, toys are an essential developmental tool for any baby.
January 6, 2012
Filed under: Baby items — Alan @ 5:25 am
Your first reaction on hearing that someone you know is going to have a baby is usually one of joy. This is often followed closely by a second reaction of panic as you realise that you will have to try and come up with the perfect baby shower gift.
Buying for an unborn baby is always a bit tricky; after all, you have no idea what sex the child will be or how the parents intend to raise their newborn. First time parents will probably have already found themselves swamped with well-meaning advice from friends and relatives by the time the baby shower comes around, so a parenting book which sets out the main points will probably be much appreciated.
On the other hand, some parents may be offended that you thought they needed a parenting book in the first place. If you don’t know the proud parents-to-be very well, it could be wiser to steer clear of anything which is seen as giving unwanted advice, including buying a helpful book.
Toys always seem like the perfect present for children, but most parents will find themselves with piles of stuffed animals by the time their precious bundle arrives and not many practical items. After all, there is plenty of time to buy the child fun gifts as they are growing older; presents at a baby shower are more about helping Mum and Dad.
As anyone who has had kids will tell you, you can never have enough outfits; babies are always needing changed, in more ways than one, and a plentiful supply of all-in-ones, t-shirts and other clothing essentials will always come in handy. It might be an idea to buy clothes a couple of sizes above newborn, just in case Mum has a larger baby. Even if she gives birth to a tiny boy or girl, the slightly bigger clothes will come in handy one day.
There are many more practical gifts that helpful friends and family can buy for new parents; a pram or pushchair is a big expense for Mum and Dad to deal with just as their weekly bills start to go up, while helping to kit out baby’s room with a new cot or even just a set of bedding will be a gift not soon forgotten. Baby monitors have become the latest must-have gadget for new parents, with some of the more expensive models even featuring tiny video cameras.
Not every friend can afford such extravagant gifts at a baby shower, but there are always the traditional options of a simple piece of jewellery or a decorated crockery set to fall back on, if you want to think of something that will be treasured.
Failing that, High Street stores are just as likely to be selling bath sets for babies as they are for adults these days, with baskets featuring bubble bath, shampoo and, of course, a couple of toys to keep children amused while they splash about in the tub.
December 30, 2011
Filed under: Baby health — Alan @ 4:53 pm
When a young child is ill it can be hard to tell if they are suffering from a sinus infection or from an upper respiratory infection, but it is important to know the signs of both so that you can make sure that they get the appropriate aid. Signs of a sinus infection in a young child usually include a stuffy nose, coughing, a runny nose, crying in infants for no apparent reason, and a fever.
What is tricky is that upper respiratory infections often have the same symptoms although the mucus in the nose will slowly turn green or yellow and the rest of the symptoms will be accompanies by fatigue and headache. Most of the time an upper respiratory infection will run much longer and affect the child much worse, lasting anywhere from five to seven days and getting much worse before it starts to show signs of getting better.
It is important, however, for parents to know that green or yellow mucus does not always mean that the infection is bacteria based which is a common misconception because not every condition should be treated with antibiotics, otherwise a child can develop a resistance to this type of medication..
If a child is found to have a bacterial sinus infection than most of the time he or she will be given antibiotics that have been found useful for treating sinus infections, with the treatment course dependent on the age, size, and period of the sinus congestion.
It is important to realise that not all sinus infections need treatment with antibiotics and sometimes it is up to the parent to question if a child really needs a course of treatment, or if it would be better simply to let their own immune system battle the infection.
Filed under: Baby health — Alan @ 4:51 pm
Most parents are aware of the fact that their children are bound to get sick from time to time, and that this is necessary for building up a strong immune system, and therefore not quite as bad as it may seem at the time. In fact, it is healthy for a child to be ill as it helps them become immune to diseases during their later years and is a perfectly normal part of a child’s development. However, the question for parents is how often is too often for a child to be ill?
It is becoming evermore common for children to be what is deemed ‘chronically sick’ ; suffering from runny noses almost every day of the year and others taking medication every night before they go to bed. Other common issues include sinus problems and digestive problems. A lot of parents think nothing of this, stating that it’s normal for a child to be frequently ill often, but normal is being ill every couple of months, not every week or day.
In fact, if a child is poorly this much then there has to be something wrong with the way their system is working, which most of the time can be attributed to their diet. For instance, many children have a problem with cow’s milk and gluten that causes problems and can make a child feel sick on a frequent basis.
Gluten often causes digestive upset, pain, and skin problems whereas cow’s milk can cause post nasal drip or a chronic runny nose in children. Avoiding these foods for three weeks can help you determine if they may be causing the problems for your child.
Sugar is another problem food for children as many times it does not allow the immune system to work properly, causing a child to be ill a great deal of time. Sports drinks and juices loaded with sugar are often to blame for this and an avoidance of sugar can help keep a child healthier long term than they previously may have been.
December 24, 2011
Filed under: Baby public health — Alan @ 3:11 am
Dealing with a divorce is relatively easy to cope with when it occurs, but during the Christmas holidays it can be much harder given the fact that there are so many festivities going on in the face of the dismal time in family life. Ironically, even though everyone thinks of the holidays as family time the website Metro.co.uk reports that it is actually one of the busiest times of the year for divorce lawyers who find more people filing then ever as the forced time together is more than a couple that is stressed can stand.
For children, facing the separation of their parents can be very hard as they will no doubt already know that their parents are tense and sense that their parents are at war. Parents at this point should try to protect them and keep them outside of the relationship being careful not to discuss how they feel about each other in front of the children and to keep their fights a minimum when the children are present.
However, parents still need to tell their children what is going on because avoiding the subject altogether could also cause problems. It can be hard as a parent to know exactly how to explain a divorce to a child. Young kids can be told that sometimes people have fights and need some time apart just like friends do which are terms that they can understand. They also need to be told that even if their parents break up both Mom and Dad will still love them as they may not understand this fact right away.
Older children most likely already have an indication of what is going on and given their advanced maturity will benefit most from being told straightforward what is going on. While they will need reassurance that both parents will love them and that they are not the source of the problem, being blunt with them will make them respect you more than if you try to hide it from them.
As mentioned, all of this is stressful without the holidays around to add to the problem which is why it is helpful to know how to stay calm on Christmas Day. To start off, as an adult you need to invoke your right to say no to situations that may be hard to handle such as spending the day at the in-laws. Instead, maybe friends would be a better choice or perhaps a different member of the family as they may help take the stress off you back.
On the other hand, a simple Christmas that is easy on the children and both you and your partner may be the best choice so that everyone can relax and just focus on the day instead of their public faces around people that they do not want to see their troubles. In addition, you may consider starting a new tradition such as doing something different to help from getting into any situation that is going to make you sentimental and emotional. IN the end the choice is yours, but the aim is to avoid adding on any more emotional stress then you already have which can be easily done if you take control of the holiday and plan it the way you want.
December 16, 2011
Filed under: Uncategorized — admin @ 5:08 pm
All new parents spend endless hours watching and wondering over their infants. This puts them on the front line so far as noticing when things seem amiss.
Parents are almost always the first to notice the signs of positional plagiocephaly, the medical term for an unusual flattening of the skull. It is usually on the back or on one side of the head, and it can be identified by the position of the bald spot that all babies get as they rub their heads on the bed covering. Positional plagiocephaly is common and found in as many as one in 30 infants. It occurs when an infant’s malleable skull is moulded by constant pressure. Often, that pressure may be part of the uterine environment. In other cases, that pressure is exerted when babies spend too much time sleeping in a single position or it can be associated with torticollis, a tightening in te muscle on one side of the neck.
If you notice your baby developing a flat spot on his or her head, consult your health visitor or GP right away. With the correct advice, and if noticed early enough the flat spot can be effectively treated through simple repositioning techniques. Plagiocephaly repositioning techniques are a form of physiotherapy for infants, and should not be implemented without input from a health care professional.
Repositioning Techniques for Plagiocephaly
Which part of your baby’s head is flattened? A useful guide here may be to think of the top of your baby’s head as a clock with the 12:00 mid day position at your baby’s nose. If you notice that your baby’s flattened spot is at the five o’clock position, at the back and right of your baby’s head, then you need to choose seven to nine o’clock positions deliberately as contact points and keep these in mind during all your interactions with your baby.
Positioning Your Baby While Awake
If you breastfeed, try feeding so that pressure is put on the side of your baby’s head that does not show flattening. Take care not to hold the part of your baby’s head that’s affected by positional plagiocephaly.
If you bottle feed, move your baby around so that no pressure is on the flattened part of the head. Position that point against your chest or arm. If your baby falls asleep in your arms, again be turn your baby’s head away from the flattened area. Yes, your baby may be disturbed when he or she is repositioned, but this is something you are doing for your baby’s own good.
When you take your baby out in a buggy or carrier, use a small towel to lift the flat part of your baby’s skull away from the hard surface inside the carrier. Do the same thing in a car seat or a bouncer. Whenever possible, make sure there is visual stimulation so that your baby will have plenty of incentive to turn his or her head so that the flat part does not make contact. Make sure your baby has plenty of supervised tummy time during the day!
Positioning Your Baby While Asleep
The Foundation for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) recommends that you should always place your baby on the back to sleep. This advice has saved thousands of baby’s lives. If your baby has a plagiocephaly position the head so that the flat spot does not touch the cot mattress. There are several pillows and cushions on the market. If you decide to use these always follow the manufacturer’s advice to ensure safety in sleeping. If the flat spot is at the back of your baby’s head, this may mean making a little pillow that can move your baby’s head off the affected spot. If you do this, make sure to clear it with your infant’s physician so that you are complying with his or her recommendations.
If by the age of four to five months, you are not seeing any improvement, you may consider using a helmet to gently correct the head shape as your baby continues to grow.
Since 2003 Technology in Motion has been providing treatment for plagiocephaly and brachycephaly (flat head syndrome), conditions which involve the deformation of the head of an infant.
Filed under: Baby items — Alan @ 5:07 am
Most people aspire to being ecologically aware, and this is particularly pertinent for parents as their offspring rely on the future of our planet. The problem is that even though they are eco-aware in other areas, they are mostly reluctant to try and reduce their carbon footprint by using non-disposable nappies.
GNappies have now come up with a hybrid alternative which they say give parents the best of both worlds. This combines a cloth nappy with a disposable liner and the loner is simply thrown away and the cloth nappy washed and reused.
Working parents, or those which more than one baby, may still feel that this is time consuming and they would prefer to stick to their disposable nappies, but what many fail to realise is that by changing to these biodegradable nappies they are having positive effect on the environment.
Says Kim Graham-Nye, co-founder of gNappies, “Parents genuinely want to do better environmentally and, many are horrified to learn that disposable nappies account for a third of landfill. However, cloth nappies aren’t for everyone – which is why the hybrid option is a great solution. Changing nappies doesn’t have to be such as chore– and the availability of disposable and biodegradable refills means it’s even easier for parents to consider this as a viable option.”
Kim and her husband Jason introduced the hybrid nappy concept after discovering shocking facts about disposable nappies and their impact on the environment. Around 11 million disposable nappies enter UK landfill every day, each taking up to 500 years to decompose and accounting for a third of the world’s landfill.
gNappies gives the option to choose between disposable nappies or cloth nappies – with the disposable element being a gRefill – an insert which is home compostable or can be disposed of in the domestic waste. On a home compost, the gRefill only takes 50 – 100 days to biodegrade, compared with 500 years for a single disposable nappy.
gNappies come in a range of colours, patterns and sizes. The dedicated gNappies UK website - www.gnappies.co.uk – features all the products as well as gBundle starter packs.
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If you have recently had a child then there are several things that you must remember to take with you if you are going on a trip away. There are many items that parents might forget at first when they are taking their new baby for a trip or holiday.
