April 3, 2012
Filed under: Pregnancy — Alan @ 1:00 pm
If you are pregnant, then air travel can be a complicated process, you must be aware of all the safety implications as well as the various regulations that different airlines put in place. It is important that you plan ahead and make any arrangements for a pregnancy, before you travel.
As a general rule, travelling by air is safe for women who are pregnant. However, air travel does come with various warnings to pregnant women, but many of these are about comfort, rather than safety.
Different airlines have different rules about travelling while pregnant and it is important that when you are booking your flight that you are in touch with the airline to let them know you are pregnant.
If you are booking your flights online, then you should make sure you contact the website of the airline itself to ask questions about the pregnancy. This will make sure that the airline are ready for your travelling and they might be able to provide you with a special service to ensure that you remain comfortable.
Almost all passenger planes are safe to travel on, but you should generally not take those that fly under 7000 feet. This is because they won’t have a pressurised cabin, which can mean the oxygen is thinner. Pressurised cabins remove any of this risk, so make sure that you travel on a normal airline.
You might want to consider paying a little bit more for your ticket if it means more comfort. Many airlines have seats which provide extra legroom, and it might be worth buying one of these to give yourself a little more space.
Unfortunately, you should be aware that many airlines do not allow pregnant women to sit in these seats for safety reasons. You should also book a seat on the aisle, as the chances are you will need to walk around the plane more often than other passengers.
Filed under: baby development,Baby health,Child Birth,New Born — Alan @ 9:52 am
'Babies All Wrapped Up' is the definitive manual for new parents
Dr Claire Winstanley is a GP based in Bristol, and she has just released her first baby book which encompasses everything that you need to know about becoming a parent and covers all questions and problems regarding both pre and post birth.
This book is aimed at the first time parent, and is the book all parents wish they had been able to get their hands on years ago.
It contains a perfect balance of professional advice and invaluable tips from a senior practitioner of medicine. ‘Babies All Wrapped Up’ in the definitive guide for parents, from those anxious days leading up to the birth through to that post-natal time.
Written in a format that is both warm and accessible, mums and dads will equally enjoy this book as it offers advise and support of a practical, physical and emotional nature. Dr Winstanley spent three painstaking years thoroughly researching the best medical advice on offer from a wealth of paediatricians, specialist consultants and midwives, and the result is a brilliantly written informative and heart warming guide to new parenthood.
What’s different about this book?
Dr Winstanley offers succinct information in easy-to-find chapters; taken from her years of experience as both a senior GP and a mother of 3. The book provides both essential medical information and also tips on the smallest detail to help first time parents in an accessible way. Most importantly, it fills in all the information gaps left by other baby books on the market.
Dr Winstanley has stated “I wanted to produce a quintessentially invaluable manual for the first time parent without losing any of the warmth and cosiness felt when a baby arrives”.
Approved by paediatricians, health visitors and midwives, this book should be any new mum’s first port of call before that little bundle arrives.
Babies All Wrapped Up
DragonWeb Publishing Ltd
Contact : 07999 337787
March 28, 2012
Filed under: baby development,Baby health,Names,New Born — Alan @ 10:23 am
Early development of the child is very important and the first few months of a child’s life should not be underestimated in their importance for the rest of the child’s life. Parents should make a good amount of effort to expose their children to new opportunities when they are between three and five months old.
One of the most beneficial things that parents can do is encourage their baby to listen to different sounds. A good way to make sure that they get used to identifying sounds is to ring a bell near to your baby’s head.
Do this from about 45 centimetres away and if your baby turns their head to identify the sound, reward them. It is also a good idea to make sure that they start reacting to their name and, especially during these early months, you should say the name in a very loving way.
You should also regularly talk to your baby and sing some nursery rhymes as this will give them a positive association with your voice. You should also remember that your baby will understand what you are saying, before they are able to talk.
Babies start to associate sounds with objects and actions far before they actually start voicing the words for themselves. Parents should take advantage of this by reading to them as much as possible or simply talking to them and making sure that they are enjoying listening.
Before they start talking babies make a lot of strange noises and it can be a good idea to repeat these back to the child. Don’t worry about how strange you sound, as your baby will delight in the fact that you are repeating what they are doing. Making the sound is an important step towards developing speech and you should encourage your baby to make them, and when they do react with joy.
It can also be a good idea to stimulate your baby in other ways, such as by giving them interesting toys to play with. Babies are naturally curious about different objects and one of the ways they explore their curiosity is by putting things in their mouths.
Parents are sometimes concerned about this as there are unsafe objects around the home. You should not however tell your baby not to put things in their mouth, but instead you should make sure they do it only with safe items.
Exposure to different environments can also be advantageous, so you should consider taking your baby out of the house as much as possible. Even if you are going on a trip to the supermarket, it can be a good idea to take your baby as it exposes them to a new environment, and one they will have to become comfortable with later in life.Essentially, the more experiences you give the baby, the more their brain is going to develop. Every time they learn something new, neurons in the baby’s brain develop, and new pathways are established. These pathways are essential for developing the child’s future mental ability and capability for learning. Doing some basic activities with your child will mean that they develop important processing skills which are vital for use in later life.
You should not always focus on learning with your baby and it is also important to remember that things should be fun for them. Don’t forget, that these fun games also have a valuable role in developing the social ability of the child. There are many games that parents can play with their children and they should also get involved with the toys that they have purchased for them.
March 18, 2012
Filed under: baby development — Alan @ 12:01 am
Baby toys can be a very important part of a child’s upbringing. They can help a baby develop a large number of skills, such as the ability to count, speak, and develop motor skills. It seems today that every parent is focused on their child being the smartest and they tend to buy the most expensive gadgets to encourage this in their children. However, some parents are also concerned that these sorts of gadgets can mean their children grow up too fast.
There is a strong argument that parents are encouraging their children to grow up too quickly and many want to see more toys available that’s just allow children to be children; rather than focusing on their academic development. If you cannot find these toys being made today, it is always possible to switch back to old toys that were used by previous generations.
There are some toys that are able to provide a good amount of development and be enjoyable for a child at the same time. It is important that parents remember that they shouldn’t be just focused on the development of the child, but they should be focused on their enjoyment of their childhood as well.
Some toys that can be beneficial for a child encourage them to do basic exercises. They are often seen to encourage children to lie on their front and this is something that strengthens their tummy muscles, a valuable exercise for children.
People should be less focused on turning their child into a genius, and more focused on raising a happy and healthy child. Using simple toys is going to develop their intelligence enough at an early age and there is no need to spend money on fancy gadgets that purport to increase their intelligence above the norm for their age
March 7, 2012
Filed under: child discipline — Alan @ 1:14 pm
Being a parent is an experience quite unlike anything else and in many ways it is fantastic, but often it can be quite a stressful experience.
Dealing with the behaviour of four-year-old children can be a challenge but with the right techniques it is something that can be managed by parents well.
There are many different tricks that you can use on a four-year-old in order to get them to behave in the way that you want. Most of this involves getting your child to listen to you, and this can be quite challenging itself. It is important that parents speak in a language their children understand so that they can get them to behave as wanted.
One of the most important things to do is always follow through. Children will quickly learn that if you make a threat and do not go through with it, that the threat is useless. If, however, you go through with the threat and punish the child, then they are more likely to take it seriously in the future.
It is important that you have a list of simple punishments that you can enforce on your child if they get out of line. You should make your child understand that you are someone who takes actions and does not just make hollow threats.
It is also important to tell children how to behave in a positive way. Do not simply tell them that they are doing something wrong, but tell them how they should do it right. For example, do not tell a child to stop going somewhere, but tell them to come somewhere else instead.
You should also always remain calm when disciplining a child. If you overreact your four-year-old will know how to set you off and this is not a good thing. Even if you feel like shouting, control yourself and implement the punishment without an overreaction.
Finally, you should never apologise for punishing a child. You must let them understand that the process is simple, if they misbehave, they will be punished. There is no need to complicate the situation any further than that.
February 25, 2012
Filed under: baby development — Alan @ 9:20 am
By their very nature, humans are social creatures and babies are no exception. You might think that your baby will just be interested in sleeping all the time but it is very important that you help them to develop a curiosity for the outside world.
Parents are often apprehensive about taking their baby to socialise with other youngsters as they fear that they might pick up various germs. However, it is important to realise that these will help them develop a strong community which will be essential when they start at school.
It is important however that you do take some effort to protect your baby from disease, especially during the winter months when there is more flu around. It is very important you are careful to avoid exposing your baby to another sick child and if your baby is sick, don’t take them outside to be around other children, as this will only serve to pass on the illness.
Parents are also quite concerned that sending their baby to daycare might result in separation issues. Fortunately, there are many clubs in communities where parents can attend with their baby.
These clubs tend to be revolving around certain activities such as baby swimming or baby yoga. There are also clubs where parents and babies just get together and do simple activities such as singing songs.
These sorts of activities are not just enjoyable for babies but parents often find them fun too. It is possible to discuss parenting issues with other mothers and fathers at the event and you can also develop friendships with other new parents. It is also possible for babies and young children to make friends at these events and these can even develop into friendships that last a lifetime.
If you are looking to find one of these clubs that there are plenty of places you can do it. Local playgroups are a good place to start but if you are looking for a specific sort of activity then you can probably find some information on the internet. If there isn’t one in your local area catering to your needs, you could even consider starting a group.
Exposing a baby to other babies their own age will help your baby develop important social skills that they will require when they start school. You baby will also come to realise what it is going to be like being away from you they are at school and being prepared for this will make them more comfortable around the other children.
The most major advantage of your baby going to socialise is that they are going to have a good time. Parents can really see how a baby is having fun when they are interacting with other babies. It is an enriching experience for your child and is quite unlike anything else they experience. All good baby clubs will organise different activities for different ages so you can be sure that your baby is doing something that they are capable of and will enjoy.
February 4, 2012
Filed under: baby development — Alan @ 8:34 pm
Bath time can easily get chaotic if children get over-excited by the idea of playing with all their water toys – which in turn can make bedtime troublesome too.
There is no reason for bath time to be too over-stimulating, however, and if parents do things right it can even be used as an opportunity to calm youngsters ahead of putting them down for the night.
Adults aren’t the only ones who enjoy having a bath with soft music and candles creating a soothing atmosphere; keep a CD of lullabies handy in the bathroom and have them on with the volume low to keep the noise level as low as possible and to try and encourage children to at least start feeling sleepy.
Scented bubble bath can also help to make kids ready for bed, though be careful if the little ones have eczema or any allergies. They don’t have to go without bubble bath, but make sure you shop around for organic or hypo-allergenic brands so they don’t spend the night uncomfortable and itchy.
Toys and books can encourage children to get into the bath in the first place; even the most determined water hater can have their mind changed by a fun bath time game. Have a good selection on hand so that there are always other options if children suddenly get bored of a toy that used to be their favourite.
Bath books are not just another fun water toy, but are also a great way to save yourself some precious minutes at bedtime; after all, if you can combine bath time and story time, then the little one will be tucked up in bed even sooner, and Mum and Dad can finally have the evening to themselves.
Some children love the bath so much it can be hard work getting them out; learn what incentives will get them out of the tub quicker, such as the promise of a bedtime story, a favourite teddy bear or even a last-minute snack. Invest in some cosy bath towels with hoods and snuggle up with your youngsters before putting them into bed – and soon everyone will learn to love bath time instead of dreading it.
January 31, 2012
Filed under: baby development — Alan @ 2:28 pm
Playful Parenting Games and Activities for
Nurturing Your Baby’s Skills and Development
Written by Dr Roni Cohen Leiderman, and
Dr Wendy Masi, Ph.D
Authors of Gymboree’s Baby Play
Pub Date:FEB 2012 Publisher: Fair Winds Press
ISBN: 978‑1‑59233‑495‑7 RRP: £12.99 Paperback
BABY LOVE and LEARN parenting guide
Whilst playing with your baby is undoubtedly a lot of fun, there is an awful lot more to it than just that. It it a key factor in not only building a strong bond with your baby but also provides vital early stimulation that in turn promotes both development and learning. Te most recent studies show that playing with a child fosters the development of their young brains a lot better than ‘skill drills’.
‘Baby Love and Learn’ provides 100 activities, exercises and games for parents to do with their babies, and they all foster motor, language and cognitive skills as well as relation building and creativity.’Baby Love and Learn’ also shows parents how their daily care giving routines such as feeding, bathing, dressing, changing an bedtime are real opportunities for positive play, learning and emotional attachment.
The book is packed full of play ideas for all ages and stages and also for the different levels of development.
Written by two professionals who are also the authors to the famous Gymboree Baby Play book.
Roni Cohen Leiderman, Ph.D. is a developmental psychologist specialising in emotional development, positive discipline, and play. She has worked with young children for more than 25 years. Roni is the Dean of the Mailman Segal Institute for Early Childhood Studies atNovaSoutheasternUniversityinFlorida.
Wendy Masi, Ph.D. is a developmental psychologist specialising in early childhood. She has designed and implemented programs for preschools, families with young children, and early childhood professionals for more than 20 years.
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.
November 24, 2011
Filed under: baby development — Alan @ 3:23 pm
Recent research has revealed that some babies have a fat build-up around their abdomen that is also seen in some adults who are in their 50s. The study was conducted at a hospital in West London and was intended to investigate links between obesity in the mother and her baby.
Professor Neena Modi led the study which found that being overweight during pregnancy might be dangerous to your baby as its fat levels might become dangerously high. Professor Modi is one of the leading experts in the UK about health risks to newborn babies and she found that one in every three babies in the study had more fat than expected.
Over 100 babies were involved in the study and around 30% of these have more fat in their abdomen than is normal. This is the first study that has examined the link between the mother’s weight and that of the babies, Professor Modi has stated, “To see such a clear effect transferred from the mother to the baby is very surprising. This study is going to open the door to many more that will examine the effect that a mother’s metabolism has on her baby.”
The normal amount of fat tissue for a baby to be born with is 700 g but the study found that for every unit above the normal BMI the mother was, an extra 7 g of fat was present in the baby’s liver – which is potentially dangerous.
Professor Modi has said that all women should be aware of the risks of becoming pregnant when you are obese and the potential consequences that can have on a child. Women who want to become pregnant should work out their BMI before considering whether they should have a baby, anyone with a BMI of over 30 is considered obese.
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