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Working Mums Stress Over Sick Children

2010-04-25T08:55:00.000-07:00

Caring for sick children is contributing to stress in the workplace according to a new study by the Hygiene Council.

Half of parents find juggling work and a sick child difficult to manage, yet few realise that simple hygiene measures such as hand washing and surface disinfection can help to reduce the risk of picking up an infection and so make things easier for them.
The survey of 1,000 parents of children under six, found that despite 48% of children being ill with coughs, colds and stomach bugs at least three times a year, an astonishing 62% of parents have no back up childcare plan when their child is ill. Consequently almost half of parents have to take a day off work, while 12% admit to sending their child to childcare or school regardless of their illness.
Although just over 50% of bosses are understanding when it comes to taking time off to look after sick children, a further third make the inconvenience known and a just under one in ten bosses are judged to be very unsympathetic and challenging. Over a quarter of those surveyed said that their child being ill causes additional stress and pressure to catch up out of work hours.
With the added strain of sickness, parents are changing their behaviour both in and out of the home. 80% say they would change their hygiene habits in the home if it meant their children getting ill less frequently. While 36% claim to go out of their way to avoid people or places to reduce the chance of their child becoming ill.
Despite the fact that increasing hygiene habits in the home such as washing hands and disinfecting surfaces has been scientifically shown to reduce the number of infections there seems to be some confusion amongst parents about what constitutes ‘too clean’.
Dr Lisa Ackerley, from the Hygiene Council comments: “As a parent I know all too well that taking unplanned time off work to look after your sick child can be a nightmare, however there is something you can do. Teach your child good hygiene habits from an early age and follow good hygiene practices at home to help limit the spread of infection and illness.”
Nearly three quarters of parents agreed with the concept that a home that is too clean can be bad for their family’s immune system and general health.
Dr Lisa Ackerley concludes “Parents often worry that too much cleaning is bad for their child’s immune system. Allowing your child to become exposed to some microbes is an important step in building natural immunisation; however we need to ensure we are keeping our homes clean enough through ‘targeted disinfection’ ensuring that the harmful pathogens that cause serious infection are kept at bay.”
Here are some top tips from the Hygiene Council for a healthy home and family:
Encourage children to start washing their hands from an early age
Ensure your child knows when to wash their hands: before eating and before any cookery activities, after using the toilet, playing outside in the playground and after coughing, sneezing or blowing their nose
Ensure children are washing all of their hands, including the hard to reach spots like in between their fingers
Timing counts, so make sure they are washing their hands for long enough, try singing ‘Happy Birthday twice, so they know how long they need to clean their hands for
Make hand washing into a game for your child to ensure they are encouraged to keep doing it
Good home hygiene habits are essential and regular cleaning and ‘targeted disinfection’ of all surfaces that are regularly touched such as door handles, taps, switches and bin lids can help to reduce the spread of germs around the home
Ensuring your child’s high chair and place where they eat at the table are kept clean and disinfected is very important
Did You Know?
Children who attend nurseries and daycare centres are up to 3.5 times more likely to get diarrhoea than children who stay at home!
•Use of hand sanitiser has been shown to reduce illness-related absenteeism in school children by up to 49 percent!
Nearly three quarters of the world’s population learn the majority of their good hygiene habits from their family when growing up.!

Medical Precautions To Take When Travelling With A Baby

2010-04-25T08:46:00.000-07:00

Everyone hopes that their holiday will pass without incident, but as we all know it’s always possible for your baby to become ill for a variety of reasons when abroad.

Prepare well in advance and make sure you are ready in the event that baby does become unwell. Firstly it's important to make sure that your child is fully covered on your travel insurance policy for medical treatment abroad and ensure you keep important phone numbers such as a local medical centre and the insurance company’s claim hot-line ready to hand. If you do need help, most insurance companies will have lists of approved medical practitioners in each country, so should be able to advise you.
If your child is already taking medication before going on holiday, make sure you have enough to last the whole holiday and several extra days worth too in case of unforeseen delays.
The vast majority of minor ailments can be attended to using a Basic First-Aid Kit which you can put together yourself at home and take with you. This should contain the following items as a rough guide:
Thermometer.
Calpol Sachets and Dioralyte (rehydration) sachets.
Anti-histamine cream
Insect repellent
Calamine lotion
Sun Cream
Calendula Cream
Plasters and small bandages
Always remember that prevention is better than cure so stick to some simple and fairly basic rules. Keep baby cool and out of the sun and make sure he drinks lots of fluids. Sterilise feeding utensils, use bottled water and make sure that baby plays in a safe spot.
Remember if you are thinking of travelling to particularly high-risk areas such as those in tropical Malarial zones, you will need to speak to your doctor for advice.
The above is for guidance only and should not be taken as medical advice. If you are ever in doubt about your baby’s health, you should not hesitate to seek medical advice. If you are travelling with a large holiday company or tour operator they will be able to arrange this for you using one of their local representatives. Otherwise, take advice from your insurance company.

5 Baby Skin Care Tips For New Mums

2010-03-30T23:24:00.000-07:00

Dr Atherton paediatric dermatology specialist at Great Ormond St Hospital shares his top 5 tips on baby skincare for new mums.

The arrival of a new baby is an exciting experience for many parents but the early days of parenthood can be both overwhelming and unsettling, especially if it is your first child. For many new mums, managing and protecting their baby’s sensitive skin will play a big part in caring for their newborn child. Luckily, you can carry out small changes that can make a big difference to your little one’s skin;
1. Don’t use soaps or foaming cleansers of any kind when washing your baby
2. Avoid excessive dry air by turning down the heating in your baby’s bedroom
3. Avoid leave-on moisturisers such as lotions and creams that contain high concentrations of preservatives

4. Wash fabrics in non biological products which have a mild or no fragrance and have been evaluated for skin safety. Look out for products that has the seal of approval from the British Allergy foundation for peace of mind
5. After weaning, minimise skin contact with irritating foods, especially acidic foods such as fruit, fruit juices, tomato sauces and salty or spicy foods
In addition, to ensure that your baby settles and is comfortable in their new surroundings, mums should also make sure that all fabrics in contact with their baby’s skin are soft, absorbent and non-abrasive.
March 2010

Vitamin D - Mums Are In The Dark

2010-03-30T23:21:00.000-07:00

The importance of vitamin D is being stressed to new Mums and Mums-to-be.

Almost a half (49%) of those polled in a recent survey weren’t aware that it can help prevent deficiencies which could lead to bone deformities.
Vitamin D deficiency could be a risk for all pregnant and breastfeeding women and children. Vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium, an essential mineral for healthy bones and teeth.
In the survey of over five hundred mums, commissioned by Department of Health through the Healthy Start scheme, three quarters (74%) didn’t realise that pregnant women often don’t get sufficient vitamin D and almost half (48%) weren’t aware that vitamin D helps keep bones healthy.
Doctors and health professionals are seeing more and more patients with vitamin D deficiency. Such deficiency can lead to rickets in children (a condition where the bones become weak and soft) and osteomalacia in adults (which causes bone pain and muscle weakness). One in five of the mums surveyed didn’t know what rickets was.
Almost a third (29%) of the mums questioned didn’t know that vitamin D was produced by the skin when exposed to summer sunlight - getting enough exposure to this sunlight can be difficult in the UK. Those who cover up for cultural reasons, those with darker skin and pregnant and breastfeeding women are particularly at risk of a deficiency, especially through the winter.
Dr Minoo Irani, Consultant Paediatrician from NHS Berkshire East said:
“Even if you eat a healthy balanced diet before and during pregnancy, you might not be getting enough vitamin D for you and your baby as the main source is summer sunlight. The Department of Health recommends that all women take a daily vitamin D supplement during pregnancy and while breastfeeding to help prevent a deficiency and the development of conditions such as rickets in your baby. Children under five should also take children’s vitamin drops as they may not be getting enough vitamin A and C from their diet and vitamin D from their diet and the sun.

“People who qualify for the Healthy Start scheme are entitled to free vitamin supplements - just ask your midwife or health visitor where you can pick these up locally.”
Many women and children who are supported by the Healthy Start scheme are able to get free vitamin supplements which containin the recommended amounts of vitamin D. The womens’ vitamins contain folic acid and vitamins D and C and Healthy Start children’s vitamin drops contain vitamins A, C and D.
The Healthy Start scheme supports pregnant women, new mums and families with young children who are on benefits, and pregnant under 18 year olds by providing vouchers which can be used to buy fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and milk. It also provides coupons which can be exchanged for women’s and children’s vitamins.

Contented Baby Sleep: 6 Months And Over

2010-03-26T23:58:00.000-07:00

Child Sleep Specialist Andrea Grace shows VideoJug users how to create a environment conducive to contented baby sleep for children 6 months and over. She teaches you how to set up a routine and gives other tips which should ultimately lead to a contented sleep for your baby.
Step 1: Routine
It is absolutely vital to establish a great bedtime routine. The best routine provides a familiar series of steps leading up to bedtime and sleep.
These will help your baby to feel safe and sleepy too.
• Timing of the routine is less important than the process of the routine itself. For this reason, start your routine shortly before you know your baby is ready for sleep.
• The bedtime routine should culminate in your baby falling asleep – not coming downstairs to play or join you for dinner.
• Follow a similar bed time “script” by using familiar phrases and actions at key points during the routine.
• Bath every night unless there are genuine reasons why you can't. Sing the same “action” song in the bath each night.
• Go directly to your baby's sleep room after the bath.
• Put him in a clean nappy
• Followed by a Milk feed
• Make time for a familiar bed time story book – the same final one each night, so that it becomes a sleep trigger.
• Then into the cot awake but sleepy, to settle for the night.
Step 2: Sleeping environment
Your baby doesn't need a super plush nursery with all matching accessories in order to sleep comfortably. What he does need is a warm, safe and familiar cot in a familiar room.
It is safe after 6 months to move his cot into his own room or for him to share a room with an older brother or sister.
The room temperature should be around 18 degrees Celsius
Avoid having lots of noisy toys in his cot – but have a couple of safe and familiar toys that he can play with if he wakes early.
Once he is able to stand in his cot, remove the cot bumper. Babies have been known to use this as a step up to climb out of the cot!
Step 3: Putting baby into the cot awake
Remember that sleep happens in cycles and it is normal and healthy for a child to stir or even wake up several times in the night. Problems develop when babies are not able to resettle without help.
It is most important to set good sleep habits from the beginning of the night. This means putting your baby down awake and without you in the room with him.
If you are able to do this at bedtime, there is less chance that he will need to seek you when he wakes up during the night
Step 4: Dropping night feeds
The key to dropping night feeds lies once again in how you settle him at the beginning of the night. Do not allow him to fall sleep on the breast or bottle at bedtime. If he has a tendency to do this, you need to feed him with the light on and after the feed, introduce a simple picture book to look at together. This will help to break the milk/sleep association. Place him into his cot whilst he is still awake and comfort him there until he has gone to sleep if you need to. Don't be afraid of him crying. He is ok. You are with him, he is just frustrated because he doesn't know how to fall asleep without feeding.
After a couple of nights he will acquire good sleep skills and you should then gradually withdraw your contact and attention until he is settling to sleep by himself.
Each time he wakes in the night, if he is unable to settle by patting alone, offer him either an increasingly shortened breast feed or a small diluted bottle feed. [it is perfectly safe to do this when your baby is over 6 months] After this, he should be placed back into his cot whilst he is still awake. After a period of around a week by which time you will have taught your child the skill of falling asleep without sucking milk, you should no longer feed him during the night.
Step 5: Avoiding bad habits during the night
Occasionally, there are babies who settle independently at the start of the night and are no longer in the habit of taking night feeds, but who still wake up.
The reason for this, more often than not, is that they have got used to some kind of night time ritual involving contact with you. These include:
• Transferring to your bed either during the night or at dawn.
• You coming and lying beside the cot
• Having a cuddle with you during the night
If this describes your baby, think about what you are doing to reward his behaviour, and stop doing it. He will protest, but stick with it. If you are truly consistent, he will begin to sleep through within just 2 or 3 nights!

How To Breastfeed In Public

2010-03-26T23:54:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the mommy club! And kudos for breastfeeding! You've probably been cooped up in the nursery for the last few months, so it's time for you and the baby to get out and into the world! Stroller-check! Baby gear-check! Breasts full of milk-check! From baby-friendly venues to knowing your public breastfeeding rights, Videojug is here to help new mommies get comfy with nursing in public.
Step 1: Know Your Rights
Modern day society loves its cleavage and the mainstreaming of porn but the public can easily become riled up by the glimpse of a nursing breast so before you undo your breastfeeding bra, know your rights!
When it comes to nursing in the United States, breastfeeding is not considered indecent exposure. You may freely feed your child and expose your breasts in public places except venues that children or yourself are expressly forbidden. So no nursing your baby in the over 21 nightclub…

If someone dares asks you to leave or to move to a degrading and dirty toilet stall, remind them that it is your right to breastfeed in a public place where you and your baby are legally allowed to be.
Step 2: Be prepared
If this is one of your first outings, bring someone - a friend, your mom, or your significant other - for support and pick familiar places.

It is perfectly legal to expose your breasts when nursing your child but if you want to bring a shawl, scarf, or baby blanket to cover you and your child, practice at home before your outing. Babies love to kick off blankets and they want to see what's happening, too.
Wear layered and light clothing along with your easy-to-open-with-one-hand breastfeeding bra.
Keep your gear minimal. We know you won't on your first outing and will probably bring the entire nursery with you, but try to since it will keep the flustering to a low.
Step 3: Location, location, location
Remember, safety first. No matter where you decide to breastfeed, always pick a location that is safe for you and your baby. There is a vulnerability factor because your focus is usually on your baby and your boob.
The Mall.
Benches and places to rest are great places to stop and feed your baby. Just relax and do some people watching.
Some malls have designated rooms other than the bathrooms for breastfeeding. Sometimes they are called family rooms or mothers rooms. Look for the universal symbol for breastfeeding as a friendly place to nurse.
If you do want some privacy, go to a quiet store and take a couple of items to try on
in a dressing room.
The Eatery.
Outside cafes, noisy diners, even the food courts are great places to give it a go. These are casual eating venues so if the baby cries or fusses, no one will mind. Remember, you are using up to 500 extra calories a day to make milk so mom's gotta eat!
The Park.
Whether it's a beach or a playground, the park is a good standard. Watch for bad
weather and watch for weirdos. Choose a safe and busy location.
The Car.
Parking lots can be dangerous so park near an attendant or near lots of foot traffic.
And don't do a Britney-whenever the car is in motion, the baby must be strapped in
their babyseat.
Freestyle.
Do like the pros and strap the baby into a carrier or sling and you can feed AND
grocery shop at the same time. Heaven! Just be careful to not drop baby or
accidentally bump baby's head into anything.

Also known as:
How Do I Breastfeed In Public
How To Nurse In Public

Your Rights During and After Pregnancy

2010-03-25T03:48:00.000-07:00

You’ve just discovered you are expecting a baby, you are feeling elated and excited.

However, this can sometimes be overshadowed if you are having difficult times with your employer and are worried about whether your job is secure leading up to the birth of your baby and beyond. We get asked lots of questions about maternity pay and rights at work during pregnancy and maternity leave. Employment law solicitor, Joanna Robson is an expert in maternity related employment law and can answer some commonly asked questions on where you stand legally.
I have just found out I’m pregnant, when do I have to tell my employer?
You have to inform your employer that you are pregnant by week 25 of your pregnancy. You can get your Mat B1 form from your midwife, which is usually handed out at your 20 week scan. Some women may choose to notify their employer sooner and if their bump starts to show or they have to miss work because of pregnancy related illness. I would always advise women to tell their employers after they have had their 12 week scan. This is because upon such notification, you are protected from risks in the workplace as your employer will be under a duty to carry out a risk assessment to identify and eliminate risks to you and your baby from your working environment. Such findings may include a removal of heavy lifting tasks or even in some cases, night shift working. If your employer doesn’t know you are pregnant, it becomes more difficult to eliminate you from such risks at an early and crucial stage of your pregnancy.
I recently told my employer I am pregnant and they have since disciplined me for poor performance, my previous work track record has been excellent. I feel pushed out. Where do I stand?
You are entitled to receive fair treatment at work as a pregnant employee. In the event that your employer is attempting to fabricate issues of poor performance in a bid to push you out of your employment since their learning of your pregnancy, it would seem that they are treating you less favourably and subjecting you to detriment because of your pregnancy. This is unlawful conduct on the part of your employer. You may be able to bring a claim for unfair dismissal and sex discrimination in the employment tribunal. However, in cases like these it is imperative you take prompt action. It is also best to adopt a paper trail approach with your employer rather than allowing the situation to continue through verbal communication so that you can collate evidence if this becomes necessary at a later date.
My job involves quite a lot of heavy lifting, do I have to carry on with such tasks now that I’m pregnant?
Your employer is obliged to promptly carry out a risk assessment on your pregnancy in the workplace. Therefore, if you are in a high risk working environment, it is best to tell your employer of your pregnancy sooner rather than later so that any risks can be eliminated from your working day. Such tasks like heavy or moderate lifting should be removed from your daily tasks and you should be assigned light tasks instead. If this is not possible, your employer should agree to suspend you on full pay in certain circumstances where the work related risks cannot be eliminated.
I work night shifts, should I continue to do this whilst pregnant?
Generally speaking, the finding of a risk assessment should declare that night working is riskier than day shifts. This is because it is often the case that there are less staff available to support a pregnant employee during a night shift when compared to day shifts, where there support is more readily available. The test of whether night work should be eliminated as part of a pregnancy risk assessment depends on what type of work you are undertaking and the level of support you have available.
I have antenatal appointments booked, do I have to use my annual leave to take these?
No, you are entitled to paid time off for all ante natal appointments and scans. You may also be entitled to paid time off to attend parentcraft classes such as yoga or specialist pregnancy classes provided that your GP and midwife confirms that it would be in the best interests of the health of you and your unborn child to attend such classes.
I work part time and my employer is telling me I have to rearrange my antenatal appointments to the days I do not work, is this fair?
It can be extremely difficult to dictate to the NHS which days you can or cannot attend ante natal appointments! Therefore, if your ante natal appointments fall on a day which you would usually work then your employer is obliged to allow you to take paid time off to attend such appointments.
I have been signed off work with severe morning sickness for 2 weeks, my employer has indicated that I will lose my job if I take anymore time off, where do I stand?
You are entitled to sickness absence in the same way as any other employee of your employer’s business. You will be entitled to statutory sick pay during your period of sickness unless your contract of employment provides for a period of enhanced sick pay instead. Put it this way, if you were not pregnant i.e you had broken your leg, would you be threatened with job loss? If there is any inference of discrimination, you should take action immediately. You are entitled to be treated fairly and not suffer detriment as a result of your pregnancy.
Am I entitled to maternity leave?
Most women have a right to take up to 52 weeks’ maternity leave regardless of length of service with their employer.
Am I entitled to maternity pay and if not, what are the alternatives?
Provided you have worked for your employer continuously for 26 weeks’ at the beginning of your 25th week, you may qualify for statutory maternity pay (“SMP”). To be eligible for SMP, you must have earned £95.00 per week during the qualifying weeks. The qualifying weeks’ for SMP purposes accrue from week 17 to week 25 of your pregnancy (known as the “Qualifying Period”). If you are eligible, you will receive SMP for 39 weeks comprising of 6 weeks’ at 90% of your average weekly earnings over the Qualifying Period or £123.06 per week whichever is the lesser. Thereafter, you will receive 33 weeks’ at the prescribed SMP rate, currently £123.06 per week. If you are not entitled to SMP, you may be eligible to receive maternity allowance, which you should apply for through your local JobSeekers office.
When can I start maternity leave?
You are entitled to 52 weeks’ continuous maternity leave, which may commence no earlier than the end of your 29th week of pregnancy and no later than the birth date of your baby. You’re not under any obligation to tell your employer how much maternity leave you are planning to take and your employer should assume that you are taking the full 52 week period, unless you have indicated otherwise. However, you are obliged to tell your employer the date in which you intend to commence maternity leave by no later than your 25th week of pregnancy so that your employer has adequate time to find maternity cover for you.
Can my employer force me to commence maternity leave earlier than planned?
You may choose the date in which you wish to commence maternity leave. However, if you are off sick with a pregnancy related illness during or after your 36th week of pregnancy, your employer is entitled to trigger an immediate commencement of your maternity leave on or after your 36th week.
What about annual leave – when should I take it and how much am I allowed whilst on maternity leave?
In most cases, your holiday entitlement to annual leave as contained in your Contract of Employment will prevail provided that it does not fall short of the statutory entitlement, this currently being 28 days’ per year inclusive of bank and public holidays. Whilst on maternity leave, your annual leave will continue to accrue at the normal rate. You will be entitled to accrue contractual annual leave for the first 26 weeks’ of maternity leave and you will then become entitled to accrue statutory entitlement to annual leave for the remaining 26 weeks. In most cases, the accrual rates of contractual and statutory annual leave are equivocal but you should check your contract of employment.
My employer’s holiday year expires half way through my maternity leave… Help!
When calculating your maternity leave dates, it would be prudent to also check your employer’s holiday calendar year. Most employers operate a January to December policy and in most cases, employers do not provide for a carry-over policy of unused holiday for fear that employees could accrue exasperated holiday entitlements over a longer period of time. Therefore, if you are planning on going off on maternity leave in say, July, for 52 weeks, you should aim to take all of your annual leave entitlement you would have otherwise accrued up to December prior to commencement of your maternity leave. If you do not, you will lose your accrued holiday leave upon commencement of the new holiday calendar year the following January. This is because you are not entitled to receive remuneration (or payment in lieu of such holiday accrual) whilst in receipt of SMP.
I have heard that I can go back to work and still receive SMP?
You are entitled to attend for work for a maximum of 10 days during your 52 week maternity leave in order to “keep in touch” with your workplace and any of its developments. This has recently been introduced so as to make the transition back to work following a 52 week absence much easier. You are entitled to be paid for these 10 keeping in touch days at your usual remuneration rate without sacrificing your continuing entitlement to SMP. Such days are useful where you need to go into the office for meetings, training or just keeping up to date with what is going on at work. You are not obliged to exercise your right to return to work for up to ten days’ during your maternity leave and your employer cannot force you to attend the workplace if you choose not to.
Is my employer obliged to keep me informed of developments at work such as a promotional opportunities whilst I’m on maternity leave?
You have a right to be treated no differently in comparison to your colleagues who attend the workplace. This same principle applies to promotions. In the event that a promotion came up at work which was suitable to your skills and career progression, your employer should contact you about it so that you can apply for it whilst you are on maternity leave. If you can establish that you were either not afforded the opportunity of applying for a promotion or were not given a promotion because of your maternity leave status, then this may constitute an act of sex discrimination.
The number of redundancy casualties appears to be ever increasing, I’m concerned I might be selected for redundancy because I’m on maternity leave?
Those women on maternity leave are regarded as having “protected status” over imminent redundancies in the workplace. This means that your employer must try everything to either save your job or find you suitable alternative employment. If your employer fails to adopt such practice, you may have grounds to complain. However, the area of redundancies during pregnancy and maternity leave is extremely complex and is dealt with on a case by case basis.
I am due to return to work from maternity leave soon. However, my employer has told me that my old job is no longer available. Are they allowed to do this?
The current legislation states that you are entitled to return to your same job which you were carrying out immediately prior to your maternity leave at the end of your maternity leave. Your employer is under a legal obligation to keep your job open for the entire 52 week period, this being the maximum entitlement to maternity leave. It is not acceptable or lawful for your job to be taken over by a replacement permanent employee therefore not giving you the opportunity to return to your job.
I have been dismissed whilst on maternity leave, do I have any right to complain?
If you have been dismissed without reason whilst on maternity leave, you can make a claim to the employment tribunal for unfair dismissal and sex discrimination. You should seek legal advice on your options and heads of claim.
I wish to return to work on flexible hours to fit around my childcare, am I entitled to request this?
Provided you have 26 weeks’ continuous service with your employer at the time of your flexible working request, you are entitled to make an application. You must make your request in writing to your employer and give them at least 28 days in which to respond. Your employer may either give their decision in writing or they may invite you to a meeting to discuss your request. Your employer may refuse your request to return to work on a flexible working basis but they must be able to demonstrate that there are objective business reasons for their refusal. If the request is refused, you should be given the opportunity to appeal against the decision. You may have grounds to complain if your employer has unreasonably refused your request or “singled you out” from others in the workplace.
If I have a complaint over the way my employer has treated me because of my pregnancy and/or maternity leave, what steps should I follow?
If you believe you have been receiving less favourable treatment at work because you are pregnant or on maternity leave, whether it be your employer’s general attitude towards you at work, failure to consider you for a promotion or unfairly selecting you for redundancy, to name but a few, you may be able to take things further. In the event that you do believe you are receiving less favourable treatment either since the announcement of your pregnancy, during your maternity leave or your pending return from maternity leave, you should seek legal advice without delay because there are stringent time limitations which you must comply with in order to seek a remedy. In all tribunal proceedings, a claim must be lodged with the Tribunal within 3 months’ of the last act of less favourable treatment complained of. You should seek the advice of a legal expert without delay to ensure that your rights are protected. Our solicitors’ at Babylaw Solicitors are happy to assist and we even offer an out of hours service as we appreciate it can be difficult to talk things through either during the working day and/or when you are looking after a new baby at home. Babylaw offers a free 30 minute consultation either by telephone, face to face or by email so that you can weigh up your options before taking the plunge in making a stand against your employer over their mistreatment of you. Our contact details are available on our website, www.babylaw.co.uk
Most women are probably afraid of how much it might cost them if they go down the legal route?
Lots of women that contact me are worried about how much things are going to cost, especially as they are sometimes looking at the prospect of losing their financial security. Babylaw Solicitors offers an initial consultation free of charge to see whether there are any potential remedies and to ascertain whether I can help. We also offer a “No Win, No Fee” funding arrangement. An alternative funding arrangement is through legal expenses insurance, which is often contained in the household contents insurance policy. The great thing about having this insurance is that it won’t affect your contents insurance renewal premium as it is not regarded as a claim; in most cases, your contents insurance won’t go up if you use it.

How To Massage Your Baby For Health And Happiness

2010-03-18T03:01:00.000-07:00

Cream or baby oil (no essential oils)
A soft mat or blanket
2 towels

Step 2: Setting up

It is best to practice when your baby is calm and at least a half an hour after eating. It is important that the room temperature is warm, approximately 78F/24C, as the baby should either completely undressed or wearing a diaper. A good time is right after the bath since the baby is all ready undressed and the room is warm.
It is also important to have everything set up ahead of time so that you can focus on your baby. Lay a towel over a soft mat or blanket and place the cream or oil within easy reach.
Dry your baby thoroughly if just bathed, and lay them down on the towel face up. Place a little cream or oil in your hands and warm it by rubbing the hands together
Step 3: Face and headUsing the pads of your fingers and extremely light pressure, begin making light strokes on the forehead, starting at the brow line and going up to the top of the head.
Remember that this is supposed to be fun. Talking, singing, and other verbal communication will stimulate your baby's mind and reinforce the developing bonds between you. Continue with strokes from the bridge of the nose along the cheekbones towards the ears, and then do circles around the mouth. You will then trace the jaw line back from the chin and arrive at the back of the head and neck where you can make gentle strokes down to the shoulders.
Step 4: Shoulders and armsBegin making smooth strokes from the shoulder down to the hands, letting your baby grasp your fingers as they slide off. Next hold the arm between the thumb and index finger and gently glide down the arm, using caution at the arm pit and elbow as these are sensitive areas.
Step 5: Chest and stomach
Now bring your fingers to the centre of the baby's chest and make smooth movements from the centre out towards the shoulders, starting just below the collar bones and slowly moving down until you reach the stomach. This is a powerful part of the massage as it helps promote good digestion, move gases, and relieve colic. This is often called the “I Love U” stroke, as the movements will be like the letters I, L, and U. You begin the “I” by starting under the ribs on YOUR right side and make a stroke down. Next, start under the ribs on your left side, stroke across and then down forming the “L.” Then for the “U” you will start on the lower belly to your left, move up under the ribs and over, and down the right side again. Repeat this several times and finish with some circular strokes over the entire belly, always moving in a clockwise direction.
Step 6: Legs and feet
Move down to the legs and make gentle strokes from the thigh to the ankle, and then take the leg between the fingers of both hands and lightly roll the leg back and forth as you move down. Repeat this several times on each leg. Now take both legs and gently press them against the belly, flexing the hips and knees. Stretch the legs out and then repeat several times. Gently lay down one leg and begin lightly squeezing each of the toes, then massage the soles of the foot down to the heel. Return to the toes and repeat, then continue with the other foot.
Step 7: Back
Carefully roll your baby onto his or her stomach. Starting at the head, make long general strokes down the neck, the back, over the legs and down to the feet. Alternate hands and repeat. We want to avoid any direct pressure on the spine, simply making light contact. Starting near the neck, start massaging the shoulders and upper back with your finger tips, then continue making circular movements over the rest of the back. Now with one hand, place a finger on either side of the back bone lightly wiggle back and forth as your hand moves down. Repeat this several times.
Move the hands down to the legs and make smooth downward strokes to the heels, being especially gentle behind the knee.
Step 8: Finishing strokesOnce more make full body strokes starting at the top of the head towards the feet. After two or three times let the hands float off.

How To Breastfeed In Public

2010-03-18T02:47:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the mommy club! And kudos for breastfeeding! You've probably been cooped up in the nursery for the last few months, so it's time for you and the baby to get out and into the world! Stroller-check! Baby gear-check! Breasts full of milk-check! From baby-friendly venues to knowing your public breastfeeding rights, Videojug is here to help new mommies get comfy with nursing in public.
Step 1: Know Your Rights
Modern day society loves its cleavage and the mainstreaming of porn but the public can easily become riled up by the glimpse of a nursing breast so before you undo your breastfeeding bra, know your rights!
When it comes to nursing in the United States, breastfeeding is not considered indecent exposure. You may freely feed your child and expose your breasts in public places except venues that children or yourself are expressly forbidden. So no nursing your baby in the over 21 nightclub…
If someone dares asks you to leave or to move to a degrading and dirty toilet stall, remind them that it is your right to breastfeed in a public place where you and your baby are legally allowed to be.
Step 2: Be prepared
If this is one of your first outings, bring someone - a friend, your mom, or your significant other - for support and pick familiar places.
It is perfectly legal to expose your breasts when nursing your child but if you want to bring a shawl, scarf, or baby blanket to cover you and your child, practice at home before your outing. Babies love to kick off blankets and they want to see what's happening, too.
Wear layered and light clothing along with your easy-to-open-with-one-hand breastfeeding bra.
Keep your gear minimal. We know you won't on your first outing and will probably bring the entire nursery with you, but try to since it will keep the flustering to a low.
Step 3: Location, location, location
Remember, safety first. No matter where you decide to breastfeed, always pick a location that is safe for you and your baby. There is a vulnerability factor because your focus is usually on your baby and your boob.
The Mall.
Benches and places to rest are great places to stop and feed your baby. Just relax and do some people watching.
Some malls have designated rooms other than the bathrooms for breastfeeding. Sometimes they are called family rooms or mothers rooms. Look for the universal symbol for breastfeeding as a friendly place to nurse.
If you do want some privacy, go to a quiet store and take a couple of items to try on
in a dressing room.
The Eatery.
Outside cafes, noisy diners, even the food courts are great places to give it a go. These are casual eating venues so if the baby cries or fusses, no one will mind. Remember, you are using up to 500 extra calories a day to make milk so mom's gotta eat!
The Park.
Whether it's a beach or a playground, the park is a good standard. Watch for bad
weather and watch for weirdos. Choose a safe and busy location.
The Car.
Parking lots can be dangerous so park near an attendant or near lots of foot traffic.
And don't do a Britney-whenever the car is in motion, the baby must be strapped in
their babyseat.
Freestyle.
Do like the pros and strap the baby into a carrier or sling and you can feed AND
grocery shop at the same time. Heaven! Just be careful to not drop baby or
accidentally bump baby's head into anything.

How to Celebrate Your Baby's First Birthday

2010-03-13T22:34:00.000-08:00

Your baby is going to turn one and you wonder when the year went by. It seemed like yesterday when you put her in swaddling clothes and brought her home and now here she is, babbling and crawling all over the place.
For that little angel you want to make the moment special when she enters Wonderland. And what better way to celebrate it other than with your friends and family. So you get down to learning how to celebrate your baby's first birthday.
First of all account for the number of people that will be invited to the party. Once you have set the number of people, keep a buffer of 10 plus or minus and keep that number in mind. Accordingly fix a budget. For instance, if a plate is anywhere between 400 - 700 you approximately know how deep is the hole in the pocket.
Now set off looking for a venue, it should accommodate the guests easily and have ample of space for the buffet section. If you have in mind to call a lot of kids then allot a space for them at the venue or make sure there are some entertainment modes like in-house rides.
The venue should reflect a lot of seating areas at the corners with lots of space spread out in the centre. Comfortable seating with extra chairs kept aside to accommodate more guests should always be handy. Don't be distressed if you do not find that perfect hall at the first go. Look at the local gymnasium, school halls and town hall along with the banquet set-ups. Within a few days you're sure to zero on a destination. However make sure it is easily accessible and the venue has clean lavatories as there kids at hand.
Next select your cuisine and dishes and do a bit of negotiating. Don't forget to take the signed acknowledgment of the payment and cuisine details. Back home start on the theme for the party. You could choose from Disney, story books like Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, Sleeping Beauty or pirates of the Caribbean, Robin Hood and so on. According to the theme idea on the decoration. Make the most of the venue with smart decor that does not hurt your pockets too much. Don't forget to carry a first aid kid to the party for just-in-case.
The invitation speaks much of your party. So be very creative and yet kiddish to keep it light. Surf the net for over a hundred styles, or sit down to do it yourself in paint. Even innovative would be when you cut paper to put the invite together. The wordings have to spell out the theme and the dress code if you have any. After everything is in place, relax and see everything unfold beautifully as you celebrate the first birthday of your kid.

Babies Cry In Same Language As Mum

2010-03-12T06:54:00.000-08:00

A baby cries in its mother tongue from as early as three days old.

German researchers, studying the cries of 60 babies born to French and German-speaking families, have found that babies begin to pick up their parents' accents whilst still in the womb. They say the babies are probably trying to form a bond with their mothers by imitating them.
The newborn French babies cried with a rising "accent" whereas the German babies' cries had a falling inflection.
The findings in the journal Current Biology suggest that unborn babies are influenced by the sound of the first language that they hear when in the womb. It has been known for some time that foetuses could memorise sounds from the outside world in the last three months of pregnancy.
Kathleen Wermke from the University of Wurzburg, who led the research, said that the data showed ".....the importance of human infants' crying for seeding language development."
Dr Wermke's team analysed the cries of 60 healthy newborns when they were three to five days old. The results showed clear differences in the shape of the infants' cry melodies that corresponded to their mother tongue.
She said: "Newborns are highly motivated to imitate their mother's behaviour in order to attract her and hence to foster bonding."
November 2009

Bye Bye Bump, Hello Boys!

2010-03-07T19:24:00.000-08:00

We had our last scan this week and predictably I mastered the art of the anti icky position too late. I now have over 12lbs of twins in my tummy.

That’s over 50 quarter pounders. Or enough turkey to feed about 11 people at Christmas. Big Brother (6lbs 10oz) is squashing Little Brother (5lbs 15oz) to the point that the shape of his head is changing. No one seemed that worried about aforementioned head squishing but I'm thinking it might be nice if a) Big Brother shuffled over a little bit or b) we let them out into the big wide spacious world - given that they are big enough to look after themselves, with a little help from Daddy and I.
They have both been head down 'ready to go' for over a month and now feel so low I’ve been convinced for a few days that they can see daylight. A certainty confirmed (kind of) by our Consultant today. My cervix has shortened, Big Brother is contemplating a bid for freedom and the Big Day Of Birth could occur any time, so I am currently at home waiting for something life changing to happen sometime soon. Trouble is I’m not exactly sure what to expect or when it is going to happen and am in a sort of trepidation filled limbo land. Will I spring a leak? Will I suddenly double over in pain? Are those low down head wriggles a sign we ought to hot-foot it to the Hospital? Will this waiting game go on for minutes, hours, days…?
I’m reflecting on my pregnancy experience and think the most enduring memory will be the first scan at 12 weeks when we discovered our baby had company. Once over the twin shock my overriding feeling, which I am certain will stay with me forever, was the awe and amazement that the two teeny tiny babies on the monitor seemed so independent and different so early on in their lives.
The age-old nature/ nurture debate really comes into its’ own with twins. Daddy David and I watched with intrigue at the black and white beings on the monitor all those weeks ago; one calm and quiet and the other active and lively. Did this early observation in temperament imply that for all my worry and analysis our parenting skills (or lack of) will not be entirely responsible for the outcome of two personalities? Will we merely be making a contribution to the characters they develop? Maybe we won't be entirely responsible for the happy days or the sad days, the quiet days or the manic moments? Is this a good thing or not?
The other thing that has surprised me about pregnancy is how natural it has felt. I haven’t resented the babies for taking over my body or forcing my jeans into early retirement. I have learnt something I think I already knew, that women are guilty of over complicating things. Especially body related things. Eating and moving and changes in body shape. If we were only able to stop thinking we knew better and just let our bodies get on with things then I think we would all be happier! Our bodies are pretty good at what they are meant to do but somewhere along the line most of us stopped listening to them.
Over the last few months I have found myself at the fridge eating cheese, drinking milk, grazing at handfuls of nuts… only to read later that these are the very foods to benefit the babies most at that particular time. A few months later it was spinach with everything, and avocados followed by bananas… ditto they were the recommended foods de jour. I didn’t consciously know that but my body did. I can’t even claim that I was trying to get ‘in tune’ but my body shifted up a gear and because it was all new to me I didn’t second guess it or try to ignore what it was telling me.
Maybe I’ll go and finish the chocolate in the fridge while I think about all that. May as well make the most of the remaining ‘I’m not fat I’m pregnant’ moments seeing as I’m not sure how many of them I have left….

Kids Cooking

2010-03-07T19:15:00.000-08:00

Children love spending time cooking and baking and even the fussiest of eaters will normally try out food they've cooked themselves.

Finding activities to keep your children entertained on rainy days and in school holidays can feel like a daunting task but you don’t have to spend lots of money on expensive days out - just step into your kitchen.
Actress Fay Ripley has joined forces with The Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT), “It’s brilliant to involve children in cooking. It’s great fun and you can teach them all about food nutrition and safety. The key thing is to do it when you have enough time.....When you’ve got a spare half an hour, that is the time to get cooking, all put on aprons and make it an event.”
Fay continued “Learning to follow recipes, preparing food and baking dishes helps children to develop skills for the future as well as being a great activity for spending family time together. It’s also a great way to teach children about safety in the kitchen, whilst they’re having fun.”
Recent hospital data shows that one in ten children’s accidents happen in the kitchen* and nearly 800 children under 12 were admitted to hospital last year with burns or scalds from hot drinks, food, fats and cooking oils. So it's vital that parents use their time in the kitchen with their children to teach important safety lessons and keep little chefs safe from harm.
From around the age of five there are little jobs children can start learning to do under supervision in the kitchen. And as children grow and develop life skills, they can get more involved in everyday kitchen tasks. This helps them build confidence and skills whilst learning about the dangers too.
Kids Cooking Safety Tips
If using any hot appliances, such as a kettle or oven, make sure children understand how this can be dangerous and keep young children at a distance
Show older children how to use an oven glove when taking anything out of the oven and how to put it down safely on a heatproof surface

Pick a recipe that is easy to follow and doesn’t have too many ingredients so that you can focus on supervising your child and not reading through the recipe – this also helps to keep it fun
Before you get started, allocate tasks to children which are right for their age and ability, for example buttering a cake tin, sifting flour or cracking eggs
Supervise and show children how to use kitchen equipment safely, i.e. when grating vegetables or whisking eggs Always supervise children when they are using knives or other potentially hazardous utensils

Here’s an easy recipe to get you started:
Child Friendly Apple Crumble
CAPT has the following general tips and advice for children’s safety in the kitchen
Keep young children away from hot appliances like ovens, toasters and kettles
When you are cooking, always use the rings at the back of the cooker and turn pan handles towards the back. This way they can’t be grabbed or knocked over by active children of any age
Push your kettle to the back of the worktop and choose one with short or curled flex so that it can’t be pulled off the top
Keep knives and scissors in a high drawer which is out of reach
Keep cleaning products high up and out of sight and reach and, for low cupboards, fit safety catches
Use cleaning products which contain a bittering agent to stop children swallowing them
Cut up finger food into small pieces as young children can easily choke on food which is difficult to chew or too big
Make sure children sit down to eat as they can choke if they run around while eating
Use a five point harness in your child’s high chair and be careful where you place it in case they can reach appliances or drawers
Don’t hold your child and a hot drink at the same time and don’t pass hot things over children’s heads
When you are cooking it’s safer to keep young children out of the kitchen if it’s possible, for example by fitting a safety gate across the kitchen doorway
Make sure you have a working smoke alarm and check it every week
For children from around the age of five:
Teach children simple tasks like buttering and cutting bread with a round-ended knife
They are not safe to handle sharper implements like bread knives until they are older, so keep them out of reach
Teach children how to use items like scissors but make sure you supervise them and keep the scissors out of reach at other times
From around the age of seven:
Teach children how to tackle simple tasks safely, like making a hot drink or simple meal but supervise them when they’re doing this
Never allow a child to use a chip pan, even under supervision. If you use a chip pan yourself don’t leave it unattended or fill it more than one third full
Once your child reaches seven you may want to start teaching them how to light matches safely under your supervision - this can make matches less fascinating
Show children this age how to use knives and scissors safely under supervision, but don’t let them use sharp knives
Make sure children know not to run with sharp things in their hands

Child Feeding Issues

2010-03-03T08:55:00.000-08:00

What is baby "spit-up"?
Well, spit up is when basically milk comes out and it could be from many different reasons. Spitting up in general is normal. All baby spit up and usually happens with burping or round burping because as the gas comes up the milk comes up as well. Spitting up always looks much more than it really is when spit up comes up it looks like more than they possibly could have even had for their meal. But in reality it's probably only a teaspoon or couple of tablespoons. So it's really nothing to worry about. There are times with spitting up that we want to investigate other thing that's when the spit up hurts them or bothers them.
When does my baby's spit-up indicate a serious problem?
Doctor's get concerned when spit-up is causing your baby to be more fussy or it's bothering them when they spit up. In general, when babies spit up they spit up and they go about their business, they even may smile afterwards because it was a release of gas and that feels good. But there are some other causes of spitting up that need to be investigated. More severe reflux or painful reflux and certain allergies. So, with reflux that would show up as your child when they spit up they arch their back and get really fussy and scream, and they do this because the acid, as it comes up, hurts them. Now luckily only about one-third of reflux is painful. So we get concerned with reflux if it's painful to them, so that they're really miserable every time they spit up and it usally happens about fifteen to thirty minutes after feeding or they're spitting up so much that they're not gaining weight. So in that case obviously we would want to investigate, and if we think it's reflux, start them on a medication to help keep the food down. The other thing, of course, the first thing we do with reflux is just positioning. We mention keeping the head of the bed elevated at least at a forty-five degree angle, keeping their head elevated in your arms after feeding, just to use gravity to your advantage.
What medical problems could cause my child to spit-up during feeding?
One issue that we mentioned is reflux which will cause your baby to be fussy and remember that the majority of children who have reflux and reflux is very common just because the gastro intestinal track and the muscle tone is not good, is painless and babies grow and develop normally and we do no interventions. Another common cause of fussiness during feeding is an allergy and one of the common allergies we look for is called a milk protein allergy. Human milk is made out of a human milk protein. And the main formulas and it doesn't matter what the brand, is made of a cows milk protein similar to the milk we buy in the supermarket. And when we say someone is allergic milk we say they are allergic to the protein. This is different from than lactose intolerance. Lactose is a sugar found in milk that actually lactose intolerance in infants is extremely rare, unless you are born with a genetic deficiency in that enzyme. Lactose intolerance in general is something you gain later as you get older, so when were talking about allergy we are talking about a milk protein allergy. Infants with this usually you will see are really upset with feeding. They are taking the milk and their arching and their gassy and their really fussy during and around feedings, and it sometimes very hard to distinguish between that and reflux and just normal stretching, but they are really fussy with it. When we think a baby has a milk allergy and their on formula we change them to either a soy based formula so instead of the cows milk protein it is a soy protein or we change them to a hypoallergenic formula. A hypoallergenic formula basically what they do is they take the cows milk protein they break it up into little pieces and they wash them so they are easily digested. And depending how severe you child's symptoms are helps us differentiate whether will try the soy formula first or go right to a hypoallergenic formula, because up to 20-30 percent of children who are allergic to cows milk protein may also be allergic to soy. So sometimes we'll skip over that point. It just really depends on your child's symptoms.

How To Include Dad During Your Baby's Breastfeeding Stage

2010-03-03T08:46:00.000-08:00

How can I include Dad during my baby's breastfeeding stage?

Dad's are very important to infant development, but they have a very different role to mothers. Dad shouldn't feel left out when mom is breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is mom's role, however dads are very important. In the research, it shows that dads play with babies almost fifty percent more than moms do. Dads are involved in teaching babies facial expressions and laughter. Dads should be allowed free reign with the babies when the mother is not playing with or breast feeding them. The reason for this is that dads have a different approach and different strengths. Let dad have lots of time with the baby when it's off the breast, and use breastfeeding time as special mother and baby time.

Brain Damage Reduced In Babies Cooled At Birth

2010-03-03T08:26:00.000-08:00

New research claims that babies starved of oxygen at birth have a far lower risk of brain damage if their bodies are cooled down.

325 babies were involved in a trial carried out at 33 hospitals in the UK and in five other countries.

Researchers found full-term babies who suffered oxygen loss at birth were 57% more likely to survive without brain damage if they were given mild hypothermia. The body temperature of the babies was brought down by about 4C using a fluid-filled mat under their sheet.

Doctors are not entirely sure why it helps, but they believe that slowing the babies' metabolism reduces the trauma of the birth and gives the brain time to recover.

Carmel Bartley,from the children's charity Bliss, said: "Cooling of babies with birth asphyxia is an innovative technique already being used in some neonatal centres. This is a specialist treatment that we would like to see used more widely to ensure the very best outcomes for our most vulnerable babies."

Half of the newborn babies in the trial had their body temperature reduced to 33-34C for 72 hours followed by gradual re-warming in intensive care. Normal body temperature is around 37C. The trial data will now be assessed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to see whether the technique should be rolled out to all neonatal units.

The Benefits of Breastfeeding

2010-02-28T01:52:00.000-08:00

Not only is breast milk the perfect food for your baby but breastfeeding also has many other advantages to a baby’s health.
There are more benefits to breastfeeding your baby than you could possibly imagine.
Fewer breastfed babies become obese.
A formula-fed baby has a statistically greater chance of being fat, and some studies, though not all, suggest that adolescents who were breastfed are less likely to be overweight or obese.
Does all this matter? Well, it could, because up to one in five fat babies are still fat at five years old, and about 14 per cent of very fat babies are still obese 20 to 30 years later. The concern is that very overweight adults are more prone to heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, varicose veins and gallstones and, as a result, have a reduced life expectancy.
Babies who are breastfed - and especially those who are exclusively breastfed - are less likely to become ill in their first year, and less likely to be admitted to hospital.
Even more important, breastfeeding can save lives. UNICEF estimates that reversing the decline in breastfeeding could save one and a half million lives a year worldwide. A US study in 2004 suggested that breastfeeding cut the risk of a baby dying in the first year by up to 20 per cent and other research suggested that exclusively breastfeeding babies for at least three months, and continuing to breastfeed for the rest of the first year, could prevent 52,000 infant deaths a year in Latin America alone.
Breast milk also helps protect a baby from infection with bacteria, viruses, yeasts and other organisms.
All manner of nfections are less likely in breastfed babies. Diarrhoea/Gastroenteritis is also much more likely in formula-fed babies. A 2002 review of 20 studies from around the world found that gastro-intestinal infection was significantly more common in formula-fed babies. One problem with formula is that the number of bacteria it contains doubles every half-hour it’s left at room temperature. Even if you put it in the fridge, the number doubles every 10 hours.
Breastfeeding helps protect babies from bronchiolitis, pneumonia and other respiratory infections.
Many studies report less middle ear infection in breastfed babies.
This is important because not only is middle ear infection painful but it can lead to deafness. There are three reasons why breastfed babies have a lower risk of middle ear infection. Firstly, breastfeeding mothers tend to hold their babies more upright than do bottle-feeding mothers, so milk is less likely to escape from the throat along the Eustachian tubes to the middle ear cavities, where it can encourage infection. Secondly, anti-infective and anti-inflammatory factors in breast milk reduce the risk of infection developing in milk that enters the middle ear. Thirdly, the way a breastfed baby sucks and milks the breast tends to open up the Eustachian tubes, encouraging fluid to drain from the middle ears and making infection less likely – and this doesn’t happen with bottle-feeding.

Urine infections are less likely in breastfed babies.
Breastfeeding women can squirt a few drops of colostrum in their baby’s eyes to help get rid of baby's 'sticky eye'!
Sticky eye / conjunctivitis is common in newborn babies. This may reduce the need for antibiotics.
Breastfed Babies have a better response to immunisation.
Breastfed babies make more antibodies when they are immunised, possibly because breastfeeding makes their immune system mature more quickly.
Breastfed babies have fewer allergies
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first few months helps prevent allergy. Cows’ milk protein is the commonest primary allergy trigger. Breastfeeding can help prevent eczema and can also discourage asthma and wheezing. Exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first three months offered substantial protection against hay fever in childhood, both in children with an allergic family history and in those without. Babies breastfed exclusively for six months are much less likely to develop allergies. However, breastfeeding women should ideally avoid large amounts of cows’ milk, egg, nuts, fish, citrus fruits and wheat, as traces of these in breast milk could trigger allergy in susceptible babies. Breastfeeding mothers of babies with a high allergy risk should avoid cows’ milk, eggs, nuts and fish completely.
Most recent studies suggest breastfeeding can help prevent eczema.
Exclusive breastfeeding in the first three months discourages eczema in children with a family history of eczema, asthma and hay fever.
Most, but not all, studies suggest breastfeeding can discourage asthma, wheezing and Hay Fever.
Breastfed babies have........
Less Coeliac Disease
Less Autoimmune Disease
Less Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease
Less Dental Decay
Better jaw and mouth development
Less Lymph System Cancer
Breastfed babies have Better Brain and Nerve Development
Two studies have shown that breastfed babies walk earlier than formula-fed ones, even after allowing for differences in weight, and excluding babies whose mothers went out to work (because they might have had less encouragement to walk).
Better intelligence and development tests
For many years some (but not all) studies have found breastfeeding is associated with higher intelligence. Before dismissing this because so many factors impinge on intelligence and how it’s measured, it’s worth remembering that the contents of human milk are different from those in formula, so it’s possible that human milk provides optimal levels for the development of the human brain, which grows extraordinarily fast in the first year of life and fastest of all in pre-term babies.
Breast milk is particularly important for nerve and brain development in premature babies.
Breastfed babies generally have better eyesight.
Breast milk is good for the eyes.
Less Vitamin A Deficiency
Breastfed babies of three months or younger are less likely to get meningitis and septicaemia.
Less Autoimmune Disease
Autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and Crohn’s disease involve some kind of trigger (eg viral infection or stress) which makes the body produce rogue antibodies which then attack certain cells instead of being protective. Breastfeeding seems to reduce a baby’s lifetime risk of autoimmune disease in general. Studies suggest that breastfeeding may help protect against juvenile rheumatoid arthritis – the sort that comes on in children.
Diabetes
Studies strongly suggest formula-feeding can play a part in causing type 1 diabetes (the auto-immune sort that comes on suddenly in young people).
Less Pyloric Stenosis
Different emotional & behavioural development....
The influences on emotional and behavioural development in later childhood and adulthood are impossible to pinpoint with certainty. However one study of seven-year-olds showed that those who’d been breastfed were less fearful, nervous, jealous and spiteful than their peers who’d been formula-fed. They were also more successful at school. Studies also show that breastfed babies spend less time in their cots and more with their mothers than do formula-feds.
In communities which not only allow but actively encourage unrestricted breastfeeding, mothers don't let their babies cry even for a short time, whereas in many developed countries babies are often left to cry because 'it isn’t time for a feed' or 'they might be spoilt if they're picked up’. You could argue that the baby whose mother gives the breast for food or comfort whenever her baby cries or otherwise appears to need it, might grow up feelng more secure that he’ll get his needs met.
Research into a breastfeeding woman’s behaviour before, during and after feeding shows it differs from that of a bottle-feeder. A breastfeeder is more likely to kiss, rock and touch her baby, while a bottle-feeder is more likely to rub, pat and jiggle her baby and show much more concern over ‘wind’. Breastfeeders also talk to their babies more than do bottle-feeders. A baby breastfed on an unrestricted basis will rarely cry because his hunger, thirst and need for comfort can immediately be satisfied by warm milk. In contrast, a formula-fed baby is more likely to have to wait until his mother reckons it’s time for his feed and then has to wait again while the formula is prepared and warmed. He may feel very real hunger and frustration by the time all this has happened.
Natural Contraception
The natural contraceptive effect of long-term unrestricted breastfeeding means that women using no other family planning methods have longer gaps between their children than if they were formula-feeding. (Breastfeeding is only effective as contraception if you are exclusively breastfeeding and not giving ANY additional drinks/food)
Less Nappy Rash
One survey showed that formula-fed babies were twice as likely to suffer from nappy rash as were breastfed ones.
Also Dutch research in 1994 reported that by nine years, children who’d been exclusively breastfed as babies had half the number of minor neurological problems as children who had received any formula. The researchers believed that the various polyunsaturated fats in breast milk accounted for this difference.
Possible Diasadvantages
The breastfed babies of some vegan mothers have a lack of vitamin B12. Some strictly vegetarian or vegan women have too little vitamin B12 in their milk and their babies develop symptoms of deficiency. Expert advice about what to eat, together with extra vitamin B12 for vegan mothers, puts this right. If a woman is severely malnourished for some time and her diet is grossly deficient in protein and fat, her baby is liable to go short as well. Babies who don’t get enough milk can become dangerously dehydrated. You must speak to your midwife or GP if you think your baby isn't getting enough milk and they can help you boost your milk supply.
Experts around the world strongly recommend breastfeeding as the very best way of feeding babies.
Overall, breastfeeding is clearly best for babies, partly because babies who are breastfed are healthier than those who are formula-fed.

Top Baby Names in 2009

2010-02-27T06:40:00.000-08:00

TOP 100 GIRLS 2009

TOP 100 BOYS 2009

1. Olivia
2. Ruby
3. Sophie
4. Chloe
5. Emily
6. Grace
7. Jessica
8. Lily
9. Amelia
10. Evie
11. Mia
12. Lucy
13. Ava
14. Ella
15. Charlotte
16. Amy
17. Daisy
18. Katie
19. Megan
20. Summer
21. Ellie
22. Isabella
23. Holly
24. Millie
25. Poppy
26. Freya
27. Erin
28. Isla
29. Isabelle
30. Hannah
31. Emma
32. Brooke
33. Molly
34. Phoebe
35. Eva
36. Leah
37. Lilly
38. Abigail
39. Sophia
40. Imogen
41. Maisie
42. Scarlett
43. Lexi
44. Jasmine
45. Lola
46. Layla
47. Isabel
48. Lauren
49. Amber
50. Madison
51. Matilda
52. Elizabeth
53. Bethany
54. Sienna
55. Rosie
56. Anna
57. Gracie
58. Paige
59. Alice
60. Caitlin
61. Georgia
62. Maddison
63. Rebecca
64. Lacey
65. Isobel
66. Faith
67. Libby
68. Tia
69. Keira
70. Lexie
71. Niamh
72. Skye
73. Nicole
74. Aimee
75. Sarah
76. Zoe
77. Eleanor
78. Amelie
79. Julia
80. Eve
81. Maya
82. Tilly
83. Zara
84. Martha
85. Sofia
86. Scarlet
87. Darcy
88. Abbie
89. Victoria
90. Heidi
91. Alexandra
92. Taylor
93. Miley
94. Kayla
95. Mya
96. Lydia
97. Florence
98. Evelyn
99. Rose
100. Courtney

1. Jack
2. Oliver
3. Charlie
4. Harry
5. Alfie
6. Thomas
7. Joshua
8. William
9. James
10. Daniel
11. George
12. Ethan
13. Lewis
14. Max
15. Lucas
16. Dylan
17. Archie
18. Joseph
19. Jacob
20. Samuel
21. Liam
22. Callum
23. Oscar
24. Jayden
25. Logan
26. Ryan
27. Jake
28. Tyler
29. Riley
30. Luke
31. Harvey
32. Ben
33. Adam
34. Alexander
35. Benjamin
36. Leo
37. Matthew
38. Noah
39. Connor
40. Alex
41. Jamie
42. Harrison
43. Mason
44. Cameron
45. Owen
46. Henry
47. Nathan
48. Finley
49. Aaron
50. Freddie
51. Issac
52. Sam
53. Finlay
54. Theo
55. Harley
56. Aiden
57. Toby
58. Edward
59. Rhys
60. Michael
61. Evan
62. Kyle
63. Leon
64. Reece
65. David
66. Kai
67. Ashton
68. Bailey
69. Kian
70. Louis
71. Taylor
72. Hayden
73. Brandon
74. Joe
75. Jay
76. Luca
77. Kayden
78. Ewan
79. Joel
80. Sebastian
81. Zac
82. Ellis
83. Josh
84. Aidan
85. John
86. Billy
87. Zak
88. Bradley
89. Kieran
90. Blake
91. Christopher
92. Morgan
93. Caleb
94. Louie
95. Andrew
96. Bobby
97. Gabriel
98. Robert
99. Elliot
100. Jude

Tips for Choosing Your Baby's Comforter

2010-02-27T06:19:00.000-08:00

Buy more than one! You never know when your baby's favourite toy may be lost, or just need washing! Choose a comforter which is simple - the less fussy the better. This big world and baby 's surroundings are all so new and there is a lot to take in, that 's why babies love simplicity, consistency and routine.
If you've chosen a particular toy for your newborn baby's comforter, try to avoid anything bulky or furry, with loose fibres, removable parts or lots of fussy adornments. Choose one made of hydroscopic material such as soft cotton towelling as this is the best material for retaining your scents. A baby needs simplicity, consistency and most importantly safety - so do Mums and Dads. For the first few months make sure this is the only toy in your baby's cot at bedtime. Otherwise he/she may adopt something else which may be impractical or difficult to replace!
Before introducing your baby to his or her new comforter, sleep with it in your bed or carry it around in your clothes to absorb all those comforting mummy/daddy smells. When you place it in the cot it will help to soothe and calm your baby, feeling secure in the knowledge you are always close by.
Choose a different coloured baby comforter for your second baby so that there will be no confusion.
Keep a note of the name and place you bought the 'comforter' from or take website address off packaging, then if you need to buy another comforter exactly the same, it will make it easier to track down! Otherwise buy at least two! It will be a sound investment.

Many parents assume their children will 'never use dummies' or any other comforters. Don 't believe it! Even if you don 't introduce a comforter of your choosing, then most babies will definitely adopt something from their surroundings, which may not be practical. It could be something as simple as a sleeve of their clothing,a label on their favourite 'cuddly' or it could end up being something really embarassing like your old feeding bra or even their thumb.
So choose wisely and your baby will grow up contented and secure. It will make life a lot easier for you as parents.

Baby Sleep - Dispelling The Myths . P2

2010-02-27T06:10:00.000-08:00

Myth 1: Sleep has no effect on a child’s weight

In fact the opposite is the case. In several studies over the past few years, a link has been found between sleep deprivation and the increased risk of obesity in both children and adults. One study in 2006 which looked at over 28,000 children found that infants who slept less than 12 hours a day ran almost twice the risk of becoming overweight preschoolers. The experts’ recommendation is that parents should use sleep hygiene techniques (e.g. bedtime rituals) to improve the length of time their children sleep for in order to prevent them from becoming overweight.
Myth 2: There is no such thing as a ‘sleep inducing’ food
There are actually several foods that can help your child feel ready for sleep:
Porridge: oats contain small amounts of melatonin, the hormone that promotes sleep.
Honey: although too much sugar is stimulating, a little glucose is thought to be helpful for sleep because it tells your brain to turn off orexin, which is linked to alertness.
Bananas: if your child was just to eat one bedtime food, then the banana would probably be it. As well as having the tryptophan, it also contains the sleep hormones melatonin and serotonin, and magnesium, which is a muscle relaxant. Bananas mashed with warm milk and honey would be a super-sleep combination.
Myth 3: It’s hard to make sure our children get enough exercise
Every child should have 60 active minutes of exercise a day, but many children don’t get this – partly because many parents don’t know how much exercise their children should be getting. It shouldn’t be difficult. An hour a day may sound like a lot but this doesn’t have to be taken all in one go. If it’s easier you can divide the time into 15-minute slots throughout the day. And exercise in the daylight will help your child feel tired at bedtime and sleep well throughout the night. The combination of exercise and daylight works synergistically to regulate the body's sleep/wake cycle.

Myth 4: It doesn’t matter how you approach bedtime, as long as the kids get to bed
In fact, a bedtime ritual can be hugely effective in making sure your child sleeps well every night. The American journal Sleep recently published the findings of a study in which 405 mothers of young children with mild sleep behaviour problems were shown how to follow a very simple bedtime ritual. This included a bath time followed by a massage, then story time before lights out. The results showed the routine had many benefits:
• It significantly improved sleep and bedtime behaviour in infants and toddlers – including the time it took for the child to get to sleep, the number of times they woke up during the night and how long they slept for.
• Toddlers were less likely to call out for their parents or get out of bed in the night.
• The reduction in the children’s sleep problems meant that the mood of the mothers who were surveyed was considerably improved. This in turn had a beneficial effect on the children’s sleep. Because the mother was less stressed, the bedtime experience for the child became happier, and this helped them fall asleep more easily too.

Baby Sleep - Dispelling The Myths . P1

2010-02-27T06:05:00.000-08:00

We all know how important it is to make sure our kids get a good night’s sleep, but how can we ensure they do?

Sammy Margo, author of The Good Sleep Guide and the forthcoming The Good Sleep Guide for Kids tackles some common misconceptions. The following are some of the most common:
Myth 1: Blue and white are good colours for a nursery
Actually, we should really be painting our kids’ rooms pink or green! It is well known that colours have a strong influence on our mood and feelings. While blues and purples can be calming for an overactive child, they can also be cold. Reds and other strong colours, though warm, can be overstimulating. Pinks, however, will soothe and calm. Bright walls, in particular brilliant white, can reflect so much light even at night that it prevents sleep. Greens, on the other hand, are thought to have a balancing and harmonious effect, which is one of the reasons you feel calm after a long country walk. Think about the colour of your child’s room - how it makes you feel and the effect it might have on your child. The ideal colours to send your child off to sleep peacefully are pale shades of pink and green.
Myth 2: It’s fine to put a TV in your child’s room
Studies show that children who watch TV in their rooms get less sleep. Research conducted at the University of Haifa examined 444 school pupils aged 14 who were asked about their sleep habits and use of computers and television. It was discovered that children with TVs in their room went to sleep half an hour later than those without a TV, while waking up at the same time in the morning, effectively losing 30 minutes of sleep a night. Some children will also get up earlier in the morning to watch TV at the expense of sleep.
Myth 3: Wool blankets are old-fashioned and will overheat your child
Although it’s expensive, wool is actually particularly suitable for bed covers. It’s lightweight but because of its heat-regulating qualities will keep you warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather. It’s water repellent, useful for spills and also for wicking moisture away from your body, which helps keep the body at a more even temperature. This can help you and your child get a better night’s rest and sleep for longer. It is a natural flame retardant, having a low burning rate so it doesn’t need to be treated with chemicals, and it doesn’t get dirty easily. Washable wool fabric makes it easier to care for too so there is no longer any need to dry-clean woollen blankets.

Myth 4: It’s unusual to have an imaginary friend
New research indicates that approximately 65 per cent of young children befriend imaginary companions, and nearly one-third continue to play with them through age seven. Studies also show that children who invent friends tend to be more articulate, creative and have higher self-esteem. It’s healthy for children to have imaginary friends and it allows them to see things from other people’s perspectives.

How To Make Healthy Baby Food

2010-02-26T01:05:00.000-08:00

When you want to save some money on baby food make your own. Make lots of healthy, good tasting baby food for far less than have paid in the grocery store. Enjoy knowing exactly what food goes into your baby.
Steps

Find small containers to store the food. Sterilize your containers in the dishwasher or sterilizer.
Buy fresh fruit or vegetables that are ripe. You can also use frozen food if you like, and sometimes that is far easier. Use fresh pears, avacados, or prunes and frozen baby peas, berries or lima beans. Look at the ingredients carefully to avoid any additives like sugar or salt.
Clean the fruit/veggie carefully and remove any brown spots. Peel the fruit. Steam the veggies or nuke them in the microwave in a bit of water. Follow the directions and make sure the food is soft. It is not necessary to cook the fruit.
Chop the food in a food processor until it is very smooth. Add warm water until you get a smooth consistancy.
Pour a single serving size into your containers and freeze immediately.

Tips

Make sure all of your equipment is very clean before using it for baby food.
Pears and other similar fruits will turn brown quickly, so work quickly.
You must strain the seeds out of the mixed berries using a large strainer.
You can also freeze homemade baby food in ice cube trays. When frozen, just pop them out and store in a plastic freezer bag.

Warnings

Ask your pediatrician before making baby food or feeding solids.
Avoid added sugar or salt in the food you purchase to make into baby food.
Avoid strawberries, nuts, eggs and corn to avoid early allergies. Very young babies should not have cows milk products.
Only introduce a new food every 3-4 days to make sure you know how your baby reacts.
Avoid using spinach or collard greens before your baby is 1 year old as it contains nitrates that can be very harmful to young babies.
Avoid introducing citrus foods to babies under 1 year -- it's hard on their digestive system.
Do not add sugar, salt or honey to your recipes.

Things You'll Need

Fresh fruit or veggies (or frozen) appropriate for babies age
Mixing bowl
Knife and cutting board
Strainer
Food processor
Warm water
Food storage containers

How do I transition my baby to a sippy cup?

2010-02-26T00:53:00.000-08:00

To introduce a sippy cup or to teach your baby how to use a sippy cup instead of a bottle, the first trick, and the most important trick, is to make sure you're putting something in the sippy cup that the baby likes. If your baby doesn't like grape juice, don't use grape juice in your sippy cup. Apple juice is accepted by most babies and is a great first training tool. You can also use formula. There is no reason the baby can't have formula or breast milk in a sippy cup.
Another way to transition the baby to a sippy cup is to provide it during times when the baby is playing with food, like when you're feeding it other solids. Let the baby have fun with the sippy cup. The more you discipline away from the sippy cup - such as, "Don't touch it that way. Don't throw it. Please don't tip it." - the more you do that, the more the baby will learn to fear the sippy cup and not play with it. Make the sippy cup a lot of fun. Let your baby make a mess. It's not going to hurt either of you to have to clean him up a little bit. Remember when transitioning your baby to a sippy cup that juice and water never go into a bottle. They should always go into a sippy cup.

So the more your baby likes juice and water, the more likely they are to learn how to use the sippy cup. Use a sippy cup that's a lot like the cup you will use. If you and your family use tip cups, use a sippy cup like it. If you and your family only use straws, this would be an inappropriate sippy cup. Look for one that has a straw.

Successful Breastfeeding: A Beginner's Guide To Getting Started

2010-02-25T09:16:00.000-08:00

Successful Breastfeeding: A Beginner's Guide To Getting Started. This guide is suitable for mothers with newborns who want to get started with breastfeeding. It has been prepared following government guidelines and advice from experienced midwives.
Step 1: Getting Started
Avoid having to interrupt a feed by having everything to hand before you begin. Choose a peaceful place to sit where you and the baby can feel relaxed. If you have an older
child it helps to make sure they feel included and have something to occupy them, so sit them near you with something to play with. Sit upright, make yourself comfortable with support for the neck and maybe a cushion on your knee to support your arm and the baby.
Step 2: Latching on
Latching on' is when the baby takes the nipple in her mouth and starts sucking - to begin with, you'll have to help her. Hold your baby in the crook of your arm in an almost lying down position with her cheek near to your breast. With your free hand gently but firmly squeeze your nipple around the areola area and direct it into the baby's mouth.
Imagine you are making the tip of your breast into the shape of the end of a flat, oval ice lolly. Remember that the baby has to take the whole of the area including the areola into her mouth, not just the nipple. Gently but firmly push the end of the breast, including the areola, into the baby's mouth. Her natural sucking reflex should help her start to feed. If you don't succeed try again, but relax, take your time and sooth your baby if she is frustrated. If YOU get wound up it will make it harder for the milk to flow.
Step 3: Completing a feed
Continue to hold your breast and nipple in the baby's mouth, especially if your breasts feel hard and full, as the baby may find it hard to maintain contact. After some minutes your baby might stop feeding. Gently lift her upright, hold her so her face is resting on your shoulder and rub her back, as she may need to burp. Try to feed once more. If you baby has had enough she won't latch on. If she is hungry she will root for your nipple. Remember to take your time, a good feed can take up to an hour! During the feed the milk changes in quality. In the first few minutes the breast produces 'foremilk, which is watery and will quench the babies thirst, after this the baby gets to the 'hind' milk which is rich in calories. It's important to let the baby have at least 15 minutes on each breast before changing to the other so she gets both kinds of milk.

Step 4: Finishing the feed
Babies, especially newborns, fall asleep when they've had enough. They normally fall asleep at the breast, their mouth open. Sometimes the baby will fall asleep but suck intermittently for comfort. Don't let the baby do this for more than a minute or you may end up with sore nipples.
Step 5: Taking the baby off the breast
If the baby is still latched on, slide your finger between your nipple and her mouth, to ease suction. If you just pull your baby off the breast, it will hurt! It's normal to have sore nipples to begin with, especially if your baby feeds a lot in one day during a growth spurt.
Step 6: Looking after yourself
Mothers need on average 500 extra calories a day, so eat if you're hungry or have cravings for sweet things. However try to keep to a healthy balanced diet - and make sure you eat plenty of protein. You will need to drink more water than usual, especially during hot weather. To have a good supply of milk don't overdo it, try to sit down and get some rest throughout the day.
Step 7: Remember
Currently most health experts are pro-breastfeeding. But overall most people acknowledge that a happy mother equals a happy baby. Breastfeeding doesn't work out for everybody for a variety of reasons. Don't feel guilty if you can't do it or if you need to supplement it with bottles. See the second part of our breastfeeding film for tips on establishing feeding for your growing baby and solutions to feeding problems. Good luck!

How To Massage Your Baby For Health And Happiness

2010-02-25T09:09:00.000-08:00

Massaging your baby is beneficial on many levels including relaxing your baby, helping to reduce crying while improving the immune system, and strengthening the growing bond between you. Learn how To Massage Your Baby For Health And Happiness.
Step 1: You will need
Cream or baby oil (no essential oils)
A soft mat or blanket
2 towels
Step 2: Setting up
It is best to practice when your baby is calm and at least a half an hour after eating. It is important that the room temperature is warm, approximately 78F/24C, as the baby should either completely undressed or wearing a diaper. A good time is right after the bath since the baby is all ready undressed and the room is warm.
It is also important to have everything set up ahead of time so that you can focus on your baby. Lay a towel over a soft mat or blanket and place the cream or oil within easy reach.
Dry your baby thoroughly if just bathed, and lay them down on the towel face up. Place a little cream or oil in your hands and warm it by rubbing the hands together.
Step 3: Face and head
Using the pads of your fingers and extremely light pressure, begin making light strokes on the forehead, starting at the brow line and going up to the top of the head.
Remember that this is supposed to be fun. Talking, singing, and other verbal communication will stimulate your baby's mind and reinforce the developing bonds between you. Continue with strokes from the bridge of the nose along the cheekbones towards the ears, and then do circles around the mouth. You will then trace the jaw line back from the chin and arrive at the back of the head and neck where you can make gentle strokes down to the shoulders.
Step 4: Shoulders and arms
Begin making smooth strokes from the shoulder down to the hands, letting your baby grasp your fingers as they slide off. Next hold the arm between the thumb and index finger and gently glide down the arm, using caution at the arm pit and elbow as these are sensitive areas.

Step 5: Chest and stomach
Now bring your fingers to the centre of the baby's chest and make smooth movements from the centre out towards the shoulders, starting just below the collar bones and slowly moving down until you reach the stomach. This is a powerful part of the massage as it helps promote good digestion, move gases, and relieve colic. This is often called the “I Love U” stroke, as the movements will be like the letters I, L, and U. You begin the “I” by starting under the ribs on YOUR right side and make a stroke down. Next, start under the ribs on your left side, stroke across and then down forming the “L.” Then for the “U” you will start on the lower belly to your left, move up under the ribs and over, and down the right side again. Repeat this several times and finish with some circular strokes over the entire belly, always moving in a clockwise direction.
Step 6: Legs and feet
Move down to the legs and make gentle strokes from the thigh to the ankle, and then take the leg between the fingers of both hands and lightly roll the leg back and forth as you move down. Repeat this several times on each leg. Now take both legs and gently press them against the belly, flexing the hips and knees. Stretch the legs out and then repeat several times. Gently lay down one leg and begin lightly squeezing each of the toes, then massage the soles of the foot down to the heel. Return to the toes and repeat, then continue with the other foot.
Step 7: Back
Carefully roll your baby onto his or her stomach. Starting at the head, make long general strokes down the neck, the back, over the legs and down to the feet. Alternate hands and repeat. We want to avoid any direct pressure on the spine, simply making light contact. Starting near the neck, start massaging the shoulders and upper back with your finger tips, then continue making circular movements over the rest of the back. Now with one hand, place a finger on either side of the back bone lightly wiggle back and forth as your hand moves down. Repeat this several times.
Move the hands down to the legs and make smooth downward strokes to the heels, being especially gentle behind the knee.
Step 8: Finishing strokes
Once more make full body strokes starting at the top of the head towards the feet. After two or three times let the hands float off.

How to Massage a Baby

2010-02-25T08:59:00.000-08:00

Getting Started
Daily infant massage is a great way to bond with baby. What's more, researchers are finding that massage may promote better sleeping, relieve colic, and perhaps even enhance an infant's immune system, motor skills, and intellectual development. Here are some tips and techniques to help you along.
Use a blanket or towel, and massage oil in a non-breakable container. (Test the oil on a small spot of your baby's skin and wait a day to be sure no irritation appears.) Start when your baby is in a quiet yet alert state -- not immediately after a feeding or when she's sleepy. Sit on the floor with the soles of your feet together, forming a diamond shape with your legs. Drape the blanket over your feet and between your knee.
Undress your baby down to her diaper and place her on the blanket, cradling her head on your feet. Start with a gentle "hello" stroke from baby's head to her toes. If baby stiffens, cries, or becomes irritable, move to another body part or simply end the massage for the day. If she responds well, start gently massaging her body section by section.

1. Hold your hand so your pinky's edge can move like a paddle across your baby's belly. Starting at the base of the rib cage, stroke down with one hand, then the other, in a paddle-wheel-like motion.
2. Massage her abdomen with your fingertips in a circular, clockwise motion.
3. Do the "I Love U" stroke: Trace the letter I down your baby's left side. Then trace an inverted L, stroking across the belly along the base of her ribs from her right side to her left and down. Trace an inverted U, stroking from low on the baby's right side, up and around the navel, and down the left side.
4. Walk your fingers around her navel, clockwise.
5. Hold knees and feet together and gently press knees up toward her abdomen. Rotate baby's hips around a few times to the right. (This often helps expel gas.)
6. Place hand on tummy horizontally and rock your hand from side to side a few times. Note: Avoid massaging tummy if the cord hasn't completely healed.

Baby Car Seats - What You Need One For a Long Journey

2010-02-25T08:45:00.000-08:00

Long journeys affect the baby by not allowing it room for movement. This means that you will have his or her limbs paining. Unless you have a big bus, you will not provide a bed for the child. Even where you provide the bed, the risk of having an impact can lead to very fatal injuries in the event of accidents.
When you use the baby car seat then you can follow the tips below to be able to properly equip for the journey.
1. Ensure that you read the safety manual for the baby car seat: this simple and straight forward advice is always on every equipment, yet many people do not really follow it. It will save you lots of money if you spared a few minutes to read the manual.
2. No under 12 on front seat: again this is abused by many adults of parents driving with their kids. Just because you love your kid and want to spend time driving and watching his or her face should risk taking. When using baby car seats to be a reason for such
3. Place the baby car seat facing the rear: this will help cushion he baby from the fore head injuries. The seat should be placed on the back seat and not the front seat.
4. Is the seat the right size for the baby? A fitting seat is important for comfortable ride. You should check the manual to understand the age group that the particular seat is made for. It should not be too big or too small. You should consider a little room for the baby to have body movement. Ask the dealers to explain to you how to adjust the fitting of the baby car seats for a comfortable ride. Keep checking the baby while in the journey to ensure that it is comfortable.
5. Drive safely: the presence or use of baby car seat does not license you to drive crazily. Remember to keep the speed limits. More importantly remember that your child is more precious than a thrilling speed.

6. Secure the baby seat: this is the most important thing that you can do. Ensure that the latches are tight and therefore cannot come out at slight impact. You would rather have it secured once more using a seat belt than to have it left hanging. Also check and confirm that the places that you are securing it on are strongly held on the seat.
7. Have breaks during long journeys: The baby seat can be equally tiring just like that adult seat. Having breaks and allowing the child to take a few minutes of walk or being carried away will do magic. The child will be able to recuperate and get some energy. This way, the baby will look forward to the next journey and being strapped on the baby car seat.

Aging Baby Boomers

2010-02-25T02:41:00.000-08:00

'Baby boomer' is a term given to someone who was born during the Post-World War II baby boom.
Different societies, groups, individuals, and specialists have varied differences in perspectives or insights regarding on what makes a baby boomer, both in a contextual aspect and socio-cultural perspective. Drawing the distinction and putting a finger on some unique attributes of a baby boomer is nearly impossible, nonetheless, the majority of people have tried to determine the broad socio-cultural similarities and historical impact of the generation, and thus, this term has gained popularity for its usage.
More often than not, baby boomers are cast aside or often labeled as those who are devoid from cultural or societal values. And yet, a lot of critics and observers have been debating over the magnitude of rejection, Taking into consideration the extent of the progression of given values with the old and the young alike.
Ironically, they are often associated with wealth and privilege in North America and Europe as many grew up in a period of great luxuries. In that time, they were considered to be the healthiest and wealthiest as a group, and were expecting the world to change for the better within a matter of time.
One of the most unique attributes associated with the Boomers was that they had these ideals to think of themselves as a special generation, Far distinct from those that had come before. Large groups of young people created specific eloquence around their social groups along with the change they so claim they were contributing.
This grandiose eloquence had consequently made a vital effect in how they have perceived themselves, as well as their urge to delineate the world in terms of generations, which was a relatively new occurrence.
The baby boom has been described inconsistently as a "shockwave "and as "the pig in the python." By the arduous force of its volume, they were a demographic bulge which has redefined the society as it has moved on through it.
Jonathan Pontell used the term ' Generation Jones'to distinguish those born from 1954 onward from the earlier Baby Boomers and is now currently used by English speaking nations although some non englisg countries also use this terminology to some extents.

Boomers grew up at a period of drastic social transition. That social change has labeled the generation with a strong socio-cultural division amongst the people who are driven for social change, and those who are more conservative in the United States.
Some critics claim that this division has played out politically since Vietnam War, to some extent defining the political landscape and division in the country.
In 1993, Time magazine reported on the boomers and their religious organizations. Wade Clark Roof was a sociologist at the University of California at Santa Barbara, h said that 42 percent of the boomers were 'dropouts' from a formal religious organization that had never been strayed away from church and that 1/4th of the boomers are returning to their religious affiliations. They are more open-minded, less inclined with tradition and less dependent on church members. They then became more receptive to moral issues such as homosexuality, abortion and euthanasia.
As time passed, the aging boomers have tried to stay away from discussions about their impending demise. However, in recent years, time has also changed and this change brought about a more receptive attitude and thus, more and more discussions about the end-of-life issues had been growing. Some commentators have said that the boomers are in a state of denial regarding their advancing age and are leaving economic liabilities and burdens on their children.

With this comes the problem of homelessness, hunger and poverty. Not to mention discrimination, alienation and social stigmas. At this point, the children of the boomers can and might become like those people we see on the streets. Beggars, drifters, bums, hobos, etc.

Hi BaBy

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Baby Sleep - Dispelling The Myths . P2

Myth 1: Sleep has no effect on a child’s weight

Baby Sleep - Dispelling The Myths . P1

How To Make Healthy Baby Food

Things You'll Need

How do I transition my baby to a sippy cup?

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How to Massage a Baby

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Aging Baby Boomers

Myth 1: Sleep has no effect on a child’s weight