Fun times and your little one

Fun times and your little one

Holidays and festive times of the year can pose a challenge  to routine when you have a little one. Just because you have a baby doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy fun times with everyone too.  Most people want to enjoy these times but also give their baby what they need so they can enjoy too and still get the rest and other needs fulfilled.  I have put a few tips together to help you join in and not compromise your baby’s health and happiness with it.

 Newborn

Having a newborn means that you will be feeding regularly and your baby will sleeping between most feeds hopefully.  One way to help achieve this is to wear your baby for events where having your baby with you is welcomed. This often means your baby will sleep well and stops your baby from becoming the parcel in the pass the parcel game that often happens with new babies making him or her unsettled and not getting sleep at all. It also means feeding can be quite discreet if breastfeeding.  Your pram can also become  the bassinet/cot at functions or the car capsule if it lifts out of the car easily.

 Babies under about 6 weeks can seem to sleep in any amount of noise and activity . Older than this and reducing any visual stimulation is important in encouraging sleep. Some noise is comforting so it doesn’t have to be completely quiet.

 If bottle feeding it may be a babysitter- family or friends- is appropriate for you. Whatever your choice, as long as your baby is safe and not over whelmed with all that is going on you can both get what you need.

 Older babies

Your baby still needs regular sleep and feeds regardless of where you are and what is happening. Some babies become overwhelmed with lots of activity occurring around them, others will be quite ok with it. Remember individual differences and cater for these. IF your baby manages events well, just ensure his or her sleep times are kept in mind so that he or she gets the appropriate time and opportunity for sleep.  The pram or car seat can become the cot/ bassinet when you are out. If you are at a friends place, perhaps one of their rooms can be the place for your baby to sleep. Remember if your baby knows what to do for sleep, the idea is that he or she is more portable so you are not stuck at home all the time.

 If your baby is sensitive to noise and activity and doesn’t settle well perhaps manage the number of times this happens. It may be that your baby can manage only one of these events a week rather than a few a week.

 Babies often manage well at the event and the next day the overtiredness catches up with them. Ensure you allow a catch up day or two if this is you.

 I hope this helps a little to this festive season where we are often invited to many events.  As long as you are considerate with allowing  appropriate sleep opportunities for your little one, there is no reason you both can’t enjoy it.

On that note I’d like to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a fulfilling 2014.

Regards

Leisa

 

Giselle Bundchen breastfeeding

[caption id="attachment_2338" align="alignleft" width="150"] Giselle Bundchen breastfeeding her one year old[/caption]

 

I came across this image of Giselle Bundchen breastfeeding her 1 yr old. The article (link below) goes on about the usual argument of reality. Of course she has the luxury of having lots of people to help her. And good on her.
I like that she is a celebrity breastfeeding. We all know that celebrities have influence on huge on trends and choices people make- rightly or wrongly, but it's a fact.
I am hopeful that there will be more of this in the public eye to normalise breastfeeding and make assistance and support more readily available and acceptable. Any breastfeeding is good. As we educate not only women, but men too, about breastfeeding and how it works, we will achieve more women feeling like they have successfully breastfed their child or children for as long as it works for them. With understanding and knowledge we can achieve better experiences with breastfeeding for more individuals.


 

http://startwithmom.com/article-gisele-bundchen-rebrands-breastfeeding

christmas is nearly here

There is still time to sort out any sleep issues before Christmas.
These online resources are a perfect gift for someone wanting to earn more about sleep with no harsh routines.
Leisa

 

Settling 8 week old baby

Settling 8 week old.

[caption id="attachment_2188" align="alignleft" width="150"] 8 week old baby's daytime sleep[/caption]

A lot of people wonder what it takes and means to settle a young baby gently, supportively and appropriately. This mum was exhausted, feeling like postnatal depression was at the door, partner works away (4weeks away, 2 weeks home) family interstate, no friends with babies and struggling with baby getting only about an hour of sleep each day, using the swing and feeding for each sleep and not getting out of the house.

We had built sleep first and today we were trying to settle in the cot for the first time.
Here is the outline of what we did this morning with an 8 week old baby to help her settle.

It went like this:-
8;10 in cot, mum left room, baby quiet awake
8:17 baby starting low level whinge, mum in to calm and soothe. Mum thought maybe windy after feed so picked up baby to burp. No burp, back in cot.
Mum gently patting baby’s hip/chest as baby whinging.
8:23 Baby quiet in cot, mum sits in chair in room
8:34 Baby starts whinging- mUm puts hand on chest gently to reassure and calm.
8:37 baby quiet in cot.
8:41 baby asleep in cot. mum leaves room
Magic!!
Go to insyncwithinfants.com for free tips to get your baby’s sleep on the right track for success.

Please share far and wide to help others get these results too.

NIGHT TIME SLEEP AND SETTLING

NIGHT TIME SLEEP AND SETTLING

We’ve talked about day sleep and evening routine for sleep as being important for good restorative sleep that occurs easily. What about over night or during the night when sleep doesn’t happen??

[caption id="attachment_2326" align="alignleft" width="150"] building better night sleep[/caption]

What we talked about for day sleep and evening routine are still important for night time to go smoothly. Remember day sleep affects night sleep etc. It is a cycle.

 Usually by following the principles of sleep which are to catch early tired signs, give your little one a chance to self settle, then help if he or she needs it, combining that with evening routine on time, mostly night time falls into place easily.

 It is much easier to work on sleep during the day so we focus on that first and then if night is still a problem we address that. Repetition is one of the important keys to improving night time sleep. Sometimes we only tweak a few things and it falls into place. Other times it does take quite some effort. It is important not to give up.

Some insights for you.  If your little one is waking frequently in the night, it usually means that he or she is still over tired. The first we would do is look at what time he or she goes to bed.  This includes looking at his or her behaviours and cues to make sure we are getting the timing of tired signs better. We would also look at what is happening for day sleep. Remember they all go hand in hand.