Sleep cycles

We all have sleep cycles when we go to sleep.  For  very young babies, this can be as short as 20 mins.

Self Settling - all you want to know webinar

Self Settling - all you want to know webinar

 

Join us on Wednesday May 29th at 8 pm from the comfort of your home. all you need is your computer and and internet connection.

We'll discuss self settling indepth. What it is what it isn't and more.

Bring your questions as we help you get more clear on whether it is right for you.

Click on the link below, we will register you automatically once you do. Please share this far and wide.  There is someone out there who is looking for this information.

http://selfsettling-insyncwithinfants.eventbrite.com/

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Newborn care and growth spurts

Babies have regular growth spurts  that are  usually very noticeable in the first 3 months.

The first one is typically around the 3 week mark, then at 6, 9 and 12 weeks. 

This can also cause confusion in that the baby will seem to want to feed much more frequently for a few days – usually 3-5 days, and not sleep for long periods.  They usually settle back once this spurt has passed.

Self Settling and care of your newborn or older baby

Self settling

 

Are you feeling guilty about teaching your little one to self settle? Perhaps you are feeling confused and confounded by all the talk about  self settling, how to do it and what not to do , how to not harm your little one while doing it. Are you feeling conflicted over why don't you want to cuddle your baby?

 

 

[caption id="attachment_2099" align="alignleft" width="150"] self settling baby[/caption]

For example,  some say give kiwifruit for first foods.  Others say don't give kiwifruit as first foods.  Both statements are right.  Kiwifruit will agree with some and not others.  So obviously those it doesn't agree with, shouldn't have it.  Those that it does agree with can have it.

 
Self settling is when your baby goes to sleep most times on their own without needing you to do anything for them and without needing any other props to go to sleep such as a dummy.  Most babies can self settle at times and there certainly are certain circumstances that makes self settling more likely.  Things such as catching early tired signs and giving an environment that is more conducive to sleep. Your baby’s personality  is another factor in self settling. Some babies need to have the security of a parent for longer than others.
As with most things, it is individual. I think if it is something that seems to resonate with you then perhaps it will suit.  It is worth investigating.  Even for peace of mind.

 
Read widely, ask people who know, talk with your immediate circle of peers and those you trust in advice about caring for your little one.
As with everything particularly now with information sharing so frequent and world wide, trying to find your way through can be really difficult.
If you decide it is not for you that is fine. Remember there is not one right way.  Just the right way for you.
If not- continue doing what you are doing for as long as it suits.

 
Remember we all have different backgrounds, personalities, experiences, values and histories. Please be mindful that we are all doing our very best with what we have and know.

 

Decide for yourself whether self settling is something that suits your family.

Trivia for you

Human breast milk is the sweetest of all mammal milks - just a bit of trivia for you

                        Damaged nipples, breastfeeding and caring for your newborn baby

I thought I would just put up a little post about nipple damage breastfeeding and caring for your newborn    baby.
Damage on the tip of the nipple is usually caused from the nipple being too far forward in the baby’s mouth or the baby’s tongue rubbing it with the back of the tongue.  This applies at all ages but most importantly from the beginning.
There could be a number of reasons for this. This is two of the most common.
1.  The baby ‘s tongue is not stretching forward as much as we would like for comfortable breastfeeding.  For breastfeeding  to be comfortable, the baby’s tongue mostly needs to be able to extend over their bottom lip so that they can hold the breast and milk the breast with their tongue.  The tongue needs to be able to move around  freely in the mouth,  and be able to function in a co-ordinated manner with a mainly forward backward motion.
The tongue may not be as stretchy or forward from a tongue tie or neurological/ muscular impairment related to a difficult or extended birth in some cases.  Some babies just take a little while to get the co-ordination after an initial difficulty.  With correct intervention such as snipping the tongue tie or exercises for the mouth, tongue, cheeks, lips and really good support with latching and positioning, the tongue can be encouraged to co-ordinate better making breastfeeding more comfortable and efficient.   Babies can self correct in most cases simply by practising the correct latch  etcetera after a few feeds.
2. The positioning and latch of the baby to the breast needs a little tweak.  The nipple is protected when it is at the back of the soft palate.  That is further back in their mouth than what you think.  When the nipple is too far forward in their mouth it gets squashed between the hard palate on the roof of their mouth and the tongue.  When your baby is born, their tongue is the most developed organ in their body. It is a muscle and is very strong.
Sometimes all it takes is to slightly adjust positioning of your baby at the breast and it makes all the difference. Getting the nipple right back is one of the most important points for comfortable breastfeeding.
I will do a followup to this one about other types of nipple damage and caring for your newborn baby.

Breastfeeding and the Law

I thought I would just put a little something here about the rights of breastfeeding mothers in the context of the law in Australia.

It is every woman's right to breastfeed where ever her baby needs to be fed.  That may be on a park bench, in a shopping centre, on a bus, public swimming pool or the corner store. Someone could ask a woman who is breastfeeding in public to stop, however it is the woman's choice whether she does stop or not.

Each state in Australia has their own law own this topic.  Most of them state -  Breastfeeding is a protected attribute. Discrimination on the basis of breastfeeding is explicitly illegal in all areas of public life.

  It is illegal in Australia to discriminate against a person either directly or indirectly on the grounds of breastfeeding under the federal Sex Discrimination Act 1984.

In another time and place we will think it preposterous to have a law to protect breastfeeding.

 

This link to the Australian Breastfeeding Association spells it out more clearly for anyone wanting to read more.

 

https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/breastfeeding-and-law/legalright