Real foods for healthy babies

 

 

 

 

Are you confused about what foods to give your baby and when? Are you unsure how much food to give your baby? And what about milk? How does that fit in?

There are plenty of mums feeling confident about starting their baby on solids and its an enjoyable time for them and their baby.
Join me on this webinar and you'll feel confident too when you find out what they already know. Find out how they also transformed from struggle and stress over starting solids to relaxing and enjoying it and their baby.

You'll find out when to start, what foods to give, how to give it and what happens with the milk when solids starts.

Join us and find out how those "other" mums manage so effortlessly with solids.

 Go to this link to register   -   http://realfoodsforhealthybabies.eventbrite.com.au/

We understand that life with a little one can be unpredictable. When you register you'll receive the recording if something pops up and you can't make the live call.


See you on the call on 14th August. 8 pm.

  Toddlers and tantrums

 

 

Tantrums bring up all sorts of reactions for most. Remember it is a way for your little one to communicate something to you.

Don't be scared of tantrums or try to stop it. Let them have their time and then work out what it is they are trying to say. Usually it is that they don't like the decision you have made for them and they are letting you know.

 

Tantrums or acting out can mean your little one is tired hungry or thirsty or not well. Consider those first and address them before considering behavioural managing.

Research shows that the positive effects of gentle touch can last up to 2 hours . The positive effects of more firm touch such as massage can last up to 6-8 hours. Food for thought. Cuddle, massage and touch those little ones- and your big ones.

It will help build strong positive relationships especially in those tough times such as tantrums.

The difference between food allergy, sensitivity and intolerance.

As a general rule, any food that causes a noticeable uncomfortable reaction in either parent is a food that we would encourage you to avoid until your child is at least 12 months of age. To be clear though, just because you or your partner have a food reaction doesn’t mean your baby will.  Your baby may or may not have reactions to foods and may or may not have reactions to different foods to either of his parents.

Certainly there is a difference between a food allergy, food sensitivity and food intolerance.

Food sensitivities and intolerances are usually not life threatening and the child may grow out of them as they get physically bigger and their body can cope with larger quantities of different nutrients and particles.

Food sensitivity- person can usually have a small amount of certain foods but once they go over their own threshold they may have a reaction of some sort.  May be bloating, nausea, wind and pain, constipation or diarrhoea.

Food Intolerance- a cumulative effect that may build up over days or even weeks before you get any symptoms such as a rash or headache

True food allergies are the most important consideration . This is a response that can be reproduced EVERY TIME the person is exposed to that food and the reaction will happen within 2 hours of consuming the food.  An immune system response is triggered by these foods.   “Digestive signs and symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, cramping and diarrhea. Other signs and symptoms can include a tingling mouth, hives, and swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat. A life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis can cause breathing trouble and dangerously low blood pressure. If you have a food allergy, you'll need to avoid the offending food entirely. “(mayoclinic.com)

 An anaphylactic reaction  is when the body responds in such a strong way to a foreign protein- in this context it’s food- in such a way as to cause swelling of the airways which close off the trachea (windpipe) so that the person can’t breathe. It requires adrenalin to reverse it. Not all allergies will require adrenalin. With food intolerance and sensitivity it is not an immune system response.

The concern with allergy in recent years is that the number of these true allergies occurring worldwide is increasing exponentially. This is the area requiring ongoing research to find out and understand causes so we can prevent the occurrence increasing. It is a problem affecting Western cultures and becoming more prevalent in primitive cultures who are adopting Western culture.

Pollutants in our foods and general environments particularly over generations, appear  to be the likely cause.  The purity and goodness in our foods is even more important than ever before.  There is a strong growth towards natural and organic produce in part because of this growing problem.

Highly processed and commercialised foods have very little goodness left in them.  The best we can do is to get fresh foods and prepare them ourselves.  Even better is to grow our own vegie gardens.  Then we know exactly what is going into our food and bodies and there is better chance for us to be getting a more fuller nutrition.

When there are true allergies in the family it is wise to talk to someone who is expert in this field to get some guidance before stating solids.  It can be tricky and depends on which foods cause a reaction and what type of reaction.

 

 

How to have a happy daytime sleeper

Is daytime sleep for your baby a fight or

just non-existent? Are you wondering if this

is how it really is with a new baby and you

just need to "suck it up"?

I have news for you.




Mums are feeling happier, more free,

confident, empowered and really loving their

life with their new baby.  You can too when

you find out what they already know. Find out

how they also transformed from struggle and

stress in their day with their baby to

thriving and enjoying life again with

confidence.

All this from a few tweaks and learning

more about how their baby thinks and  what he

or she needs to thrive, remain healthy, grow

and be happy as a lark.

Imagine that is you feeling more empowered,

confident and relaxed as you also calmly

respond to your baby’s needs with a happy

relaxed baby as a result.

Join us and find out how those "other" mums

manage  so effortlessly with daytime sleep.

There is still time to book in to our webinar

on Wendesday 24th July at8 pm.

We'll talk all about  Daytime Sleep-Why won't

my baby sleep in the daytime even though

he/she is clearly tired?.

So book in, sit back in your pyjamas and hear

about Daytime sleep. And bring your

questions- there will time for answers as

well.

I look forward to seeing you on the call  on

Wednesday 24th July.

Wake up and be awesome

I have been working with a couple of families over the last few weeks where sleep, even though we had made progress in days, took a number of weeks to improve. If you are working on sleep for your baby- take heart that you do need to persevere with new habits for at least 2-3 weeks particularly if you are taking the slow gentle way. Babies will cry and protest any changes but with your support and reassurance will adjust. It is worth it because everyone is happier when it finally comes together.

Toddler sleeps

 

Toddlers respond really well to habits around sleep time especially evening sleep routines. A routine as simple as dinner, bath , story , bed can make a big difference to bedtime calmness.

 

A CONVERSATION ABOUT SLEEP CYCLES  and NEWBORN BABY SLEEP

 

[caption id="attachment_2204" align="alignleft" width="150"] Newborn sleep cycles[/caption]

 

It  does take a little to get your head around it but  in addition to other key points about sleep, it does help to make it easier to work out what is needed and why your bay is doing what he or she is doing.

 Then it is easier to work through the best way for you to help your baby sleep and to help your baby sleep enough so that he or she feels fantastic, is jumping out of his or her skin happy and life is so much more enjoyable with more fun time.

Her is a little about sleep cycles in a nutshell. 

We all have sleep cycles when we go to sleep. The cycles consist of a going off to sleep, deep sleep and then we come to a lighter sleep state.  Then it repeats. This is a very basic model of sleep cycles.

Generally the first cycle is shorter than subsequent cycles.  For very young babies- newborns, this can be as short as 20 minutes.  For adults about an hour is common for the first cycle.  Most of us have some sort of association for going off to sleep.   As adults we may have a drink of milk, read, have music on or have a favourite pillow. 

Babies can develop associations fairly early. Some associations can be helpful and some can start out being helpful then become unhelpful when the association is something the baby can’t do for themself.  One example would be using a dummy for the baby to go to sleep with.

Generally when we go to sleep , we go into a very short deep sleep and then come into our first light sleep. At this stage we subconsciously check our surroundings.  As adults this is when we may wake briefly and notice things happening around us. We might note that it is raining, the dog is barking, I’m cold or that your partner is not there. When we get into the second cycle is when we all get our deep restorative sleep.

With babies, it can be tricky.  When they come to their light sleep  they usually stir and can also have their eyes wide open, have a big cry that sounds like something is wrong and move their arms vigorously.  If you are unaware of light sleep and sleep cycles it is easy to misinterpret this as your baby being awake.  Afterall they look and sound awake. You may pick them up or talk to them without realising that they aren’t really awake. Often this is when babies’ “self settle” is interrupted and they have no chance of self settling.