Sisterhood of Motherhood
The Baby Sense blog

Hi Meg

I had some good feedback for you on your Baby sense book today.  I gave it to a friend of mine when she had her second baby and she cant stop singing its praises.  She had Post Natal Depression after her fist born and has always said to others that the birth is the easy part, its the months after that are so bad.  Knowing how bad it was for her I was surprised that they decided to have a second baby.  Her second is now 5 months old and she has found it so much better this time around. Thankfully she has not suffered with Post Natal Depression this time.  I asked her what she felt the difference was.  She said that she knew what to expect this time around and she also says the Baby sense book really seemed to have helped her.  When she received it in the post she didn’t think she would read it, feeling that she had done it all before.  Over a few days though she started reading it in sections that were relevant to her and her baby.  She said it has made such a difference as she now knows how to read her baby’s signals, is watching his awake times carefully and understands sleep cycles.  Her second baby is far more less fracious than her first and is a calm and contended little man.

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Hi Meg:

A neighbour of ours had a baby girl just over 2 weeks ago.  I popped over to her with a Baby Sense book (life saving manual for new moms) as a gift and when she opened the door I could see she had been crying.  I went in, made her a cup of tea, tidied her kitchen a little while she fed the baby and let her let off some steam.  It turned out that her baby was not sleeping much during the day, and slept restlessly at night.  I asked if she was swaddling her little girl and it turns out she wasnt.  I went straight home, dug out Daniels Cuddlewraps from when he was a tiny baby and took them straight over.  I showed her how to use it, but I could she see was not that keen to try it out.  I left it with her to make her own choice.  That was 2 days ago.  Today I had a note through my door from her saying that she could not believe the difference.  Her baby was now sleeping during the day and sleeping more soundly at night now that she was being swaddled..  She said it had an almost instant effect.  Wonderful.  Cuddlewrap to the rescue!

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ANTOINETTE:

Happy New year to all our Baby Sense moms and Dads.  Wishing you a year filled with happy days and Peaceful nights.  Every year I make a list of challenges I set for myself - not resolutions, but goals - for each aspect of my life.  Challenges for myself as a mother, friend, daughter and wife.  These are my 10 challenges for 2009 as a mother:

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ANTOINETTE:

Hi Meg

As mothers we have cetain instincts when it comes to our children.  I recently took Dan (1) to the local clinic as his scalp was dry and itchy.  I was told to just leave it alone and it would go away.  So I left it, trusting the advice of a medical professional, but I constantly felt like I should be making a Doctors appointment.  3 weeks later I finally did make that appointment and it turns out that he had an infection on his scalp, that he has now spread to other parts of his skin.  Nothing that a few doses of antibiotics wont cure.  But I could just kick myself for not trusting my instincts in the first place.

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Antoinette:

We are so excited.  Daniel (14 Months) took his first steps on the weekend.  I really thought he was still too wobbly on his feet to walk, but off he went.  Over the last 3 days he has been fine tuning his style.  He gets ready… gets his balance…has a little bounce…lets go… arms in the air …and walks.  I am amazed at the control he has achieved in his balance over the last few days.  At first it was 2 or 3 steps.  Today he walked from the front door to the kitchen wich is at least 10 Baby Steps.  Another milestone reached!!!  One small twinge of sadness though.  I use my Baby Sense sling to get around with him on a daily basis.  Where ever we have been in the last few days I have taken him out of the sling to have a little walk.  He is so pleased with his new found skill that he doesnt want to go back in the sling.  Does this mean my slinging days are coming to an end?  I hope not.  With Dan in the sling we are so close.  It has been his (and my) favourite place to be since he was born.

Megan and Antoinette are so happy to welcome a new baby girl into our family.  Baby Taryn was born to Andre and Kim on 11 November.  Congratulations.  It is always so exciting to welcome a new little person into our lives.

ANTOINETTE:

Hi Meg

What is Roseola and how do I treat it?  Daniel (1) has a red rash all over his back and torso and has had a temperature on an off for the past few days.  I phoned NHS direct and they are not too concerned.  They thought it sounds like Roseola and they said that all babies get it at some stage.  Should I be worried?

ANTOINETTE:

Today I have to decide whether or not to go ahead with the MMR Jab for Daniel (1yr).  With such bad press for this particular jab in recent years I am unsure and have searched the internet for information and advice.  First we are told that research suggests a link between the MMR and autims as well as Crohns disease, then a few years later we are told that this is wrong and no link has been found.  I feel confused about what to do.  We know now that this has all been very carefully looked into and doubts in my mind should be dashed… but still I am looking for further advice to help me make the decision.    Even though I did take Tom (3 yrs) for the Jab when it was his time I remember also being usure about whether or not to go.  

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ANTOINETTE:

Hi Meg

We are away on a much deserved holiday.  The last holiday was over 8 months ago and it has been a busy year for our family.  We have had a marvellous time but Tom (3) has become ill and I don’t have anything with me to help him.  He has a cough, a bad cold and is running a high temperature.  Nothing too serious, but I don’t know what I can do to make him feel more comfortable without my medicines for him and his usual home comforts.  He is getting upset and missing home and we still have 3 days to go.  He also wants to sleep a lot more than he usually does at home.  Should I let him just rest or should I try to keep him in his usualy routine?  I don’t think he needs to go to a doctor, but do you know any home remedies or tips that I can help him with whatever I can get my hands on from the hotel?  Thanks

ANTOINETTE:

Hi Meg

In your practice, how do you determine if a baby you see is a “fussy baby”?  Do you have a checklist that helps you to know if you are dealing with a fussy baby? I think Daniel (1) is a fussy baby and I am not always sure how to manage him.  I have always made allowances for Daniel because he had such a rough start in life and has been ill on and off for so long.  He is a year old now and I am trying to stop making excuses for not dealing with issues that should be sorted out by now.  Daniel has never been a good sleeper, nor a good eater.  He is either in a great mood or really fussing, never in between.  His mood changes at the drop of a hat.  If distressed he does not like to be cuddled and will arch his back and push away from me.  He presently throws tantrums that any 2 year old would be proud of and he takes ages to calm down.  Could Daniel be a fussy baby?  And how should I handle him  from day to day?