Archive for the ‘News’ Category
Feeding Sense now available
We are so pleased to announce the arrival of the newest book to our Range. Feeding Sense will help to guide you through all your baby’s feeding milestones.
Available in our SA online shop at www.babysense.co.za/shop/baby-sense-books
We are so pleased to announce the arrival of the newest book to our Range. Feeding Sense will help to guide you through all your baby’s feeding milestones.
Available in our SA online shop at www.babysense.co.za/shop/baby-sense-books
I wrote this month’s newsletter a bit tongue in cheek but somewhat seriously just to say that when getting your head around being a new mom you may be surprised by the things you did not think of or no-one told you.
The response has been great to this newsletter but I got an email from a friend last night, who is also a breastfeeding ’specialist’ and lactation consultant. I thought I should share it with you because it is good food for thought:
“I quite like the New Parent Checklist sent out in your most recent newsletter, but I was a bit concerned to read the following tip:
- Make sure you have a bottle …on hand, even if you are breastfeeding exclusively …– you never know when they may come in handy.
I know that you always try to encourage mums to initiate and persevere with breastfeeding, and I understand the basic idea here - that a bottle may be required at some stage - but the way that it is worded makes it sound like mums should have a bottle sitting on the table next to them while breastfeeding.
We know, from research and practical experience that the presence of a bottle or a tin of formula in the house can become a temptation to mums if the going gets tough, and that giving a bottle (as the ‘easy way out’) usually doesn’t solve breastfeeding problems - it can make them worse. One bottle feed often leads to another, and another, and another… (the path of least resistance…?). And once babies get used to bottles, as you know, there is a very real risk that they will reject the breast. We see this time and again at the clinic, it is very sad, and often very difficult to reverse.
If the going does get tough and baby needs to be fed in a way other than directly at the breast, a safer option would be to use a baby spoon, cup or medicine syringe. And keep the number of your lactation consultant at hand, you never know when this may come in handy! :-)”
I wrote this month’s newsletter a bit tongue in cheek but somewhat seriously just to say that when getting your head around being a new mom you may be surprised by the things you did not think of or no-one told you.
The response has been great to this newsletter but I got an email from a friend last night, who is also a breastfeeding ’specialist’ and lactation consultant. I thought I should share it with you because it is good food for thought:
“I quite like the New Parent Checklist sent out in your most recent newsletter, but I was a bit concerned to read the following tip:
- Make sure you have a bottle …on hand, even if you are breastfeeding exclusively …– you never know when they may come in handy.
I know that you always try to encourage mums to initiate and persevere with breastfeeding, and I understand the basic idea here - that a bottle may be required at some stage - but the way that it is worded makes it sound like mums should have a bottle sitting on the table next to them while breastfeeding.
We know, from research and practical experience that the presence of a bottle or a tin of formula in the house can become a temptation to mums if the going gets tough, and that giving a bottle (as the ‘easy way out’) usually doesn’t solve breastfeeding problems - it can make them worse. One bottle feed often leads to another, and another, and another… (the path of least resistance…?). And once babies get used to bottles, as you know, there is a very real risk that they will reject the breast. We see this time and again at the clinic, it is very sad, and often very difficult to reverse.
If the going does get tough and baby needs to be fed in a way other than directly at the breast, a safer option would be to use a baby spoon, cup or medicine syringe. And keep the number of your lactation consultant at hand, you never know when this may come in handy! :-)”
Breastfeeding Questions
We want to know your breastfeeding concerns and questions. In August we want to help and support you in making good choices for your baby, helping you get out and about and feeling comfortable about breastfeeding whereever you are.
Do you have any questions to ask us?
We want to know your breastfeeding concerns and questions. In August we want to help and support you in making good choices for your baby, helping you get out and about and feeling comfortable about breastfeeding whereever you are.
Do you have any questions to ask us?
Catch Megan Faure on ETV’s Great Expectations today.
Megan Faure will be on Great Expectations on ETV today at 11:30am. She is speaking on Sleep and SIDS. Be sure to catch the interview.
Megan Faure will be on Great Expectations on ETV today at 11:30am. She is speaking on Sleep and SIDS. Be sure to catch the interview.
Family Recipes in a flash
I enjoy cooking for my family, but find myself making the same things over and over again. I remember cooking for both my boys when they went on to solids. The evenings spent boiling, mashing, steaming, blending and freezing everything. It was hard work, but I knew I was doing my best for my boys. Neither of them took to the jarred food, my oldest being sick every time I tried it with him. I found some delicious foods to make my kids as babies and as toddlers, but I would like to know your special dishes you like to cook for your family. Only 2 rules for this… it has to be quick and it has to be healthy.
Here is my favourite dessert to make.
You need: Mango, plain yoghurt, brown sugar.
Cut up a ripe fresh mango or 2. Cover with a thick layer of natural yoghurt and sprinkle a layer of brown sugar on top. Cover and leave in the fridge for a few hours.
Easy, fresh and healthy. My kids love it.
I enjoy cooking for my family, but find myself making the same things over and over again. I remember cooking for both my boys when they went on to solids. The evenings spent boiling, mashing, steaming, blending and freezing everything. It was hard work, but I knew I was doing my best for my boys. Neither of them took to the jarred food, my oldest being sick every time I tried it with him. I found some delicious foods to make my kids as babies and as toddlers, but I would like to know your special dishes you like to cook for your family. Only 2 rules for this… it has to be quick and it has to be healthy.
Here is my favourite dessert to make.
You need: Mango, plain yoghurt, brown sugar.
Cut up a ripe fresh mango or 2. Cover with a thick layer of natural yoghurt and sprinkle a layer of brown sugar on top. Cover and leave in the fridge for a few hours.
Easy, fresh and healthy. My kids love it.
A good enough mom watches, waits and wonders
I am a good mom, that’s what my husband tells me and if I stop and reflect on it, I probably am but I have a confession: I find it hard sometimes to just ’be’ with my kid’s. I would love to sit under a tree all afternoon, pick daisies or chat about the merits of carpet fluff. But the reality is that technology, my job and life in general has primed me to be impatient and distractible. I watch my mom and she is amazing. She can sit on the grass at Kirstenbosch Gardens and just while away the time with Emily.
Of course Emily adores her granny and even my preadolescent boy tells his gran more than he tells me. I know it’s simply because she will sit and watch them play, wait for them to talk and wonder with about life with them.
In the 1900’s a wise psychologist, Elizabeth Muir, came up with a method of interacting with babies and kids called Watch Wait and Wonder. This method has been extensively developed and used therapeutically since then. The reality is that it is no rocket science – it’s so basic that it is hard to do. It entails sitting with your baby, and watching him play. Then reflecting on what he is doing and wondering at his abilities and needs.
It has been proven to decrease bedtime battles, improve relationships and increase self esteem. Clearly something we should all do.
Sometimes I find this easier said than done, but this month I want to slow down a bit and listen and relate with wonder to my precious babies!
I am a good mom, that’s what my husband tells me and if I stop and reflect on it, I probably am but I have a confession: I find it hard sometimes to just ’be’ with my kid’s. I would love to sit under a tree all afternoon, pick daisies or chat about the merits of carpet fluff. But the reality is that technology, my job and life in general has primed me to be impatient and distractible. I watch my mom and she is amazing. She can sit on the grass at Kirstenbosch Gardens and just while away the time with Emily.
Of course Emily adores her granny and even my preadolescent boy tells his gran more than he tells me. I know it’s simply because she will sit and watch them play, wait for them to talk and wonder with about life with them.
In the 1900’s a wise psychologist, Elizabeth Muir, came up with a method of interacting with babies and kids called Watch Wait and Wonder. This method has been extensively developed and used therapeutically since then. The reality is that it is no rocket science – it’s so basic that it is hard to do. It entails sitting with your baby, and watching him play. Then reflecting on what he is doing and wondering at his abilities and needs.
It has been proven to decrease bedtime battles, improve relationships and increase self esteem. Clearly something we should all do.
Sometimes I find this easier said than done, but this month I want to slow down a bit and listen and relate with wonder to my precious babies!
Watch Wait and Wonder
In our frantic lives we can sometimes forget to put special 1 to 1 time aside for our children. Today try “Watch Wait and Wonder”.
Get a small box of toys - 4 or 5 items, sit on the floor with your tot and let him explore the box. Watch what he does, wait for him to engage you and lead you into his play and wonder about what he is learning and what memories he is creating.
It is a special 20-30 minutes you can do each day. Undivided attention - no phones, TV, emails or interuptions.
I want to know your experience so let me know what happens.
In our frantic lives we can sometimes forget to put special 1 to 1 time aside for our children. Today try “Watch Wait and Wonder”.
Get a small box of toys - 4 or 5 items, sit on the floor with your tot and let him explore the box. Watch what he does, wait for him to engage you and lead you into his play and wonder about what he is learning and what memories he is creating.
It is a special 20-30 minutes you can do each day. Undivided attention - no phones, TV, emails or interuptions.
I want to know your experience so let me know what happens.
Tati Bear
In June we celebrate Father’s Day and Baby Sense wants to let you know about a special little bear we have in our online shop. His name is Tati Bear.
Tati means father in many languages. This father’s Day remember those babies who don’t have Dad’s and buy a Tati. Proceeds of Tati go to the Baby Sense Touch Trust, helping disadvantaged mums care for their babies…
Tati is a bear with a heart
- Reduces waste on offcuts of our other products
- Made by community projects
- Creates jobs
- Less environmental waste
Best of all…your baby will sleep well with Tati’s comfort.
Available at Wellness Warehouse, selected baby stores and at www.babysense.co.za/shop in South Africa only.
In June we celebrate Father’s Day and Baby Sense wants to let you know about a special little bear we have in our online shop. His name is Tati Bear.
Tati means father in many languages. This father’s Day remember those babies who don’t have Dad’s and buy a Tati. Proceeds of Tati go to the Baby Sense Touch Trust, helping disadvantaged mums care for their babies…
Tati is a bear with a heart
- Reduces waste on offcuts of our other products
- Made by community projects
- Creates jobs
- Less environmental waste
Best of all…your baby will sleep well with Tati’s comfort.
Available at Wellness Warehouse, selected baby stores and at www.babysense.co.za/shop in South Africa only.
They Say The Sweetest Things
Don’t you just love the phrases and sayings your kids come up with while they get to grips with language. My favourite so far is when my son Tom was 2 years old. We woke up to find our garden covered in snow, the first of that winter. Tom looked out the window and gasped in glee. He could not believe his eyes and said “Look mummy - SUGAR.”
Clearly he has a sweet tooth.
Our Baby Sense team would love to hear the sweetest things your children have said.
Don’t you just love the phrases and sayings your kids come up with while they get to grips with language. My favourite so far is when my son Tom was 2 years old. We woke up to find our garden covered in snow, the first of that winter. Tom looked out the window and gasped in glee. He could not believe his eyes and said “Look mummy - SUGAR.”
Clearly he has a sweet tooth.
Our Baby Sense team would love to hear the sweetest things your children have said.