Baby Sense

Parenthoods Ups and Downs

Antoinette — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:18:57 +0000

Today I sit at work feeling beyond tired. My little Daniel who has never been a good sleeper was up again last night at 3am. He did not go back to sleep as he sometimes does. This has had a knock on effect on my whole day. I still have to get up, do the school run, go to work, cook and sort out things for tomorrow. Dan was so tired I had to fetch him from Nursery early which impacted on my day heavily. On days like these it is easy to feel as if parenting is such hard work as every niggle or moan my kids make is magnified by feeling tired.

But parenting is such time of contrasts. Just yesterday I was brimming with pride as both my boys learned to ride their bikes. Tom took his fairy wheels off his bike, and after a few goes he was off on his own, not even looking back. Dan pressed the pedals on his bike for the first time and powered his 3 wheeler on his own. I must have taken 100 photo’s and quickly sent off emails and posted them on the internet showing everyone who cares what genius children I have.

Thankfully the joys far out way the down times. Feeling like I do today I could easily just crawl into bed and stay there, but instead I am planning on getting those bikes out again and giving my boys a chance to show off their new skills again. No matter how sleepy I am, I know that the joy of watching them is coming and it makes it all worthwhile.

Does anyone else have these kind of days? I want to hear about them.

Back to work and Baby Wearing

Antoinette — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:57:15 +0000

On the news this morning (in the UK) there was a story on a woman who went back to work just 7 hours after having her 3rd baby. She is the Head Teacher of an all girls school and she carries her baby in a pouch while she is teaching, breastfeeds between meetings and gets her paper work done while the baby sleeps. She admits that she is in quite a unique situation where her work allows her to bring her baby with her (she is the boss after all) and her baby is settled and relaxed in temperatment. She is wanting to set a good example to the girls she teaches, showing them that they can have it all - a family life as well as a high flying career.

I am not quite sure what to think of this. Part of me wants to give her a high five for what she is doing. She obviously feels she will be able to cope with the work load as well as the demands of a new baby. She will be demonstrating mothering to the girls she teaches in a culture where we all live such seperate lives and dont really get to see other women we are close to mothering on a daily basis.

Another part of me wonders if she is setting the bar too high for the girls in her class. Not everyone will be able to do this. This could not be a reality for most girls, especially with their first babies. Is this benefiting the baby or could this eventually be something quite diffiult for the baby to cope with. Being only a few days old this baby is feeding and sleeping, but in a few weeks time she will “wake up” and start to interact more and demand more of her mothers attention.

Is the mother missing out on that precious bonding time by not taking maternity leave, or is she gaining that time by having her baby with her all the time. If she is wearing her baby for most of the day - more so than if she was home with the baby - is this where she will make up the extra bonding moments?

I actually think this happens more than we realise. You hear stories all the time of women in some countries who have their babies and within a matter of hours have strapped the baby to their back and are back working in the fields out of necessity rather than choice.

Baby wearing has made it possible for this Head Teach to go back to doing her every day tasks. I felt passionate about wearing my children and loved the fact that I could pretty much get on with my day and have my babies close to me. I can remember those early days too, baby in pouch, standing in my kitchen, typing away on my laptop, catching up with work and not wanting to let that side of my life go.

Let me know what you think. Is this a good thing? or is it a step too far?

Top reasons why Baby Wearing is wonderful

Antoinette — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:55:16 +0000

Babies who are carried more cry less.

Baby wearing helps your baby adapt to the outside world by having you close as their security.

It enhances parent/baby bonding.

It is practical.

It enhances breast feeding.

It helps you reconnect with your baby if you have been away for a few hours or at work for the day.

It lets you get things done but at the same time you can meet your baby’s needs.

Let’s talk about Baby Wearing

Antoinette — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:57:40 +0000

Today I walked with my children to drop Tom (4) off at school. Daniel (2) was in his pram as it is 2 mile round trip. On the way there my all-singing, all-dancing, all-terrain pram had a flat tire which made it almost impossible to push with Dan in it. On the way home it started to drizzle. They type of drizzle that soaks you and freezes you to the bone.

I so wished I had just taken my Baby Sense Sling along with me instead of the pram. I thought back to the days when Dan was very little, walking Tom to school with him in the sling. He would sleep all the way there and all the way back. As he grew I used the sling in all the different positions until he was sitting on my hip supported by the sling. I can safely say that with Dan I used my sling far more than I ever used my pram.

Now that he is 2 he wants to walk but I still get the treat of having him in his sling from time to time. I loved Baby Wearing and when I see other moms using slings and carries with their babies I long to have another baby so I can have that closeness again. Dan was a fussy baby and some days all I could do was carry him to help him to soothe. My sling went everywhere with me.

I would love to hear from other baby wearers out there. What has been your experience of using pouches and slings with your baby?

Activities whatever the weather!

Antoinette — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:43:42 +0000

Happy New year to all of our Baby Sense parents and parents to be. Wishing everyone a marvellous 2010. I have just come back from South Africa to my home in the UK and I must say it is all a bit of a shock to the system. South Africa was 30 degrees and my kids spent most of their days either on the beach or in the pool when we were there. Back home in the UK it is freezing cold. Literally freezing at around -3 degrees. I have had to readjust my thinking as to what to do with my 2 boys in this freezing weather. Well, wherever you are in the world Baby Sense has some ideas for you. Hot or cold, rain or shine, visit our website for ideas on activities you can do at home and outdoors:

Winter Activities for yout Baby & Toddler

Winter Day Survival Guide

Summer Activities for your Baby & Toddler

Summer Outing Essentials

Water Safety

Laying out Baby’s Play Space

More Service Partners on the Directory

Website Team — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:14:55 +0000

The Baby Sense Directory is doing great! We are happy to announce that the following service partners have joined our directory:

If you would like to list your baby or child related service or product, please contact us and send us the info.

New Baby Related Services on the Directory

Website Team — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:19:44 +0000

We are proud to announce that we have added another 11 companies to our new children and baby directory! We would like to welcome the following companies to the Baby Sense Directory:

The directory has kicked off with a tremendous response! If you are informing us about a service that you feel is valuable, useful or just too fabulous not to mention, please contact us and send us the info.

Wonderous White Noise

Antoinette — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:56:40 +0000

Meg. I just wanted to let you know that I think the Baby Sense White Noise CD is the best thing ever invented. I have used the CD with both of my boys to help them to sleep well. Last night Tom (4) woke at midnight with a terrible cough. I put him in bed with me and he coughed for over an hour. He became upset as he couldnt get to sleep. I tried everything to soothe him and get him to settle, but nothing worked. Brainwave! I thought to try the White Noise. Grabbed the CD player, put it on and within 10 minutes he had calmed and his coughing lessened. 5 Minutes later he was fast asleep and didnt wake until 7am. I too seem to have woken up refreshed despite the midnight coughing spree. I feel like I slept so well. Love it, love it, love it!

Baby Sense Directory Updates

Website Team — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:14:55 +0000

We have had a fabulous response to the release of our new South Africa Baby Directory. We plan on keeping you up to date on new people via our blog as well as from the home page which displays the latest additions on the site PLUS featured services / vendors.

We would like to take the opportunity of welcoming the following service partners to the directory:

We wish you all the best on the Baby Sense directory.

If you have a service you would like to market on the Baby Sense Directory or would like to recommend a particular company to us, please contact us with the the necessary information.

Baby Sense Wins Gold

Website Team — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:48:30 +0000

Click the image below to read more…