No Tears Shampoo Rinse Jug

The No Tears Jug helps make bath time "tear free" (well apart from the who holds the jug tears).  The flexible edge sits against baby's head and prevents water and shampoo from flowing onto the face and into the eyes.  The jug retails for around R90 -  it's a definite MUST HAVE!





FUN GRASS COUNTERTOP DRYING RACK

The Boon grass drying rack is great for holding all your bottles and baby accessories while they air dry.  The water drains off the "grass" into the lower tray.  It's fun design makes a great change to conventional bottle drying racks.

Levi's Favourite Toy

Hands down winner no questions asked is his bike.  He thinks he is such a big boy when he rides it.  The bonus is its safe - well when mom is steering that is..........................  Dad's a bit of a maniac and recons Levi's a Free Style MotoX Super Star in training - not so sure about that one Dad!
Don't worry grannies - he is strapped in tight :)

It's a great alternative to the pram when going for a walk  as long as baby is not tired (don't think it will be very comfortable to sleep in).  The only problem is trying to get him out!! 

The sides and the handle come off and it can be used as a tricycle so it should last a while - well as long as he doesn't ride like his dad :)



Guess who's steering........



BUILT Cushy Tushy Changing Pad

The Cushy Tushy Changing Pad is the absolute bomb, it has place for a few nappies, your wetwipes (I also add in a few nice smelling packets for those not so nice smelling surprises), it folds up to a nice size and is the perfect size for baby to lie on when changing.  Makes changing baby while out a breeze - you don't have to take your whole nappy bag to the change room just grab your cushy tushy changing mat, baby and go.  It's made from neoprene which is really easy to clean - I just pop it in the washing machine and it dries really quickly ready for your next outing.

The Cushy Tushy retails for around R250 and is worth every penny!

STRANGER ANXIETY

Your outgoing baby who has always been so friendly suddenly breaks down to tears when unfamiliar and  sometimes even familiar people try come near them.  Don't worry this is perfectly normal, and known as stranger anxiety: 

 

'Stranger anxiety usually comes around the same time separation anxiety sets in, sometimes earlier. It tends to appear when babies are between 3 and 6 months and can last for a year or two. Your baby is now aware of a stranger’s presence and the fact that she is a separate person. When she is separated from her parents and introduced to the presence of a “stranger”, she becomes anxious. This is related to the developmental object permanence stage. She thinks that once a person (like her mother) disappears from site, then she literally has disappeared into thin air. She is scared that her mother is not coming back and she is left with this “stranger”.

Who gets Stranger Anxiety?


Babies from 3-6 months through toddlerhood experience stranger anxiety.


What can a parent do to alleviate Stranger Anxiety?


When a stranger enters the room or starts to interact with your baby, keep your baby feeling secure with your touch and soothing voice. Ask the “stranger” to ignore the baby for a while so that your baby does not feel threatened.

Remember that babies feed off their parents. If you become anxious or nervous, your baby will too.


Ask the “stranger” to wait until the baby comes to them. Do not thrust your crying baby into the “stranger’s” arms. Once your baby is in the same room with the “stranger” for a while and sees that he or she is good, she will warm up eventually.

Like separation anxiety, your baby will outgrow this stage too, as soon as she learns that the “stranger” is not a threat.'

source: http://smartmomma.com/

SLEEP

The amount of time that your baby is awake between sleeps is limited to his/her age.  As your baby gets older they will be able to stay awake for longer periods. 

Age Appropriate  Awake Times between Sleeps

0-6 weeks:      45 minutes

6-16 weeks:    45-80 minutes

4-6 months:     90-150 minutes

7-12 months:   2-3 hours

It is important to put baby down to sleep before the end of the appropriate wake time has lapsed, this will prevent baby becoming overtired. . 

 Night Time Sleep Needed                                   Day Time Sleep Needed

0-2 months:       8-9 hours                                        7-9 hours (3-5 naps)
2-4 months:       9-10 hours                                      4-5 hours (3 naps)
4-6 months:       10 hours                                          4-5 hours  (2-3 naps)
6-9 months:       10-11 hours                                     3-4 hours (2 naps)
9-12 months:     10 - 12 hours                                   2-3 hours (2 naps)
   

Choosing a Sippy Cup

Introducing a sippy cup to your baby can be an exciting part of his development.

The American Academy of Family Physicians notes “the sippy cup should be introduced at 6 months of age in preparation for weaning from the bottle or breast at 12 months”.

The Academy also states that you should “teach your child to drink from a cup as soon as possible, usually by 1 year of age. Drinking from a cup does not cause the liquid to collect around the teeth and a cup cannot be taken to bed.”

Ideally then, it’s a good idea to start thinking about moving to a sippy cup from around 6 to 8 months of age. If your baby doesn’t show interest initially, don’t worry. Most babies will show interest between around 7 to 9 months of age.

What is a Sippy cup?

A sippy cup is a training cup, usually with a screw- or snap-on lid and a spout that lets your child drink liquid without spilling.

All sippy cups are basically the transition from bottles to, eventually, normal glasses and cups. Sippy cups also have added benefits in terms of helping develop hand-to-mouth coordination and motor skills.

When your baby has the motor skills to handle a cup but not the skills to keep the drink from spilling, a sippy cup can give him some independence while keeping clean up to a minimum.

Tricks for introducing your baby to a sippy cup

• Offer your baby the sippy cup as soon as he is able to maintain a good, tight grasp

• Start off with a soft, pliable nipple-like spout that will feel more familiar to your baby than a hard plastic spout

• Choose one that is lightweight and easy for tiny hands to handle

• Allow him to explore the sippy cup – even if it means he bangs and tosses it around

• Show him how to use the sippy cup by example and help guide the sippy cup up to his mouth

• Water is an ideal first liquid to add to it. Formula or breastmilk may not entice your baby with the wonder and excitement of a totally new experience

• Offer the sippy cup (with water) during snack time and between feedings.

It's not a good idea to

• Allow your infant or toddler to walk around the house all day with a sippy cup full of water, juice of formula letting him "fill up" with liquid. Your baby still needs important nutrients from breast milk and/or formula and sippy time should not interfere with his real food intake.

• Let your child take a sippy cup of juice or milk to bed. The sugars can pool in his mouth and cause tooth decay






source http://www.yourparenting.co.za/

Tried and tested best teething toy - every baby loves Sohpie

The famous giraffe Sophie has been part of babies’ lives for nearly 50 years. First created in France in 1961, she has become so popular that 95% of French babies have a Sophie! Worldwide, 30 million Sophies have been sold and she has become a favourite toy amongst celebrities.




Sophie is handmade in France using 100% natural rubber and food quality paint. She is BPA- and phthalates free and is the safest toy for your child. Sophie is sweet, funny and stimulates all five of a baby’s senses.



Slender, flexible and soft, your baby can squeeze and chew her in complete safety. Lovable and amusing, she makes a happy sound when squeezed which stimulates hearing and helps your baby to understand the link between cause and effect.



She is perfect for soothing sore gums when teething. Sophie is made of natural rubber from the Hevea tree and her distinctive smell makes her very special and easy for your child to identify amongst all his other toys. Your child will love Sophie!

INTRO

Keep up to date with all the latest baby news and reviews!!