You’ve installed the car seat, and assembled the crib, changing table, swing, stroller, and more. You have washed all of the onesies and sleepers, and have stocked up on diapers. Now what? What else can you do to prepare for your baby’s arrival?

Try this exercise:

Draw a circle on a sheet of paper and divide it into 24 slices. Now think about all the ways you spend your time each and every day. Eight hour workday? Shade in eight slices of pie. An hour of commuting to and from work? There’s another slice. A regular eight hours of sleep – shade it in. Showering, doing your hair and make-up, fixing meals, exercising, housekeeping, etc. Consider all the ways you spend your time and record them on your pie chart. Ask your partner to do the same on his own pie chart.

Now imagine life with a baby. How much time will baby care take? If this is your first baby, you may not have any idea. Take infant feeding, for instance. If you’re breastfeeding, expect your newborn to eat 8-12 times each day (maybe more!). If he’s eating 12 times a day, and each feeding takes on average 30 minutes (and that’s the low end of average), you’ll be spending 6 hours a day on feeding. Even if you’re formula feeding, preparing bottles, cleaning them, and actually feeding baby takes time, too. How will your pie chart need to change to accommodate this? What about diaper changing? Expect to change a diaper with every feeding – if you figure 12 per day at 5 minutes per change (once you get good at it), that’s another hour there. Add in clothing changes, comforting, putting baby to sleep, burping, etc. and add that all to your pie. How will baby care fit into your life?

Discuss this exercise with your partner, and work on a system for who will do what and when. If you’re over your allotted 24 hours for the day, something’s got to give. Can your partner take over some duties? Can you forego some daily activities? Think about what will be essential in the beginning – sleep and food (for baby and for you!). Pare down your day to these activities.

Sleep deprivation is the number one hurdle all new parents face. Babies sleep a lot, but they wake a lot, too, and at the most inconvenient times (like at night when you’re trying to sleep). While you may be mentally prepared for this – everyone tells you it’s coming – the reality can be quite challenging. Try to sleep – or at least rest – when baby sleeps. Limit visitors in the early days, and ask those who stop by to give you a hand with a load of laundry or the dishes in the sink. Eat well, drink enough water, and exercise daily – these will help minimize the effects of the lack of sleep. Most of all, keep in mind that all babies wake often, and that it’s a protective mechanism they will grow out of when they are developmentally ready.

Consider the first three months with a new baby your 4^th trimester. Your baby will appreciate a womb-like environment: low lighting, warmth, being near mom, and feeding on demand. By meeting these needs, your baby will have a sense of security. But caring for your baby this way will also help you learn to parent. You’ll learn all of your baby’s subtle cues, his likes and dislikes, and more. You’ll ease into parenting gently. Keep in mind that you will need time to recover, too. So allow the 4^th trimester to be your time to recuperate. Lower your expectations, and let go of the to-do list. Enjoy your baby, and be gentle on yourself as you learn to mother.

Enjoyed this article? There are lots more interesting articles and tools in our new follow-on App Baby+ for iPhone / iPad or Android. Click Baby+ iOS or Baby+ Android to install the App, and prepare for the arrival of your little one(s).

What tips do experienced moms have for those who are having their first baby?

Written by Michelle: lactation consultant, childbirth educator, writer, editor, and mother to 4 busy kids

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

Various theories have emerged over the years about the effects of alcohol on pregnancy. Certain official recommendations state that pregnant women should totally refrain from drinking alcohol, while others say that moderate or light drinking is acceptable. However, a study found that even moderate drinking during pregnancy can affect the IQ of a child.

How does alcohol affect a child’s IQ?

After ingestion of alcohol, enzymes will metabolize ethanol to acetaldehyde. However, the differences in the genes of people result to the variations on how enzymes metabolize ethanol. So, people who metabolize ethanol slowly have increased levels of alcohol that last longer than those who metabolize quickly. Experts believe that fast ethanol metabolism prevents damage to the brain development of infants as smaller amounts of alcohol are exposed to the fetus.

About the Study

The researchers used the study data of Children of the 90s (ALSPAC) which was participated by over 4,000 mothers and their children. The trial was first to use genetic variation (Mendelian randomization) in analyzing the effect of moderate drinking (less than 1 to 6 units of alcohol per week) of pregnant women on the IQ of their children. Genetic variation is ideal since every woman has a different DNA, which is not linked with lifestyle factors.

The studies showed that a strong link was found between a lower IQ at 8 years old and 4 genetic alternatives in the genes that metabolize alcohol in the 4,167 children. In each genetic modification of a child, the IQ was found to be 2 points lower in children whose mothers reported moderate alcohol drinking during their pregnancy. On the other hand, this link was not found among children whose mothers did not drink during pregnancy. This indicates that there is no direct relationship between the low IQ of a child and alcohol exposure in the womb.

At week 18, mothers answered questions about the average amount of alcohol consumed and the frequency of alcohol drinking prior to their pregnancy. At 32 weeks, they completed the second survey on average amount of alcohol they had on weekdays and weekends. Those who answered the first survey were considered light drinkers, while those in the second survey were moderate drinkers.

Results

At age 8, the IQ of the children was tested using the Wechslet Intelligence Scale for Children. The results suggest that even at low levels of alcohol consumption, there are differences in childhood IQ. This means that even at moderate levels, alcohol affect the brain development of a fetus.

For many years, experts have known that heavy alcohol consumption can cause birth defects. Now we are learning that even moderate drinking can have subtle effects on children as they grow. Because researchers don’t know how much (or how little) is a safe amount of alcohol to consume when you’re pregnant, they err on the side of caution and suggest all pregnant women abstain from drinking alcohol. Factors that can impact the effects of alcohol on a fetus include maternal metabolism and enzymes, as well as the amount of alcohol consumed. Many doctors leave the decision up to the individual mother, saying that there’s no evidence an occasional drink can harm a fetus. So educate yourself and so you can make healthy choices for yourself and your developing baby.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

The miracle of life begins upon conception of your baby, and continues to amaze as the months go by. As parents, you naturally wonder about the development of your little one during pregnancy. You probably want to know what your baby is doing at every stage: how big is he or she? can the baby hear or see? does he or she have hair? Here are some basics:

Week 1-4

Most women do not know that they are pregnant from day one. It’s often very difficult to know that exact date of conception. Most health care providers calculate your due date by counting 40 weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP). According to this method, they date the beginning of your pregnancy two weeks before ovulation. If your cycle is longer or shorter than average, this date may be less-than-accurate. At the moment of conception, your child’s gender and most of the inherited characteristics have been set. After fertilization, the embryo travels from the fallopian tube and implants itself in the uterus.

Week 4-10

This period of the development poses the greatest risk to your baby. During this time, all the internal organs, the spine, the legs and arms, and the heart start to develop. His heart starts beating, and his arms and legs grow and begin developing toes and fingers. Your baby is able to open and close his mouth, turn his head, make a fist, and kick (though you won’t feel those movements for quite some time). Reproductive organs also start to develop, but the baby’s gender is still hard to determine on an ultrasound at this point.

Week 10-20

Your baby starts to inhale and exhale small amounts of amniotic fluid, helping his lungs to develop. His ears start to develop and his head is still bigger than his body. But, do not worry! It will even out as he grows. The risk of miscarriage also decreases after week 13. The baby grows rapidly and his eyelashes, fingernails, and vocal cords develop.

Week 20-28

At this stage of development, his head and body seem to even out, so he doesn’t look so top-heavy! His eyebrows, hair, and toenails begin to grow, and his teeth start forming under the gums. Fine, soft hair (called lanugo) begins to grow, and a white, creamy covering (called vernix caseosa) develops all over his body. Both of these protect baby’s skin while he is in utero. During this time, you can probably feel your baby move. He is also able to open his eyes.

Week 28-40

In the third trimester, your baby grows significantly. During this time, your baby’s vision and hearing will develop further. The baby reacts to light directly on your abdomen, and hears and recognizes your voice. Taste buds are now present on his tongue and he learns how to swallow. Amniotic fluid even takes on strong smells from your diet! 

Sometime between 38 and 42 weeks, your baby will make his grand entrance into the world, and you will finally get to see all you had wondered about during his development.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

If your baby’s head is located at the top of your uterus, your baby is in the breech position. Most babies will get into a head down position before the birth, allowing them to be born head first, thus more easily. Babies continue to change position in the womb until they run out of room. Most babies who are in the breech position around week 33 will get themselves into the optimal head down position by week 37. This is not always the case, however, and some babies remain in the breech position until the end of the pregnancy.

If your baby is in a breech position, there are things you can do to encourage him to move into a head-down position. The following exercises are thought to give baby more room to maneuver inside the womb:

1. Pelvic rotations – belly dancing was traditionally a birth and fertility dance, used during pregnancy childbirth for generations. Rotating the hips allows the pelvis to open up, creating more room for the baby to change position. You can perform these exercises standing or while sitting on a birthing ball. Rotate your hips in a circular movement 10 times in each direction. Repeat this exercise three times a day. Alternatively, put your favourite Shakira or Britney track on and belly dance around the room.

2. Breech tilts – a breech tilt is another exercise used for turning breech babies. For this, you should lie on the floor with your feet resting on a chair or sofa. Yes, this position is easier said than done when you’re heavily pregnant. If you find it uncomfortable (or impossible), skip this exercise and try the next one instead. Lift your bum off the ground, and support yourself with pillows placed underneath. You should be at a 45 degree angle. Stay in position for a maximum of 15 minutes, or until you feel uncomfortable.

3. Kneel lean or knee-chest position – for this exercise, you may wish to place pillows under your knees and head for comfort. Kneel up with your knees shoulder width apart. Lean forward on your arms, so that your forehead is touching the floor. Hold this position for up to 15 minutes at a time, and repeat three times a day.

4. Back and forth – get into position on your hands and knees, you may wish to use pillows for comfort. Rock back and forth gently for up to 15 minutes, and repeat this up to three times a day. You could also try crawling forward on your hands and knees as a way of opening up your pelvis. If you’ve got the nesting instinct, wash your floors by hand.

5. Walking – walking is a great exercise during pregnancy, and can help to encourage the baby to shift position. Try to walk for 30 minutes each day throughout the pregnancy.

To encourage your baby to change position, these exercises are thought to work best during periods of fetal activity. So whenever your little one starts prodding and kicking you, it’s probably a good time to try a couple of these exercises.

If you experience any pain or feel lightheaded while exercising, stop immediately. Sit down carefully and stay seated until you are feeling better. Speak to your healthcare provider before continuing with the exercises to turn a breech baby.

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

It is remarkable that bilingual babies can learn two languages at the same time other babies learn one. On average, bilingual and monolingual babies start talking around age 1 and can say 50 words at 18 months. But, the question is how?

DURATION and PITCH

According to a research from the university of British Columbia and Université Paris Descartes, from the age of seven months babies are able to distinguish two languages with different grammatical structures.

It shows that infants in bilingual environments use duration and pitch cues to distinguish between two languages that have opposite grammatical structures. Even if they do not understand the meaning of the words, they seem to be able to tell the difference between nouns, prepositions, verbs, and articles based on sound qualities.

According to Janet Werker, UBC psychologist and co-author of the study, babies know the differences between two opposing languages and use them as cues to tell one from the other in as early as seven months. Typically, languages have two grammatical structures – verb-object and object-verb. For example, the English phrase “Eat the banana” has the verb before the object. In Japanese, the equivalent phrase is “Ringo o taberu” which directly means “Apple eat”. Notice that the object comes before the verb.

FREQUENCY

Previous researches also showed that babies use frequency of words in speech to know their significance, so essentially they are learning by counting. For example, the words “the” and “with” come up more frequently than other words. However, babies who are growing up bilingual need to develop new methods to cope with two languages.

Italian researchers also wondered why there is no delay and found out that being bilingual makes the brain more flexible. According to their studies, bilingual babies learn two kinds of patterns at the same time. So, if you speak two languages at home, you do not need to be afraid your baby will have delayed speech development, as your baby is well-equipped to keep those languages separate.

These researchers hope to reassure parents that learning two languages at the same does not cause any delay in speech development. In facts, raising a bilingual child has a number of benefits. Learning two languages has been linked to earlier reading, better problem solving, and creative thinking compared to monolingual kids.

Do you speak two languages in your home?

Written by Team Health & Parenting

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

Neon is hot! Energizing, bright colors are the trend, and neon has made its way into baby clothes and nursery decoration. Trendy parents-to-be have started adding fluorescent pops of colour to their basic palette. When planning your baby’s nursery, how will you go about choosing nursery colors?

Research has been done on how color affects mood, and you can use this information to plan a nursery to best suit your needs. Your baby may not even notice the red walls, but they may be too distracting for you. Blue walls, though, might be calming when you’re in the room for nighttime nursings. Here’s what a rainbow of colors can do for you:

Red is passionate, bold, exciting and it attracts a lot of attention. Use it as an accent color rather than a wall color, as it might pull out your baby’s volatile side.

Orange is warm and cozy. It inspires comfort and closeness. An orange accent wall may be just what your nursery needs.

Yellow is cheerful and energetic. Tired in the morning after the 3am feeding interrupted your sleep. Maybe yellow nursery walls will energize you to get your day started. Too much yellow, though, can cause agitation – tone it down or use it as an accent.

Green is calming. It’s refreshing and serene, and promotes concentration and thinking. You can’t go wrong with this color from nature.

Blue can be soothing and cooling, but can also be depressing. So choose shades with less gray and more yellow or white.

Purple can be the color of royalty (if dark), or can be a shade that is more calming and serene (if pastel). Whichever you choose, it’s a luxurious choice.

White signals innocence – but remember it has to be clean. Maybe not the best choice for baby. Consider white as a base color.

Black is powerful, and signals strength. But it’s also very dark and should be limited to accents in a room with lots of natural light.

So what are you going to do? Decorate your nursery with neon coloured children’s wall stickers? Or brighten up your crib or cot with some soothing light green fabric? Maybe you’ve already started knitting some little yellow socks to inspire energy and cheer?

Let us know what you think!

Written by Team Health & Parenting 

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

One of the greatest worries for parents-to-be, is the family finances. How will you afford to feed another mouth? How will you cope financially while on maternity leave? How will you afford to buy all of the baby paraphernalia available in the shops? Before you get yourself worked up into a credit card frenzy, it’s important to remember that it is possible to have a baby on a budget. In fact, you could make that your mantra for the next few months and you could save yourself a small fortune. Here are six easy tips for having a baby on a budget:

• Beg, borrow and steal – ok, well don’t actually steal, but borrowing is always a good idea. If you have friends and family offering to lend you cots, strollers and toys, accept their kindness. Babies don’t need brand new, they’ll be more than happy using preloved items. Thrift, charity and second-hand stores are great places to find bargain baby gear. If you are using heirloom hand-me-downs, though, be sure to judge them by today’s safety standards.
• Breastfeed – formula milk can end up costing quite a lot, and you can bypass the cost completely by making the most of what nature gave you. Breastfeeding is free – totally and completely free – and will keep your baby completely nourished until he’s ready to be weaned onto solid foods. Of course, you can buy a breast pump and bottles to express milk if you like, but you may not need to. For some women, breastfeeding allows them to feed their baby for free for the first six months of life.
• Cloth bum – disposable nappies can cost a lot, too, but by opting for cloth diapers you can bypass this ongoing expense. You will have a larger outlay at the beginning, but then the diapers will last your baby until he’s potty trained. They’ll even be fine to use for any future babies too. If you add them to your baby registry, you may even get the cloth nappies as gifts!
• Only buy what you need – a lot of the items you see in baby stores don’t really qualify as necessities. They’re things you can spend money on, but by no means need to. You don’t really need to buy a brand new baby bath, you could wash your baby in your bath or sink. Your baby doesn’t really need an expensive musical mobile to go above the crib. He doesn’t really need brand new matching nursery furniture. He doesn’t need the tiny pair of expensive shoes you’ve been eyeing up, even though they are very cute. Food, shelter, clothing and love – aside from that, everything else may be nice to have but not a necessity.
• Be realistic – draw up a realistic budget and stick to it. Give yourself room for the occasional splurge so that you don’t feel guilty about little purchases.
• Shop around – once you’ve decided what you want to buy, do your research and shop around to make sure you get the best deal. It may take a while, but you could save a lot of money.

Remember, money isn’t love – of course it feels good to spend money on your baby, and to feel that you’re ready for his arrival. But don’t feel bad if you can’t afford to buy everything new. Your baby won’t know whether a pram is new or second hand. Your baby won’t care whether he has matching outfits, a cute cot bumper, or a personalised teddy, all he will care about is being close to you.

Are you sticking to a tight budget for the baby, do you have any tips to share with other budgeting mums?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is a brain condition that occurs when a baby or young child is violently shaken. This typically happens when an adult is trying to stop the baby crying. Shaken Baby Syndrome is thought to affect between 600 and 1400 children each year in the US, though the true figure is not known.

Babies have weak neck and shoulder muscles, and are unable to fully support their heads for the first few months of life. During this time, babies are at an increased risk of SBS. If a baby is shaken, his head moves forwards and backwards, and the brain bangs against the skull. This can cause bleeding on and around the brain.

Injuries caused by SBS can include:

• blindness
• cerebral palsy
• brain damage
• seizures
• speech or learning disabilities
• paralysis
• deafness

For some babies, Shaken Baby Syndrome can be fatal. You should never shake a baby, and you should make sure that your baby’s other caregivers are aware of the importance of this rule.

What to do when your baby won’t stop crying

Your baby cries to communicate with you. Unfortunately, he’s unable to tell you exactly what he needs and so he relies on his loud cry to draw your attention to the fact that something is wrong. Hunger, discomfort, tiredness, gas and simply wanting a cuddle are all common reasons that babies cry.

A baby’s screams can reach 110 decibels, which is almost as loud as an ambulance siren. What may start off as a whimpering cry, can soon escalate if the baby cannot be soothed. For a parent suffering from exhaustion, loud cries can be very frustrating.

If you cannot stop your baby crying, and can feel yourself becoming frustrated, you should put your baby down somewhere safe, such as cot or car seat, and leave the room. This won’t stop your baby crying, but it will give you a few minutes to yourself. Put some music on, watch the television or use the vacuum to distract yourself from the sound of crying. Make sure you can still hear the crying in the background though, because if it stops suddenly, you’ll need to go and check on your baby. Use this time to calm down, breathe deeply and remember that your baby is just trying to communicate with you.

Once you are feeling calm, go back to your baby and try again. If your baby is still crying and you feel very stressed by it, call a nearby friend or family member and ask them to come over to help out.

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

Life as a new parent can feel pretty hectic. Even if you’re spending most of your time at home, you’ll be busy changing nappies, feeding, soothing, bonding with your new baby, and receiving visitors. This can be a stressful period, as you adjust to life as a parent, while getting to know your newborn. Your newborn, who is also getting to know you, has limited means of communication, and so you are bound to experience some crying once your baby arrives.

Listening to your newborn baby cry can be torturous, and you will be keen to soothe your baby as soon as possible. Here are some of the reasons babies cry, and what you can do to help:

1. Hunger – this is the most common cause of crying in newborns. Babies have small stomachs and need to eat little and often as a result. If you are breastfeeding, you may notice that you begin to leak a little milk when you hear your baby’s cries –  a great sign that your hormones are working right. If hunger is the cause of the crying, your baby should feel soothed once offered a breast or bottle.
2. Cuddles – sometimes, babies just want to be held. After nine long months in your uterus, they can get lonely being so far away from you. There’s nothing wrong with soothing your crying baby with a cuddle. If you want your hands free to get on with other things, you may find a sling useful to carry your baby close to you.
3. Discomfort – this could be down to a dirty nappy, a tag rubbing inside clothing, being too hot, or lying in a funny position, amongst other things. The cry may be whiney and sound like “heh” when your baby is experiencing discomfort. Check for obvious signs of discomfort if you think this could be the problem.
4. Overstimulated – loud noises, new sights, lots of people – it’s no wonder babies get overstimulated. Your baby may occasionally cry because he feels overstimulated. Take him to a quiet room for a cuddle, or put him in a sling so he can turn away from the world and feel safe against your chest.
5. Gas – some babies experience gas after feeds, and may need a little help getting rid of the trapped air. Whimpers may indicate that your baby needs help to burp, whereas grunting may suggest the trapped gas is abdominal. There are a number of baby massage techniques that can help to relieve trapped gas.
6. Pain – this is one of those times you will be amazed at your mothering instinct. Sometimes, the cry seems more desperate, and you’ll know something is wrong. Check for a fever, rash and other obvious symptoms, and call a healthcare provider for advice.

Don’t worry if you can’t tell what your baby is trying to tell you. It will take you a while to begin understanding your baby’s cries. Work through the list above until you find something that soothes your baby, and don’t be afraid to call for help if you think something is wrong.

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

If you’re pregnant and vegan, you may have noticed people taking an increased interest in your diet. From assuming you’ll have to start eating meat, to obsessing over your calcium intake, chances are at least a couple of relatives are bombarding you with questions about your diet.

A healthy pregnancy

It’s important to eat a healthy, balanced diet during pregnancy, and – you probably already know this – a typical vegan diet is just that. If you eat a balanced mix of fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds and lentils, you may even be outdoing your meat-eating counterparts in the vitamins and nutrients stakes.

Important vitamins

Vitamin B12 is found in animal sources, so vegans need to be sure they’re getting enough B12 in their diet, and this is particularly important during pregnancy. Fortified soya products and cereals are a great way to incorporate B vitamins into your diet.

You must also ensure you are getting enough vitamin D. Your body can make vitamin D when exposed to sunlight, so you must try to spend at least 15 minutes exposed to the sun each day. It may also be possible to add vitamin D to your diet using supplements, although it’s important to ensure the supplements are suitable for vegans first. Some supplements use vitamin D from animal sources.

Pregnant women require extra iron to meet the needs of the developing baby. For this reason, it’s important to ensure you are consuming enough iron. Baked beans, nuts and whole grains are all good sources of dietary iron. Consuming vitamin C with iron can improve your body’s intake of iron, so try to drink orange juice or eat an orange with each high-iron meal.

There are certain keywords that seem to get thrown at vegans on a regular basis, and calcium is a popular one. Luckily, there is plenty of calcium available from plant sources including green leafy vegetables, pulses and fortified soya products.

The need to supplement

Experts recommend that all pregnant women (vegan or not) take folic acid supplements during early pregnancy. There are a number of prenatal supplements available that are specially designed for vegan mums-to-be. Not only do these supplements contain folic acid, but they are also packed with B12 and other vitamins important for growing a healthy baby. Folate can also be found naturally in dark green leafy vegetables, dried beans and legumes and citrus fruits and juices. Many other foods are now fortified with folic acid, as well.

Expert advice

If you feel worried about your weight gain or vitamin intake during pregnancy, speak to your healthcare provider or to a registered dietician. A vegan diet is more than adequate to meet the needs of a growing baby. Eating a balanced diet rich in fresh fruit and veg, taking a vegan prenatal supplement and keeping up-to-date on the latest expert advice can help you to eat a healthy prenatal vegan diet.

Are you following a vegan diet during pregnancy, and have you faced any opposition from friends and family?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

More than 50% of the world’s children are toilet trained by the time they turn one. Compare that to American children where 1/3 still celebrate their 3rd birthday in diapers.

In the early 20th century it was believed that a one year old should be out of diapers. So what has changed in the last 100 years? Before the age of the washing machine parents would sit their children on a toilet long before their 1st birthday. Later when washing cloth diapers became easier, the average age crept up to near 18 months.

However, the real change happened in the 1960s when a leading diaper company along with a noted pediatrician promoted the idea of waiting for a set of readiness signals before which potty training should not be started.

Slowly, the age crept up and by the 1980s the average was two years. Now only two decades later, despite the fact that a study in 1994 “The Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics” found no data to support any signs of social and emotional readiness for potty training, the average age is nearly three.

So if you don’t have to wait until your child is “ready,” what is the other alternative?

Elimination Communication (EC) has many names: Diaper Free Baby, Natural Baby, Infant Potty Training, Born Ready, etc. They all mean the same thing. Listen and look out for your baby’s communication and toilet training can be demystified. 

EC, a traditional practice in many parts of the world, is now becoming a growing movement in the West. The ethos is your baby is born with the instinct not to soil itself and will communicate this with you from birth. Just in the same way they communicate their other basic needs: hunger, sleep, and comfort. It’s up to you as a parent to read and respond to these signs and non-verbal communication. It is much less about potty learning than about respecting your baby’s abilities by responding and facilitating his or her needs.

The ideal window to start practicing EC is in the first 6 months, the earlier you start the better and clearer communication bond you and your baby will develop. A fully diapered baby will, after 6-7 months, have been conditioned into soiling the diaper and will lose the instinct and sensation of needing to go. 

EC does not have to be messy and dirty, and diaper free does not have to mean you never use a diaper ever. It simply means you choose the level of involvement that suits your lifestyle. Use diapers full time, part time or not at all, but be ready to whip it off and offer your baby the potty or receptacle of choice when you see the signs.

As with everything with a newborn baby, be it your first or third, there is a steep learning curve and it takes time to get to know each other. If you choose EC it is advisable to look on this as your journey together towards toilet learning rather than a short cut to a (compared to todays average) very young toilet trained baby. 

Remember your baby is teaching you, not the other way around. Of course EC is not about allowing your child to pee anywhere and anytime. If you find there are a lot of misses, there is likely an underlying factor such as illness, teething, or emotional upheaval (like new daycare, house move, etc.)

Manage your expectations. There are 4 classic stages of EC.

1: you and your baby are in tune and you are aware of his signals.
2: baby is clearly able to communicate verbally or via signing.
3: baby no longer needs to be reminded to go to the potty and you no longer feel the need to carry spare clothes.
4: baby can now take himself to the bathroom and complete the process independently.

There are of course no guarantees to instant success. How you practice EC, when you start, the nature of your baby and developmental milestones are all factors to be considered. But some degree of daytime dryness can be achieved between 6-20 months. 

There are so many benefits to practicing EC – primarily your baby’s hygiene as you will eliminate diaper rash and greatly reduce the risk for UTI ‘s – but also the environmental and financial benefits. Time is also a valuable commodity these days; imagine avoiding the diaper change battle every time. Just wipe, flush and go. More information is available online, or on the App Store

Written by Caroline Williams

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

A persistent myth about breastfeeding is that it’s normal for it to hurt in the beginning. I often hear moms say they were told to ‘tough it out’ for the first six weeks. But if breastfeeding hurts, something is wrong.

Most painful breastfeeding scenarios start with improper positioning or latch. Sometimes all it takes is a small adjustment to mom’s or baby’s body for a huge amount of relief.

Check Your Positioning

Make sure you are holding your baby tummy-to-mummy, with no space between the two of you. Your baby’s head should be at breast level, and his body should wrap around yours. When you look down at your baby, you should see that his ear, shoulder and hip are nicely aligned, and that he doesn’t need to turn his head to latch. While baby’s hands do sometimes get in the way, allowing your baby to ‘hug the breast’ with hands on either side is sometimes useful for getting a nice close position with your baby.

Learn to Latch

With your baby’s head at breast level, align your nipple with baby’s nose, wait for baby to open wide and tip his head back slightly, then bring baby quickly to the breast. Baby’s chin can be buried in your breast, and his nose may be just touching. His lips should be flanged out, not puckered. If baby keeps letting go, or seems to be holding tight with his gums, be sure you have enough support under the breast so that gravity doesn’t pull it down out of baby’s mouth. You can do this with your hand, or with a rolled washcloth. If your baby’s cheeks are dimpled, you hear a clicking sound, or your nipple is misshapen after a feeding, it’s likely that your baby’s latch needs adjusting. Trying to get an asymmetric, deep latch as described above is the best solution.

Notice Your Nipples

For some moms, mild soreness is normal in the first week of feeding. Your body may simply need to get used to stretching in ways it hadn’t done before (especially every 2 hours!). If you develop broken skin or blisters on your nipples during this time, it may take a while for them to heal, even once positioning and latch are adjusted. You can use lanolin, coconut oil, or olive oil after feedings. Nurse on the least sore side first. Get help so that the damage isn’t prolonged.

Could it be you baby?

Sometimes babies have oral anomalies such as tongue-tie, lip tie, cleft palate, bubble palate, etc. that makes breastfeeding painful for moms. Sometimes the solution is time and patience, and sometimes intervention is necessary. Working with your baby’s doctor and a knowledgeable breastfeeding professional can help you determine the best course of action for your family.

The best thing to do if you experience pain in the early days of breastfeeding is to have a feeding observed by a board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC). She will be able to help adjust your positioning and your baby’s latch for increased comfort, and can help you solve any other issue that may be prolonging the pain you feel with feeding.

Breastfeeding shouldn’t hurt – if it does, don’t suffer through continued pain. Get help so you can enjoy a long, pain-free nursing relationship.

Written by Michelle, lactation consultant, Lamaze instructor, writer and editor, and mom to 4 busy kids

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.