The Breastfeeding Mum's Guide to Family Life!

Breastfeeding a 4 Year Old (Guest Post)

I have been a nursing mother for 4 and a half years now.  My son is a wonderful chunky outgoing little boy who loves his “boob drink”.  It has been fun asking him what he prefers “daddy or boob drink”?  Of course no matter what I put up against the milky stuff, the milky stuff always triumphs.  He loves it and is definitely telling me that he has no intention of giving it up anytime soon.

My son’s natural weaning process has been quite slow.  When my son was a year or so old, I often read about babies already sleeping through the night/not nursing by the time they were 11/2 – 2.  I was curious as to when I could expect my wriggly little monster to give me a full nights sleep without requesting the “boob drink”.  Of course though, despite reading about others experiences, mine was certainly different and my son didn’t give up the night feeding by the time he was 2.  It took a lot longer.  In fact I think it has only been in the last year (so potentially when he was 31/2) that he no longer feeds during the night.  He still likes to have a morning feed in bed though (we chose to cosleep rather than use a cot bed.

Guys and Dolls - Sales of new Oobicoo soft toy Ollie outstrip Orla 2:1

Boys’ dolls are selling twice as fast as girls’ dolls according to Totseat founder Rachel Jones, who believes the media have been integral in helping to break down gender stereotypes.

The UK toy industry is worth £2.96bn and since launching the soft toy tots Ollie and Orla last year, multi award winning entrepreneur Rachel Jones has sold twice as many of the boy ‘doll’ Ollie. Sales of boys’ toys take 55% share of the UK toy market and Rachel believes sales of Oobicoo Ollie reflect society’s changing perceptions of traditional gender stereotypes.

Rachel says, “We live in a culture where many people look to the media as a guide to behavior and as a result many people conform to majority norms. Traditionally girls have been expected to play with dolls and wear pink and many parents have discouraged their sons from playing with dolls per se, however there appears to be a shift in this gender stereotyping which can only be a good thing.”

Oobicoo was originally developed and sold as a mannequin to display the multi-award winning Totseat; a safe, portable, fabric highchair for families travelling with babies. Rachel soon realised their appeal when they became the unlikely classmates of her daughter Freya and her friends, who loved the fact that they were so big and cuddly!

The adorable, soft toy tot Oobicoo is made from gorgeous soft plush fabric and, at 60cm tall, is the same size as a six month old baby - the perfect size to be an instant baby brother, sister or best friend. They come in their own wee fabric 'pod' and are designed to be dressed in hand-me-down-baby clothes. This simple idea not only saves money, it encourages the reuse of outgrown baby clothes, teaches children dexterity and provides Oobicoo with an instant wardrobe.

With sound eco credentials, Oobicoo is filled with recycled polymer, manufactured from recycleable fabric and is raising money for the Children's Immunology Fund - £1 from every sale goes to the charity. Oobicoo even has its very own dance tune, penned by Emily Philips and Josh Wilkinson who co-write for pop superstars One Direction and Alexandra Burke!

Rachel added, “Oobicoo not only helps your child’s development, they are perfect for imaginative play, great for teaching dexterity in terms of dressing and undressing and because of their realistic size, they give children someone to cuddle!

“We are delighted to announce the launch of Olwyn, our fourth soft toy tot, who has a different skin tone to the other Oobicoo tots. We are keen to encourage diversity and since launching Oobicoo Ed last year, who is entirely bald, we have had great reactions to the entire Oobicoo family.”

How to Deal with Sibling Fighting (Guest Post)

Sibling rivalry is natural, and it is expected in every family with more than one child. However, sometimes things get too serious and parents have to deal with the problem. In fact, the sooner parents handle the problem, the better.

Here are some simple ways to deal with sibling fighting:

Never Point at Just One

It takes two to tango! Never hold only one child responsible for a problem. Accusing just one, even if it is his/her fault fuels more fury. Doing so will give the other kid a reason to call names and bully the child in question. Therefore, handle the problem by disciplining both of them together. Set up rules that will keep them both in check. For example, if either misbehaves, everyone goes to bed early. Be clear that both will be held accountable, it doesn't matter whose fault it was.

Need to Occupy Your Children Using Only One Hand? Try These D.I.Y. Face Paint Tricks (Guest Post)

If you are a stay-at-home mom, you have most likely discovered that there are just not enough hours in the day. If you’re an at-home mom currently nursing, you have also noticed that you never have enough hands available to get anything done! This is when it comes time to break out the one-hand wonders of activities. Face paint is an easy way to give your toddler some attention while holding your infant; and the best part is, you only need one hand!

Face paint can easily be purchased at most grocery or convenient stores, but it is also really fun, cheap, and easy to make at home. In fact, you probably already have the ingredients available in your medicine cabinet now.

Gum Disease and Pregnancy (Guest Post)

As if pregnant mothers don't have enough to worry about, they can now add oral hygiene to the list of potential concerns. Periodontal disease can affect women at any stage of life, but the effects can be more pronounced during pregnancy. Pregnancy hormones themselves can cause additional swelling and bleeding of the gums in an otherwise healthy mouth. While annoying, this isn't a problem for most women as long as they continue regular dental care. However, for a woman with gum disease this additional swelling and bleeding can exacerbate symptoms. The potential risk is that ongoing and untreated gum infections can pose a risk to the developing foetus.

In a perfect world good oral hygiene would be taken care of before a woman becomes pregnant. But let's assume routine cleaning appointments have been missed. In that case, a trip to the dentist is in order once a pregnancy is confirmed. New research indicates that untreated periodontal disease can lead to premature birth and low birth weight in an otherwise healthy infant. A dentist can identify the signs of periodontal disease and devise a treatment plan for the mother.

BabyCam Car - The Safe Way To Monitor Your Baby When Driving (Product Review)

I think I've just found one of my very favourite review products - BabyCam Car, a Storage Options baby monitoring system for use in the car (or home). It's a simple idea, but one which makes life so much easier for the parents of young babies and small children.

The product is made up of two parts: a little wireless camera and a little wireless screen! The camera is attached by a suction cup to a window in the rear of the car. The camera is then pointed at the child you wish to monitor and live video is transmitted to a small companion screen also attached by suction cup to your car windscreen - similar to satnav. This enables you to keep a close eye on your child whilst driving without the need to turn around and potentially lose control of your car in the process. The product has an automatic day and night function mode, both of which show extremely clear images of the child being watched. There is also a volume control wheel which can be used if necessary. The device is powered with built in rechargeable batteries and is easily charged via your vehicle's cigarette lighter. Each charge lasts around 4 hours.

 

On my first attempt at trying BabyCam Car I was naturally a little wary of the product in case it became distracting. However, I very quickly found that this wasn't the case. In fact, I actually found that when using BabyCam Car I tended to look at the camera only whilst sitting at traffic lights or when parked.

PARENTS REST EASY: INNOVATIVE NEW RANGE OF BABY MONITORS LAUNCHED FOR THE HOME, GARDEN AND CAR (Press Release)

Leading CCTV and surveillance vendor Storage Options, has launched an innovative new range of easy-use ‘Baby Cam’ monitors, giving parents much-needed reassurance that their babies or toddlers are safe and secure, whether it’s in the car, the home, or even the garden.

BabyCam Car is a specialist baby back seat monitoring system, developed to help parents avoid the potentially-dangerous need to turn around and check on their children whilst driving – a habit, which according to research,  puts them at a much higher risk of having a car accident.*

Working much like a Sat Nav, parents simply attach a compact wireless camera to the side rear window to get a clear view of their baby and to transmit a high-quality video picture to a display attached to their windscreen. The system is extremely easy to use and comes equipped with a host of useful features including night vision, a built in rechargeable battery with four hour life, as well as versatile window suction mounts. 

Keeping Your Children Safe in Your Home (Guest Post)

By nature, children are inquisitive and want to explore. As a parent, you don't want to squelch this natural curiosity, but you do want to keep your children safe wherever they may journey. Employing security measures around your home, whether you're investing in an alarm system or childproof locks, is invaluable when it comes to protecting your family.

Home security systems serve a number of purposes. In addition to guarding your property while you're away, most alarms will sound when a window or door has been opened, which can help you feel more secure when you're at home. The small beep or chime you hear will be helpful for families with small children who can get to a doorway before parents can catch up, as well as announcing the arrival of adolescents trying to sneak in after curfew. Some systems also feature carbon monoxide detectors, a smart measure that can alert you to otherwise undetectable dangers. As an added bonus, the installation of an alarm system might mean discounts on your homeowners' insurance, making it easier to save for future expenses like your children's college education.

Top 10 Ways to Make a Home Baby Safe (Guest Post)

Whether dealing with a new baby or new home, there can be dangers. With new moms and dads having enough issues to deal with, having a baby proof home is a must for the safety of your children and for your own peace of mind. It is never a good idea to leave a baby unattended, but learning more about these ten essential ways to make a home safe for your baby are a must read.

Your Child’s Vision: Recognizing Problems (Guest Post)

Your child’s vision is the most important of all his senses. Although there are programs designed specifically for the advancement of the blind, the truth is that if your child goes undiagnosed for vision problems, he is likely to miss out when he gets to school since the majority of materials are presented visually. This could limit his ability to read and write, which will put him behind in every subject. The point is, you need to be vigilant in looking for signs of vision problems because the earlier they are detected, the better chance your child has of correcting the issue so that vision can develop normally. So here are some things to consider.

There are often simple indicators that your child is suffering from vision problems and they can start in infancy. Some babies, for instance, are born with cataracts (or children may develop them within the first few years of life). If you have a family history of this condition it could be inherited, but there may also be other causes. Regardless, you need to get an immediate exam and analysis done if you notice the cloudy spots that indicate cataracts. If they are present, surgery will be needed in order to remove the cataracts so that your child’s vision develops normally.