ART - Baby Napping Positions

I think this is #sowikkiwikki-AWESOME! One of those #whydidntIthinkothat moments.

Adele Emersen used to present herself as a copywriter & concept designer in advertising, but now she’s probably more famous for her maternity leave hobby – photographing her children while they sleep and then adding some adorable details to the pictures. Her first project, which eventually turned into a book called “When My Baby Dreams“, featured her baby daughter Mila in the settings of what she might’ve been dreaming of.

Now the Internet started “awwwing” about Adele’s second child Vincent: this summer she photographed her baby with an iPhone, and then sketched some activities on top of the pictures. Minimalistic and nicely child-like, they are exactly what you wanna see in your childhood album once you grow up. Some moms just don’t know what it means to get lazy or bored!

#BABYVIOLIN

#BABYHINDIAN
#BABYBECHILLIN
#BABYBEDJ'IN
#BABYHOMEIMPROVEMENT

If you like these pictures, don’t forget to check out what creative dads do with their children – Dave Engledow and Jason Lee.

Sign Language for Babies Continued

So, if you've tried the basic Signs and found them helpful, and wanted more. Here are a few more which I am going to try...


PEE

NO

 (This one's really easy!)

SIT

STAND

Is My Child Gifted?

Albert Einstein was 4 years old before he spoke a word, and 7 before he could read. Winston Churchill failed the 6th grade, and Leo Tolstoy flunked out of college. What do these three famous people have in common? Well, they're no dummies. In fact, they are all considered gifted, and in some cases, genius.

While you may feel that your child is gifted and second guess yourself because you think you're just being biased, it has been discovered that it is more usual for parents to under-estimate their children’s giftedness than to overestimate it (Chitwood, 1986),
especially when the parents are well-educated.
Teachers on the other hand are less accurate in finding giftedness if they have not been trained on how to look for it. One preschool teacher with 35 years’ experience in Lee’s (2000) study reported that he had never met a gifted girl (although he had recognized giftedness in boys). In response, Louise Porter quotes: 'I would not have seen it if I didn’t believe it’.

Once again, trust your gut. 
Often gifted children have advanced motor development, however it's not often that children are gifted in multiple areas. The clearest sign of accelerated development is in the area of language. Here's a list of behaviors and traits that may indicate that your child has special gifts or talents:

• Express curiosity
• Show creativity
• Have an extensive vocabulary
• Have a unique way of solving problems
• Apply what they've learned to new situations
• Have an exceptional memory
• Are artistic, musical, or dramatic, with a well-developed imagination
• Work independently, take initiative, persevere at challenging tasks
• Have a sense of wit and humor
• Have a sustained attention-span
• Roll over before 3 months of age
• Standing on their own or walking before 9 months 
• Early expressions e.g. smiling
• Unusually active and high levels of energy (but not hyper)
• Ability to form two word phrases by 14 months
• Talking before 10 months.
• Imaginary playmates
• Early interest in time
• Ability to put together 20 piece puzzle before age 3

What can you do to nurture your child? According to Smutney, a lot. "Joyful early childhood learning sets a child's attitude for later learning".
As parents, you can help bring out your child's gifts by challenging him from day one, without pressure. Stay flexible and open-minded and encourage your child to try new things. Then enjoy those new things with them.
Some activities parents can do with their children to bring out their gifts are:

• Play with Legos – one of the best building toys for creative, original play.
• Read books... lots of them! And don't rush it. Give children a chance to really soak up the illustrations.
• Play with PLAY-DOH and other hands-on creative activities, which allow kids to explore new colors, shapes, and textures.
• Encourage art – painting, coloring, drawing. Let them make purple skies and blue trees – whatever they decide, without pointing out what's "real."
• Engage in imaginative play together. Pretend the couch is your spaceship, or the kitchen your restaurant.

Says Smutney, "Sometimes we're so academically focused, we overlook the role of creativity, imagination, and fun." Genius can't be taught, but it can be encouraged. And at its heart, being gifted means being able to think out of the box. Be patient with your child's creativity, even if it slows down your day. If she is the next Newton, you'll be giving her a head start.

Gifted children can be vulnerable, and therefore parents need to provide their gifted child with an extra support in the following areas:

1. Emotional intensity. Heightened emotions often go hand-in-hand with all that brain power. And feeling emotions more intensely than others can lead your gifted child to see herself as “abnormal.” Reassure her that her emotional responses are normal, for her. Do you have a memory of a time that you felt intensely emotional? Share your story.
2. Extreme sensitivity. Intense sensitivity is perfectly normal for the gifted child. Again, reassure your child. Explain to him in simple terms that others might view his sensitivity as “inappropriate” or “abnormal” because they don’t understand. Use a realistic approach when teaching your child that the world-at-large is not always kind.
3. Discipline. All children test limits; it’s their job. But some gifted children test limits to the hilt. Exercise appropriate discipline. Best results come from verbally communicating expectations, highlighting the rules and regulations. Have your child play back to you their interpretation of what they heard. Correct misinterpretations and always leave room for negotiation.
4. Venting. Nothing you do as a parent holds more worth than giving your child your full attention. Active listening is more about validating than giving advice or offering suggestions. Practice daily.
5. Safety nets. Be present in your child’s world. Know their friends, teachers, dance instructor, and soccer coach. Build relationships with those in your child’s “village.” When problems surface, you have a support system; when success happens, you have a fan club.

Babyproofing 101

Keeping our homes safe involves more than you would think.
I got a bit of a fright when I got home to my angel with her first shiner at 6 months after she climed out of her cot when I wasn't even aware she could pull herself up, so it's very important to babyproof your home early!

Here are some tips to

-          Get onto your babies level

o   Remove anything that can fit through the inside of a toilet roll… including earrings and coins.

o   Lock away poisons, medications, alcohol, perfumes and cleaners – move higher or add childproof lock

-          Put emergency numbers on fridge

-          Cover electrical outlets throughout the house with covers that are not choking hazards

-          Attach moveable furniture to the wall

-          Cover all sharp corners to soften impact if your child falls

-          Keep cords and ties out of reach, incl. window blind cords

-          Never handle hot drinks or food with a child in your arms or in close vicinity

-          Keep child away from your stove, use the back plates when cooking and place handles toward the back so that your child can’t reach them. For added safety you can install an oven lock or guard.

-          To prevent burning by bath water reduce your geyser thermostat to 50-55°C

-          Never leave your child in the tub unattended, even for a second. Always drain the bath afterwards.

-          Add a lock to your toilet bowls and lock bathroom doors when not in use.

-          Prevent yourself from falling with baby in your arms by using a nightlight at night, making your mats non-slip, unclutter floors and stairs.

-          Invest in a fire extinguisher.

-          Add door slamming preventers.

  Take care!

Aaah the very FIRST word

She speaks! ... aaah, finally we can communicate by doing more than pulling tongues at one another... this is FAN-TASTIC! (except for the fact that her first word was in fact "NO!")
A few weeks ago my naughty mother taught my daughter to shake her head mimmicking her saying "No, nooo, no". Since then when my LO was irritated or didn't like something she would shake her head - it was adorable.
On Friday, at 6 1/2 months old, she got her first tooth, and said her first few words, "No, no no!" Pretty funny, yet a tad disappointing to me. I keep saying "Yes yes yes" nodding my head to her but she responds with (you guessed it) "No no no."

According to the Circle of Moms website and a study by Stanford University - the most common first words are
1. Daddy (Dada or Papa)
2. Mommy (Mama or Mum)  
3. Buba (Bub or Baba)
4. Bye
5. Hi
6. UhOh
7. Dog
8. YumYum (Nana)
9. No
10. Ball

Please share your first word stories with us in the comments below:

Sign Language for Babies

Sign Language for Babies, Really?

Well, I was enquisitive and decided that it couldn't hurt to give it a try, if my LO and I (and Dad) could get this right it would alleviate a lot of my daughters frustration in future by enabling her to communicate before she's able to talk. So I decided to give it a shot, one night while we were away we heard her babbling, around 6 months old - we switched the light on and she was still asleep and signing for 'milk', was rather amusing! 
Here are the basic and most useful signs you can use to try it out yourself:

EAT / FOOD

MILK

FINISHED / ALL DONE

MOMMY

DADDY

DIAPER















More here: http://www.babysignlanguage.com/wp-content/uploads/chart/baby-sign-language-chart-a4.pdf

50 Tips

http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/parents-guide2/

1. Don’t sweat the small stuff like laundry and dishes. And rest when they rest!!!!! – Nicole"

2. Trust your gut, don’t let people sway the way you feel. You have to do what is right for YOUR family. – Candise

3. Sleep when they sleep…no matter what needs to be done! – Leigh

4. Don’t be afraid to ask for or accept help! – Sarah

5. Don’t skip the shower, you feel more refreshed afterward. – Ebonita

6. Relax!!! The only perfect parents are people without children. Don’t kill yourself trying to be perfect in the world’s eyes. Your baby already thinks you hold the moon and stars. – Stephanie

7. Don’t read anything on the internet about where your baby should be or what they should be doing. Also, try to stay away from baby books too! – Katie

8. It’s a phase they do grow out of it! This too shall pass! – Sarah & Fran

9. There is nothing more irritating than other people telling you what you ‘should’ be doing with your newborn baby. You need to find it out for yourself as you go along. Its much more relaxing that way. – Karen

10. Do what works for YOUR family, regardless of whether others agree with it or not! – Carie

11. Pray over your child nightly – Marlene

12. Figure out how to afford a monthly housekeeping by a professional. So worth the investment! – Michele

13. Enjoy every second of your motherhood – … Its too precious. Never treat them as a burden. – Lynn

14. Stock up on the batteries…. There are very few toys that don’t need them… A pack or two in all sizes. – Carla

15. Don’t pump until you get things sorted out. Pumping just makes you feel bad.  Also, smell your baby whenever you can. That delicious baby smell doesn’t last nearly long enough.  – Sarah

16. Breastfeed your baby. The best milk on earth!  – Lynn

17. Patience patience patience. And your hygiene is just as important as the baby’s. Take a shower everyday. Let the bundle cry for 10 minutes if it means you feel refreshed.  – Josie

18. Babies cry, it’s what they do. And sometimes there is nothing we can do to soothe them. Our job is NOT to make them stop crying- it is to hold them your child while they cry. – Karen

19. Get your hair cut and colored right before the baby is born. It will be a LONG time before you will have the time or energy to make it to the salon again. – Rebekah

20. Breath. It’s ok to walk away and breath. – Tasha

21. Take everything people tell you what you should and shouldn’t be doing with a grain of salt. Only you know what’s best for your baby!!!! Never doubt your mama instinct!!! – Kimberly

22. Hold you baby as much as you can. Enjoy every precious moment. – Joy

23. Sleep when the baby sleeps. Share the care responsibilities. Take lots of pictures! Daddy will always do it different than you and THAT IS OKAY!!!!! – Lisa

24. Oh wow. That time really does fly. That every stage is a passing one, and before you know it your babies will not be babies anymore. They’ll be moody teenagers or in the blink of an eye, off to university. IT GOES SO FAST!! Cherish those baby days.  – Jackie

25. Follow your heart/gut on what you feel is right for raising your own baby. Don’t let others make you feel like you don’t know what you are doing because upi are a new mom and they have more. Don’t let others make you feel like crap if you don’t breast feed your baby, they don’t know why you maybe can’t or don’t want to. Enjoy every moment, they are the most amazing gift EVER! – Janel

26. Go with your heart instinct on what is best for your child. Don’t let the books and others fear you into doing “it” a certain way. Each child is unique and has different needs. Don’t feel guilty to do what you feel is best for the little one you love so much! – Jennifer

27. It’s already been said but I will reinforce because it’s soooo important. SLEEP, SLEEP, SLEEP…you need it. You’re a much better mother with some rest; dishes, laundry, whatever…it can wait. Learn to be okay with a messy house sometimes.  There’s no such thing as too much love.  – Andrea

28. Enjoy! It goes so quick! – Julie

29. Give yourself some grace: motherhood is a work in progress, we’re always learning and even the best make mistakes from time to time. – Jennifer

30. Ask for help!! Don’t be ashamed everyone needs help. – Lisa

31. Take pictures of the good times… evidence for later – Jes

32. Find time to take care of your essential needs because you will feel better. And have patience during the sleepless nights and enjoy that time with them instead of getting angry or depressed, allow yourself to adapt to the change in your {daily} plans. Babies are only babies for a little while. – Brianna

33. Patience and love. Oh and make sure you always have replacement batteries and that your phone is always handy for priceless Kodak moments. – Darla

34. Unconditional love. You cannot like their behavior but you can love the child in words and actions. – Latricia

35. Everyone loves to give advice. Go with your instinct and intuition. If something works for you and people disagree go with your gut feeling. – Leni

36. Everyone has meltdown days, so don’t feel like a failure when you do too. – Bronte

37. Ignore the baby books and others advice listen to your baby. – Karina

38. Make sure to eat. – Kelly

39. You don’t need all the baby stuff. Just hold them, talk to them, read to them and love them. They don’t need every bouncy, saucer, and seat they sell at babies r us. – Jodie

40. You know those icky-sticky Weetabix leftovers that turn to concrete ….. If there’s no time to clear them….. Wet a flannel/face washer with hot washer and lay over the top! Wipes up super fast when you get back from whatever you have to do. mama x 8, Emma.

41. Don’t stress about the house being super clean. A house where your kids feel comfortable playing and being creative is a happy one! – Kristen

42. All of the above, plus don’t over research anything. You’ll only scare yourself needlessly. Trust me. – Michele.

43. Don’t think just because someone has more kids than you that they know it all. – Faige

44. Take pictures…they change so fast. – Stephanie

45. Take the time to play with them. – Monica

46. Rock them while they are little, it goes away so fast. You will never regret it. – Dionne

47. You will never regret being sweet with your child, but you will regret it if your grouchy with them. Especially, when you see their precious lil face after they fall asleep. – Elizabeth

48. Relax, if you are lucky they will be out of the house in about 30 years. – Mary

49. Trust your instincts. – Andrea

50. Time with your baby is more important than stuff for your baby. Treasure the baby time. – Jill

http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/parents-guide2/

Wholesome Homemade 1st Baby Foods

"Mushy yes, but tasteless never!"

You're excited, your baby is around 6 months of age and has reached a new milestone: it's time to start 

BABY FOODS. There's nothing more satisfying than watching your child discover the joys of eating. "Most of our taste preferences are formed early in life—in the first couple of years and especially in the first year—by the kinds of exposures we have," says Alan Greene M.D., author of Feeding Baby Green.

Where to start? What to buy? How to prepare it? If you have decided that you would like to make your very own baby food then you're in luck - I've done my research so you don't have to. 

Why I choose to make my own? When you make it at home, you know exactly what’s in it and can get your little one in the healthy habit of eating realistic flavours. 

When to feed?

"The best time to feed your baby solids for the first time is when he's feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed—in the morning or right after a nap," says Karen Ansel R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (ADA) Your baby should be hungry but not starving and that there aren't too many distractions around. 

What to feed?

The first foods you should feed your baby are those that are easily digested and least likely to trigger an allergic reaction. Don’t be tempted to add salt or sugar to your baby’s food however bland. Salt may harm your baby’s kidneys and sugar will encourage a sweet tooth. If you want to add some flavour you can add some cinnamon or coconut oil, coconut oil is .  

You should give your baby one new food at a time, and wait a a minimal of 2 to 3 days before starting another. After your baby has gotten used to the act of eating, introduce new foods rapidly.The foods baby likes or dislikes will change constantly - don't give up on a food you think your baby does not like; offer it at least 10 times. Be sure to try the disliked food again later.

The first thing most people will tell you to start with is infant cereal, which makes sense? Or does it?

What I have come to discover is that most infant cereals are highly refined, processed bland and studies are now revealing that grains may not be good starter foods for baby to digest. 

My suggestion (backed up by my daughters reaction to her first foods) is to sticking to REAL foods as your babies first foods. Afterall, vegetables have a much higher nutrient content than grains and less chance of an allergic response.

So far my #1 first baby food is Avo. Avocado, often referred to as the "perfect food", has a fantastic creamy texture, it's fresh, it doesn't require any cooking and it is FULL of nutrients and "good" fat, PLUS my little one LOVES it, in fact she grabs the spoon in a hurry to get more in.

#2 Sweet Potato, a nutritional "all-star" loaded with carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium and fiber. These can be baked, steamed, boiled or microwaved and then blended. This is another of my daughters favourite foods thus far.

#3 Coconut - is very nutricious, and high in lauric acid which also happens to be the main fatty acid found in breast milk. Lauric acid is what makes breast milk so digestible and is believed to protect the body from infection and boost the immune system. You can cream fresh coconut using some of the milk or you can let her drink coconut milk from a bottle. Coconut oil is considered to be the healthiest type of dietery oil, I simply add a dash of coconut oil to pureed butternut or sweet potato.

#4 Butternut

   #5 Banana is another baby food that is as easy as 123 to prepare, plus it comes "packaged". Bananas are bursting with nutrients and also aid the intestines in making a valuable mucous lining, ripe banana contains amylase enzymes to digest carbohydrates. Furthermore, it is a favourite amongst the 'littlies'. Banana's are naturally sweet, therefore you can use them in food combinations to give more flavour or sweetness to other fruits or vegetables such as apples, blueberries, kiwi, peaches, pears, pumpkin, and sweet potato.

It is recommended that you purchase organic though, because the peel is porous. 

#6 Baked Apple and Cinnamon Pureé

You can even throw a banana or some almonds (when they're a bit older) into this mix and it's still a winner!

#10 Flaxseeds At around 7-8 months you can start adding ground flaxseeds or flaxseed oil to add essential omega's to your babies food. 

For more fantastic recipes:
Baby Popsicles
Coconut - Ideal First Food Recipe

New Year's Resolutions for Moms

First off - A very Happy New Year to you.

That's right its New Year's Resolution time, and while some of you mom's are conforming to non-conformism, I find New Year a really good time to work on some personal improvements. The definition of "personal improvement" has grown substantially along with my new role as a mother. As moms, generally we're often working to improve ourselves so that we can also improve the lives of our children, but as moms, we cannot be extravagant when setting our goals, we have to be as realistic as possible.

Here are some common goals that other moms have set, as well as my five cents worth about each.

1. I will keep the house cleaner

My 5 cents: Seriously? If you have kids at home, your house is never going to be perfectly clean - I say get real, build a bridge and cross this off your list.

2. I will make a healthy, homemade dinner every night Try setting a general weekly menu plan with meals that are easy and quick to make for busy weekday evenings. Spending a small amount of planning time each week will make it easier to stick to your healthier meal plan.

My 5 cents: Now this is something that is definitely achievable and is definitely worth the effort. I'd go one step further here and say: "I will make a healthy, homemade dinner every night for my family to enjoy around the dinner table".

3. I will take more pictures of my kids
My 5 cents: Not possible for me. I'm quite sure my little one is the most photographed child around. For us, I am constantly grabbing the nearest camera to capture precious moments, so in my mind, if you are missing the camera shots maybe you're missing the moments too? If this is the case - get back in the game mom and rather make this resolution "Commit to my kids".

4. Eat more chocolate and less vegetables.

I need those chocolate endorphins to keep me just a few steps ahead of the children.

My 5 cents: I think this is one I may add to my list in a few years time.
Please do let me know if you have any realistic and amusing resolutions by commenting below.

http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/821019/The-Frazzled-Mommy-s-Top-10-New-Year-s-Resolutions