March 2010 newsletter

You are one in a million
Each month I am asked to dispense advice on a number of baby issues from feeding to sleep and development. I am passionate about helping moms and I know how tough those first few months are. But tonight I was reminded how each baby and mom is so unique and really no advice can be cookie cut and dished out to all and sundry!

A mom who is close to me called telling me that her three month old is waking 3 hourly at night to feed and is feeding 2 ½ to 3 hourly during the day. I know that at this stage he should be stretching a little more, particularly at night, I think she must be exhausted and I wonder how she must feel. But as I considered what advice would be the ‘right’ advice, I realized that there are some very specific pieces to this puzzle: her baby is not gaining weight wonderfully so she cannot try to stretch his feeds until he is gaining well so she has a few options:

1. She can go onto medication to increase her milk supply
2. She can supplement his feeds with a bottle of formula
3. She can continue to feed on demand and her milk supply will increase naturally.

She asked what I suggested. I paused and asked her what she thought and as she answered I realized that because she and her baby are unique, in her heart she knows what she wants to do:
She said: She doesn’t want medication to increase her supply; she is certain she does not want to go the formula route yet. So she chose to demand feed and cope with the sleep deprivation.
Then she asked what I would have done and I knew it really didn’t matter – she is doing 100% the right thing for her and in her heart she knows it.

In the early days it’s hard to hear your gut sense but because you and your baby are one in a million, it really is the only right way to parent!

 

 

HAPPY DAYS
With our lovely weather in South Africa we are lucky that our children do spend a lot of time outdoors. Use your garden as Nature’s Classroom and get outdoors and play and learn with this natural wonderland.

 

 

PEACEFUL NIGHTS
In the early days, getting up to your baby every few hours night after night can be exhausting and overwhelming. There are night time “angels” who come to your house and take over the night ritual for you so that you can get some sleep, but is hiring in help in the wee hours a good idea? Meg Faure discusses the pros and cons of night nannies.

TALKS AND WORKSHOPS
Ann and Meg will answer all your baby questions AND you get a free signed copy of the brand NEW EDITION of Baby Sense, hot off the press. For dates and details of the Baby Sense Celebration Tour brought to you by Netcare, Johnsons Baby and Parent 24

 

Cape Town:
11 March, 09:30 - 12:30, Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital AND
12 March, 09:30 - 12:30, Netcare Christian Barnard Hospital.

Gauteng:
16 March, 08:30 - 11:30, Netcare Parklane Hospital AND
17 March, 14:30 - 17:30, Netcare Unitas Hospital.

Durban:
19 March, 08:30 - 11:30, Netcare St Augustines

 

To make a booking call Nolitha on 086 111 4891 or
email seminars@babysense.co.za

 

Baby Sense launches their award winning feeding pillow, the Nurture Nest here in South Africa. The Nurture Nest (R299) is the perfect shape for breastfeeding, is small enough to fit in a nappy bag and is also a great pregnancy pillow. Get this amazing product at Baby City, Edgars and Baby Boom or order it here online!

COMPETITION
Guess how many people will sign up to our Facebook page in March and enjoy the benefits of our online community. Email your guesses to antoinette@babysense.com and the closest 3 guesses will win a Baby Sense Taglet.

 

 

JOIN OUR BUZZING ONLINE COMMUNITY
Join us on Facebook and add your comments and questions. Let Baby Sense and almost 3000 other parents join in your parenting journey. Take our online poll and tell us if you would consider hiring in someone to help you through those early sleepless nights. Last month you told us that over 50% of you still prefer to get around with a pram, while wearing your baby in a sling is gaining traction all the time. Come on mums and dads. Get your baby out of the pram and into a Baby Sense Sling – it was featured on the soap, EastEnders this week!

 

 

BABY SENSE BLOG
Parenting is such a tough job. We are constantly torn between the highs and lows, the joys and the guilt. In March we are talking about parenting and its contradictions. Join our discussion.

 

 

THE BABY SENSE DIRECTORY
Welcome to our new Service Partners on our Directory . The Breastfeeding Clinic, Gift ov Life, Pikanini Baby Academy, Kids on Camera, Body Pillow and Netcells Cryogenics. We are also running exciting new specials, competitions and events. Remember to send in your baby’s picture to suzaan@babysense.com for our Babies of the Week gallery.

 

 

THIS MONTH TRY...
Balloon play – Babies love balloons and they are a great way to start developing hand-eye co-ordination and ball skills. They are large and move slowly so they are perfect for your baby and toddler to use. Try grasping, holding, hitting with hands or a small bat, kicking, balancing it on body parts and rolling on it. Supervise at all times. If the balloon pops you must be sure to pick up all of the bits so that your little ones don’t put them in their mouths.

 

 

 

 

BABY SENSE LOVES...
Kids Emporium . Lauren Crofton the brains and energy behind Kids Emporium makes it her life’s work to launch new baby brands. She does an amazing job and we love the outlay of her stores and easy way you can park right outside the Greenpoint and Fourways shops. She carries only the best, exclusive baby brands so pop in for some unique baby products!

 

 

BABY SENSE GIVES A SHOUT OUT TO
Cotlands who are running a Prenatal 2 Primary Photo Competetion as a fundraising project. Entries cost R40 for ages 0-7 and there are wonderful prizes up for grabs. For details and an entry form visit their website.

We want to know about places, people and services that have made a difference to you in your pregnancy, birth and parenting journey.
Email antoinette@babysense.com so we can hear about them too.

 

 

BABY SENSE IN THE NEWS
Do you love the soap opera EastEnders? Well the Baby Sense sling was featured on it this week in the UK, so watch out for it in the future episodes here in SA.