Innholdsfortegnelse for May - June 2019 i Your Baby & Toddler

We had serious cute attacks here at the office going through all the entries for our cover baby competition. Just turn to pages 12 to 15 to see what I mean. What a challenge it was to narrow it down to the final 24! Congratulations if your little one made it through, and I’m sure we can all agree that each and every little face is worthy of a cover. Thank you also to our sponsors – Baby City, Epi-max and Calpol – for making sure that our winner gets treated... not that we know who that is yet... Oh, the suspense! This issue is jampacked with reading to tide you over for the full two months until we reveal the winner in our next issue, which goes on shelf…

YOUR BABY – A LIFE SAVER! I gave birth, naturally, to my handsome Chinese-eyed Sotho boy Reneue Onkgarabetse Mofokeng in January this year. As it was my first child, I read all I could lay my hands on about pregnancy and babies. So I thought I was prepared. Until that moment when my baby was placed into my arms for his first feed. My initial thoughts were, like, “Sure, this will be easy as pie!” But, oh no, the sting that came with his first latch onto my nipple was one no book had prepared me for. Oh yes, it stung! And I thought it would just go away, and it didn’t. One night the pain was so unbearable I ran to my mom in tears. A search on the…

“I love, love children. I love being a dad; it’s one of the joys of life. In fact, you can take it all away from me tomorrow, but don’t take away my children.” – Idris Elba “Raising kids is part joy and part guerrilla warfare.” – Ed Asner “Any fool can have a child. That doesn’t make you a father. It’s the courage to raise a child that makes you a father.” – Barack Obama “Sleep is non-existent. It’s chaos at times, but there’s such joy in the house.” – Brad Pitt “I think the best thing to try to do is allow your daughter or son to know that they can come to you for anything.” – Jamie Foxx “You can’t explain it until it happens – it’s like…

Send us a clear, good-quality photo to littleangels@yourbaby.co.za Each photo published receives a R350 Baby City Voucher…

WALKING INTO the parenting section of any bookshop can be a dizzying experience – there are just so many books on how to be the best possible parent ever and how to never ever mess up your child. We are bombarded with parenting buzzwords such as tiger mom, helicopter parent, and free-range parent and parenting philosophies such as attachment parenting, positive parenting, child-centred, collaborative… the list is seemingly endless. But are we overthinking our roles as parents? In her article “How to land your kid in therapy” (read it on theatlantic.com), Lori Gottlieb, therapist and mother, certainly thinks we are. Lori feels that modern parents try too hard to make sure their children are happy all the time, and we do this by protecting them from any negative feelings. But…

✓ Get involved! Remember, you’re the most important role model in your child’s life. By being active with your child, you can encourage her lifelong enjoyment of physical activity – while benefitting your own health at the same time. ✓ Choose toys that encourage activity. For infants, boxes, pots, pans and hoops can encourage reaching, stretching, crawling and moving. For babies and toddlers, choose toys and play materials such as balls, bats, tricycles and kites – with supervision – that encourage movement and help develop skills. Play materials don’t need to be expensive and can be found around the house. ✓ When you can, involve all of the family – try walking to the park, playing soccer in the backyard, or going to the zoo as a special treat. ✓…

MY BABY’S MOUTH SLIPS OFF MY FULL BREASTS Q: By the time my baby’s ready for her next feed my breasts are full and her mouth just slips off my nipple, so she struggles to latch correctly. What can I do to avoid this problem and relieve my full breasts? A: Newborn babies may not be able to empty the breasts at each feed, particularly if mom has a lot of milk. You may also find that the interval between feeds might be too long, causing your breasts to be overfull when your baby tries to latch. Overfull breasts can cause blocked ducts, which can be painful and uncomfortable. This can be relieved by using a cold compress like frozen cabbage leaves or gel breast pads on your breasts. When…

AHEAD OF HAVING her baby boy in September 2018, Zinzi Ngwenya considered herself prepared for all of the most pertinent issues she could think of. Having navigated a difficult pregnancy through a painful ovarian cyst, extended morning sickness and the passing of her brother in her second trimester, Zinzi did her best to stay strong for her unborn baby and armed herself with information about possible preterm birth and postnatal depression, among other obstacles she might have to face once her baby was born. She was, however, not prepared for the natural delivery of a full-term 4.5kg baby boy – Sisanda Creed – and the unexpected challenges that came with it. As a petite young woman, weighing just 54kg before falling pregnant, Zinzi did not in any way expect to…

Mastitis can strike at any stage of breastfeeding and if your feeding, which was once painless, becomes excruciatingly sore and you develop a fever, see your doctor at once. “It is commonly due to blocked ducts which can occur at any time, but especially when baby starts stretching the time between feeds. If caught in time, a course of probiotics and a few sessions of ultrasound treatment may be enough, although usually antibiotics are required. Regular emptying of the breast will relieve discomfort,” says Sister Cindy Homewood. The same goes for the fungal infection known as thrush. It’s also painful and needs to be treated right away, as it can interfere with breastfeeding.…

According to the Postnatal Depression Support Association of South Africa (pndsa.org.za), it is completely normal to get “the baby blues” after your baby is born – particularly on the infamous day three when your milk comes in. You should start to feel better after two weeks. “The two to six-week period is still a difficult one though, where moms are adjusting to motherhood and often, despite being fussed over and receiving presents from friends and family, the majority of moms don’t feel that great about their new role yet. It’s an adjustment period where many moms feel hormonal and tired,” says Sister Cindy Homewood. “If after six weeks you’re still feeling no improved sense of adjustment, with panicky and anxious feelings throughout your day, it’s important to speak to your…

I THINK MY BABY HAS LOW MUSCLE TONE Q: My friend mentioned to me the other day that her daughter has low muscle tone. I’m worried that my son might have it too, as they are quite similar in build – he is quite slight and not very strong in his arms or legs. How will I know if my son has low muscle tone, and what can I do to strengthen it? A: Sam replies: There are a number of typical signs children with low muscle tone display. If you find your son has a large number of these, you could take him to a physiotherapist or occupational therapist for an assessment and possible treatment. Remember, even average children will have a few of these features, but the typical…

Creamy cauliflower & pear soup 1 tablespoon butter 1 leek, chopped ½ head cauliflower, washed and cut into florets 1 pear, peeled, cored and cut into chunks 2 cups milk 1 In a heavy-based pot, melt the butter and fry the leek over medium heat for a minute or two until soft but not brown. 2 Add the cauliflower, pear and milk. Reduce heat, cover and cook for about 15 minutes until cauliflower is tender. (Watch like a hawk, as the milk will boil over very easily.) 3 Remove from the heat and purée using a hand blender or food processor. Tomato soup 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 onion, chopped 2 carrots, peeled and grated 1 clove garlic, crushed 8 plum tomatoes, chopped 1 tin whole, peeled tomatoes 3 cups…

HEARING IS PRECIOUS Q: My one child seemed to instinctively avoid loud noises, but my other one will stand right in front of the television or even turn the music on really loud. I worry about him damaging his ears. What should I do to protect my child’s hearing? And how would I know if he has already damaged his ears? A: Dr Dirk Koekemoer answers: As adults, we’re more accustomed to the noises around us – and also better informed on how to manage excessive noise. However, children are not, which makes them vulnerable to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), if the adults around them don’t protect and educate them. NIHL happens when the tiny hair cells in the inner ear are damaged by exposure to excessive noise, reducing their…

STITCHES AND SCARS Q:I had to take my four-year-old to the ER last month as her cheek split open after a face bump with another girl on the trampoline. It was nearly a big mess. The doctor tried to use glue to stick the sides together, but it wouldn’t hold. His fingers nearly got stuck to her face, and some glue ran into her eye too. She was screaming all the time, so after a while I told him to stop. We called the plastic surgeon instead, and the next morning he stitched her up under general anaesthetic. Please give all parents some advice on when to call the plastic surgeon and what injuries plastic surgeons typically treat in children. A: Dr Rory Dower answers: When it comes to open…

“There is a reflex that can be directly linked to potty training and soiling after the age of five,” explains occupational therapist Jeanè Kolbé. “If a child still has the spinal galant reflex present, it is very difficult for them to potty train, and it also leads to accidents after the age of five. “If your child is still having regular accidents at the age of five, I would suggest taking them to a urologist to rule out a physical or medical reason,” says educational psychologist Erika Basson. Bennetts Baby Bum Créme, R82.95, Baby City, Pick n Pay, Checkers/Shoprite, Spar, Dis-Chem, Clicks…

For the bedroom We used two tiny boxes available from craft stores. One was turned upside down to become the bed, and the other used to make a chest at the foot of the bed. Use scraps of material to make bedding. Two fabric flowers are decorative pillows. For the kitchen A tiny glass jar is the base for the table, and a small circle of wood is the table top. A cork serves as one chair, and the wire from the cork as the other. A small plastic bell makes the perfect light fitting, and buttons look like miniature plates against the wall. Gingham fabric was used to make a cute rug. For the bathroom A tiny plastic catering tub was used as a bath. A miniature tray was…

THE BLACKSMITH AND THE DRAGONFLY by Riana Louw & Charles Siboto R160 Ndiliswa dreams of becoming a warrior and the commander of the king’s army. But she’s a girl, and she does not come from any money – the daughter of a poor blacksmith who makes spears just to get by. Prince Siyabulela has never been a soldier like his younger brother, and his father fears that he won’t be a good king. When Siyabulela is transformed into a dragonfly by a wicked spell, it’s up to Ndiliswa to defeat their enemies and save the prince. An original fairy tale with a strong black woman in the lead – this will delight and inspire young readers. ROALD DAHL’S 123 by Roald Dahl R150 Starring the Enormous Crocodile, this counting board…

IN 2012, a Swedish study revealed that one in three young couples break up. That number is incredible, if only for the fact that it isn’t more. Ask any couple, and they’ll tell you that intimacy is the first thing to fly out of the window after the arrival of a baby. Add youthful parental inexperience into the mix – and it’s not surprising that more than half of the children born in South Africa will go on to grow up without their father. Whenever I tell people I’m a father to a one-year-old, the first question is almost always, “Are you and the mother still together?” This isn’t surprising. Parenthood is something of a black hole that devours everything that comes its way. Money, relationships and time all crumble…

For every bedtime, bathtime, mealtime and for every little thing you do, PURITY supports and partners with you every step of the way to ensure that your little ones can be the best they can be. From pregnancy to birth and through to your baby’s formative years, PURITY offers a full range of nutrition and care products for moms-to-be, babies and toddlers. The mom of our cover baby wins a Mother’s Day hamper including a selection of products from PURITY & Elizabeth Anne’s. See purity.co.za and facebook.com/PurityBaby…

When I got the news from my girlfriend, Prudence Ntsoahae, that she was pregnant, I was caught off guard and really didn’t know what to do. But, I took the decision to journey with her through it all. A journey I hope one day she’ll share with my son, who is currently six months, and therein you’ll have the foretaste of the uncertainty of me as an expectant father. But, then you were born, and the first time I embraced you, all of me changed – I became a father to the most beautiful soul ever! In my Sotho culture, there is a saying that: “Letsibolo le letona ke thaka ya ntata lona” – loosely translated means a male firstborn is of the same age as his father. With you,…

LOUIS PASTEUR IS probably turning in his grave. Pasteur was the Frenchman who did breakthrough work in the 1800s in terms of vaccinating against deadly contagious diseases. Last year, it became law in his country of birth for parents to have their children inoculated. It is “unacceptable” that children are “still dying from measles” in the birth country of the earliest pioneers of vaccinations, said prime minister Édouard Philippe at the time. What brought on this comment, you might wonder? A new French revolution is brewing, fuelled by the so-called “anti-vaxxers”. Not just in France though… Across the developed world, vaccination rates are dropping because of suspicions and insinuations about vaccines. And governments are responding with legislation and official vaccination programmes. Like in Italy, where children who are not inoculated…

Q I’ve lost my Road to Health Card. How can I get a new one, and will the sister fill in the previous vaccinations for me? A Netcare, the Road to Health Card can only be done at the hospital where the baby was born. But, if you were dealing with one clinic and one sister who has the file and history of that baby at her clinic, then she can fill in the info of those vaccines she has on the system. You are required to fill in an affidavit stating that you have lost your card. Q Can I give my baby something for pain before I take him for the vaccination? A No. Giving your baby pain medication in advance is an ancient practice and is no…

NAUGHTY, NICE, EASY, DIFFICULT… Are these words you (and others) use to categorise your child? Try a different perspective for a change, and focus on your child’s specific conduct and behavioural patterns – and say goodbye to that label, which helps neither you nor your child. Discipline experts like saying that naughty children don’t exist, but naughty behaviour does. Your task as a parent is to prevent that behaviour from becoming the norm, because this can make things very difficult going forward. This is how you do it: REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS Don’t be too quick to diagnose a behavioural disorder. Keep your child’s age in mind, because some “naughty” ways are completely normal for a two-year-old but a problem if they still persist in a teenager. By about 18 months your…

IT DOESN’T FEEL LIKE she’ll ever forget the pain she felt at the time, remembers Sandra de Wet* from Johannesburg. Her little girl was two and her son four when she and her husband got divorced. “If I knew then how much it would influence the little ones and how many nights I’d cry about their sadness and uncertainty, I might have fought harder for my marriage. We had no idea how bad it would become for them. My daughter is already seven now, but it’s still an uphill battle. Her dad has met someone else and lives in another province, but she still prays every night that he will return. Her dad and I were at one stage very upset with each other, and I know we both at…

NEWBORN (UP TO ONE YEAR OLD) MOVING This entails being physically active through interactive floor-based play, including crawling. Babies who are not yet mobile can have about 30 minutes of tummy time spread throughout the day, which can include other movements such as reaching and grasping. SITTING While sitting, your baby can play with safe objects and toys, have baby conversations with you or her caregiver, singing and telling stories. Babies should not be strapped in and unable to move for more than an hour at a time, be it in a pram, high chair or even when strapped on someone’s back. SLEEPING For babies aged zero to three months, at least 14 to 17 hours, while babies aged four to 11 months must get 12 to 16 hours of…

SKIN-TO-SKIN CONTACT helps a newborn baby with temperature regulation and maintenance, aids both sleep and awake time and promotes better digestion and growth. What is this miracle treatment? An old-fashioned snuggle with baby! Babies, and particularly preterm babies, thrive on a parent’s touch. Research by skin-to-skin care initiator Dr Nils Bergman shows that holding your naked baby against your bare chest has definite benefits. According to Dr Welma Lubbe, clinical education specialist, in premature babies these benefits include improved physiological stability, better levels of alertness, improved breastfeeding success, bonding and less crying at six months of age. Touching and holding your baby like this also gives you the confidence to take care of him. It’s the perfect bonding opportunity and even helps to calm you too. Let Dad try it…

Obese women (anyone with a body mass index of 30kg/m2 or more) have a higher risk of experiencing complications during pregnancy, labour and delivery, therefore your health prior to conception plays a role in fetal growth. Studies have shown that overweight women have the lowest risk of giving birth to low-birthweight infants, and their babies tend to be born large for gestational age. Once you fall pregnant, it is of utmost importance to ensure that you consume a balanced and healthy diet, as well as ingest the right nutrients, vitamins and minerals, despite your preconception weight. A registered dietitian can provide you with some guidelines on how much weight gain would be healthy during your pregnancy. Your diet, health and nutritional status before and during pregnancy greatly influence your baby’s…

If your baby’s face is covered in little pimples, don’t be tempted to pop or exfoliate them. This is quite common and a result of your hormones leaving her body. They should disappear after about two weeks. Also, if your baby’s scalp has flaky, dry skin that looks like dandruff, or thick, oily, yellowish or brown scaling or crusting patches, it’s probably cradle cap. It’s very common – especially in the first three months. It’s not caused by poor hygiene, and if it doesn’t clear up on its own, rub some olive oil on your baby’s head and comb it out. Never pick it, as this could cause infection.…

YOU’VE WELCOMED YOUR NEW family member into this world and done everything you possibly could to make sure they’ll be safe – including getting them a car seat. But are you on top of all the car seat dos and don’ts? For starters, take care when buying or using second-hand seats. If you are buying new, don’t just grab the first one that you come across at the shop. And your main consideration should be safety and comfort – not that it goes well with the look and style of your car! Car seats pose many dangers of which parents, especially new ones, should be aware, says occupational therapist and founder of Car Seat Support South Africa, Julie Monson, who also has her own blog, Precious Cargo. One of the…

The more mobile your baby gets, the more possible safety hazards there are around the house. Keep your little busybody safe: In the living room Pad any sharp corners (such as those on glass tables) with furniture padding available at baby stores, or roll up tea towels, and tape them in place. These prevents baby from getting a nasty bump if she falls while cruising. In the kitchen Store all cleaning fluids, medicines, alcohol and vitamins (as well as knives, forks, scissors and other sharp items) high enough to be out of your baby’s reach whether he’s crawling, cruising or walking. In the bathroom Fit your toilet seats with locks – drowning can happen in shallow water in just seconds, so you can never be too cautious with a curious,…

Keep pushing fluids Make sure your baby gets enough fluids, so that he doesn’t get dehydrated. “Clear fluids or milk (either breast milk or formula if your baby is on formula) should suffice, and if your baby is eating solids, encourage him to eat too,” says paediatrician Dr Deliwe Ngwezi. You can also offer your baby an electrolyte solution mixed with water. Sponge him down with lukewarm water Undress your baby, and use a sponge dipped in lukewarm water to pat him down. This will help him feel more comfortable and may even help bring the fever down a bit. Don’t put your baby in a cold bath, as this could be quite a shock to his system. Keep the environment cool Don’t overdress your baby – keep him comfortable,…

The word “cerebral” comes from the Latin word cerebrum, meaning brain. “Palsy” means paralysis. • Cerebral palsy (CP) is caused by an injury or malformation in the brain, and it usually happens before or during birth, for instance if the mother had an infection or disease that can affect the baby, such as German measles (rubella), chickenpox or herpes, to mention but a few. • A lack of oxygen during an unusually complicated or traumatic birth can also lead to CP. • Newborns can acquire CP if they contract bacterial meningitis or viral encephalitis or even severe jaundice, or if they have a stroke or head injury. • Genetic mutations can also be a cause. People affected by CP struggle with motor control, so they have various degrees of movement…

With the help of her best friend, Megan Ras, creative mom Rebecca Badrodin used an Astroturf rug as the backdrop, and framed it with hessian. They hung delicate white paper balls in the trees of the Killarney Country Club in Joburg. Under a custom-made banner, a table groaned with a selection of treats, including biscuits and cookies, homemade jelly, a variety of sweets as well as the vanilla birthday cake. Golf balls in glass jars and vanilla cake pops stuck into small vases filled with wheatgrass brought the golf theme home. SUPPLIERS Venue Killarney Country Club killarneycountryclub.co.za Photography Ruth du Toit ruthdutoit.co.za Sugar cookies Sprinkles Bakery instagram.com/sprinklesbaking Cake, cake pops & chocolate-dipped Oreos Sugar Paper Parties sugarandpaper.co.za Décor Party Spot partyspot.co.za Personalised birthday banner Studio Hooray studiohooray.co.za If you would…

IT’S OFTEN DESCRIBED as the hardest and most thankless job one can ever do. Yet, it is one of the most fulfilling roles. A few celebrities share their take on the joys of being a mother this Mother’s Day. “The thing that has changed the most about me since I became a mom is that my heart keeps getting bigger and bigger.” – Kerry Washington, Entertainment Online “I try to be the best version of myself and to have faith that they’re watching me as carefully when I do something right as they do when I roll through a stop sign.” – Jennifer Garner, Today. “Every time I look at Luna, I wonder, ‘How on earth does anybody do this alone?’ I have the utmost respect for mothers (and) single…

Locally, websites that try to increase support for the anti-vaccination movement are increasing, writes Rose Burnett, head of the South African Vaccination & Immunisation Centre and the department of virology at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University in Limpopo, in an article in The South African Medical Journal (SAMJ). Most anti-vaccination websites are American. But locally, they are also being created. Blogs or forums make up 40,3 percent of these sites, articles 55 percent and e-shops 4,5 percent. The writers are mostly laypeople and parents (63,5 percent), or practitioners specialising in complementary or alternative medicine (30,8 percent) or practitioners who only practice allopathic medicine (5,8 percent). Advertising appears on 55,2 percent of these pages, the majority of which can be linked to organisations that stand to gain financially by making…

THE FIRST TIME my brother Rofhiwa Maneta found out he was going to be a father, the news knocked the wind out of him. After all, it was not in Rofhiwa’s plans to be a father yet. Not only did he think he was young and not so ready, but the nagging fear of not having enough money to take care of himself, let alone someone else, was a constant. “I still remember the day I found out – 22 March 2017. Two days before that, my girlfriend, Mandy Mbekeni, told me she’d missed her period. When she finally got her hands on a pregnancy test, my worst fears were confirmed,” Rofhiwa recalls. “My initial reaction was shock. I couldn’t believe it was happening.” Besides the fact that the pregnancy…

Stick to your child’s routine A baby’s biggest need is to feel safe in a predictable environment in which a normal routine is maintained, says psychologist Irene Strydom. “The biggest gift you can give a small child is sticking to your routine. If Dad has never bathed the children or changed a nappy, he should start doing so now, since he’ll have to do it in his new home. The routine should be the same in both households if possible.” Focus on your child’s needs Try and be patient and listen to what your child wants, says clinical psychologist Sinette van Rooy Booysen. It will help your child if new routines can be established. Avoid conflict with the other parent “Children have the following needs during a divorce: contact with…

NEWBORN MOVING Supervised daily tummy time of 30 minutes should take place on a safe flat surface. If your baby struggles during (she might cry after a short while), shorten tummy time to about five to 10 minutes, a few times over the day. Make tummy time fun and stimulating by holding or scattering age-appropriate toys just out of your baby’s reach to encourage her to move, lift her head up and look around. This is good for your baby’s physical development and helps her build her strength and get ready to crawl. SITTING Instead of screentime, rather read, tell stories or sing to your baby. These activities support her development and will help you connect with her. When it’s necessary to have your baby strapped in while they’re awake…

WIN A SUDOCREM HAMPER VALUED AT R800 Sudocrem Skin and Baby Care Cream and Sudocrem Care and Protect Cream make winter just a little more bearable. Sudocrem’s water-repellent base forms a protective barrier that assists in stopping any irritants coming into contact with the skin, in this way soothing, moisturising and protecting it. Gentle enough to be used by the whole family, Sudocrem has been around for more than 80 years – it’s a name you can trust. Send a clear, good quality photo to us at littleangels@yourbaby.co.za…

WHEN IT COMES to the first three months with your new baby, or the “fourth trimester” as some experts like to call it, there really is a lot to get used to. And while it’s a magical, special time where you will feed, cuddle, love and hold your baby, it’s also an exhausting and stressful time, where your baby will scream, you will scream, your partner will scream, and your mom will probably scream too. Because not only has your life changed completely – for the better, of course – but you also have this tiny little helpless human being who is completely dependent on you for everything. It’s quite a lot to get your head around, and you have to do it while you’re exhausted. But it does get…

• Never sleep with your baby on a couch or waterbed. • Never let a toddler and a baby sleep together. • Never have a pillow near your baby. • Always put your baby down to sleep on her back. • Never cover your baby with a duvet, leave an electric blanket on or use Happy Huggers or hot water bottles in your bed. Keep your baby warm, not hot. • Try to create a sleep nest (or buy one) that gives your baby her own safe space in your bed. • Never co-sleep if your baby is exposed to cigarette smoke during the day, if you drink or take drugs (and remember, after a caesarean, you are taking strong pain medication), if you’re suffering from extreme fatigue or if…

IT’S WONDERFUL TO SPOIL your child with the shiniest, noisiest toy on the market, but the reality is that very few toys really keep babies and toddlers busy for long. They are explorers and curious little monkeys and love to get their hands on something new. Try to look at the world through your child’s eyes and find value in all kinds of household objects. You’ll be surprised to realise what you can use to make toys, and these toys can truly be of great sensory value for your child. Sensory play is an important part of your child’s learning process, says Wietske Boon, a play therapist from Centurion. “Children learn best when all their senses are involved in the process. Sensory play is also the way in which children…

CLOSE CONTACT COUNTS. In the first three months, skin-on-skin bonding – with both Mom and Dad – is very beneficial. Making eye contact and regularly speaking to your baby is important for language development. “As you go throughout your day, talk about what is going to happen. Touch and name things you encounter,” recommends Dr Melodie Jager, author of Play Learn Grow. GIVE THEM SENSORY STIMULATION. Constantly expose your baby to new textures, colours, sounds and foods. KEEP THEM MOVING. Encourage your baby to use his arms and legs while you play with him, and allow them the space and time to try out their new skills. KEEP IT REAL. Dr de Jager recommends no TV time for babies. Rather let them spend time looking at themselves in a mirror…

THE REFINED BABY food your baby has learnt to eat is not going to interest her for much longer. Over and above her becoming tired of the runny food, it’s also important – for a number of reasons – that she learns to eat more textured food. Coarser food means she needs to chew, and even if she doesn’t have a single tooth, she’s going to start practising for all the chewing that awaits. All the chewing strengthens her tongue and mouth muscles, so that she can stick her tongue out at Dad but also start saying little words real soon. She’s already becoming more interested in Mom’s plate than her own, and if she learns well, she’ll soon be able to eat the same food as the rest of…

If the bump on his head gets bigger over hours or days or your tot develops a temperature “This suggests an underlying skull fracture, and there is nothing specific in terms of first aid that you can do really. The best thing to do in this instance is to get your toddler to a doctor immediately preferably one with CT scan facilities,” says pediatric emergency consultant Dr Deirdre O’Donnell. If he falls over, doesn’t cry and loses consciousness and/or vomits more than three times after the injury “Vomiting after a head injury is very common, but persistent vomiting, regardless of whether the child lost consciousness or not, is considered an indicator for a CT scan, as it can be a sign of increased pressure on the brain inside the skull…

Whether you use a child-sized potty or go straight to the big toilet is really up to you and your child. Occupational therapist Jeanè Kolbé says that a child-sized potty can act as a visual reminder for your child to use it when the sensation strikes. “Children with sensory difficulties also find the toilet scary. It splashes water on their bums when they poo and it makes a big noise when it flushes, so these children prefer the “safer” alternative of a potty,” she adds. Some children though prefer to go straight to the big toilet like their parents. In this case, use a smaller child-sized seat that fits over the toilet, so that your little one doesn’t feel like they’re going to fall in. It’s also a good idea…

Trying to shop with a one-year-old is high up on the list of painful mommy tasks. It almost always ends in tears – and the sweets that line the queues of most shopping aisles are every mom’s nightmare. What usually happens is you land up buying the sweet rather than face the tantrum in public. “As long as this happens only once in a while and not on a daily basis, it really isn’t the end of the world,” says parenting author Ann Richardson. “Sometimes you have no choice.” She does stress that if you’d rather avoid the tantrum in the shops, don’t go shopping at 5pm. Of course, this might be your only option. Give your toddler something to eat before there’s a performance, rather than “reward” her with…

EASIER ALTERNATIVES ✓ If you don’t have tools or can’t saw yourself, ask at the timber shop to have the planks cut to size. ✓ If you want to keep things really simple, don’t bother with a pitch roof. Simply buy four ready-made cubes that you can stick together to make four rooms. ✓ If the wood is too expensive, use old cardboard boxes to make something similar. ✓ You could replace the poster paper that forms the back of the house with a piece of plywood. YOU NEED ➡ Planks You can really use any wood or planks. We used standard pine planks that are 305 mm wide and 5 mm thick. Cut the wood to the following sizes: 5 pieces of 500 mm 1 piece of 455 mm…

STEP 1: GET LIMBER Before you start exercising, always warm up first. Three minutes of gentle exercise will do. Try ankle rolls, side-to-side lunges and shoulder circles. STEP 2: STROLL BRISKLY Once you have warmed up, walk for 20 minutes while pushing the pram. Vary your pace, alternating the intensity throughout the walk for the most effective workout. To test if you’re pushing yourself hard enough, try the “talk” test. Walk at a pace that keeps your heart rate up but allows you to carry on a conversation without losing breath. STEP 3: BUILD STRENGTH At six to 12 weeks postpartum, do 10 reps of each of the exercises below after your 20-minute walk. Three to four months after birth, do 15 reps. After four or more months, do 20…

SMS YB240AFRODOLLS WE’RE GIVING AWAY FIVE AFRICAN DOLL HAMPERS WORTH R1 170 EACH Meet Hunadi, South Africa’s first multilingual black doll! Your child will have a new bestie while learning how to speak new languages. Press her tummy and listen to her speak in English, SeSotho, isiXhosa and isiZulu. To add the cherry on top, Hunadi’s packaging unfolds into a doll house, and your child will love to decorate the house too. Hunadi is funky and cool and wants to be a fashion designer when she grows up. She has big hair and even bigger dreams and comes dressed in a pretty pink shwe-shwe dress, locally handmade leather shoes and beaded accessories. Hunadi does not only bring diversity to our doll world but smiles to local communities by sharing her…