4 Essential Prenatal vitamins

Tuesday 26 October 2010 by Helen

After taking a not-so-serious look at 9 Old Wives Tales, and the seemingly random ways in which you might be able to predict whether you're due a baby boy or girl, I thought it was probably time to provide some facts. No more mythical tales, for now, instead, an all singing all dancing list of 4 Essential Prenatal Vitamins, with some advice on which foods contain the vitamins, recipes and a brief overview of the canned VS fresh debate. I have also thrown a little challenge in at end. (Firstly, a disclaimer -I'm providing general information, not specific medical advice.)

Vitamin A

Why you need it? It helps to maintain healthy teeth, bones and soft tissue. Vitamin A is particularly important for women who are just about to give birth, as it helps with postpartum tissue repair. By helping to support the respiratory, circulatory and central nervous system, it plays a vital role in fighting off infection. It also known to promote good vision, by producing pigments in the retina of the eye.

Where you find it? Pumpkin, which is in season at the moment! It’s also found in green and yellow vegetables, such as carrots, spinach, broccoli and potatoes, as well as in milk and eggs.

Vitamin A advice - A recipe rich in vitamin A is Roast Pumpkin. It's a satisfying dish that can be enjoyed as a side, or a main (with a separate dish of potatoes or veg perhaps on the side.)

Roast Pumpkin - Directions: Slice the pumpkin into quarters and then scrape out the seeds. You can then leave it in quarters or cut it into chunks. Drissle with olive oil before baking in a 200 degree oven for 60 minutes. If you wanted to add a bit more flavour, you could crush chilli and garlic, add a bit of oil, a pinch of salt and make a paste to rub into the pumpkin. Or, if short of time, you could throw a handful of herbs into the baking tray (fresh or dried.) Rosemary, for example, is a hardy herb that is likely to stay rooted in your herb garden for most of the year. Once the pumpkin is roasted, or towards the end of roasting (for the last 5 minutes or so), you could sprinkle with some grated cheese and toasted nuts. I like the contrast in textures of the gooey cheese and the crunchy nuts. (You could use pine nuts, almonds or pecans.)

Vitamin E

Why you need it? It plays a protective and restorative part in many of the body's functions. Vitamin E is an anti-oxidant, so it protects nutrients such as Vitamin A and C from damage by oxygen, it helps the body to resist infection. It supports the heart, creating new red blood cells, strengthening capillary walls and dissolving blood clots.

Where you find it? Spinach, fortified cereals, wheatgerm, vegetable oil and nuts.

Vitamin E excursion - Why not go on a trip, or make it your challenge to find the best or should I say the most fortified cereal that actually tastes good. I read an interesting article today, advising on how you should go about choosing the best fortified cereal. Apparently pre-packaged cereal can be a nutrient packed start to the day. Some cereals are high in fibre, others are higher in iron, so the cereal you choose will depend upon the desired affect. A cereal such as Branflakes, which contains a lot of iron, may be a good start to the day if you're suffering from tiredness or if you're feeling weak (and dizzy) or even suffering from anemia. If on the other hand you are having problems with constipation, then a bowl of All Bran or porridge might help loosen up bowel movements, as these cereals contain the higher amounts of fibre. A lot of cereal contains wheat, and increasingly people seem to be wheat intolerant, Nature’s Path do a good range that caters for the wheat and gluten intolerant. Millet Rice is my personal favourite from that range, they are high in fibre, low in fat and salt, and naturally sweetened with fruit juice. ( Most importantly, they taste great.)

Vitamin C

Why you need it? It’s an antioxidant, commonly known for helping to build up the immune system. In pregnant women it plays a vital role in structuring and building up the foetal membrane. Everyone tends to associate Vitamin C with oranges, but actually 1 cup of strawberries contains 85mg, a much higher level than a single orange, which contains 69 mg.

Where you find it? Tomatoes, potatoes, green beans, peppers and citrus fruits.

Vitamin C - canned? I’ve been reading up on the fresh VS frozen or canned debate and it seems some studies have found that canned foods hold their own when it comes to nutrients. My instinct would be that fresh tomatoes would contain more nutrients, but apparently Vitamin C, A and Thiamine hold up well during canning. Analysis has shown that in some cases (pumpkins for example) Vitamin A levels are higher in the canned product. Here's another recipe suggestion involving Vitamin A and C. You could make a ratatouille to accompany the pumpkin. Remember you can alternate the colour of the peppers, and choose fresh or tinned tomatoes, depending on which is available to you.

Vitamin D

Why you need it?

It helps with the absorption of calcium, vital for health teeth and bones. Vitamin D is also known as ‘The Sunshine Vitamin’, as the sun essentially triggers the body to begin manufacturing the vitamin. Apparently 10-15 minutes, three times a week should be adequate exposure. But, according to an article just a couple of months ago, Vitiman D deficiency in pregnant women in Britain is unacceptably high. So, it may be worth considering ways of upping your levels, and making sure you do get out in the sun (if it's out) at least once during the day.

Where you find it? Fatty Fish, milk, eggs and sunshine. So fishwise; mackerel, pilchards, salmon and sardines.

Vitamin D dilemma - The whole soak up the sun solution isn’t any good when the wind and rain sets in. Common during British summertime and standard during wintertime. By eating fish that’s high in omega 3, pilchards or sardines on toast for example, you'll increase your absorption. Cod Liver Oil supplements can also help, and might be an alternative if you’re not partial to oily fish, quite a rich food to digest if you have a delicate stomach.

Other vital vitamins -

Thiamin (B1) - helps to raise energy levels and regulate the nervous system. Iron is found in fortified cereal, eggs rice, pork and berries.

Folic Acid - can help prevent spina bifida and also supports and strengthens the placenta. Folic Acid found in citrus fruits, leafy green vegetables, brocolli, beans nuts and seeds.

Iron - can help prevent low birth weight, premature delivery and anemia. Iron-rich foods should help with energy levels during pregnancy. Iron is found in beef, pork, dried beans, dried fruit and oatmeal.

Zinc - helps to produce enzymes and insuline, and can be found in red meats, poultry, beans, nuts, fortified cereals and wholegrains.

Some of the main food groups, such as fruit, meat and vegetables might be harder to measure, vitamin-wise. For example, it could be hard to decipher the exact amount of Vitamin E you ar recieve from your portion of spinach with toasted pine nuts, or how much Vitamin C there is in a handful of strawberries. There are charts you can get which will translate portions into vitamins, but I don't think it's worth becoming too obsessive about.

I am aware there has been conflicting advice on vitamin pills, and it is a little like the ‘should you drink when pregnant ’ debate. I’ve only mentioned a selection of vitamins, and you should get enough of these vitamins from simply eating the right nutrient-rich foods, so essentially, from a balanced diet. If you are concerned you're lacking in any areas and you're looking to take additional supplements, then it’s probably an idea to check with your doctor or nutritionist, just to ensure you’re getting the right dose.

Now for the challenge...

Devise or discover a recipe (any recipe, starter, main or dessert) that contains every single vitamin mentioned in this post. Or, at the very least the 4 main vitamins mentioned.

- Vitamin A,

- Vitamin E

- Vitamin C

- Vitamin D

- Thaimin (B1)

- Folic Acid

- Iron

- Zinc

Many foods contain more than one vitamin, so it's very do-able challenge! I look forward to seeing some delicious recipes posted in the comments section...

Photo credits: via Flickr - PinkSherbertPhotography, OakleyOriginals, Mwri, MagdaMontemor.

Currently rated 4 by 1 person

Articles, Baby advice,

Picky Toddlers - How To Make Them Eat Up

Wednesday 22 September 2010 by Helen

After tackling some of the issues involved in Introducing Solids To Babies, I've looked ahead to when baby becomes toddler and to what food-related obstacles might come next...

When it comes to toddlers, many food battles may have been won, but, there is a war on the horizon. By this I mean, the main food groups are likely to have been introduced, the appetite has probably increased (along with the energy levels) and independence is fast being gained. The flipside of this independence is defiance, and an increasing sense of what they do and do not want to eat. Their little minds get stronger and their little heels dig in deeper. As toddlers they are more conscious of the eating process, and more likely to play up when it comes to mealtimes. I seem to have provided a very negative summary, and I’m sure the majority of meal times are not a duel, but let’s just say I’m looking at the worst case scenario, and providing a handful of suggestions that will make any not so good food days a little bit easier...

colour photo of toddler turning his nose up at food

Mealtimes in general

Choices

Offering your little one choice will appeal to their newfound sense of freedom. Make sure you’re offering say three healthy choices, and then it’s a win-win situation, as they are likely to choose one. The downside of choice is that it does give your baby quite a lot of control. You don’t want to reach the stage where your child is expecting a choice all the time or feeling like they can dictate what they are going to have at meal times.

Bartering

Bartering follows on quite well from choices, in that it comes with a similar warning. There is a danger that your baby can gain too much control, and the whole thing will backfire. I would say definitely offer an incentive, such as ‘eat the rest of your broccoli and you can have some pudding’, however, make sure both ends of the agreement are fulfilled, be consistent. It’s no good toddler not having to eat their broccoli and still getting pudding, otherwise you have defeated the object and little one has learnt to get their own way.

Relax

Ultimately, if your toddler is being picky, they are probably just trying to exert some power in the household and over their own eating choices. If you relax and don’t make a big deal out of it then the power struggle is gone and the mealtime problems go away a lot more quickly.

Timing

Monitor your childs mood, and observe when they are most irritable, when they seem most hungry etc, and, where possible, tailor your meal times around this.

And when it comes to vegetables...

Even if your toddler loves vegetables, there's bound to be some no go's that they turn their nose up at. Here's a few ways you could disguise vegetables or jazz them up a bit...

Make vegetable cakes. They have some vegetables and generally speaking, less sugar. Your toddler will get used to whatever level of sugar you put in things such as cakes and custard, so decrease the amount and thier taste buds will adjust. You could try making Carrot Cakes, Courgette Cakes or Apple Cakes.
Baking fruits makes them less like fruit and more like pudding! You could bake apples with raisins and honey. Or, try making a slit in a banana, filling it with raisins and honey or with Nutella, wrapping it in foil and then baking. Most fruits will take about 20-25 minutes in a 200 degree oven.
Get arty with veg. You could make a face, or some other sort of arrangement. It doesn't have to be a masterpiece. I think the key is to include as much colour and variation on the plate as possible, so it's not just a plate of carrots for example. If you do attempt a face, sliced courgettes could make good eyes, runner or french beans could be the hair. Peas and sweetcorn are good for filling in gaps (larger areas), as are mashed sweet potato, squash or carrot.
Feed raw vegetables as snacks. Chopped up carrots work well, as do cucumber and celery. You could make a healthy dip out of some low fat cheese or yoghurt and chives to go with the veg.
Make fruit lollies. Although it seems the wrong time of year for anything cold, it's quite quick and easy to blitz up fresh or frozen fruits, add some juice and pour the mixture into lolly-moulds, or even ice cube trays.

It may sound like common sense, but, if you feel like you're failing on all accounts, then just try a little of something, don't necessarily fill the plate. It's better that your toddler tries a little than none at all. Everyones tastebuds continue to evolve and change, so if your little one doesn't like a certain vegetable now, it doesn't mean that they will dislike it forever. I was quite a fussy child and I am definitely not a fussy adult! As toddlers get older, you can also start to involve them in the process of food gathering and food preparation, they will love the hands on, fun element, so it's a good way to have a positive effect on their attitude towards food and nutrition.

Photo credit: Via Flickr - efleming

Be the first to rate this post

Tags: advice | tips | development |

Articles, Baby advice,

Nutrition For Baby - What's On The Menu?

Tuesday 21 September 2010 by Helen

Babies will generally start eating solid foods at 4 to 6 months of age . Cue - some food-related neuroticism, a whole new set of things to worry about. You might find yourself measuring your baby up against others, comparing and questioning is my baby too fussy? Is he eating enough? Is he eating too much? What foods should I feed my baby and when? And the list goes on...A lot to consider, so I've made a start. To begin, here are some indications that your baby might be ready to start on real food.

If your baby’s birth weight has doubled
If your baby has good control of his neck and head, and can sit up (with some support)
If your baby can indicate he’s full by clamping his mouth shut, or pulling away when you offer food.

color photo of baby covered in raspberry jam

How much should babies eat?

The majority of paediatricians will say - feed your baby as much as your baby wants to eat. This is bound to vary from time to time, and much like with sleeping patterns, babies do go through phases. As a little human being, your baby will have his or her own appetite. In terms of eating '3 meals a day' for example, some babies aren't ready until they are 9-10 months, on the other hand some are ready at 7 months. The following general information may or may not apply, and again reinforces the fact that all babies and parenting methods are different...

When a baby is eating soft diced fruit or vegetables, they may seem to be eating less than a baby who is being spoon-fed purees.
When a baby is teething, they may eat less for a day or two, but this should only be temporary, and before you know it the appetite will be back. Often bigger and better!
When a child is preoccupied or distracted in any way, say for example you have just prized away a favourite toy, chances are she’s not going to be enthusiastic about being plonked in a high chair. So, pick your moments!
When you want a child to get used to eating at the same time as you, establish this as a routine early on. It might not be an instant success for all families, especially if baby particularly likes to be the centre of attention, or if their feeding requires a lot more of your attention. But if this is the case you may just need to ease them into a family mealtime routine more gradually.

Within a few months of baby eating solid foods, you can start incorporating some of the following; meats, vegetables, fruits and cereal. Cereal being a good one to start with. It's a simple, staple food, and you know what you are getting in terms of ingredients and specific nutrients. Brands that create cereals for babies are Heinz, Bebivita and Cow and Gate. You can get cereal dry or pre-mixed and it doesn’t make any difference nutrition-wise, so whether you are at home or on the go, just choose the most convenient.

Types of cereal for babies

Rice cereal is a popular choice. The grains have been cooked and pulverized and they contain a good source of thiamine, an important B vitamin. It also adds fibre to baby's diet.
Oatmeal is another ingredient for baby cereal. Like the rice, it is finely ground and is a great source of fibre.
When baby has got used to cereal, pureed fruit is always something you can add, or small pieces of banana. A good way of kick starting the 5 a day!

Watch the salt intake

It is worth keeping an eye on salt levels in all your baby's food. Family cereals have a lot of hidden salts and sugars. Not all of them do though, Cow and Gate for example, doesn't have any added sugar or salt. Babies under a year old should have a salt intake of no more than 1g. Babies up to 3 years should have a salt intake of no more than 2g.

photo of three stars on a plate, one orange, one green, one yellow - all made out of pureed vegetables

When to introduce fruit and vegetables

Fruit and vegetables are introduced at about 6 months. Many paediatricians will recommend introducing fruit before vegetables, but this is simply because babies are born with a preference for sweets. But there is no evidence that your baby will take a dislike to vegetables if fruit is given first.
I've compiled a handful of tips for getting baby eating vegetables,

Puree all the vegetables to begin with. Start with green and then progress to yellow, orange and other brightly coloured varieties. So peas and french beans, followed by carrots, sweet potatoes and squashes.
A typical serving would be 3 tablespoons twice a day, but again this depends on rate of growth and size of appetite.
Introduce a vegetable at a time, and allow a few days for baby to adapt to each new flavour before trying another.
As with cereal, you can by a more convenient pre-made version, or you can strain and puree yourself.
It’s advised that you don’t serve beetroots and turnips to babies less than a year of age. They contain large amounts of nitrates, and these can cause a low blood count in young babies.

Think vitamins and nutrients

Follow the same principles as you would with your own nutrition, although, your baby’s taste buds are not going to be as developed, so don't be disheartened if there are tastes baby just doesn't seem to acquire, there's plenty of time! Persist, but don't get too hung up on any one particular food, move on and try another, and come back to the stubborn food. There's such an array of vitamin-packed foods to choose from, it’s worth testing out as many as possible and encouraging baby in the right direction. Now's the time to start making nutrient rich choices, it is likely to be the fastest period of growth in their life.

For Vitamin A – Carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli.
For Vitamin C – Red and green peppers.
Calcium – Broccoli, soy beans and squashes.
Iron – Spinach and Avocado

A good way to thin out purees is by using formula or breast milk, it not only adds nutrients but it's also a familiar taste that your baby will be accustomed to, which could be helpful if baby isn't really taking to vegetables.

Recipes

A couple of recipes using Sweet Potatoes

Something simple...

Squashed Sweet Potatoes

(for 4-6 months)

For this recipe, the squash and the sweet potato can be served separately, or, they do go nicely mixed together. Squash has a very subtle flavour, so is a good first vegetable to try mixing with others.

Ingredients
1 medium Squash
1 large Sweet Potato

The Squash - directions

Cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds.
Bake in an oven at 190 degrees for 30-40 minutes, or until the squash is fleshy and soft.
At this stage you can either scoop the flesh out, or food process the squash whole.
If you scoop the flesh, you should be able to mash it quite easily.
Add water, breast milk or formula accordingly to get a smooth consistency.

The Sweet Potato - directions

Wash and prick the potato.
Bake in an oven at 190 degrees for 50-60 minutes. (You can microwave if you are short on time. Or even microwave and then transfer to the oven and cook for 30 minutes)
There is also the option to cut the potato into chunks, place them in boiling water for 10 minutes, and then mash them.
Then you can combine the veg, or serve one at a time.

You could add a simple stock to the vegetables before pureeing, to add a bit more flavour. Be aware of the sodium and additive levels of some of the shop brought brands. You could make your own vegetable or meat stock. For vegetable, chop up onion, celery, a couple of carrots, some thyme and parsley. After chopping the vegetables, boil them for 30 minutes, strain and discard them, and you should be left with some tasty stock.

Something a bit out of the ordinary...

Sweet Potato Custard

(for 8-10 months)

Ingredients
1 cup mashed cooked sweet potato
½ cup mashed banana
2 tbs brown sugar
2 beaten egg yolks
½ tsp salt
¼ cup raisins
ground cinnamon

Directions

In a medium bowl, stir together sweet potato and banana. Add milk, blending well.
Add brown sugar, egg yolks and salt, mixing thoroughly. Transfer mixture to casserole dish.
Combine raisins, sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over the top of the sweet potato mixture.
Bake in a preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until a knife insterted near the centre comes out clean.
This dish will retain its heat, so you can afford to give it a long time to cool down.

It seems that when introducing solid and new types of food to baby, it's largely a case of persistence, trial and error. It makes sense that babies are similar to us in terms of appetite, it won't always be consistent or predictable. It is also likely that just as our taste buds develop and change, that baby's will do the same. So don't despair, remember - fussy children don't always become fussy adults.

If anyone else has any other baby recipes or would like to share their own experiences of feeding little ones, please feel free to share...

Photo credit: via Flickr - Qole Pejorian & Laurel717

Currently rated 5 by 1 person

Tags: advice | Baby | tips | development |

Articles, Baby advice,

Tips For Dads-At-Home

Thursday 02 September 2010 by Helen

Following on from my post about stay-at-home-dads, I’ve had a rummage around a few websites and blogs for some reassuring words...

Take five

Or should I say grab five! These tips are brief, so you can blitz through them. The following advice is general, because, no two babies are the same, everyone’s in a different situation and we all have our own ways of parenting. (Recommended accompliment for this read - a cup of tea and several biscuits.)

Avoid loneliness

Realistically, there aren’t the same numbers of fathers who stay at home with their children as there are mothers who stay at home with their children. The support network isn’t the same for Dads, there’s certainly not such an obvious community in existence, and this leaves a lot of potential for isolation.

One solution might be the online community, there are sites such as Dad at home. Though you might not meet as many stay-at-home-dads as you might like in person, don’t forget the virtual world. These are potential places to make connections, share experiences and advice.

Blogs are a great thing to read, the content has generally been written from personal experience, or relevant resources have been conveniently gathered together in one place. Blogs contain personality and reality, making for a more accessible and reassuring read than, perhaps, a handbook might. There's also the opportunity to ask questions, interact with the blogger and with the other commentators.

Photo of Dad throwing baby up in the air

Get out and about

Don’t pace around the house. If it is dry, and not too cold, then get outside, even if only in the garden or for a walk around the block. It will be a breather for you and for baby, and it may just be the light at the end of the my baby won’t stop crying tunnel.

Prioritise

If, for example, you are trying run a business from home, your priorites will need to change. The business may, temporarily, have to take a back seat.

Business or no business everyone will have to adjust their priorities. Dividing your attention between computer and baby is unlikely to work, as you'll be unable to fully concentrate on either task, and you'll become frustrated. Hard as it might be, ignore the mobile phone and the email. You could always have an allotted time when you check them, maybe when Mum's home, instead of trying to multi-task and failing on both levels!

I'm not completely ruling out multitasking, and I'm more than aware that it's something men are normally given stick for not being very good at. So I'm going to encourage and be positive about its endless possibilities... For example, I think, doing a bit of tidying up would go hand in hand with rocking baby to sleep. This also introduces an added bonus of keeping Mum happy too.

A sensitive approach to Mum

Busy as you've been with baby, Mum has also been at work all day, and when she walks through the door, she’s likely to be tired and perhaps slightly irritable. This may or may not have something to do with the fact that you have been at home with baby (Obviously a huge job in itself) and she's been at work, or simply that it's been a long day at work...

She might not want to be bombarded the minute she walks through the door. As much as she will be genuinely interested to hear every snippet of your day's news, it’s about the timing and sensitivity in how you deliver the news. For some reason, writing this has reminded me of The Good Wife’s Guide, published in Housekeeping Monthly on the 13th May 1955, in particular the line, Don’t greet him with complaints and problems, which refers to the moment when husband steps through the front door after a long day at work. The attitudes inherent in the article are obviously extremely dated, but it makes for an amusing read, and I’m assuming some of it's transferable in terms of being The Good Husband!

There might be the odd day when Mum comes home and without so much as a hello, completely skips over everything you have done during the day, and starts pointing out everything you haven’t done; tidying up, cleaning, washing etc. Try not to take these offhand comments personally. It is common for both parties to think the grass is greener, and that it would be nice to be in the other person's role. That is up until we actually step into their shoes and go – oh. You can’t compare looking after baby and going to work, they are worlds apart and carry different strains and stresses.

Ask for help, and accept it

No one should have to cope single handedly if they don't have to. Accept help. From all the blogs I've read, this is the advice that reoccurs the most. A lot of men (and women) said that the help was there, but the hardest part was accepting it. Let people help, whether it's friends, loved ones or neighbours. It might be advice or someone just offering to give you a break. If you're feeling refreshed, you will notice the ever-widening smiles, and be more likely to savour precious moments, without becoming overwhelmed by nappy changes, feeding times and crying.

Black and white photo of Dad cradling baby

Photo credits: Via Flickr - Meagan and Jeanine&preston

Be the first to rate this post

Tags: dads | tips | advice | resources |

Baby advice,

When will my baby sleep through the night?

Tuesday 10 August 2010 by Erika

Being pregnant with my first baby was daunting. I was excited, but I think everyone around me was determined to scare me half to death. All I heard were horror stories about sleepless nights, but I consoled myself with reassurance that my baby would be different.

Photo: sleeping baby wrapped up with cuddly toy

My baby was not different. If anything, my little bundle of joy was fully determined to prove me wrong. Those first few months passed by in a blur as I tried to adjust to my new, regularly interrupted and reduced sleeping pattern.

Of course I expected this. It comes with having babies, right? But I didn’t expect it to go on quite as long as it did. A friend of mine had his daughter around 6 months before I had my son, and he revelled in telling me how she slept through the night within her first few weeks. I turned to friends, family and the internet to find out if there was anything I could do to help baby sleep easier.

The first thing I learned was that breastfed babies tend to sleep more lightly and will probably wake up more often. It was comforting to know that this might at least partially explain why my son was waking so regularly. I also found out that newborns generally sleep for around 8 hours a night, but this can be broken up into periods of just one hour all the way up to 4 or 5 hours at a time.

I had been trying to get my baby into some kind of routine, but apparently in the first months, it’s more beneficial to ‘go with the flow’. Initially, let them sleep when they need to, and they’ll learn the difference between night and day as they get older.

I looked forward to the end of this initial stage, when I hoped I might start to get some sleep again. But as usual, I was wrong! In my case, as my son got older, he began to have less restful nights and I found it difficult to settle him. I was told this was normal, so I tried to pick up some tips on how to get him down for his rest. I was worried that by staying with him for too long as he dropped off, he might become increasingly reliant on me being there as he got older.

So I set up this routine:

Bedtime at the same time each night. Before bed, feed and bath him. Make sure that he doesn’t go from lively activity straight to bed, giving him time to wind down.
Put him down to bed, staying with him as he settles down. Always get him settled in the bedroom and not in other, noisier areas in the house.
Quietly sit in a chair a few feet away from the cot, and leave after a few minutes. If he cries I return, reassure him that I’m there and follow the same procedure.

Eventually, I hope to be able to put him down and be able to leave immediately. When he’s really tired I can do this already, but not all of the time.

Now he’s nearly 2 years old, he regularly sleeps through the night uninterrupted. I can usually get 6 or 7 hours sleep a night, and I’m finally feeling human again!

Photo credit: Abardwell on Flickr

Be the first to rate this post

Tags: development | advice | sleep |

Baby advice,

When should your baby start talking?

Wednesday 28 July 2010 by Erika

Having read all the books and even studied language at university, I thought I knew when my boy should start talking, so when those first words didn’t arrive as soon as I expected, I immediately began to worry.

Babies will usually start vocalising and making sounds when they’re just a month or two old. I listened out carefully, waiting for my son to start making some noise. But for most of his first year, the only sounds he wanted to make involved screaming and crying. To give him credit, he was extremely good at it!

I learned that the next stage was supposed to involve babbling — where babies start to produce the sounds of the language without attaching any meaning to them. And yet, soon after my baby turned one, he still wasn’t making much noise at all, let alone recognisable sounds.

The most disconcerting part around this time was meeting up with friends and their babies, who were developing nicely through these stages. I noticed in particular that one of my friend’s little girls was already speaking a few words before she’d even turned one. That’s when my panic set in!

The first thing I had checked was my baby’s hearing. But I was confident he didn’t have a hearing problem, as he often responded to his name and the noises going on around him. As suspected, his hearing was fine, and in all other ways he seemed perfectly alert. He didn’t speak much, but he definitely seemed to understand a lot. For example, he would get excited at the mention of ‘swimming’, ‘banana bread’ or ‘we’re going to Nanny’s’.

I was assured by my mum and many parents around me who’d had children before, that all babies develop at different rates and that I shouldn’t worry so much. So I gave it some more time, and sure enough, it came to him eventually. In the past 6 months he has been babbling and saying quite a few words, the very first of which I’m delighted to report was ‘cat’! He obviously takes after his mum, and loves nothing more than giving our big, friendly moggy a cuddle. He’s even started to learn sign language from Mr. Tumble, star of CBeebies show ‘Something Special’. However, he usually just uses it to tell me he wants to watch more Mr. Tumble!

So just bear in mind, if your baby hasn’t started talking as quickly as someone else’s, try not to panic. Babies develop at very different rates, but if you have any concerns, your doctor should always be able to ease them for you.

Photo credit: Joostassink via Flickr

Currently rated 4 by 1 person

Tags: development | talking | advice |

Baby advice,