Note: This is a post from Wednesday, July 20, 2016. This was when my third child was still a baby.
The baby was sleeping through the night on some days and others waking up at 4am and screaming the place down. I did not understand what had made a sound sleeping baby suddenly become so upset. I also could not figure out why he slept all night some days and the others he would wake. The twins were sleeping through the night after they were three months old.
I firstly thought that it could be his nappy. Solved and new one put on.
Secondly thought it could be that he was hungry. No he did not want food and would rather scream at me and also to fidget, turn over and over (he loves rolling over and likes to do this every chance he gets) on my lap and not get comfortable! Yes this was very annoying.
I tried the formula again and he would not have anything to do with it. OH geez more crying (especially in my ear and so loud that you cannot hear anything afterwards) and wiggling is going to happen now. I had to cuddle him until he passed out again and to make sure he was snoring before I could make the attempt of putting him in his cot.
Could it be bad dreams?????? Who knows and at this stage, I was trying to think of anything that could be waking up our baby.
My sleepy little boy. I finally figured out why he was waking up at 4am. It was really simple actually. Read on to find out.
Fast forward to after we came home from Vivid (June Long Weekend), it was a Sunday afternoon. We came home earlier than expected from the city due to one of the twins being ill. Hubby fed the baby at about 3pm and he fell into a deep sleep and then the baby was wrapped up and put in his bed. All good.
11pm came around on the same Sunday evening. Hubby and I were watching television and I said when did we feed the baby? He thought about it. It was around 3pm. Gosh I thought. The baby has been asleep for a long time. I told hubby that I think we need to check that all is okay with Alexander and that there was nothing wrong.
He cautioned me… He said, “If you wake him it is your problem to sort out”. I told him fine as I was getting worried due to the fact that he had been asleep so long.
I carefully opened his door and heard breathing and the baby turn over. All good. However, due to the fact that it was afternoon when the baby was put down for a nap his night light was not switched on. Normally we keep it on to help Alexander not get upset if it is too dark. The twins had a night light when they were babies and we noticed that when Alexander was little he wanted the reassurance of the light.
However this could be the reason that he was waking up at 4am and being so out of sorts. He must have been half asleep and then the light woke him fully. Without the night light when he wakes even a little, he rolls over and goes back to sleep.
How simple the answer was. Turn off the night light! Ever since coming back from Vivid we have left the babies night light off and suprise, he has slept through the night.
Yep genius here…. Turn off the light and the baby will sleep! You heard it here. Sounds really obvious doesn’t it. The light woke him up.
I told my nana this and she said, really it was just a light and all you needed to do was turn it off. I said yes and she laughed and laughed at me. Yes it sounds silly and so simple but when you are so used to your routine and thinking that it is needed you just do it. You don’t question it.
Have you found there was something so simple and obvious that has made the world of difference with your kids or baby? Was it as simple as turning off the night light? Let us know.
If you are like me you love receiving gifts and especially if they are ones that allow you to pamper yourself. I recently received a box of Natralus Australia skincare products to test out and share my thoughts with you my lovely readers.
My skin always gets so dry in autumn and winter so having a good quality moisturiser on hand is essential. The weather in the mountains during the colder months means my skin deals with harsh winds, cold temperatures, warm heating, and of course layers and layers of clothing too that don’t help with dry skin.
The wonderful smelling Hand & Body Lotion – Rose, Lilly Pilly & Berries
NATURAL DEODORANT – WILD ROSE This deodorant is so wonderful and makes me smell like a rose all day long. It is not a strong scent, in fact, it is more a subtle rose that makes you feel like you are on holiday or it is summer still. You can get natural deodorants in Cool Spice, Lemon Myrtle, Zesty Citrus, Citrus Spring, and Sea Berry.
NATRALUS NATURAL PAW PAW BALM This natural paw paw balm is so moisturising and stays on your lips for ages. It is thicker and really helps keeps my lips feeling good and also looking amazing. I think you will be super amazed at the quality of this paw paw balm and it will soon be a firm favourite for you too.
This is my favourite item and a must-havefor anyone… you seriously need to get yourself some Natrualus Natural Paw Paw Balm today!
All the amazing natural products from Natralus Australia
Natralus My Little One Gentle Cleanse Shampoo & Wash smells so good, so marshmallowy!
Natralus My Little One Rangecovers all stages of care for children, including lotions, cleansers, and shampoo/conditioners. The creams and washes are so gentle, moisturising and soothing for babies’ and kids’ skin.
We loved the My Little One Gentle Cleanse Shampoo & Wash, it was like a big bunch of crushed-up marshmallows, My Little One Comforting Touch Massage Oil helps protect bubs skin, you can also use the massage oil during pregnancy and post-pregnancy for your skin too.
The oil is “enriched with paw paw to help nourish and protect delicate skin, Rosehip oil to deeply moisture and help support your little one’s skin natural elasticity, Jojoba oil, is gentle and easily absorbed, helps to prevent dryness and leaves skin silky-smooth. Calendula, known for its calming and soothing properties.”
Thanks to Naturalus Australia for sending me such amazing products to try.
I loved them and will definitely recommend them to friends and family. If you are looking for some amazing natural products, make sure to check out Naturalus Australia.
Why are we obsessed with other people’s choices, and why are we forcing what we want on others? Also, why can’t we just let people have a private life?
Jennifer Aniston’s latest interview in Allure discusses her personal struggle with fertility, how the media and everyone is focused on when and with who she will have a baby with, and Aniston is right no one is doing close-up crotch photos of men with arrows “fertile sperm!”
Why is it anyone’s business if they have children or not?
Why is it something we feel we are entitled to know or be part of?
Why are questions from strangers okay when the other person might be going through a tough time and is upset about the whole situation and in fact would rather not share anything as it is a private matter?
Why is it when a woman is over a certain age and in a relationship the question of when she will procreate a topic for everyone to suddenly get in on?
When I was with my boyfriend, now the husband, his grandmother was at me about when I was going to have a baby. When will I get pregnant? I was only in my early 20’s at this stage. I did want kids but not then. I got asked the same question about why I wasn’t pregnant, why are we waiting, why are we not married, and then from others in his family, why oh why are we not pregnant?
My answer to this question was I am not alone in this task. I cannot magically get pregnant on my own, and their son, grandson, nephew, and cousin (depending on who was asking me) were part of this equation too. Why am I the only one getting asked about this? Why is he not being harrassed about this too? Boys are responsible for when their partner gets pregnant too!!!
I was at a family function and the boyfriend’s nana grabbed my hand and wasn’t letting go for dear life. She was at me and started yelling, I need you to have a baby so I can die. I need you to have a baby so I can die! I just wanted to say NO, but then what if she had a heart attack and I was the bitch that killed his grandmother??? I was upset by all this and of course, others thought it was hilariously funny, however, I never thought it was funny. Again, I was the one that was attacked over having kids and the only one who asked, the boyfriend now the husband was left alone.
I am sure Jennifer Aniston would have loved to have a child if it could have happened. I am sure it would have been a joy. Some things don’t work out as you wanted. I thought I would have kids when I was younger, but I am an older mum and was lucky things worked out.
“I was trying to get pregnant. It was a challenging road for me, the baby-making road,” says Aniston, of a period several years ago. ”
Why do we think women who have no children didn’t want any? Many have tried and it hasn’t worked out. They have tried, tried, and gone through a lot of emotions, stress and upset, and torment to hopefully have their long-desired family. Constantly asking why or when babies will happen is horrible, especially for a woman who desperately wanted to have children and hasn’t had the luck or the right circumstances to have this happen.
Also asking women about this topic for those that have long wanted kids would be upsetting and traumatic. How about we stop asking these personal questions as it really is none of our business.
Many who have finally come to terms with not having kids really don’t want to be constantly asked about this whole topic.
Women do want to spend time on their careers.
Some don’t want kids at all.
Some want kids but have issues and cannot have them, although they long for them, always.
This is not just a topic that needs to be asked of women. Men are part of the issue too.
Maybe if men were more aware of their fertility they would have children earlier. They wouldn’t put things off and be on the same page when women want to have kids. Why is it that the female gets harangued about marriage and babies? It is so terrible that we are in 2022 and somehow it is all the fault of the woman when she doesn’t have kids. Men never seemed to get asked about this at all……. So how do women get pregnant without men????????
I feel that Jennifer Aniston has finally come to a good place and is working through things. This is the same for everyone who has been through similar things, however, the frenzy about her biological clock is rude and hurtful. I can totally understand Aniston’s view and personally, if I was her after this interview I would not discuss the topic anymore. It is her private life and her business, and no one else!
Have you found that suddenly strangers and family start to ask you rude and personal questions about your fertility? When you will have kids, do you want kids and loads more???? It doesn’t just happen to famous people, it seems that women are a target for these types of behaviour and questions. Let me know.
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Having a baby is a life-changing event and one that requires preparation. I read books, looked online and asked other mums about their experiences.
For me I was not just having one child first, I ended up having twins as my first children. I don’t know how many do this but I am sure that it is not that common.
BigW invited me to be a part of their Bub & Me Education Program in collaboration with select midwives across Australia.
This post is the first in my three-part series about being a new mum, breastfeeding, childbirth and great things you can get from BigW for your new little person/people.
Below are my questions to Pinky and her answers, I hope that this interview is helpful for all new mums.
Pinky McKay is Australia’s most recognised breastfeeding expert
Q1. The expectation of what it is like to be a parent to the reality can be quite a shock for new mums. What do you tell new mums about suddenly being responsible for a little person?
A 1. A recent survey by Big W in conjunction with The Australian College of Midwives revealed one in three (32%) of Aussie mums struggle the most with self-doubt,which is really not surprising.Having a baby is rather like visiting a foreign country for the first time: no matter how well you prepare, no matter how many frozen casseroles there are in your freezer, how many products you buy or how many classes you attend, there will be shocks.
The relentlessness of caring for a newborn is something we can’t really imagine until it happens to us. I wish every pregnant woman could spend a day (and night) with a new mum and support her – hold her baby while she showers, while she naps, and see that crying isn’t just for newborns, mums cry too(I warn partners about this too). The biggest surprise can be the weird brain things that happen such as ‘hearing’ your baby crying when you are having a shower, then racing to check and finding him peacefully sleeping, right where you left him, neatly swaddled in his safety-approved cot.
Q2. How do you help new mums with sleep deprivation and learning about their new baby?
Pinky: Before birth, I suggest how important it is to set up your support network. If I am seeing a desperate new mum, I always ask about what level of support she has and discuss ways to get support if she doesn’t have enough help. We are so conditioned that reaching out and asking for practical help is ‘weak’. It absolutely takes a village, whether this is hired help, friends and family or government-funded ‘in-home care’ (I have facilitated this for families with high needs).
The biggest thing is about lowering expectations both of yourself and your child and filtering out the ‘noise’ about what you ‘should’ be doing –according to a recent survey by Big W, 67% of mums say social media puts pressure on mums to live an ‘insta-worthy’ life.
While good basic care such as eating healthy meals and resting are especially important in the early weeks as women are healing from growing and birthing a baby, guarding your emotional energy needs to be a priority. Often, the pressure and anxiety around baby sleep, for instance, can take more energy than the lack of sleep. I tell mums, YOU are the expert about YOUR well baby. You can trust yourself and your baby and the amazing connection between you and your child. If you feel confused by advice, you can filter it by checking, ‘is it safe? Is it respectful? And, does it feel right? And if you have concerns, check in with your health carers, not ‘randoms’ on social media.
Q3. I thought I knew what I was doing with my third child, but he was so different and nothing I did worked. I was doing all the things that worked with the twins but finally had a realisation that he is a different person and I needed to listen to his cues and focus on what he likes and doesn’t like. How do you help parents do this from the start if they have more than one child?
Pinky: As a mum of five, I was always amazed at how unique each child was, from their temperament to their development. Although babies all have similar needs for security and love, it’s helpful to discuss how they vary in the ways they express those needs.They are unique, individual little beings and although we can support their personalities, we can’t ‘mould’ our child or reflect in the glory of having an ‘easy’ baby. It’s best to observe and get to know each new baby’s cues and respond to that baby in a way that’s right for them. If we do have a more sensitive baby, the good news is that we really can’t short-change them or they will let us know, and by responding promptly, they will feel secure and usually become happy, calm little people as they grow.
Q4. My third child was super fussy, had reflux and found it hard to remove burps and any gas from his body. Not only did he cry all the time, not settle well and want to be held all the time I was walking around like a zombie due to the lack of sleep. Do you have any recommendations on how to settle a fussy baby or one that has other issues that are making things more difficult for him/her to sleep and to eat?
Pinky: Rather than simply heading to ways to ‘settle’ although of course, keeping your baby as comfortable as possible is important for baby and you, it’s worth trying to work out why this is happening. For instance, could there be allergies or food intolerance contributing to reflux symptoms (your baby is never allergic to your breast-milk but may react to foods passing through your milk)? Tongue-tie can also mean babies are swallowing air because their latch and sucking is often ineffective, and a fast breast milk flow can also create issues for young babies swallowing air as they feed – reclining as you feed or ‘paced bottle feeding’ can slow the flow and make it easier for baby to manage.
It is really hard work when you have a super unsettled baby, especially if you have other children, but wearing your baby in a carrier or wrap can help settle your baby and you can still do activities with two free hands. There are also ‘holds’ that can help relieve gas pains such as lying baby across your arm on his tummy, with his head facing your elbow and supporting him with a hand between his legs as you walk/sway.Baby massage can be a great way to support your baby’s nervous system and move the gas – clockwise circles on baby’s tummy, alternated with knee bends.
Q5. I expressed my breastmilk for all three kids and due to the twins being premmies this was needed. However, I thought having a singleton that was born exactly at 40 weeks that he would be better at breastfeeding. It turned out that my third child couldn’t latch on and would only eat a bit and then wanted more. I would feed more and then he would wriggle and scream at me all the time. So, I decided, since it was frustrating him and me and causing me stress to express breastmilk again was the way to go. Are there ways to increase your breastmilk supply when you are stressed, running on no sleep and caring for two other kids and husband.
Pinky: Wow! That sounds like a nightmare. Firstly, it’s important that regardless of your sleep (or lack of it), that you eat regularly – handy one-handed snacks such as Boobie Bikkies, avocado or cheese on crackers, a can of tuna or salmon and boiled eggs (cook several and keep them in the fridge) are an easy boost – and drink according to your thirst. Your partner’s /husband’s support is vital – he is a grown-up so needs to take up some of the slack, not expect to be ‘looked after’. Please don’t be shy about setting up a help roster with friends, whether that is doing a school pickup, taking your other kids out so you can rest and focus on feedingor bringing food. Most people are delighted to share the experience of a new baby.
Try to set up young children with activities and snacks(‘Netflix and chill’, even if it’s a kids’ show or sit on the big bed and read stories or sit outside and get the toddlers to ‘paint the fence’ with water), so you can spend time giving baby skin to skin snuggles to boost your milk-making chemistry and allow baby to feed frequently.
Remember, an empty breast makes milk more quickly so as you breastfeed or pump, you can trymassage and breast compressions (high up on your breasts, not down near the nipples) to help empty your breasts more effectively.You will notice your baby start swallowing more quickly and if pumping you will see the milk start flowing a few seconds after compressions. If you are exclusively pumping or baby isn’t a strong feeder you can try power pumping (as well as putting baby to the breast if he will latch): To power pump: Pump for 20 minutes;Rest for 10 minutes;Pump for 10 minutes;Rest for 10 minutes; Pump for 10 minutes. A double electric pump is most effective – otherwise, if you use a single pump, instead of the rest periods, switch breasts and pump the other side.
If you have concerns about breastfeeding, it’s always helpful to see an IBCLC Lactation Consultant who can take a history of your baby and you and give you personalised advice (conditions such as thyroid disorders, PCOS, low iron levels, retained placenta or PPH can all influence milk supply).
Pinky McKay is Australia’s most recognised and respected Breastfeeding expert. She’s an IBCLC Lactation Consultant, Best Selling Baby Care Author, Mum of five and creator of Boobie Bikkies, award-winning, all-natural and organic cookies to nourish breastfeeding mothers and support a healthy milk supply. Download our FREE ebook ‘Making More Mummy Milk, Naturally for Pinky’s top tips to help you boost your milk supply
DID YOU KNOW?
BIG W research reveals three-quarters of Aussie mums have regrets about their first pregnancy including spending a whopping $163 million on baby products, as well as spending over 23 million hours shopping ahead of the birth of their first child.
Social media pressure – Two thirds (67%) of Aussie mums of children aged 0-13 agree that social media puts pressure on new mums to lead “instaworthy” lives
Shop ‘til they drop – one in six mums spend a staggering 41 hours or more shopping for baby products before birth
Bub & Me time – 25% of Aussie mums say they regret not savouring the time when they were pregnant
Special talents – Breastfeeding is the achievement Aussie mums are most satisfied with, with one in four (24%) claiming it as the skill they are most confident in
Highs and lows – 1 in 3 Aussie mums found the first six weeks after giving birth to be the hardest phase of their baby’s development.
Did you know that the most enviable celebrity mums include:
P!NK (33%)
Julia Morris (23%)
Laura Byrne (21%)
Kate Ritchie (20%)
A huge thank you to BigWand Pinky McKay for this opportunity. Make sure to stay tuned for the next two posts in BigW Bub & Me Series on Mummy to Twins Plus One.
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My little boy gets Eczema and therefore has to have products that don’t upset his skin.
WaterWipes sent me a trial pack to test out and to see what I think.
I love the fact that the wipes are super strong, very moist and not too wet as to soak you, but just right.
They don’t have anything harmful added and are great for little people with allergy prone skin.
Alexander loved them too and had to check out the pack to ensure they were approved for use. If you have a little one you know they need to inspect everything.
“According to a Spark research study in 2014, 97% of midwives interviewed believe that WaterWipes are suitable to be used on the skin of newborn babies.”
WaterWipes are so tough and strong, plus good for babies with sensitive skin.
What are WaterWipes?
Edward McCloskey found that his newborn baby girl was always getting nappy rash and therefore realised that there were harmful and harsh chemicals in baby wipes. He then undertook years of research and scientific testing to have a safe alternative to regular baby wipes.
Originating in Ireland, WaterWipes has expanded to Australian, New Zealand and US markets and are continuing to grow worldwide. In Australia, WaterWipes are sold at Coles, Woolworths, Priceline, Chemist Warehouse, Terry White Pharmacies, various independent pharmacies and online retailers.
“WaterWipes are the only wipes that contain 99.9% water and a drop of fruit extract and don’t irritate the skin. They are ideal for babies with sensitive skin and may help avoid nappy rash and other skin conditions such as eczema,” said Andrea Hawes of WaterWipes.
Our thoughts on WaterWipes
The wipes were fantastic.
Alexander who has very sensitive skin gets eczema often. It is nice to have a product that doesn’t irritate his skin and is also doesn’t have any harmful chemicals in them. During using WaterWipes no eczema breakout occurred.
A big thank you to the team at WaterWipes for sending me this amazing wipes to test out.
WaterWipes The World’s Purest Baby Wipes
Do you use these amazing wipes on your baby? If you don’t you should give them a go.
Disclaimer: I was sent these amazing wipes from WaterWipes to test out. I loved them and had to share, as my little boy is partial to eczema and nappy rash it is great to find a product that helps keep his skin.
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Will there ever be a time that I feel fully refreshed?
DID YOU KNOW?
“Adults should have between 7-9 hours of sleep each night, however 40% of Australian adults still get inadequate sleep.” Sleep Health Foundation.
I thought that I had a goods night last night.
I slept. I actually passed out.
Finally, the pillows felt comfortable and the sheets were soft and just right. Perfect really.
However, I do have an issue. When the baby wakes, I finally wake up and although super comfy I am awake, but yet still very tired.
Maybe my body was not in sync with my need to rest? My body decided that it was this time to make a visit to the bathroom. This could be the reason why I was more awake but still sleepy. I didn’t want to move but decided it was best to go to then allow me to go back to sleep.
I think from memory it was about 2 am.
I do try not to pay attention to the time as then my brain focuses on the time rather than getting back to sleep.
If I don’t know the time, I don’t worry about how much longer I have left to sleep.
Most of the time my sleep is interrupted by my little boy Alexander. He is either hungry, upset, or sick. Last week he wasn’t well and as you might have guessed I was up helping him feel better.
It is so nice when you can finally be in your room without having to get up every hour or more. To be able to rest and have a good nights sleep.
Why is it when you can finally sleep through your body wakes up and you struggle to get back to sleep?
Not fair at all!!!!!!
Is it due to your body being used to being up at odd hours for days on end? Maybe it is? I wish my body would get the message that this is not normal.
All this missed sleep and feeling like a zombie made me think…
“The good news is that, like all debt, with some work, sleep debt can be repaid—though it won’t happen in one extended snooze marathon. Tacking on an extra hour or two of sleep a night is the way to catch up. For the chronically sleep deprived, take it easy for a few months to get back into a natural sleep pattern, says Lawrence J. Epstein, medical director of the Harvard-affiliated Sleep HealthCenters.”
The 16th of March is World Sleep Day
Preserve your rhythms to enjoy life is the slogan for World Sleep Day.
Your rhythms are:
Daily patterns of alertness
Sleep-wake cycle
Mood
Hormones
Digestion
Heart rate
Body temperature
Performance
And also lung function
Changes to light and also to sleep-wake cycles have consequences to your sleep.
“Maintaining stable circadian rhythms is key to good health: If we continually disrupt our rhythms, for example through shift work or burning the midnight oil, then we increase the risk of sleep disorders, mental health disorders and chronic health issues such as obesity, diabetes, and even some cancers, which can leave us struggling to enjoy life.”
There are 3 elements of good quality sleep:
Duration: The length of sleep should be sufficient for the sleeper to be rested and alert the following day.
Continuity: Sleep periods should be seamless without fragmentation.
Depth: Sleep should be deep enough to be restorative.
Getting up during the night for kids is not helpful for sleep.
I don’t function very well if I don’t get enough sleep and therefore need to catch up on my rest.
In fact, I’m a shit parent if I don’t enough sleep. Being sleep deprived, having to look after kids, do school drop off, after-school activities and play with everyone takes it out of you when you have had less than an hour or two of sleep.
No sleep also makes me make mistakes, and have accidents (By accidents, I mean bumping into furniture, dropping things, not thinking and being forgetful).
Me very tired and not wanting to get out of bed. It is so comfortable and I really don’t want to leave. Pity I had to take kids to school and other things.
I am not sure if I am able to do the 3 elements of good sleep on a regular basis but I’m getting there.
What about you? Do you get deep sleep that is not interrupted?
Lately, I have found that I just lie awake at some point and struggle to get back to sleep. Sometimes I find the bed super comfortable and drift off to the best sleep ever… I just wish I could do of this on a regular basis.
It could be just down to having kids and now I am on call at all times. Any noise means that I’m wide awake. I used to be such a deep sleeper.
If this is a biological thing that affects women I think it is just another annoyance that us women have to live with and try and manage.
No wonder I end up wide awake at different times during the night or early morning. Any cry from a baby makes my brain become immediately alert.
Alexnder seems to cry out a few times in the night and still be asleep. This has made me wake up and struggle to get back to sleep.
Not only are we faced with periods, childbirth, sleepless nights with young children, then not sleeping and then to top it off menopause. Cmon and let us have some rest, please!
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Check out my Q & A article, it was so that the lovely Kiddipedia readers can get to know me.
I know many of you might already know some of these things that I mentioned in this post, but some might not. Take a read and learn more about me and the blog.
Each month I will be posting a new article on the Kiddipedia website. I hope you pop over to read my new articles.
While you are there, please take the time to look at all the wonderful resources that this great parenting resource offers.
Kiddipedia is very thrilled to announce our partnership with Mummy to Twins Plus One.
Founded by Suzanne, this blog was created as a project for her to work on and a way to document what is happening with her and the children.https://t.co/ApZ3pzgqdO#MummyToTwinsPlusOnepic.twitter.com/b6wGgVPWOZ
Stay current with all the things that are happening on Mummy to Twins Plus One? Don’t miss a thing by signing up to my newsletter. This newsletter will list all giveaways and fabulous things that are happening.
Australian scientists at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute have discovered that if women have Vitamin B3 during pregnancy it can prevent miscarriages and birth defects.
“Every year 7.9 million babies are born with a birth defect worldwide and one in four pregnant women suffer a miscarriage in Australia.”
The study found that a “deficiency in a vital molecule, known as NAD, prevents a baby’s organs from developing correctly in the womb.”
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is one of the most important molecules in all our cells. It is essential for energy production, cell communication and DNA repair.
Vitamin B3 is required and essential to make NAD. This is found in meats and leafy green vegetables, oh and Vegemite.
It is essential to have a good supply of vitamin B3 in the first trimester as this is the critical time for organ development.
New Born Baby
The Victor Chang institute found that at least a third of pregnant women have low levels of vitamin B3 in the first trimester and that is with taking vitamins, also in the third trimester 60% of pregnant women needed more of vitamin B3 as their levels were low also. This would mean that pregnant women would need to boost their intake of this vitamin.
The study found that before the introduction of vitamin B3 into the mothers diet, embryos were lost due to miscarriage and babies were born with a range of severe birth defects. After adding the vitamin to the mothers diet miscarriages and birth defects were prevented and babies were born healthy.
This is a massive breakthrough that will help so many people. It is just like the discovery of of adding folic acid to prevent spina bifida and other neural tube defects in babies. Mothers worldwide are all told to take folic acid to help their pregnancy. Adding folate to the food supply and making sure women have a more of this vitamin during pregnancy has led to a 70% decrease in the number of babies born with neural tube defects. The same will now happen with the understanding of Vitamin B3, and in turn lead to less miscarriages and birth defects.
If you are pregnant or want to be soon make sure you get your vitamin B3 to ensure all will be well.
I know things sometimes are not planned when you end up pregnant, but sometimes they are. My pregnancies were all planned and I made sure that I took vitamins well before I conceived and also had a good diet of fresh vegetables, meats, fruit and also exercised.
And sometimes baby number 2 or 3 is a surprise, or you were trying but thought it might take a while and it didn’t so time-frames might not work for all.
If you know you are planning for a baby, my tip is to make sure you focus on your inner health, vitamins and stay well. Having a baby is a huge job for you and your body. Carrying twins or more also puts another strain on vitamin stores. When pregnant with the twins I had to take more vitamins due to extra of an additional baby and their need for more vitamins.
One thing to do is if you are worried about your levels you can always go to a doctor and get them checked. Then you will know what you need to take, plus you can always get the vitamins from food too.
Isn’t it interesting that vitamins play such an essential role in our lives.
I hope this has helped you know more about this new discovery and if you are pregnant or want to be make sure to have a Vegemite sandwich or toast more often. (I love Vegemite and can live off it)
7.9 million babies are born with a serious birth defect worldwide every year
3.3 million children under five die from serious birth defects annually
Congenital heart disease is the most common form of birth defect, affecting 1 in 100 babies
42 babies are born with a heart defect in Australia every week
30 babies will undergo heart surgery in Australia every week
Heart defects account for 30% of deaths in children under five
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I recently attendedThe Bloggers Brunchand had the opportunity to listen to Frank Caruso speak about his journey and how he has built such a successful business.
Frank explained how he had teachers that thought he was not bright and would not amount to much. He had doubters but he never kept on giving things a go. Frank Caruso’s talk was very motivational and made me think about my journey so far.
I had very similar things happen to me as a child. I was told that I was stupid. I would not be able to do this or that and I should just get an office job and forget about it.
Thank goodness, I was stubborn and did not listen to the doubters. I kept on plodding along and worked towards my goals.
Slowly but surely, I managed to get into the university I was drooling over. I managed to get in as a mature aged student. According to the universities mature age is from 20 years and older. I started my undergraduate degree at UTS (University of Technology, Sydney) when I was 23 years of age.
Frank invested in his health journey and was so passionate about it, it became a hugely successful family business.
Learning about Frank Caruso’s tips for success. In grade 3 one of his teachers told him he would never succeed at anything. Don’t let other people’s view of you dictate what you will become! This is one of the key points from Frank’s tips.
Hearing Frank talk at The Bloggers Brunch was inspiring and made me think of things I wish to achieve for my business and my family. Frank is contagious regarding motivating people about their dreams and passions.
It got me thinking about my health and wellness after I got home.
Since having kids, I want to make sure I look after myself. I want to be healthy and active for them, oh and myself as well.
I make sure to have good food, some exercise, rest, relaxation (although sometimes hard with a busy family), and time with the family to just be.
Part of looking after myself means that I make sure to get enough vitamins and minerals that my body will need to lead an active life.
Being a mum is tough job. You cannot afford to get sick (no sick leave, no sick pay, or nanny to come help) so being as healthy as you can is very important.
The kids and I in April 2016.
It is even tougher when kids get sick and you are the one that cares for them, dodging coughs, and snotty noses is next to impossible and therefore mum is the next one on the list to get ill.
Since having my last child, Alexander, I have noticed that my hair has been very dry and brittle. I don’t remember this happening after the twins. Maybe it did and I was so tired I never realised.
I mentioned this to the team at Caruso’s Natural Health and they recommended I try Super Collagen Builderfor Hair, Skin and Nails.
Super Collagen Builder for Hair, Skin and Nails from Caruso’s Natural Health.
I’ve been using the Super Collagen Builder for the last month and it seems to have made a difference to my hair. It appears softer, and not as dry. I will be continuing using this product to see what it does over a longer period.
I do eat quite well but like to ensure I’m getting the right vitamins and minerals with a multivitamin. I’ve been taking Women’s Super Multi. This is a multivitamin tailored for women on the go.
Women’s Super Multi by Caruso’s Natural Health
I take one multivitamin a day. I’m sure this has helped me feel better and allowed me to keep going when the kids have been unwell. This multivitamin helps you for all round health, heart, immune support, bone health, energy, stress and loads more.
Meeting Frank has made me see that I too can achieve what I set out to do. I already knew that health was extremely important and as a mum looking after myself is a top priority.
Not only will being healthy in my older years ensure that I am here for my kids but will allow me to lead a happier, and better life.
The inspirational and charming Frank Caruso from Caruso’s Natural Health. It was such a lovely thing to meet the wonderful man himself.
Have you met someone that has motivated you to be a better you? Frank Caruso is defiantly a person that encourages change in people. Frank is also proof that you should follow your passions and invest in you. The more you do this, the more successful you will be.
How do you make time for good health at your place?
Do you exercise with the kids?
Or maybe eating more vegetables and less refined food?
Let us know.
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The below post was written near the end of the Easter School holidays this year. Now we are in the winter school holidays and I am not sure that it will be much different. What about you?
Or have you been driven mental by the kids constant demands? Maybe you have found it difficult to keep kids occupied and busy while they are off school?
I don’t know about you, but I have a hate love relationship with school holidays. Yes, I know this term is usually written as a love hate relationship, but I think my way expresses more of how I feel.
The holidays are nearly over. Maybe I should be awarded a medal for survival or at the very least managing to keep people happy.
Would this award ceremony have others that have survived too? It could become a thing for parents that have lasted through countless trips to the shops, playground, park, and the millionth time watching your child’s favourite film.
Playing in parks is always a favourite thing for my kids to do. It allows them to run wild, explore and to just burn off energy that is not able to be done inside.
So what have we been up to these school holidays?
Went to the movies to see Batman LEGO Movie, Boss Baby, and Beauty and the Beast.
Spent time at parks.
Went to indoor play centres.
Watched countless movies at home.
Cooked.
Played with friends kids.
Had playdates.
Did craft.
Read books.
Went to the Easter Show.
Tried to sleep in… this really has not happened but the attempts have been made.
Also there have been many meltdowns, tantrums, and fights over the school holidays.
Kids have not been doing as they are told. Not listening to me and being downright rude and naughty.
I am actually craving some alone time.
Time that does not have yelling kids, noise or anything that might annoy me.
Time that will allow me to finally get a few things done rather than bits of everything and never get a chance to get back to it.
Don’t get me wrong, I do love the fact that holidays allow you to not be anywhere if you don’t want to.
So what do I love about school holidays?
Able to stay in your PJ’s all day.
Don’t have to make any plans.
Don’t have to pack lunches everyday.
Spending time with my lovely kids.
Seeing fun films that normally are just for kids, but since you have kids with you it is fully acceptable to watch these fun films.
Fun days out with the kids and hubby.
Things I don’t like or hate about school holidays:
No alone time.
Constantly on the go.
Never a chance to get something done for me.
Kids arguing and fighting. Although this happens when it is not school holidays, the fights seem to be amplified during holidays.
This is what it has been like when the kids have been naughty. Oh the joys of the holidays.
Wednesday the kids go back to school and Friday the baby will be in care. He is usually in care on Tuesday’s as well but this week it is a public holiday so we are all on holiday still.
I am looking forward to Friday. It will be a day that I can have some quiet time. Alone time. Time just for me. Kids will be in school, the baby will be at care, and hubby will be at work. I will be able to focus on some much needed tasks that I wish to get done.
Although I have a list of things that I wish to get completed, I most likely will be just sitting down and loving the peace and quiet of being in the house all by myself.
What do you look forward to after kids go back to school? Maybe you have not had a break due to working as well as trying to entertain kids during the school holidays.
Some plans for me:
Get my hair done
Have a hot bath and not be interrupted
Spend some time working on my blog
Catch up on some television
Finally get stuck into my screenwriting course that I have not had the chance to do
Get some exercise
And so much more
Let us know how you coped these school holidays and what you are looking forward to do once the kids are back at school?
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Do you take your baby to a playgroup? Does your baby love it?
I have attempted to take our baby boy to the playgroup that is at the twin’s school. I thought that this would be ideal. I am already at the school after dropping off the girls and while there it would be perfect for the baby to play, and it might mean I can get a drink by myself. Well I can hope can’t I.
This playgroup at the kid’s school is lovely, the organisers have toys all laid out and so many things for all different age groups to play with.
I have on several occasions we have gone and I have put the baby down so he can explore. There are so many things that would allow him to have fun and have new experiences. Although he did not enjoy his time and just was a hysterical mess; crying, screaming and grabbing for me. He just wanted mummy and cuddles. Don’t put the baby down was the message.
Baby upset. Not sure why. Could be the fact it is a new environment at playgroup.
There were a few moments where he looked like he was okay. I then told him that I was just getting my coffee and will be back soon. He must have thought I was leaving him and he sped crawled to me and tried to climb up my legs to get into my arms. Oh the poor little boy.
I explained all this to my husband and he asked, “Did you tell him what you were doing and where you were going?”
I responded with, “I told the baby that I was just getting a coffee but I did not tell the baby we were going to playgroup? Do you think he is upset due to not being told where we were going?”
Hubby laughed at me. I thought he was asking whether I explained to the baby exactly where we were going and what we were doing. I did not, although I did tell the baby I was just getting my drink.
This got me thinking… Do you tell your baby where you are going? I try to and although I didn’t that day, I did tell the baby that I was just getting my coffee and would be straight back, although he freaked out about this as well.
Yes, I know that the baby does not know what I am saying. He cannot talk and panics when he thinks it looks like I am leaving, although I was coming back.
Maybe it was his teeth?
Maybe it was the fact he was not feeling well?
Could it be the fact that he is not feeling comfortable in the space and was scared?
I ended up leaving due to the fact that Alexander was shaking, crying and just really upset. Small steps I think is best if your baby is not liking something or finding things hard. Also if they are upset best to leave and make them feel secure, calm and comfortable.
So what I thought hubby was saying was if I just told the baby, “We are going to playgroup today” then he would have been happier? I don’t know. I don’t think so. I have been back to the same group and I think our little boy is not feeling comfortable in the space. It could be the size of the room, too many people or something that I will never be able to answer.
It could just take time for him to get used to certain situations. Have you been to places where your baby is not happy or 100% and other places they are super happy? What do you think the issue is? Have you figured it out?
This year is the eighth year of my blog. Yes I have been blogging for eight years. It sometimes does not feel like it has been that long at all.
To celebrate I have a really amazing giveaway. This giveaway will give you a present as well as something for your little baby or if you don’t have a baby it could be a lovely gift for someone.
The next few months is going to be exciting in regards to giveaways. I have something for the Christmas and New Year holidays, some surprises in the lead up to Christmas and of course this giveaway that will help celebrate the blog’s eighth birthday. All will be revealed soon. Make sure you follow the blog and all our social media sites so you don’t miss out on any announcements.
I would like to take the time to thank all my lovely readers for following the blog, the comments and emails of support that I have had over the last eight years. It has been greatly apprecaitted.
Bigger and greater things are in store, my aim is to make the next eight years great too.
As a mother to twin girls and a little boy I want to ensure that all my kids are healthy and well. I’m sure if you are a parent or help care for kids that would be what you would like too. However there are times when everyone gets sick. One child might have a cold, a fever, the flu or if it was like our ongoing saga with tonsillitis it effected both kids until they were removed (the girls have been well aside from the common cold and illness since the removal of their tonsils.)
Shelley Craft, Buddy Bear, myself (Suzanne), the girls and our little boy. What fun the kids had, although the baby was teething and still is. (He cheered up once he got some Children’s Panadol to make him feel better)
When your little ones get sick you do your best to make them feel better. It could be cuddles, songs, yummy food, and favourite shows and of course some medicine to help your kids feel more like themselves and allow the body to get better, rest is best so that you can be well.
No matter how simple or common the sickness is you cannot help but worry about your children. When my kids are sick I am worried about them all the time.
Last Thursday the kids and I went to learn about Children’s Panadol (The kids were excited to meet Shelley Craft. Yes I watch The Block and therefore so do the kids) great new online resources to help parents care for sick kids and to also alleviate the anxiety that can go with sickness.
Shelley Craft from the Block and Dr Kimberley O’Brien who is the founder of Quirky Kid Clinic and also an expert in child development and mental health. Both Shelley Craft and Dr O’Brien spoke about how to have planning strategies to help parents deal with stress and anxiety when children get ill as it can be HUGE help for parents and children as well.
This talk was in response to a “new global survey of parents, including Australians, suggests that parents manage day to day mishaps and mistakes calmly, but still get stressed about the important things like helping their children through illness”
“71% of Australian parents fell anxious about fever/temperature and 66% feel anxious about their child’s pain”
Children’s Panadol have created the following tools to help support parents in managing their child’s health:
Buddy Bear is an interactive animated website that allows parents to entertain children when they are sick. It is a good idea to create the different files before you need them as you can save them to your device. Once you are on the site you are asked if your child is a boy/girl. Then fill in age, email and add photo and your video will be emailed to you when it is ready. Get organised and download a few so you have them ready.
While your child is watching Buddy Bear you can get the dosage of Children’s Panadol correct and not be so flustered and anxious.
Buddy Bear – The great new interactive way to keep your little one entertained while you get the medicine sorted to help your child get better. Developed and created by Children’s Panadol.
The First Five Years Book – This fabulous resource is written by child health nurses to help parents with practical tips and tricks to help them understand the ups and downs from birth to 5 years old, help you enjoy being a parent, learn about major milestones, understand activities that your baby might be doing. You can read it online or download it.
Bub Tracker App – This is a FREE App that helps new parents with advice on dosage for medicines, feeding tracker, feeding log and much more.“Parents do not sweat the small stuff, but worry more about the illness cause, recovery and prevention – especially mothers”
Children’s Panadol Bub Tracker App – Great guide for parents
I hate it when kids are sick. I wish I could make it all go away. I also hate when I get sick, yes if kids get ill, I end up sick too! Perils of motherhood.
The tools from Panadol are a HUGE help to make it a little easier on parents and also kids. I have downloaded some of buddy bear’s interactive videos in preparation for Alexander.
Dr Kimberley O’Brien has 5 tips to help manage anxiety and soothe your sick child/children:
Make a Plan. Having a plan removes second guessing yourself and the worry. Make sure that you include distraction and calming tools if medication is required.
Know your tools. Have a favourite toy/book/game to help comfort your child. A personalised DVD that the child will be happy to watch would be of great help.
Empathise. Try and see the situation from your child’s point of view and this can give you some insight into their behaviour.
Do familiar things. If you can make sure you stick to your regular family routine. This will create a sense of normality at home and allow everyone to be more relaxed.
Manage your anxiety. Call on your support network for help. You need a break if you are the only one caring for a sick child, a break will allow you to increase your quality of care and not get burnt out in the process.
“They are less concerned with diet, medication usage or what they are doing wrong – though parents of younger children worry more.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly parents of children aged 6-12 are not as ‘extremely ’anxious”
Teething and very upset. Mummy cuddles are very helpful. Photo taken in a darken room due to sleeping baby. Yes did not want to wake him.
What are your thoughts on making a plan to be ready for sick kids? Well you are not planning on having sick kids, just how to deal with it.
I love the Buddy Bearvideos and the bear is so magical to watch. You could sit for hours just being amazed at how cute and wonderful the bear is. Kids will love this as much as adults do. Give it a go, download and save some videos just in case you need them. Also check out the other online resources from Children’s Panadol.
Disclaimer: I went along to the media briefing about Children’s Panadol to learn ways parents can be less anxious and to hear about techniques that can help children when sick. I have had many times when the twins were ill, they then got me ill and now with a baby it will all happen again (Currently Alexander has a cold and is also teething. Joyousness it is not!). I think that the online resources that Children’s Panadol showcased are excellent, not only are they FREE, they are highly informative as well. Thanks to Children’s Panadol for the invite and allowing the kids and I to learn more about your online tools.
Do you have a baby? Do they have a teddy or a special toy? Did your child eventually name it? Or did you give it a name?
Alexander with Barry the Bear. Named by Daddy.
Hubby has named one of Alexander’s favourite teddies. Yes how terrible I thought!
It is not hubby’s teddy. Why would he want to name it.
I told the husband my thoughts on the matter and that it is really up to the child to name his teddy.
Hubby told me that if we kept on calling it “Teddy” he will grow up and still call the toy, “Teddy”.
So the name that has been chosen for Alexander’s teddy is: Barry the Bear! Yes the teddy is now called Barry.
The twins even race around to make sure Alexander has Barry.
The other week when Alexander went for his six month shots I made sure we had Barry with us. After the nurses gave the baby his needles he cried a little bit and was a little out of sorts. Barry the Bear fell on the floor and the girls told the nurses he needed Barry. They had no idea who Barry was, then the girls told them…. “Barry the Bear!” like they should know.
The name has been adopted by hubby, the girls and now I have been calling the teddy Barry.
Did you name your kids teddy? Or did you wait for them to name their own toy themselves? Let us know.
Are hitting milestones early related to intelligence?
When I meet some mums or people out and about they ask about my little boy. I tell them what he has been up to and give them a quick update on things.
Our little boy who is six months old tomorrow seems to be hitting most milestones early.
When I mention this to others I get one thing said back to me….
“He is going to be intelligent”
Geez I hope so but I’m not sure if laughing before the doctors tell me the baby should be or trying to stand when you cannot crawl or doing things before the allotted time-frame means you are going to be genius or at the very least a smart bunny or smarter than the average bear.
Since he was born he has wanted to stand up. I picked him up and he put his legs down on me to stand up. He was just born…. why is he wanting to stand? I had no concept of this due to having preemie twins for my first children. Having a baby born exactly on his due date changes things.
It has not just been one person who has told me that due to Alexander hitting his milestones early he is going to be super smart, there have been many, actually too many to remember.
Resting after having some floor time
I do think that he is in a hurry to do things. Maybe he has places to be, worlds to conquer or a business meeting to attend? I don’t know but he is keen to be racing around like the other kids.
Is it due to him being the youngest child? He sees the older kids do everything? The twins did not have this, although they had the constant company and help of having someone with them at all times.
What can my little boy do now?
Roll everywhere (Travels everywhere)
Crawl a little bit
Grabs everything even with a pincer grip
Laughs at his own jokes and others
Follows instruction to roll over to an area or part of the room
Has to get to his toys even if they are out of reach. Likes to play with toys that are not his…. yes the twins need to keep their toys and room tidy.
Getting more hungry
Has increased his solids intake to more and more each day. Sometimes it depends on the day and how hungry he is…. seems to be increasing.
Makes eye contact with people – He has done this for a long time now. I think from about 2 months he did this or before.
He likes to give you cuddles
He LOVES cuddles from mummy especially and also his sisters, oh and daddy.
Loves mummies singing… YES I know this will change but he thinks it is wonderful at the moment!
Has a funny sense of humour….. He laughs at things that you think babies would not find funny. It is like he has a quirky offbeat understanding of comedy and humour already.
Sits up in his rocker chair
Loves to see everything when we are out and about…. if he is in his pram he must be sitting up. This started months ago and I was hesitant to have him sitting up as I thought he was too young…however he would fret and freak out if he could not see what was going on and also be included.
He loves to be with his big sisters in their room. The girls tuck him in their bed and fuss over him. He has smiles and giggles, and of course looks so happy to be there it is lovely to watch.
I personally think that it does not matter when your child does anything. As long as all is well with development and they are happy, healthy and loved it will all work itself out. Of course if you are worried about something it is always best to check. Having checkups and making sure that development is on track, if there are any issues you can hopefully get to see the right people earlier rather than later and things will be resolved or better than they could have been without the help.
I always had the twins checked at certain ages for milestone development when they were babies and I’m doing the same for Alexander. My kids don’t do what others do and vice versa. When things happen is up to the individual and of course if it is like when the twins lose their baby teeth we are not keeping up with the other kids at all. My girls have only lost 3 teeth in total, mind you I was slow on that front too as a kid, so maybe it genetic.
From my reading online I found that if your child is an early reader, it is likely that they are smarter. Yes you read that right.
“We also know something about early reading. While it’s not necessarily a sign of genius, early readers are usually “smarter than the average bear.” Nancy Ewald Jackson, a developmental psychologist and reading acquisition expert at the University of Iowa, says one review of the literature found the average IQ of early readers was 130. “That’s clearly above average, but half the group would not qualify as gifted in terms of IQ,” she points out. One of her studies showed that precocious kindergarten readers tended still to be reading above grade level by grades five and six. But it isn’t clear whether that’s because they were bright, and therefore read early, as opposed to because they read early, and thereby became smarter.” ( Hoffman, John, Today’s Parent: “Earlier, faster, better: precocious kids”, Oct 4, 2006)
The twins and now our little boy have done things earlier than expected. The girls did things way before it was thought things would happen and maybe that was mainly due to the fact that they were six weeks early. Well could have been seven weeks early if one twin had her way! They spoke, sat up, crawled and rolled over way before they were supposed to. Maybe they were in a hurry like our new little boy is as well. Or could it just be genetics again?
I wish I had a crystal ball to tell me if these comments are right about intelligence and smarts. I am just pleased that he is a happy, healthy, we think he is smart, and active little person.
Did your baby hit milestones early? Were you told that your little boy/girl was going to be intelligent due to reaching these development milestones before they are supposed to?
If you are a parent to older children has this idea panned out? Have they blitzed their grade? Or the top of the year at uni? Or how about launch a million/billion dollar idea as a startup company? Let us know.
Have you got a baby or toddler that has digestive issues? Reflux, allergies or an intolerance to cow’s milk maybe? Are you finding it difficult if you are not breastfeeding anymore?
I could only breastfeed my third child for the first three months (I also got mastitis and was very ill. It came back about three times and complicated the issue with breastfeeding) and we did supplement with formula.
Learning how common toddler digestive issues are from Melanie McGrice Accredited Practising Dietitian.
We had issues with Alexander who had silent reflux when he was born and it lasted up until three months of age. He is still rather particular about being upright and of course cannot drink too much as he will then bring it straight back up. He was a very fussy baby and I think he had issues with his belly not handling things in the early days. You can read more about what happened with our little boy here.
After trying to settle the baby and to help him to relieve the wind and the pain in his belly it would all start again. Yes the 3-4 hours it took to settle him then meant that I had to feed him all over again and therefore this horrible issue would come back. I would dread feeding him the bottle due to what would happen afterwards…yes another 4 plus hours with a screaming baby.
Did you know?
“The vast majority (84%) of children 13-24 months have experienced some form of digestive problem with diarrhoea (33%), constipation (30%) and reflux (27%) being among the most common.”
I was wondering what to do. How can I help my little boy feel better and not be in pain? I of course wanted the screaming to stop. Peace and quiet was needed as it would hopefully lead to sleep. Yes the much needed sleep that every new parent needs and wants, but does not get.
I did not know there was goat formula. I also did not know that it could have helped our little baby’s issues. I wish we had tried it earlier.
Oil6 Dairy Goat Formula invited me to learn more about their products for toddlers. I was intrigued and interested due to the difficulties that we had with our son in the early days. I was keen to see if it would help him now as well.
While hearing about the Oli6 Goat Milk I was lucky to be able to drink some lovely coffee and nibble on some yummy snacks. It felt rather calming to be in such relaxing surroundings at The Grounds of the Alexandria and to just sit and be for a bit. Thanks so much for this yummy morning tea it was a great treat.
The lovely flowers plus the nibbles on the table at the Oli6 Goat Formula Morning Tea.
“Toddlers show their digestive distress by struggling to get to sleep (57%), crying (53%) and just being cranky (36%)
Calcium for teeth and bones (10% more than cows milk)
Vitamin A for vision and sight (46% more than cow’s milk)
Magnesium for development and growth (33% more than cow’s milk)
Vitamin C (37% more than cow’s milk)
Naturally occurring prebiotic oligos may assist digestion. Prebiotic oligosaccharides that naturally occur in goat’s milk may aid beneficial bacteria to help stimulate digestive health and help with the growth of the good gut bacteria (these are the ones we want). Studies have shown that goat’s milk contains up to 250-300mg/l which is six times the concentration than found in cow’s milk.
Higher amount of lipids to aid brain development and function
Higher proportion of medium chain fatty acids for colonic health and other benefits; more than normal cow’s milk.
Gentle on tummies – Has easier to digest fatty acids. The size of the fat globules in goat’s milk are smaller to cow’s milk and therefore has been suggested that this makes it easier to digest.
Oli6 is made in Victoria, Australia and adheres to strict Australian guidelines.
The girls and I at the morning tea for Oli6 Goat Formula. We are at the Atrium at The Grounds in Alexandria.
Why should you have a formula high in Oligosaccharides?
Protect against germs or illness
Promote colonic health
Help with the maturation of gut and immune system
Promote and help with healthy gut microflora ( Prebiotic)
Good for brain development
Helps with nutrient absorption
Did you know?
“To date, over 37 oligosaccharides have been identified in goat’s milk. Several of these oligosaccharides are structurally similar to those found in human milk and suggested to have similar beneficial effects.”
I had no idea that goat’s milk might be more similar to breast milk, maybe this is why it is easier to digest for babies? It is more like what mum would be giving the baby.
I only thought that goat’s milk might be a solution if you had an allergy or intolerance, not digestive issues. How wrong was I?
Having experienced a baby with digestive issues and being so unhappy I can see how this would be a good thing to try. Anything for a happy baby and happy parents.
Alexander and I at the Oli6 Goat Formula Morning Tea.
Just in case you wish to give the Oli6 Goat Formula a try you can purchase it from the Oli6 website, Pharmacy Warehouse, Cincotta Discount Chemist, Optimal Pharmacy Plus, Pharmacy 4 Less Discount Chemist, Direct Chemist Outlet – Discount Chemist and You Save Chemist. Oh and if you purchase at any of these pharmacies you get a $10.00 cashback.
Stage 3 – 12 months to 36 months (Toddler Formula) – Oli6 Dairy Goat Formula
“Almost half (46%) of mums changed formula type to try to address their child’s digestive issues and of these, almost half (46%) say it mostly solved the problem and a further 13% saying it somewhat reduced the problem.”
Need a unique gift for a family member? Don’t have heaps of money? Well this great project will give you a cheap gift and your family member will cherish the present for years to come.
This gift can be for birthday’s, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Celebrating being a new mum/dad, or even Christmas. So don’t worry it will be perfect for any occasion.
Create your own hand and feet print canvas, great gift idea. Be prepared for mess. It was a bunch of fun though, but the baby got the messiest. Enjoy!
Gather Your Materials
Washable Paint. If you have more than 1 child you will need different colours for each child. I purchased red, blue and white paint. I made purple paint and also pink out of these colours. I ended up having purple, pink and blue for the 3 kids to use.
Canvas (You can small sizes, large ones or enormous size canvas. It is up to you and the project you are making) I chose small square ones so that they would easily fit in the post and also on a wall.
Newspaper to cover the floor or outside area. This makes sure you don’t get too messy.
Towels – You might want to have towels set up on the floor to protect the path to the bathroom so that your very messy kids can not mess things up too much once they get in there to get clean. I do find that if my kids are head to toe covered in paint, the walls and doors get covered in it too. Therefore having a washable paint is ideal as all you have to do is to give the wall and floor a quick wipe and all is good.
Paint brushes – We used the paint brushes to put the paint on hands and feet. You can just put your hands and feet in the paint but using the paint brush made it a bit easier.
How To Create the Prints
Step 1: Have your paint ready to go. If you need to mix colours have it all organised before the kids get near it.
Step 2: Put the newspaper down and then lay the canvas on top.
Step 3:Make sure kids are in clothes that can get dirty and then paint a foot or a hand and press on the canvas. (You might want to figure out where each hand and foot is going to go on the canvas. You don’t want to figure it out with excited kids who are ready to paint everything and anything. Before we put anything on a canvas I spoke to the girls about where each persons hand was going to go and we were going to save space for the baby as well.)
Step 4: Since I was making more than one canvas at the same time I did this 3 times for each person. I made one for my Mother in Law, one for my mum and also one for me!
Step 5:Once you have all the hands and prints on the canvas, it now needs to dry. It should dry well overnight and be ready to post the next day. I packed one up for my Mother in Law. It just needed some bubble wrap to protect it and it sat in the box with the other goodies for her birthday.
This is a good rainy day activity. I am sure it will keep the kids happy and having fun. Afterwards they can have a bubble bath and you get some peace and quiet after they are relaxed and tried. Maybe after the bath put on a film for them to watch or read them a story…… I do live in hope that the kids will be super tired after activities.
Oh well, whatever you do enjoy. I hope this gives you some great ideas and a cheap gift idea to create.
Need a unique gift for a family member? Don’t have heaps of money? Well, this great project will give you a cheap gift and your family member will cherish the present for years to come.
This gift can be for birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Celebrating being a new mum/dad, or even Christmas. So don’t worry it will be perfect for any occasion.
Create your own hand and feet print canvas, great gift idea. Be prepared for a mess. It was a bunch of fun though, but the baby got the messiest. Enjoy!
Gather Your Materials
Washable Paint. If you have more than 1 child you will need different colours for each child. I purchased red, blue and white paint. I made purple paint and also pink out of these colours. I ended up having purple, pink and blue for the 3 kids to use.
Canvas (You can small sizes, large ones or enormous size canvas. It is up to you and the project you are making) I chose small square ones so that they would easily fit in the post and also on a wall.
Newspaper to cover the floor or outside area. This makes sure you don’t get too messy.
Towels – You might want to have towels set up on the floor to protect the path to the bathroom so that your very messy kids can not mess things up too much once they get in there to get clean. I do find that if my kids are head to toe covered in paint, the walls and doors get covered in it too. Therefore having a washable paint is ideal as all you have to do is to give the wall and floor a quick wipe and all is good.
Paintbrushes – We used paintbrushes to put the paint on hands and feet. You can just put your hands and feet in the paint but using the paintbrush made it a bit easier.
How To Create the Prints
Step 1: Have your paint ready to go. If you need to mix colours have it all organised before the kids get near it.
Step 2: Put the newspaper down and then lay the canvas on top.
Step 3:Make sure kids are in clothes that can get dirty and then paint a foot or a hand and press on the canvas. (You might want to figure out where each hand and foot is going to go on the canvas. You don’t want to figure it out with excited kids who are ready to paint everything and anything. Before we put anything on a canvas I spoke to the girls about where each person’s hand was going to go and we were going to save space for the baby as well.)
Step 4: Since I was making more than one canvas at the same time I did this 3 times for each person. I made one for my Mother in Law, one for my mum and also one for me!
Step 5:Once you have all the hands and prints on the canvas, it now needs to dry. It should dry well overnight and be ready to post the next day. I picked one up for my Mother in Law. It just needed some bubble wrap to protect it and it sat in the box with the other goodies for her birthday.
This is a good rainy day activity. I am sure it will keep the kids happy and having fun. Afterward, they can have a bubble bath and you get some peace and quiet after they are relaxed and tired.
Maybe after the bath put on a film for them to watch or read them a story…… I do live in hope that the kids will be super tired after activities.
Oh well, whatever you do enjoy. I hope this gives you some great ideas and a cheap gift idea to create.
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