When children play we often just think they're having fun, but research has shown that the benefits of play extend far beyond that in early childhood. A child's brain doubles in size in the first year of life and by the age of 3 it has reached 80% of its adult size. This means that what your child is exposed to in the first 3 years will have a massive impact on their future.
Very often just letting the child play as they wish is the best approach, as you don't want to interfere with their progress, but there are certain things you can do to help them along. For example, allowing a child to engage in messy play has a place in that and it can help them to discover the world. You should also try to introduce them to scribbling and finger painting as young children are natural artists.
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Gestational Diabetes: Causes, Risks, Symptoms
Gestational diabetes mellitus – also known as GDM, is diabetes which can occur during pregnancy. Many women who’ve been diagnosed with GDM won’t have diabetes after their baby is born, though some continue to have high levels of blood glucose and need treatment. Most women who are diagnosed with GDM have a normal pregnancy, labour and baby. It’s important that GDM is monitored and controlled, because risk factors increase when blood sugar levels remain high.
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Breastfeeding and caffeine - what's OK?
Many of us enjoy a cup of coffee or two a day and would find it difficult to give up. The good news is that even breastfeeding mothers can continue to drink coffee, or tea in moderation.
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How to Safely Wrap a Baby
With a newborn comes many new skills to learn – one of them being how to safely wrap a baby. Wrapping (also known as swaddling) is a great strategy for parents to help their baby settle. Yet, new parents may understandably feel worried about their baby’s safety and getting it right. Read on for step-by-step guidelines on how to safely wrap a baby, plus some additional tips for safe wrapping.
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Introducing Your New Baby to Your Toddler
One small person in a family is a very different arrangement than two, or more children. When a new baby comes into the mix, dynamics change and everyone needs to shuffle around until new positions are found.
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Bottle Propping - Why it's a Risk
Many parents have heard of bottle propping, also known as prop feeding. And most of us have seen babies sucking quietly away on their own.
Bottle propping is when, instead of the baby being held to drink their bottle, they are on their own. The bottle is supported by a pillow or blanket, even a soft toy so that it’s angled with the milk filling the neck of the bottle and the teat. The baby lies in their cot/pram/on the floor sucking away on their own.
Gestational Diabetes: Causes, Risks, Symptoms
Breastfeeding and caffeine - what's OK?
How to Safely Wrap a Baby
Introducing Your New Baby to Your Toddler
Bottle Propping - Why it's a Risk
