MOTHER LOVE

Real Mothers don't eat quiche they don't have time to make it.
Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.
Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.
Real Mothers know that dried play dough doesn't come out of carpets.
Real Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.
Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?' and get their answer when a little voice says, 'Because I love you best.'
Real Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured by height or years or grade...
It is marked by the progression of Mummy to Mum to Mother...

Erich Fromm quotes
"The mother-child relationship is paradoxical and, in a sense, tragic. It requires the most intense love on the mother's side, yet this very love must help the child grow away from the mother, and to become fully independent."

Watch this SHORT VIDEO CLIP and understand how valued a mother truly is.

'ALL-IN-ONE KINDY SHEET SET'

Justine Henkel & Jan Murray

This product is a great choice for young children who attend Day Care and require a sheet and pillow.

•Easy to carry
•No separate bits to get lost
•Washes all in one piece

It is also a great idea for the toddler who is reluctant to have a sleep during the day as they can use the 'All-in-One Kindy Sheet Set' as a ‘camp out’.

WIN A FREE SHEET SET
First person to email jan@settlepetal.com with a short reason for why you would like a specific colour will have that colour posted to them absolutely FREE. The winner will be notified by email and published in the next Parenting eNews. GOOD LUCK

ONLINE INFORMATION HERE

The big debate with babies

Jan Murray

Are you confusion about whether to let your baby cry or not? I am not sure what you believe but I can see there needs to be a balance.

Babies cry; it is one of their first forms of communication. Young babies under four months should never be left to cry alone or without investigating why they are crying. They need comfort and reassurance.

However, from four months onwards there are many parents left tired and desperate as they continually rock or feed their baby to sleep. Babies will generally take longer and longer to settle with these measures the older they get. This leaves frustrated and exhausted parents walking the streets pushing strollers or driving around in cars to get their baby to sleep. Parents even resort to repeatedly giving milk feeds to help their baby sleep overnight whether they are hungry or not. This extra milk can then affect a baby’s day time nutrient intake and the cycle of night hunger continues.

I believe a small amount of crying in a controlled and respectful manner does wonders for parents and babies stuck in this cycle. It is however vital for a baby to be assessed by a health care professional to establish that they are well with no issues creating unsettled behaviour before a 'crying' method is considered.

Crying in a controlled manner to help a baby settle to sleep has specific actions that determine its success. These need to be outline carefully and in detail before a parent feels confident to begin.

Read article on 'CRYING' babies here

Abdominal & pelvic floor muscles

Dulcie Wilson

The birth of your baby is certainly a joyful event, congratulations! However, it does come with extra demands on not only your time but also your body.

* The pelvic floor muscles are weakened during pregnancy and the weakness is exacerbated with a simple vaginal birth as the baby stretches the pelvic floor during decent
* Tearing or an episiotomy will damage the muscles further and this makes rehabilitation of these muscles crucial
* Stresses associated with lifting and carrying your baby as well as lifting capsules and prams will continue to strain these muscles
* Problems such as incontinence and vaginal or bladder prolapse can occur especially if another pregnancy follows before the pelvic floor has been properly rehabilitated
* The stomach muscles also lose tone during pregnancy and this together with weakness in the pelvic floor can often be a cause of low back pain
* Weakened core and abdominal muscles can lead to an altered body shape – this is enhanced by poor postural positions associated with feeding
* Weakness and laxity in the pelvic floor muscles decreases sensation and sexual pleasure for both you and also sometimes your partner

Pilates is an excellent form of exercise to engage both the pelvic floor and the deep abdominal muscles. Pelvic floor exercises should be started within 24-48 hrs after the birth of your baby and Pilates can be started 4-6 weeks after a normal delivery and 8-12 weeks after a Caesarean section.

Do your body a favour and seek out Pilates classes in your area
or if you are on the Sunshine Coast, Dulcie Wilson is an experienced Physiotherapist and has training in both women’s health issues and Pilates.
Contact Dulcie at Balance Physio on Buderim - Phone 54501233.

Balance Physio on Buderim

Parent lead or baby lead

Jan Murray

Many parents follow strict routines and others follow baby lead demands. I believe somewhere in between works the best.

In my experience with raising my own children as well as helping many others, I see babies and toddlers secure and settled when they have regular food intake and predictable patterns and cues of sleep and activity throughout their day and night.

If you have not already signed up to receive your FREE 'Routines' eBook you can do it below now. It includes suggested age related routines and ongoing information for both breast and infant formula fed babies and toddlers from birth to 5 years old.

Sign up for your FREE copy here

Help Toddlers Sleep Session

Cherie Morrison

Cherie already new the value of routine but since the session ...

"We have since had 3 full nights sleep !!! The only changes we made were a slightly earlier dinner (15 mins) and no fruit for dessert and no hall light on through the night. So far so good. Am also thoroughly enjoying your recipe book - the meals are so basic and easy but still tasty and suit the whole family. thanks so much".

Jan Murray

1. WINNER of February 'taste it' book purchase.
CONGRATULATIONS Kate Downing.
No doubt you will choose a beautiful keepsake piece from 'Pitter Patter Prints'

2. I have heard that more parents and toddlers are getting sleep after attending the 'Help Toddlers Sleep' session held last month.
This session is now available for individual parenting groups. Minimum 6.
View SESSION OR GROUP category for more details.

3. Are you one of the 113 members who have joined the Settle Petal FACEBOOK? If not, you are welcome to join and take part in the many discussions or connect with other parents and break the isolation that some parents feel.
Why not suggest a facebook 'play date' to connect with each other in a nearby location.

4. DAY CARE CENTRE TALKS
I am doing a variety of talks for a gold coin donation to randomly selected Day Care Centres on the Sunshine Coast. If you attend or work in a Day Care Centre on the Sunshine Coast that has not mentioned me coming and you would like a talk, let me know and I will forward more details to you or your centre.

5. 'taste it - easy baby & toddler recipes along with professional child health advice'
"We have just started our daughter on solids and your book is a godsend", Kristy
EXCLUSIVE 40% DISCOUNT for readers of 'Parenting eNews'
ORDER TODAY - LIMITED TIME ONLY
Place this code: J92I3DSW1DR at the checkout

VIEW WEBSITE FOR DETAILS HERE

Day of the Party

Michelle Eckles

Having a party for your little one can be stressful. Below is an organisational timetable to help you on the day...

*2 hours before – set up decorations/tableware if you weren’t able to do the night before. Also set up any games if you are doing them yourself (including your stereo & music)

*1.5 hours before - get everyone dressed and ready late enough to avoid spills and stains but early enough to avoid any last minute stress.

*1 hour before - put your cake knife/server, plates/napkins, candles and matches somewhere handy and ready (but safe out of the way of little hands).

*45 min before – put an esky where you are having the party or jugs on the table with drinks for the kids, drinks for the adult and water. Put a box/bin out for the rubbish and recyclables

*30 min before - lay out all the food before the guests arrive so you aren’t spending the whole party in and out of the kitchen(even warm food – heat it up just before and keep the foil over it and it will stay warm enough to eat).

*15 min before - have a box ready for all of the wrapping paper or make an area to put the presents aside until after the party.

Sample Party
10.00 Kids arrive & presents get opened
10.15 games/activities or play
11.00 food (have a break between games/activities for kids to have a drink/eat or just let them graze throughout)
11.15 games/activities or play
11.45 cake
12.00 hand out the party bags as the guests leave

Clean up and fall on the couch exhausted thinking to yourself: “I can’t believe all that effort for just two hours that went so fast and I didn’t get a chance to talk to anyone – next time I’ll get 'Ezy Kids Parties' to do everything for me!”

'Ezy Kids Parties' will save you time, energy, stress and money by organising and supplying anything and everything to do with kids parties. Sign up to our birthday reminder service to receive a FREE copy of our party planning checklist, loads of tips and ideas and $10 off your next order.

READ MORE about the before party preparations at http://www.babyparentblog.com

SIGN UP HERE