Blog

Research shows that whilst babies sleep routines are naturally sporadic, they can be just as affected by changes in timezone as adults. Then, if you are travelling somewhere where your little one may experience jet lag, we advise making sure you are clear on how to minimise their symptoms when you arrive. Here are our top tips…

Some tots love feeling comfortable and secure in their car seats. For others, getting settled in for a car journey will be a constant battle. As a parent, listening to your child cry or squirm around in their seat can be heartbreaking, not to mention super distracting when you’re trying to concentrate on the road. So, what can you do when your baby hates the car seat?

Tips on Introducing Baby Number Three to the Family With the excitement of this week’s royal birth in full swing, it had us thinking about how much Prince William and The Duchess of Cambridge’s life is about to change! Whether you currently only have two and are considering baby number three or are pregnant with your third, our friend Leonora Bamford, Editor of Mybaba.com, tells us all about having a third baby and shares her top tips for making it easier for everyone.   I can’t count how many people told me not to go for a third child! As my older two grew and got more and more independent, friends told me I’d be mad to even think about it. They all said the same thing, ‘Why would you want to go back to nappies and sleepless nights?’ I had a 7-year-old son and a 6-year-old daughter and life was suddenly so easy. We could jump in the car without thinking about it, go on holiday and stay out later for dinner and things just seemed to work, we were a great family unit.  But I always felt there was just one little person missing, as we all piled into bed on the weekends to watch cartoons, I could imagine another little one sandwiched in the middle.   @mybabainsta My husband and I talked about the massive jump from two to three babies for what seemed like years and finally decided that it was now or never. Our other two were really pushing for a sibling and one night I sat next to a friend who didn’t tell me how mad I was. He said that his parents had waited and had another baby years later. He said that he couldn’t in a million year imagine life without his brother and that the world was a better place with him in it. Well, that was reason enough for me!   @mybabainsta Number three has just turned one and I wish I hadn’t listened to a single person telling me how hard it is with three children and how crazy I was to even think of it. After having two children early into our marriage and very young, to wait and then have a little miracle seven years later is just that, an absolute miracle. He has brought us nothing but joy and even with the sleepless nights, reflux, allergies and all those nappies, it is the greatest joy in the world. It’s also so much easier than I thought it would be. I found this time I have been much more relaxed and at ease. Things that worried me the first time around, I now wouldn’t give a second thought and I look back at the suitcase sized nappy bag I used to lug around with me and smile as these days I pop a micro sized little pouch with essentials in my handbag. My older children are my helpers and after 12 short months, can’t remember life without him.  He is so much a part of our family and we all feel blessed. We’re now complete. If anyone tries to put you off having a third, try not to listen to all the negatives. It’s just true what they say, ‘If only you could have your last one first!’.   @mybabainsta  @mybabainsta TOP TIPS FOR MAKING BABY NUMBER THREE AND EASIER TRANSITION:Make your other children feel part of the journey. Courtney Adamo who has five children, wrote a brilliant book called Nine Months that you can read as your bump grows and it answers many questions for all curious little people.I took my children to a scan late on in the pregnancy and told them that it was going to be a boy. I knew my daughter was going to be furious but the scanning lady told her how lucky she was, and that she was still the only princess in the family. This absolutely did the trick and my daughter left feeling on top of the world and my son, who was desperate for a little brother, was thrilled.Accept help, whether it is from friends, family or outside.  You can’t do everything, but with a bit of support you have time for all the important bits. I was still determined to take my older two to school and pick them up. It’s not easy in the early days with demanding feeding schedules but with a bit of help you can do anything.Routine is key for me. I know I thrive on it and I think children do too.Try not to coo over the new baby in front of your others. Plenty of visitors will be doing this and it’s natural for them to be jealous. When I introduced them for the first time, I popped two little teddies in his Moses basket as a present from the baby to his siblings and they treasure them.Remember the first three months are the hardest and then suddenly things seem to fall in to place.Last but not least, don’t forget your husband!FOLLOW USFacebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram Google+go back top

When a close friend has a baby, you want to support them in any way possible. Even if you’ve never had kids of your own, you can still imagine just how exhausting and overwhelming it must be. But if you’ve never had kids of your own, you might be a bit unsure about the best way to help. If we’re unsure, we tend to react by avoiding. You might tell yourself that what your friend truly needs is space. And it’s true, she does, but then again, you can give her space and also be there for her when she needs you. Here are 7 ways to do exactly that.   1) BE PRESENT BUT CONSIDERATERule Number 1: never stop by unannounced! To be fair, these days most of us will text a warning of our arrival. But remember, your new mum friend won’t be checking her phone very often. If you do plan to stop by, ask well in advance if that will be okay. Also, don’t linger on your visit. It’s best to go with a purpose in mind, like dropping off an essential or helping with a task (see below). Once you’re done, you’re out the door! 2) ALWAYS BRING FOODIf you’re heading over to her place, bring food along every time. There’s no such thing as too many home-cooked meal deliveries for sleep-deprived mummies and daddies! Bring something freezer-friendly that can be reheated as needed if you can’t or don’t have time to cook, no problem. Stop by their favourite takeaway or bring some nutritious snacks for breakfast and lunch. 3) DO ALL THE RUNNING AROUNDAsk your friend if she has any errands that need running. If there’s a letter that needs posting or a prescription that needs picking up, that’s a job with your name on it. If it’s something she needs to do in person, offer her a lift. When you do your weekly shop, pick up extra toilet paper to drop off at her place. 4) HELP AROUND THE HOUSESee that huge pile of laundry next to her washing machine? You can make it magically disappear. Those crumbs on the carpet? They’re no match for your vacuum skills! Let everyone else send her flowers and chocolates. You can be the one who’s there on the battlefield, getting the hard work done and giving her the gift of time. 5) REQUEST 1-ON-1 TIME WITH BABYSome new mums aren’t okay with this, which is perfectly normal. Don’t be offended if they don’t want to leave you alone with their newborn – it’s just that protective maternal instinct kicking in. For some new mums, however, a little break to nap, shower or just breathe is an absolute godsend. Offer to hold Baby for a little while and give her a chance to feel human again. 6) LOOK OUT FOR BABY’S BIG SIBLINGIf this is your friend’s second child, she’s still dealing with a completely new experience: taking care of more than one kid at a time. If the older sibling is still very young, it’s especially hard. The last thing any parent wants is for an older child to feel neglected. You can help with that! Bring gifts just for Big Bro or Sis, or take them out for the afternoon to make them feel special and give Mum a break. 7) PLAY IT COOL WITH ADVICEEven if you’ve had children yourself, what works for you might not work for someone else. Chances are, your new mum friend has read all the books and received loads of advice from midwives and mothers-in-law. She won’t need to hear it from her friends, too, so don’t offer your advice unless she specifically asks for it. Instead, be her outlet to vent and support her with hugs and sympathy.   Welcome your friend’s new baby to the world! Discover personalised gifts Mum and Baby will love at My 1st Years.