Children have constipation just like adults and perhaps more often since they don’t like to eat food that has a lot of fibres. Children with constipation can use the same natural remedies as adults, but in lesser amounts.You can use these guidelines for children 3 and older. Children should have a bowel movement everyday. If your child is having three or less bowel movement per week, it is time to get worried and take action.

1. Drink more water - children are very active and will perspire more than an adult during the day and lose water. If the body needs water it will take from the stools and make them hard and difficult to expel.

2. Eat more fibre - fruits and vegetables is where the fibre is. Using artificial fibre and laxative products is not a good idea. The body can become dependent on these products and lose its bowel sensitive and colon wall tone.

3. Having a bowel movement when it is time - teach your children to go to the bathroom when they get the urge. A lot of times they will put it off if they are playing or doing something they like. Putting it off will de-sensitize the colon and it will stop giving the bowel movement signal after a time. This will lead to constipation.

4. Use natural products that promote bowel movements - there are many fruits and vegetables that promote bowel movements. Use these as snacks. In cases where you use a natural remedy that is bitter, remind your child that it is medicine to help them go to the bathroom more frequently.

Coping with a baby who doesn’t sleep well is not only physically draining but emotionally draining too! 

If you are blessed with a baby who sleeps well then that’s fantastic, but for many, a good night’s sleep can seem like a vague memory.

If you are really suffering and finding it hard to cope then don’t suffer alone. Sleep deprivation is a form of torture and can leave you feeling irritable and it will affect concentration and your ability to function normally.

Talk to your health visitor who can assess your normal routine and offer advice on what things you could try in order to get your baby to sleep for longer periods.

• Babies like routine so try the bath, milk and then lullaby bedtime routine. If you do the same thing every night they will get used to the procedure and know that it is time for sleep.
• Check that they are not waking through hunger. If they slept well before and then suddenly start to wake it could be a sign to increase their food intake.
• Some people swear by controlled crying, others can’t face the heartache of hearing their child upset. Only do what you feel comfortable with.
• Get help. Ask your partner, family member or anyone who you feel comfortable with looking after your baby to help out. Let them take your baby or child out for a long walk or trip to the park while you catch up on sleep. Take turns in getting up in the night.

Sleep deprivation affects many parents and all of them will probably tell you about the things they tried and solutions that worked for them. Don’t suffer in silence, and don’t feel like your failing with parenthood if your child doesn’t sleep through.

Does your baby have cradle cap?

Symptoms of cradle cap

 ·         Yellow crusts on the scalp

·         The scalp may have red sore looking patches

·         The scaly patches may look like crusty flakes attached to their scalp and hair. Although it may be tempting to pick the cradle cap off or to try to loosen it, you should avoid doing so as it could cause an infection.The causes of cradle cap are not really known although many professionals say it is related to over active sebaceous glands. They state that the sebum produced causes old skin cells to build up and stick to the scalp, which results in the yellow crusts forming.Cradle cap is not contagious and does not mean that you are not washing your child thoroughly. It will eventually clear up on it’s own but there are a few things you can do to help.

·         Wash your baby’s hair and scalp with a mild shampoo.

·         Massage a small amount of oil into the scalp to help loosen the crusts but avoid picking or scratching them.

·         Brush your baby’s hair gently to remove and pieces that have come loose and may just be attached to the hair.Many baby’s

have cradle cap, some worse than others. It won’t last forever and will clear up without the need for any harsh treatments.

Avoid the use of artificial milk formulas
The use of artificial milk formulas, when there is no medical reason for doing so, can:

• Interfere with the establishment and maintenance of successful breastfeeding
• Increase the risk that your baby will become sensitive to cows milk protein or other allergies
• Reduce the length of time you can breastfeed for
• Increase the risk of upper respiratory tract infection, ear infections, heart disease and obesity.

If your baby needs complementary feeds, it is preferable to use expressed breast milk.

Where to get help

• Your midwife
• A lactation consultant - contact the Australian Lactation Consultants Association Tel. (02) 6295 0384
• An Australian Breastfeeding Association breastfeeding counsellor Tel. (03) 9885 0653
• Your local child and family health nurse
• Your doctor

Things to remember

• Breastfeeding within the first hour after birth has many benefits for your baby.
• Avoid the use of dummies and bottles, as they can prevent your baby from attaching properly to the breast.
• Avoid artificial milk formulas where possible, as they may reduce the duration of breastfeeding and make your baby sensitive to cows milk.

After delivery, a baby is usually alert and will spontaneously seek the breast. Research suggests that, ideally, a mother should allow her baby to feed before they are weighed, bathed and dressed. When this is not possible, skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby that allows a ‘getting-to-know-you’ time can occur later, prior to breastfeeds.

Breastfeeding within the first hourBreastfeeding within the first hour or so after birth is important because:

• It makes you as the mother more confident that you can breastfeed.
• The baby starts to receive the immunological effects of colostrum (the first breast milk, which provides protection against infection and disease).
• The baby’s digestion and bowels are stimulated.
• Sucking difficulties may be avoided if the baby feeds properly at this stage.
• The bond between you and your baby is enhanced.

Breastfeeding after a caesarean sectionIf you have delivered your baby by caesarean section:

• The first breastfeed may occur in the operating room with the baby passed under the sterile drapes while you are being stitched up. When this is not possible, it will commonly occur in the recovery room, as soon as possible after delivery, or as soon as you return to your room.
• The feeding behaviour of your baby may be affected if you have had general or epidural anaesthesia.
• The midwife should stay with you during breastfeeding if you are on intravenous drugs to relieve pain.

What to do if your baby will not latch onIf your baby will not latch on or suckle within the first hour:

• Express colostrum directly into your baby’s mouth or give it by teaspoon or cup. This can stimulate your baby to seek the breast.
• Gently stroke your baby’s abdomen and legs, to stimulate them to wake and seek the breast.
• Hold your baby close and have lots of skin-to skin contact.

Your baby may be very sleepy for the next 24 hoursIt is normal for babies to become very sleepy after their first feed. Putting your baby skin-to-skin on your chest can help them to waken and seek the breast for a feed. If sleepiness persists after the first day or so, you will need to wake your baby at least every three to four hours for a feed. 

Avoid dummies and bottles in the early daysDummies and bottles can interfere with your baby’s ability to attach properly to the breast. This can lead to:

• Breast engorgement
• Breast refusal
• Low weight gain
• Blocked milk ducts and breast inflammation (mastitis)
• Premature weaning.

Exclusive breastfeeding promotes strong sucking, which is vital for milk production. It also helps your body return to its pre-pregnant state.

Going on holiday is an exciting time for everyone, especially if the sun is shining and the pool is warm and inviting. The pool can be fun and a great way to enjoy some family fun.

There are some things to think about when you are around the pool with children. It is so easy to think that because you are holiday nothing bad can happen but it’s when we relax and loosen up that accidents can occur.

·        Never let your children go swimming alone. Even if they are a confident swimmer, if they get into difficulty and they are alone in the water, there is no-one there to help them. Keep younger children within an arms reach of you so if they get tired or panic you are nearby.

·        Get your children to understand that they shouldn’t run around the pool area. It can become really slippery and painful if they fall!

·        Talk over the depths of the pool with them so they know which is the shallow end and deep end. Remind them not to jump or dive in the shallow end. Head injuries and spinal injuries are often the cause from unsafe diving.

·        Remind them not to jump on each other or hold each other under the water. It can be frightening and dangerous.

·        Never leave your child unattended near water.  Enjoy your family holiday by the pool and let your children enjoy playing and having fun in the water but remember the safety rules so you all return home happy and healthy!

The thought of a family holiday may have you dreaming of sitting beside a turquoise marine pool with clear blue skies and the children all playing happily. If only our dreams could come true, the reality is almost always a little different and the stress free holiday can turn into a nightmare!By the time we get to holiday time, we’re normally exhausted and the children are over excited. Planning in advance is always a good idea.

·         As tempting as booking a cheaper last minute holiday may be, it is always a good idea to know the name of your hotel and which resort you will be staying in. Many last minute deals tell you your destination airport but may not give you your hotel or resort until you arrive, which can be great but if you have children, ending up in a resort without any family entertainment, family friendly restaurants and miles away from anywhere may not be the recipe for a good holiday.

·         When you are packing, fill up your case and hand luggage with plenty of crayons, games and books. They can entertain them on the plane and also help out for quieter moments in restaurants and in the hotel room.

·         Don’t forget their favourite teddy, dolly or rag. When you are running out the door it can be easy to forget their treasured friend or comforter.

·         Look up the resort and find out what facilities and local attractions are available. Talk about the holiday as a family and find out what everyone would like to do so that everyone gets to choose an activity. Even if it is as simple as a day at the beach, it will mean that it becomes everyone’s holiday. 

Check out your hotel for a children’s club. Many run some great activities and thy can help your child make friends and also give you some free time. Also check out if the hotel have early dining for the children or entertainment where the children are encouraged to join in.

Choose your destination, resort and hotel wisely and carefully and you could get a stress free relaxing holiday!

The pain of cracked and bleeding nipples is truly horrendous and if you’ve experienced it then you’ll know exactly how excruciating it can be. If you plan to breast feed there are a few things you can do to try to avoid sore nipples. Prevention is better than cure!

·         Give your breasts plenty of exposure to fresh air, this will keep them healthy.

·         Ensure your breasts are fully dry after showering, gently pat dry and rub in some oil to keep them supple.

·         Don’t wash them with soap as this will dry out your skin and remove the skin’s natural oils which can help prevent cracking.

·         When you start breast feeding allow a small amount of the milk to dry on the nipple as this will keep them supple.

Technique is also important when breast feeding.

·         Make sure your baby has the entire nipple in the mouth and not just the teat. Your mid-wife can watch you give a feed if you are unsure.

·         Try different positions, your mid wife can show you the various ways in which you can try feeding. 

 ·         Try feeding frequently so your baby is not so hungry that they are grabbing and pulling at them out of hunger.

Prevention is always better than cure but if you are suffering, try vitamin E and talk to your mid-wife who can give you professional advice and guidance.

Is it time to wean?  The recommended age to start weaning your baby is from six months, up until this time they will have been getting all their nutrients from breastfeeding or formula milk. They will still need milk as part of their diet until they reach at least 18 months old, or maybe even older.  From around six months old  

• You may find your baby starts to take an interest in what you are eating.
• They may start to demand more feeds.
• They may also start waking more throughout the night or earlier in the morning due to hunger.
• They could start to be putting things in their mouths.

What should their first meal be? Baby rice mixed with a little breast milk or their normal formula milk is a good food to start with as it is fairly bland. You could always give a mouthful or two of food to start and then top it up with their normal milk feed. You may find they ‘play’ with the food by pushing it around their mouths using their tongues and actually look as though they are not eating anything. Don’t worry, it takes time for them to get used to the texture and taste. 

• Mix a small amount of pear puree or other fruit puree to get them used to different tastes.
• Introduce some vegetable puree. Many babies prefer the sweeter vegetables such as carrot, sweet potato, squash.
• Don’t be afraid to experiment, if they don’t eat vast amounts don’t panic, they will be getting their nutrients from their milk.

Don’t panic, just make meal times fun. If you’re feeling relaxed, your baby will relax too!

 If you having been trying for a baby for at least a year, you know your monthly cycle inside out and you dread those stomach cramps at that time of the month as yet again you know you are not pregnant, remember you are not alone!  As condescending as it may seem when you are trying for a baby and having intercourse at all the right times yet still can’t seem to conceive, you are not alone! Everyone around you will either be announcing their joys of being pregnant after only one month of ‘trying’ and your family members may delight in telling you of every birth of everyone they know and those who you’ve never heard of but don’t despair.  What can you do?

• Make sure you know exactly when you are ovulating and have intercourse at the right times.

• Don’t drink too heavily, that applies to both you and your partner.

• Try to quit smoking, which yet again applies to both of you as sperm is affected by smoking 

If you’ve read all this advice a hundred times over and still can’t conceive then seek help! Go to see your doctor who can assess you both and find out if you have any fertility issues.  It’s not always easy to get a man to face up to having a fertility issue but it is a fact that many men suffer from poor sperm mobility or low sperm count. Once you know what the problem is, you can face it head on and decide which route to take. Just remember that the pregnant lady who you have just passed in the street may have had several miscarriages or 5 attempts at IVF to conceive and although it may seem like everyone is pregnant except you, it is not true and many of us are in the same situation of wondering…..why me?