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!

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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!

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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.

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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!

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 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?

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Are your mornings rushed, chaotic and disorganized? Then it’s time to get control and make morning a good start to a wonderful day! When your morning activities run smoothly, and you’re out the door on time it can make your whole day feel better. To create a peaceful morning routine, follow these steps:

Start your morning - at night!

A real key to smoothing out your morning is to prepare as much as you can the night before. This means choosing the day’s clothing, packing lunches, gathering homework, signing permission slips and setting the table for breakfast.

Post a calendar.

Buy the biggest wall calendar you can find and hang it in a central location. Write down events and appointments for everyone. Use different colours marking pens to code items for easy reading. Keep the calendar up to date and you’ll be more organized!

Use a morning list.

Sit down and analyze a typical morning. Make a list of everything that needs to be done. Create a poster-sized list of the standard morning activities listed in the order to be done:If you have a child who gets easily distracted and ignores the morning chart - don’t give up! Just make a small mini-size chart, laminate it, put it on a chain and let your child wear it as his “morning necklace”! Your part is to make a few gentle reminders, “How are you doing on your chart this morning?”

Check out sleep time.

If your child has trouble getting up in the morning and sticking to his schedule take a look at what time he or she goes to bed. Without adequate sleep a child won’t be able to follow a morning routine successfully.

Fix problems with a family meeting.

If problems persist take the time to sit down with your children and talk about it. Let everyone have a turn talking, and then work to arrive at solutions that will benefit everyone.

Praise successes.

Remember, your words of praise will encourage your children to continue to meet their goals!

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We have put together a few things to consider when picking out a name for your new baby.

·         Even if you think you know the sex of the baby it is a good idea to have boy and girl names picked out. Occasionally people get fooled.

·         Kids can be mean, make sure your baby will not have initials that could cause hurt feelings at a later date.

·         Pay attention to nicknames, even though you don’t plan on calling the child by a nickname other people, especially when they start school, will. Don’t pick a name that has a nickname that you despise. For example, if you cannot stand Timmy you may not want to name your baby Timothy.

·         How does it sound when you put it all together? Do you trip over the names, or does it flow?

·         When choosing the spelling for the name you pick out keep in mind you don’t want your child to have to correct everyone’s pronunciation.

·         Go to a crowded playground where there are lots of children and yell it out loud a few times. How many children answer, do people look at you funny, does the name feel right? Don’t tell anyone what you have chosen until after the baby is born. That way you cannot be pressured into a name you don’t like or out of one you do. Also it may keep someone else who has their baby first from using your perfect name.

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Being a parent can be a worry at the best of times but when your baby or child appears unwell it can be difficult to assess just how sick they are. Do they need to see a doctor, do they need medicine or are we just panicking about something that will simply get better by itself.

Trust your instinct – you know your child better than anyone and if you are at all concerned then it is always better to seek professional help by visiting your G.P. If you’re unsure whether to go to the surgery or ask for a home visit, phone and talk to the receptionist or to your G.P. You can explain their symptoms and your situation. Wrapping a sick child up and going by car is totally different than if your only option is getting to the surgery by bus!

Sometimes there should be no grey areas of whether you need to seek help

Urgent symptoms

• A very high temperature of over 39 degrees especially if it’s accompanied by a rash
• Drowsy, hard to wake and disorientated
• Fits or if your baby turns blue, pale or seems floppy
• Breathing difficulties, rapid breathing or grunting
• High temperature but the hands and feet feel clammy
• A purple or red rash anywhere on the body.

If in doubt, always seek advice, even if it turns out to be nothing. Don’t be afraid of seeming like an over protective parent, better to be safe than sorry!

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