Baby

We often hear the saying, ‘play is a child’s work’. And while you may think this applies to littlies who can walk and talk and initiate their own games, play is critically important for babies to develop and learn and to form strong bonds with the important people in their lives.

Mum question: I have a three year old and an 8 month old. We recently started gentle parenting with my three year old. I've read a few books but nothing we do is helping. My three year old hits us and is constantly pushing, hitting, kicking, and scratching his little sister. He's also taking things from her every chance he can. How can we address…

In my work as a lactation consultant, I often see women swallowing handfuls of pills to boost their milk supply. As I delve deeper, I discover that rather than explore  and address the possible range of reasons for perceived or real low milk supply – from inappropriate breastfeeding advice and baby issues such as poor latch, ineffective sucking,…

I remember sitting with my partner just before Gracie was born saying, “how will we ever love another baby as much as Tilly?” says Penny, mother of 5 year old Tilly and eighteen month old Gracie. Feelings of anxiety that a second child will never be as special as the firstborn are common but, fortunately, if you are considering (or…

A mama asks…. I received some conflicting advice at my DD's 12mo checkup. Firstly when i said my DD cries in the car but she's too small for fwd facing the nurse suggested I turn her round anyway since it’s bad for their mental health to be so anxious and upset regularly and she could see she was quite a clingy baby and that could be…

I put you in your cot at night waiting for your call, When you cry I rush to you, bolting through your door, Gently picking you up I cradle you, I'm secretly glad you called for me so I can squeeze in some more love, As if I want to sleep all night missing out on our precious time, Your head is cradled on my arm as I hold you close to…

From new mothers, I often hear comments like: “I can’t even have a shower because I don’t know how long she will sleep for.” Or: “It takes so long to get him to sleep that we start cooking dinner at 9 p.m.” If your baby hasn’t yet been born, these sorts of things may sound ridiculous. However, managing your day around a newborn can be a challenge,…

Your baby is irritable, grizzly, hates lying on his back, spits up or vomits often, has hiccups constantly and he is a nightmare to feed: he starts to feed voraciously, then he wriggles, squirms and ‘throws’ himself off the breast or when e isn’t doing this, he wants to be permanently attached to your breast. He screams after and between…

“I was on the phone this morning and the person at the other end heard my baby crying. When I told her I was cuddling him, she said, “well you’ve created a rod for your own back now,” says Jody, mother of an eight week old. When your competence as a mother comes under scrutiny and you feel judged, t’s easy for the doubts to creep in…

“My five month old feels as though she is super-glued to me,” says Antoinette. “She screams if anybody else holds her and if I dare to leave the room she gets hysterical!  She is my third baby so, even though there are days when I just want to run from the room screaming, “LEAVE ME ALONE!” I know ‘this too shall pass’. But I am sick of everyone…