Baby deedee Blog

Becoming a parent is rewarding, exciting, and yes - downright terrifying. And the days leading up to your baby’s arrival can be unnerving when you’re not quite sure what to expect. Feeling nervous and anxious is completely normal. To help you settle your nerves and get you ready for the big day, we recommend that you start mentally preparing yourself in advance. To get you started, here are five mental preparations for before your baby is born to get you in the right state of mind and more primed for the joys and challenges of parenthood. Putting Your Needs on Hold Not only will your body change, but your entire life will be transformed as you enter into motherhood. Your baby will soon become your number one priority, needing you morning to night for feedings, diaper changes and of course, pampering. There will be little time for anyone else but your baby. So before they are born, you should start mentally preparing to put your needs and wants aside and get ready to focus primarily on your new little love. Altering Your Schedule Another way to start mentally preparing for your baby’s arrival is to accept the lifestyle change that you are about to experience. Your weekly book club, date night, and cardio class are going to have to be put on hold for a while. And there’s no better time to start winding down your schedule than now. That way you can ease into to the transition from your current life more easily. Getting Ready for Delivery The thought of birthing can make anyone nervous and scared. But negative thoughts about delivery will only make labour a stressful experience. Instead, mentally prepare by studying how to relax yourself during labour and what effective techniques will help manage the discomfort during delivery. Reading other women’s positive birth stories can also be helpful and reassuring. Simply making an effort to calm your nerves may help more than you think! Deciding How to Raise Your Baby One of the more difficult parts of childbirth is deciding how to raise your baby. If this is your first child, it can be overwhelming trying to choose what child-rearing techniques will be best for you. Your partner may also have different ideas. So before the birth, you should start to talk this through with your partner. Being prepared in advance will help you better handle each situation when or if it arises. Being mentally prepared before birth gives you the chance to work through your fears and concerns. It also provides time to research what you don’t know and understand so you can better handle it if it happens in the future.

Sleep is so key for a family with a newborn, but it is often a great source of concern due to the existence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Here are some key ways any parent can create a safe sleeping environment for baby so that everyone in the house sleeps soundly! Keep the Crib in Your Room for 6 Months to a Year Studies have shown that keeping baby in your room with you but not in your bed reduces the risk of SIDS. You’ll also sleep better knowing that your little one is just a few feet away! Place baby to sleep on her back and always in her crib Never place your baby to sleep on her stomach, even though she may seem to sleep better. Sleeping on their stomach increases the risk of SIDS for babies. Also a crib with a firm mattress in the only way to go, babies can suffocate in your bed or on a couch. Avoid Loose Objects or Bumpers To make sure your baby is safe when she sleeps, it’s important to ask yourself whether they have any objects in their crib that could endanger them. Examples include loose blankets, toys, and similar items. Bumpers pose a suffocation risk. Use a Baby Sleeping Bag Consider tucking them into a baby sleeping bag, a warm substitute for a loose blanket. Snug and comfortable, baby can sleep on her back in the crib without any danger of getting tangled in sheets or getting cold. We have all sorts of different baby sleeping bags available in different Tog ratings, from our quilted winter-weight to fleece mid-weight and cotton light-weight versions, ensuring baby has the best and safest night’s sleep ever! When it comes to keeping your baby comfy and snug while they slumber away, you can’t forget about safety. With these essential proactive tips, mommy and daddy can rest easy knowing that their little one is better safeguarded against safety risks. For super-soft, snuggly, and protective baby bedding and sleep accessories, check out our products today!

Being a parent is a beautiful experience however it’s so easy to get caught up in your daily routine and this can put strain on even the most solid relationship. Enabling some one-on-one time with your significant is so important! With your kids snug in their cozy sleep bags and the babysitter on duty, there’s no reason you shouldn’t take advantage of the opportunity to step out. Here’s why date night is important not only for parents but for their children as well. It Helps You “Recharge Your Batteries” There’s no denying that parenting babies or young children is exhausting. By going out for some “you” time even once a week or two, you gain the chance to restore lost energy and develop a better mental focus. This is particularly important when you have young infants and need to keep a close eye on them as you want to be fully alert and not burnt out, which can happen if you don’t take care of yourself as well as them. It Keeps Your Romantic Relationship Healthy Your significant other may feel neglected or “put on the back burner” from time to time if you’re the primary carer of a baby, infant or young child. Date night can be a miracle worker in this regard, helping the two of you re-establish your romantic connection and maintain a healthy, strong bond with one another. It’s important for that baby in its comfortable and warm sleep sack under the watchful eye of a babysitter, to be able to count on both parents being there. Keeping your relationship with your significant other healthy and ensuring that “spark” is still there can safeguard this need. It Helps You Connect Better with Your Children Sometimes, being away even for a few hours can make you long to return home, gently lift your little one from its comfy sleep sheet and hold them closely while snug in their blanket. That’s because the very process of being away on date night can help remind you of what it’s all for. There are so many joys associated with parenting, but not making time for yourself and your significant other can blur the lines, making the process feel slightly mundane. Of course, if you take the time to get away for a little while on a regular basis, it’s going to be easier to find joy and inspiration. Coming home from a night out to find your child warm and snug in their pajamas and blanket is the strongest reminder of love there is. Regardless whether you’re a parent of a baby, infant, toddler or 6-year old, it’s important that you use date night not only as a means of having fun, but also as a way to recharge, restore bonds and develop a stronger connection with your little one.

There’s no better way to enjoy time indoors this winter than by cozying up at home with fun games and activities for your little one. If you’re searching for a few inspiring ideas, we’ve compiled a list of our top favourite fun indoor games to try with your child. Little Drummers We all love to make a little noise now and then, so why not get your baby in on the fun? Using whatever you have at home – bells, drums, rattle, spoons - play along with your little drummer with some happy, rousing beats to put a smile on their face. This also encourages your child’s coordination and listening development. Just make sure whatever your baby is using is child-friendly! Go-Get Game Babies love to explore and be helpful. With this game, you can create little errands for your child to do, like deliver a cup to another room, go get their favourite toy, find your shoes – or anything that requires them to complete simple tasks. This activity allows your child to learn how to follow directions and also gives them a sense of accomplishment. Counting Together As your baby develops, they become enamored by their fingers and toes. So turn this into a game for them. Teach your infant how to count out loud – whether it’s their toes, their fingers, bubbles, or even their toys. Touching objects while counting helps them develop this skill while having fun. Playing House House is always a great fun indoor game to play with your child. All you need is a big cardboard box - or if they have their own playhouse, even better! You can switch it up also by creating a cozy fort, and then show your child how to crawl in and out, while pretending how to mimic actions like ringing the doorbell, cooking up dinner, and letting their imagination run wild. Dress Up Time Using any old clothes, costumes, or items that you have hanging around in your closet, create a fun dress up game together. Let your little one explore items and pick out clothing to dress up in. This always results in giggling and encourages creativity and social development for your child. Finding fun games to play indoors with your child is easy – all you have to do is use your imagination. Or, when you’re stuck for what to do, use these fun ideas to help inspire you to enjoy those precious moments you have together at home.

In this day and age, it’s hard not to take advantage of the many benefits of technology. When it comes to settling the kids or keeping them busy so that you can relax and enjoy a peaceful moment to yourself, those devices that grab their attention in an instant seem like a blessing. But too much screen time is not without drawbacks, especially as we begin to rely on it more excessively. In fact, sleep specialists are starting to see a noticeable connection between increased screen time – whether it’s the computer, iPad, smartphone, or TV – and poor quality of sleep. To learn more about how screen time affects sleep quality for your children, read on. Excessive Use of Electronics Ask any parent these days and they’ll tell you that some form of electronic device is an important part of their parenting arsenal. These devices have become so helpful in calming the kids and keeping them distracted that they’ve become almost too much of a crutch. The use of technology and screen time has become so widespread that studies are showing how this increased exposure to screens is impacting the quality of sleep for both adults and children. Studies have shown in particular that excessive screen time leads to shortened sleep duration and a delay in the timing of sleep.  With the almost addictive nature of electronic use, it’s cutting into the duration available to get that full amount of rest we all need. Bright Lights Stimulate Brain & Disrupt Circadian Rhythm In addition, there are more severe impacts than merely cutting into bedtime. The constant long exposure to bright light emitted from the screen suppresses the release of melatonin, which is largely responsible for maintaining our circadian sleep rhythm. This in combination with the content being viewed stimulates the brain enough to release adrenaline. Once this hormone is activated, it makes it hard to get to sleep. If you keep electronic devices in your child’s bedroom, these can also disrupt sleep. It’s not unusual for an iPad screen to turn on with no prompting in the middle of the night, or for a smartphone to buzz with an alert. This interruption can cause your child to wake up and struggle to fall back to sleep. Limit Screen Time to Improve Sleep Understandably, screen time before bed has the biggest noticeable impact on the quality of your children’s sleep. Sleep needs to remain as a priority and establishing healthy habits early is essential. This is why Department of Health guidelines recommend creating limits for children under 13 years of age to two hours of screen time per day and children under 5 with less than one hour per day, avoiding usage at least three hours before bedtime. Also keep screens out of the bedroom to prevent unwanted interruptions or distractions throughout the night. With the widespread use and growing dependence on electronic devices, problems associated with excessive screen time are only bound to get worse. But by creating limitations for your children now, they can hopefully develop better habits that don’t allow technology to take precedence over their wellbeing and quality of sleep.

Summer is finally here and that means you’ve got plenty of quality family time to spend with the kids. Whether it’s road trips or family outings at the park, you always need to have some snacks on hand to satisfy your little one. And with so many fruits and veggies that are ripe and in season, there are many healthy snacks that you can whip up for your baby in no time. If you’re looking for some ideas, here are a few fun summer snacks for babies that you can try out this season.   PUREES Making a puree out of fresh fruit and veggies is one of the easiest snacks you can make for your baby. And best of all, it takes little time and effort. Kiwi Apple Zucchini Puree In a blender, combined two cored apples, three kiwis (leave the skin on to enjoy triple fiber), and three zucchini. The sweet flavor of the kiwi hides the taste of zucchini, so even the pickiest eater will lap this up. This puree is a great source of vitamin C, vitamin B-6, and dietary fiber. Recipe Source: Simply Whisked Blueberry Apple Spinach Puree Combine two chopped apples, one cup of organic blueberries, and ¼ cup of water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for at least ten minutes to soften the fruit and meld the flavors. Remove from heat, add a handful of fresh spinach, and blend until smooth. The extra healthy twist on apple sauce is a great source of vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, magnesium, and antioxidants. Recipe Source: Baby Foodie Soft Banana Toast This recipe is perfect as a snack or breakfast that’s a soft finger food and will get them into trying slightly different textures. Keep in mind that this snack is meant to be very soft, so don’t expect it to be firm like actual toast. What you need: 1 piece of bread, sliced into “fingers” 1 ripe banana 60 ml of milk Dash of cinnamon What to do: Mash or blend banana, milk and cinnamon in a bowl until smooth. Then heat a pan over medium heat. Dip the bread into the banana mixture and fry for 1-2 minutes until golden brown on each side. Let them cool before serving. Recipe Source: One Handed Cooks   PUREE POPCICLES Nothing captures summer quite like a cool, refreshing popsicle. You can get really creative with different flavors and ingredients to satiate your teething baby. Carrot Mango & Raspberry Pops You’ll need two cooked carrots, the flesh of one ripe mango, and a handful of raspberries. You can adjust the amounts depending on taste preference. The carrots work well to balance out the sweet tartness of the fruit. Just blend together, pour into your popsicle tray and freeze. Recipe Source: Miedema Produce Watermelon Pops Watermelon is one of the best snacks to serve to your infant in the summer time. And beyond slicing it, you can throw some in a blender and freeze as well to have some cool pops to serve on those hot and humid summer days. The summer months are perfect for taking advantage of those fresh flavors while keeping your baby happy and cool. If you’re looing for ideas, try out these easy summer snacks that your baby will love during the summer time.

Cry it out? No-cry sleep training? Baby deedee founder and mother of three offers a personal approach to what worked for her.

Being a first-time mom can be challenging, especially when it comes to figuring out what to feed your baby and when to start them on solids. There are many signs to look for to indicate if your baby is ready to eat, and there are lots of great food options that are safe and nutritious for them. That’s why we’ve put together this quick information sheet to help you out with starting your baby on the right foods first. When to first introduce solids Experts believe that the best time to introduce your baby to solid foods is in the first four to six months. The timing will depend on a few different factors with their overall development, including if your baby has the coordination to chew and swallow, if they’ve mastered tongue movement, and can hold their head up on their own. Another tell-tale sign is if they have started to show interest in your foods and have reached out to try and grab items during your meals. The best starter foods You will want to start with mashed and soft foods. Small amounts of mashed cooked meats, beans, tender cooked vegetables, cut up bananas, grated cheeses, cooked egg, mushy cereal, and soft deboned fish are excellent starter foods. The goal is to introduce iron-rich foods into their diet that are easy for them to self-feed. Also, don’t be afraid to introduce flavorful foods into their diet, it will help them to accept different types of foods further down the road. The foods to avoid Avoid any foods that are hard, long, and sticky. Things like peanut butter, honey, popcorn, whole nuts, long uncooked vegetables, and full-sized hot dogs are bad to start with. These foods can become an easy choking hazard. Introduce allergenic foods Contrary to what you believe, introducing peanuts and other typical allergenic foods may help to prevent a risk of developing these allergies further on. Of course, if you notice any hives, breathing issues, or rashes, make sure to take your baby to the hospital right away. Gagging is normal Gagging is actually a natural reflex for your baby. It teaches them how to move food around in their mouth and how to not choke on the food. Begin a daily schedule Start scheduling feeding times at the same time every day for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks. This will help your baby learn to eat at specific times of the day, which will be easier for you as they age.   It’s going to be messy It will take time for your baby to master eating so it’s going to be pretty messy for the first while. Plus, they will make all kinds of funny faces as they experience new tastes and textures. This is all completely normal and is all part of the parenting fun. Parenthood can be scary at times, but it’s also exciting - especially when it comes to feeding your baby for the first few times. And starting them on solids may take a little time to master but it will ensure proper development for your baby. Follow these tips and you will be able to start off on the right foot!

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