What Would Cave Baby Do?

Lots of the ‘advice’ about caring for a new baby seems to be aimed at moulding and shaping them to fit the constraints and pressures of our modern lifestyles. But it shouldn’t be a surprise that our babies put up such a fight. They are hardwired with instincts and reflexes suited to a much simpler time. When humans evolved, and survival of the fittest determined which traits and behaviours should be passed on, life was very different. New mothers were never alone. There were plenty of loving arms to hold and soothe, probably boobs to feed from. There was no need to be up in time for a baby group, dressed before the health visitor arrived or to make cups of tea for the in laws. There were dangers and the elements to battle. There were no cots, prams or car seats. Life was different.

All Aboard The Sleep Coach

I’ve finally read a sleep book I found really helpful - Baby S.T.E.P.S. To Better Sleep by Nicole Johnson. What I like about it is that it outlines all the different sleep training methods, from the most gentle to full on cry it out, and acknowledges that different strategies are appropriate for different families and different temperament babies. It then shows you how to break the big problem down into small issues to tackle a step at a time and gives practical ideas about how to deal with them. She is honest that some crying is inevitable because the baby will be frustrated but that they can be gently coached through it. Buying the book gives access to online resources including a workbook to fill in and make a plan, so here goes…

Hot and Not

What's Hot and What's Not According to Baby B, Aged 7 and a Half Months

The Mum Network

Today I received the most wonderful WhatsApp message. It simply said “Going for a buggy walk, want to join us?” But it actually said so much more than that. It also said I too have a baby that will only sleep while moving and know how lonely those daily treks can be. It said I know we thought maternity leave would be non-stop cake dates but I too am broke, bored and going a bit bit-shit crazy. It said I’ve felt how you feel and know you’ll feel better after some fresh air. It said I’m also wearing avocado-stained jeans and a wooly hat to hide my unwashed hair - we’ll pretend it’s a trend. It said I won’t judge you, I don’t pity you, I get you and I’m with you. You don't have to explain but we can talk it all through.

What to Pack in your Hospital Bag

I’ve had lots of help for this post from my lovely yummy mummies as we all found different things valuable while we were in having our babies. I guess some of it depends on where you have the baby and the type of birth you have but, as we all learned, you can’t actually plan that so it’s good to be prepared for anything.

So these are the things we recommend packing in your hospital bag…

Surviving Breastfeeding a Newborn

I don’t think anyone warned me, or if they did I didn't listen, how time-consuming breastfeeding a newborn is. It pretty much takes over your life at first and the cluster feeds can be epic. The key to surviving it, and getting breastfeeding off to a positive start, is to accept this and make it as comfortable as possible.

So here are my tips for surviving those first few months…

Easy Treasure Boxes

If you search for treasure baskets or heuristic play on Pinterest they will all be arranged in gorgeous wicker creations. I've put mine in empty laundry capsule boxes - much more practical and free!

Heuristic is just a fancy word for discovering through play. It's similar to sensory play - allowing your baby to find out about textures, colour, patterns, weight and other properties or normal, every day items. That makes it easy to put together a heuristic treasure box for your baby: a quick scout around the house and the pound shop and you'll have enough to keep them busy for hours.