Take the lead & invite a friend

As a stay at home parent, there is much to organise, plan & execute.

Apart from the obvious household chores or activities, there are babies & kids to feed, change & play with, a vehicle to pack with nappy bag, munch bag, hand bag & buckle in children, lock & alarm the house then make your way leisurely or frantically to structured indoor activities like mainly music, jumping beans, wriggle & rhyme, story telling, plunket etc.

So what about a good ole fashioned walk to rejuvenate your spirit & enrich the soul? Some fresh air when the weather permits provides the perfect solution for both parent & child, so why not invite a friend to share the experience also.

Any destinations in mind, how about a park with a lagoon? Apart from enjoying a walk pushing your child in a stroller & or carrying your child in baby carrier. The kids will also love the wildlife & inspirational setting to walk, run or crawl and feel different environmental textures between their fingers and toes.

Do yourself a favour and call a friend or fellow parent to arrange an outdoor walk. Sometimes a drive may not be required, often there are parks or reserves close to home that could prove to be a flexible meeting point. This option is also necessary when a vehicle may not be available for use.

Think about other options too, such as a regular walking group where you have many parents either from coffee groups or friendship groups that connect & catch up on a rotating basis or when available. This approach provides you with ready made options when your calendar activities alter or change.

Looking for coffee groups, try your local community centres, search on-line portals such as Mums On Top & Connect 2 Mums. You can also try your local Plunket as a starting point.

Ultimately take the plunge, take control & enjoy the benefits of both indoor & outdoor activities with your child/ren & a friend/s.

Is that mud on your face?

{Photographs of Tiara, shared by her mum - Suzan}

Can you recall a significant time in your own childhood when playing in the rain, mean't puddles & more importantly mud pies & dirty clothes? And maybe the other kind of brown... Chocolate, was it a rarity that only special occasions would impress upon you, like Easter or Christmas?

If you were one of the lucky few, the delicious taste of dark, white & milk chocolate was more likely to enter your world a little more than just on special occasions.

Why talk about mud & chocolate?

It is the season of special events like birthdays & past events like Easter. The weather has also changed. So why not talk about mud & chocolate.

My daughter is nearly 12 months old & has an infatuation with the outdoors, like me. So much so, that as the weather turns in Auckland, for example - over cast, cool with light rain is more the norm the past few days - My little munchkin will still surge forward and aim for the nearest exit of our house to pursue the small puddles that adorn our paver's, then reach successfully the garden, where she will immerse her hands & feet in the dirt.

Or, I should say she will coax the dirt into mud and literally within in a matters of minutes be consumed by pleasure so great, that even I want to join in. 10 minutes pass, then 20 minutes & I realise the temperature drops some more. Oooh, we we are both wet & covered in mud. Invigorating yes and then my motherly instincts set in... it's time for warm milk & dry, clean clothes.

Thought for next time? Yes there will be a next time... add gumboots & raincoat to our attire hahaha.

Only recently, we enjoyed an Easter break with Rob's family in Kuaotunu {the Coromandel, NZ}. It was on this holiday, that our baby girl muscled through bits of chocolate, daily. My only regret, is that we didn't have our camera with us to be able to reflect on the joy that spread over her face when she was trying to lick remnants from her chin & mouth.

When did you last encourage your little ones to play in the rain, or get muddy after the storm? Feel free to share your tips on clothing or preparation too. And how often do you offer chocolate, in or without moderation to your child or children?

In closing, I can't wait to see my little girl indulge a little or a lot when her 1st Birthday Chocolate Cake is enjoyed. Roll on May 7th, 2010.....

Stroll or run, the point is?

You're out & about!

As I write this post, the sun has disappeared & I'm reminiscing about the superb weather we experienced in Auckland today. It alone created an air of excitement & enticed my family to pack up the family wagon & head out for a day of adventure.

Two items, apart from the obvious were essential items to pack. They included our 3 wheel stroller & baby carrier. With no real destination in mind, our thoughts were...

1. A stroller for fitness & just because
2. A baby carrier for laziness & convenience

Where did we end up?

We started at the Mangere Markets for a morning stroll around various stalls & in particular stopped at a favourite eating haunt - Mussel Madness for a delicious mussel fritter & whitebait fritter. My daughter relished the mussels & whitebait, so much so we had to buy another, for mummy that is hahaha.

From there, we made our way south west to the Drury off ramp with Waiuku in mind. After a few kilometers we decided to veer off the main road & turn further inland to pass through a quaint, tidy little village named Patumahoe that boasted with signage of the Wrights Watergardens.

After a few more kilometers we found ourselves in Mauku, some very friendly folk in that town. We followed our nose, took a few more right turns & would you believe it managed to find a sign saying '9km Waiuku'. Before we new it, we were in the marvellous township of Waiuku.

We had no need to stop for refreshments however, as we had a packed lunch on board with a few more trimmings....picnic rug, portable gas cooker, collapsible chairs etc hahaha. Had I known we were heading to Waiuku, I may have suggested a bakery stop for lunch.

So with our stomachs in mind, yet again....we took a hard left to Karioitahi Beach. Any beach would have been suffice when your mouth waters due to hunger & thirst, however this beach was a real treat. With picnic rug, chairs & sausages on the cooker we relaxed in the sun drenched shores that Karioitahi provided us with. Frolicked in the black sand & watched the many passerbys driving or walking on the beach.

The point of this post?

No stroller, or baby carrier was required in the end, however the thought of being equipped for anything or any situation, provided us with the peace of mind to venture out with no holes barred.

So the point of this post is?

No matter how you achieve it, get out & about xx

My experience flying 15 hours with a 1 year old

by, Franda Zondagh Mumpreneur Yours, Naturally

http://yoursnaturally.webs.com

When my parents-in-law first suggested we go for a visit to South Africa, both my husband and I went: "NO WAY"

I mean; who in their right minds fly with a hyper, can't sit still for one moment, 14 month old boy. Just imagining sitting with him in a plane for 15 hours gave us the creeps. Don't get me wrong, he is a lovely, smiley little boy. But that is mostly when he is allowed to play and run everywhere. He can't even sit still on my lap for 5 minutes!

But they did manage to convince us that it won't be that bad, and we booked our tickets. Since he is under 2, he gets to sit with us (on our laps!!) for quite a lot cheaper, so we went with that.

In preparation I went to the $2 Shop, and bought a few small but entertaining toys I could stuff in the Baby Bag. I also purchased jars of baby food that I know he would like (not having arguments about eating his carrots on the plane) and snacks that don't have loads of sugar in it so he won't get any more hyper than he already is.

On the plane you are allowed a Baby Bag for your Baby - seperate from the rest of your bagage allowance. In this bag you are also allowed containers of baby food and formula in liquids that is more than 100ml, and you don't get the 7kg weight restriction that we had with our hand luggage.

And how was the flight in the end?? It was bad; I won't lie. But I think I will be more prepared next time! Here are my tips that I wish I knew before we went, and the things I tried that worked.

Do:

• Take cheap $2 toys to entertain. Don't show them to the baby before the flight so that they are new to him/her. Baby books are great.
• Take a bottle of Pamol or other paracetamol. If your baby get's sick (or even VERY cranky) it does help. Remember the syringe to give it with.
• Take sugar free snacks like rice biscuits etc..
• If baby is still using a dummy/pacifier TAKE IT. Its a life saver! Great for take off and landing too when they get earache. If they don't use one, encourage them to drink a bottle/breatfeed during takeoff, landing.
• Be friendly to the people around you - they will have to listen to your little one the whole time. Most people are actually quite lovely and helpful.
• When you check in your luggage, go early and ask for a basinette (only if baby is under 9kg's otherwise it's too small) or if there is an extra seat available. We had an extra seat next to us on the way there, and a basinette on the way back - I would choose the extra seat ANY time over the bassinet)
• Nappy change in a plane's toilet is a nightmare. Take LOADS of wipes.... and a set of clean clothes. Actually, make that 2 sets...
• You don't get any food provided for a baby - so make sure you take enough!
• Take a umbrella stroller to the plane - you can take it with on top of your luggage allowance without paying any extra.Take a blanket baby knows well on the plane. And a favourite cuddle toy if he/she has one.
• Sleep as much as you can before hand, you won't get ANY rest on the flight, and don't even think you would be able to watch a movie, or read a magazine. Your whole time will be filled with entertaining baby and trying to keep them from bothering other people.
• If you have stopovers anywhere, make sure baby play and run at that airport. Make them tired so they might sleep on the rest of the journey!
• Baby WILL have jetlag if it is a long flight.... so be prepared mentally that sleep for you won't be happening anytime soon. But for the jetlag I will need to write a whole new page really....

Good luck to anyone flying with a little one! Just remember; you WILL survive and keep on smiling!!!

Design a travel MediKit for your child

Road travel with a child can be challenging and travelling with a sick child can be difficult. This is especially true when your child has a chronic medical condition, such as asthma, diabetes or food allergies.

You may have a healthy child on board, however it will be helpful to be well prepared in the event your child develops a common ailment such as motion sickness, diarrhoea & skin conditions like rashes or insect bites. These do create some discomfort & irritability for you child.

Child Travel Preparation for chronic medical conditions may include:

1. a good supply of all of the medications that your child takes on a regular basis & any medical equipment that your child might need, such as a portable nebuliser if your child has asthma. These typically run on batteries or a car adapter.

2. a list of hospital contact details & addresses where you will be staying or on your travel route.

3. a child medical alert bracelet for food allergies, diabetes or seizures. This is particularly important in the event your child is sick & you are not there.

4. a medical certificate indicating your child’s chronic medical condition is under control. In other words, to be safe rather than sorry, seek advice from a pediatric specialist or medical practitioner prior to your road trip.

Your travel MediKit for Kids

Much like a first aid kit, a travelling medicine kit should include all of the things that your child might need if he/she gets sick on the road or while away from home. You might like to start with the following:

1. a pain and fever reducer, such as pamol with applicators (syringe, spoon) & a thermometer

2. an electrolyte solution such as Pedialyte is great for hydration & is perfect for diarrhoea. It may come in 2 flavours - bubblegum or fruit.

2. an antihistamine for allergic reactions

3. a cough and cold medicine for older children with tissues & travel wipes

4. A nasal aspirator for babies & infants (for nasal congestion)

5. an antibiotic ointment, burn relief cream or gel and baby balm

6. a child friendly regular first aid kit for unplanned injuries. See http://www.mypreciouskid.com/first-aid-kit.html for items applicable to children 6 months or older

As a Registered Nurse, these tips are a guide. Therefore, as added comforts use the same principles as you would at home & if necessary seek medical advice.

Life is a beach, bring baby and a smile

Some of the most enjoyable & memorable times I have of summer, involve trips to the beach. Simply don a pair of flip flops (jandels or thongs), grab a beach towel, sarong, bottle of water, sunscreen, hat & mag and you're ready. Of course the swimming cozzy is a must...

Add a baby & things change a little. Why?

You tend not to rush out of the house in 2 minutes flat with a friend anticipating your entry into the passenger seat of the car. Instead, now your friend is meeting you at the beach, so that there is enough room for the family & the house in the family wagon. Just kidding, the aim here, is to leave the house & its belongings in place.

Pack your baby & baby beach essentials:

• Hat
• Sunscreen (age dependent, check with your pharmacy)
• Protective covers (muslin wraps work a treat, they are cool, light & generally white)
• Sunglasses (baby banz might work for you http://www.babybanz.com/)
• Light clothing (organic cotton etc)
• Shade (umbrella, sunshade etc)
• Towel
• Nappy Bag
• Baby cozzy (if that is your preference)

TIP

Stock your nappy bag based on time dependency I.e. the number of nappies you take will depend on the length of time you plan on spending away from home, + 1, just in case & so on.

Any questions, feel free to comment. Alternatively, please answer these questions.

What did you pack when you took baby out on his/her first outing to the beach? & What changed for repeat visits?

In closing, I'd love to see some fan pics on my NewBawn page, check out http://bit.ly/c18iPg

Cheers & happy adventures,

Maria

xx

First drive with your newborn

When you held your baby in your arms for the first time, I'm sure your emotions were running wild.

Please tell us about how you handled your first drive with your newborn?

Was your first experience a drive back home after being discharged from hospital, or something entirely different?

I remember the feeling of elation, holding my baby in my arms for the first time. That feeling was erased though when on discharge from hospital it was a cold & miserable day and my newborn baby, my partner & I were to drive home. I can recall trying to get baby clothed & ready in her capsule in my hospital room. I fiddled for a while trying to make sure she was comfortable & warm with what I thought would be the most appropriate clothing for the weather conditions outside.

Getting her to our vehicle without being stopped by passer bys or hospital staff was time consuming & nerve racking to say the least. It felt like it took us an hour to reach our vehicle, which under normal conditions would have taken 15 minutes. When we reached our vehicle, under cover, we were under pressure to put baby's capsule with her in it, into it's base for safe travel.

Why were we under pressure? Someone else was waiting for our car space. Being our first time placing our daughter in our vehicle, we didn't want to be rushed so waved traffic on. Baby was sleeping which was helpful because her Daddy was fussing with the base for the capsule & seatbelts to make sure we were set. It also didn't help that the vehicle we were in, was our brand new 4WD that was collected on the day I was discharged. Why? We didn't have time to prepare in advance, the baby capsule set up.

All the same, we all eventually settled in and then excitement was in the air. Rob & I had achieved the thrill of adding a child to our family circle and were relishing the drive home actually, all 10 minutes of it hahaha.

I look forward to your story.

Cheers & happy adventures,

Maria

It's time to go camping, you can make it happen

A camping trip for some people, is a must have item on their list of things to do. Most prefer to camp or tent in warmer weather and some may not mind a cooler temperature or a bit of rain.

However, let's get down to business, a parent or parent's camping trip with a newborn is definitely going to be a new and exciting experience.

What tends to make your experience memorable and enjoyable is the flexibility to shift at ease between 2 key areas.

They are, confidence and perseverance.

The confidence to subject your baby to a new environment, the confidence to travel with your baby to the camping ground or designated area, the confidence in your individual camping abilities and the perseverance factor, patience, to accept that not all things are in your control.

Make it happen

1. plan ahead by making sure your camping gear is operational
2. within reason, any tent size is all it takes (i.e a 1 man tent might just not cut it for a family of 3 etc)
3. the size and make up of the tent will determine how you make the tent comfortable and inviting for your baby to sleep in. For example, if you have a 3 man tent you might consider a double mattress for parents and baby. Or if you have a bigger tent, with additional areas for multiple people to sleep, you might consider a travel portacot, bassinet or moses basket (age dependent or baby preference) for baby to sleep in

Day time camping activities call for a little ingenuity, because it is highly likely your newborn may only feed and sleep during the day. If you like the water and don't mind a bit of fishing, tie in these activities as part of your camping trip. Your baby will learn to adapt.

In other words, 'do your best to make baby an extension of your camping trip, rather than allow baby to govern how you spend your time.' Organise your camping trip now and make it happen, you may be quietly surprised!

Cheers & happy adventures,

Maria

Fun spent in the park, what happens if the weather changes.

My daughter is a big fan of feeding ducks, geese and swans in a pond or lake, or just maybe the affiliation to parks and birdlife has a lot to do with my own cherished past-times.

So when the opportunity arises, actually any chance we get, we pack up the car or 4 wheel drive and head to a local park on weekdays and relish a longer journey to a park outside of the metropolitan area most weekends.


What to pack?

1. It is likely shade will be available by way of trees, however you may wish to take a sunshade or umbrella
2. Nappy bag with all essential items plus additional toys
3. A thick, waterproof picnic rug
4. Snap n Go stroller or chosen stroller to support your infant capsule (see First time parents - A short journey to the grocery store)
5. An additional thick, yet light baby blanket for baby's comfort when out of his/her capsule. The ideal blanket is a zip up baby sleeping bag. Light & handy for warmth or padding to place baby on for a nap
6. If you are alone with baby and like reading, a good book is essential, as it is likely baby may sleep some or most of the time
7. A rain cover & sunshade for the capsule or stroller, should baby prefer to sleep in either
8. Staple food for both you and baby
9. Stale bread for the ducks or other wildlife


Should it rain or drizzle during your visit, be close to a public shelter rather than packing bub up in a rush to leave the park prematurely. It is amazing how enjoyable your visit can be when your baby awakes to the sound of rain drops on a tin roof or the exceptional sounds of wildlife doing their best to find shelter also.

Cheers and enjoy your adventure!
xxx

First trip to the grocery store with a newborn in tow

I remember the very first time the thought of grocery shopping crossed my mind.....oh no, how am I going to cope with grocery bags and a newborn baby? Mind you the weather in Auckland at the time didn't help either. It was the start of winter and with my partner at work, I was tasked with picking up a few odds and ends to keep us going until the big weekend shop.

At the time, we were living in Mt Eden, Auckland and the closest grocery store, Foodtown, was only a 5 minute drive or 15 to 20 minute walk. Let's see, my baby is sleeping ... maybe now is the best time to go??

What I learned quite quickly, is that even the smallest of road trips require planning & preparation. In fact, keep these tips in mind when taking a similar trip by car or 4 wheel drive to the local grocery store. These tips will give you peace of mind and although obvious to some, can be overlooked!

First thing is first (If you can, prepare in advance - the day before perhaps..)

1. If you know a visit to the grocery store is on the cards, determine your list of items beforehand and stick to it (less is best, do not by any means deviate from the list)
2. Find out how long the drive might take from home to the grocery store, from the grandparent's house to the grocery store, from a friend's house to the grocery store etc. www.wises.co.nz
3. Check your account/s for purchasing power
4. Be sure your vehicle is mechanically sound, tyre pressure is good and sufficient petrol/diesel & oil is in supply
5. Check that you have a baby on board sign fixed to your rear window of the vehicle
6. Check you have a sun shade fixed to the car window where baby is to be positioned or a sunshade is fixed to the infant capsule, especially if the sun is shining bright that day

Next (It's now time to go shopping, make it happen..)

7. Travel with your newborn shortly after a feed and nappy change. He or she is likely to sleep on route, possibly settled when in the grocery store and most likely to sleep on the way home
8. Double check the safety of your infant capsule when baby is fixed in for road travel
9 Always travel with a nappy bag full of essential items (prepare for the unexpected) - nappies, change of clothes, formula (if not breastfeeding), toy or toys, baby wipes
10. Take a deep breath, hop in the drivers seat and turn on the ignition. It's time to drive!

Don't forget to congratulate yourself, smile and relax everything else will fall into place, your instincts will take over. The key to a successful road trip, both short or long, is COMFORT....both baby's and yours.

Useful Tip

*Some grocery stores have special trolley's that allow your infant capsule to fit within, other grocery stores have trolley's that already have an infant capsule attached.

My preference

*At newborn stage, a full snap n go system when shopping is ideal. It is light weight, with an easy transfer of baby in an infant capsule from car or 4 wheel drive to snap n go stroller (perfect when baby is sleeping as there is no need to wake him or her) and has sufficient space to store groceries, keys and drink holders (preferable cool drinks) too. The snap n go stroller is not only light weight, it is easy to assemble and dissemble in 1 quick and easy motion.

At the beginning of this blog is a picture of my partner, Rob, with our daughter Siena. I want to give you a real life visual of the snap n go system I'm referring to. Understandably the photo I've chosen does not show us in a grocery store, however I'm sure you might agree a camera down a grocery isle is quite odd hehehe. This picture was taken at the LaCigale markets in Parnell, Auckland. Siena was 4 weeks old.

Share your tips with others & support new parents with your own comments.

Cheers and enjoy your adventure!