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Being such an important issue and significant stage in your baby’s development, there has been a copious amount of books written about weaning a baby. Seeking help and advice from a book is a sensible move and one that can help make the weaning process considerably more successful.
Although with such a vast amount of such literature available, it is difficult to know which book to turn to for advice about weaning. To help you make your decision, we have located three of the best baby weaning books available to assist in happy, smooth and stress-free weaning.
The Contented Little Baby Book of Weaning - Gina Ford
The Contented Little Baby Book of Weaning has been given five stars out of five by Amazon. Written by Gina Ford, a British author on parenting methods and a former maternity nurse, who is renowned for her ‘strict’ but effective methods, the book provides “no-nonsense methods of weaning”, which, according to The Telegraph, “are turning modern thinking on its head”.
This best-selling baby weaning book is definitely worthy of a read, particularly if your bundle of joy is reluctant to give up the milk in exchange for solid food!
Weaning - Annabel Karmel
Annabel Karmel is one of the UK’s leading baby and child nutritionists and many parents maintain that her expertise and advice in the field has helped them immensely when it has come to weaning their baby.
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With your new bundle of joy in your arms all you want to do is gaze lovingly at her face. Although you might not believe it now but there will come a time when yourself and your partner want to spend some time away from your baby and have a good old night out.
Finding a reliable babysitter is obviously high on any parents’ agenda. If you are looking to recruit the services of a babysitter so that you can take a relaxing break away from changing nappies and breastfeeding, the following advice on how to find a reliable babysitter may help.
A friend or family member
Having somebody that you already know look after your child has its obvious advantages over recruiting a stranger. As a parent you will instinctively know whether or not a person is suitable to look after a baby or young children. Friends and family will often jump at the chance of earning some extra pocket money, although remember to only employ someone who is over 16 and is ‘responsible’. Babysitters who have experience with babies and children are obviously preferable to those who haven’t any experience.
Word of mouth babysitters
Employing a babysitter through a recommendation of a friend or relative can be one of the best ways to find a reliable individual to babysit your children. Providing that the source that provided the recommendation is reliable and that you trust their judgment, word of mouth babysitters can be a great way to find a babysitter that you can leave in charge of your little one with peace of mind
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Your pet dog can be the most treasured thing in your life until the arrival of a baby when many dogs and other pets can be ‘pushed out’.
This transferral of attention can upset many dogs, which often form a strong bond with their owners. Some dogs, although rare, can show signs of aggression and even attack a baby due to feelings of resentment towards its owner’s new ‘favourite’. So just how do you introduce your dog to your baby?
According to David McDowell, an animal behaviour expert and RSPCA officer, most attacks made by dogs on a baby happen within the first few days and even hours of a baby arriving home. “If you’re not careful, your dog will quickly associate your baby with being booted out of the room and having its routine disrupted,” advices David McDowell.
How you introduce your dog to your baby, and augmenting a ‘routine’ that involves both your baby and your dog, is therefore important.
* When you first bring your baby home from the hospital ensure to make a fuss of your dog without the baby being present. Keep them in different rooms for the first couple of hours so that your dog gets used to the smell and sounds of the baby.
* When you do introduce them visually, put a lead on your dog and sit him close to the baby, gradually bringing him closer. Let your dog study your child and even have a sniff.
* Be sure to give your dog plenty of attention and praise when he has ‘been good’ around the baby.
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Whether you are patiently awaiting the impending arrival of a baby or already have a brood of four running around the home, it is important that you child proof your home.
Not only will making a few simple alterations to your house mean that your home is not has likely to be ‘trashed’ by toddlers, but it will also make your house a safer environment for your little one to grow up in. Here is how to childproof your home quickly, conveniently and inexpensively.
Put up stair gates
It goes without saying that stairs are the most hazardous feature of a house for babies and young children, and why are our little ones uncannily attracted to the stairs? Eradicate the potential perils of staircases immediately by placing a stair gate at the bottom and the top of the stairs.
Plug sockets
Similar to stairs, plug sockets have a seemingly irresistible attraction for babies and toddler to prod and probe. Naturally, sticking fingers into a plug socket can be highly dangerous, and it is therefore important that you make any reachable plug sockets safe by placing a plug cover over them.
Remove any potentially dangerous items
Babies reach a time in their development when they simply cannot resist picking everything up. Ensure that their experimenting with touch does not involve picking up objects made from material that could cause an accident if broken. Be sure to remove any glass vases, china tea sets, knives in the kitchen, so that they are well out of a baby’s reach.
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Buying a push chair for your new arrival can be an exciting yet expensive affair. With such an immense choice of push chairs available, knowing which one to buy is far from an easy decision.
There are, however, certain ‘rules’ to consider when buying a push chair, and ones that could help you make your decision…
Consider your lifestyle
Active parents that enjoy pushing their baby to the shops, to the park and over ‘rough’ terrain, should contemplate buying a push chair that has sturdy wheels, easy manoeuvrability and good suspension. Three wheel buggies are often the sturdiest, easiest to manoeuvre and great for pushing on ‘off the beaten tracks’. If, on the other hand, you are more inclined to drive or catch the bus with your push chair in tow, a more sensible option of push chair would be one that is light and easy too fold.
Consider the seat
A seat that lies flat, reclines partially and then can be placed in to the upright position, will last considerably longer than a fixed-position push chair. Babies generally lay flat in a push chair from birth until three months and are able to sit up straight in a push chair at approximately six months. The seats in some push chairs can be reversed so that the baby can be facing either forwards or backwards – a feature that is well worth considering.
Consider the size of the push chair
Push chairs can take up a lot of room and therefor the size and bulk of a buggy needs to be considered. Ensure that you measure the dimensions of your boot prior to buying a push chair to make sure that it will fit in!
Consider the expense
Push chairs can vary immensely in price. Although spending a bit more initially could mean that you save money in the long term. For example, buying a buggy that will ‘grow’ with your baby until toddler stage will save on the expenditure of having to buying another one later on, likewise so will buying a decent, sturdy model that will last if you have more children.
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