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Want to step away from the traditional blue, pink or white coloured nurseries and design a ‘bolder’ nursery for your new arrival?
Well read on as we explore three great but ‘unconventionally’ coloured nursery designs, here’s how to decorate a nursery.
Chocolate brown
It may sound dingy and completely ‘un-baby like’, but combining chocolate coloured walls with some lighter colours such as light blue, pale green or white, can not only look modern, clean and stunning, but it could also help with your baby’s development.
Not only will combining these colour contrasts create a cosy, calming and welcoming atmosphere, but, as infants see dark and light contrast best of all, a chocolate-brown coloured nursery, fringed with white and other pale colours, will create a stimulating environment for your baby to learn, play and develop.
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Many parents, whether it is because of a separation, work commitments or a divorce, are forced to live away from their children, which can be painful for everyone involved.
When a child is young it is particularly important for parents to maintain a connection with their child. For long distance parenting, whether it be temporary or permanent, it is essentail that you keep a connection going, which can seem like a daunting task. Our long distance parenting advice may help.
Implementing certain strategies to stay in touch with children who live far away is extremely important so that both parents remain involved with bringing up their children. These ‘strategies’ need not be costly or time consuming, the trick is to practice them regularly and get into a ‘communication’ routine.
Letters
There is nothing quite as comforting, reassuring and even exciting for children as receiving a letter through the post. Even if your child is not old enough to read, having someone read to her about what you have been doing, asking what she has been doing, telling her that you love and miss her, can mean the world to a child. Ensure that the letters are sent regularly, at least once a week.
Make regular telephone calls
Children, generally speaking, thrive on routine and dedicating the same time every week to speak to your child on the telephone will help re-establish some ‘normality’. There is nothing quite like hearing the sound of your child’s voice and vice versa so aim to make phone calls as frequent as possible.
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It is natural for new parents to feel a little apprehensive about taking their newborn baby home from the hospital. It will be the first time you will be with your baby without a room full of nurses at hand and you don’t know whether you’ll be able to cope.
Although most parents do cope and six months down the line they don’t even know what they were worrying about, there are several steps parents can take in bringing a newborn baby home from hospital to help ensure that the transition from hospital to home runs smoothly.
* When you pack your hospital bag make sure that it includes clothes for going home in for both you and your baby. For yourself pack comfortable, loose fitting clothes, as it is unlikely that you’ll have returned to your pre-pregnancy figure by the time you’ve left the hospital!
* Many parents have a tendency to overdress their newborn for the trip home from hospital through worry that their baby may be too cold. Layers are the key as it may be cold outside but then warm once the car gets going. If your baby is therefore wearing a hat to get to the car it may be wise to remove the hat once he is inside the car to prevent him from overheating. The same could be said about a thick babygrow or coat.
* Blankets are often favourable to putting lots of heavy, warm clothes on your baby, as blankets can be more easily removed.
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From persistently interrupted nights to constantly changing nappies, life as a new parent can be pretty demanding to say the least. A restless baby usually means that mum and dad aren’t going to get much rest either, leaving parents almost crying out for some tips and advice on how to calm a restless baby.
Below are three tips that may, just may, make your baby calmer meaning you can have some much needed rest.
Baby massage
Baby massage is a great way to develop a bond between you and your baby. If your baby is restless through having wind then gently massage her tummy in a clockwise motion to help bring up the gas.
A home-made sock soother
Babies who are teething are often grumpy from morning to night leaving exasperated parents completely knackered! One quick and simple tip to help soothe and calm a baby who is teething is to fill a clean sock with ice cubes, tie it in a knot, put your baby in her highchair and let her gnaw away to her hearts content – at last five minutes of peace!
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Shopping with a little one in tow can be a tiring, stressful and lengthy experience, leaving many parents not look forward to the dreaded supermarket shop.
There is however steps that you can take that will help make your trip to the local supermarket a little less stressful. Here’s our shopping advice for parents with babies.
Write a list
It may sound obvious, but writing a shopping list before you leave the house can significantly reduce the time spent in a supermarket, not to mention eradicating the ‘having to go back because you’ve forgotten the baked beans’ scenario!
Being organised is the key to a ‘smoother’ and hassle-free time at the supermarket. When you write your shopping list try to arrange it in ‘aisle’ or ‘category’ order, as this will mean you won’t have to keep returning to certain aisles and you will fly round the supermarket!
Visit the supermarket during the ‘quieter’ periods
Try to do your weekly shopping during times when supermarkets are less busy, typically first thing in the morning or last thing at night. Avoid shopping with a baby on a Saturday afternoon like the plague!
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