Time flies.... my baby is already 15 months old! The main thing that concern me now is her education, when should we start teaching her different things like manners, letters or numbers...etc. However I still think it's a bit young to teach her any of that, I'm more concern about what interest her? Saying what we're doing to add her vocaburary of the language, and just go along with her. And try not to say too many 'no' to her, instead use positive languages like teeth are for eating, not biting.
Another thing is health issues, babycentre has a good page on Toddler Symptom Guide that could refer to.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
It's time to have a look at our home and possibly re-arranging it.
- Parenting Weekly
My baby doesn't seem to crawl yet, she seems to be pushing herself backwards or sliding backwards instead of crawling, but heard from a friend that her baby didn't crawl and go straight to walking. She doesn't seem to drink much milk these days, and she starts to understand a few words, it's so exciting!
At eight months old, babies usually range from 25.25 inches long and 15.25 pounds (10th percentile) to 28.5 inches long and 20.5 pounds (90th percentile).
Once your baby starts pulling up on furniture, it's time to inspect your home for rocking chairs, recliners, and anything else on wheels or that's unstable. If your baby tries to pull up on an item that moves, shifts, or falls over, he can go tumbling (and the item can fall on top of him too). Block his access to these unstable items as much as possible using baby gates or simply move the item to a room that is inaccessible to your roaming baby.
- Parenting Weekly
My baby doesn't seem to crawl yet, she seems to be pushing herself backwards or sliding backwards instead of crawling, but heard from a friend that her baby didn't crawl and go straight to walking. She doesn't seem to drink much milk these days, and she starts to understand a few words, it's so exciting!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Outings
We went to the zoo the other day, yes, a 7-months old is a bit young for it and most of the time, our baby is either sleeping or feeding in her pram. We saw some seaseals, a hippo, elephant, zebra...etc, she didn't seem to comprehend much but was an experience. After the trip, I think next time for any outings, I'll take the baby carrier, I had a trial on the ergo carrier and it was good, it's more comfortable than the other ones that I got from Farmers which keeps falling down from my shoulders, and easier than the sling I got from trademe. I think it'll last longer than the other ones as well, it's well worth it. I also bought the bubba wrap, but I'm not very good at tying knots and my baby keeps sliding down for some reason.
She's a bit cranky these days, maybe the teething pain, and have a little problem sleeping too, the plunket nurse recommended just leave her crying to sleep, stay beside her but no eye contact to distract her to play, and wait until she get to sleep. I also pat her lightly to try help her to get to sleep. Just found a book called Teeth are Not for Biting [Board book] which is funny book to let baby learn to deal with sad, cranky feelings.
Reading to her is a good idea too, there're some free downloadable story books here, like Cinderalla, tortoise & the hare, sleeping beauty...etc.
![Teeth are Not for Biting [Board book]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uo91CAHglOlVyV9IiUSFpHwJt-nATxDIsWUSZ4bPxXOm4goCpaFmIOLAEtrJUKjQUpKpWusvRKtUUJFDejRmduqtIRCksrB0h-obQ6_3tuWdNrXMnS_fM6u8kNhFnnWEIDiEENq8cnpEIV683OFmA7o-6Sx4dZnynIf37F3TQ=s0-d)
She's a bit cranky these days, maybe the teething pain, and have a little problem sleeping too, the plunket nurse recommended just leave her crying to sleep, stay beside her but no eye contact to distract her to play, and wait until she get to sleep. I also pat her lightly to try help her to get to sleep. Just found a book called Teeth are Not for Biting [Board book] which is funny book to let baby learn to deal with sad, cranky feelings.
Reading to her is a good idea too, there're some free downloadable story books here, like Cinderalla, tortoise & the hare, sleeping beauty...etc.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
6 months
Couldn't believe time flies, when I look at my last post, it was September! Was busy all these months with the baby, housework, looking for part time work...etc. I'm really enjoying motherhood now, as the baby is starting to learn things and I was more used to the routine and what to expect. She's well and picking up new things every day, it's delighted to see that.
About feeding, she seems to be less keen on milk and more keen on solids, I was doing her puree apple, carrot, banana and spinach. The plunket nurse suggest to add vegetables to help her digest better.
Still puzzling as the day care centre I'd like her to join is still on waiting list until April, still struggling to find time for work.
Found something good to start at 6 months: Tips for promoting speech & language development
About feeding, she seems to be less keen on milk and more keen on solids, I was doing her puree apple, carrot, banana and spinach. The plunket nurse suggest to add vegetables to help her digest better.
Still puzzling as the day care centre I'd like her to join is still on waiting list until April, still struggling to find time for work.
Found something good to start at 6 months: Tips for promoting speech & language development
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Planning for the next child
Heard that the best time to have a second kid is either with an age difference of 3 years or 1 & a half year, and it's harder when 2 kids are 2 years apart as they'll both be demanding. If having an age difference between 1 and a half year, pretty much we'll need to get pregnant when our daughter is between 6 months to one year old.
As I'm breatfeeding, I've been trying to keep my healthy eating, but not eating as much as when I was pregnant, as I'd like to lose some weight and my appetite doesn't seem to be as big. Will take Elevit again for the folic acid.
My husband was dreaming to have a boy, we don't really mind the gender for our next child, but I guess we could try to maximise the opportunity. There are many ways we could try:
- the old wives tale like facing the pillow north
- IVF and others described in the about.com site
- time the ovulation, boys will conceive closer to ovulation (when ovary release egg), as sperm for male live shorter
To test which days is ovulation, one way I heard before is to measure the temperature first thing in the morning when awake, our body temperature will rise at ovulation. The Clearblue Digital Ovulation Tests will test the exact day, like a pregnancy test paper, through urine.
Signs of ovulation
But I found it quite troublesome, having to measure my temperature every morning and sometimes my period didn't come on time! The day this month might be different from the next. The Maybe Baby Saliva Ovulation Reusable test kit test the estrogen (the hormone that release at the time of ovulation) level through Saliva, I think I'll give this a go, it's simple, not as expensive as reusable, and it makes sense.
More Useful Resources:
Getting Pregnant FAQ
ClearBlue Ovulaton test FAQ
Good Deal online
As I'm breatfeeding, I've been trying to keep my healthy eating, but not eating as much as when I was pregnant, as I'd like to lose some weight and my appetite doesn't seem to be as big. Will take Elevit again for the folic acid.
My husband was dreaming to have a boy, we don't really mind the gender for our next child, but I guess we could try to maximise the opportunity. There are many ways we could try:
- the old wives tale like facing the pillow north
- IVF and others described in the about.com site
- time the ovulation, boys will conceive closer to ovulation (when ovary release egg), as sperm for male live shorter
To test which days is ovulation, one way I heard before is to measure the temperature first thing in the morning when awake, our body temperature will rise at ovulation. The Clearblue Digital Ovulation Tests will test the exact day, like a pregnancy test paper, through urine.
Signs of ovulation
But I found it quite troublesome, having to measure my temperature every morning and sometimes my period didn't come on time! The day this month might be different from the next. The Maybe Baby Saliva Ovulation Reusable test kit test the estrogen (the hormone that release at the time of ovulation) level through Saliva, I think I'll give this a go, it's simple, not as expensive as reusable, and it makes sense.
More Useful Resources:
Getting Pregnant FAQ
ClearBlue Ovulaton test FAQ
Good Deal online
 Elevit Tablets 100's - Our Price $71.95 NZ$71.95 |
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Post-Natal Depression
Went shopping for some clothes and found that I have up 2 sizes, oh no..., but I'm confident that with regular exercises I'll soon be back to my normal size.
Many friends asked if I have post-natal depression, usually my answer is a quick 'no', I've got my family to support me and the baby is healthy, can't think of anything to complain. However when a friend mentioned that her sister suffers from post-natal depression, and always worries, thinks that she can't cope, and not used to the lost of personal time...etc, I started to realise, yes, I have thought the same way too during my first month. And quite often got into arguments with everyone in the family, felt the lost of freedom and couldn't handle the baby. In addition to that, back pain, tiredness, lost of confidence in my figure, worried that my husband was having an affair because of that, got super sensitive when there's a txt to his phone.
As the baby started to sleep through the night, and I get more sleep and get to know more about what her cries mean, the worries ease a bit. Have found The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands LP on my shelf, I actually bought this book by mistake before I got pregnant as I didn't think I needed that, we were having a perfect relationship with our own careers. After having the baby, everything in the book seems to set in, all of the problems that the women have in the book are my problems at the moment! Lots of arguments, resenting him on not helping to take care of the baby, not doing the housework, too busy to take care of the housework and the baby than myself, especially my looks, wearing lousy pj all the time and no time to go shopping. And he goes out more, and I resent him more and more arguments.
I think finding this book on the shelf is a blessing. It answers a lot of my doubts ,and have solutions for a long lasting marriage. I have the audiobook on my ipod as well, and the author Dr. Laura's funny expression makes me laugh at my problems. I'm interested in listening to her radio shows as there're so many good stories to learn from. Dr. Laura has a new book, The Proper Care and Feeding of Marriage,I think I'm going to get it as well.
I believe it's important for children to grow up in a happy family, I remember being unhappy as a teenager seeing my parents argued all the time, and strangely enough, children seem to blame themselves for parents' divorce. I certainly want my daughter to grow up in a happy family and know that she's loved no matter what, my goal is to bring her up into a happy and strong person.
Many friends asked if I have post-natal depression, usually my answer is a quick 'no', I've got my family to support me and the baby is healthy, can't think of anything to complain. However when a friend mentioned that her sister suffers from post-natal depression, and always worries, thinks that she can't cope, and not used to the lost of personal time...etc, I started to realise, yes, I have thought the same way too during my first month. And quite often got into arguments with everyone in the family, felt the lost of freedom and couldn't handle the baby. In addition to that, back pain, tiredness, lost of confidence in my figure, worried that my husband was having an affair because of that, got super sensitive when there's a txt to his phone.
As the baby started to sleep through the night, and I get more sleep and get to know more about what her cries mean, the worries ease a bit. Have found The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands LP on my shelf, I actually bought this book by mistake before I got pregnant as I didn't think I needed that, we were having a perfect relationship with our own careers. After having the baby, everything in the book seems to set in, all of the problems that the women have in the book are my problems at the moment! Lots of arguments, resenting him on not helping to take care of the baby, not doing the housework, too busy to take care of the housework and the baby than myself, especially my looks, wearing lousy pj all the time and no time to go shopping. And he goes out more, and I resent him more and more arguments.
I think finding this book on the shelf is a blessing. It answers a lot of my doubts ,and have solutions for a long lasting marriage. I have the audiobook on my ipod as well, and the author Dr. Laura's funny expression makes me laugh at my problems. I'm interested in listening to her radio shows as there're so many good stories to learn from. Dr. Laura has a new book, The Proper Care and Feeding of Marriage,I think I'm going to get it as well.
I believe it's important for children to grow up in a happy family, I remember being unhappy as a teenager seeing my parents argued all the time, and strangely enough, children seem to blame themselves for parents' divorce. I certainly want my daughter to grow up in a happy family and know that she's loved no matter what, my goal is to bring her up into a happy and strong person.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Newborn memories
My baby is 3 months now and seems to lost her baby face, she looks more like a young child now, however, there're many newborn memories that I'll never forget for the rest of my life, like her tiny head moving left and right searching for the mouth while breastfeeding, now she knows where to go. Also, I'll never forget the tiny face smiling after suckling on the nipple, turning her mouth down before starting to cry, giggle when she was sleeping. All those were enjoyable memories for the whole family.
Now that things become more predicable with the baby, it's time my maternity leave payment ends and start to figure out how to make it financially, and who'll take care of the baby if I go back to work. The sample schedule from babycenter gives me some idea if I still want to breastfeed and work. Need to do a test run with my breast pump, and need to stock up some pads and storage bottle or vacuum bags as well.
Bought a manual pump but never figure out how to use it, and friends recommend to try an electric one, and it works! And later find out that when pumping one breast, the other one will go as well, so need a pair of breast shells. Should have got a duo pump, and it saves a lot of time too!
With the high interest rate, petrol and food prices at the moment, I think I'll need to get back to work, but the problem is that the child care centers around my area are all full, except if I want to fit in the part time slot that they have available, and I'll have to look for a job to fit in those part time hours. The other thing is the cost, it'll take away a big part of the part time salary.
The plus side with day care is that we don't need to worry about playing with my baby, they've got all the toys and trained professional to teach and also other children to play with, which is good for her social & mental development, I think.
Now that things become more predicable with the baby, it's time my maternity leave payment ends and start to figure out how to make it financially, and who'll take care of the baby if I go back to work. The sample schedule from babycenter gives me some idea if I still want to breastfeed and work. Need to do a test run with my breast pump, and need to stock up some pads and storage bottle or vacuum bags as well.
Bought a manual pump but never figure out how to use it, and friends recommend to try an electric one, and it works! And later find out that when pumping one breast, the other one will go as well, so need a pair of breast shells. Should have got a duo pump, and it saves a lot of time too!
With the high interest rate, petrol and food prices at the moment, I think I'll need to get back to work, but the problem is that the child care centers around my area are all full, except if I want to fit in the part time slot that they have available, and I'll have to look for a job to fit in those part time hours. The other thing is the cost, it'll take away a big part of the part time salary.
The plus side with day care is that we don't need to worry about playing with my baby, they've got all the toys and trained professional to teach and also other children to play with, which is good for her social & mental development, I think.
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