Brenda's Blog

Making the most of space.

Living in London or anywhere is expensive and we don't always have enough space.

The family here improvised for their 5 month old baby. As long as the circulation in the bathroom was good it worked.

Babies and toddlers are not concerned too much about where they sleep as long as they are safe, comfortable and have their regular comforters around them. What is more important to them is their routine and who is caring for them.

As soon as a child is ready to be weaned it is my advice to start decreasing the milk gradually to make room for solid food. I feel we drink too much milk in the UK and too much emphasis is put on how much milk should be in the child's diet. The NHS give us a recommended amount but in addition to the milk children can be introduced to other dairy foods like cheese and yogurt. This also accounts for their total dairy intake.
Many children have an intolerance to dairy so why place so much emphasis on milk? When their diet starts to become more varied with different foods it contains the vitamins and nutrients children need for their growing bodies. It's like a pair of scales, while we continue to give milk as the basis of the baby's diet the scales start to rise in favour of food but dip with the milk intake.

Bring it on! Big boys really get into eating solid foods and milk becomes less important. Food is the direction you are going. A mixture of mushed up food and finger food gives your child the opportunity to experience texture, hand/eye co-ordination, taste, social skills, language, smell as well as being a pleasurable experience.
 

While children can be challenging at the best of times, this period of lockdown due to the coronarvirus has made parenting even more challenging. It is not easy being cooped up at home in a flat or house with no garden or outside space. Not having the usual distractions of a daily routine of NCT coffee meetings, nursery, playgrounds, classes, play dates, etc. are no longer happening. Some families living in built up areas are lucky enough to have some outside space or even a garden but getting out for some families has become a bit of an ordeal.

So well done to all those parents who have to balance the needs of everyone, stretch their immagination, home school their children, spend hours in a confined space of a flat and not get the usual breaks of school, nursery or other childcare that would normally help us get through the day. You are all doing a great job!

It is often a bit of a problem if your child wakes early. While it's great that they sleep through the night you don't want them to wake too early in the morning. If they do it means it is a very long day for your child, they often can't wait for their first nap, they can be unhappy due to tiredness and it disrupts everyone else's sleep in the family. But you don't have to live with an early riser. There are a number of ways to sort the problem and if you are consistent and patient it should get better.

How do you know if you have an early riser as parents can have different expectations but I have always considered a 6:30/7am wake up time as acceptable. Before 6:30am is too early but after 7am is too late. You can teach your baby or child the acceptable time to get up by considering the following factors:

1. ​Keeping to a consistent routine which is the 'right' routine for your child's age.
2. Making sure bedtime is an appropiate time.
3. Having a plan of action if your baby wakes early or your child gets out of bed.
4. Making sure your baby and child has had a good dose of fresh air and stimulation through the day.
5. They have not napped too much or too late during the day.
6. You and everyone caring for your child is on the same hymn sheet, that could include your child's nursery staff or nanny.
7. Your child has everything they need overnight i.e. warmth, a small drink, their comforter, a ventilated room ....

Don't expect results to come immediatey. Make the changes and keep going as with consistency and time it should sort itself.