Articles

Newborn babies rarely become seriously ill, but they do experience minor ailments from time to time, which can be stressful and worrying for new parents. The good news is that most of these common newborn concerns are mild and can be managed at home with reassurance, observation, and a few practical measures. In this article, I share advice on the most common baby minor ailments seen during the first six weeks of life, as well as simple ways to help manage them.1. VomitingA small amount of vomiting or posseting after feeds is very common in newborn babies. It often looks like more milk than it actually is and is usually nothing to worry about, provided it is not happening frequently or forcefully...

Pregnancy is a natural process, but it often comes with a variety of minor discomforts.  Understanding these and knowing how to manage them can make your journey much more comfortable.1. NauseaNausea is very common in early pregnancy and is caused by hormonal changes. Helpful tips:✔️ Eat a snack before getting out of bed (such as a salty biscuit).✔️Sip on ginger tea or warm water with fresh ginger.✔️ Eat small, frequent meals throughout the day.✔️ Choose cold foods like yogurt, pregnancy milkshakes, fruits, and salads.✔️ Cold foods are often more appealing when feeling nauseous. Safe treatments: Preganause, Natura Moton tissue salts.2. IndigestionIndigestion occurs due to progesterone relaxing...

Pregnancy and the birth of your baby should be your greatest achievement—not your greatest fear. While it is completely normal to feel a mix of excitement and anxiety, having the right knowledge and support can make all the difference.  In this article, I provide useful, practical tips to help you stay as healthy as possible during pregnancy, reduce anxiety, and truly enjoy your parenting journey.  Keeping Healthy in PregnancyThe first step most women take after discovering they are pregnant is to confirm the pregnancy with an ultrasound scan at around 6–8 weeks. This scan is important as it:✔️ Confirms the pregnancy.✔️ Detects your baby’s heartbeat.✔️ Determines accurate gestational...

A balanced diet containing essential vitamins and minerals is important for the growth and development of your children. As South Africa’s No.1 Children’s Multivitamin & Mineral Supplement1, Créche Guard Immune is specifically formulated to help give children the daily nutrients they need to support healthy growth and development, and for the maintenance of good health. Créche Guard’s Immune supplements are ideal for fussy eaters who might not be getting all the important vitamins and minerals from their diet. For children, there is no time to be sick. They want to play games, see their friends, and have lots of fun. But kids have a sharing, caring nature and tend to share their germs with everyone...

A pram is one of the biggest purchases you will make ahead of having a baby. A good quality pram should last from when your child is born to when they are about three and no longer need a pushchair or pram – ideally, you should be able to use it for your next child, too, so look for a model that works for every stage. Babies should be able to lie flat in a pram for the first few months, while slightly older children can sit upright. How do you know which pram to buy? These are the questions you need to ask before choosing a pram, and we’ve put together a list of some of the best prams of 2021 ❓What is a travel system? A travel system is a pram-car seat combo. They usually come with the pram frame...

Breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the world – it was what our breasts were designed to do and breastmilk provides the ultimate nutrition for our little ones. And yet less than a third of South African mothers breastfeed their babies in the first 6 months. That’s a very sad statistic but when you are the mom who is battling to breastfeed, it’s the last thing you need to hear – it just adds to the guilt. You see, when someone tells you that breastmilk is best for your baby and you cannot or do not breastfeed, you feel awful – every mom wants to do the best for their baby. By far the majority of moms who do not breastfeed, had fully intended to do so but found that it was really hard and...

It’s the beginning of the year and so for many of us parents, its back to work. For some moms who have been on maternity leave, this may be the first time you are leaving your baby in the care of another person. Either way, returning to work does bring some stress and concerns about how your baby will survive without you. ✔️Choosing Childcare The most important factor in choosing childcare is whether the person who will care for your baby will be a consistent, caring presence for your baby. These are the factors that you should look for: Is she well trained to look after this age group? Has she had her own children or cared for other kids before? Is she emotionally stable and available to love...

There are many ways to boost your immune system and protect yourself and your family from getting the flu, or minimize the severity of flu symptoms, should you become ill. ✔️Boosting your immune system By taking care of your health, you can ensure that your immune system will react quickly and effectively to fight any flu virus or other bacteria entering the body. A strong immune system reacts in different ways to destroy the invading organisms and prevents the viruses and bacteria from multiplying and causing diseases. In order to ensure that your immune system functions optimally, it is important to eat a healthy balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Nowadays, the food you...

It is not unusual for parents to have to return to work at some stage in their child’s first year. As hard as it is for your little one to separate from you, it is sometimes harder for mom and dad. There can be a few tricky repercussions of this separation anxiety – your little one may be a whole lot more needy and not want to be apart from you; he may refuse to go to anyone else and in some situations his sleep can be very negatively affected. These are simple strategies to help you ‘Be Prepared-ish’ for returning to work and to decrease separation distress and prevent sleep problems related to separation anxiety: Choosing a nanny or daycare will be an important part of you feeling less anxious...

You have decided that the time is right to start trying for a baby – you are embarking on the most fabulous journey of nurturing a new life and taking on a new role.