Brooke Tucker-Reid, momstown writer It’s heartbreaking and exciting at the same time. Your baby is growing and developing at a rapid pace. It’s like you blinked and your mat leave was over. Are you returning to work soon? Here are a few tips for a smooth daycare transition. The early bird gets the worm Shop…
Breastfeeding: Tips and Benefits For A Healthy Start To Parenthood
Written by – Natalie Michele, Maternity at Home The decision to breastfeed is always a choice that you have to make. If you decide that you like to breastfeed then you should know some of the tips that will allow you to do it naturally. There are a lot of people who have strong beliefs…
“Slip, Slap, Slop”:Sun-Safety for Youngsters the Australian Way
Perhaps, you have not heard the Australian motto for protecting young children in the sun? Australians are matter-of-fact in their approach and use the saying “Slip, Slap, Slop” before going outdoors with youngsters. Did you figure it out yet? That’s right. Slip on a hat, slap on a shirt, and slop on the sunscreen when preparing for safety in the sun. These are the basics of sun safety, but, there are many more good ideas for keeping your baby and young child safe from the sun’s harmful rays this summer.
10 Surprising Facts For Moms Expecting Multiples
You just heard the news. You went for an ultrasound, and you are expecting multiples! Your first response may be shock, fear, and an undeniable cry for help! Here are 10 surprising facts that moms carrying multiples need to know.
Lana Kelly
Editor, momstown Guelph
Free Video Series Helps Parents to Raise Healthy Kids
New research into child development demonstrates that parents and caregivers can play a critical role in ensuring their child’s individual success in all areas of development. In order for that to happen, we often need extra support, wisdom, and encouragement along the way, so that we can feel confident in our ability to give our child a healthy start and provide early intervention. This is why Dieticians of Canada and Alberta Health Care Services have created a free video series called ‘Raising Our Healthy Kids’.
Lana Kelly
Editor, momstown Guelph
Good Dental Health Actually Begins in The Womb
Developing good oral health habits at an early age is essential for a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. So, did you know that a baby’s healthy tooth development can actually begin before birth? As a mom-to-be you can actually get your child’s teeth off to a healthy start during pregnancy. And, once baby is born, your job is to promote the healthy development of gums and those first baby teeth, in order to ensure good oral health into adulthood.
Lana Kelly
Editor, momstown Guelph
Focusing Too Much on Your Child’s Weight Can Be Harmful
Everywhere we turn, there are commercials, poster ads, and social media images which shame us, as parents, into believing that we are solely to blame for the fact that our child is overweight. It can even start as early as birth, when you have that first ‘well-baby check-up’, only to be advised that you are feeding your baby too much (on demand, imagine that!) and that he or she is above the average weight percentile. And, when our child gets older, we are constantly comparing him to his thin peers, and wondering where we went wrong, since he does not seem ‘a-typical’. In a sense, we are being brain- washed by the societal demands placed upon us as parents. We are conned into thinking that just because our child does not fit the ‘norm’, he is going to be ostracized because of it, and we tend to develop extremist attitudes that force us to do anything in our power to prevent the bullying that he will, no doubt endure, because of his ‘abnormal’ bodily appearance. Studies show, however, that focusing too much on our child’s weight can be harmful to their health – both physically and emotionally.
Lana Kelly
Editor, momstown Guelph
Keeping Intimacy Alive During Pregnancy
February can often be called the month of LOVE. Really, though, for all married couples, each month should be full of love and love-making initiatives. After all, isn’t that what a healthy marriage should consist of? Sure it is! First comes love, then came marriage, and, I think we all know what came next. Marriages include those beautiful times of love, intimacy, and then, sometimes and somewhere along the line, pregnancy happens. If marriage begins with love, followed by a sexual relationship (which is a wonderful way of showing your love for one another!), why should pregnancy be sans intimacy for many married couples? According to some marriage counsellors, and experts, one of the core challenges many expecting couples face is how to stay intimate during nine months of physical and emotional changes you may have, as your baby prepares for arrival.
Lana Kelly
Editor, momstown Belleville
momstown Hosts Sleep Themed Baby Basics in partnership with Walmart
Let’s face it. As a new mom, you feel overwhelmed. Your once peaceful world is now filled with anxiety, chaos, dirty diapers, feeding on demand, and the big one – sleepless nights. These sleepless nights take a wear and tear on our bodies (especially on our faces!) and are accompanied by suitcases ( a step up from ‘bags’) under the eyes. The old cliché still stands: We need our ‘beauty sleep’ to truly be at our best. This is why our momstown pass holders and new moms all over the Guelph area would not have wanted to miss the Walmart ‘ Every Little Step’ Sleep-themed Session!
Best Mittens for Your Little Kittens (and Hats for Your Little Cats!)
Gloves, mittens, and hats are essential kids apparel during the winter season. However, it is not always easy selecting the best mittens for your little kittens, gloves for your doves, or hats for your little cats. Here at momstown, Guelph, we strive to provide you with the best resources and to expand your knowledge of some of the key factors associated with selecting these items for your babies, toddlers and preschoolers. The first question that arises is whether you should select gloves or mittens to protect your kid’s hands. Or, what hat works best for your young child? Or, how do I keep mittens and hats on my baby or toddler? Each design comes with advantages and disadvantages, but in the proper setting each will provide warmth for little hands and heads! The following are the best finds (in this area) for winter apparel/ accessories which can be both economical and practical!
