littlies_2011_8
TRANSCRIPT
PRACTICAL PARENTING 0 to 5 YEARS
August 2011
REFLUX AND SPILLING MAKE-A-FACE COLLAGE TAME TANGLED TRESSES
Stop those runny noses!
IS IT MASTITIS?
+Agiggle
a day
5 first-day
jitters
THE
big
PUSHY preschoolers
Your guide to playing
with baby
www.littlies.co.nzFREE from Early Childcare Centres, Amcal, Plunket & Babycity
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REGULARS
14 Your letters
17 Here’s an idea
18 Littlebites This month's news and events
19 Co� ee group recipe Sticky gingerbread
20 What’s hot for mums and bubs
23 What's hot for little ones
42 Ask our experts Our experts solve your parenting dilemmas
PREGNANCY & BIRTH
24 Mastitis Spotting the signs and simple ways to ease the pain
NEWBORN & BABY
26 Feeding your baby Introducing a mixed diet with Annabel Karmel
32 Play on, baby Games to play with baby in the fi rst 12 months
35 Just ask Plunket Coping with spilling and refl ux
TODDLER & PRESCHOOLER
06 A giggle a day Helping your child see the funny side of life
10 Pushy preschoolers What to do with little people when push comes to shove
28 Asian cuisine for kids Vegetable tempura and pressed sushi
36 The big fi ve Preparing for school to ease those fi rst-day jitters
40 Taming tangles Taming your child’s tangled tresses without the tears
48 On the run How to combat your child’s constant runny nose
FUN STUFF
50 Learn all about goats
51 Book & fi lm new releases
52 Collage faces craft
SHOPPING & COMPETITIONS
51 Book & fi lm give away
54 Shopping directory
58 Littlies freebies
CONTENTS August 2011www.littlies.co.nz
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REGULARS
14 Your letters
17 Here’s an idea
18 Littlebites This month's news and events
19 Co� ee group recipe Sticky gingerbread
20 What’s hot for mums and bubs
23 What's hot for little ones
42 Ask our experts Our experts solve your parenting dilemmas
PREGNANCY & BIRTH
24 Mastitis Spotting the signs and simple ways to ease the pain
NEWBORN & BABY
26 Feeding your baby Introducing a mixed diet with Annabel Karmel
32 Play on, baby Games to play with baby in the fi rst 12 months
35 Just ask Plunket Coping with spilling and refl ux
TODDLER & PRESCHOOLER
06 A giggle a day Helping your child see the funny side of life
10 Pushy preschoolers What to do with little people when push comes to shove
28 Asian cuisine for kids Vegetable tempura and pressed sushi
36 The big fi ve Preparing for school to ease those fi rst-day jitters
40 Taming tangles Taming your child’s tangled tresses without the tears
48 On the run How to combat your child’s constant runny nose
FUN STUFF
50 Learn all about goats
51 Book & fi lm new releases
52 Collage faces craft
SHOPPING & COMPETITIONS
51 Book & fi lm give away
54 Shopping directory
58 Littlies freebies
CONTENTS August 2011www.littlies.co.nz
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36
10
24
28
52
26
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www.littlies.co.nz 5
from the editor
Littlies is a member of the Magazine Publishers Association. The opinions expressed in Littlies are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of Littlies Ltd. All material appearing in Littlies is copyright and may only be reproduced with the prior written consent of the publisher. All letters and other material
forwarded to Littlies will be assumed intended for publication unless clearly labelled ‘not for publication’. Littlies has made every e� ort to ensure all instructions given for activities published are safe, but Littlies cannot accept liability for any resulting injury, loss or damage. ISSN 1176-2578
Littlies is audited by the Audit Bureau Circulation.83,379 net circulation per issue. Six months ended 31/12/10.
Over 80,000 copies distributed FREE every month throughout NZ directly into the hands of parents through Plunket Nurses, Midwifes, Hospitals, Birthing Units, Private and Public Childcare Centres, Amcal Pharmacies and Babycity stores.
Publisher Lesley Williamson
Editor Maria Kroonenberg
Sub-Editor Katherine Granich
Advertising Manager Mimi Olds-Spence
Marketing Director Lesley Williamson
Cover Photography Karyn Flett
Business & Web Manager
Campbell Williamson
Postal Address
PO Box 55197, Eastridge
Auckland 1146
Phone 0064 9 578 3402
Fax 0064 9 578 3412
Website www.littlies.co.nz
Subscriptions & Back Issues
To subscribe go to www.littlies.co.nz
or email [email protected]
$28 for 10 issues
ISSUE 83
LARGEST CIRCULATION TO PARENTS
OF CHILDREN 0-5 YEARS
TRUSTED BY NEW ZEALAND PARENTS SINCE 2003
NEW ZEALAND'S ONLY MONTHLY PARENTING
MAGAZINE - 10 ISSUES PER YEAR
PRACTICAL PARENTING 0 to 5 YEARS
August 2011
REFLUX AND SPILLING MAKE-A-FACE COLLAGE ASIAN CUISINE FOR KIDS
Stop those runny noses!
IS IT MASTITIS?
+Agiggle
a day
5 first-day
jitters
THE
big
PUSHY preschoolers
Your guide to playing
with baby
ENROL NOW!0800 ABC KIDS
www.littlies.co.nzFREE from Early Childcare Centres, Amcal, Plunket & Babycity
Cover photo
James Parsons
18 months
Anna MartinSleep Advisor
Dr Cath ConlonPregnancy & Infant
Nutritionist
Pinky McKayLactation Consultant
Dr Simon RowleyNeonatal
Paediatrician
Diane LevyFamily Therapist
Norma Campbell
Midwifery Advisor NZCOM
Nigel LattaClinical Psychologist
Allison JamiesonPlunket Clinical
Advisor
Other contributing experts: Rebecca Daly-Peoples, Clinical Psychologist; Dr Mary Birdsall, Fertility
Specialist; Dr Catherine Cearns, GP; Chantal Kayem, Registered Psychologist; Dianne Krissansen,
Early Childhood Educator; Colette Maier, Speech Language Therapist; Karyn Riley, Life Coach;
Annabel Karmel, Children's Food Expert; Anna Gibbons, Postnatal Fitness Expert; Rose Lally, Image
and Fashion Stylist; Karen Sullivan, Parenting Author and Media Commentator.
MARIA KROONENBERG, EDITOR
experts
If I was given a magic wand to change anything, it would be to the shameful
numbers of child abuse in New Zealand. We have
the fi fth worst child abuse record out of 31 OECD
countries. On average one child is killed every fi ve
weeks and most of these are children under fi ve
with the majority being less than a year old.
Each time the headlines scream of another
child abuse victim, I’ll confess I'm a babbling
mess. I think about the pain the child su� ered. I cringe that
other adults may have known but turned a blind eye. I'm saddened that, collectively, we've let
another innocent child down.
Now the government is talking about making reporting of suspected child abuse mandatory.
It costs the country $2 billion a year! The problem, however, is that the average person doesn’t
intrinsically know the signs of child abuse. And if they do, they may not know how to take action
or what to do for fear of reprisal or ‘getting it wrong’. Child abuse prevention group, Child Matters,
have responded by making a resource especially for the public with the facts laid out in plain
English. Called ‘How Can I Tell?’, it's available for free viewing at www.childmatters.org.nz. I
encourage you all to read it as by doing so, you're already taking action against child abuse.
On lighter matters abroad, I was recently invited by Tourism Malaysia to fi nd out fi rst-hand how
family-friendly Malaysia is. I don’t know what I was most fond of, seeing the orang-utans up close in
their natural habitat, tasting the many local delicacies, or getting lost in the colossal-sized shopping
centres that boasted a theme park in one. Here’s me taking a photo snap break while kayaking
with our delightful host, Alaina McGregor, on Sarawak River (amazing!). Watch this space because
we’ve got an exciting opportunity coming up where you could enjoy your own Malaysian family
experience.
I hope you enjoy this issue as much as we have had putting it together!
pg5_aug11_editors.indd 5 13/7/11 8:33:47 AM
6 www.littlies.co.nz
toddler & preschooler
Do you have a family joker in the house who loves to clown
around? Or a toddler who shrieks with piercing delight at the
mere ridiculous? Perhaps your little one erupts into fits of giggles
when playing the same practical joke on you again and again?
Young children laugh on average around 200 times a
day, compared to adults, who only laugh 15 to 18 times a
day. The benefits of a well-developed sense of humour are
enormous. Sharing a laugh with your child is a valuable form of
communication. It builds a bond between you, and evidence
suggests it also aids memory and learning. Giggling boosts the
immune and central nervous systems and increases blood flow
by more than 20 per cent. A good chuckle speeds you along the
road to glowing health and reduces anxiety. A little wit heightens
creative thinking and can help you cope better with stress. And,
more simply, having a laugh can make the difference between
you having a good day or a bad one.
Humour, in its various forms, is different in every family. It
manifests itself in the Dad who carefully lines up all the teddies
and toys in bed to surprise his toddler, or in the Mum who paints
her face and wears a tiara around the house to be a princess, too.
Although a child may have some genetic characteristics of
his parents’ humour, a sense of humour is a quality that is mostly
learned rather than inherited. So, how does humour develop in
a child, and what can you do to cater to the funny bones in your
offspring?
Different ages, different humour From the moment your child cracks his very first smile, he is
already developing a sense of humour. But what's funny to a
baby might not be as funny to a preschooler, so to help your
children at each stage of development, it's important to know
what's likely to amuse them.
Babies don't really understand humour but they do know
when you're smiling and happy. When you make funny noises or
pull a face and then laugh or smile, your baby is likely to sense
your delight and imitate you. He is also highly responsive to
physical stimuli, such as tickling or blowing raspberries. Between
nine and 15 months of age, babies know enough about the world
to understand that when you moo like a cow or put a toy on your
head, it’s funny.
Toddlers appreciate physical humour, especially the kind
that has an element of surprise, such as peek-a-boo. As children
develop language skills, they will begin to find rhymes and
From the time your baby cracks his first smile, he’s on his way to
developing a sense of humour. Help your child see the funny side
with these humour-developing ideas, says Liz Donnelly.
nonsense words amusing, which will continue well into the
preschool years. It’s also around this stage that many littlies start
trying to make Mum and Dad laugh. Your child might deliberately
point to the wrong part of his face when you ask him where his
nose is, or put on your shoes and hat and clomp around the
house.
In the preschool years, a child is more likely to find a picture
that has something absurd in it, such as a dog wearing a skirt or
a car with square wheels, more humorous than a joke or a pun.
Incongruity between pictures and sounds, such as a dog who
says moo, is also funny for preschoolers. As your child becomes
more aware of his bodily functions, it means he’s also more likely
to start delighting in toilet humour.
As children get closer to school age, basic wordplay,
exaggeration and slapstick humour will likely be increasingly
funny. Your child may discover the pleasure of telling simple
jokes, and will repeat the same jokes over and over again!
Humour basicsIt's never too early to start developing a child's sense of humour.
Babies' smiles and laughs are so delightful, we often do it
intuitively, smiling, blowing raspberries or tickling him just to hear
his chuckle.
It's important to keep up this encouragement as your child
grows. When you delight in silliness and laughter with your child,
you are also helping him develop a playful and humorous attitude
about life.
Here are some fun and easy ways to encourage your child’s
sense of humour.
Seek out fun: Encourage playfulness and fun from an early age,
and seize any opportunity to tickle your child, blow raspberries,
and pull silly faces. Children learn to look at the funny side of life
by watching how you react to situations. Deal with small stresses
with humour – so when you drop the milk and it spills on the floor,
laugh out loud (no matter how forced), or if you break a plate
or cup, say something like “Oops, clumsy mumsy!” rather than
cursing under your breath.
Be a funny family and share humour together. It builds a bond
between you and your child. Even when your child is very young,
take his attempts to make you laugh seriously. Keep cracking up
at that joke he repeats over and over again (things get funnier
the more you hear them, everyone knows that!).
A giggleA DAY
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8 www.littlies.co.nz
toddler & preschooler
By age three, your child’s sense of humour should
be obvious. In fact, what he fi nds funny can reveal a
great deal about what he is thinking and feeling or
any concerns or anxieties he may have. Absence of
a sense of humour can also indicate if there are any
developmental concerns or delays. Indicators include
if he is very withdrawn or doesn’t laugh or respond to
humour. If this describes your child, you may wish to
seek the advice of your doctor or paediatrician.
By age three, your child’s sense of humour should
did you know?Laughing is good for your heart as it increases blood fl ow by more than 20%, and the benefi ts of laughter last for up to 45 minutes!
We use our right frontal lobe to manage humour and when
children are young, the neurons in there like a lot of practice.
You can start encouraging your child’s giggles as soon as he
starts chuckling.
Mimic me: Babies love to mimic and will smile and giggle with
anyone they are comfortable with. Your baby’s fi rst chuckles may
simply be in response to you smiling back at him, pulling
silly faces, or making hilarious noises.
Funny games: For very young children, rhymes and repetition are
great for building anticipation, especially tickling rhymes such as
‘This little piggy’, and ‘Round and round the garden’, or you can
easily make up your own tickling rituals. Little kids love this when
getting dressed or at nappy time.
Clowning around: Silly voices, pulling faces, ridiculous walks or
doing things topsy-turvy – these never lose their appeal, and
toddlers are quick to develop their own clowning routines. When
you do something backwards or silly, act astonished when your
child tries to tell you (through his chortles) what you’ve
done – for his sandwich
at morning tea, spread
the butter on with a
spoon and cut it using a
fork; pour his cereal in a
cup with some milk rather
than in a bowl; make his
bed and put his pillow at
the foot of the bed with his
teddies; when going out
the door to jump in the wet
leaves, put your gumboots
on your arms!
Play acting: A genuine
sense of humour starts
to develop in your child’s
second year. Around 15
months, he will begin to be
more interested in pretence
and will know when you’re
play-acting or pretending
to be something, such as a
cow that goes, ‘Moo’ or a chicken squawking around the lounge.
He’s also likely to start trying to catch you out and will fi nd this
hilarious, especially if you express great surprise when he does.
However, don’t drag the joke on too long and stop before your
child shows signs of becoming overwhelmed – if he starts to cry
or looks frightened, it’s time to move on to something else.
Slapstick: Toddlers love the big movements of ‘peek-a-boo’ and
safe rough-and-tumble play. You may like to add his favourite
teddy to the game and have him pop his head up in di� erent
places to say, ‘Boo!’ At around age three, you may fi nd he’ll
probably be laughing hysterically at any misfortunes you have,
such as tripping over or dropping things. Amuse him further by
pretending to do it on purpose, although do bear in mind that
he’s likely to want to copy you in order to make you laugh. So,
keep it safe, be a good audience, and be sure to laugh back!
Gobbledegook: Never-ending rhymes and nonsensical words
are, to him, completely funny. Misnaming objects is hilarious.
Rambling, silly, repetitive jokes are adored. Absurd-sounding rhymes
are brilliant. And, the more they are repeated, the funnier they
become – so just mix up the words and, for older littlies, see if they
can repeat the words after you. Some toddlers love it when you slip
their own name into some ridiculous-sounding story or rhyme.
The unexpected: This is anything that goes against what your child
might consider normal and predictable. For example, it might be a
picture with something askew – the sun on the ground and grass
growing out of the sky. Or the wave of laughter at kindy when the
book falls o� the stand while the teacher is reading it
out loud!
Toilet talkMost children, especially around the ages of four and fi ve years, go
through a stage of being obsessed and fascinated with toilet talk –
usually repeated endlessly and to the delight of any other toddlers
within earshot. The physical di� erences between boys and girls,
and any words associated with this, are also likely to cause much
merriment. Fortunately, this phase passes faster if you can just grin
and bear it and ignore it. However, do step in if the
language becomes unacceptable.
And be sure to make meany-jokes o� limits,
too. If your child says something unkind or rude
about another person, explain to him why the joke
isn’t funny and that it’s not nice to make fun of
other people. And, avoid using humour in this way
yourself as he will pick up on it and try to imitate.
While there is no doubt that childish humour
is repetitive and sometimes a little mundane to
parents, sharing a laugh not only helps everyone
relax and feel a part of things, but it makes
the stresses and strains of life that much more
tolerable.
So go on, capitalise on every opportunity to be
silly, teach your child to appreciate the ridiculous,
and nurture his precious little sense of humour. �
Liz Donnelly is a children’s media specialist and writer
and a mum of two.
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pushyThere’s no doubt that there’s a thuggish element to
most preschoolers. There are probably nicer ways to say it,
but I’ve always thought fledgling thuggery describes those
first few years fairly well.
The reason for this, of course, is that preschoolers are just
learning the complex business of becoming a social being.
They have limited verbal skills, limited experience, and a
fairly limited ability to see both into the future and the world
through other people’s eyes.
All this combined means a little basic thuggery is pretty
normal and nothing much to be alarmed about. That may
not be a very popular thing to say in a world which seems
obsessed with the idea that children should be nice all
the time, but there you go. Even though it can be a little
distressing if your wee lass walks up to other children at
preschool and bowls them over with a well-placed shove or
push, none of this means your child is a fledgling criminal!
Kids bopping kids is not very socially acceptable these
days, but it is an unavoidable part of the journey from
primitive preschooler to civilised adult. One can only imagine
the sense of wonder your average toddler experiences when
she first discovers the joys of the simple shove. How great
must that be?
Up until then she just had to accept the fact that there
isn’t much she can do about other people who annoyed
her. But then she discovers that with the careful placement
of tiny hands and a bit of forward momentum she can shift
the argument along significantly. What’s more if she pays
attention to what everyone else is doing around her, she’ll
soon learn that the repertoire can be expanded out to things
like hitting, punching, kicking, pulling hair, pinching and the
old tried-and-tested simple as you like slapping.
If we were all a little more honest about these things,
then we’d probably all admit that this urge to give people
who cross us a jolly good shove never actually completely
disappears; we just get a lot better at controlling such urges!
The problem with little people is that sometimes a bit
of pushy becomes a lot of pushy and suddenly as a parent
you’re getting ‘that look’ from the other mums and dads at
the coffee group and playground. What do you do then?
As parents, we all know instinctively that our kids are
born with a large amount of who they are already hardwired
in place. And if you have more than one littlie, it is often
starkly clear that no two children are the same and indeed
their temperaments seem to make themselves evident from
the very beginning – sometimes even before they are born.
Many mums report that their stubborn toddlers were as
stubborn in the womb, too, refusing to stop kicking if mum sat
or stood in such a way that didn’t seem to agree with them.
Now, whilst I don’t know if the bit about in the womb is
a fact beyond the anecdotal stories mums have told me,
what is a fact is that temperament types are visible from a
very young age and that these remain relatively constant
throughout one’s lifespan.
Researchers at the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and
Development study at Otago University have been following
a group of over 1000 people born in Dunedin between 1972
and 1973 for the last 38 years. They have discovered a whole
host of remarkable things about what shapes us as human
beings. Along with intriguing findings, such as the fact that
the more sunlight pregnant women are exposed to the taller
their babies are, they have also shown conclusively that our
temperaments are clearly evident from as early as age three
and that these different temperament types predict all kinds
of things throughout a person’s life.
The researchers also found that around 28 per cent
of children had what they described as a ‘confident’
temperament style. This meant they were bold little souls
who weren’t reluctant to blunder into things and impose their
will on anyone who got in the way. These children were loud,
pushy and supremely confident that their way was probably
best and that everyone else should probably just do what
they were doing.
The good news is that by age 26, these children tended
to be outgoing, positive go-getters. They wanted to take the
world by the horns and continue to lead the way just as they
had when they were toddlers. All of which is very well, but
that doesn’t make it any easier when it’s your little one who
always seems to be the one causing trouble.
What to do With pushy little people?Many years ago when I worked at a child and family unit,
we had a saying about pushy little people which was
this: ‘Strong-willed children require strong-willed parents’.
While a preschooler’s verbal skills are improving quickly, their impulse
control is not. Nigel Latta explains how to keep your child's pushy
behaviours from becoming problematic.
preschoolers
toddler & preschooler
www.littlies.co.nz 11
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This doesn’t mean you need to engage in a head-on
confrontation with your little person, it just means you can’t
be a wet rag. You can’t let your preschooler walk all over
you – down that path lies anarchy. Instead, you have to
get your head in the game and make sure you are running
things according to your plan, and not at the mercy of your
preschooler’s whims.
Here are 5 tips for How to do tHat:
1 Model calmness. I say that with a not completely
straight face because the act of parenting involves a
constant battle between the desire to stay calm and the
urge to lose your rag and holler. We all holler, but you should
at least try to keep things as calm as you can. It generally
ends better that way.
2 Explain what you want in small steps with small words.
Remember that a two-year-old has about the same
language ability as a chimpanzee, so keep it very simple,
clear and direct. Long winded explanations tend to get a bit
muddled in their little heads.
3 Reward good behaviour. This is so basic it almost
makes me cringe to write it, but it’s true nonetheless.
Your preschooler’s world is very small and you are a large
part of it, so the more attention you give to the good
behaviours, the more likely you are to get them.
4 Punish bad behaviours. Many people don’t like the
word ‘punish’ (because they wrongly think of verbal
or physical punishment which is not what I mean), but the
simple fact of the matter is that punishment is how we learn.
If you do something and the consequence for doing it is
unpleasant, then you are less likely to do it again. For pushy
preschoolers, the punishments of choice are ‘time out’ and
giving stuff up, such as, “If you throw the block you lose
all the blocks,” or, “If you hit your friend then you give up
playing with her for a little while,” until the wisdom of that
particular course of action sinks in.
5 At all times remember your child is only small and there
is still a huge amount of development to go. Try to be
patient because she is only just learning how to be a person
and she is bound to make a few mistakes along the way.
Mistakes are simply how you learn.
The main thing to get your head around here is that
pushiness is probably just a part of who a child is and the
best evidence seems to suggest that children are born that
way. Rather than trying to make your child into something
she’s not, simply harness what she is. Put some firm limits
and boundaries around her and help her to learn how to
manage her personality.
So, when can aggressive behaviours become
problematic? Here are some signs to indicate your child
might have a more serious problem with aggression:
R If it occurs almost daily.
R If it takes place in lots of different settings, e.g. home,
childcare, coffee group, etc.
RIf it is directed at a number of kids.
MEET CLARA . . .
OBSESSED WITH FAIRIES & THUGGISHNESS
THE PROBLEM: Clara was almost four, obsessed
with fairies and a recent convert to thuggishness.
She was generally a pleasant enough little soul but
lately had taken a shine to shoving anyone who
got in her way. She was so good at shoving that it
was becoming a bit of an issue for her Mum who
was on the verge of being shunned at playgroup.
She’d always been a bit headstrong but things were
getting out of hand. Her Mum was being driven
almost to despair because no matter how hard she
tried to explain to Clara that shoving other people
who get in your way is not a good thing, she kept
right on shoving. In fact, it seemed like the more
Mum tried to explain all this to Clara, the worse it
got.
THE SOLUTION: I suggested that Mum add in one
more pivotally important step… a solid dose of
Time Out every time Miss Shovey Shovey got her
pushing boots on. It was important for Clara to get
the connection that shoving meant boring time
by herself somewhere, rather than just a lecture
about playing nice. I even suggested Mum go into
preschool and do that stuff herself because the
teachers probably wouldn’t be allowed to put her
in Time Out. Low and behold, Clara soon got the
very simple connection that pushing meant less fun,
and not pushing meant more fun. With a little carrot
and a little Time Out she learned that all important
social lesson that ‘shoving is generally not a good
long-term plan to get what you want’. Shoving works
great in the short-term, but it’s the long-term cost
they have to start to think about. ●
Nigel Latta is a Clinical Psychologist, parenting author and presenter of
‘The Politically Incorrect Parenting’ television shows and dad of two boys.
toddler & preschooler
12 www.littlies.co.nz
A little bit of 'oomph' in your child is good, as long as you
can control it.
R If it leads to frequent fights with other kids.
R If it includes cruelty to animals.
If your child regularly displays any of these signs, you’re
best to discuss your concerns with your GP, paediatrician or
a child psychologist.
A little bit of ‘oomph’ in your child is good as long as you
can control it. As with almost everything else, it’s about firm,
clear limits, praising the good and punishing the bad. Just do
that over and over for about 20 years and then it should all
be fine.
pg10-12_aug11_pushypreschoolers.indd 12 11/7/11 12:42:50 PM
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14 www.littlies.co.nz
OLDER, NOT WISER
Speaking from experience I have noticed
di� erent agencies have support programmes
focussed solely on teenage parenting, but there
is little support for older mums. For some reason
it seems older mums are expected to know
how to be a mother. Often it is these mums who
can no longer call on their own mothers for
support due to ill health or their mums having
already passed away. Often friends have moved
on, having ‘been there, done that’ and are not
interested in going down that path again. So,
please spare a thought for the older mums as
they need just as much support (and probably
more sleep) than the young ones!
NAME WITHHELD ON REQUEST
Write to us at Littlies Letters, PO Box 55197, Eastridge,
Auckland 1146 or email [email protected]
we’d love to hear from youyour letters
COMFORTING WORDS
I never thought I would be sitting down to read Littlies or any other baby
publication, but after 22 years of not wanting children, I decided to give
my husband the one thing he’s always wanted – a baby! I was petrifi ed the
day I found out I was pregnant because it had suddenly become a reality. Only a week
earlier the gynaecologist had told us the only way we could have a baby was by IVF. I was
adamant if we couldn’t conceive naturally, I wouldn’t do it. I had a fantastic pregnancy but
at 36 weeks my membranes ruptured and I had to be induced. It was a painful labour and
I was very scared about becoming a mum. But the moment my baby was put on my chest,
all my fears and doubts disappeared. The fi rst two weeks were a breeze and she was
a really good baby. Then things changed and she stopped putting on weight. Everyone
was telling me what was wrong and what I should be doing. As a new mum it was heart
breaking to watch my baby in distress and hysterical with pain. She’s now been referred
to a paediatrician so we’re anxiously waiting for the call and hope we can put an end to
the unknown. I get a great deal of comfort reading other mums' stories and experiences
in your magazine and it’s nice to realise I’m not alone. So thanks to those who do write in
and share – it’s helped me more than words can say.
GAIL KENNEDY-DIACK, NAPIER
MASTER BAKER
Baking with my three-year-old is my favourite
way of spending quality time with him. Your
delicious and easy-to-follow co� ee group
recipes each month now go straight into my
recipe organiser. We loved the Autumn Walnut
and Fresh Date loaf recipe (Littlies May 2011
issue), although we had to substitute with
almonds and prunes as that was all that was
in my pantry. The result couldn't have been
yummier! Thank you for helping me fi ll my
house with the natural aroma that baked
goodies are so worthy of. We’re excitedly
wondering what the next issue will have in
store for us.
BEENISH PIRACHA, CHRISTCHURCH
This month’s published winning
letter wins a Tumblekins Fire Station
and Farm Playset. Tumblekins is a
great new Holdson preschool range
of classic wooden vehicles with a
twist – the fun characters tumble
as the vehicles roll along. Available
from leading toy retailers. For the
full range visit www.holdson.com.
Ages: 12+ months. RRP $129.99
and share – it’s helped me more than words can say.
WINNINGLETTER
Available NOW from all leading toy retailers.
www.holdson.com
Bring dinosaur play to life!Combining imaginative play with
unique Smart Talk built-in technology, enables the dinosaurs to interact and
communicate with one another.
All aboard for Dinosaur Fun!
We all
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pg14-16_aug11_letters.indd 14 8/7/11 1:22:22 PM
www.littlies.co.nz 15
ANXIOUS FOR ANIMALS
Am I the only parent concerned at the number
of and/or type of caged animals at almost every
early childhood centre I have visited? While I’m
right behind our kids learning about and having
the chance to view and interact with di� erent
animals, I fi nd some of the enclosures that these
animals have to live in and endure, especially
the birds, extremely sad. Is the mere fl ap or two
of their wings really enough for a bird designed
to fl y? What is this teaching our kids – that it’s
acceptable to keep animals like this for our
‘pleasure’ or ‘learning’ despite the animals
having no life at all? I’m just not sure I want my
kids growing up to think this is okay. I’m curious
about other parents' views on this topic.
NAME WITHHELD ON REQUEST
NATURAL HEALER
In response to ‘Sticky eye care’ (Littlies May
2011 issue), my son had sticky eyes for about
8-10 weeks after birth. My midwife suggested
putting breast milk in his eyes, which I did
several times a day and within three or four
days it completely cleared up. It’s a shame
there’s no ‘published evidence’ to prove that it
works as I highly recommend it. Thanks again
Littlies for the good mag!
MUM, HASTINGS
From the editor: Midwife, Fiona Hermann, says
breast milk can e� ectively soothe and treat eye
infl ammation. She provides links to studies that
have been done to show the healing properties
of human milk below.
STICKY EYE STUDIES
Newborn ‘sticky eyes’ are very common and
while it’s important to exclude any bacterial
infection by the midwife or GP taking a swab,
parents may also like to know that a simple
obstruction of the tube that leads from eye
to nose (the nasolacrimal duct) can also be a
cause of sticky eyes. Breast milk has been used
for centuries to help treat injuries and infections
and there have been several studies showing
the healing properties of human milk which you
your lettersALLERGY RELIEF
Thank you so much for your article ‘All about
allergies’ (Littlies May 2011 issue). Ever since
my eight-month-old daughter was born
I’ve had trouble with her skin. I wasn’t that
exposed to allergies growing up so I didn’t
know much about them to really know what
was happening to my daughter. Thanks to
your article and my family GP, I'm getting to
know what signs to look out for and what
I need to do. It has been hard fi guring out
everything she is allergic to and I have to be
very careful what I feed her. I moisturise her
at least twice a day, sometimes up to fi ve or
six times a day and I bathe her in a soap-free
cleanser my GP prescribed as it helps with
the itching. Fingers crossed she will grow out
of it as she gets older.
FERILA MATUA-KURESA, INVERCARGILL
DON’T GIVE UP
In response to your article ‘All about allergies"
(Littlies May 2011 issue), my second child
developed eczema from age six months. It
became progressively worse until her entire
body was covered in raised, dry red patches
and spots she would scratch. I thought her
condition may be related to weaning her o�
breast milk and onto formula, so I took her
to our doctor for allergy tests. The doctor
wasn’t that overly concerned and indicated
it was normal for many toddlers, but at my
persistence, reluctantly gave us a script
for skin prick testing as well as the usual
moisturisers and steroids. The results came
back negative but I was still sure something
was triggering the eczema. After several
more visits to the doctor we were sent to
an allergy specialist to have a RAST test
done. Again, the results were negative.
The specialist said our daughter may be
allergic to Salicylates (found in most fruits
and vegetables) and to eliminate them from
her diet. We did this for a week but I was
horrifi ed at what little healthy food she could
eat. Determined not to give up I visited a
naturopath, then a homeopath who did a
hair analysis. It showed she was allergic to
casein in milk, eggs, processed meats and
dust mites. Eliminating these foods from her
diet has resulted in her almost being eczema
free. I urge all parents with children who
su� er from eczema not to give up, or to give
in to the apathy displayed by some doctors.
You know your child better than anyone and
have to live with the anxiety and stress that a
condition like eczema can cause.
T DOWLING, AUCKLAND
TM © 2011 LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.All rights reserved.
LEARNING begins with
PLAY
LITL
FJU
N11
MY PAL SCOUT
SCRIBBLE & WRITE
www.planetfun.co.nz
6–36months
3-5years
FRIDGE PHONICS
2+years
Magnetic alphabet fun!
I can learn your name!
I can help you to write!
pg14-16_aug11_letters.indd 15 8/7/11 1:22:46 PM
16 www.littlies.co.nz
can fi nd links to at www.kellymom.com/health/
illness/healing-breastmilk.
FIONA HERMANN, MIDWIFE
POSITIVE ADJUSTMENT
In response to ‘Easing the refl ux’ (Littlies May
2011 issue), we, too, had a similar experience
when our newborn developed refl ux. We
struggled with her constant screaming, late
nights and taking turns to rock her to sleep,
only for her to wake screaming 10-15 minutes
later. By chance I came across a chiropractor
who found that her right side of her body was
compressed and her neck movement was
restricted. One adjustment and two visits to
an osteopath later and she started sleeping
through the night. She is happier than ever and
a completely di� erent child. Previously we were
given Gaviscon, told to put her bed on a lean
and assumed that was the end of it and we’d
just have to live like that until she grew out of it.
So, I agree every parent should be encouraged
to take their newborn to an osteopath for a
check because you never know what happens
to their tiny bones and muscles through the
course of labour.
TRUDY HAU, AUCKLAND
WEIGHTY MATTER
There is defi nitely a lot of pressure in the media
for mums to lose their baby weight, but it's not
just the media – modern western philosophy in
general does. It is ingrained in us that it is just
a matter of following a particular diet or doing
something like boot camp post-pregnancy that
ensures we get our pre-baby body back. Well,
Tips for fussy eaters
I make banana pikelets, apple
pikelets, and carrot and apple pikelets
to get some goodness into my fussy
eaters.
Mashed pumpkin in lasagne actually
makes it very yummy and creamy!
We buy bags of frozen mixed veges
and mix them in with whatever sauce
we use – the kids never notice.
Mini meatballs are a big hit or cut their
food into fun shapes using cookie
cutters.
I mash lots of vegetables up and hide
it in yoghurt of all things, but it works!
For my very fussy two-year-old, I serve
his dinner on his own big person’s
plate and give him a plastic knife and
fork to copy how we cut our food.
Get them to try just one bite of a
new food and keep trying as
eventually it may happen. Make
portions small and manageable, they
can always have seconds if they’re
still hungry.
WHAT YOU’RE SAYING ON
Congratulations to Rose Grigor of Timaru, nominated by her daughter, Bex Osborn of Christchurch, who says she is the most amazing mum and nana ever: “After the February earthquake, we had to leave our house and the city, so we headed to my parents. My mum has been my rock – listening to me, supporting me and helping me deal with the loss of so many things. But, more than that and despite her working full time, she’d sit for hours each night settling our 12-week-old baby who became very unsettled, giving me some much-needed time out.”
Congratulations to Rose Grigor
listening to me, supporting me and
If you’d like to nominate a ‘Star’ tell us what is special about them in 100 words or less and send with a photo of them and their contact details and your contact details to: Littlies ‘You’re a Star’, PO Box 55197, Eastridge, Auckland 1146 or email [email protected].
sit for hours each night settling our 12-week-old baby
If you’d like to nominate a ‘Star’ tell us what is special about them in 100 words or less and send with a photo of them and their contact
If you’d like to nominate a ‘Star’ tell us what is special about them in
THIS MONTH'S 'YOU'RE A STAR' WINNER Rose receives from Clarins the new Vital Light
Day Illuminating Anti-Ageing Cream
and Vital Light Night Revitalising
Anti-Ageing Cream, valued at $315. Available at all
Clarins stockists nationwide.
YOU'RE A STARWINNER
S O Y L i t t l i e s . p d f P a g e 1 4 / 0 7 / 1 1 , 3 : 5 6 P M
pg14-16_aug11_letters.indd 16 8/7/11 1:23:24 PM
www.littlies.co.nz 17
mailbox
Each tip published this month wins ‘Bizzy Bear: Fun on the Farm’
board book by Benji Davies (Published by Allen & Unwin). RRP $15.99
SURPLUS SUPPLY
I keep a variety of blended
cooked vegetables in the
fridge to have on hand that
I can easily heat up and
add a little baby rice to for
my baby.
JAYDA, NAPIER
Send your tip to Littlies Letters, PO Box 55197, Eastridge, Auckland 1146 or
email [email protected]. Include your name, address and phone number.
TEETH TICKLERMy hubby came up with an ingenious way to get our little one’s teeth cleaned – tickling the teeth! It works a treat.
KATHRYN TAYLOR, KIRWEE
HOMELY TREATSTo treat the kids we have a ‘family restaurant’ night at home. We make up a menu, blow up balloons, put fl owers on the table, make hats and hang a ‘welcome to the restaurant’ sign, then put our best clothes on and enjoy a special meal.
R CARTER, TAURANGA
ACCIDENT FREE
Changing mats make
great temporary mattress
protectors if you’re out
and about and your toilet
training child has to have
a nap.
JULIE CLARK, AUCKLAND
SLIP-FREE SEATTo stop my baby slipping down in the highchair, I use a piece of rubber anti-slip draw mat on the seat. It’s also super easy to carry in your bag when you’re out and about and use other high chairs.
T MURRAY, BALCLUTHA
Well, it turns out this is not the case for most
of us. Some women lose the weight easily and
regain their pre-pregnancy shape in no time,
but this is the exception and not necessarily the
norm. Many women struggle to lose their baby
weight and not because they are lazy, or that
they're not putting the e� ort in or because they
ate the wrong food while they were pregnant.
It's because physically the maternal body has
changed and it may actually never be the same
again. The sooner new mums and society in
general can accept this fact, the sooner we can
get on with enjoying the miracle of life we have
created and stop beating ourselves up about
our weight.
NATALIE, AUCKLAND
HELP AT HAND
Thank you so much for your inspiring magazine.
I really look forward to picking up a copy
from my son’s kindy every month. You always
seem to have something that is related to our
situation as well as plenty of information and
advice that I can fi le away for later use.
We don’t have any family nearby so Littlies
fi lls the void when I need some down-to-earth
parenting advice. Thanks so much.
S JACKSON, LOWER HUTT
Here's an idea...
KLC
000
5
Call us today on 0508 546 3372 or visit www.kindercare.co.nz
If you’re familiar with the saying “home is where the heart is”, you’ll understand why babies and young children feel at home at Kindercare.
Because it’s not about being in a home, it’s about spending their days with our trusted teachers, surrounded by love, having fun, and thriving in creative, flexible environments, that recognise and develop individual potential.
Follow your heart and you’ll find Kindercare has saved a special place for your child…
Learning
Loved
Safe
pg14-17_aug11_letters.indd 17 11/7/11 3:03:05 PM
18 www.littlies.co.nz
FROM THE HEART>>For the thousands of families affected by miscarriage or stillbirth, the loss can be hard to live with. Baby Gone shares true New Zealand stories about living with infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth and infant loss, written from the heart by all those affected,
including its author, Jenny Douché, who lost her own baby at 30 weeks pregnant. This is a heartfelt book so grab the tissues as it will bring more than a tear to the eye. $29.99 www.babygone.com
13%
LITTLIES WEB POLL
OF PARENTS HAVE BEDTIME BATTLES WITH THEIR CHILDWWW.LITTLIES.CO.NZ
Take a picnic and thermos of hot chocolate and visit the park for a run around to clear annoying colds and bugs with
some fresh air. Check out other fun things to do with your littlies at www.littlies.co.nz
AFTERSHOCK
SOCKSCanterbury-
based Cosy
Toes is giving
Littlies readers
the chance to
help rebuild
Christchurch after
Mother Nature
socked it many
times this year. Just
by purchasing these
aftershock merino socks,
you’ll be supporting local employment
with 100% of the proceeds going to
the Christchurch Mayor Fund. For shoe
sizes 3-8 and 8-12. RRP $20 from
www.cosytoes.co.nz.
TALK TO ME!
That’s the theme for this year’s World Breastfeeding
Week from 1-7 August. To celebrate, the Big
Latch On will be held at various places around New Zealand. To fi nd a
venue near you, visit www.womens-health.org.nz.
littlebitesWhat's on in August?
Steps to reduce child abuse
It is hoped a new DVD for parents of newborns will
help reduce the number of cases of child abuse
in New Zealand.
Auckland District Health Board has undertaken a
pilot programme, funded by Child, Youth and Family,
to educate all new parents on coping with a crying
baby and the dangers of shaking a baby. The DVD
includes real stories of families a� ected by Shaken
Baby Syndrome.
Plunket Clinical Advisor, Allison Jamieson, says
that it’s important to get the issue into the public
arena. “A crying baby and parents su� ering from a
lack of sleep can combine to create a very stressful
situation so it’s vital parents are o� ered strategies
and information right from the beginning to help
them cope,” she says. “This DVD will help people to
understand the risks and consequences of shaking
a baby.”
With 2011 shaping up to be a record year for child
abuse, Plunket says it is important to take a fence
at the top of the cli� approach. “If people are aware
there is information out there and there are places
they can get support, then those messages will get
through,” Allison says.
IN THE NEWS
Pre-eclampsia breakthroughPredicting pre-eclampsia early in pregnancy may soon become reality according recent fi ndings from the SCOPE study published in the British Medical Journal. Pre-eclampsia is pregnancy-induced hypertension which can lead to stroke, seizure and organ failure, and also cause low birth weight and other problems for the baby. It a� ects fi ve per cent of fi rst-time pregnancies.SCOPE Project Leaders, Professor Robyn North and Professor Lesley McCowan, say the ability to predict this life-threatening condition has the potential to save thousands of lives each year – both mothers and babies.
It is the fi rst time all of the risk factors for the condition have been investigated in a single study. Risk factors identifi ed include high blood pressure, obesity, a family history of pre-eclampsia, prolonged bleeding during early pregnancy, younger mothers, women who have a low birth weight and women whose fathers have
coronary artery disease. It is hoped these fi ndings will be validated in the next year so a test can be developed to identify women who have a higher risk of pre-eclampsia, allowing them to be more closely monitored during antenatal care.
The aim of the SCOPE study is to develop screening tests to predict the major diseases of late pregnancy.
pg18-19_aug11_littlebites.indd 18 11/7/11 2:59:23 PM
featuremonthly newsbites
› Storylines Festival 20-28 August, Free Family Days throughout NZ
www.storylines.org.nz
› The Gruffalo musicalThrough August at venues around NZ
www.gru� alo.co.nz
› Exscite InteractivesThrough August, Waikato Museum, Hamilton
www.waikatomuseum.co.nz
Preschoolers prepare for
quakesLittle ones are being
taught to ‘tuck up
like a turtle’ as part
of a new earthquake
safety campaign
which includes a new
DVD for preschools
to teach children to
protect themselves.
The Turtle Safe DVD
is a joint venture
between the Ministry
of Civil Defence
and Emergency
Management and the
Auckland City Council
and has been sent to
more than 6000 early
childcare centres and
playgroups. It is also
available at www.
getthru.govt.nz.
FREE DVD TO NEW PARENTSRaising Children in New Zealand, a parenting series
launched on TVNZ 7 in June, is to be given free to
every new parent on DVD by Plunket at the fi rst
home visit. The 10-part half hour series provides
parents with resources for coping with the fi rst three
years of their child’s life, fronted by well-known
New Zealanders. Actress Monique Bree, who
plays Kirby on TV drama Go Girls, presents the
newborn episodes and knows fi rst-hand how
life changes after a baby. Her daughter Quinn-
Ava, born earlier this year, was diagnosed with
under-developed hips. Monique admits she thought
she had it all planned out but that she wasn’t prepared in the slightest:
“Like all fi rst-time mums, I bought everything to prepare for my baby’s arrival but
she couldn’t wear or use any of it because she was in a full body harness. Even
though my magical moment didn’t go the way I planned, it was still more amazing
than I could have dreamed of,” Monique said. The DVD will also be available for
parents to access at Plunket centres and Barnardos, and online at www.tvnz.
co.nz/raisingchildren.
Sticky gingerbreadINGREDIENTS
225g butter
225g dark muscovado sugar
225g black treacle
2 eggs beaten
340g plain fl our
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
285ml warm milk
1. Preheat the oven to 140°C. Grease and line two
loaf tins with a paper loaf tin liner.
2. Put the butter, sugar and treacle into a large
saucepan and heat gently, stirring constantly until
melted.
3. Remove from the heat, leave to cool slightly and
then stir in the beaten eggs.
4. Sift the fl our, cinnamon and ginger into the
melted mixture.
5. Mix together the bicarbonate of soda and warm
milk. Add to the ginger mixture, mix well and pour
equal amounts of the mixture into each tin.
6. Bake for just under one hour. The top of the
cake will be slightly golden with a lovely crust and
a skewer should come out clean.
Makes 2 loaf loaves
Recipe from Healthy
lunchboxes for Kids. Text ©
Amanda Grant. Photo © Tara
Fisher. Published by Ryland
Peters & Small and distributed
by Southern Publishers
Group. RRP $32.99
THIS MONTH'S
Coffee Group Recipe
www.littlies.co.nz 19
diary dates
TRAFFIC lights for kids
Early childhood centres are becoming quieter
places for children and teachers as the National
Foundation for
the Deaf rolls
out its Safe
Sound Indicator
campaign. The
Safe Sound
Indicator shows
noise levels in
the form of tra� c
lights with red,
which is triggered
by noise at 90 decibels, being a time for children to
cut back on the noise. Foundation Chief Executive,
Louise Carroll (pictured at a childcare centre
above), says the idea is to educate children, their
teachers and parents about hearing loss caused
by excessive noise: "Centres already with the
Safe Sound Indictor are fi nding the children self-
regulating their noise levels,” she said. For details
about how to get the Safe Sound Indicator at your
child’s centre, visit www.nfd.org.nz.
pg18-19_aug11_littlebites.indd 19 11/7/11 2:59:46 PM
stuff we love
20 www.littlies.co.nz
TIME FOR LUNCH These cute
Baby Bento lunch boxes are ideal for
little lunches, and conveniently
sized to carry upright in your bag.
RRP $35.95. www.yumyumkids.co.nz
squash & go Washable and squashable,
the Totseat transforms any adult chair
into a secure highchair. For 6-36
months. www.totseat.co.nz
With setback wheels that glide easily
when pushed, little ones will love
discovering the world with the Wonder
Walker. www.thewoodentoybox.co.nz
classicCheck out this season’s new
designs mixed with time-less
classics from My Belly.
www.mybelly.co.nz
WALK this way
The Protect-A-Bed cotton fi tted cot mattress
is waterproof, breathable and protects baby
from dust mites and allergens. RRP $39.90.
www.protectabed.co.nz
nightnightie
Bosisto’s Lavender
Spray, with 100%
pure lavender oil,
will calm and soothe
baby and freshen and
deodorise the nursery.
Phone 0800 604 604.
www.fgb.com.au
Keep track of baby’s
new foods with the Solids
Starter Kit. Includes a new recipe
e-guide with 27 recipes. RRP $34.99.
www.mumiandbubi.co.nz
SOLID START
Dr Brown’s formula mixing pitcher
ensures minimal air gets in while
mixing. Dishwasher safe and BPA
free. Available at Babycity.
AIR�FREE
littlemum’s
helper
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F T C 3 8 3 2 _ R L i t t l e s M a g . p d f P a g e 1 1 3 / 0 7 / 1 1 , 1 1 : 3 7 A M
pg21_aug11_AdFarmers.indd 1 13/7/11 1:07:07 PM
the unique three-layer design that makes them absorbent enough to use overnight and keep your baby dry. Now in crawler size, they are the only nappy pants with resealable sides. When your toddler is ready for toilet training, swap Huggies Nappy-Pants for Huggies Pull-Ups during the day and continue with Nappy-Pants at night. The clever wetness liner in Pull-Ups helps your child learn wet from dry so they can make sense of the process and move towards being the ‘big kid’ they want to be, in their own time.
New Zealanders love to be active, and we love our children to be active. So when change-time disrupts play-time, it goes without saying that our little ones will wriggle a bit. And that’s why Huggies® has brought you Nappy-Pants for fast, easy, on-the-go nappy changes. Whether your baby is aged 6-months and is already a change-table mover and shaker, or a little older and change-time has turned into a game of hide and seek, try Huggies Nappy-Pants. They slip on (and off) easily whether your baby is wriggling, standing, kneeling or squatting, and are the perfect choice for a toddler who may not yet be ready to begin toilet training but will not lie still for a traditional nappy change either. Huggies Nappy-Pants have all the benefi ts you love about Huggies Nappies, including
Pull-Ups® Training Pants have a wetnessliner that helps your child learn wet from dryand grow into the big kid they want to be.
Huggies® Nappy-Pants have overnight absorbency and slip on even while standing, making change time easy.
The Huggies® range has something for every age and every stage. For more information visit huggies.co.nz
®Registered Trademarks of Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. © 2011 KCWW. KC0904_LL
Choosing the best nappy for your baby • Huggies® Nappies – for young
babies who are happy to lie still during change-time
• Huggies® Nappy-Pants – for babies on the move who twist and turn during change-time or are happier to stand up to be changed
• Huggies Pull-Ups® Toilet Training Pants – for children who start showing signs they are ready to begin toilet training
For more information, visit www.huggies.co.nz
the unique three-layer design that makes them absorbent enough to use overnight Choosing the best
gettersGo-
Catch me if you can!( (A fast and easy
nappy changing solution for active babies on the go.
pg21_aug11_Huggies gogetters final.indd 50 8/7/11 1:29:05 PM
stuff we love
www.littlies.co.nz 23
fashion twist
For a� ordable, limited-edition
fashion with a twist for littlies, check
out Bubble & Squeak, the online
children’s boutique.
www.bubbleandsqueak.net.nz
flexi-bleDesigned and manufactured in Denmark
and made from hard plastic, the Flexi Bath
folds down fl at for super easy storage. 6
colours. $80. www.globalbaby.co.nz
flDesigned and manufactured in Denmark
and made from hard plastic, the Flexi Bath
folds down fl at for super easy storage. 6
colours. $80. www.globalbaby.co.nz
Kids will love the colourful ball-drop
play and peek-a-boo shoe surprises
with LeapFrog Peek-A-Shoe Octopus.
9-36 months. Exclusive to Farmers.
RRP $74.99
pedal POWERPerfect for beginner riders, the new
Little Tikes 3 in 1 Trike then grows
with your child. Also comes with
removable shade canopy. Available
at all good toystores. RRP $200
Say goodbye to bedtime battles with
cool kids’ beds from Outlook Design
Furniture where you can even choose
your own colour. www.outlook.co.nz
play and peek-a-boo shoe surprises
with LeapFrog Peek-A-Shoe Octopus.
9-36 months. Exclusive to Farmers.
RRP $74.99
SORTED This wooden house will amuse
for hours – 8 di� erent shapes
to sort and match, learning
clock and easy drawer to
store. RRP $64.95 www.
uniqueboutique.co.nz
These gorgeously cute
Lily & George monsters have a happy
face on one side, then turn them
around to show their sad or angry face.
RRP $23.50 www.greenwithenvy.co.nz
HAPPYSADOR
Philips AVENT
new toddler cups
are spill-proof even
when shaken or thrown.
Cute designs to encourage
learning. Available at Babycity
and other leading baby retailers.
RRP $17.99 (340ml).
learning. Available at Babycity
and other leading baby retailers.
SPILL-P
R OOF
peek-a-boo
BUNKERDOWN
pg23_aug11_whatshotlittleones.indd 23 8/7/11 1:29:53 PM
24 www.littlies.co.nz
pregnancy & birth
Feeling ‘fluey’ any time when you are breastfeeding could
be a warning sign you may be coming down with mastitis,
an inflammation of the breast that in some cases may also
become infected.
The symptoms of mastitis can hit you suddenly and quite
hard – one minute you’re feeling just fine, then the next
you’re aching all over with chills and a fever, feeling tired
and emotionally drained and, for some women, even teary.
Sometimes flu-like symptoms can come on even before you
get a fever or notice any breast tenderness.
Another more telling sign of mastitis is an intensely
painful breast. Your whole breast may feel tender and ‘tight’
and be swollen, red and hot or you may present with a red,
sore, lumpy patch on one area of your breast only. A sore,
lumpy breast can also be caused by a blocked duct or, in
the early days of breastfeeding, engorgement (full breasts).
A blocked duct or mastitis without infection will start to feel
better with simple measures, such as rest and emptying your
breast completely at each feed. But, if you feel increasingly
unwell, you will need to seek medical treatment – the sooner
the better!
Prevention is better than cureOften the causes behind mastitis can be attributed to
lifestyle stresses, such as overdoing things and becoming
exhausted, missing feeds (such as when you go on a long
car trip and your baby sleeps through a feed or if you
express before going out but don’t express while you are
away from your baby), or scheduling feeds too strictly and
too far apart.
Cracked nipples can also cause mastitis as an infection
can enter the breasts through the broken skin, so it is
important to seek help early for nipple soreness.
Here are some prevention tips:
■ Watch your baby, not the clock: avoid overly full breasts
and feed long enough to drain your breasts – if you feel
tender or full after a feed, express a little milk for comfort.
■ If you feel very full (perhaps if baby has slept a long
stretch), offer your baby a feed – chances are he will
nurse enough to relieve your fullness even if he is sleepy.
■ If you feel any lumpiness, massage your breast gently
towards the nipple under a warm shower and express for
comfort.
■ Avoid underwire or tight bras that may compress milk
ducts. Also take care when you are sleeping that you
don’t sleep in a position that may squash your breasts,
such as lying on your stomach.
■ Take care of yourself. Rest, a nutritious diet and relaxing
activities that make you feel good will reduce the effects
of stress and boost your immune system.
Mastitis
Easing the symptomsThe good news is that if you start treatment early, you can
get on top of mastitis before you become very ill. Here are
some things you can do to ease the symptoms.
■ Do not think the milk is infected and that you therefore
need to stop breastfeeding (the breast milk itself will still
be fine – the infection is in the surrounding tissue).
■ Be sure to empty the affected breast and vary feeding
positions to empty all ducts.
■ Take pain relief half an hour before feeding, have a warm
shower or apply a heat pack or warm face cloth against
your sore breast. Feed on the sore side first but if your
affected breast feels too painful to nurse on, start feeding
on the least sore side and then switch sides when your
milk lets down.
■ Alternate hot and cold packs on your breast for comfort
– hot before a feed to stimulate circulation and mobilise
infection fighters in the breast and cold afterwards to
relieve pain.
■ Drink plenty of fluids – fever and infection will increase
your need for fluids.
■ If you have mastitis and are wanting to wean your baby,
it is recommended you wait until after the mastitis has
cleared up as stopping breastfeeding may increase the
chances of developing an abscess which will need to be
surgically drained.
A good adage to remember is ‘warmth, rest and empty
your breast’ and, if you suspect mastitis, consult your
Lead Maternity Carer or doctor early. If you are prescribed
antibiotics, be sure to take the full course. ●
Pinky McKay is an International Accredited Lactation Consultant,
best-selling parenting author, and mum of five.
pg24_aug11_mastitis.indd 24 8/7/11 1:30:28 PM
The product most recommended
by doctors for pregnancy stretch
marks.
Colmar Brunton, 2010
“My weight has always fl uctuated so I expected to pick up a few extra kilograms during pregnancy and was very conscious of getting stretch marks. But Bio-Oil just worked so well for me! It kept me completely stretch mark free, as well as leaving my skin feeling soft and supple – it’s like a little indulgence product! I wouldn’t let any of my friends embark on pregnancy without a big bottle of Bio-Oil by their side!”
Stella with Jenna
Bio-Oil® helps reduce the possibility of pregnancy stretch marks forming by increasing the skin’s elasticity. It should be applied twice daily from the start of the second trimester. For comprehensive product information, and details of clinical trials, please visit bio-oil.com. Bio-Oil is available at pharmacies and selected retailers at the recommended selling price of $20.45 (60ml). Individual results will vary.
TAPS
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B O L S 0 8 1 1 . p d f P a g e 1 4 / 0 7 / 1 1 , 1 2 : 4 0 P M
pg25_aug11_AdBioOil.indd 1 8/7/11 1:33:27 PM
26 www.littlies.co.nz
Annabel Karmel is the UK's best-selling author on baby and children's food and nutrition and an expert in
devising tasty and nutritious meals for children without the need for parents to spend hours in the kitchen!
newborn & baby
babyfeeding
yourIntroducing a mixed diet
Your baby’s fi rst tastes are not intended to provide every
known nutrient; however, because babies have small
tummies, everything you serve should go some way towards
helping her become strong and healthy. Babies also have
fewer nutrient stores to draw from, which means that a
balanced nutritional intake is important. What’s more, likes
and dislikes are established early, so helping your baby to
develop a taste for healthy foods now will make mealtimes a
lot easier in years to come.
When you fi rst introduce your baby to solid foods, portion
sizes aren’t important. A few spoonfuls, once a day, will give
her a taste of di� erent fl avours and provide a little nutrition.
After a few weeks, your baby will probably begin to eat one
or two ‘meals’ a day. Meals can, however, be comprised of
just a spoonful or two.
You’ll fi nd your baby will let you know how much she
needs to eat; some foods, such as carbohydrates, will fi ll her
STAGE ONE (around 6 months) STAGE TWO (6 to 9 months) STAGE THREE (10 to 12 months)
CONSISTENCY: Semi-liquid purées;
easy-to-gum fi nger foods, depending
on your baby’s ability to gum and
chew
Thicker purées, adding tiny lumps
and mashed or fi nely minced food;
melt-in-the-mouth and bite-and-
dissolve fi nger foods
Minced, chopped, mashed, and
lumpy food; bite-and-chew fi nger
foods
FRUITS: Ripe peaches, bananas,
apples, pears, papaya, mango, melon,
avocado
Plums, nectarines, berries, cherries,
dried apricots, guava
Citrus fruit (but watch for a reaction);
other dried fruit; continue to expand
your baby’s repertoire of fruit
VEGETABLES: Potatoes, swede,
carrots, parsnips, sweet potato,
butternut squash, pumpkin
Sweetcorn, spinach, peas,
caulifl ower, courgettes, broccoli,
green beans, onions, sweet peppers,
mushrooms
Continue to expand your baby’s
repertoire of vegetables, e.g. sugar
snap peas and baby sweetcorn
CEREALS AND GRAINS: Gluten-free
cereals such as baby rice, millet,
and quinoa
Any grains such as rice, barley, oats,
wheat in bread, pasta, breakfast
cereals, couscous
Continue to expand your baby’s
repertoire of grains, including brown
rice, spelt, wholegrains and fl axseeds
PROTEIN: Chicken, white and oily
fi sh, well-cooked eggs, red meat,
tofu, pulses, nut butters, very fi nely
ground nuts
Continue to expand your baby’s
repertoire of proteins, including
di� erent cuts of meat and new
varieties of fi sh
DAIRY PRODUCTS: Hard pasteurised
cheeses, cottage and cream cheese,
full-fat plain yoghurt, cows’ milk (in
cooking and with cereal), butter,
fromage frais
Soft pasteurised cheeses
more quickly than fresh fruit and vegetables. When she
appears to be full, or resists your attempts to feed her,
it’s a good idea to stop.
By the time your baby is on three meals a day and
cutting down on her milk feeds (around 10 months) she
needs to be eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables,
good sources of protein, healthy fats, and good quality
carbohydrates to keep her diet balanced, her body
healthy, and her energy levels high. Look at her diet
across the day – as long as she is getting a little of each
(ideally some carbohydrate, protein, and vegetable or
fruit at every meal), you are doing well.
Below is a guide to the foods that are appropriate
for your baby’s growth and development at each
stage of weaning – bear in mind that some babies
are ready for a greater variety of new foods earlier
than others.
and quinoa
pg26-27_aug11_babyfeeding.indd 26 8/7/11 1:31:37 PM
newborn & baby
www.littlies.co.nz 27
For more tasty meal
ideas for your baby,
see Weaning, by
Annabel Karmel.
Published by Dorling
Kindersley. www.
annabelkarmel.com
Carrot, Sweet Potato and Apple All babies seem to love sweet tastes and combining vegetables with fruit is a great way to tempt your baby.
INGREDIENTS
1 medium carrot, peeled and sliced1 small sweet potato, peeled and diced1 sweet eating apple, peeled, cored and cut into small chunksA little breast milk or formula (optional)
1. Steam the carrot and sweet potato for 8 minutes. Add the apple and steam for another 6 minutes or until all the ingredients are tender.
2. Purée in a food processor or place in a bowl and use a hand-blender. Thin to the desired consistency with a little water from the bottom of the steamer or a little of your baby’s usual milk.
3. Freeze in individual portions. When needed, thaw overnight in the fridge or for 1-2 hours at room temperature, then microwave or reheat in a small pan until piping hot. Stir and allow to cool before serving.
Makes 4 portions
14 minsCOOKING TIME
SUITABLE FOR
FREEZINGfrom 6 MONTHS
pg26-27_aug11_babyfeeding.indd 27 8/7/11 1:31:07 PM
toddler & preschooler
28 www.littlies.co.nz
asian cuisine for kidsPressed sushiINGREDIENTS
250g sushi rice350ml water3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar2 tablespoons caster sugar1/4 teaspoon salt4-6 thin slices smoked salmon
1. Put the rice in a pot with the water. Bring up to a boil, cover the pan tightly with a lid, turn down the heat as low as possible and cook for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and leave to stand for another 15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, warm the vinegar in the microwave for 10 seconds or warm gently in a pan but do not boil, then stir in the sugar and salt until dissolved. Line a 20cm loose-bottomed or springform cake tin with two pieces of cling fi lm, allowing plenty of overhang. Lay the smoked salmon on the base of the cake tin, overlapping the pieces slightly.
3. Spoon the cooked rice into a large bowl and stir in the vinegar mixture. Leave the rice to cool for 10 minutes,
stirring regularly. Spread the rice over
the salmon, fold the cling fi lm over the
top of the rice then press the rice down
fi rmly with a potato masher.
4. Chill for 30 minutes. Lift out the base
of the cake tin, unwrap the cling fi lm
from the rice side and fl ip the sushi disc
on to a cutting board (salmon side up).
Remove the cling fi lm completely and
cut into pieces with a sharp knife. Serve
with soy sauce for dipping.
Makes about 32 sushi
✱ The sushi will cut more easily if you wet the knife between each cut.
pg28-29_aug11_toddlercooking.indd 28 8/7/11 1:34:47 PM
www.littlies.co.nz 29
✱ To keep the batter light, mix it as quickly as possible.
asian cuisine for kids
These recipes from
Top 100 Finger Foods
by Annabel Karmel.
www.annabelkarmel.com
toddler & preschooler
Vegetable tempuraINGREDIENTS1/2 red capsicum, seeded and cut into thin strips1 small yellow or green courgette, cut into half cm rounds1 small head broccoli, broken into bite-sized fl oretsA handful of snow peas, trimmed450ml vegetable oil, for deep frying100g fl our50g cornfl our250ml sparkling water or soda water
For the dipping sauce:
2 tablespoons sweet rice wine1 tablespoon soy sauce1 tablespoon water1/2 teaspoon sugar
1. Stir the dipping-sauce ingredients together until the sugar has dissolved. Divide among four small dipping bowls and set aside.
2. Have all of the vegetables prepared before you make the batter. You can prepare them a couple of hours in advance and keep them on a plate in the fridge, covered with a damp piece of kitchen paper and then wrapped with cling fi lm.
3. Put the oil in a large, deep pan (it should not come more than halfway up the side of the pan) or deep fat fryer. Heat the oil to 190°C. Line a couple of baking sheets with a double layer of kitchen paper.
4. Put the fl our and cornfl our in a large bowl and mix together with a fork. Add the sparkling water and mix quickly with the fork – don’t worry if there are a few lumps. The batter should be the consistency of single cream; if it is too thick, add an extra one or two tablespoons of water.
5. Drop fi ve or six pieces of the prepared vegetables into the batter then gently put them one by one into the hot oil. Don’t overcrowd the pan or the oil will get too cold and the batter will be greasy. Fry for 2-3 minutes, turning once, until puffed and crisp and turning slightly golden at the edges. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked vegetables to the baking sheets and let them drain for 1-2 minutes. Meanwhile continue dipping and cooking the remainder of the vegetables. The tempura is best eaten within minutes of being cooked, but can be kept warm in an oven preheated to 120°C for 10-15 minutes.
Makes 4 portions
pg28-29_aug11_toddlercooking.indd 29 8/7/11 1:35:22 PM
toddler & preschooler
28 www.littlies.co.nz
asian cuisine for kidsPressed sushiINGREDIENTS
250g sushi rice350ml water3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar2 tablespoons caster sugar1/4 teaspoon salt4-6 thin slices smoked salmon
1. Put the rice in a pot with the water. Bring up to a boil, cover the pan tightly with a lid, turn down the heat as low as possible and cook for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and leave to stand for another 15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, warm the vinegar in the microwave for 10 seconds or warm gently in a pan but do not boil, then stir in the sugar and salt until dissolved. Line a 20cm loose-bottomed or springform cake tin with two pieces of cling fi lm, allowing plenty of overhang. Lay the smoked salmon on the base of the cake tin, overlapping the pieces slightly.
3. Spoon the cooked rice into a large bowl and stir in the vinegar mixture. Leave the rice to cool for 10 minutes,
stirring regularly. Spread the rice over
the salmon, fold the cling fi lm over the
top of the rice then press the rice down
fi rmly with a potato masher.
4. Chill for 30 minutes. Lift out the base
of the cake tin, unwrap the cling fi lm
from the rice side and fl ip the sushi disc
on to a cutting board (salmon side up).
Remove the cling fi lm completely and
cut into pieces with a sharp knife. Serve
with soy sauce for dipping.
Makes about 32 sushi
✱ The sushi will cut more easily if you wet the knife between each cut.
pg28-29_aug11_toddlercooking.indd 28 8/7/11 1:34:47 PM
Games, activities and learning toolsSend emails with Magic Mail
Safe internet browsing with My First Browser
Kidzone Magic Desktop provides a safe way
to share computers with children, putting
parents in control, without losing the magic.
Go to www.tvnz.co.nz/kidzonemagicdesktop to download your free introductory version.
For $19.99 you can upgrade to the Premium Edition, with $1 from every purchase going to
Watch videos with your favourite Kidzone characters
* All images shown from the Premium version. Some features will not be available on free introductory version.
pg30_aug11_adTV.indd 1 8/7/11 1:37:33 PM
The Kidzone Magic Desktop Premium
Edition gives you even more fun.
You’ll get new games, learning tools
and stories all tailored to keep up with
your child’s development.
You can make cool pictures with the
FunCam application.
And watch videos featuring your
favourite Kidzone characters.
Plus parents can add unlimited
child-friendly websites to My First Browser.
With kidzone Magic DesktopKeep the magic alive Launches 1 August on www.tvnz.co.nz/kidzonemagicdesktop
You know that your kids are safe when they watch Kidzone24, and now
they can stay safe on the internet too. Kidzone Magic Desktop provides
a safe way to share computers with children, putting parents in control,
without losing the magic.
Kids can safely explore pre-approved sites, send secure emails with ‘magic
mail’ and have fun with loads of games and activities that keep your kids safe
online; as well as protecting your precious files from little fingers.
From Monday 1 August, you can go to www.tvnz.co.nz/kidzonemagicdesktop
to download your free trial. For $19.99 you can upgrade to the Premium
Edition, with $1 from every purchase going to Cure Kids.
Child proof operating system – to protect
both your PC and child at the same time.
Secure internet browsing – children can
only access websites which YOU approve.
Safe emailing – children can only send and
receive emails from the addresses that you
approve. NB the email programme is
completely spam and virus free.
Parents can bring through PC programmes
to be accessible within Magic Desktop
(i.e. Word, Powerpoint etc.)
Time restrictions can be put in place
for each programme, so they can be
automatically managed.
A points system can be put in place to
encourage use of educational programmes and
can be used as a reward system for completing
chores, homework etc.
Edition, with $1 from every purchase going to Cure Kids.
With kidzone Magic Desktop
Sign up for the Premium Edition!
Why parents will love it
advertorial
pg31_aug11_AdKidzone.indd 1 11/7/11 11:54:47 AM
32 www.littlies.co.nz
newborn & baby
play on, Play isn’t only for toddlers
and big kids - from birth,
your baby is primed for
play, explains Pinky McKay.baby
pg32-34_aug11_play.indd 32 8/7/11 1:41:09 PM
The first year of your baby’s life is a magical time, and never will you
see him grow and change as much as in those initial 12 months. Like
all children – and grown-ups – babies love to play, and it’s never too
early in their life to start having fun with your little one. And you, his
primary caregiver, are the perfect ‘first toy’.
Have you heard the saying, ‘Play is a child’s work’? It’s not only
walking, talking toddlers who can benefit from play; play is equally
important for babies in the first 12 months to help them develop, learn
and form strong bonds with the important people in their lives.
You might be surprised to discover your baby is ready for game
playing from birth. Babies are born with a natural urge to learn, and
their development can be enhanced through touch, movement and
play, along with optimum nutrition and a stimulating environment
which includes music, colour, things to touch, and usual household
activity and conversation – all with minimal expense or stress to you!
Benefits of baby playNew research shows that the most critical factor in helping your
baby’s brain development is the loving, responsive interactions
between you and your child. The sensory experience
of cuddling, touching, making eye contact, moving and
conversations, all of which are part of playing with your baby,
are hardwiring his tiny, yet-to-mature brain for emotional and
neurological development.
As you touch, talk to, and share eye contact with your baby,
you stimulate the development of connections between nerve
cells in his brain, forming foundations for thinking, feeling and
learning.
This means that simply by ‘tuning in’ and enjoying your
baby, you will be supporting the development of structures
that help him learn to respond sensitively to others and to read
social cues, as well as teaching him about problem-solving and
developing self-awareness, generosity, kindness, empathy,
curiosity, creativity and joy.
You are his best toyWhile neuroscience tells us that play is critical in helping babies’
brains to learn, you can relax and just enjoy your baby without
seeing play as an ‘academic exercise’ or, becoming stressed
that you might not be ‘doing it right’. According to Dr Jill Stamm,
a specialist in infant learning and cognition and author of Bright
from the Start, it’s not the play activity itself that causes learning,
but the repetition that play encourages.
Dr Stamm says that play causes the brain’s energy to be
used in a different way, explaining, “Because the pleasure it
brings causes repetition, play reinforces healthy brain wiring.”
Studies show that with every interaction between you and
your baby, you will both experience elevated levels in your
brains of beta endorphins – the hormones of pleasure and
reward. This naturally enhances and encourages playfulness
and responsive interactions with your baby. In other words, the
more you interact with your baby, the happier you both feel. And
the more you want to play, the more you will be helping your
baby wire his pristine brain for learning.
How easy is that? You are your baby's best toy, his best
teacher and the rock of your baby's world!
Baby play for twoAs your baby develops, his playtime requirements change.
Here are some helpful tips for keeping things fun in the first 12
months.
At first, playing with your baby will involve short periods of
gentle interaction, such as talking, rocking, eye contact and
singing. From birth to around three months of age, babies use
their senses for play – moving their heads to see and recognise
different faces and sounds. Mobiles and hanging objects are
excellent at this stage, as long as any noises they make aren’t so
loud they startle your baby.
It’s important to be respectful of your newborn’s short
attention span and not overstimulate him. If he becomes restless
or turns his head away, it’s time to give your baby a break.
As your baby grows, it won’t be long before you’ll be
encouraged by chuckles of glee as he begs for more vigorous
play, involving bouncing, rolling and endless ‘peek-a-boo’
games. Once your baby can roll and crawl, he will have the
www.littlies.co.nz 33
newborn & baby
play on,
pg32-34_aug11_play.indd 33 8/7/11 1:41:36 PM
34 www.littlies.co.nz
capacity to explore and use a wider range of toys – pushing,
rolling, and following a ball, putting things in and out of
containers, manoeuvring push-along toys, etc. Of course, your
little one’s increasing mobility and sense of exploration will mean
you’ll need to child-proof his toys and play spaces.
Watch your baby and see what activities hold his attention.
Babies tend to enjoy activities and toys that match their
capabilities. You’ll find that if he’s fascinated by a particular toy,
he’ll hold on to it for longer. Adding to and rotating his toys or
play materials will help keep things interesting, too.
Here are games and activities you might like to try for each
development stage in the first year:
Birth – 3 monthsQ Hold your baby on your lap facing you and, supporting his
head as you gaze into his eyes, gently rock him from side to
side as you talk or sing to him.
Q Hold your baby in your arms and sing as you gently dance to
music.
Q Lay your baby where he can see you and, using finger
puppets, bring one puppet at a time into his line of sight so he
can focus on it. Then introduce the puppet to him and continue
with each one in turn. This is fantastic for helping to develop
his visual skills.
Q Gaze into your baby’s eyes and experiment with facial
expressions as you talk. Even a newborn will try to copy you as
you poke out your tongue, blow raspberries, or make clicking
noises with your tongue (this is also a fun game for older
siblings to take part in).
Q Place your baby on his back and gently wave a colourful scarf
or ribbon across his line of vision (about 30cm away) as you
talk or sing. Bring it close and lift it, wave it from side to side
and gently stroke your baby with it. This helps develop eye-
tracking skills as well as engaging your little one’s attention.
Q Carry your baby in a sling or soft carrier so he can enjoy the
delights of movement and feel the textures of your clothing
while sensing the security of your heartbeat, voice and familiar
smells.
Q Read aloud to your baby. Books with large black, white, and
red shapes and images are ideal at this age.
Q When changing your baby, name his different body parts
as he watches your face. Or, count each little finger and toe
individually. He’ll love trying to imitate your facial expressions.
3 – 6 monthsQ Show your baby your reflections in a mirror and tell him who
he can see there. Let him lie on his tummy and watch himself
in a mirror (this will encourage tummy play).
Q As your baby plays on his tummy, put some interesting toys
just out of reach to encourage him to reach and develop
strength for crawling. Plastic bottles half-filled with coloured
water, small floating toys, or tinsel are cheap and easy to
make – just be sure the lids are well secured.
Q Blow on a pinwheel or blow bubbles and watch his visual
tracking skills develop.
Pinky McKay is an International Accredited Lactation Consultant, best-selling parenting author, and mum of five.
newborn & baby
Q Walk around the house with your baby, pointing to and
labelling everything you see. Go outside and point to the
flowers, leaves, and trees, the vegetables in the garden,
insects buzzing around, and the clouds and planes in the sky.
Let him touch different objects as you go.
Q If you have a front-loading dryer or washing machine, let him
watch the washing go around and around – he’ll be entranced.
Just make sure it’s not throwing out too much heat or that he’s
not sitting too close.
Q Hold your baby under his armpits and ‘dance’ him from side to
side as you chant ‘Tick, tock, tick, tock’. Swing him from side
to side, saying, ‘I’m a little cuckoo clock, tick, tock, tick, tock’.
Keep swinging him from side to side, singing, ‘Now I’m striking
one o’clock, two o’clock’ and so on. Lift your baby up to the
sky once for each strike of the clock.
6 – 12 monthsQ Your baby will love toys that are noise makers, such as
maracas, xylophones and music shakers. Make your own by
putting beans or rice into plastic bottles and firmly secure the
lids – you might like to glue them shut.
Q Balls, bubbles (watch him crawl and try to catch the bubbles!),
and bath toys are loads of fun.
Q Play clapping and tapping songs and bounce your baby on
your lap or legs while you sing.
Q Make a ‘touchy-feely’ basket of objects with different textures
for him to rummage in (with supervision). Try a teaspoon, bath
plug, pom pom, soft brush, sponge, squishy ball, etc.
Q Make a cushion mountain to crawl over – encourage his
climbing skills (and coordination and balance) by playing peek-
a-boo or placing a favourite toy on top of the mountain.
Q A baby-sized tunnel or some large cardboard boxes with open
ends are fun to crawl through. Roll a ball through the tunnel
and encourage him to chase it.
Q Fill an old handbag or tote bag with different-textured objects
such as balls, empty cotton reels, pieces of fur, sponges,
wooden blocks, etc. He’ll love pulling everything out and
putting it all back in again. This is also excellent for introducing
basic concepts such as weight, shapes, ‘empty’ and ‘full’.
Q Nesting and stacking toys are fun, especially as he will likely
want to knock the stacks over only to have you build them
up again and again! Try also making towers with plastic cups,
bowls and boxes of varying sizes.
Q Delegate a low cupboard or drawer in the house as your
child’s space. Rotate a few toys or safe household objects
(unbreakable bowls, cups, spoons) and let him explore his
cupboard.
Remember, play is an important part of your baby’s learning and
development – and one of the best ways to do this is by having
fun together. ●
Babies tend to enjoy activities and toys that
match their capabilities.
pg32-34_aug11_play.indd 34 8/7/11 1:42:03 PM
newborn & baby
www.littlies.co.nz 35
just ask PLUNKETSpilling and reflux
Spilling and refl ux in babies is common although it can be distressing
for parents – some babies spill (bring up milk) after each feed, while
some hardly ever do so.
Spilling and refl ux occurs because the valve at the top of the
stomach in very young babies is still developing and sometimes
does not close properly, allowing milk to come back up. As your baby
matures, so does the valve, and the spilling and refl ux will usually
stop between six and 12 months old.
Some babies spill part of every feed and this can sometimes
continue for several hours after each feed and may cause your
baby some discomfort or pain. Other babies can have refl ux without
spilling, where the milk only partly comes up the tube between the
stomach and mouth and then goes back down into the stomach. This
may cause pain and can be known as silent refl ux.
Spilling and refl ux are di� erent from vomiting, where your baby
empties her stomach forcefully. For many babies, they do not seem
distressed by spilling and they continue grow normally, with the only
problem being the extra washing to clean up the spills.
Other babies can become unsettled with refl ux and may be
di� cult to manage. Often you are doing everything ‘right’ but your
baby is still unsettled. Your baby may cry, be a fussy feeder and not
sleep well. She may also arch her back and extend her legs out in
response after a feed.
Generally speaking, the more upright your baby is the more the
refl ux decreases. By the time she is walking, the refl ux will often
have disappeared. For a few babies, it will improve over a longer
period of time.
WAYS TO COPE WHEN YOUR BABY SPILLS MILKu Dress or change your baby before feeds when her stomach
is not full.
u Wind your baby several times during feeds.
u Use a towel to cover yourself after feeds, to catch the milk.
u Have lots of large bibs on hand.
u Have a towel with you to put under your baby where she is sitting
or lying during feeds.
u After feeds, sit your baby up on your lap or in a bouncinette for a
short period.
u Raise the head end of the cot or bassinette by putting a thick
book or two under the legs at the head end. To stop your baby
slipping under the blankets, make up the bed with your baby’s
feet at the bottom so that there is no space for her to slip down
under the blankets.
Using feed thickeners and other medications can also help reduce
the spilling and unsettledness. Talk with your Plunket nurse or doctor
about what options might be suitable for you.
Also, see your doctor if you are ever worried, or if your baby has
any of the following signs or symptoms:
u Poor weight gain
u Appears to be in pain
u Di� cult to settle or becomes more unsettled
u Spilling more
u Spilling large amounts
u Vomits violently (projectile vomiting)
u Has green-coloured vomit
WINDING YOUR BABYSome babies don't need to be winded (burped) after feeds, while
others may become unsettled with wind and need winding at
every feed. When winding your baby, it helps to keep your baby
upright to your shoulder or sitting on your knee with a straight back.
Some people believe that the food you eat can cause wind in your
baby if you are breastfeeding, so it could be worth monitoring what
you eat to see if there is a food link to your baby’s wind.
If your baby is unsettled by refl ux and you feel you aren’t coping,
it’s important to get support for yourself. Talk to other parents about
how you feel or to your Plunket nurse or doctor. Your Plunket nurse
will also be able to advise you of groups in your area that you can
access for further support and information. �
Allison Jamieson
Plunket Clinical
Advisor
EACH MONTH PLUNKET WILL BRING YOU EXPERT ADVICE ON BABY CARE ISSUES.
pg35_aug11_plunket.indd 35 13/7/11 10:09:17 AM
pg36-38_aug11_big five.indd 36 8/7/11 1:49:29 PM
todddler & preschooler
School marks a major transition in your child’s life and is a
significant step towards independence. However, even children
accustomed to childcare or kindy can often find the transition
to school a little scary, mainly because there are so many much
‘bigger kids’.
A positive start to school life is what you want to aim for. With
a little preparation, you can ensure your child is ready to face the
new opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
Here are some helpful tips to help ease those first-day jitters
for both you, and your child.
Being ready for school Helping your child learn to get along with other children can be
the biggest challenge of all. Your child may be mixing with a large
group of children, many of whom she’s possibly not going to
know. Group situations with other children such as preschool or
playgroups are good preparation for ‘school’. At school, children
need to be able to get along with peers, listen to others and
clearly express their needs, share with others and have the ability
to play on their own and in a group.
Children who are able to dress themselves, go to the toilet,
and take care of their own belongings will feel independent and
confident when they start school. This also enables the teachers
to spend their time teaching rather than looking after the class.
Label all clothing, shoes, and other belongings clearly, and teach
your child the importance of keeping her sweatshirt, hat, etc.,
together when she takes them off. Have clothes that can be
quickly put on, e.g. slip-on shoes with velcro.
Familiarising your child with opening her lunchbox and drink
bottle will help to eliminate potential upsets in the first few days.
Also, go through with her what is in her lunch box so she knows
some foods are for morning tea and the rest is for lunch. Have
a few practice runs at home so you know she can unwrap her
sandwiches confidently and open the lid of her yoghurt. In the
weeks leading up to school fill your child’s drink bottle each
morning and encourage her to drink from it throughout the day.
Dehydration reduces concentration, making learning difficult, so
make sure your child is well practiced at drinking regularly.
Children are not expected to be able to read and write
when they start school, but some basic pre-literacy skills can
help make the learning process easier. It is helpful if your
child can recognise her own name (and perhaps form some
of the letters). If you do teach your child to write her name,
make sure to only make the first letter a capital, and the rest
should be written in lower case. Children taught to write
only in capitals will only have to re-learn writing in lower-
case when they start school, which can unsettle literacy
confidence.
Book handling skills are also a great help, such as
knowing the front of the book from the back and being able
to turn pages independently. The ability to sit and listen
to a story and talk about it afterwards will help your child’s
reading comprehension skills.
Choosing a schoolYour child’s first years at school are more than just an
introduction to formal education – they are the foundation
upon which will rest an entire educational future. So,
naturally, it is important to give careful consideration to
which school your child will attend.
Three factors central to your decision-making will
probably be locality, cost and the special character of the
school. Consider transport arrangements – will you be able
to drop off and pick up your child, or will she catch a bus?
What about siblings or friends? Starting school may be
easier for your child if she knows others there. Ask about
any fees, expected donations and other charges.
Some schools have strict zoning rules, so you’ll need to
check this out with your chosen school. It may be necessary
to put your child's name into the ballot for an out-of-zone
placement. To find out more visit www.schoolzones.co.nz.
The standard of education provided is also an important
factor. It can be insightful to read what the the Education
Review Office (ERO) reports on a school, and reviews are
Before you know it, your
baby will turn five and
be ready to start school.
Here’s how to ensure
you’re both ready.
BIGthe
fivefirst-day jitters
www.littlies.co.nz 37
pg36-38_aug11_big five.indd 37 11/7/11 1:43:14 PM
published online at www.ero.govt.nz or ask the school for a copy
of their latest review.
A good idea is to phone the school and set up an appointment
with the Principal so you can ask questions about enrolment and
the school. Here’s what to look and questions to ask when visiting
your child’s potential school.
1. How will the school ensure that my child is safe?
2. What will my child typically learn in the first year?
3. How will I be kept informed of my child’s progress?
4. What is expected of parents?
5. What makes this school special?
Ask to visit the classroom to see how your child’s day will
work. Watch the interactions among the children and between the
teacher and children. Consider whether your child will be happy
and secure and if the learning environment will suit your child.
What to expect in the classrooml Lots of literacy all around the classroom: alphabet cards; poem
and song charts; children’s art work displayed with captions,
and a wide variety of books for children to choose from.
l Low tables, chairs, and storage areas to allow easy access for
children.
l A selection of labelled boxes and containers containing
equipment and resources, providing children with variety and
choice.
l Special-interest areas set up with different activities or materials
for children to explore.
l Children working together in small groups at different activities.
There will probably be lots of talking and movement (five-year-
olds are not designed to be quiet and still!), but it should be
purposeful and productive.
Most schools provide some kind of pre-entry programme
(usually one or two half-day weekly visits in the 3-4 weeks
before the first day). Familiarity with the school makes it easier
for children to settle into their first full school days. You might
be asked to stay with your child for these pre-entry visits or the
school may use these to help children to get used to the idea of
separation from you so there are less tears on the big day.
Preparing for the big dayl Start giving her small but steadily increasing responsibilities at
home to encourage independence to help with the transition.
l When going on school visits, practice the morning routine
including getting dressed in her uniform, packing her bag, etc.
l Take her shopping for new uniforms and shoes and get her to
help you label them all clearly with her name.
l Let her help choose her school bag, lunchbox, and drink bottle,
or pencils, crayons, and other exciting stationery bits ( just
make sure your purchases match what’s on the list the school
provides!).
l Teach your child how to tie her own shoelaces.
l Let her mark off on a calendar the number of days until school
starts.
l If your school has a Walking School Bus, walk on the bus a
couple of days before starting so she’s familiar with the route
and what is required of her.
l Find books about starting school and read them to her at
bedtime.
l Establish a routine from the first day, of your child being
involved in helping to pack her bag, with her lunchbox, drink
bottle, and a warm top. Let her see that you've popped into
her bag a spare pair of underwear and leggings or pants in
the first few weeks (as its not unusual for children starting
school to have 'accidents').
Tears at the gateThe first day at school is a big event for parents as well as
children. Facing the reality that your child will be away from
you, developing her own independence and individuality, can
naturally create a sense of loss and anxiety for you. It is natural
to feel sad and worried even though you might already be well
accustomed to separation through using daycare or preschool.
Remember, teachers are skilled and competent at helping
new children settle and cope with the demands of school life.
Trust your parenting skills and remind yourself of all that you
taught your child to help prepare for this moment.
If you are anxious about your child starting school, consider
organising some kind of support for yourself. Perhaps you
know others who recently sent their new entrants off to school.
Arrange to have a coffee with another parent on the day your
child starts school to help relax and share your anxiety. Or make
a date with your partner or a friend to do something special on
the first day to distract you from worrying.
Most importantly, make sure you don’t let your child see
or feel your distress – she will take her cues from you. The
last thing you want is to dampen her enthusiasm for staying
at school by making her worried about you. Be reassuring
and positive about starting school, and talk about how excited
you are about all the new things she will learn and that you
can’t wait to hear about them at the end of the day. Make the
transition smooth. Once the teacher is talking with your child
and you've done the hand-over, don't stay for too long or your
child might see you anxious.
Staying connectedAlthough your child will be away from you for six hours a day,
there are things you can do to stay connected and let her
know you are thinking of her while she is at school.
Add something special into the lunch box, such as a
homemade card with a happy face on it, animal-shaped
sandwiches, a love heart, a picture of a favourite character.
Volunteer to do parent help so you can be in the classroom
helping out with art activities or hearing children read. Or, drop
in for a surprise visit in the playground during lunch break (but
check with the teacher first if this is okay).
Most importantly, be proud of this new step in her life, and
look forward to the amazing progress she will make. And when
the big day finally arrives, put your feet up and enjoy a well-
deserved coffee – and grab a box of tissues, just in case! ●
Dr Sarah Farquhar leads ChildForum.com and is a mum of five.
toddler & preschooler
38 www.littlies.co.nz
pg36-38_aug11_big five.indd 38 11/7/11 1:47:27 PM
40 www.littlies.co.nz
toddler & preschooler
There is nothing worse than running a brush or comb through
your child’s hair, hitting a snag, and hearing her cry out in pain.
How best can you manage your child’s tangles without causing
the tears? Try these simple steps to help tame tangles tear-free.
Your child’s hair doesn’t need to be washed every day. In
fact, once or twice a week is usually sufficient unless she’s
sporting pieces of dinner in her tresses! Young children have
just two layers within their hair, compared to three layers in
adults. This makes their hair fragile, so only a mild shampoo is
needed such as a children’s shampoo. Many adult shampoo
varieties have added fragrances and colours that may actually
damage your child’s hair.
If your child’s hair is always full of knots, the best way to get
them out is by using a children’s shampoo. Use a conditioner
only if the hair is dry and tangly. If your child’s hair is prone to
oiliness, you may find conditioner can sometimes exacerbate
the problem.
When washing, gently massage the shampoo into the scalp
and through the hair, rather than vigorously lathering, then
rinse thoroughly and gently towel-dry the hair.
Then, while the hair is still wet, use a wide-toothed comb
and section the hair off in small pieces. Comb through slowly,
almost hair for hair. To prevent knotting as you go, begin
combing at the ends and slowly move up, section by section,
towards the roots.
If the knot is matted like a dreadlock, it may help to wet it
with water first or comb a spray-on detangler through.
And, if worst comes to worst and you still can’t get a
stubborn knot or tangle out, you may need to cut it out. Before
doing this, try to work out as much of the hair as possible, so
you don’t have to cut any more than you absolutely have to.
After cutting, use a bit of conditioner on the ends to prevent
them from splitting.
How to prevent and treat hair tangles:
. Before washing, detangle your child’s hair by brushing it
thoroughly to remove any knots. Hair tends to tangle on its
own when the hair is dry, and wetting it can make it worse.
. If using conditioner, comb it through your child’s hair rather
than massaging it in.
. For stubborn tangles, try a children’s spray detangler. After
washing and while the hair is wet, spray on the detangler
and comb the hair gently with a wide-toothed comb.
. For longer hair, keep it simple or tied up during the day as
hair can easily get tangled up while out playing.
. Try braiding longer hair before bed as this will lessen the
chances of tangles in the morning, especially if your child
moves a lot while sleeping.
. Avoid yanking a brush or comb through tangled hair, as this
causes split ends and a sore scalp! And be sure to use a
good brush.
Remember, kids are naturally playful and will get themselves
into all sorts of tangles, including their hair. Keeping hairstyles
simple will go a long way to helping keep tangles at bay. ●
tanglesTAMIng.
Don’t resort to snipping out stubborn tangles with the nail scissors! Here’s how to tame your child’s tangled tresses without the tears.
The general rule of hair grooming is comb when wet and brush when dry.tip
pg40_aug11_tangles.indd 40 11/7/11 3:48:45 PM
1278/11
3combcondition
1clean
Tame those knots and tangles!New JOHNSON’S® NO MORE TANGLES® range is specially formulated to
unlock knots and tangles from your toddler’s hair. Try the easy 3-step
routine with our shampoo, conditioner and detangling spray to ensure
hair is clean, soft and tangle free. Find it in your supermarket baby aisle.
Find us on Facebook
means
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42 www.littlies.co.nz
expertsask our
STROKE OF COMFORT
QOur one-and-a-half-year-old son
likes us to lie next to him so he
can run his fi ngers through our
hair to help him fall asleep. He’s been doing
this since he was two months old. I’ve tried
putting his fi ngers though his own hair but
he refuses and won’t go to sleep unless he
has our hair. Is there something I can use as
a replacement?
TE HUINGA HARRISON, GISBORNE
AIt is normal for an infant to need the
close physical proximity of a parent
to feel safe and secure, so any changes
you do to wean him o� stroking your hair
needs to be done slowly so he gets used
to learning how to go to sleep in a di� erent
environment. To wean him o� this behaviour
introduce a di� erent attachment object,
but make sure you are there with him while
you do this as the fi rst step is to change
how he goes to sleep. Look for a new toy
or object that he will take a likening to. It
may take a few tries. Given that he likes to
stroke things, you could look for something
that gives him a similar sensation as to
when he feels your hair, such as velvet
material. Then, introduce the object to
the bedtime ritual so it becomes part of
the sleep time routine. Redirect his hands
to the toy or object and not your hair. It
would minimise his frustration if your hair
was not easily accessible to him during
this process. Provide a di� erent form of
comfort, such as singing to him or rubbing
his back so he sees you are there helping
him with his frustration. Don’t be worried
that you are replacing one habit (such as
singing to him) with another, as this can be
easily weaned o� , too – it is just to help
reduce his levels of frustration. Once he
is used to not having your hair (this could
take a couple of weeks), work on reducing
the other comforters, such as singing
by only singing one or two songs. Then,
stand quietly next to him while he goes to
sleep and eventually move further away.
However, go to him if he is upset and don’t
hesitate to pick him up if it will help him
calm down. Just make sure he does not
have access to your hair. The objective is to
stop the fi ngers through the hair rather than
withholding any other comfort from him.
ANNA MARTIN, SLEEP ADVISOR
FERTILITY BOOSTER FOR BLOKES
For the one in 20 men affected by fertility issues, extra doses
of antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium
may help a couple conceive. In a review published in The Cochrane Library, giving men
an antioxidant supplement was found to improve a couple’s chances of falling pregnant using assisted reproductive
technologies. This is positive news considering male-related factors contribute to around 30
per cent of infertility causes.
Ask our Careline Nutritionist your questions about feeding your baby or toddler.
My 18 month old often refuses his meals, but he’ll always drink his milk. I am worried he’s not getting a balanced diet with enough iron. What can I do?
Fussy eating is very common for toddlers (aged 1-3years). Some days your toddler seems to live on fresh air alone, and other days he eats a wider range of foods. Healthy toddlers usually eat what they need to!
Drinking too much cow’s milk is a common reason for fussy eating. If your toddler drinks too much milk it can fi ll up their tummies and ruin their appetite for other important foods. Try to offer milk after a meal, and limit to 2 cups per day (around 500 mL) so your toddler is hungry at meal times.
Often, the foods your toddler rejects are savoury foods which are high in iron and other essential nutrients. Iron is essential for healthy growth and development and if your toddler is low in iron they can become tired, prone to infections and may even have diffi culty learning. Make sure you offer your toddler a good variety of foods rich in iron every day, including meat, chicken, fi sh, legumes (e.g baked beans) and green leafy vegetables.
If your toddler is a particularly fussy eater, it can be useful to use an iron enriched toddler milk drink instead of cow’s milk. Toddler milk drinks are based on cow’s milk but contain additional nutrients including added iron. One cup* can provide around 50% of your toddler’s iron requirements for the day, so it provides a great boost in addition to a balanced diet.
If you have questions about feeding your baby or toddler call our health professionals on our Careline on 0800 55 66 66.
kate ellison careline nutritionist
*of Heinz Nurture Gold Toddler or Heinz Nurture Gold Junior milk drink
Write to us at Littlies Letters, PO Box 55197, Eastridge,
Auckland 1146 or email [email protected]
Littlies experts solve your parenting problems
ask our expert
pg42-46_aug11_experts.indd 42 8/7/11 1:55:51 PM
www.littlies.co.nz 43
Phone or visit one of our centres today. Centres located in Sandringham, East Tamaki, Auckland City and Mission Heights.
• All day education and care for children from 3 months of age*• 20 Hours ECE• Qualified and registered teachers*Ages differ slightlybetween centres
09 300 [email protected] is a subsidiary of theAuckland Kindergarten Assn
Make-believe Meany
QMy three-year-old
daughter has an
imaginary friend but lately
he has become quite mean and
naughty – pushing, biting, saying
naughty words and doing things he
shouldn't. When I tell my daughter
not to do something because it’s
dangerous or will hurt her, she
says that ‘Henry’ does it. Is there
anything behind this and should
I worry? When she talks about
him, I tell her we don’t need to be
Henry’s friend if he is mean. She is
a happy girl with plenty of friends
at coffee group and daycare.
SaraH, auckland
aImaginary friends can often
play an important role in a
child’s development as they help
develop valuable skills including
socially, emotionally and creatively.
Pretend play also provides children
with an opportunity to explore
and think through real-life themes
and challenges they wouldn’t
otherwise explore. Some children
use imaginary friends to test
boundaries and work out what
behaviours parents will tolerate
and what ones they won’t. When
playing with Henry, your daughter
can explore misbehaviours
such as aggression and
noncompliance and think through
the consequences of them. But it
doesn’t mean she will imitate these
behaviours, nor is it any cause
for concern. use these situations
as opportunities for discussion. If
Henry is aggressive, for example,
it could mean your daughter has
seen this type of aggression at
daycare or in the playground. ask
your daughter things like, “Is there
someone Henry wants to bite?”
and “did Henry bite a friend at
daycare?” check with her daycare
teachers whether there’s been
any change in her environment or
behaviour and how she is doing
with her friendships. It’s best to
use effective discipline strategies
on Henry as it would be with
your daughter. For example, if
Henry does something positive,
praise him, “Great job helping
us to pack up Henry.” If he uses
attention-seeking misbehaviours,
such as using silly words, ignore
him, “You’re choosing to use silly
language so I’m going to ignore
you.” If he uses more serious
negative behaviours, correct and
discipline them, “no hitting in this
house Henry. Since you hit, you will
need to go to Time-Out.”
cHanTal kaYeM, reGISTered
PSYcHOlOGIST
Periods after babies
QMy periods were
relatively irregular
before I had children.
Since childbirth they now come
regularly every 28 days, but on the
second or third day, my period is
extremely heavy for an entire day
and I sometimes pass clots. Is this
normal or should I be worried?
n WallMan, auckland
aWhile menstruation cycles
can change following
childbirth, any significant changes
should still be checked out.
Heavy periods with clots may
be caused by fibroids, polyps
or possibly retained products of
conception or adenomyosis (when
endometrial cells grow into the
uterine muscle). Heavy periods
may also result in iron deficiency
anaemia which causes tiredness
the bottoM line
Say No to Bottom Games is a new initiative by Home and Family
Counselling to help parents keep their children safe. The eBook is
freely available online and is an aid for parents with children aged
two to eight years old who are unsure how to broach the subject of
adults who want to harm children. The author and family counsellor,
Anya Godwin, says it includes important messages conveyed in
ways that young children can easily comprehend. To order your
free copy, go to www.homeandfamily.org.nz.
pg42-46_aug11_experts.indd 43 11/7/11 2:33:18 PM
experts
44 www.littlies.co.nz
NZ owned & operated state-of-the-art learning centres.
Qualified, professional educators.
Individual documented programmes to enhance your child’s learning.
School Readiness Programme, nutritional meals & amazing comforting nurseries.
‘Come Grow With Us’
0508 LOLLIPOPSwww.lollipopseducare.co.nz
and poor mental functioning. It
is advised you see your doctor
to eliminate possible causes.
Once the cause has been found,
there are a variety of treatments
available to treat heavy periods.
Options include medication to help
reduce menstrual flow, such as
non steroidal anti-inflammatories,
tranexamic acid, progesterone
and the oral contraceptive pill.
The Mirena IUCD (Interuterine
Contraceptive Device) is another
effective method to reduce
menstrual flow by an average of
92 per cent, as well as a number
of surgical options ranging
from removal of fibroids to
endometrial ablation or resection
or hysterectomy. It is advised you
first see your doctor to establish
the cause and seek advice on
treatment options suitable to you.
Dr Mary BIrDsall, FerTIlITy
speCIalIsT & GynaeCOlOGIsT
Fun-less toileting
QWhen we started toilet
training our just turned
three-year-old, he would
happily do a poo on the toilet. But
after a week he decided it wasn't
fun anymore and instead gets
really upset and runs around the
house or asks for cuddles until it
ends up in his pants. I’ve tried to
make it boring for him while I clean
up the mess but it’s not working
and he doesn’t want to put a
nappy on. I am worried he will do
this while we are out or when he
starts kindy.
naMe WITHHelD On reQUesT
aWe may not be able to answer
‘why’, but it’s likely pooing on
the toilet suddenly became too
hard for your three-year-old. He
recognises when he needs to poo,
gets distressed, puts it off by trying
to hang on and then eventually lets
it go. so, our first job is to get him
happily back in tune with his body
so his experience is “My body
is sending signals that I need to
poo. I can let the poo out without
anxiety.” as soon as you notice
that he needs to go, say to him
warmly, “your body needs to poo.
let’s go and pop on a pull-up.”
Don’t let him argue with you. Insist.
now ask him, “What help do you
need to let your poo out? Do you
need a cuddle or do you want to
go off on your own?” after a few
experiences of responding to his
body’s need with your support
and without stress or distress, he
will probably be ready to take the
next step. either, he will simply
start pooing on the toilet or, if that
seems too big a step, he will need
you to help him get there through
smaller steps. For example, the
next small step would be to pop
on his pull-up and take him to the
toilet to poo. stay or go according
to his preference. Once he finds
this easy, he needs to teach his
body how to poo sitting on the
toilet, still with his pull-up on.
Then, once that is easy for him,
the odds are very high that he
will just decide to poo in the toilet
without fuss.
DIane levy, FaMIly THerapIsT
stretch marks
Q I’m in my first trimester
and worried about getting
stretch marks during
pregnancy. Is there anything
that I can do to minimise their
appearance if I do?
Jenna, WHanGareI
aDuring pregnancy the skin
on the abdomen stretches
to accommodate your growing
uterus, but if it expands too quickly
or beyond its elastic capacity,
stretch marks can develop.
While there is no cure for stretch
marks, the good news is they will
flatten and fade over time. early
treatment when your stretch marks
are prominent and red or brown
in colour can help reduce their
long-term appearance further. To
minimise stretch marks, try to keep
weight gain steady, gradual and
moderate throughout pregnancy
and eat a healthy and nutritious
diet combined with exercise. also
keep your body well hydrated and
drink more than the recommended
4-6 glasses of water each day
to help maintain the elasticity of
your skin. While lotions, creams
and other topical treatments won’t
reach the dermis (middle layer of
skin where stretch marks occur),
they may help to relieve itchiness
or dryness which may encourage
better elasticity. always check with
your Gp or midwife
neW zealanD COlleGe OF
MIDWIves
Boisterous Behaviour
QWe have two boys, three-
and-a-half-years and 21
months, who have just
become good friends and recently
started sharing a room as we are
expecting a new baby. However,
of late their behaviour together
has been somewhat boisterous.
On their own they are great and
respond well, but together it is
like school camp and things get
a little chaotic. The eldest tends
to copy his younger brother and
does things he knows are wrong
and the youngest plays up on the
audience.
anDy, HasTInGs
aThe first thing to bear in mind
here is that at this age these
two young lads are barely civilised.
expecting good behaviour from
them is a bit like putting two
chimpanzees in a room, supplying
them with fermented bananas
47% of parents say their child was fully toilet trained by age 3.www.littlies.co.nz
web poll >>
pg42-46_aug11_experts.indd 44 8/7/11 1:56:58 PM
46 www.littlies.co.nz
and then hoping it will all turn out well. So, I’d
suggest that a little bit of chaos (possibly a lot)
is only right and natural, and in any case it’s
unavoidable. That said, you will clearly want
to settle things a little for when the new baby
arrives, so now is probably a good time to
start setting a few limits. Essentially it’s pretty
straightforward because you just decide how
much crazy town is too much crazy town, then
you warn and then if they ignore that one or
both of them has a wee stint in ‘Time Out’. Boys
are loud and noisy and you can’t get around
that much, but you can set some limits and
make sure you stick to them. If your lads get
the very simple concept that there is a line at
which boisterous good fun turns into ‘now it’s
annoying Mum or Dad and I’m going in Time
Out’, then they’ll start to learn that all important
self-control most of us spend our whole lives
struggling with. Embrace the chaos, there’s
plenty more on its way!
NIgEl laTTa, ClINICal PSyChOlOgIST
Sleeping through
QMy 14-month-old has trouble sleeping
through the night. he goes to bed
at 8pm with no hassle, but come
midnight he wakes in tears and screams until
we put him in our bed. When he was a baby
we'd occasionally have him co-sleep with us but
we put him in a single bed when he was one.
I have tried limiting his day naps, feeding him
more before bed, letting him fall asleep in our
bed and taking him back to his own bed asleep,
and keeping him up late at night.
BElINDa TalIa'ulI, auCklaND
aThis can be tough on parents but
consistency is important so your
child understands the normal routine and
expectations. you can introduce consistency in
a caring way, and while it may not always mean
he is going to be agreeable to any changes,
the response to his frustration can be nurturing
and supportive. given you would prefer to
have him sleep in his own bed you will need
to wean the co-sleeping situation. Even if you
don’t co-sleep all the time, doing it some of the
time can still be confusing for him. In order to
be consistent, set up an environment you can
sustain for a while. you can break the process
down into manageable steps. First, get him
used to sleeping with you, but not so close
Our ExPErT PaNEl’S aDvICE IS NOT TO BE CONSIDErED aS a rEPlaCEMENT FOr ONE-ON-ONE CONSulTaTION WITh yOur gP Or aPPrOPrIaTE PrOFESSIONal.
If you have a question for one of our experts, write to us at ‘littlies Experts’,
PO Box 55197, Eastridge, auckland 1146 or email [email protected]
that he can snuggle into you. you might like to
introduce a safe cuddly toy, which can be his
constant companion when he wants to cuddle
something. Once he's used to not sleeping so
close to you, set up a bed next to your bed so
he can sleep by you but not actually be in your
bed. Next step is to set up a bed next to his in
his room. at bedtime, put him to sleep in his
room and if he wakes, go to his room and sleep
next to him. This way he gets used to sleeping
in his environment all night. Once he is used
to doing this, only go to him when he calls out
and stay with him until he is asleep, then leave.
repeat as necessary. Once he realises you
will respond if he needs you, he will go back
to sleep relatively quickly and start sleeping
through. If he gets upset at any stage, it’s okay
to hug him or sit quietly with him until he has
calmed down. This way he knows it's safe to
express his frustration and that you're there for
him and will support him.
aNNa MarTIN, SlEEP aDvISOr
eCZeMA unCertAinitY
QMy son has had severe eczema since
he was about five-months-old and
our doctor has always prescribed
him aqueous cream. however, I read in littlies
magazine that latest research has shown
aqueous cream can actually irritate eczema and
shouldn’t be left on the skin.
v ThOMSON, auCklaND
aaqueous cream was originally designed as
a soap substitute for eczema and widely
used as a leave-on moisturiser. however, it
contains surfactants which break down the
skin barrier. an audit of children using aqueous
cream as a leave-on moisturiser showed it
caused irritant reactions in more than half
them so it’s generally not recommended as a
leave-on emollient. There are many moisturisers
available to help with eczema, including those
with high oil content which are thick and greasy
and effective when the skin is very dry, and
creams and lotions with a high water content
and little oil. Water-based products can provide
less of a barrier against water loss and in some
children may further dry the skin. There are
also products combining water and oil that can
be applied easily like a cream and have the
rehydrating properties of an ointment.
allErgy NEW zEalaND ●
For further answers, advice or reassurance contact the Nutricia Advisory Service
Q. My toddler has just turned one, can I put him on regular cows’ milk now?
0800 688 742www.nutricia.co.nz
A. After one year of age, toddlers can
move on to regular cows’ milk as their main
milk drink. An alternative to cows’ milk are
toddler supplements. These are specifi cally
designed to supplement the dietary needs
of active toddlers whose nutritional intake
may be inadequate. Toddler supplements
provide the goodness of cows’ milk plus
other ingredients important for growth
and development. Look for a toddler
supplement that has a blend of ingredients
including prebiotics, iron, zinc and
vitamin D to nutritionally support the
immune system; as well as Omega 3 DHA
to support brain and eye development.
Our experts are not medical practioners. If you have any concerns about your health or the health of your child, please consult your doctor.
ASK OUR EXPERTS:
ToddlerFeeding Deborah Sue
DIETITIAN
NBM
113
0_01
0820
11_N
Z
N U T 0 1 7 6 _ N u t r i c i a _ A d . p d f P a g e 1 4 / 0 7 / 1 1 , 5 : 2 3 P M
pg42-46_aug11_experts.indd 46 8/7/11 1:57:25 PM
+ naturally soothing moisturizing
cream with colloidal oatmeal is
clinically proven to provide 24
hours of moisture
+ creamy wash gently cleanses
and comforts baby’s driest skin
+ brand recommended by US
paediatricians for over 60 years
DISCOVER NATURE’S SECRETFOR BABY’S HEALTHY SKIN
Clinical Evaluation at Week 2
reliefdiscover soothing
from nose to toes
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pg47_aug11AdAveeno.indd 1 8/7/11 2:00:32 PM
48 www.littlies.co.nz
health
A runny nose usually indicates the start of a cold. When the cold
virus infects the nose and sinuses, the nose begins to produce lots
of clear mucus. The mucus is caused as an inflammatory response
to the virus.
After two or three days, as the body fights back and the cold
starts to dry up, the mucus changes to a white or yellow colour.
Then, as the bacteria that usually live in the nose start to grow back,
it changes the mucus to a greenish colour. While this might sound
rather ghastly, it is all perfectly normal and doesn’t mean your child
has an infection requiring treatment with antibiotics.
Colds are mainly caused by rhinoviruses and are spread by
coughing and sneezing. Given the close proximity little ones play
together, it’s not unusual for children to get up to eight colds a year.
Coughing, sneezing, a mild fever, sore throat, watery eyes and loss
of appetite can often accompany a runny nose.
While a runny nose may bother your child during a cold, taking
antibiotics won't make it go away faster. Antibiotics are prescribed
for serious secondary bacterial infections, such as sinusitis, ear
infections, or pneumonia.
Symptoms that might indicate a secondary infection include
an unusually long illness (more than 10 days) or deteriorating
symptoms, persistent high fevers, earache, worsening cough and
vomiting. If your child has any of these symptoms, you will need to
take him to the doctor.
Taking antibiotics your body doesn’t really need can be
harmful. That’s because each antibiotic course has the potential to
encourage resistant bacteria that are harder to kill off in the future.
So, if your child gets infected again, it’s more likely to be with these
resistant bacteria.
As a runny nose generally gets better by itself, it's best to wait
and take antibiotics only when necessary.
Symptom relievers Symptom relief is the best approach for dealing with runny noses.
Here are some ways to help reduce or soften the effects while your
child’s body fights it naturally:
■ A children's pain-relief medication can help ease your child’s
discomfort from a headache, fever, or sore throat.
■ Nasal decongestants may unblock the nose, as may a mist
vaporiser and regular nose-blowing.
■ Keeping the bedroom well-aired.
■ Giving him plenty of fluids – warm lemon and honey drinks
may help boost fluids. Try feeding your child with a spoon if
he’s not inclined to drink on his own.
■ Ensure plenty of rest and sleep.
Immune boostersA strong immune system can help prevent infection in the future.
Encourage your child to get lots of exercise and fresh air, ensure
a healthy diet and make sure he gets sufficient sleep at night.
Colds are easily passed on from coughing, sneezing, inhaling
tiny droplets, poor ventilation, sharing of toys that have been in
other children’s mouths, and from touching things.
Teach your child to cover both his nose and mouth when
coughing and sneezing. Also, wash and dry your hands and your
child’s hands often and thoroughly.
Allergic rhinitisIn some children over 12 months old, a runny nose with sneezing
that lasts over a week may be caused by an allergy. This is often
due to pollens or animal fur and is called allergic rhinitis. The
diagnosis is usually made if a child’s symptoms recur each year
during the same season. If you suspect your child has an allergy,
talk to your doctor to confirm the diagnosis. In the meantime,
avoid contact with any substance that provokes your child’s
allergy.
During the winter months, when colds abound and your child’s
nose may seem to be running constantly, remember most runny
noses do get better on their own! But always check with your
doctor if you are concerned or if your child truly does not get a
break from a nose that’s on the run. ●
Dr Catherine Cearns is a General Practitioner at Greenwood
Medical Centre in Auckland, and a mum of two.
Got a snotty toddler? Runny noses make for miserable kids, so here’s how to cope.
runon the
pg48_aug11_runny noses.indd 48 8/7/11 2:01:30 PM
of 5lb (2.26kg) didn't seem to a� ect her
chances. Photos of the two little baby girls
could be seen in their screen debut, side-
by-side.
The introduce-your-newborn photo
competition idea started out as a
celebration of Huggies Nappies’ 14-year
bond with Plunket, but was soon embraced
by families as a popular new form of birth
announcement.
Huggies would like to thank the tens of
thousands of family members and friends
who got involved in welcoming their
precious newborn in this way.
Charlotte Ewart who led Huggies’
introduce-your-newborn campaign said that
in total there were over 1,600 baby photos
uploaded by proud parents, over 45,000
Facebook ‘likes’ from families and friends,
over 450,000 website views, and 50 minutes
of TV time focused on New Zealand’s newest
newborns across the three-month long
campaign.
“We wanted to shine a light on that
privileged moment when a baby is born. The
touching comments mums and dads posted on
our website about the emotion they felt when
HUGGIES ADVERTISING PROMOTION
“Tickled pink,” is how parents Deanna Moorcroft
and Christopher Tito from Gisborne described
the feeling when their photo of newborn
daughter Izabella-Rose earned enough
Facebook ‘likes’ to take centre-stage in the fi rst
of a series of television commercials made by
Huggies® Nappies.
Izabella-Rose, who is named after both of
her great-grandmothers, was one of more than
1,600 Kiwi newborns who became TV stars
in 14 di� erent Huggies ads introducing New
Zealand’s newest arrivals to the nation between
March and July this year.
The excitement of Izabella-Rose’s mum
and dad and their willingness to share the joy
of their daughter’s arrival was echoed among
thousands of parents around New Zealand.
The mothers of the two New Plymouth
babies Georgia and Brianna (pictured above),
who featured on the front page of their city's
daily newspaper, are friends from high school
days.
Brianna's mum Megan O'Keefe encouraged
all of her friends and family through text
and Facebook to 'like' her daughter's photo.
"Brianna has acquired a few extra grandparents
and they are all very proud," she said.
Megan also encouraged Georgia's mum,
Jemma Ryan, to post a photo of her newborn
baby at Huggies Nappies' introduce-your-
newborn website. Accidentally logging in her
daughter Georgia's birth weight as 5kg instead
pinktickled
A star is born – actually over
1,600 stars as part of a recent
‘Introduce your Newborn’ to
New Zealand campaign at
www.huggies.co.nz.
PHOTO: TARANAKI DAILY NEWS. PHOTOGRAPHER ANDY JACKSON
NEW PLYMOUTH BABIES GEORGIA TE WHATU �FRONT� AND BRIANNA
O’KEEFFE WERE INTRODUCED TO NEW ZEALAND ON TV
“I was so in love. You are the most beautiful little angel I have ever seen.” One family posted this sentiment describing the moment their baby was born.
they fi rst met their new baby have reminded us
of how much love and care is wrapped around
the arrival of newborn babies in New Zealand,”
she said.
For both Huggies Nappies and Plunket, the
birth is “just the beginning” of their support
for the precious under-fi ve journey. "Huggies'
commitment to New Zealand's babies is to
support them every step of the way,” said
Charlotte Ewart.
So for those Littlies readers who are newly
pregnant, watch this space in 2012. It might be
you whose star is born.
®REGISTERED TRADEMARK KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC. © 2011 KCWW
pg??_aug11_Huggies promo FP.indd 49 11/7/11 2:10:09 PM
Goats are
very intelligent
and curious; you
can even train them
to walk on a
lead.
Goats
are very
good jumpers and
climbers, so if you
have one for a pet,
you will need a very
strong fence.
Just like
cows, goats give
us milk. You can
also make
cheese from
the milk.
A
goat’s
horns will
keep growing
throughout its
whole life.
Goats
love to have
something high
o� the ground to
sunbathe on, like
large rocks or big
wooden reels.
Goats
also
love fruit and
vegetables such
as carrots and
apples.
Goats
make a
bleating sound
to talk to each
other.
Goats
like to eat all
sorts of food, not
just grass – they need
to eat branches, woody
plants, shrubs and
hay every day.
Many
wild goats
live in mountains
and love rocks and
hard things to
jump on.
A
baby goat
is called a
‘kid’.
A
girl goat is
called a ‘doe’
and a boy goat
is called a
‘buck’.
Goats
don’t like
getting wet. That’s
because they have
little fat on their bodies
to keep warm so they
need shelter to stay
dry and warm.
Goats
love company
and they live in big
social groups in the
wild. A goat should live
with at least one other
goat for company.
Most
girl goats
give birth to one
kid at a time, but
sometimes they
have twins or even
triplets!
other.
have twins or even
Di
d you know?
There
are more than
300 types of
goats.
Some
goats have
‘wattles’, which
are little dangly
bits either side of
their chin.
Goats’
horns are
made of similar
stu� to what
our fi ngernails
are.
learn about Goats
With thanks to Fiona McDonald, Auckland SPCA Education Barn Supervisor. www.spca.org.nz50 www.littlies.co.nz
Both
male and
female goats
have
beards.
pg50-51_aug11_book goats.indd 50 8/7/11 2:08:02 PM
www.littlies.co.nz 51
Poggle and the Birthday PresentBy Michael Evans
An enchanting new
character on the
picture book scene,
Poggle is a funny blue
dragon who loves exploring and adventures,
even if unexpected, with his friends (Hardie
Grant). RRP $16.99
Bella the Brave fairyBy Claire Henley
Bella doesn’t have
big, graceful wings
like the other fairies.
When tragedy strikes
she is the only one
who can help, but is she brave
enough? A magical tale about overcoming fears
(Scholastic). RRP $21
fun stuff
BOOK&F ILMLittlies reviews the latest in children’s books, fi lms, DVDs and CDs.
TV
Robby & HootBy Joy Cowley
Robby the Robot
has lost his toe and
none of the shops
can sell him a new
one. When he
searches the nearby dump, he fi nds something
even better. A delightful tale from a much-loved
children’s author (Penguin). RRP $19.99
BOOKS for kids
Lenny Leopard’s Jungle Hide-and-SeekA fun, irresistible lift-the-
fl ap pop-up book full of
jungle animals and bouncy
rhyming text. Lift the fl aps
to see the animals pop-out
of their hiding places, with a surprise pop-up at
the end (Hachette). RRP $19.99
Camilla the Cupcake FairyBy Tim Bugbird
Camilla’s dreams come
true when the Pink Fairy
delivers her very fi rst wand,
but being a Cupcake Fairy
is harder than she thought.
Find out what her special wand can really do
(Blue Duck Books). RRP $9.99
Splish, Splash, Splat!By Rob Scotton
Splat doesn’t want to
have a play date with
Spike or learn to swim
but soon discovers
he may have more in
common with Spike than he thought
(HarperCollins). RRP $26.99
One lucky reader will win a copy of each book and DVD reviewed above. See page 58 for entry details. Entries close 28 August 2011.WIN!
worth over$170
Strawberry Shortcake Vanishing VioletsEveryone is excited
about the Spring
Flower Festival but the
violets start vanishing.
Strawberry leads her
friends in an exciting
exploration of the garden
to help solve the mystery (Magna).
RRP $19.99
Handy Manny Big race! Join Manny for a high-
speed adventure when he
puts the pedal to the metal
in the Wood Valley 500 car
race. But fi rst, can Manny,
the Tools and their friend
Elliot turn a broken-down
jalopy into the coolest race-car ever?
(Walt Disney). RRP $19.99
Bananas in Pyjamas Welcome to CuddlestownIn this colourful new
series, Bananas in
Pyjamas are joined
by their friends
Teddies and the ever
mischievous Rat in a Hat, as well as some
brand new friends (Roadshow). RRP $19.99
dvds
who can help, but is she brave
Camilla the Cupcake FairyBy Tim Bugbird
Camilla’s dreams come
true when the Pink Fairy
Lenny Leopard’s Jungle Hide-and-
delivers her very fi rst wand,
Robby & Hoot
Pixtacular Weekendon Disney Junior!
19-21 August - Starts 5pm each day
Friday: Start the weekend with Pixar's
modern classic feature animation fi lms,
‘Toy Story’ followed by ‘Toy Story 2’.
Rediscover the humour, heart and
friendship of this hilarious adventure in a
spectacular new special edition that goes
to infi nity and beyond.
Saturday: Family favourite ‘A Bug's Life’
lets you in to the astonishing world of Flik
and his tiny friends where an adventure
hides under every leaf.
Sunday: Settle in with the family for ‘Cars’,
and join Lightening McQueen, hotshot
rookie race car and his friends Sally,
Mater, Doc Hudson and a variety of quirky
characters hanging at Radiator Springs, a
forgotten town on the old Route 66 where
their adventures begin.
Disney Junior is on Sky Channel 45
GOATS
pg50-51_aug11_book goats.indd 51 5/7/11 12:42:04 PM
1 Pour thick brown, white and black paint onto an old plate. Then, lay
pieces of corrugated and smooth cardboard on some newspaper.
2 Dip a kitchen sponge into the brown paint. Then, rub it over a piece of the
corrugated cardboard. Do the same with some smooth cardboard.
3 Paint another piece of smooth cardboard black in the same way.
Then, paint some corrugated cardboard white. Leave the paint to dry.
4 Cut a face from another piece of cardboard. Then, cut a snout
and ears from the brown corrugated cardboard. Glue them onto the face.
5 Cut two eyebrows from the smooth brown cardboard. Then, cut three
white ovals for a muzzle, and a black nose. Glue the pieces onto the face.
Glue the ears behind the face.
Glue the nose on top of the muzzle.
This monster face was cut from a food box. Glue on fast food forks for teeth and bottle caps for a nose.
The slots on the corrugated cardboard should be facing up.
Only paint the ridges on the cardboard.
You will need: cardboard, corrugated cardboard, newspaper, kitchen sponge and buttons.
52 www.littlies.co.nz
craft
pg52-53_aug11_craft.indd 52 8/7/11 2:12:14 PM
6 Cut a page from an old newspaper in half. Fold over one of the shorter
edges. Then, turn the paper over and fold the same edge over again.
7 Keep folding and turning until the paper is completely folded up.
Then, fold two more half papers of newspaper in the same way.
8 Tape the newspaper onto the back of the lion’s head spreading the
paper out as you tape it. Then, glue on two black buttons for eyes.
Glue the nose on top of the muzzle.
This will be the mane.
You could make lots of faces and hang them up on a wall.
This is the back of the head.
This robot face was made by painting some shiny cardboard and using foil cases for eyelids.
Reproduced from Recycling Things
to Make and Do by permission of
Usborne Publishing Ltd. www.usborne.com
Copyright © 2009 Usborne Publishing Ltd.
RRP $15.99
www.littlies.co.nz 53
craft
pg52-53_aug11_craft.indd 53 8/7/11 2:13:43 PM
www.karynfl ett.co.nzph: 027 3700 696 | email: [email protected]
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Please contact Angela on 09-475 0310 or email
[email protected] Quote Reference:
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donor Michelle ad.indd 1 6/7/11 11:46:49 AMLet your
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0800 RESENE (737 363)www.resene.co.nz
Paint colours designed for kids!
www.bubbleandsqueak.net.nz
Clothing for girls & boys 1-5
Littlies ad 44x59.indd 3 27/04/11 9:03 AM
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shopping DIRECTORY
pg54-57_aug11_directory.indd 54 8/7/11 2:22:38 PM
www.littlies.co.nz shopping DIRECTORY
We deliver NZ & worldwide
100% Cotton Percale bedlinenCotton Cellular blankets in adorable designs
Linen & homeware GiftsSpeciality Gifts for Mum & Baby
Visit our online shop www.linenrose.co.nzwww.linenrose.co.nz
Free gift wrap
www.kindyrock.co.nz
great
gift ideas
MUSIC
www.kindyrock.co.nz
A g r e a t w a y f o r k i d s t o l e a r n
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Order while stocks last at:
www.jazabaloo.com The Silver Fern Device and ALL BLACKS® are registered trademarks of the NZRU
Jazabaloo introduces the “All Blacks Party Pack”
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Visit our new look website for a fantastic range of innovative and
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pg54-57_aug11_directory.indd 55 8/7/11 2:23:09 PM
www.popula.co.nzQuality New ZealaNd madechildreN’s wear
Sizes range from 3-8 yearsSpecialiSing in nZ Merino
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pg54-57_aug11_directory.indd 56 8/7/11 2:23:56 PM
www.littlies.co.nz shopping DIRECTORY
3 easy stepsChoose your pack
Choose your theme
Choose your games
we do the rest!
Because Parents are busy enough
Sit back, relax and enjoy a giggle packwww.gigglepack.co.nz [email protected]
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we do the rest
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um4life Maternity
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Mum4Life.indd 1 6/7/11 12:36:13 PM
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WE HIRECARSEATS!
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GROWING OUT OFYOUR HOUSE?
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For the fashion conscious pregnant woman.
Ask your nurse today!
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pg54-57_aug11_directory.indd 57 11/7/11 2:46:38 PM
58 www.littlies.co.nz
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: All competitions close 5pm,
28 August 2011. Prizes are not transferable or redeemable for cash.
Judges’ decision is fi nal. Winners will be published on www.littlies.
co.nz. Prizes sent to NZ addresses only.
Your privacy: Littlies Ltd may record your details so that, from
time to time, you may be sent other product o� ers and parenting
information. Only Littlies Ltd and the companies who feature on this
page will have access to these details. If you prefer not to receive
product o� ers and parenting information from Littlies or its partner
companies, or to update your details, email or write to us. If you do
not want to be on our database please state this on your entry.
freebiesTo enter go to www.littlies.co.nz and click on Freebies
BIO-OILBIo-Oil works to prevent the
appearance of stretch marks
during pregnancy and rapid
weight gain or loss, and to
improve the appearance of
existing stretch marks.
Give away 200ml bottle.
RRP $45.95
JELI TOYSJeli Toys Boxsets are the ultimate
travel companion. Simply open out,
click together and leave to
your child’s imagination.
Great for when visiting
friends or going on
holiday. RRP $69.90. Choose boy
or girl. www.thewoodentoybox.co.nz
6free
SAFE BOTTLESFor those worried about using
plastic, try these eco-friendly,
BPA and toxin free 18/8 food
grade quality stainless steel
drink bottles. Various colours
and sizes, and with a lifetime
guarantee. From $23.95.
www.safebottles.co.nz
GNOMEO & JULIETNow on DVD, this funny
makeover of one of the
world’s most timeless tales
follows Gnomeo and Juliet’s
neighbourly feud as they
overcome as many obstacles as
their namesakes. RRP $24.99LEGO DUPLOGet ready to rescue with the new
Emergency Helicopter from Lego
DUPLO. Includes emergency helicopter
and rescue equipment, DUPLO pilot
and woman fi gures, and rescue tower.
Ages 2-5 years. RRP $49.99
HOMEGROWN GIRLLizzyLove has created
this unique ‘HomeGrown
Girl’ pettiskirt and
matching long-sleeved
T-shirt designer set to
support our team as we take
on the rugby world.
Sizes 1-7 years. RRP $135
www.lizzylove.co.nz
BABY BORNThis waterproof Baby Born Magic
Feeding Doll cries real tears, has a
drink and wet function and comes with
loads of accessories. Available from
Farmers and Toyworld. RRP $89.99
13free
2free
15free
10free
5free
3free
4free
OKIEDOGSmall details make a big
di� erence! Okiedog bags
include an insulated bottle
holder, change mat, accessories
pouch, and clipix stroller
attachments and cup holder.
RRP $180. www.sweetpeanz.comRRP $180. www.sweetpeanz.comRRP $180. www.sweetpeanz.com
pg58_aug11_freebies.indd 58 11/7/11 2:01:26 PM
join us on &
3 ways to shop...0800 PUMPKIN
over 50 stores, nationwidepumpkinpatchkids.com
new styles arriving throughout August & September
be in to WIN the chance to be our Patch star
& receive a $500 summer
wardrobe!
Pick up an entry form in store, enter our competition with a picture of your child in
their latest spring outfi t from the Patch & your child could be our Patch star &
receive a $500 Pumpkin Patch gift card. The four runners up will receive a $250
Pumpkin Patch gift card.
children from newborn to 14 years are eligible to enter, competition starts 1st August & closes 5th
September 2011, for more details on terms & conditions & winning categories visit
new styles arriving throughout
starmodelsearch2011
Patch
new styles arriving throughout August & Septembernew styles arriving throughout August & Septembernew styles arriving throughoutnew styles arriving throughoutnew styles arriving throughoutnew styles arriving throughoutnew styles arriving throughout
pumpkin patch
pg9_aug11_AdPumpkinPatch.indd 1 11/7/11 11:49:39 AM
In the Afternoon I helped out in
the garden, potted some seeds, and grew a beanstalk to a
magical kingdom in the sky
At Barnardos we understand that your child needs a warm and happy environment in which to grow and learn - to stretch their imagination and explore new ideas.
To find out more, call 0800 4 BARNARDOS or visit www.barnardos.org.nz/childcare
Nurturing dreams, inspiring futures
We offer both centre and home-based care and education for children aged from birth to five years, so you can make the right choice for your child and your family.
pg60_aug11_AdBarnados.indd 1 8/7/11 2:16:41 PM