Easy Ways to Soothe Your Baby to Sleep
Being an urban and modern mom is not easy and we’re not just talking about juggling between your family, work and personal interests. As old problems are solved, new concerns arise. Our fast-paced, endlessly stimulating environment might not be that suitable for someone that’s “fresh out of the womb”, adjusting to the day-night (circadian) rhythm while you are trying to gain back control of your own.
Your baby’s sleep-wake cycle is developing in its first years of life. At birth, it’s not even established and it’s connected with their feeding needs which is why infants sleep in multiple short intervals. The earlier in the developmental stage of any process, the more delicate and vulnerable your baby is. The less disturbed, the better.
Our environments can shape our sleeping patterns. Light, noise, traffic, pollution, green space, density, walkability, temperature and humidity can all limit sleep opportunities, turning all of those short naps even shorter. Even the social neighbourhood environment (social cohesion, safety, and violence) is associated with changes in sleep duration, daytime sleepiness, sleep difficulties and sleep quality.
Consequently, it might take more than a mother’s touch to send a baby off into dreamland. A fuzzy plush toy might eventually be more comforting than your own hand. White or pink noise could tune the baby’s circadian rhythm and replace a mother’s voice. A baby bed vibration system might come in handy as your baby is rebooting and setting up its own day-n-night one.
How much sleep does a baby need exactly? The Department of Health of the Australian Government recommends that babies (infants, from birth to 12 months) get good quality sleep from 14 to 17 hours until 3 months every day and 12 to 16 hours from 4 to 11 months, including naps. So, why not be prepared and make sure your baby always has what it needs in order to get a good night’s (or day’s) sleep? Don’t worry, you haven’t lost your mum superpowers. Every superhero needs a sidekick so here are some possible candidates that can assist you in easing your baby into sleep.
Mimic a Car with a Crib Vibration Attachment
Have you been driving long nights around the block because your baby only sleeps in the car? Did you know that a vibration device for crib can end your sleepless nights? A vibration sleep soother has special motors that create low-frequency car-like vibrations that travel through any type of mattress to soothe your baby. While passing, the vibrations imitate even the rumbles and revving of the engine, which produces calming and soothing sounds.
Proven safe for even the youngest, a vibration device for crib has different vibration speeds and additional modes that simulate car acceleration and deceleration. The long-life battery can put you at ease as it can last throughout the whole night and even more. It can even include a night light that combines calming sounds with a soothing glow.
Comfort with Sleep Dolls
From infants to preschoolers, and probably amongst adults too, a stuffed animal is an all-time favourite. Many of us had that one toy that we didn’t want to get separated from or even get rid of today. Why did we become so fond of them though?
As a close source of safety and comfort, plush toys are personal companions of a child, something, or should we say someone they build social skills with, learn languages, compassion and empathy. After playtime comes bedtime when plush toys turn to baby comforters and work as soothers and sleep companions. Designed to help children self-soothe, relax and calm themselves, there are even dummy comforters that include sounds of real-life breathing and a heartbeat.
Rock Your Stroller Even When You’re on the Move
Dr Nick Webb (PhD in Sound and Vibration Engineering) noticed that his three-month-old daughter Abby would wake up as soon as he stopped pushing the stroller along the pavement. His ingenuity gave birth to an easy strap-on device that can generate the side-to-side motion we experience while we’re riding in a vehicle, or when your baby is tucked in into its pram. Simple to attach and with adjustable speed, it can imitate your continuous rocking with a push of a button, leaving your hands free for that newspaper or book you’ve been dying to read.
Imitate Nature With a Sound Machine
Have you ever wondered why does the sound of water calm you down? Or why do you find the sound of crackling fire so enjoyable? Nature is the logical source of our peace of mind as we are its product and we are continuously intertwined with it. Evolution has wired our brains to categorize these low pitched sounds as safe, keeping our fight-or-flight mechanism quiet.
Today, there are various lightweight, slimline and portable sound machines and sleep CDs. They can make it rain (or at least sound like it) when you need it the most. These sleep therapy devices also include sounds like white, pink, grey and brown noise, crickets, frogs, birds and even womb sound.
Use Scents to Induce Sleep
Humans have been using aromatherapy since ancient times to relax and unwind. Its effectiveness in inducing sleep and reducing anxiety has been explored and exploited the most. A lavender essential oil massage can calm a fussy baby. Combined with chamomile, they’ve been used to treat insomnia and even relieve symptoms of colic.
Although generally safe, babies are gentle beings and much more prone to adverse reactions. Be on the safe side when it comes to your baby and always follow the guidelines and safety recommendations for infant essential oil use. There are some oils that should never be used on infants. Make sure you buy a product that’s appropriate for babies.
What to Look For When Buying a High Chair
When it comes to our children, we all want the very best for them. When they’re still little babies though, this need is more pronounced than ever. Babies are little, but they really do require a lot. From lots of attention and care to the right kind of baby clothing, bathing products, stimulating toys, food, and so much more, taking care of a newborn can be rather overwhelming.
Little Fashionista: Build Up Your Girl’s Wardrobe on a Budget
As a parent, you want the best for your little girl, and this includes working on her wardrobe. As much as you may be up for all of the trendiest pieces from the trendiest of brands, your budget may not always allow it. Still, this shouldn’t put you off from building up the dream wardrobe for your little fashionista – it’s possible to do so when you adopt the right strategies.
Carefully Pick the Clothing Pieces
When looking through the options at the shops, it’s easy to get into the shopping spree mode. Especially when you see how adorable they all are, but you can resist the urge to buy more than your little one needs when you pick out the clothing with careful planning.
For example, when you want to get fancy outfits, think of the occasion in mind. With everyday outfits, you won’t have to get anything that’s too eye-catching as opposed to when you’re buying cute little girl birthday dresses. Picking out such a dress requires you to focus on the design and style, so the strategy could be to spend more on a party dress and less on casual items.
Moreover, besides being of use for her own party, getting a colourful princess-like or girly design with plenty of cute features in the likes of bows, ruffles, frills and flows can be repurposed for other dressy events too. I’m thinking of elegant weddings, christenings, dining out, as well as other celebrations and festivities. This is what makes them types of clothing worth investing in.
Choose to Shop Online
You may like the idea of doing a lot of window shopping around, but there’s a reason eCommerce has been on the rise for years. Nowadays, in times of global pandemics, as we’ve experienced with COVID-19, it’s become one of the safest, most hygienic ways to shop, but that’s not the only advantage to it.
When you’re looking through the online stores, you come across a wide range of options – in fact, it may be wider than that you’d expect to find at local stores around you. This is true for the versatile birthday dresses for kids as well as the rest of the clothing items. Moreover, having the chance to take a look at whole collections, you can check and compare sizes, materials and prices in an instant.
More on the prices, most online stores often offer great deals on their merchandise, so you’ve got a bigger chance of coming across discounts. Just subscribe to their newsletter, and you’re going to get updates on price reductions, sales and opportunities to use coupons on some of the clothes.
Not to mention, this also gives you easier access to clearance, especially when you get to shop at the end of a season. For example, you can build up the perfect summer outfits for her buying a year in advance. Stock up on the clearance rack, storing items that are in bigger sizes, and your girls would have an upgraded wardrobe for the next year without you having to break your bank!
Pay Attention to the Materials
If you’ve been prone to making the mistake of buying kids clothing for the aesthetics rather than their quality, you know by now this is a wrong shopping move. As a parent, it should be your mission to provide outstanding clothing that’s comfortable to wear as much as it’s great to look at.
Next time you decide to shop for little girl birthday dresses take the time to find out about the fabrics first, instead of only falling for their looks. Your little one shouldn’t have to go through any discomfort at the expense of appearance. There are plenty of options that are 100% cotton and a much better alternative than the synthetic-made that could give her skin irritation or clothing allergies.
Furthermore, have in mind materials are also important in another sense – they indicate how durable a clothing piece is. When you choose kids’ clothing made from organic fabrics like bamboo and cotton, you can expect them to last many seasons and withstand the various washes you put them through. This is what you want for kids’ wardrobe as they’re prone to putting their clothes through a lot of wear and tear, as well as stains.
Do Swaps with Others
Okay, not every parent is up for this, but it can be a helpful strategy when you swap little girl birthday dresses and other clothes with family and friends. It’s a form of shopping for new clothes without it costing you, and it’s also great to think of as a solution to cutting down your waste and carbon footprint.
That is, if you’re eco-conscious and want to implement more sustainable lifestyle choices in your day to day life. Another way to help out is to donate your girl’s old clothes that are as good as new to charities and those who need them most but can’t afford to buy them.
What Makes Cotton Dresses the Perfect Summer Outfit for Little Girls
If you are a mum that has a daughter , chances are you often find yourself putting together perfect summer outfits for her, the same way you do for yourself. Well, with so many options that kids clothes Australia based stores have to offer, you’ll surely find something that is appropriate for her age and will make her look even cuter. However, in summer there are some additional considerations when it comes to girls clothing.
How to Dress Baby Girl in Summer
First, your little one needs something that will protect her from the sun, so go for light colours like white, blush pink, sky-blue, lemon yellow or maybe lilac. That’s because dark coloured clothes absorb light and can make it hotter than it already is. Light coloured outfits, on the other hand, reflect light and therefore will keep her cooler when it’s hot.
Summer clothes also need to be practical, breezy and effortless. If your little bundle of joy likes everything girly, then she would probably love wearing dresses. They are one-piece clothing items, so it would be easier to get dressed, unlike let’s say a pair of pants and a T-shirt. All you need to do is help her step into it, zip or button the dress and she is ready to go. She will be ready in less than a minute, something that’s much appreciated on busy mornings.
Moreover, there will be no need to come up with stylish combinations every time, as dresses are a full outfit. They can make your little one look stylish without too much effort and without compromising on style. When you have more time, you can use other combos for practising motor skills and let your daughter learn to dress herself (with no or little help) no matter how long it takes.
Next, white dresses for girls are great for summer as they open countless options for layering. When you are out on a chilly evening, all you have to do is pair it with a leather jacket or maybe a blazer of any colour or leggings for a super comfortable evening outfit.
Another consideration is that the dresses she wears in summer should be soft and comfortable and this is closely related to the fabric used. Dresses that are made from synthetic materials like nylon, polyester and acrylic should be avoided. That’s because these are designed to repel water and have a low level of absorption. Therefore kids clothes made from synthetic materials tend to trap heat and sweat against the skin. They can also feel uncomfortable and itchy. That is why you should opt for natural materials like cotton, for instance.
What Is Cotton Used for Making in the Clothing Industry?
Cotton is used for making all kinds of kids clothes Australia stores offer, including dresses. We all want the best when it comes to our children and on that note, there’s nothing better than natural materials that are soft to the touch. Cotton is known for being breathable so it’s an excellent choice for hot weather. It’s lightweight and soaks up sweat, thus allowing heat to escape the body. Cotton dresses are definitely something that your girl can play in all day, every day.
How to Take Care of Cotton Clothes?
To keep your little girl’s cotton clothing looking their best, you should wash and iron them properly. If the cotton dress has stains, (which is not something uncommon, especially with active little girls that like to play and run), you should pretreat them with a stain remover before tossing them into the washing machine. They should be washed with cooler water to prevent shrinkage and stretching but also to prevent the fading of the colours. Optionally, you might add fabric softener as this will make the cotton fibres feel softer and may reduce some wrinkling. On average cotton–made kid’s clothes should be washed every two to three wears, but this obviously depend on how stained they get.