FREE! OCTOBER 2013 Health tips after birth Creating the perfeCt kid’s bedroom Fostering your Child’s development Your Free local Parenting magazine Plus– Prizes to win
FREE!
OCTOBER 2013
Health tips
after birth
Creating the perfeCt kid’s
bedroom
Fostering your
Child’s development
Your Free local Parenting magazine
Plus–
Prizes to
win
Contents
Special Features
8
18
24
Designing the perfect kids room (on a budget) Book review - Where is the Green Sheep? Business tips from a Mumprenuer
October 2013
Regulars
Letter from the Editor Monthly Recipe - Melting moments Ask a nurse - questions from readers Your Story - My miracle baby Make a change Business Directory Kid’s fun Community Noticeboard
5 7
12
16
19 28 30 32
Articles
The Sport of Motherhood - Health tips after birth Eco Mum’s Fostering your child’s development Before baby arrives Mother’s intuition
10
13 14 20 23
4
5
Small Steps Parenting Magazine
www.smallstepsparenting.com
www.facebook.com/smallstepsparenting
Letter from the Editor
Dear Reader,
We are excited to announce that Small Steps Parenting Magazine is grow-
ing! Thanks to all our readers we are now distributing throughout the
Hawkesbury, out to Penrith and Rouse Hill and are not far off spreading
into the Hills District. We are so blessed to be getting some wonderful
feedback from our readers.
With our growth we have now taken on a panel of experts especially for
you. These professionals will be available to answer questions you have
and support you in your daily life as parents and families. If you have
questions please post them on our facebook page or email them through
and we will have our experts provide replies through our monthly maga-
zine. This panel will also mean that you will be provided with even more
articles to benefit you from these dedicated professionals.
With that said I wish to introduce you to Lynne-McKensey Hall our lacta-
tion and baby expert, Ruth Bosanquet our midwife and special care nurse,
Kirsten Mitchell our expert on fitness and personal training, Abby Flem-
ing our nutritionist and health expert and Michael Voss our financial ex-
pert. You can learn more about each of these people on our brand new
website which now allows you to download your monthly copies of Small
Steps.
Until next month...
Julie-Anne England
SUNDAY 27th OCTOBER
Sunday 27th October
Combos Slides Obstacle Castles Slushie Machines
Phone: (02) 4571 1240 or 0402 100 681
Email: [email protected]
Birthdays/Corporate Events/Preschools/Fetes/Christmas/New Years
Would you like to see your recipe featured here? Go to our
webpage or facebook and share your favourite recipe with us.
Monthly Recipe
Melting Moments
Ingredients:
125g butter, softened
3/4 cup plain flour
1/3 cup custard powder
1/4 cup icing sugar mixture
60g butter, softened, extra
2/3 cup extra icing sugar mixture
2 tsp finely grated lemon rind
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1. Preheat oven to 160°C. Line 2 oven trays with baking paper.
2. Use an electric mixer to beat butter until pale and creamy. Add the flour, icing sugar
and custard powder and stir to combine using a wooden spoon.
3. Using your hands, roll teaspoonsful of the dough mixture into balls. Place the balls
3cm apart on the lined trays. Use the palm of your hand dusted in icing sugar to gently flat-
ten.
4. Bake in preheated oven, swapping trays halfway through cooking, for 15 minutes or
until just cooked through. Remove from oven and set aside for 30 minutes to cool.
5. Use an electric mixer to beat the extra butter and icing sugar in a bowl until light and
fluffy. Add the lemon rind and juice and beat until combined. Spread the butter mixture
over the bottom side of half the biscuits and sandwich together with remaining biscuits.
7
8
Designing the perfect
Kid’s room (on a budget)
Bring the room back to a bare mini-
mum if you can. Get rid of any unused
toys and clothing that they have grown
out of. If they need new furniture, now
is a good time to get it.
Before you begin, sit down and think
about the purpose of the room—what
is it going to be used for? This is im-
portant as you need to create an envi-
ronment that works for the needs of
the room. For example a baby’s room
is going to have a very different pur-
pose than a teenagers room.
~ A baby’s room will be used for
sleeping, feeding (bottle or breast),
changing and playing
~ A teenager’s room will be for sleep-
ing, studying, spending time with
friends etc.
Once you have worked out the pur-
pose, plan to meet each of those needs.
For a baby you will probably need a
cot, a change table, a rocking chair or
armchair for feeding, a soft rug for the
floor and storage for clothing and toys.
Keep this in mind when choosing fur-
niture and storage.
To save on furniture, try websites such
as ebay or gumtree or buy entire set-
tings for good prices from stores such
as Fantastic Furniture or IKEA.
Make sure you factor in lots of stor-
age. Having a place for everything
will help the room to stay clutter
free and make it easier for your
child to find things as well as pack
them away. Also try to choose furni-
ture that will grow with the child. This
will save you from having to upgrade
in a couple of years time.
Give the room a fresh coat of paint.
This will immediately create a fresh
canvas on which to create the perfect
room. If the child is old enough, allow
them to help in the decisions. When
choosing paint colours, try and stick
with one main colour and then use a
couple of others to complement.
When placing furniture, organise it
around the room so that you maximise
the floor space available. Kids spend a
large amount of time playing on the
floor so keep this in mind.
Use boxes (that match your colour
theme) to store toys inside cupboards
or on bookshelves. Rotate toys every
now and then to give the kids some
new items to play with. Keep toys that
are not being used up high and the
current toys within reach.
Consider creating a simple feature
wall by using a different colour paint,
some wall decals or frame some of the
child’s artworks for some cheap
Win one
of four wall decals for
your child’s room - go to
our Facebook page to
win!
decoration. Small Steps has four sets of
wall decals to give away. Go to our
Facebook page and comment on the
wall decal you would like to win under
our photos section of giveaways.
If you have stains on the carpet or hard
floors, consider buying some cheap
carpet offcuts from carpet stores. You
should be able to find some colours
that match with your theme to give n
instant facelift.
Bedding does not have to be expensive.
Kmart has some gorgeous children’s
bedroom sets for very good prices.
Choose something that your child will
like and that goes with your theme.
Then buy a couple of plain coloured
throw pillows to add a decorative
touch.
When thinking window dressings don’t
forget about safety. Vertical blinds and
curtains often have hanging cord which
can pose a strangulation hazard in chil-
dren. Fix these up high if you have
them or choose free hanging curtains
without any cords. When purchasing
window dressing keep in mind that
they are often very expensive. Make
sure to shop around and to save money
try to stick to plain coloured dressings
so that they don’t need to be updated as
the child grows.
Simple items like picture frames, book
ends etc, can be given a new lease of
life with a coat of paint.
Use websites like Pinterest to gain in-
spiration on what you would like in
your child’s room. There are also crea-
tive blogs that you can follow with
cheap ideas to do with kids and bed-
rooms etc. Small Steps brand new web-
site is starting its very own blog to
keep you inspired with crafts, gift
ideas, and home decoration. Check it
out on www.smallstepsparenting.com
Hang a corkboard to pin up your
child’s artworks, birthday invitations
and social calendar.
Ensure there is good lighting, both
from the roof and via a reading or desk
lamp, especially if your child is old
enough to be doing homework.
Lastly, create something your child can
be proud of!
10
The Sport of Motherhood
Weighted squatting – sitting down to a
couch to feed and standing back up whilst
holding an ever growing baby! Unknow-
ingly, applying a bicep curl, when picking
up your baby from the cot and or replacing
your child down to nap. Engaging in speed
and agility in order to catch your little one
from tumbling as they learn to use their
legs! Not to mention finding your inner
core stability and strength when needing to
conduct prolonged carrying of a child on all
kinds of surfaces…welcome to the Sport of
Motherhood!
As the prenatal woman requires special con-
sideration in exercising for the health of
both mum and bub, new mums and particu-
larly those after subsequent pregnancies
also deserve extra attention. Labour is an
intense physical experience that we physi-
cally develop and gradually prepare for up
to 9 months, hence it can sometimes take
the same amount of time (if not more!) to
fully recover!
Postnatal women are increasingly keen to
return to exercise very soon after birthing,
anxious to lose their “baby weight” and or
“get their abs back” and
generally the attitude of
waiting 6-8 weeks post- partum to “return to
normal” before resuming an exercise regime
is inappropriate and may lead to a number
of problems including incontinence or back
pain.
However, with the correct exercise modifi-
cation, moderate progression and specificity
of the individual’s needs, engaging in physi-
cal activity can not only be a means to re-
turn to being in shape but also, moving well
and feeling well!
What steps should I take to exercise when
post natal?
Firstly, take your time to recover from
labour whilst adjusting to new routines,
emotions, broken sleep and enjoy these
early days.
Do engage in walking, start off with gen-
tle, short stride walking with the pram or
baby in a pouch. Getting out in the fresh
air and sunshine is good for both mum
and bub. Be aware of any pelvic pain or
instability that may have occurred pre or
post labour, be sure to speak with your
health professional if you do experience
this.
11
Gradually increase your walking tempo
to become more vigorous, including
drawing in abdominals and lifting up the
pelvic floor plus arm swinging to in-
crease your cardio fitness.
As a Mum, we always put our child/ren
first…so be as diligent in following up on
your own post natal check as you are
with your baby’s. During this check up,
ask your Doctor to check your abdominal
muscles for Diastasis Rectus, commonly
referred to as muscle separation. During
pregnancy, the abdominals stretch down
the midline of the belly with the growth
of the baby and post-partum they may not
return, resulting in a “mummy tummy”
and or a very painful lower back. If mus-
cle separation has occurred, not only will
abdominal crunching exacerbate the
problem …but no amount of abdominal
curls will flatten the tum until the mus-
cles have meshed back together! Seek
professional advice from your health or
qualified post natal exercise professional.
When you are ready to commence more
regular and structured exercise, be sure to
find an exercise professional which is
qualified in post natal programming to
guide and train you.
Enjoy your little miracle! Roll around
the floor with them, crawl or chase after
each other, run, jump, skip and relish the
opportunity of experiencing childhood
again!
Written by Kirsten Mitchell, Small Steps
Fitness Expert and instructor at Moves to
motivate. Learn more about Kirsten on our
website at www.smallstepsparenting.com
Did you know.....
Laughing gets both sides of the brain working together and helps re-
lease potential and increase flexibility of thought.
Play a simple game like hide-and-seek with your child. Laugh and have
fun. It’s good for both of you!
Did you know.....
Laughter releases an instant flood of feel-good chemicals that boost the
immune system and almost instantly reduce levels of stress hormones.
Have fun playing with your baby, massage her; tickle her; play peek-a-
boo with her. Have a belly laugh with your baby when she has a belly
laugh. It’s good for both of you!
Did you know....
Children laugh more than 300 times a day, whereas
adults laugh less than 20 times a day.
Laugh when your child laughs. Let your child lead you in play. Put
on your tutu and dance with your little ballerina and have fun and
laugh together. It’s good for both of you!
Written by Simone Yuen, children’s book author, www.rainbowballs.com.au
Did you know…?
Ask a Nurse...
QUESTION: My baby gets hiccups a lot - is this normal?
Babies under 12 months get hiccups frequently and usually don’t seem
too distressed by this although it may worry parents. Your baby may
get hiccups after a feed and may even bring up a little milk.
It is not often possible to prevent hiccups although there are several
things you can try which may help such as holding your baby upright
for 15 minutes or so after a feed, smaller feeds more frequently or if
your baby is bottle feeding try burping baby 2-3 times during a feed.
It is also important to make sure that the bottle is tipped up so that the
teat is full of milk and the baby is not swallowing air. If a
baby gets hiccups during a feed continue to feed him/her as the
act of swallowing may in itself assist in stopping them.
If you have any concerns about your baby’s heath or behaviour, talk to
your early childhood nurse or other health care professional.
This answer has been supplied by Ruth Bosanquet, a registered mid-
wife. If you would like one of your questions answered please send us
an email or contact us on our facebook page.
Tahlula’s Eclectic Bazaar
Shop 3, Lachlan Court
100 George Street Windsor
www.tahlulaseclecticbazaar.com
Phone Liz: 0418 664 227
Handmade
Vintage
Retro
Upcycled
Recycled
Unique
Now in a
brand new
shop!
Celeste Visage
Australian
technician
No cheap, nasty
products
Full set natural $50
Full set French tip $50
Full set glitter tip $55
Natural infills $35
Glitter/French infills $40
Shop A, 487 George Street,
South Windsor NSW 2756
Wednesday 9am-2.30pm
Tuesday & Thursday by
appointment
The rise of eco-parenting A generation ago, not many people worried
about climate change, toxic chemicals, al-
lergens or recycling. Today, these things are
part of every day life, and inform our deci-
sion-making – especially when it comes to
our families, our health and concern for the
future.
Nothing causes us to take greater notice of
our own humanity and spending habits than
when we become a parent. Suddenly we are
responsible for someone else, making deci-
sions that impact their wellbeing, being a
guide and role model, and that usually
means a shift in perspective and priorities.
In February, a UN-sponsored research team
reported that man-made chemicals in every-
day products are likely to be at least the
partial cause of a global surge in birth de-
formities, hormonal cancers and psychiatric
diseases.
“We live in a world in which man-made
chemicals have become part of everyday
life,” said the 28-page report titled “State of
the Science of Endocrine Disrupting Chemi-
cals,” issued as a policy guide for govern-
ments.
EDCs include phthalates used in making
plastics flexible. Products made from them
include toys, dummies, and cosmetics like
deodorants that are absorbed into the body.
Another is Bisphenol A, or BPA, which is
used to harden plastics and is found in food
and beverage containers, including some
babies’ bottles.
As we become more informed of these dan-
gers, it is no wonder that we are seeking out
alternatives to safeguard the health of our
families. Our growing awareness of these
issues turns into consumer power, too. In
2010, EcoFocus Worldwide, a marketing
research consultant, estimated that “the eco-
aware moms market includes more than 50
million women, 69% of [all] moms, and has
more than $1.45 trillion in buying power.”
When it comes to eco-aware dads, the same
study found “91% say it is important for my
children to understand the impact they have
on the environment based on the choices
they make.”
Living sustainably is no longer an alterna-
tive lifestyle choice. Gone are the days
when being eco-conscious came with a
stigma of being a smug, muesli-munching
hippie. For eco-conscious parents, our moti-
vation is simple: We want healthier, more
sustainable options, and we are determined
to instil values in our children so they can
appreciate where their food and other every-
day items come from and have respect for
their environment.
So whether you’re a parent who has made
small changes like using recycled toilet pa-
per, or an eco warrior who has made signifi-
cant changes to every part of your life,
every little thing counts – and “green” is
mainstream.
Rather than going through life in a cycle of
cynicism believing that what you do has no
impact, instead we can all do our part, act in
line with our values, and pass on some
pretty meaningful lessons to our children.
As Mahatma Gandhi eloquently put it “You
must be the change you wish to see in the
world.” And now, more than ever, being an
eco conscious parent is being that change
for future generations.
Donna MacMullin is the director of Itty
Bitty Greenie, an online shop offering
children’s products with a safe and
sustainable point of difference. A portion of
every sale supports
children’s and
environmental
charities.
13
Fostering Your Child’s Development
Children are naturally inquisitive beings.
They love to learn and as their parents we
can provide an environment that fosters their
development.
There are five areas of development - physi-
cal growth which includes fine motor (small
muscles) and gross motor (large muscles),
social/emotional, cognitive, language and
creative learning. It is important that we cre-
ate an environment where our children are
able to build on all of these areas. Day care
centres and preschools cater to these areas
but for kids that stay at home we need to
provide this opportunity for learning.
You may wonder how difficult it is to create
time for your child to learn in these areas.
You may be pleasantly surprised to learn
that it is a lot easier than you think.
Below we will briefly discuss each develop-
mental area and give you some examples of
ways that you can provide activities to pro-
mote growth in these areas.
Let’s start with physical development. This
is a relatively easy developmental area to
cover. To cover gross motor development a
child needs room to run, climb and jump -
and let’s face it, whose child doesn’t? This
can be covered simply by playing outside
and taking your child to the local park. Add
a ball and your child can work on their hand
and foot/eye coordination.
Fine motor activities include tasks that allow
your child to use their fingers. Try activities
such as drawing, painting, playdough, lego
or small cars on racetracks.
Now lets look at social/emotional growth. A
child’s social/emotional development is the
growth of their social abilities in interacting
with other people and their emotional devel-
opment refers to their control of moods and
emotions and how these two go together. A
child’s social development can simply be
encouraged through simple play dates and
time with other people. A child’s emotional
development grows through imaginary play.
Play when the child pretends to be a mummy
14
or a daddy, or when the child acts out famil-
iar scenarios such as shopping trips and rou-
tines. Also let the child be aware of moods
and feelings. Labeling them and role model-
ing appropriate behavior will allow the child
to learn how to control themselves. Try say-
ing “You look happy today with that big
smile”.
In cognitive development the child uses their
brain or memory. Simple things like puzzles
and memory games encourage this. Verbaliz-
ing things that you have done together in the
past are good here, which brings us to lan-
guage.
Language is separated into two areas - verbal
and receptive. A child’s verbal skills include
their speech and vocabulary. Receptive lan-
guage means the child’s level of understand-
ing of the language regardless of their speech.
Language can be fostered by repeating songs
and rhymes and reading books together.
The last area is creative. Creative skills are
very easily learned at this age but can also be
very easily be damaged. It is important to
allow your child to experiment with various
creative mediums such as paint, pencils, cray-
ons, playdough etc and not be told how to do
something. Just because you draw a flower a
certain way doesn’t make it right. Making a
child do something a certain way can impede
their creative development.
Part of creative play can involve sensory ac-
tivities for your child. Sensory play is most
enjoyable for children. Try setting up a water
play area, take them to the sand pit, give
them playdough to squish or set up some
fingerpainting. Each of these things allows
the child to learn by touch and play and by
providing an environment where these areas
are covered you are providing your child with
the optimum opportunity to learn and grow.
Try to engage with them too at times and get
down to their level and play with them….
And most importantly don’t forget to have
fun!
15
We have 25 double passes to giveaway to The
Baby & Toddler Show at Sydney Exhibition
Centre. To win* simply go to our Facebook page
and tell us why you love Small Steps Parenting
Magazine.
*winners will be selected at random
16
Your Story
Ruth’s Story - Memories of kindness
As a child growing up, I witnessed the
kindness of my father towards others which
left an impression that will stay with me
forever.
My dad was a POW in the second World
War and, like many others who served their
country, suffered abusive treatment and
near starvation. Perhaps his experience
made him more aware of the needs of those
around him.
One such person was a man, whom I al-
ways thought was old, but in reality was
probably between 38 and 40. He had cere-
bral palsy and also a cleft palate which in
those days was not repaired.
Charlie was a delightful man
with a keen sense of humour
but because of his disability,
his speech was difficult to
understand and people
tended to avoid him for this
reason.
I recall my dad chatting to
Charlie and spending many
hours in his company.
Because he had no family,
Charlie lived in a nursing
home populated with very
elderly residents, and he wel-
comed the opportunity to talk
with a man nearer his age.
One day my dad and mum took Charlie to
the zoo. He had never been taken any-
where, being confined to the four walls of
his room for years. It was quite a difficult
process to get him and his wheelchair into
our car, but Charlie had a wonderful day.
He so enjoyed seeing the various animals
and exhibits and I know my parents were
amply rewarded when they saw his enthu-
siastic response to everything. He had
never eaten a pie so my dad fed him one
slowly with a spoon and Charlie loved it.
He told dad and mum that it had been the
best day of his life.
Charlie was a very intelligent person, he
enjoyed reading and watching documenta-
ries on TV whenever he had the opportu-
nity. Dad would take him books and Char-
lie read them eagerly and waited in antici-
pation for dad to bring him more.
One day, during one of his conversations
with Charlie, my dad asked him what he
would like to do if he had the opportunity.
Charlie replied that he would like to write a
book. Back in those days there was no
physical therapy for people in Charlie’s
situation and because of the cerebral palsy,
Charlie’s hands were very contracted and
writing for him was not possible, so my
dad bought him a typewriter. It was a labo-
rious process, but Charlie persevered and
gradually over weeks and months, the book
was finally completed. Dad always encour-
aged him, and proof- read the manuscript.
17
He and Charlie discussed things such as
grammatical structure and clarity of presen-
tation. I am sure that the project cemented
their friendship to an even greater extent
and I know that dad had the utmost respect
and admiration for Charlie’s effort and
determination.
Because I was only a child, I don’t remem-
ber what was in the content of the book or
whether it ever reached publication or was
even read by anyone other than my dad, but
I do know that Charlie achieved great satis-
faction through his effort.
It is so true that all it can take is for one
person to believe in the ability of another
and to offer help and encouragement to see
that person realise their dream and poten-
tial.
My dad had his own hardships- he suffered
depression and what we now know as post
traumatic stress disorder, but through his
example, I learned not to judge a person by
their appearance and to value the unique
gifts that every person has.
I really believe that parents can positively
influence their children by demonstrating
respect and value for others no matter what
their background and circumstances. Being
a parent is a huge responsibility, showing
our children the right way to live will set
them up for life.
Small Steps Parenting Magazine would
love to hear your story about pregnancy,
birth, moments of triumph, family stories or
inspirational stories. To have your story
published please email us at
Where is the Green Sheep? By Mem Fox and Judy Horacek (Penguin Group) RRP $19.95 ISBN 978 0 670 04149 7 Reviewed by Kelly Ferguson Awarded Early Childhood’s Book of the Year by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. Well known author Mem Fox along with author and illustrator Judy Horacek write a fun, colour ful and captivating book for young children. In this book you will find sheep of every colour
and talent but there is a mystery to solve. Where is this green sheep? From surfing sheep to moon and star sheep, your children will love every page and grow with excitement to find what has happened to the green sheep. I always recommend reading the same bedtime book for three or four nights. On the first night, read it to your children with them just listening followed by talking about what they liked and disliked about the book. Each time you read the book, encourage your children to join in reading it as well. In this book my children always read ‘But where is the green sheep?’ This book has a predict-able reading pattern and with the use of the illustrations, both my four and two year old, are now able to read this independently. Here are a few activities you can do during the week:
Make up a song about all the sheep. Children will find it funny and your baby will love it because they enjoy anything that is sung to them! Count how many sheep there are in the story. Make a sheep using paper and cotton wool balls. If you are brave you could even get the paints out! Teach your children the high frequency words (common words they will learn to read and spell when they begin school). The common words in this book are ‘here’ ‘and’ ‘is’ and ‘the’. If you love this book you will love other books written by Mem Fox. Koala Lou, Time for Bed, Hattie and the Fox, Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes, Possum Magic, Shoes from Grandpa, Wombat Divine, Sleepy Bears and many more. Books by Judy Horacek include: These are my Feet, Yellow is My Favourite Colour, These are my Hands and more.
I hope you and your family enjoy this book as much as we do, it’s definitely a
favourite!
18
Where is the Green Sheep?
Book Review
We would love to hear how you have helped someone in your community or hear how someone
has made a difference to you. Please write to us and share your story.
Change Change Make a
Here at Small Steps Parenting Magazine we believe
that each one of us has the power to make a difference
in our world. Make a change is about that. It is about
doing one thing each month to make a difference in
someone else’s life and create a change in the atmosphere
in our own community.
October is breast cancer awareness month. Breast cancer affects so many people in our
community. If someone hasn’t struggled with the disease themselves, someone close to
them has. In order to raise money for breast cancer research Small Steps is running a twi-
light market in December. We encourage you to be there if you can. We are aiming to raise
over $10,000. (See page 24 for more information)
You can help by -
Telling your friends and family about this event and encouraging them to attend
Holding a stall at our market to help directly raise funds.
Holding a morning tea or a girl’s night in (see the Cancer Council’s website to regis-
ter)
Doing something for someone you know who has been touched by this disease -
maybe cook a meal, babysit the kids or offer to give them a manicure.
Have your kids draw a picture for someone to tell them they care
19
Do you know someone who has been affected by cancer?
This doesn’t necessarily mean they have been diagnosed with it themselves,
they may have a husband with it, or a parent, or even a child.
We would like to help. Small Steps is going to bless someone in the
community with a makeover to show them that they are special.
This makeover will include a massage, hair style, make-up, nails
and a photo shoot.
If you know someone who needs this, please send us an email at
Emails can be submitted throughout October and November.
When it comes to breastfeeding your baby, it’s all about debunking the myths.
Old wives’ tales like conditioning your nipples, timing feeds, formula top-ups, putting up
with pain, and thinking your baby is using you as a dummy. None of it’s true and I’ve got
the science to prove it.
It might surprise you to know a couple of very simple, fundamental truths about breast-
feeding. The first is that painless positioning and comfortable attachment will go a long
way towards solving most breastfeeding issues. The second is that, as a human being
(especially as a newborn), your baby needs to feed, feed, feed!
In over thirty years experience in nursing, midwifery, nurse education and lactation man-
agement I’ve seen my fair share of newborns and mothers, women who breastfeed in pain
and mothers who give up breastfeeding because they think it’s their only alternative. I
had breastfeeding issues with my own children. It
hap pens!
As an IBCLC, I can tell you that there are breastfeed
ing options for almost every mother/baby situation. I
see women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, dia-
betes and hypoplastic breasts; women with multiples,
adoptive and surrogate babies; women who want to tan-
dem feed or express breast milk for their babies instead of
having them at the breast and women who have breastfed
their babies well past toddlerhood!
Women and their babies should be able to breastfeed for as long
as they desire.
Here are some of my secrets...
Find out all you need to know BEFORE you have your
baby.
Preparing for the delivery of your baby often over
shadows your thoughts about breastfeeding and
planning for the early weeks at home after the
birth. The information in the first of my series of
eight booklets, Before Baby Arrives provides
ideas and suggestions many parents of new
borns I see wish they had known before they
had their baby.
Family support for you with your baby is
very helpful especially in the early weeks at
home. Partners are keen to help but maybe
unsure what that help can be while you breast
feed your baby. Book seven Partners provides
information about the baby with suggestions and
ideas for them to help as you both adapt to your
role as parents.
Before Baby Arrives...
20
21
Members of your family particularly par-
ents and in-laws maybe keen to help espe-
cially with ‘helpful advice’. Science has
discovered much about the breast, milk
production and how our baby’s brains
work. As a result I know approaches to
breastfeeding and settling babies will be
no doubt very different to how your
mother or mother-in-law breastfed or
‘wasn’t able to feed’.
This can be ‘tricky’ as their well meaning
advice will be different to the breastfeed-
ing advice you will receive from the mid-
wives or IBCLC in hospital. Having
worked with families in the home for
many years I am well aware of the ten-
sions this may cause. Book eight in my
series Grandparent and Carers was writ-
ten for anyone caring for
you and your baby so they understand and
support your parenting style, breastfeeding
and settling techniques. They will be
amazed with some of the changes thanks
to science! Give them one each as a pre-
sent before you have the baby so everyone
is ‘on the same page’ Let these booklets or
any others in the series be your go-to
guides for what to do for as well as for
everything else in-between.
Good Luck and get help early with any
breastfeeding or settling issues so they
don’t become real problems.
Written by Lynne-McKensey
Hall RN,RM, MN (Ed)
IBCLC . Lynne is Small Steps
Parenting Magazine’s lacta-
tion and baby expert and au-
thor of the Breastfeeding and
Baby Matters book series. To
learn more about Lynne please visit our
website at www.smallstepsparenting.com
Kick the old wives’ tales to the kerb with Lynne-McKensey Hall’s
sensible, practical and science-based
Breastfeeding and Early Parenting Guides.
Purchase each booklet in the Breastfeeding and Baby
Matters series separately or as a set.
Order at www.betterbeginnings.com.au
Ph: 0419 245 966 or email [email protected]
Before Baby arrives Baby’s arrival Breastfeeding Issues and
the Unexpected Expressing Returning to Work Partners
Grandparents and Carers Multiple, Pre-term,
Adoptive and Surrogate Babies and Relactating
Lynne-McKensey Hall
22
Business tips from a Mumprenuer
What made you decide to start your own
business?
I wanted to spend my time doing something
I enjoyed & not just working to get paid.
Why did you choose Lolly Buffets?
As we all know, life is not all rainbows &
lollipops!! So I decided to start my own
business that was my own little slice of
heaven with lots of lollipops & rainbow col-
ours. Our business name says it all ‘Tutti
Frutti Lolly Buffets’
Did being a mum influence your business
choice?
Yes definitely, I am also a home based busi-
ness so I find that helps me to juggle the
business, home, mum, taxi role. I knew from
the beginning that as my business grew so
would my two girls and I’m hoping that they
will also love being part of my wonderful
business and join me one day (At the mo-
ment they just want to live in the ‘LOLLY
ROOM’ and eat all the profits!!)
What are the pros and cons of working for
yourself?
I love working for myself & making the de-
cisions, bringing my ideas to life.
It is great working hard to create fantastic
buffets, then seeing the results & watching it
grow. The hardest part to running my busi-
ness is all the extra time I put into emails,
putting ribbons & personalised stickers onto
lolly bags/boxes & heaps more…. that I do
behind the scenes. I put a lot of extra hours
in when my family is sleeping, doing bits
and pieces to keep on top of everything and
to spend more time with my family too.
How long did it take for you to feel like your
business was making headway?
It took 10 months (after a lot of advertising,
bridal expos & networking with other busi-
nesses too) but then it really started to take
off. After you are more known, your custom-
ers talk to their friends & family and refer
you onto them as well and on it goes from
there. Having a good website and staying
active on Facebook has also helped my busi-
ness grow as well. I received my first big
break at 14 months when I was approached
by the Wedding Co-ordinator at ‘Luna Park
Weddings’ to be their Preferred Lolly Buffet
Supplier. This ongoing partnership will
benefit my business and is just wonderful.
What is the hardest thing about running your
own business?
I love setting up Lolly Buffets for my cus-
tomers it is so much fun & very rewarding,
Ever wondered what it would be like to run your own business? Maybe you
dream about being your own boss. Here we talk with Lisa, the talented
owner of business Tutti Frutti Lolly Buffets about why she does what she
does and the pros and cons of being a mumprenuer.
23
so it really hasn’t been too hard at all. But to
start off with getting all my stock together to
be able to set up a variety of different lolly
buffets was very expensive & time consum-
ing as I had to source a lot of suppliers & to
be honest I still am (I am continually im-
proving my range and adding new lines &
products). I have found that if I write every
idea/bill/appointment/enquiry down I am
fine. The key to running any business I be-
lieve is to be ORGANISED!! I prioritise
everything & some things take longer than
others but I eventually get there & don’t
forget to do anything as it’s all written down.
Do you have any tips for any mums out there
who are thinking of starting their own busi-
nesses?
Yes!! A very wise professional woman told
me to live my life in this order;
FAMILY, HEALTH, SELF, WORK!!! I try
to stick to this myself most days. The other
necessity is to save as much as you can to
kick start your business, I did this for 5
months before I put myself out there as I
needed a lot of materials, a website etc. to
begin. You do not need to be well off to start
a business you just need to be head strong &
organised with your finances.
Do not be scared, change is what makes us
grow, be excited as this is a ‘NEW BEGIN-
NING’ for you & your family.
LISA’S TOP 5 TIPS
Do a Business Plan
(This will be the foundation for your busi-
ness for many years to come)
Penrith BEC in Henry st, Penrith has a NEIS
programme as well as a 6 week ‘Small Busi-
ness Management’ course that is run several
times a year for low income earners that is
fantastic or you can do a 12 month Cert IV
course at TAFE.
CONTACT: Michael Todd on (02)
47215011
www.penrithsmallbiz.com.au
Another great FREE government site is
Business.gov.au
It has a wonderful HOW-TO-GUIDE to
start up a new business and much more.
The ATO offers a lot of FREE advice, packs
& small business information to help you get
started.
Start thinking about a business name &
check with ASIC to make sure it is not
already a registered business name.
Asic.gov.au or 1300 300 630
(Everything through ASIC is now done on
the Internet- Once you know your name is
available you will need to complete an appli-
cation to register your business name)
Next is to Contact the ATO (Australian
Taxation Office) to apply for your ABN
which is a very simple process.
Ato.gov.au or 132 866
The rest is up to you. Plan, Plan, Plan.
Work smart & have fun too. It is not go-
ing to happen overnight, but if you build
it, it will grow.
Sweet Regards
Lisa Hitchens
Tutti Frutti Lolly Buffets
(see her ad on page 26)
Cnr Hawkesbury Valley Way & George Street, Windsor
Raising money for Breast Cancer Research
McQuade Park Twilight Market
Sat 7th December 2pm-7pm
Petting Zoo
Jumping Castle
Stalls
Food
Band
Plenty of fun for all!
Plus join us for the World’s biggest community colouring in!!
Artw
ork d
esigned
and d
onated
by S
tacey P
egrem
They call it “mother’s intuition” - that sense
inside of a woman that there is something
more than the eye can see. It is awakened in
any woman with children in her care and
once it is there it is there for life.
So why do we have this so called “sixth
sense”? I believe it is our gift that comes with
motherhood. But do we all have this instinct,
and what do we do about it? Do we ignore
that feeling deep down telling us that our
child “just isn’t themselves” or do we risk
being called a fussy parent?
Many mother’s report times when their
mother’s instinct kicked in and they were
able to save their child from harm. Many
mum’s also tell of times when they knew
something was wrong with their unborn
baby, even when doctor’s reports said other-
wise.
I felt my own mothering instinct kick in
when I was 37 weeks pregnant. I felt worried
about my baby all day although I wasn’t sure
why. After speaking with my mum I decided
to go to the hospital and get checked out. My
baby hadn’t moved much that day.
Even after having a CTG to check my baby’s
heartbeat didn’t ease the feeling that some-
thing was wrong. A doctor soon confirmed
that my baby was in distress. An emergency
caesarean soon showed us why - the placenta
had died. The doctor told me that if we had
been even 10 minutes later getting the baby
out, she would have died.
After hearing from our readers, many similar
stories have emerged.
Some people don’t believe in “mother’s in-
stinct”, other’s don’t really give it much
thought.
Recently there was the sad account of a
young boy in Western Sydney who was taken
repeatedly to the doctor by his mother. The
doctor kept telling her that her son was fine
against her insistence that he wasn’t his usual
self and appeared to be in pain. Tragically the
boy was soon diagnosed with appendicitis
but they were unable to operate on time and
he died.
I know as mother’s (and father’s) we can
often overreact when it comes to our chil-
dren. I know that we were created with an
amazing ability to protect and care for our
young. And I know that I would rather be
branded a “fussy” mother by getting my child
checked over a few too many times than risk
the chance that there is really something
wrong. After all, these little gifts are the most
precious we will ever be given… shouldn’t
we take that extra care?
Mother’s intuition
25
Business Directory
www.angelbabes.com.au
Advertise your
business here for as
little as $45 a month
Kids wear
Gift ideas
Cute accessories
Baby Shower
Contact Lisa 0416 030 584
Perfect for
Weddings
Baby Showers
Parties
Card classes and
kids craft classes
Contact Maryanne for more information
Or phone 0478 193 254
STAMPIN
UP…
With MJ
Playtime Plasters Birthday & X-Mas packs available Quality plaster activity packs Paints & brushes included [email protected] 0433 018922
Windsor Mall Craft Market
Kids Fun!
30
Learn to draw…. a lion!
Start by drawing the top
of the head, the ears and
the mane
Add the rest of the face,
the lower jaw and a line
for the legs
Start the nose, add teeth
and draw in the front legs
Draw in the back legs,
the eyes and the line
across the nose
Add the tail and the hair
at the end of it
Finally, draw some
whisker dots on the face,
the inner ears and claws
We would love to see your drawings. Post them on our Facebook page for us to
see!
Community
Our playgroup is open to all mums,
dads and carers.
Join us during the school term from
10am-12pm Tuesday, Thursday and
Friday. Lots of variety for parents and kids
with some fun day trips now and then.
Call us on 0414 377 266
Scribbles Playgroup is held at the
Church Vineyard in the Sunbeams
Room.
Cnr Windsor and Brenan Dams Road,
Vineyard.
Check out our webpage:
www.scribblesplaygroup.com
(02) 4560 5714 www.hdhs.com.au
Free Parenting Groups phone: 4560 5714 for details
Walk & Talk: a pram walking
group for Hawkesbury’s Parents
& Grandparents
Meet & Greet: an information
and support group for first time
parents with babies 0-12 weeks
Sleep & Settling: sessions for
babies 0-6 months
Approaching Toddlerhood: in-
cluding sleep, nutrition, behav-
iour, development, play, learn-
ing
Early Childhood
Health Services for the
Hawkesbury Community
Free early childhood services
are available throughout the
district for families living in the
Hawkesbury LGA & London-
derry.
(02) 4560 5714 www.hdhs.com.au
Feeding, Immunisation and
Early Childhood
Development Clinics
phone: 4560 5714 for details
2 Day St Windsor (02) 4560 5714 www.hdhs.com.au
Rhyme Time @ Central
Library Windsor Every Monday 10am (except during
school holidays)
Rhymes, songs and craft for 18 months
to 3 years. Session runs for about 45
minutes, siblings welcome.
FREE - No bookings
required
Preschool Storytime Windsor every Tuesday @ 11am
Richmond every Thursday @ 11am
(except School Holidays)
Themed stories, rhymes and craft for
3 to 5 years. Session runs for about
60 minutes, siblings welcome.
FREE - No bookings required
Central Library Windsor
Richmond Branch Library
Noticeboard
34
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Don’t miss next month...
Plus… Thanksgiving crafts and recipes
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Fabric dolls
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