A simple and sleek electric breast pump to meet every mother’s needs
If you’re looking for a breast pump that meets you where you are in your breastfeeding journey, then the NUK Nature Sense Single Electric Pump is a great choice!
This easy-to-use pump has 16 different settings, 4 suction strengths and 4 suction rhythms to meet the individual needs of every mother. With a unique memory function, you won’t struggle to recall your preferred settings – you can save those to easily retrieve later.
The NUK Nature Sense pump also comes with a soft silicone cushion and an ergonomic breast shield for added comfort. Its rechargeable LI battery is sufficient for three 30 minute pumping sessions, making this a helpful device for mums on the go.
We asked a team of mums from the Tell Me Baby community to put this breast pump to the test. The pump’s silicone cushioning, low noise levels and memory functions were some of the standout features that won the mums over.
Read on to hear what the mums had to say about the NUK Nature Sense electric breast pump.
Easy to set up and simple to understand
Many mums were impressed by how easy it was to set up the pump and start using it. One reviewer said, “Set up was very simple, the instructions are very well laid out and easy to read. It took me no time to get it all started.” You won’t have to fiddle with too many parts, as one mum explained; “It was easy to assemble as there was literally just the duckbill attachment, the bottle, the silicone insert and the tubing.”
Another reviewer commented on the impressive look and intuitiveness of the pump. “On first impression the NUK Nature Sense breast pump has a sleek modern design, it’s attractive to look at and intuitive to use. After cleaning and sanitizing all the parts and charging the pump I simply followed the instructions to set it up and put it to use straight away.”
Silicone cushioning adds comfort
For many reviewers, the silicone cushion was the highlight of their pumping experience. One of them said, “I love the NUK Nature Sense because even after pumping a while or double pumping my nipples are not sore at all, I also find I don’t get the red mark around my boob from the flange part I love that it has bendable soft silicone cushioning feels so comfortable.”
Another mum echoed this, “I found it very gentle even on a higher speed. The silicone shield is so soft and I love that the suction is more like a massage than the pulling as with previous pumps I have used.”
“The silicon cushion breast shield does make for a comfortable time using the pump, this was definitely a highlight,” said another reviewer.
“Super Quiet”
Some breast pumps may have an unpleasant whir and if you’re a first-time mum buying a breast pump, you may not be so familiar with this. Luckily, our reviewers were pleasantly surprised with how quiet the NUK Nature Sense breast pump is!
“Other than that it is sleek, the pump action is very quiet and discreet (especially if pumping at night near a sleeping partner!),” said one mother. Another commented, “It’s so quiet I can pump next to sleeping bub with no problems I was shocked how silent it is.”
“I liked that the machine was quiet and that it also had a range of strength which was easy to adjust.”
User friendly and helpful memory function
The NUK Nature Sense breast pump comes with helpful features such as a timer, memory function and an innovative LED display.
One mum said, “The user interface was very easy to grasp, the buttons are very straightforward even without reading the instructions which made Initial set up very easy, and this pump has a memory function so when I next turned it on it remembered my preference which was great!
“The pause and memory buttons are very good features that I have not seen in other pumps.”
Portacots are a must-have item when taking the baby out during naptime, overnight or on a holiday. Now we hear you parents – you want to avoid buying another bulky baby item that gathers dust in your storage room! But that won’t be the case with the Aeromoov – it’s so light and slick-looking that you will want to use it at every opportunity.
Boasting a 2-second set up/pack down time, the Aeromoov Instant Travel Cot requires nearly zero effort to assemble. Carrying or transporting it would be the least of your worries as it weighs under 5kgs! It’s perfect for a sleepover at granny and grandad’s or a visit to friends.
Most travel cot mattresses are thin and uncomfortable but that’s not the case with the Aeromoov. The Aeromoov mattress is made of solid PU foam that is 3cm thick and can be adjusted at a low or medium level. The latter is for babies up to 2 months and helps parents from bending over too much to get bub in and out of the cot. When they’re able to sit upright or weigh more than 6 kg, it is time to move to the lower level. The Aeromoov also complies with the strictest baby safety standards.
Even when you’re not travelling, the Aeromoov portacot can be set up in any area of your house – balcony, kitchen, home office or used as a playpen! Its transparent sides make it easy to keep an eye on your baby.
This travel cot is also great to take to an outdoor picnic or the beach. Thoughtful accessories like the mosquito net and UV50+ sunshade will ensure bub is safe and comfortable outdoors. Usually these accessories are sold separately but Aeromoov is running a special promotion in September! Every Aeromoov travel cot purchased until 30th September 2022 will come with a fitted sheet, mosquito net and sunshade, valued at $120!
We asked two mums from the Tell Me Baby community to trial and review the Aeromoov Instant Travel Cot. Watch the video below or read on to find out what they thought.
Two mums from the TMB community review the Aeromoov Instant Travel Cot
What our reviewers thought of the Aeromoov portacot:
Chelsey R., mum to an 11 month old says: I’d 100% recommend this to other parents. Especially for travelling and being outdoors. I give it 5/5 stars!
Annabel M., mum to a 2 month old says: I am super impressed with the AeroMoov Instant Travel Cot. It is really lightweight and a breeze to set up and pack down – it’s the perfect travel companion! I give it a big 5 stars and have recommended it to my friends and family with young children.
Set up and Pack down
Chelsey says: My first impressions of the Aeromoov was that it was super light! And slick looking. I was expecting it to be a bit more bulky or just a bit heavier. It popped up faster than I expected!
Set up and pack down was super simple, straight forward and way less time consuming than other travel cots I’ve used in the past.
Annabel says: The set up instructions were the easiest I have ever seen! With one hand movement, the travel cot opens up in 2 seconds and the pack down is just as quick. With previous travel cots, I just couldn’t work them out or there were too many steps and parts and they were heavy and bulky which made me frustrated and so I rarely used them. The set up and pack down of the AeroMoov is what sets this travel cot apart from others.
The Aeromoov Instant Travel Cot is easy to unfold and set upThe Aeromoov when folded up can be easily stored in tight spaces Aeromoov is perfect to take on road trips and staycations
Comfort and Safety
Chelsey says: Both my baby and toddler LOVED it. The mattress that is included is very comfortable. The padding seems super comfortable for them.
The product is very light but seems to be durable! The quality is amazing! As is the mattress. I definitely felt my son was safe being in the Aeromoov instant travel cot.
Annabel says: I was really impressed with the mattress. I was expecting something thin and uncomfortable, however the AeroMoov mattress is made of a thick but sturdy PU foam and bub looked very comfortable while she was resting and napping in it. My only qualm is that the mattress size is quite unique and I believe the only fitted sheet which will fit is the one from the brand.
My baby is 2 months old and under 6kgs so we were able to test out the medium level. There is some material in the middle of the cot which needs to be zipped all the way around to make the bassinet level. The mattress at the intermediate level is quite safe as it has straps which need to be threaded through the provided plastic buckles and this ensures a snug fit and that bub is secure at all times.
It is great not having to bend over all the way to put her down and pick her up for the time being. Once she outgrows this level, it is super easy to re-attach the other part of the mattress and switch to base level and continue to use it until she is older. Although my daughter is only young at the moment, I can see this being an excellent playpen for the home and when travelling.
Featuring a 3cm thick mattress, the Aeromoov is comfortable and sturdy
Usability and versatility
Chelsey says: We LOVE taking our kids to a little spot by a creek every now and then, but with a baby it’s been quite difficult for us as you can’t access the spot with a pram at all. And it’s not really comfortable to just put a picnic mat down for a baby who can crawl off. Due to that we haven’t taken our baby down to this spot at all. Once we got the Aeromoov, he was able to be a part of the experience with the rest of our kids. He didn’t have to be locked in a pram from a distance or didn’t have to be held. He was happy and comfortable taking in the view sitting in the Aeromoov.
Annabel says: It’s very versatile and easy to travel with. Currently, it’s in my living room and bub has some of her day naps in it. I even tested it out at my brother-in-law’s place and the whole set up and pack down process was so quick and not stressful at all and my bub had a very restful nap in it.
The Aeromoov Instant Travel Cot is perfect for taking to an outdoor picnic or the beach
If you’ve used the Aeromoov Instant Travel Cot, leave a review here.
Mums’ top questions on breastfeeding answered by a midwife
Breastfeeding may not always be easy but it is one of the best ways to nourish a growing infant and protect their future health. Every year, the World Breastfeeding Week (1-7 August 2022) is a reminder that we all have a part to play in supporting and encouraging women to breastfeed.
This year on World Breastfeeding Week, TMBTV hosted a Facebook live chat with registered midwife Tylah McConnell to answer some common questions and concerns about breastfeeding and life with a newborn. This episode of TMBTV was brought to you by Tommee Tippee’s new and improved ‘Made for Me’ breastfeeding range.
Tylah:There are some studies that suggest having a caesarean may impact things whether it’s from the anaesthetic to delayed skin-to-skin contact but if you know ahead of time, there are so many things you can do to help counteract that.
One of the biggest things would be talking to your care providers about skin-to-skin in the operating theatre. My favourite type of caesarean to do is with direct skin-to-skin so often what will happen is the obstetrician will pass the baby to the midwife and then I put it straight onto mum, wet and all, messy and all. I really love doing this direct skin-to-skin because you really get to experience that moment of your baby just being born rather than being taken away and dressed. You can see if your hospital offers that first and then you can try and have baby skin-to-skin all the way through recovery and then all the way onto the maternity ward.
The next best thing would be expressing your breast milk from 36 weeks and we might touch on this a bit more.
Tell us more about expressing prior to the baby arriving; when do you do it and how?
Tylah: Antenatally, expressing is generally done from 36 weeks though some people may have restrictions where it’s not suggested so definitely make sure you’re talking to a midwife or healthcare provider before you start. You can get syringes or I even love urine pots because they’re sterile. Now you’re not necessarily going to get this massive flow of breast milk like you might see on some YouTube videos straight away, but you will start to get little beads of colostrum and then you can collect them because even 0.1 of a ml can go a long way and you can start to label it and freeze it as well.
Talk to your hospital about what they have for storage. If they only have a fridge, defrost milk only lasts 24 hours so you can bring a little bit at first and then get someone to grab more for you when you need it.
It may even be that you don’t need to give any of that colostrum to baby. During expressing and harnessing colostrum, you’re stimulating your breasts, you’re increasing your supply, you’re learning how to breastfeed. So you find that expressing antenatally, you do have the confidence in your breastfeeding journey. But should you need to give that colostrum to baby, there’s many ways like finger feeding. Put some on your finger and have baby suck that, supply lines or even cup feeding. Have a chat to your midwife if you’re interested in giving it to baby or if baby needs it, they can take you through the options.
Tylah:The biggest thing in terms of supply is that the more you feed, the more you make. The first thing we are encouraging to increase supply would be to offer baby more frequent feeds, making sure that attachment is correct; when baby is feeding they’re taking in as much as they can, keeping baby awake on the breast, tickling the baby, changing their nappy in between – all these things are great. Other things are just knowing that breastfeeding takes an extra 500 calories a day so increasing your hydration (breastfeeding mothers should have 3 – 4 litres), increasing your nutrition is really important.
There’s a medical route as well if you’re interested, there’s a drug called domperidone. These days this will require ECG monitoring of your heart before it’s prescribed.
Does breastfeeding and expressing at the same time impact supply? If I start expressing, does it mean I have to keep doing it in the long term?
Tylah: It really depends, it’s so hard to know personal circumstances like age of baby etc. The general consideration would be really when you’re expressing you’re telling the brain to make that much, because baby needs that much. If you’re storing the milk and happy to store the milk then you could keep doing that. You can go through an adjustment period where you taper off the expressing if that’s what you’re wishing to do in the long run. This is really good to do with a healthcare professional where you can weigh baby frequently to make sure they’re getting the adequate amount. It’s really this beautiful dance of demand and supply and you’ll find that you adapt to create this demand and supply model.
How does a mum know if her breasts are drained?
Tylah:Studies have shown that women really have different perceptions of what a drained breast is and I think sometimes saying you must know if it’s drained can really stress a lot of breastfeeding people out. So I think it’s really good to just tune into your body and what you’re feeling. Most women won’t necessarily have a full breast and then this completely empty breast, but they will feel if there’s tightness that goes down, they might feel their breast is a little bit more soft. But having full and empty breasts is not necessarily a sign of supply so I wouldn’t worry about that but a lot of women will tell you on their breast betting journeys which breast that they last fed from because one definitely feels fuller and one feels more drained.
What is your advice on preparing the body and mind for labour?
Tylah: I think the biggest thing when it comes to labour, especially if you’re interested in having a normal birth without pain relief, it’s the self-belief you can do it. Getting up your confidence is so important to realise how strong you are. To build that confidence, it’s important to educate yourself about strategies you can use when things get intense like antenatal classes, hypnobirthing, reading books, really filling yourself with positive birthing experiences. On the other end of that I would say, it’s important to be guarded about what you let into your mind. In pregnancy, it’s really important to expose yourself to as many positive things as you can.
b.box introduces a natural, vegan-friendly baby skincare range
The b.box body baby skincare range
Parents will be delighted to know that iconic Australian brand, b.box – synonymous with sippy cups, lunchboxes and drink bottles – has now introduced a natural and cruelty-free skincare range that is pregnancy and newborn-safe.
The Australian made b.box body collection includes five daily bathing + skincare essentials:
cleanse: an all-over hair + body wash containing Aloe Vera, Green Tea + Kakadu Plum
hydrate: an ultra-rich body lotion containing Calendula, Kakadu Plum + Green Tea
nourish: a bath + body oil containing Jojoba oil, Vitamin E + Coconut Oil
protect: a mineral rich nappy + barrier cream containing Lavender, Calendula + Kakadu Plum
Always pushing boundaries to redefine everyday essentials, b.box founders Danielle Michaels and Monique Filer were motivated to create b.box body after struggling to find quality products for their daughter who has a sensitive skin type. They invited friend and skincare guru Antonette Golikidis to create clean, natural products using unique Australian botanicals and oils.
Each b.box body formulation is designed to naturally help defend against skin damage, irritation and inflammation while ensuring it remains gentle on delicate newborn skin and sensitive skin types.
All products in the b.box body range are made with ethically sourced, high-quality ingredients and are vegan-friendly + cruelty free. They come in beautiful packaging which is reusable through b.box’s zero-waste refilling system and is also recyclable. The Protect nappy + barrier cream comes in an innovative airless dispenser that ensures parents no longer struggle with cream under their fingernails.
If you have tried any of the products in the b.box body range, don’t forget to leave a review here – you can earn up to 400 bonus points per review just for sharing your opinion!
Review your BabyDink to win!
Do you have a BabyDink carrier? Share what you think of it and you’ll be in the draw to win a $200 VISA gift card AND a BabyDink for a friend, worth $179!
BabyDink is the original ‘no-wrap’ wrap baby carrier – it’s the ideal newborn baby carrier for frequent babywearing in your baby’s first 6 months, when closeness to you is essential.
BabyDink gives you the function of a wrap carrier, without the wrapping. It’s pre-wrapped so you get the same fit every time – simply put it on like a T-Shirt! It’s also sized for your personalised comfort, allowing your baby’s weight to be evenly distributed across your body, ensuring you’re both supported and comfy.
(You’ll need to join the Tell Me Baby rewards program to take part. It’s free, and only takes a few seconds. Sign up here – you’ll be on your way to earning Coles, Kmart and Target vouchers, just for writing reviews of baby products you’ve tried.)
Tips for your review
As always, be honest: parents want to hear what you really think!
Only review products you’ve tried, and only include photos you have taken yourself.
All reviews must be in keeping with our review guidelines. If your review is deemed to be a copy (of someone else’s review, or a copy of your own review), or we believe you haven’t tried the product, your review will be deleted and your account suspended.
Try to answer questions other mums may have, such as: – What do you like most about the product? – Does it offer good value for money? – Would you recommend it to a friend?
This competition closes August 7th at 11.59pm (AEST) 2022.Read the full terms and conditions here.
Mums review the genius new Tommee Tippee All Seasons Sleep Bag
Baby sleeping bags are a great alternative to using blankets (and are a lot safer for your bub!). But having to buy a new sleep bag every time the season changes can be expensive.
That’s where the new Tommee Tippee the Original Grobag All Seasons Sleep Bag comes in. Designed with a world-leading sleep laboratory and a qualified paediatrician at Northumbria University, this practical sleep bag has a dual tog rating, which means it’s suitable for year-round use.
Featuring easily-changed insulation layers, parents can adjust the level of warmth of the sleeping bag – and it can even be done during the night without disturbing baby’s sleep.
Made from soft, fluorescent-free 100% cotton-rich jersey fabric, the All Seasons Sleep Bag also comes with an easy two-way zip opening that’s perfect for night-time nappy changes.
We asked two mums from the Tell Me Baby community what they thought of the All Seasons Sleep Bag; here’s what they said.
What our reviewers thought of the Tommee Tippee All Seasons Sleep Bag
Bronwen, mum to an 8 week old, says: All in all, I would recommend this for summer, spring and autumn months. Don’t buy 3 different bags – save money and drawer space!
Ashleigh, mum to a 12 week old, says: The bag will be great for my baby as we move into autumn and winter.It’s really easy to use once you get the hang of it, and the removable layers allow for use through all different kinds of weather.
First impressions of the Tommee Tippee All Seasons Sleep Bag
Bronwen says: The Tommee Tippee All Seasons Sleep Bag colouring is a calming light blue and white and although it says up to 6 months, I would think I would get a lot more life out of it as it is quite long. The material is soft and suitably thick, without being too heavy.
Ashleigh says: My first impression of the Tommee Tippee All Seasons Sleep Bag was that it was larger than I expected considering the packaging, and I felt it was going to be way too big for my newborn baby boy. However, once I opened it I could see that it’s made that way to accommodate a growing baby – which I now realise happens way quicker than I expected! The material of the bag is very soft and comfortable with a cute print on the extra layers. When you take both layers off, the single bag is very lightweight and breathable for the very hot days.
How the Tommee Tippee All Seasons Sleep Bag works
Bronwen says: The bag is easy to use and without checking instructions I was easily able to convert the bag from the heavier tog to the lightweight tog. Nicely, the zippers and pops are hidden and not touching babies skin at any point, nor do they look unsightly. I easily changed from the heavier to a lighter tog while my baby was sleeping without waking him. I love this as I often decide it’s colder than I thought it would be at night so I will be able to add a layer and without changing bags altogether (which would definitely wake him).
Ashleigh says: I used the All Seasons Sleep Bag for over three weeks. Once he reached the 12-week mark, he was sleeping in it comfortably but I needed to make sure that he was in a deep sleep before putting him in it.
The bag is quite easy to use. There’s one main zipper to open and close the bag, and two additional zippers to remove the front and back layers. There are also press studs that need to be unclipped to remove those layers and a couple underneath the armholes which allow them to get bigger when your baby grows. I’d suggest having a play around with the bag and the layers before putting your baby in it as it’s easier to remove or add the layers without a bub inside.
My favourite feature
Bronwen says: My favourite feature is the ability to change my little one’s nappy in the middle of the night without taking him out of the bag. This is especially important as he usually falls asleep after breastfeeding at night, but with this bag I managed to change his nappy with minimal disruption to him, allowing him to easily go back to sleep. None of my other bags gives me the ability to do this.
Ashleigh says: I have previously used another brand of swaddle bags and they worked when my baby was very small but he did grow out of them quickly. With the Tommee Tippee, it’s designed for growth and will hopefully last until he’s six months old which is a big plus.
I really like the additional layers as I worry about my bub getting cold as the seasons change, and it was great to know that I could still use it on the warm days too.
Read more reviews of the Tommee Tippee All Seasons Sleep Bag, or leave your own, here.
5 tips for cutting out toddler mealtime battles
For many families with toddlers and young kids, mealtimes can turn into a battle ground.
Parents want their little ones to eat a range of healthy foods; not just that, but they want it done quickly, with no drama. Meanwhile, their little kids are testing their boundaries, realising they can have a voice and an opinion about what they like (and don’t like!). No wonder it can be so stressful!
Tell Me Baby spoke to Karina Savage, paediatric nutritionist and director of Tricky Little Tummies, to ask common questions about feeding toddlers. In the live Facebook chat, sponsored by Little Bellies, she explained there are a few things to keep in mind to reduce everyone’s stress.
Watch our full chat with Karina on Facebook, or read on to discover some of her top advice. (NB. Karina did not receive financial compensation for her appearance in the live Q&A.)
1.Lower your expectations (and don’t stress about vegies!)
First up: don’t expect your child to eat that carefully prepared, vegie-packed meal you spent way too long making.
“We have to accept the fact that they’re not necessarily going to eat five different coloured vegies by the age of three,” Karina says.
Karina says that if your child is growing well and there are no real health problems, there’s a good chance they’re getting everything they need – even if they’re not eating much in the way of vegetables. “Often the nutrients in the different food groups can overlap so often they can get by,” she explains.
Of course, if you’re really worried you can always get help – but as Karina says, “It’s about lowering our expectations … [and remembering] they need opportunities to learn about food in a non-pressurised, happy environment.”
2. Give them ‘safe’ foods and try a ‘no thank you’ bowl
Karina recommends providing ‘safe’ foods you know your child will eat, so there’s always something they’ll be able to fill up on, then some test foods – a few teaspoons – of something new, or something they’re not so sure about. You can also try a ‘learning plate’, as Karina suggests in her fussy eaters program. “[This is about] getting them to try it, maybe even being a ‘food scientist’ and just picking it up, looking at it.
“And I encourage parents of children who are maybe four or five to perhaps have a ‘no thank you bowl’, where they’ve tried it and then they pop it into the ‘no thank you bowl’, because some children won’t handle having the food that they don’t like on the plate and they’ll be flicking it off.”
3. Encourage them to play with food
Playing with food is really important for young children to develop a trust in food, and they need more opportunities to be exposed to it. As Karina explains, “They haven’t been on this planet very long. They need to explore and experience food with all of their senses.”
When they’re babies, this can mean just making a mess with their food. They need to smell, taste, feel and squish it so they start to understand and trust it.
For toddlers, getting them involved in food preparation is a way to work on their fine motor skills – and, as a bonus, anytime they get involved with food they’re going to be more empowered to eat it. One example? “That might be sprinkling cheese or herbs onto some puff pastry that you put some tomato paste on, then you can roll it up together,” Karina suggests.
“It’s one more touch point they have with that food. You kind of have lots of multiple touch points and you eventually build on that. It depends on the food – you’re not always going to get buy-in with, maybe, brussels sprouts. But the more touch points you have, often your child will develop familiarity and accept it.”
4. Remember food fussiness is completely normal
Karina’s biggest tip when it comes to fussy eaters? “Realise that you are absolutely not alone, and that you are like about 50% of mums out there.”
She says that toddlerhood – and in particular, ages three and four – are prime ages for fussy eating. “It’s when they realise they can have a voice, when they realise food might disgust them. Understanding that this is a normal part of toddler development can help alleviate parent stress.”
“Sometimes it’s still stressful and frustrating when your child doesn’t eat that healthy bit of broccoli or zucchini or whatever you’ve put on the plate. But I feel as parents, we need to understand this is a normal part of child development.
Eating with your child – showing them that you enjoy a variety of foods – will help. But we just need to remember that this experimentation (and, yes, rejection!) – is normal, too.
5. And one thing to avoid …
As worried as you may be about what your child is eating (or, more precisely, not eating), don’t argue or haggle – or physically try to make them eat it.
“Parents have told me that they’ve had to hold their child down to force-feed them. And that’s just creating a real fight or flight environment for that child, and their cortisol and adrenaline is going up. Whenever children are feeling super pressured to eat, they’re going to put the walls up, and they’re going to want to remove themselves from any mealtime experience,” Karina says.
Instead, she says parents need to practice ‘responsive feeding’ – that means we need to remember that at every age, if they’re done, they’re done.
“They have an innate ability to self-regulate what they need [so] we need to try to maximise their hungry times. You’ve got to remember they’ve got little tummies and they have maybe five or six opportunities to eat per day, and they might only eat well at three, maximum four, of those.”
For a limited time, you can get Karina’s ‘Mealtimes Made Easy’ bundle for FREE – that’s 18 tried and tested kid-friendly recipes,pantry/fridge staples checklistand a2-week meal plan. Use code TMB2022 at the checkout here at Tricky Little Tummies.
Instead of saying yes, or nodding politely, Penny has come up with five ways parents can easily say “no thanks to opinions and advice.”
Thanks for your input but that option doesn’t work for us, we are doing X, Y, and Z.
We have chatted about this a lot. This is what we have decided will work best for us.
Thank goodness there are so many ways to approach this.
Things may change later and I’d love to talk to you about your thoughts then if that’s okay. But for now, we are comfortable with our choice.
No thanks. I don’t want to talk about this anymore.
But saying no isn’t limited to the above – these are just to get you started. Penny says to “whip these prompters out the next time you’re eye-rolling whilst having one of *those* conversations with Chatty McChat Chat.”
“Love this”
Penny’s followers couldn’t love this post more. Lots of parents said the post popped up at just the right time.
“Love this! Have definitely experienced situations in which all of these could be used,” said one parent. “In relation to option #1 I would even totally leave off the second sentence “we are doing xyz” – what you decide to do ain’t nobody’s business!”
One parent said they don’t even respond to unwanted advice anymore.
“I smile and nod… then keep carrying on doing what I’m doing,” they commented.
Another mum says it can help to tell people you aren’t looking for advice, just someone to listen to you.
She says it can help to say, “We’re not looking for any advice or opinions, just want a listening ear.”
And let’s face it, sometimes all we really want is someone to listen to us without offering advice or judgment.
A tip to help prevent toddler meltdowns when baby #2 comes along
The most common age a toddler becomes a sibling is around two or three, which also happens to coincide with some major developmental changes, such as learning to manage really big feelings.
So it’s not uncommon for things to fall off the rails a bit if baby number two arrives around this time.
But it doesn’t have to a time of emotional turmoil and upsets.
Dr Golly is a Melbourne-based paediatrician and father of three who specialises in unsettled babies and poor sleep. He says “cross parenting” is a method parents can use to completely prevent massive behaviour deterioration in a toddler when a new sibling arrives.
Speaking to Today, Dr Golly says: “Cross parenting is shaking up an assumed approach when the second or third baby arrives.
“There’s this very common or almost guaranteed scenario that when the baby turns 3 months, the toddler has a massive behaviour deterioration. We see it all the time.
“Cross parenting is a method to completely prevent that deterioration simply by having dads [or partners] more involved. And switching the rational assumption that it’s the breastfeeding mother who has to do everything when it comes to the newborn.”
So when dad (or the non-birth parent) gets more involved in the newborn routine, it leaves mum with more time to spend with her toddler – therefore reassuring them that they’re still important, and oh so loved.
Sleeping through the night
When dad is more involved with the newborn, mum will have more time to spend with the toddler. Even better, Dr Golly says, a newborn is more likely to sleep better when dad does the settling.
“We know there’s a lot of evidence to support the fact that when fathers are more involved with a newborn that baby is going to get closer to sleeping through the night earlier, and that benefits the entire family,” he says.
“Dads convey a strong message to a baby that they’re not going to be fed, so they’re going to have more luck with settling… It’s about getting dads involved in the settling.”
If mum is breastfeeding, then obviously that part of newborn life is reserved for her.
But as Dr Golly says, “There’s nothing else a dad can’t do.”
Review to win a share of $500 in June
Ten lucky winners will receive a $50 VISA gift card each – for just taking a minute or two to share their opinion of a product they’ve tried!
It’s easy to enter: just leave a review of any of the products ON THIS PAGE in June 2022 for an entry in the draw.
Every valid review is a new entry, and there’s no limit to how many reviews you can leave. PLUS you’ll get a bonus entry every time you leave 3+ photos of the product, too!
That’s not all – you’ll earn 300 points for each review, or 400 if you include photos of the product, too.
You’ll need to join the Tell Me Baby rewards program to take part. It’s free, and only takes a few seconds. Sign up here – you’ll be on your way to earning Coles, Kmart and Target vouchers, just for writing reviews of baby products you’ve tried.
There are 65 products you can review to enter, from the following popular brands:
Belly Bandit
Chicco
Ecostore
Minbie
Mustela
Naturobest
Only Organic
Oricom
Snotty Noses
SunRice
So check out the list here, and start reviewing and products you’ve tried – it could win you an easy $50!
Tips for your reviews
As always, be honest: parents want to hear what you really think.
Only review products you’ve tried, and only include photos you have taken yourself.
All reviews must be in keeping with our review guidelines. If your review is deemed to be a copy (of someone else’s review, or a copy of your own review), or we believe you haven’t tried the product, your review will be deleted and your account suspended.
Try to answer questions other mums may have, such as: – What do you like most about the product? – Does it offer good value for money? – Would you recommend it to a friend?
When adding photos, take photos of the product, not just the packaging. Duplicate photos of the packaging/box will not be published.
The competition closes 30th June at 11.59pm (AEST) 2022. Full terms and conditions here.
