The toy a baby physio recommends (and parents love it, too)
The range of toys available for a baby is endless and overwhelming. What if, after spending all that money, your little one doesn’t like the toys you have chosen?
That’s where Nicole Pates, a paediatric physiotherapist, comes in. Her Instagram page @nicole_kidsphysio is full of activities and toys she recommends for parents to support their child’s development.
One toy that has received a lot of attention on her Instagram page is an activity play table. While the exact table hasn’t been mentioned, the one featured in the video is the Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Around the Town Learning Table.
“I’m Nicole 👋 I am a baby physio passionate about play and quality toys!” She says in the post.
“I love activity tables as they grow with your bub.”
If you think your baby is too little for an activity table, you’ll be pleasantly surprised – Nicole explains that you can start using them in supported tummy time from about 3-4 months.
“The legs come off so it can go right to the floor encouraging bub to push up and reach. You can use it with 2 legs on an angle – great for sitters who tend to fall back. And of course for those bubs learning to pull to stand and stand with no hands 🙌 this is a winner.
“Fantastic toy”
Parents in the Tell Me Baby community who have reviewed this toy also love the Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Around the Town Learning Table – at the time of writing, it has a 4.5-star rating.
“Fantastic toy,” said one reviewer. “Bought when my first was around 8 months as you don’t have to put the legs on it at first.
“Has 3 settings so gives a variety of options when playing so you don’t get sick of the sound so easily.”
Another parent raved about this toy saying it helped when her son started walking.
“This has helped my son walk,” she said. “We have a walker but he got really upset when trying to use it as it would go too fast for him, this is perfect, it’s a great height and he just slides along at his own pace. It has lots of different activities which have also taught him many little things. I honestly think this is the most fantastic toy we currently own!”
5 easy tips to make nappy changes mess and stress-free
As soon as your baby gets the wriggles and begins crawling, things start to become a lot harder. Keeping them still long enough to change their nappy is near impossible. And what about the mess … Don’t even get us started on the mess!
Thankfully mums have been sharing their nappy hacks online, leaving many parents wishing they knew these tips sooner.
Tik Tok user @ladymcarthur shared a video showing fans a tip for making sure the contents of the nappy stay firmly inside once it’s in the bin.
This one is really best explained by watching the video above.
3. Why is there tape at the back of some nappies?
Similar to the previous tip, it’s to keep the contents of the nappy exactly where it should be: tucked inside.
A detailed description of how to roll and seal your dirty pull-up with the tape can be found here.
4. Invest in a butt spatula
It’s recommended that a nappy barrier cream is applied from the get-go after every nappy change. That said, nappy cream is quite sticky, and there’s lots of advice out there about only using your pinky finger when applying, so you don’t get it everywhere.
Others, on the other hand, swear by a butt spatula (nappy cream applicator) to apply nappy cream. While many will scoff at such a tool, you can’t deny the handiness of this product after reading the reviews.
5. Fill a wet wipe packet with toys
Last year, a mum took to the Aldi Mum’s Facebook page to share her top tip for keeping a wriggly baby happy during nappy changes. Simply fill an empty wet wipe packet with toys and close the lid. Your little one will love the challenge of trying to open the packet, giving you a few minutes to get the nappy change over and done with quick smart.
‘But why?’ 5 modern parenting trends Boomers don’t understand
A lot has changed since Baby Boomers became parents for the first time. Now that their Millennial children are starting families of their own, there are a few parenting trends that have them asking “but why do it that way?”
Here are 5 trends Boomers aren’t so sure about.
1. Sleeping bags
They take the guesswork out of making sure your baby is warm enough at night, and remove the stress surrounding blankets covering little faces, so sleeping bags are a win-win for tons of Millennial parents. But for Grammy, it’s a “straight jacket”, (her words, not mine). She wants to buy my baby blankets – and lots of them.
Of course, the safe sleep guidelines have been updated since I was a baby, and things have changed for the better. We’ve compromised and agreed she can buy him his first doona when the time comes.
We Millennial mums are obsessed with sleep, myself included. I want lots of it (for both my baby and me), and I don’t care if I have to stick to a sleep routine to get it. I’m a working mum, and it makes it very hard to do that with no sleep. (Although it’s actually quite amazing what the human brain can accomplish on two hours of sleep!)
Let’s not forget the sleep-inducing products. I’ve tried the Baby Shusher, I’ve got the Glow Dreaming lamp, and I recently bought something called a Sleep Sheep – I got the one with the sensor, so when my baby starts to cry in the middle of the night, it turns on and starts playing my chosen sound.
While Grammy is impressed with some of my gadgets, she says they aren’t necessary (to be honest, she’s probably right).
3. Unique baby names
When I told my parents my baby name list, there was one name they absolutely couldn’t get on board with. It turns out that lots of grandparents take issue with chosen baby names. In fact, a survey of 2000 grandparents found that 8% of them don’t actually like their grandchild’s name, but say they do to keep the peace.
While my chosen name wasn’t an unusual baby name like Crumpet or Melon, when my parents Googled its meaning, the results said it meant to vomit all over the place. They were worried about kids at school teasing him. In the end, we went with a different name. But really, are you going to love your grandkid any less, Grammy?
4. So much information
A big pro for Millennial mums is the amount of information now available online, covering pretty much every aspect of being a parent. More research into all things raising a child has meant lots of advice around feeding and sleeping has changed. There are also loads of experts out there who now offer their services online, from lactation support to sleep consultations on Facetime to baby food meal delivery services! Anything to make a mum’s life easier, right?
Well, no, according to Boomers. “We just used to make do. There’s too much information out there,” they say. But for information-hungry mums like me, the advice and support is very welcome.
5. Getting rid of the dummy
These days, giving your baby a dummy can be a bit controversial: people either love them or hate them. Personally, the dummy was a godsend for my son. Until it wasn’t. He was waking every two hours overnight. I would get up and put the dummy back in, and he would go back to sleep. This went on for months. The dummy had to go, but Grammy was mortified. “Oh no, you can’t do that! He’s too little,” she argued. I’m not sure if it’s every Boomer, but this was one was adamant he still needed it.
I did it anyway. It took approximately one day and he didn’t want it anymore, and now he sleeps fine without it.
Sorry Grammy, sometimes this Millennial mum knows best.
Euky Bear vs Glow Dreaming?: baby sleep aids compared
Sleep-deprived parents will try anything to help their baby sleep, including a baby sleep aid lamp. Two very popular brands right now are Euky Bear and Glow Dreaming.
Our community of parents has rated the sleep aid lamps they’ve tried and shared their opinions on what has or hasn’t worked for them. Based on their reviews, we’ve compared Euky Bear vs Glow Dreaming.
Humidifier (no heat) that can be used with or without essential oils.
Suitable for babies 0+
Price
$79.95 for the Euky Bear unit. $19.99 for essential oils.
Pros
Lots of parents in the Tell Me Baby community say the Euky Bear Sweet Dreams Sleep Aid saved their sleep. They love the red light, pink noise, and the sleepy scent (for babies over three months).
Most of all, they love the price. One reviewer said, “The Euky Bear was such a great price for all the same features as its competitors so I had to buy it… and it has saved our sleep!”
Cons
One parent said they didn’t like the sound quality of the pink noise, but many said they had no issues with sound.
Example review
“Absolutely loove our Euky bear! We have used this every single night since our baby was born and it’s been amazing. We have the red light on all night and it gives the perfect amount of light to be able to see during night feeds but not bright enough to disturb your sleep. Really good bargain when it’s on sale, and even at full price is still amazing value for money!”
$99.00, basic bundle (Glow Dreaming Unit Power Cord).
$134.95, premium newborn bundle (Glow Dreaming Unit, Power Cord, ICRA Sleep Program, Sleep Specialist Support, Designer Sleeve, 60-Night Money-Back Sleep Guarantee).
Pros
Many reviewers say the red light soothed their baby. Others were happy with the pink noise, saying it cancelled out other noise in the house while their baby is sleeping. They also loved that the pink noise has different volume settings.
Cons
One reviewer who participated in the ICRA 14 day program felt it was better for toddlers than babies. They wrote: “We also participated in the ICRA 14 day program however this seems more tailored to toddlers and older children, not babies.”
The Glow Dreaming lamp is more expensive than the Euky Bear.
Example review
“We have only recently purchased the glow dreaming sleep aid. We were so hesitant at first due to the price and not knowing if our son would take to it. Along with his riff-raff, he sleeps soundly with the humidifier and white noise. Our son was almost 2 when we finally purchased and he sleeps so soundly.”
Having a low breastmilk supply can be very upsetting for new mums. Not to mention stressful (which doesn’t help the situation).
In the early days of breastfeeding, the quickest way to boost your breastmilk supply is to breastfeed more often.
The Australian Breastfeeding Association website says, “Provided that your baby is correctly attached, you will find that the quickest and most successful way to boost your supply is to breastfeed more often.
“Offer a breastfeed every 2–3 hours during the day, for a few days, or increase the number of feeds by offering the breast in between your baby’s usual breastfeeds.” (Read more about how to boost your supply).
If that isn’t working, then there are some great products available that could help boost your breastmilk supply.
1. Boobie Foods Boobie Bikkies
Boobie Foods Boobie Bikkies are a natural (and yummy) way to boost your milk supply. Created by renowned lactation expert, Pinky McKay. She said in an interview the reason these cookies work is because they are ‘lactogenic’, which means they contain specific nutrients that support lactation. Think whole grains, omega three essential fatty acids and B vitamins.
Lots of mums who have reviewed these cookies say they are delicious and love that they’re easy to find in the shops. One reviewer said: “I was not a believer of lactation cookies until I tried this one! It really works and increased my milk supply within a day!!”
If you’re looking to try and increase your breastmilk supply, expressing might help.
Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service website says expressing either using your hand, electric breast pump or a manual breast pump for 10 minutes on each breast might help to boost your supply. However, it might be best to store the expressed milk for later as supplementing feeds can interfere with establishing your breastmilk supply.
So which breast pump is best?
The Medela Freestyle Flex Breast Pump just won Best Electric Breast pump in the 2022 Tell Me Baby product awards.
Mums speak very highly about this product in their reviews. “I am able to pump at least twice the amount as with manual pumps. Strongly recommend this product,” said one reviewer.
The Medela Supplemental Nursing System is an excellent product that allows mums to supplement their baby with expressed breast milk or formula while breastfeeding. So if you have a low supply, your baby can be fed additional milk while stimulating your breasts at the same time.
Mums in the Tell Me Baby community say this product is fiddly but it definitely helped with their breastfeeding journey. “It’s tricky to get set up and can’t be done quickly but this saved my breastfeeding journey and I can’t recommend highly enough,” says one reviewer.
Weleda Nursing Tea is a soothing and calming tea, containing 100% certified organic plant ingredients, including anise, fennel, caraway, fenugreek and leaves from lemon verbena to support lactation and digestion. Just make sure you Always read the label and follow the directions for use.
Nature’s Own Fenugreek is a herbal supplement that some mums find helps to boost breastmilk supply. But does it work? A 2018 review of studies of 122 mothers who took fenugreek showed that the herb really did help to boost milk supply. Remember: Always read the label. Follow the directions for use. Vitamin supplements are not a substitute for a balanced diet. If symptoms persist, talk to your healthcare professional.
If you are struggling with your breast milk supply, and have tried all of the above products there is support available to you.
For more information and support call:
Australian Breastfeeding Association Breastfeeding Helpline: 1800 686 268.
PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia) National Helpline (Mon to Fri, 9am – 7.30pm AEST/AEDT) Call 1300 726 306
Mum gives birth to surprise baby on the toilet
A mum has gone viral after sharing the story about how she birthed her surprise baby on the toilet.
Teagan Brill, who was 21-year-old a senior at Hope College in Holland, Michigan at the time, says she only realised she was pregnant a week before. She also had no idea she was in labour when her baby Owen was born.
Teagan is now sharing her story in TIK TOK and people have lots of questions!
Teagan begins by telling her story, saying, “One Monday night in February I did not feel good. Something was off.”
The next morning she woke up and really needed to poo, so she went to the bathroom to poo, and out came her baby.
“And the rest is history,” she says. “And he’s now a year old.”
But How?
Teagan says she had her period every month for 9 months, so she had no reason to think she was pregnant.
It wasn’t until a week before she gave birth that she realised she was expecting a baby.
She explains that she sent a message to the baby’s dad, Mitchell Brill, saying, “I’m either fat or pregnant.”
Taking a pregnancy test, Teagan found out that she was in fact pregnant but thought she was very early on in her pregnancy.
“He lived in colorado. I lived in Michigan…We’re either a month or three months,” she said she thought at the time. “I did not know I was nine months pregnant.”
Is Owen okay?
Because Teagan didn’t know she was pregnant, people were concerned about Owen’s health.
“He is okay,” says Teagan in a video, “I turned 21 when I was 6.5 months pregnant, not knowing and I drank and did anything a normal 21-year-old, senior in college, would do.”
She added that her baby was taken for tests right after being born and he “was totally fine”.
When I gave birth the EMT came and they asked if they could take Owen first and take Teagan later, which she agreed to.
“They gave him all these tests and looked at him and he was totally fine. Not to say he won’t have anything later in life but any baby could.”
“He did not fully splash in the toilet no,” Teagan clarifies.
“I was going to go poop. I looked down and my hole was huge and I literally felt it and it was rock hard and I was like this is a child and I pulled him out.”
Thankfully, Teagan had already called 911 before Owen was born.
“They came 5 minutes after I had my child in the toilet,” she said.
“I looked down, saw him coming down, pulled him out, wrapped him in a towel and the ambulance came.”
“You’re a grandma”
When Teagan arrived at the hospital she called her mum to let her know the news.
“Do you want the good news or the bad news first?” Teagan told 7News.
“Well, you’re a grandma, she said, adding, “I gave birth this morning.”
Teagan’s roommates called Mitchell to let him know the news. Two days later, he arrived in Michigan to meet his son.
Teagan and Mitchell moved into the basement of her parent’s house while Teagan finished school.
Now, one year later, the family lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, going viral on social media for sharing their story.
“Feelings of doom”: the breastfeeding condition not many mums know about
For many mums, breastfeeding comes with a lovely hit of oxytocin, but for others, it can trigger feelings that can be described as truly horrific.
Speaking to Tell Me Baby, new mum Carin described the sadness she feels while breastfeeding her 8-week-old baby as an “intense feeling of doom.”
“I have an intense feeling of doom and immense sadness surrounding the doom,” she explains.
“Best I can describe it is if you were told you had a week to live but had just had a baby and you realise you will miss every part of their lives. It’s a bone deep feeling.
“It makes me very uncomfortable, and sometimes I cry while he’s feeding as I feel like the world’s ending.”
After some googling, Carin realised she’s not alone; there’s actually a name for this condition.
However, awareness is spreading – thanks to people like Carin sharing their stories online.
So what is D-MER, exactly?
“Dysphoric milk ejection reflex is a condition affecting lactating women that is characterised by an abrupt dysphoria, or negative emotions, that occur just before milk release and continuing not more than a few minutes,” says the D-MER website.
It adds: “Dysphoria is defined as an unpleasant or uncomfortable mood, such as sadness, depressed mood, anxiety, irritability, or restlessness. Etymologically, it is the opposite of euphoria.”
But not every woman’s experience of D-MER is the same. An article published in The Conversation points out that it’s “variable” for those who experience it.
“D-MER is a spectrum. Some women may experience rage while others become anxious or despondent. Experiences of D-MER also appear to differ both in their severity and duration.
“For some, D-MER is mild and resolves in a few weeks. For others, symptoms can last for more than a year.”
It’s also important to mention that D-MER is a physical response and is not psychological. This means the breastfeeding mumma can’t talk herself out of it.
What causes D-MER?
What causes this intense physical response when breastfeeding?
“The authors suggest that an abrupt drop in dopamine may occur when milk release is triggered, resulting in a real or relative brief dopamine deficit for affected women.”
What’s worse, the article says it’s “a breastfeeding problem for which affected mothers seem only rarely to seek or receive help.”
Help! I think I am experiencing D-MER
If any of this sounds familiar to you, talking with a healthcare professional can help.
“For some women, being aware of what D-MER is helps them cope with the symptoms,” says the ABA website. “Distraction helps some women cope with the condition too (e.g. eating while breastfeeding).”
“Also, avoiding factors which may worsen the symptoms (e.g. stress, dehydration, and caffeine) can help some women.”
Unsurprisingly, a lack of sleep can make D-MER symptoms worse for some.
If you are experiencing extreme D-MER, the ABA says to speak to your doctor about a herbal supplement.
How long does D-MER last?
While Carin says the overwhelming feelings haven’t gotten any easier for her, knowing that she isn’t alone has made her feel a bit better.
And the good news for some women is that D-MER can self-correct by three months postpartum.
“Symptoms of D-MER may decrease by 3 months postpartum or they may continue throughout the breastfeeding period,” says the ABA. “Regardless of how long it lasts, most mothers do find that D-MER seems to get easier to manage as their baby gets older.”
If you are experiencing symptoms of D-MER, make an appointment to see your GP or another healthcare professional.
For more information and support call:
Australian Breastfeeding Association Breastfeeding Helpline: 1800 686 268.
PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia) National Helpline (Mon to Fri, 9am – 7.30pm AEST/AEDT) Call 1300 726 306
5 best nipple creams for breastfeeding
When you start breastfeeding, it’s common for your nipples to become dry and cracked, which can be quite painful. The good news is that your nipples heal very fast, especially if you add some nipple cream. But which is the best nipple cream for breastfeeding?
Based on nipple cream reviews, we’ve put together a list of the top 5 nipple creams for breastfeeding that our community loves. Each one has a rating of at least 4.1 stars out of 5 (click through to each nipple cream page to see the current rating).
1. Lansinoh Lanolin
Lansinoh’s Lanolin is a 100% natural, single-ingredient, hypoallergenic product to provide relief for breastfeeding mums by soothing nipple soreness after each feeding.
Marcalan Nipple Cream is a naturally derived, soothing, highly purified blend of lanolins for the effective relief of sore and damaged nipples. One reviewer said this worked great but they “would recommend letting it air dry after applying.”
Medela’s Purelan lanolin is another great option for helping to soothe cracked nipples while breastfeeding. One reviewer said: “Good consistency, not sticky, quite thick, no annoying fragrance, gave an instant relief in cracked and sore nipples.”
A nourishing balm for breastfeeding mothers to moisturise, soothe and protect sore, cracked nipples. GAIA Nipple Balm is lanolin-free and contains organic sunflower oil, organic avocado oil, organic jojoba oil, and organic calendula oil.
MooGoo Natural Nipple Balm is another lanolin-free option. Instead, it contains grape seed oil, beeswax, which is edible, and Hops Extract, a natural, antibacterial preservative.
Best baby products 2022: Tell Me Baby Award winners
We’re delighted to announce the Tell Me Baby 2022 Award Winners!
Unlike many other awards, the Tell Me Baby Award winners aren’t chosen by a panel of judges. They are based on genuine reviews by Australian parents who have used the products – so you know the results can be trusted.
To be eligible to win, a product had to have received at least 25 reviews during the voting period (February 1st 2021 to January 31st, 2022). We then crunched the numbers, looking at the star ratings our review community gave to the products – awarding the prize to the highest-rated baby products during the year.
From car seats to breast pumps, pregnancy tests to vitamins, these are the products Aussie parents genuinely recommend this year.
And the winners are …
Best pram under $900: Edwards & Co Oscar Mx, 4.9 stars
a2 vs Aptamil formula: what’s the difference? It’s a question many parents ask when trying to decide on a baby formula.
Tell Me Baby parents have rated baby formulas they’ve tried and shared their opinions on what has or hasn’t worked for them. Based on their baby formula reviews, we’ve compared a2 Platinum Premium Infant Formula Stage 1 vs Aptamil Gold+ 1 to help with your buying decision.
You can also take a look at our baby formula comparisons to find other highly rated products, according to other parents.
This article contains information about infant formulas. Under the WHO Code, the information presented here is free from advertising and is based on unbiased opinions from parents.
a2 vs Aptamil formula
Before we dive in, let’s talk about protein. There are two main types of protein found in cow’s milk-based baby formula (and breastmilk): whey and casein. Whey digests quickly while casein is digested more slowly. Whey dominant formulas are easier for younger babies to digest. Want to know more? Read our ultimate guide to newborn formula.
a2 Platinum Premium Infant Formula Stage 1
Features
60: 40 whey: casein ratio
1.5 grams protein/100ml
The milk powder in this exclusive formulation contains only the naturally occurring A2 type of beta-casein protein to the exclusion of the A1 type of beta-casein protein, which may help support your baby’s natural digestion.
Parents say they like how easily a2 Platinum Premium Infant Formula Stage 1 formula dissolves. “No lumps are left in the bottom of the bottle like other brands,” said one reviewer.
Another reviewer said they find this product helped with their baby’s reflux.
Cons
On the other hand, some parents said this product is “not great with babies with reflux.” So it really depends on the baby.
Additionally, it’s more expensive and sometimes hard to find. “The formula itself is pricey compared to other formulas,” wrote a parent. “We had issues with availability in our area as not all stores have it.”
Example review
“We came across A2 formula on our third baby after her suffering from bad reflux. As soon as she started it settled with no further issues. Now using for our fourth baby and would recommend for use to my friends and family. Am happy to pay a little more for the great health benefits for my babies. Easy to use scoop and little lip on container to level.”
Aptamil Gold+ Infant Formula is based on cow’s milk protein.
60: 40 whey: casein ratio
1.4 grams protein/100ml
Price
$27.00
Pros
As far as pricing goes this brand is cheaper. Some parents said in their reviews that Aptamil Gold+ 1 was gentle on bub’s tummy.
Cons
Some parents noticed a change in their baby’s poo – but many said it was fine. “Unfortunately, he became really constipated and gassy while on it after 2 weeks,” said one mum.
Example review
“My girls were fed this in the NICU, 6 weeks premature and exclusively Formula fed. We never had ANY issues with this formula and best of all Aptamil offer discounted formula to parents of multiples. We went on to use every stage until my girls were 1, again no issues what so ever!”
a2 vs Aptamil formula? Choosing an infant formula is a personal choice. Every baby is different, so what works for one might not work for another. If you are unsure about which formula to try, speak with your GP or another healthcare professional.
