COVID-19 has rapidly become a part of our everyday life, and catching the virus seems to be a very real possibility. But what if you test positive and you’re a breastfeeding mum?
Postpartum doula, podcaster and author Anna Cusack recently posted helpful information on Instagram to guide breastfeeding mums and lactating people through this challenging time.
Is it safe to breastfeed when I’ve tested positive?
Fortunately, there seems to be little chance of spreading the virus through your breast milk. The Centers for Disease and Prevention (USA) states that “current evidence is that breast milk is not likely to spread the virus to babies”. The World Health Organization (WHO), NSW Health and Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) agree that long-term benefits of breastfeeding your baby outweigh the long-term risks of stopping. Plus, if you’ve been vaccinated or have the virus, there are immune factors present in breast milk, so even more benefits to keep supplying your child with milk.
How can I reduce risk of transmission when feeding my baby?
According to NSW Health, you should take these special precautions when feeding your baby, expressing breast milk, having skin to skin contact, or when closer than 1.5 metres from your baby:
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub especially before touching your baby, pumps or bottles.
Wear a surgical mask yourself (single use, replace it as needed, and don’t touch it). Don’t put a mask on your baby as it’s a suffocation risk.
Sneeze or cough into your elbow or a tissue. Dispose of the tissue immediately then use alcohol-based hand rub or wash your hands with soap and water.
Regularly clean and disinfect surfaces and feeding utensils if expressing breast milk or preparing bottles.
While some parents might think it safer to pump milk rather than feed off the breast, Anna suggests that there’s no need to do this unless you’re too sick to feed or you and your baby are separated. Pumping can be tricky and time consuming, and bottles and pump parts are still open to contamination. Besides, WHO still recommends feeding at the breast over any other human milk substitutes.
What if I’m too sick to feed my baby?
If you’re too ill to feed your baby, Anna suggests trying to express milk and find someone who could help feed your baby a bottle of expressed milk. The ABA offers information on how to manage this and maintain a good supply. Meanwhile WHO recommend feeding options in this order:
direct feeding at the breast or chest
expressed milk from the parent
human donor milk
wet nursing.
Will COVID-19 affect my supply?
There’s no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 effects milk supply, but supply can be impacted when you’re sick, especially if you have a fever and are dehydrated. It’s recommended that you keep up your fluids and seek medical attention. It might also be helpful to contact ABA to be put in touch with a lactation consultant for a video chat.
What if my baby gets sick too?
Fortunately, COVID-19 is usually mild in children (of course, it can also be severe in some rarer cases). The most common symptoms are fever, cough, runny nose, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and stomach ache. In this situation, Anna suggests feeding as much as your baby wants, bearing in mind that it might take longer or be more frequent when they have a stuffy nose.
If your baby is in hospital then you should continue to express. If you don’t have a pump, you may be able to borrow one from the hospital, hire one from the ABA, or hand express. And if you’ve tested positive yourself, the hospital will have procedures in place for the safe expressing, transporting and feeding of milk.
How do I know if my baby is sick?
According to NSW heath, poor feeding and lethargy are often signs that a baby is ill. In this case, you should follow up immediately with your health care professional. If you have any concerns at all, contact your GP, child and family health nurse or nearest emergency department.
Paediatric consultant Dr Niamh Lynch suggests looking out for the following red flags and acting immediately:
persistent high temperature
coughing so much that it interferes with feeding
rapid breathing, such as >60 breaths per minute in a six-month-old
dry nappies
working hard to breathe – wheezing, chest wall sucking in each breath
lethargy – drowsiness, lack of interest in surroundings.
How do I care for myself?
It goes without saying that you need to look after yourself too. Stay hydrated, take painkillers when needed (Panadol is safe in pregnancy), and try to rest as much as you can.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help from friends and family – they may not be allowed in the house, but they can drop off food or order groceries to help out.
If you’re pregnant or have another chronic health condition, you’re encouraged to speak to your GP (and in NSW, call NSW Health’s COVID-19 Care at Home Support Line on 1800 960 933).
If you develop severe symptoms – such as severe headaches or dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pressure or pain – call 000 straightaway and tell the ambulance staff that you have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Brave mum welcomes baby just in time for husband to meet his son
The birth of a baby brings with it great joy and celebration, but for mum Haley Parke, it was also a time of sorrow and enormous emotional strength.
Because just as her second son entered the world, she was forced to bid farewell to her husband Jb, who died of cancer the very same day.
The decision to induce
Already parents to 18-month-old Brinton, Haley and Jb were expecting their second child in three weeks time. However, due to complications from his cancer, Jb was admitted to hospital – only to be told his six-month prognosis was suddenly a matter of days.
The couple made the decision to induce the baby early so Jb had the chance to meet his son.
“I knew asking for an induction was the right thing to do,” Haley wrote in a message on their Go Fund Me page. “Without hesitation, the team of ICU doctors communicated with the head of high risk labor and delivery doctors. They offered me an induction as soon as I was ready.
“I kissed my sweet husband goodbye and told him to be strong and hold on for me and the baby – he said he would.”
The plan for a quick birth was thwarted when Jb started to rapidly decline. The only thing Haley could do was to have a c-section and give birth immediately. “It was either a C-section right at that moment, or Jb would not have the opportunity to meet our son,” she said. “Without a question in my mind, I said, ‘Let’s go’ and we did just that.”
Haley was in the operating room in a flash, and 20 minutes later, their son arrived. “He was given to me for a quick kiss, and then a team of doctors and nurses ran him up 2 floors, and he was placed on his daddy’s chest.”
A final wish
As a parent you never forget that magical moment when your child is finally placed in on your chest, skin against skin. And for Jb it was nothing short of miraculous. “When our baby was placed on Jb’s chest, Jb’s vitals all instantly improved,” says Haley. “He was also acknowledging our son was there by making small head movements and sweet moans.”
When she was ready, Hayey was wheeled into husband’s room: “I spent my recovery time gazing at my husband. I was gazing at him in sadness, but in awe of his strength.”
It was here that Jb took his final breath, his baby on his chest and hand in hand with his wife.
A miracle baby
When a baby arrives three weeks early, there can be a risk of complications, but Haley and Jb’s son was perfect, weighing approximately 3.3kg, measuring 50.8cm long and displaying fully developed lungs. “From the OR to the ICU room, there were what felt like hundreds of doctors and nurses floating us through this process effortlessly,” Haley recalled. “Not one of them having a dry eye the entire time.”
The staff praised Haley for her bravery and selflessness, but she says there was no choice but to do what she did. “Some called my actions brave and heroic,” she said. “I just call it love. I acted out of love.”
Up until the induction, the couple had not yet considered a name. But after the birth there was only one option that felt right – John Beeson (Jb) in honour of her husband.
“Welcome to the world baby Jb,” the mother wrote to the world. “Your story is truly a miracle.”
A delicious, nutritious drink for your active toddler
Brought to you by Biostime Toddler
Before you know it, you have a busy toddler on your hands who is growing at a rapid rate. But how do you know they’re getting the essential vitamins and minerals they need to support healthy growth and development?
Biostime SN-2 BIO PLUS HPO Toddler Milk Drink is specifically formulated to support your toddler’s nutritional needs, with probiotics, Omega-3 DHA and 16 essential vitamins & minerals. Made in Australia with Australian milk, it has a naturally smooth and creamy taste and is gentle on tiny tummies.
Don’t just take our word for it! A team of parents (and their toddlers) from the Tell Me Baby community put this drink to the test. The result? A 4.6 out of 5-star rating, and a host of positive reviews raving about the product’s premium quality, nutritional value and instant toddler appeal.
“Even the packaging is well thought out”
The product’s innovative packaging immediately impressed many of the parents. “It’s really well thought out,” commented one reviewer. “The lid is attached to the container, the spoon is contained in the lid so you don’t need to go digging around in the powder to find it, and there is also a spot to put the spoon once it’s not in use.”
Another parent wrote, “Upon opening the scoop is sealed in its own compartment inside the lid, great idea as I usually have to fish for the lid which makes a mess and is unsanitary.”
“Perfect for a growing active toddler”
The nutritional value of Biostime SN-2 BIO PLUS HPO Toddler Milk Drink was another huge attraction, especially for those parents with fussy eaters. “It is full of nutrients so it means that I worry less about whether my toddler is getting enough nutrients in his daily food intake,” said one parent.
Another said, “I love the fact it has nutrients his little body needs for energy and to grow. I wish this was around when our older 2 boys were toddlers. It’s great to know he is getting nutrients on the days he isn’t overly interested in food.”
“It’s great to know that she’s getting great nutrients from the drink especially since she’s a picky eater,” said another parent. “We will be purchasing this to keep in our nighttime routine for our busy toddler!”
Another parent found that her child was enjoying cow’s milk but all of a sudden became a picky eater. “As a [first time mum] and her having never been picky before, it was stressing me out knowing she was barely eating and if she was having enough nutrients or not,” they said. “So this arrived at the perfect time and of course I was worried how she’d take to it considering her newly found pickiness. But she took to it really quickly and easily.”
“A really great option!”
Many commented that their child loved the taste, even those who usually enjoy cow’s milk. “I was keen to try this for my dairy obsessed toddler who LOVES drinking cow’s milk,” wrote a reviewer. “I was interested to see how he would take it. But he loved it! We’ve been using it in his before bed bottle, and also on his cereal and as a general milk drink.”
“My toddler drinks fresh cow’s milk and hadn’t tried a toddler milk drink before, so I was very interested to see how we would go trialling it,” said another. “He absolutely loved it, and didn’t seem to notice any difference.”
“When my toddler saw this, he was immediately very excited to try this,” wrote another parent. “I made him one serve and he immediately finished it and wanted a second one, so he definitely loved it!”
Easy on the stomach
A definite highlight was the fact that Biostime SN-2 BIO PLUS HPO Toddler Milk Drink allows for easy digestion. “It is much easier to digest compared to fresh milk,” said one parent. “I also showed this toddler milk drink to our dietician, she was amazed by the new improved formulation .”
“This toddler milk drink contains probiotics that are naturally found in the digestive tract of breast fed infants,” said another parent. “This to me is important, as my toddler has always had a sensitive stomach.”
One parent was so impressed that they felt comfortable recommending Biostime SN-2 BIO PLUS HPO Toddler Milk Drink to others. “A friend of mine has a toddler who has been having trouble transitioning to cow’s milk and I was more than happy to suggest this drink to her as an alternative.” As parents only recommend something they trust, this in itself is high praise indeed.
Read more reviews and learn more about Biostime SN-2 BIO PLUS HPO Toddler Milk Drink here.
To be consumed when energy and nutrient intakes may be inadequate. The above health effects must be considered in the context of a healthy diet involving the consumption of a variety of food.
“It doesn’t work!” Sleep expert reveals parents’ common mistake
As a parent of a newborn, sleep can seem like a mystery you’re constantly trying to solve. A sleep expert recently took to TikTok to share one sleep technique that many parents are tempted to try – but one we should definitely avoid.
Alice, a certified sleep consultant from Cozy Baby Sleep, posted a video about what not to do when it comes to your baby’s sleep: “I should keep my baby up longer so they sleep longer”.
I’m sure many parents have tried this at some point; I certainly have. However according to Alice, it doesn’t work and she doesn’t hold back in letting parents know.
“No don’t do that!” says the caption on the clip. “Stop it! It doesn’t work! lol”.
“Sleep begets sleep”
Alice then goes on to explain, “Babies that don’t nap well in the day or have late bed times will fight sleep.” So by depriving your baby of sleep in the hope of them sleeping longer later is counterproductive. According to Alice, the more sleep they have, the more they will want to sleep. “Sleep begets sleep,” she explains. “The more they sleep, the more they will sleep!”
Nice and calm
Alice continues to explain that sleep keeps babies relaxed and calm, which helps them to fall asleep at night time. “If you keep them awake they’re probably going to be over-stimulated and they’re going to cry,” she says. This makes sense as sleep experts often suggest keeping babies calm and quiet as part of bed time routine. It’s hard for anyone to sleep when they’re feeling energetic and over excited.
The video attracted over 24,000 likes ad was shared nearly 2,500 times. Alice’s advice does make sense and many viewers agreed. “My sons are in bed for 6.30/7pm and wake around 7am,” wrote one parent. “Even if I was to put them to bed at 10pm they are still gonna wake at 7am.” Alice relied to this comment enthusiastically. “Yes this!!!!!” she says. “They will wake earlier and earlier the later you put them down.”
Another parent said, “I tried and it did not work he was just over tired, I’ve just come to terms with the fact that he don’t like sleep.” However Alice’s response to this is, “That’s not true! No baby hates sleep! They just don’t know how.”
Babies do need to learn how to sleep, but they’re all so different – as you can see from the 700 comments on the post.
Some certainly seem to sleep more easily than others. My first baby didn’t sleep much at all. She didn’t like her day sleeps and she was awake at 5am without fail (except for the one occasion, when I needed her to wake up early – of course!). But it’s a learning process for both mum and bub, and often something you can’t do alone.
Unless you’re the parent who left the comment, “My baby goes to sleep at 10pm and wakes up at 9.30/10am and doesn’t wake in the night.” I was a little envious of this, however Alice’s simple response says it all: “Yay”.
“What chores can my toddler do?” Super cute video shows how your child can help at home
Little kids love to help out around the home and do the jobs that they see their parents do. But sometimes life gets so busy that it can be difficult to find the time – or even remember to let them try.
So when one TikTok mum posted a video of her toddler carrying out her favourite chores, it was so impressive it went viral.
We hear the mother narrating the video saying, “Hey guys, do you know that toddlers actually really enjoy doing chores, and if your not sure what chores your toddler can do, this is what I do with my 20 month-old.”
The first job is bringing in the shopping and we see the busy baby helping to carry bags from the front door into the kitchen. You would have to make sure that the bags are light of course, but there are plenty of products that are suitable for a little one to carry – just think toilet paper, paper towel and loaves of bread, to name but a few.
Feeding the dog
Next we see the toddler with a cup of dog biscuits. “She loves her chore of feeding he dog,” says the mum. “If anyone else tries to feed the dog she will cry because it’s her job.” The little girl pours the biscuits into the dog’s bowl and even puts away the container. “After she feeds the dog, she will run it all the way back to the little bin and shut it,” says her mum.
This is a fantastic way to not only encourage your child to carry out household chores but also develop a sense of responsibility for her pet. I think I’m the only one in our household who remembers to feed our dog! However, the mum has included in the caption ‘non-aggressive dogs only’, which is an important tip to remember.
Laundry day
Next it’s time for the washing: “She also loves helping her mumma do laundry, she helps me put clothes in the dryer.” This is an excellent job for toddlers as it’s simply about taking stuff from one place and putting it another, an action that most little ones find a great deal of fun.
The final task is fetching objects that the mum needs such as nappies. “When it comes to changing time, she brings me diapers and wipes,” she says. The little girl proudly brings in the nappies and wipes for her mum – not only does she feel grown up, but it saves mum from having to fetch them herself, so definitely a win-win!
Let them help
The post has been shared over 11 thousand times, attracting 1.1 million likes. Many viewers say how they enjoyed doing chores when they were young, leaving comments such as, “I used to love washing dishes when I was young” and “My mom told me that when I was younger I used to sweep, she bought me a tiny broom and I just swept to my heart’s desire!” Others described how much their own toddlers like doing jobs. One parent said, “My 18 month old loves sweeping and mopping and he loves throwing things away and putting his toys away.” Another said, “My toddler loves unpacking the groceries and feeding the dog too! He also loves unloading the dishwasher.”
Even though these are all easy jobs for a toddler to do, the challenge can be letting them do it as it can be so time consuming for a busy parent. My daughter used to love mopping the floors, but it always took twice as long and I only ever had a small window to clean the house. But it was worth it as it made her feel grown up – plus she actually did a really great job.
It’s important to allow kids to have a go, as hard as that can be sometimes when you’re madly trying to cross a million tasks off your list. And if they enjoy doing the task, why not make the most of it! One viewer made the comment, “It’s very important for kids and toddlers to have tasks so they become independent and feel included in the daily routine.”
I couldn’t agree more.
Win an ergoPouch sleep set (including the Easy Sleep Portable Bassinet!)
Summer is here, and with the warmer weather comes the need to keep your little one comfortable and cool while sleeping, without compromising safety. The great news is that ergoPouch has a stunning range of sleepwear and accessories that are perfect for the warmer seasons!
Haven’t heard of Australian sleepwear brand ergoPouch? They make premium, certified organic, and natural fibre TOG-rated sleepwear and sleep solutions. Their safe-sleep approved range covers ages newborn to 12 years and takes the guesswork of what to dress your child in for sleep. They have exceptional sustainability credentials, stylish prints and gorgeous products that are ergonomically designed for each age and stage of your little one’s development in the first six years. ergoPouch simplifies how to safely dress your child for sleep, which is precisely what tired parents need.
But that’s not all – ergoPouch has added to their range with the Easy Sleep Portable Bassinet. This lightweight (only 2.2kg!) portable baby bed is perfect for your newborn to sleep in for naps around the house, on the go, or away from home. As a bonus, it can also be used as a safe and clean place to put your baby down for tummy time, play, or simply gazing up at the trees.
The Easy Sleep Portable Bassinet features include:
A mesh body for breathability, and a sturdy steel frame with high sides for safe sleeping
A thin, firm breathable mattress that’s cotton-covered, and removable for washing
A Carry Bag backpack, so you can fold it up and take it anywhere (even overheard storage lockers on planes!)
An easy-to-use lock mechanism lets the bassinet fold up or be set up quickly and easily
A mosquito net to keep bugs, pets, and curious toddler fingers away.
(NB: While there are currently no safety standards for bassinets in Australia, ergoPouch has undertaken steps to ensure it is safe for sleeping. The Easy Sleep Portable Bassinet has been reviewed as safe for newborn sleeping up to 9kg or rolling (whichever comes first) by leading infant safety organisation INPAA, and meets Red Nose guidelines for bassinet safety.)
Giveaway
We’re thrilled to partner with ergoPouch to give away a baby sleep set, worth over $200!
Competition closes 11.59pm (AEDT) on Sunday, January 16th, 2022. Full terms and conditions at tellmebaby.com.au/competitions. *Colour choice subject to availability.
Review to win with Cubo Ai
Do you have a Cubo Ai Plus Smart Baby Monitor? Share what you think of it – you’ll be in the draw to win a fantastic prize for you AND a friend.
Our friends at Cubo Ai are giving away a $250 Amazon gift card to one lucky winner – and they’ll also receive a Cubo Ai Plus Wall Mount Set for a friend. You’ll be able to go on an Amazon shopping spree AND give another family the gift of peace of mind when it comes to their baby’s safety!
How to enter
It’s simple to enter – just leave a review of Cubo Ai Plus for an entry into the draw. If you include 3 photos of the product with your review, you’ll earn a bonus entry!
(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.)
The competition closes January 14th at 11.59pm (AEDT), 2022.
Tips for your review
As always, be honest: parents want to hear what you really think of the Cubo Ai Plus Smart Baby Monitor!
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.
Back to bed! How do I stop my toddler getting up at bedtime?
As much we love our children there’s nothing better than when they’re sound asleep. But what do you do when they won’t stay in bed, or continue to call out way after you’ve turned off the light?
Keeping your toddler in bed when they need to quieten down and fall asleep can be tricky, but there a few simple solutions that might help to get that night routine back on track.
Why do children get up out of bed?
Sometimes children get up out of bed or call out because something is wrong such as needing to go to toilet, or being scared or anxious. In these situations you should go to them and offer comfort. If they’re suffering from anxiety you might also want to consult your GP.
However, if your child simply wants to stay up or is wanting you around at bedtime, then you can either try to re-settle or find ways to change the night routine to stop this from happening.
Create a routine
Having a bedtime routine can be very helpful in this situation and is an important part of getting your child to settle and go to bed each night. According to parenting website Raising Children, this consists of doing the same things each night, avoiding loud energetic games before going to bed and also avoiding screen time at least one hour before bedtime.
It’s all in the timing
If your child isn’t going to sleep quickly, you may be putting them to bed too early. It might be more effective to put them down closer to the time they actually fall asleep. When you put the lights out, it can also help to do a quick check to see of they’ve done everything they need to do such as go to the toilet and brush their teeth. And finally let them know what you expect, by saying things like, “It’s time to go to sleep now” and “I’ll come back to check up on you when you’re quiet” and of course, “I Iove you, have a good sleep.”
What if they keep getting up?
If your child gets up from bed, try saying something like, “It’s time to sleep. Please stay in your bed”. Then quietly and calmly put your child back to bed. And if they continue to get up, you should continue to put then down until they settle.
If they keep getting up, you could put out a baby gate and say that if they’re good and settle down then the gate can stay open. If not it will have to close. Similarly, rewards charts can help, but only for children over the age of three.
Mum’s bedtime hack
Having some sort of physical barrier is not a bad idea, which is what TikTok mum Taylor discovered. Taylor posted a video of her son opening his bedroom door, obviously getting out of bed when he was supposed to be going to sleep. But the caption on the video clearly explained her idea: “Tip #317 How to use a plastic goose to keep your toddlers in bed”.
We see her son opening the door but Taylor was ready with a plastic goose outside the bedroom. So when he got up, the little boy saw the goose and got such a fright that he immediately retreated and closed the door with a terrified look on his face. A tough approach, yet certainly effective. And funny to watch.
The video attracted a huge response with over over 11 million views. It received 1.5 million likes and nearly 9000 comments. However not everyone agreed with the idea. Many of the viewers felt this might be traumatic for the child, with comments such as, “Isn’t this fear tactic harmful to the child’s emotional well being?”
“It works in the short term,” wrote another. “But in the long term it can do a lot of damage such as causing lack on trust, playing harmful planks on other kids etc.” And yet another commented, “Parents don’t realize the trauma and lifelong anxiety this can cause their children.”
Meanwhile many other viewers thought it was funny and actually a great idea, with comments such as “I will be trying this” and “Brilliant”. One viewer said, “The people in the comments saying that the kids are going to need therapy, you’re effing kidding me right???” Another also said as a response, “My dad did something similar when I was younger and now it’s a funny story.”
If your child is highly anxious maybe the plastic goose isn’t such a good idea. Perhaps talk to your GP or health practitioner instead. But if your child is just continuing to get out of bed for no reason when they’re supposed to be going to sleep, then maybe a little barrier of some sort is enough to break the habit. Anything’s worth a try.
Now where’s that plastic goose?
Video of toddler seeing mum for first time goes viral: “Best moment ever!”
Every now and again, a video pops up that brings a happy tear to your eye – and this one, recently uploaded on TikTok, is definitely one of those.
A mum shares the precious moment when her legally blind toddler is finally able to see for the very first time and the little girl’s reaction is priceless.
The mum explains in the video that her little girl Riley was legally blind. “We noticed around 2 years old that she called everyone ‘mom’ and ‘dad’ because she couldn’t recognize faces,” said the caption. “So we were able to get her glasses around Christmas time.”
The following moment is absolutely magical as Riley gets to see clearly for the very first time.
“Best moment ever”
When her mum puts the glasses on her, Riley’s reaction is instantaneous. She starts twirling around the space with absolute delight and amazement, as she takes in the world around her. “Her reaction was amazing,” said the post. And it really was. The mother says, “I’m gonna to cry” and we hear the parent’s emotional reaction with both tears and laughter. The final image is divine with Riley giggling joyfully and flinging herself at her mum, giving her a kiss. And the caption says it all: “She finally saw mum’s face for the first time.”
After recent times, online audiences can’t get enough heartwarming baby scenes and not surprisingly, the post attracted a huge response. It has been viewed over 11 million times and has received 2.2 million likes, as well as thousands of positive comments.
“She’s spinning around taking in every single new detail,” said one viewer, while another said, “The way she keeps spinning and looking at everything, we really do take things for granted sometimes.”
Other viewers, despite all efforts, found it hard to hide their emotions, leaving comments such as, “I’m not crying. I’m not crying. I’m not crying.”
Another said, “I’m definitely NOT crying like a baby in my car in the parking lot at Target. I’m not.” While others could not deny their tears, such as one viewer who said, “I’m crying. Such a beautiful moment.”
Interestingly, one person could completely relate to the situation. “I have really bad eyesight and got gasses at 3,” explains one viewer. “Apparently my first words while wearing them were ‘mommy I can see you.’”
While we can’t wait to clap eyes on our little ones when they finally arrive, it’s hard to imagine what it would be like if they couldn’t see us. Especially when a child instinctively seeks out their mother’s face. This video is a reminder of the challenges faced by many, while also offering a beautiful scene of true love and happiness.
Now where has that box of tissues gone…
Household choking hazards: You’ll be shocked at what’s on the list
The thought of your little one choking is absolutely terrifying, but it can happen more easily than you think. Nikki Jurcutz, who runs Tiny Hearts Education with her sister Rachel Waia, recently revealed all the different choking hazards around the home. And many may come as a surprise.
Educating parents
Nikki and Rachel started Tiny Hearts Education eight years ago with the aim of helping parents and caregivers learn about childhood hazards and first aid.
“As a paramedic, I would often be called to jobs where, had parents been confident with simple first aid, the outcome could have been very different,” Nikki says on the website. “Kids could have been treated at home by their parents or, even more devastatingly, lives could have been saved.”
Recently Nikki took to Instagram to list the many choking hazards you might not expect, captioning the post with “SEND to someone you love and above all, LEARN first aid for babies and children”. Reading through the list there are definitely some surprises in store, which is probably why the post received nearly 9,000 likes.
Hidden dangers
The first item on the list is marshmallows, which is definitely unexpected as they’re so soft, you can’t imagine them posing a problem. However, Nikki says they should be avoided until at least 3 years of age. “These sticky treats are a huge choking risk, which is tricky because they’re often served with babycinos,” she wrote.
Lollipops are also a no-no until 3 years, and popcorn should be avoided until 5 years of age.
Grapes, cherry tomatoes and large blueberries should all be cut up for little mouths. “Grapes are the perfect size to bock an airway,” wrote Nikki. “Chop them into quarters or halve for older kids.” Similarly, care needs to be taken with chunks of meat like sausages and watermelon, which should all be cut up into tiny pieces.
As well as food items, Nikki has included household objects such as those white plastic bread clips, which can sometimes be within easy reach of little hands. Also coins, button batteries, magnets, hair clips, Lego and jewellery, to name but a few.
One item I hadn’t considered was a power point cap, something usually used to baby proof the house. It may be protecting your child from electricity, but it could also be adding yet another huge choking risk.
Recently, one mum had a massive shock when her daughter, Brianna managed to swallow a trolley token. The 11-month-old started gasping for air and vomiting, and mum Kristen knew something was wrong. X-rays by hospital staff revealed that an Aldi shopping token was lodged in her throat. Fortunately the round disc had a tiny hole in it, which allowed some airflow. “She would have been able to get a little bit of oxygen in but it would have been a lot worse,” the mum told Channel 9. “All they had to do was put the tweezers down, grab the top of it and literally pull it out so yeah, very lucky.”
Tiny Hearts Education recommend that parents and caregivers do a first aid course so they know what do should something like this occur. “It can be the difference between life and death,” Rachel commented in an interview with Channel 9. “Knowing what to do in those initial moments for an emergency is critical.”
Kristen has now band all objects according to Tiny Hearts Education guidelines from the house, and has done a refresher first aid course. “It takes the stress of you when you know just the basic,” she commented. “The basic helps you so much.”
Avoid at all costs
Below are objects on the Tiny Hearts Education list of choking hazards:
