Embrace healthy parenting

However, what the history of childhood tells us about ourselves, according to Robin Grille, is that; "The parenting instinct is not what we thought it was. It cannot be taken for granted. It is eminently open to environmental influence. Two conditions are essential: unless there are minimally favourable material circumstances and social support, and unless parents have themselves been shown some genuine nurturance in their lives, the 'parenting instinct' might not manifest, and parents can be indifferent, hostile, even brutal toward their children. 'Good' parenting does not emerge spontaneously. It has to be learned by example; it has to be role-modelled, and it depends on the extensive support of a loving family and community."

According to Dr Edward Bach "The office of parenthood is one of divine service, and should be respected as much as, or perhaps even more than, any other duty we may be called upon to undertake. As it is one of sacrifice, it must ever be borne in mind that nothing whatever should be required in return from the child, the whole object being to give, and give alone, gentle love, protection and guidance until the soul takes charge of the young personality."

We have a selection of positive, empowering quotes about children, parenting, love, marriage and friendship handwritten on handmade paper.

Sleeping with your baby

The benefits of sleep sharing

• Babies go to sleep better and stay asleep better - babies enter sleep via a light sleep stage and this is also a vulnerable period for waking during the night
• Mothers stay asleep better - mothers and babies internal clocks and sleep cycles become in sync with each other
• Breastfeeding is easier - e.g., side lying before baby (and mother) are fully awake
• Fits in with busy lifestyles - e.g., working mothers get to spend important bonding time with their babies
• Slow starters catch up - i.e., sleep sharing facilitates bonding after separation due to premature birth, operations or other illnesses
• Babies thrive - sleep sharing encourages touching and breastfeeding, all of which cause further increases in mothering hormones
• May decrease the risk of SIDS - sleep sharing increases an infant's arousability from sleep and the mother's awareness of her infant during sleep

Safe sleep sharing

• Place baby between mother and guardrail or mother and wall (if bed is pushed flush with the wall), rather than between the parents
• Do not sleep with baby if under the influence of alcohol or drugs such as tranquilizing medications
• Avoid overheating from overdressing, which can occur if baby has been dressed to sleep in own bed and is then brought into parents bed
• Use a big bed with few sleepers, or use a side-car arrangement
• Take precautions to prevent baby from rolling out of bed, e.g. use a guardrail, firm cushions or bolsters, a chair backed up to the bed, etc.
• Do not sleep with baby on a wavy waterbed due to possible suffocation by soft surface

Read an article about cosleeping
Read about the book Sleeping with Your Baby

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Wearing your Baby

The benefits of baby wearing

• Organises and regulates the baby - parent's regular rhythms (eg heart beat and breathing) balance infant's irregular rhythms.
• Reduces crying and colic - balances baby's vestibular system.
• Enhances learning - increased quiet alertness (visual and auditory).
• Enhances parent-infant bonding - stimulates production of "mothering" hormones.
• Makes life easier for busy parents - working, shopping, eating out, travelling, etc.

The advantages of baby wearing for breastfeeding

• Convenient - during growth spurts, when doing housework, shopping or dining out.
• Organises problem suckers - some babies breastfeed better on the move.
• Helps mother to care for older siblings - breastfeeding a new baby in a sling gives the mother an extra pair of hands to care for her toddler.
• Helps the slow-weight gaining baby - proximity to mother encourages the baby to feed more frequently.

The benefits of using a sling-type carrier

• Comfortable - for both parents and baby.
• Convenient - it can be used from birth to at least two years of age.
• Easy to use - few buckles or straps.
• Versatile - the baby can be carried in many different positions.
• Safe - it both supports and contains the baby.
• Suitable for feeding - can easily and discreetly breastfeed while baby is still in sling.