Pump talk

Do you want to know more about expressing and storing your breast milk, as well as introducing your baby to the bottle?

Isis Parenting have started offering live 'webinars' and on November 18th, you can log on to learn more about expressing...

Led by an experienced Board Certified Lactation Consultant, this interactive live webinar covers all the FAQs expecting and new moms want to know about pumping, introducing a bottle or returning to work.
Topics covered include:

• Establishing and maintaining a full milk supply
• Introducing a bottle
• Breastpump options and accessories
• Tips and techniques for milk expression
• Safe storage of breastmilk
• Combining working and nursing

 All expectant and new mothers are welcome to pre-register for this FREE webinar and will have the opportunity to submit questions during the class.

Register here now!

Playgroup (Åpen Barnehage)

Have you heard of playgroups in your home country?
Playgroup is an informal session where mums, dads, grand parents, caregivers, children and babies meet together in a relaxed environment.
Playgroups are set up and run by parents and caregivers, with children choosing from a range of activities set up to meet their varying needs. Activities at playgroup are either free or low cost, and may include:

• Music and singing
• Imaginative play
• Outdoor and free play
• Art and craft activities
• Outings.

Playgroup can be held anywhere that is safe for children and where groups of people can meet - community and neighbourhood centres, health clinics, women's centres, preschools and kindergartens, church halls and even in someone's house.
In a playgroup, parents and caregivers stay to interact with the other adults; and to play with the children.
No child is too young for playgroup. All children from 0-5 years, including babies, love new experiences and benefit from developing sensory, social and communication skills through activities at playgroup.

In Norway, playgroup is called Åpen barnehage. Most of them are held in church halls. They are usually free, or you pay a small amount (20-30kr) for included lunch or activities etc.
They are a great place to go to meet other parents, or as a child friendly place to go as a group.

Here is a link to most of the åpen barnehages in and around Bergen.

If you're feeling like it's time to get out with your baby, why not try your local åpen barnehage?

Ways of introducing solids

The English nurse Gill Rapley (www.rapleyweaning.com) has written a book about baby led weaning. The principles of baby led weaning are that the child controls the extent to which they eat solid foods, and the pace at which this takes place. The child is offered solid food in a safe manner and then controls what they put in their mouth and how much they eat.
Breastfeeding is the ideal preparation for baby led weaning. Babies who are breast-fed are self-regulated, they eat at their own pace - yes, it's actually impossible to force them to do anything else! They balance their intake of food and fluid by choosing how long they feed at the breast with each 'meal'. And because breast milk changes it's taste according to what the mother eats, the baby acquires different tastes. This does not, however, mean that this method can't be used on bottle-fed babies.

Could this be something worth looking into for your baby? 

Here is a good article with more information about baby led weaning...exciting stuff! 
And here are some guidelines of how to get started, as well as a good website with lots of other useful information.

Fun in Bergen

Looking for something fun to do in Bergen with your baby?
Den Nasjonale Scenen (the national venue of theatre in Bergen) has a show on at the moment for children aged 0-3...

http://www.dns.no/prog.asp?id=185

Wonder weeks

Are there certain weeks your baby seems out of sorts and different to how he/she normally is. Then suddenly after about a week, everything seems to return to normal. Your baby might have just been through a wonder week.

Research has found that babies seem to have certain weeks that they go through mental development. Knowing a bit more about them may make it easier for you to prepare and relieved in knowing that your baby is just developing a new skill or a new way of thinking and will come out of this week knowing more!

Check it out at: Wonder weeks
and: www.thewonderweeks.com

Week 3...Settling, Crying and Sleep!!!

Never is sleep more of a focus, than when you have a baby/young child...especially if you aren't getting enough!

It is very important to have realistic expectations about your baby and their development. Here is a good article about sleep in early childhood and how to deal with any challenges...

Sleep in early childhood

Babies love routine, so creating a bedtime routine from a young age is usually a very good way of settling babies and letting them know what is going to happen next. That way they start to feel secure in knowing what is coming.

How is your baby sleeping? Have you created a settling routine? Help is available should you need it, feel free to contact me for any advice or help.

Sweet dreams!

Week 2

Last week we started the new parenting group with discussions on attachment and the importance of the bond between you and you baby.
If you would like to read a bit more about it, you can get a good start here, but the internet is full of info on attachment and attachment theory if you really get into it!

This week, in our second week of meeting together, we are looking at communication and touch. Baby massage is a fantastic way of combining these two, and we will be having a practice at this. For those of you who would like a bit of a guide, this is a good video...but remeber there are many ways of massaging correctly, so don't get too hung up on exactly how you are doing it, focus more on the lovely, relaxing, calming time you are having with your baby and the effect this has on your baby.

Massaging your baby for health and happiness

Enjoy your baby!