Roasted vegetable pasta bake.

What's great about this recipe is that you can prepare it when your baby is napping and then pop it in the oven when required.  I see so many lovely family recipes that I simply don't get the chance to make, our kitchen isn't really baby friendly and Poppy hates me leaving the room, so I usually try and prepare as much as I can while she is having her morning nap. It's also great for using up odds and ends in the fridge, I always have half a courgette and bits of pepper that need using. 

So roughly chop an onion (red or white), any coloured peppers, I like to use red and green to get sweet and bitter, a courgette and a few cloves of garlic.  Aubergine also works well in this recipe. Put all the veg and garlic into a roasting tin with a drizzle oil (I use rapeseed) and a splash of balsamic vinegar. It's best not to add salt if your baby is going to have some, so I suggest seasoning after.  Roast on a high heat until the vegetables look soft and the peppers are beginning to brown on the edges.  At this point add a tin of chopped tomatoes and stir well.  I add a pinch of caster sugar just to balance the acidity of the tomatoes. Pop back into the oven for another 5 minutes or so.  

In the meantime cook whatever past you have around.  White pasta is better for baby.  Until al dente.  Add the pasta to the mix and stir.  Top with mozzarella, simply tear it up.  Bake until bubbling.  Top with fresh basil and a little salt and pepper for mum and dad. 

Devour! 

Weaning inspiration.

I've got horribly behind with weaning posts, so I thought I'd do a quick few ideas for baby led weaning lunch.  Sometimes it's hard coming up with new ideas, especially once your baby is having more than just sticks of cooked vegetables.  Firstly try introducing toast!  Bread is easier for babies to eat when lightly toasted and cut into fingers.  Here is Poppy's first piece of toast! 

When she is more advanced you can try different shapes to make lunch a little more interesting.

Once she's happy with the texture, try cheese on toast.  It's a great lunch because you can both have it.      

An omelette is great because you can keep it plain or add extras. Here I've done a plain omelette and instead of adding grated cheddar, topped it with cottage cheese (full fat) and served with slices of avocado.  

I am very keen to introduce fish into Poppy's diet while she is still very accepting of new flavours, I also think its a healthy family choice.  Here are a couple of lunch ideas for both you and your baby:

TInned sardines in oil mashed with cherry tomatoes and basil leaves on toast.  I grill the bread one side and then top the bread with the mix on the uncooked side then grill again.  When making the mixture mash all the small bones into the mix.  Sardines are a great source of calcium and they are also very fatty, perfect for a chunky baby.

A quicker option is mackerel pate on toast.  You can buy or make your own and simply spread on toast. You can add lemon juice, black pepper, chopped salad or leave it plain.  

I hope you find these ideas helpful and tasty! 

  

A make up mummy must have.

My make up must have is No.7 BB cream, I don't really like wearing make up unless its for a special occasion and when I do I like it to look quite natural, I tend to opt for brown eye shadow and just a little blusher.  Once you've had a baby however you need something to cover the bags and make you look like the young glowing mother everyone wants to see!

The BB cream does it all, moisturises, protects (SPF 15), covers and acts as a foundation.

I've got quite olive skin and the medium colour works well for me.  If you're fair I'd suggest going for the light shade.

 

This is after a full days wear and a windy picnic in the park.  The cream gives a long lasting, natural look and it doesn't feel heavy like some foundations.  It's so much easier than applying lots of products.

Please share any beauty tips.

Lovely Pitta.

So I thought it was time for a weaning update.  We have been doing baby led weaning and it's been great.  Poppy will eat anything, mealtimes are a joy and you can all eat the same things without having to purée anything. Check out my older posts on weaning if you are just eating started with weaning.  Broccoli florets are definitely a favourite, closely followed by peanut butter on toast, banana bread and natural yoghurt.  A new store cupboard essential for us is pitta bread.  It comes in a sealed packet so is always there in case of emergencies.  I toast or grill the pita breads and cut them into strips so they are easy to hold. Although now she's a great little chomper I try a few different shapes to give her a challenge. 

Sometimes I spread something on the pitta bread such as cream cheese or mashed avocado.

Breastfeeding and milk supply.

When you begin breastfeeding, your baby will be leaning how to latch properly.  It may all feel a little awkward at first, fumbling with nursing clips and breastfeeding pillows.  I only really started having success with feeding when I ditched the breastfeeding chair and pillow, relaxed and tried feeding her laying down in bed.  It felt very natural and because I was relaxed and still, Poppy started to get the hang of it.  The result of poor latching is sore nipples.  Once you have sore nipples the thought of feeding can become hard but I assure you as soon as your baby starts to latch properly the pain will go away but in the meantime I recommend using some nipple cream.  It is a life saver.  I used Derma Mum (superior protection) nipple balm. The key ingredient when looking for a good nipple cream is lanolin.  The derma cream was great and can be applied as often as required, you just need to wipe off any excess before feeding.  So if you are suffering, apply after every feed at the minimum.  

Another unusual tip (but really works) on sore nipples is too rub your own milk on to your nipples.  So if buying creams is out of the budget, expressing a little milk and gently rubbing over your entire nipple has a soothing effect. 

When your milk comes in your breasts will become engorged.  This can be very uncomfortable  especially at night with leaking breasts as well.  For quite a few weeks I slept in a nursing bra for support and constantly wore breast pads for leaking.  With time your supply will become in tune with your baby and you will not leak, in fact you will no longer need breast pads.  If you do become engorged this is due to having lots of milk, so the only way to solve this is by feeding your baby, so to begin with try to alternate which breast your baby feeds from to make sure both breasts get emptied.  If you don't relieve engorged breasts you may get blocked ducts and your skin will become red and sore this can then lead to infection called mastisis.  Mastisis can be treated with antibiotics but that's the last thing you need when looking after a new baby so if you do get a blocked duct try to treat it as soon as possible.  For more information on blocked ducts and engorgement check out the link below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/mastitis1.shtml

I frequently had blocked ducts when I first started feeding Poppy but they would only last a day or less.  The most effective way to unblock a duct was to feed from the engorged breast until it is completely drained.  I do not recommend expressing the milk because your body will think you need to produce more milk which could lead to further engorgement.  If you are really uncomfortable try to express just a little by hand while waiting for your baby's next feed (the shower is good place to do this).  Try to make sure you nurse in different positions to ensure all ducts are emptied.  It is also important to fully empty breasts so that your baby drinks the fatty hind milk.

Nipple shields are quite effective for sore nipples too, however they are quite large and a bit of a hassle to wear.  The effectively make sure no material is touching the nipple and irritating it as well as expressing a little milk when engorged.  I used them once or twice but found using nipple cream much easier.  

In my next breastfeeding post I will talk about fore milk, hind milk and over supply.  

The Swings.

Stuck for ideas to entertain my 8 month old the other day I had the idea of going to the park. Poppy sits up unaided so I brought a couple of blankets and padded her into the swings.  Well, she loved it. 

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mother's Day all you mums out there!  I hope you're all having a lovely day.  I can't believe I'm a mum.  It still takes me by surprise when people refer to me as mum or mummy.  When I think about what a mum should be like, I can only picture my own mum.  I will always be Poppy's mum, so to her I represent what a mum is.  Weird right.

So what is being a mother like?  It's all consuming.  Your baby is like an extension of you, before she was born she really was.  To a baby you are the centre of her world, her food, her comfort, her teacher, her protecter, her carer and her friend.  Poppy cries when I leave the room and smiles when I enter, unconditional love.  It feels like you haven't done enough to deserve this kind of attention.  But mums you have, you have given life through pain and sacrifice of your body.  

When Poppy hears a loud or sudden sound she will look at me to see my reaction, to know its ok, she then learns this sound isn't a danger. Right from the moment babies are born they recognise the sound of their mothers voice and the smell of their body, this is pretty incredible.  Just the sound of your voice is enough to soothe your baby.  

Before I became a mother I didn't fully understand the importance of a mum, I couldn't understand why mums stayed at home with their children so long, now I can't believe maternity leave is only six months, I couldn't imagine leaving Poppy.  She needs me and I need her.  It has definitely made me appreciate my own mum, I'm happy, healthy and independent, a reflection of her care.  

Every mum is different which is a great thing because it means all children are different.  This diversity is most apparent when I take Poppy to baby club and see all the other babies, all so full of character already.  I just can't wait to see what Poppy is going to be like as girl and a woman but for now I will have to enjoy my little baby.  The bond between a mother and child is everlasting.  So Mother's Day has really made me think about me, being a mum, a woman and how I can be the best mum to Poppy.   

Big girl, little chair.

We have a lovely little wooden chair in Poppy's nursery and yesterday I sat her in it for the first time.  I expected her to get bored quickly but she sat there as good as gold.  It is so strange to see her sitting, she looks so grown up.  Here are a few photos of my big girl in her little chair.    

Young teethers.

Most babies get their first tooth around six months, prior to a tooth cutting through your baby may be fretful and difficult to console or they may be unaffected.  Poppy had bright red cheeks, chewed everything (especially her fingers) and could be quite grizzly.  She started teething around 3 months and her two bottom teeth appeared at 4 months, some babies get teeth even earlier than this!  What we found difficult was that she was too young to hold ring teethers.  A fab product I have recently come across is the Gummee Glove.  I've put a link to their website below, you can also find them on Facebook and twitter. Essentially it's a glove you can put on your babies hand and they can chew the attached teething ring.  

www.gummeeglove.co.uk

The teething rings are available in pink and blue and are detachable so can be sterilised.   The glove also comes with a laundry bag which can be machine washed.  They are £12:99 and delivery is free!  

Toothy pegs.

After a week of restlessness, pink cheeks and chewing everything Poppy's top front teeth have come through!  Teething can be a very difficult time for parents because there is not much you can do to help your little one.  We found letting Poppy chew chunky bits of cucumber helpful and well as her Sophie la giraffe teether.  We did buy teething rings but found them a bit bulky. Don't be worried if your baby goes on a nursing strike either, we had this when Poppy's bottom teeth came though, it soon ended once she was hungry.  If you find your baby is struggling to sleep I recommend a little Dentinox teething gel.  Simply rub onto the gums and it soothes instantly.  

As for breastfeeding with teeth.  The bottom teeth no problem, the top teeth.... ouch!  At the moment I am very sore so will let you know what happens.  Good luck with your teething babies ladies!

Tongue Tied

Breastfeeding can be tricky, awkward and painful to begin with but before long your efforts should pay off and it should be easy, calm and enjoyable.  Make sure you talk to your midwife if you are really struggling and having difficulty latching, because there is a chance of your baby being tongue tied.  Luckily this was not the case for Poppy and I but I know of a new mum whose baby was tongue tied and this made feeding difficult to begin with.  

If your baby is tongue tied a procedure may be carried out to aid breastfeeding.  The babies tongue will be snipped so that it can latch properly.  This is called division and is painless and quick.  

Click the link below for more information of tongue-tie in babies.

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tongue-tie/Pages/Introduction.aspx

http://www.tonguetie.co.uk/

If tongue tie has affected you and your baby you may be interested in signing a petition to ensure babies have the division procedure carried out within three days of birth.  Babies that have trouble latching may have difficulty gaining weight, take in more air when feeding and leave mum very sore and open to infection. I have attached the link to the petition below.  If any one has any advice for new mums with tongue tied babies, please feel free to comment.  

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/36614

Baby Buys - the essentials.

Baby clothes can be very expensive, especially as babies grows out of everything so quickly!  So here are a few tips for keeping costs down.  For those in the UK, get your baby essentials, such as vests and babygrows, from Boots, using a parenting club card (just pick up a form in store).  You will earn lots of points, useful for buying other baby essentials.  They are good quality and fairly priced.  Then buy the odd special outfit from mamas and papas/mothercare etc.  when you get a Boots parenting card you will also receive a free changing bag.  I still use mine now.  If your are planning on bottle feeding you may need a bigger one as its a little on the small size. 

Whilst I was pregnant I was tempted by all sorts of adorable outfits, once I was a mum I realised babygrows are a mums best friend.  They are easy to undo, essential when changing so many nappies!  The baby is very easy to hold.  With dresses and skirts they always ride up.  They keep your baby's hands and feet warm.  If you are having a winter baby make sure you have outfits with feet.  Lots of outfits have leggings and you need socks to go with them.  Trust me socks do not stay on!  When buying outfits always think about when in the year your baby will be wearing them.  Pramsuits are a must in winter.  Easy to get on as you don't have to worry about your baby losing a mitten or sock.  It also doesn't matter if they wriggle out of their blanket.  To see Poppy's pramsuit check out my post 'A winter walk'.

As I mentioned in my post 'caring for a one week old', you should dress babies in a vest first, then layer up.  So even in winter you will need short sleeves vests.  Usually they come in multipacks, they are rarely seen so do not need to be expensive.  Also try to buy outfits with vest rather than tops underneath.  These cover the nappy and keep your baby warm and comfy.

If you know someone who can knit, knitted blankets are lovely and warm, they will last a long time and look beautiful in the nursery.  A few knitted hats and boots are also useful. It is handy to have a few cheap plain blankets for prams and going over your baby in a quick journey in the car.  You will not needs lots of duvets as babies do not get that cold.  We loved our moses basket, however it wasn't essential.  So if you are cutting costs maybe just have a cot.  You will also need a few cot sheets.  Sleep pods are another thing which are useful but not essential.

Before Poppy was born we had lots of hats and scratch mits. These fall off and aren't necessary for very long.  So just get a few pairs.  Muslins are very useful however.  Lots of them, you can buy thm in most baby stores are supermarkets.  You can put them on the changing mat, over your shoulder, to wipe a dribbly chin.  Old towels are useful like muslins, so if a relative has some old towels stock up.  Other essentials you will need to get before your baby is due are nappies (newborn size), wipes (or baby lotion), cotton wool and nappy sacks.  Don't worry about using bubble bath and shampoo until your baby is a few weeks old but stock up whenever you see them on offer.  Bedtime babble bath is good for getting your baby sleepy in the evenings.  We found a bath support incredibly useful, we still use it now in fact.  This saves you from buying a baby bath which your baby will soon outgrow.  Poppy does or have a dummy.  Not all babies like dummies so wait and see if your baby might need one for comfort.  When weaning bibs with sleeves are a life saver.  Trust me.

Your baby won't be able to hold toys for quite a while so just a few soft animals or teddys to make the nursery look nice is all that's necessary really.  What I found invaluable was a playmat.  They have rattles and toys hanging close enough so that your baby can watch them.  When your baby is young they will not want to be put down, a play mat can be distracting enough to give you a free minute to do something or even sit and have a cup of tea.  Lots of mums swear by musical swings and bouncy chairs too.  So I would buy at least one.  A cot mobile is also a nice feature in the nursery and babies love watching them.  Some babies find them soothing and fall asleep watching them. 

For the medicine cabinet we have so far used Calpol for after jabs.  The infamous Infacol for wind.  We have also used Snufflebabe for decongesting during a cold.  For teething Dentinox is a good place to start.  Babies can't have most medicines until they are at least three months old.

I hope you've found this useful when preparing for the arrival of your little one!

Slings.

If you live in Yorkshire and you are interested in sling and carriers for your baby then check out Doncaster Babywearers on Facebook.   They hold meets where you can try out different slings, have a chat and a coffee.  You can also contact them at babywearing@live.co.uk.

Babies love to be held and to be close to you.  Slings are the perfect way to keep your baby close during the day but give tired arms a rest.  They are also great for going out and about without the need for a pram.  Keeping your newborn baby in a upright position is beneficial for babies with colic or windy babies. So if you live near Doncaster, check them out! 

Baby led weaning.

Weaning has begun!  I thought I would do a more up to date post on what is happening in our lives today.  Poppy is six months old now (such a big girl!) and so weaning has begun.  It is recommended you wait until six months before giving your baby food so that they don't develop food allergies and so that their digestive system can handle food.  If you think your baby may be ready before this it is best to wait as long as possible but mums know best, go with your instincts.  I felt it was important to wait until Poppy could sit up really well as it doesn't make sense to feed a baby that can't sit up.  If your baby is waking up a lot during the night this may not be hunger but may simply be a growth spurt or teething.  For a few weeks before she was six months we would give Poppy a piece of cucumber to gum with us at dinner time to get her used to holding food.  It is also great for teething as it it cool on the gums.  

We have gone with the baby led weaning approach.  This means no puréed food, but simply giving your baby soft finger food for example cooked carrots, parsnip,sweet potato, or soft fruit such as banana or avocado.  She has had some mashed food too at her grandparents house.  A lot of people worry about choking on chunks of food however babies are actually really good at eating.  I am pretty sure babies have survived for years without food processors....  Just avoid small food or hard food.  If you have waited until six months to wean then your baby will be ready to chomp and their hand eye coordination will be good enough to feed themselves.  If you have weaned a little earlier maybe start with mashed avocado or banana (check out my post on mashed avocado for the family). 

It is really nice for my partner to feed Poppy, it is something new for him and he is really enjoying watching her facial expressions while trying food.  So far Poppy has not rejected any food, she has tried banana, avocado, red pepper, pear, carrot, potato, cucumber, sweet potato and parsnip.  I think banana and carrot have been the favourites so far.  We also give her a sippy cup with cool boiled water with her food however don't worry too much as milk will still provide most hydration.  If you have exclusively breastfed then your baby will not need a bottle and can move straight on to a free flow sippy cup. 

So what can I tell you about weaning..... It's messy.  If you are weaning soon, BIBS, BIBS, BIBS!

Get a free baby sleep guide!

If you are having trouble getting your baby to sleep or want to learn a few good sleep habits check out the link below to claim a free sleep guide.  The site also has great information and tips as well as some sleep products such as comforters and night lights.

http://www.sleepytot.com/

Good luck getting that full nights sleep!

Breastfeeding is thirsty work!

I am currently writing a few posts on breastfeeding, but here is a quick tip for new mums!  Breastfeeding makes you really thirsty.  Whenever you feed your baby have some water.  I think of it as replacing the liquid that has just come out!  Keep water next to your bed and get your partner to make you a cup tea when you are feeding.  It's important to stay hydrated and healthy to keep up your milk supply.  There is no finishing work with being a mum, feeding is round the clock so you may find you need to have a few snacks in the night too.  Don't worry this is normal and feeding your baby uses 500 calories a day! Exhausting.  I had a jar of dried fruit, nuts and seeds next to the bed, this made sure snacks were healthy, although I do remember the odd cheeky slice of 3 am cheese on toast.....

Thinking about breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding is its own journey.  Just as you think you have cracked it your baby will surprise you. I am still exclusively breastfeeding my baby girl at five months old.  I had always intended to breastfeed her for at least six months, but now I can't imagine giving up so soon.  Once you get the hang of it feeding your baby it is one of the best and most magical parts of being a mother.  Bottle feeding was once very empowering for women allowing them to work and have children and also keep their breasts just for them, however I feel very empowered breastfeeding.  Only I can feed my baby and I am feeding her in the best and most natural way for her.  If you are set on bottle feeding I think you need to do what is right for you and what you feel most comfortable with but I urge you to give breastfeeding a go, you might surprise yourself.  Formula is a perfectly adequate alternative to baby's natural milk but its certainly not as equally good as breast milk.  The closeness you get while nursing your baby is indescribable and it creates an extremely strong bond between you and your baby.  Breastfeeding does mean that you will be with you baby all the time (unless you express milk) but this is a great thing.  It increases your bond and allows your baby to form a secure attachment to you, she will feel safe with you and will be comforted by you.  

In addition to bonding there are many health reasons for breastfeeding although I will not list all these as they are easily available in pregnancy books.  Essentially you will be giving you baby the best start by giving them protection against infection.  A great benefit for you is that you will lose pregnancy weight very quickly as it burns 500 calories a day and it stimulates your uterus to contact more quickly.  Your milk also will adjust to make the exact amount for you baby, you are in sync.  As you baby requires more milk, your body will make it.  Supply and demand.    

It probably sounds like breastfeeding has been easy for me and that I have found it all very natural, however like everyone else I have suffered sore nipples, blocked ducts, difficulty latching and nursing strikes.  My upcoming challenge is the arrival of Poppy's upper front teeth!  Just because you are a women does not mean you know the first thing about feeding and nor does you baby.  You learn together.  I assure you it gets easier, persevere it is worth it for you and your baby.

If you decided to breastfeed I will be writing a post full of tips and advice for those who have begun the breastfeeding journey.  If you are deciding to bottle feed I recommend trying to make up a bottle and making sure you have all your equipment ready before the baby comes, you will have to be extra organised but your partner will be able to help feed your baby giving you a little extra well deserved rest.  You will love seeing your baby getting chunkier by the day.  Good luck ladies and please send any questions you may have. 

Sleeping Lions.

Ok I will admit it..... Poppy sleeps in our bed.  This goes against all health visitor advice and she does in fact sleep happily in her cot, So why do it?  The reason is that it feels like the most natural thing in the world.  It still is the most normal practice in many parts of the world.  I feel like a sleepy pride of lions, the big lazy papa lion on the end.  The little sleeping cub surrounded by the protective mama lioness.  Co-sleeping has an added bonus for breastfeeding mums in that they can feed their baby in bed, even laying down! I simply feed Poppy laying down when she stirs in the night which is much more relaxing for both of us and Dad can sleep undisturbed.  People  say that its a bad habit to break however I think this is a very Victorian view (along with self soothing). It's important to do what ever feels right and works for you and your baby because every baby is very different.

It is important to note however that co-sleeping is not safe if you have been drinking, taking drugs or smoking.  It is also best to do a little research to find the safest way to do it, but trust me mums, you will not roll on to your baby.  

There are many benefits of co-sleeping, including bonding and emotional development of your baby.  Your baby may also learn how to fall asleep by themselves when close to you. Mums and babies will naturally roll towards each other when its cold and roll away from each other when its hot.  I think the biggest benefit is the peaceful environment it can bring as opposed to pacing up and down the stairs in the middle of the night trying to get your baby back to sleep. 

If your baby sleeps fine in her cot and is a good littler sleeper I don't suggest changing your routine unless you specifically want to co-sleep but for new parents I urge you to keep this in the back of your mind as an alternative to try if you are very tired and having sleepless nights. It could be the answer for you.  This might be especially important for colicky babies which need extra comfort. 

Finally, if you are very tired and up a lot in the night it's important to understand that it's very dangerous to fall asleep with your baby in a chair or on the sofa.  Lots of people do this because they are told not to sleep with their baby in their bed which is a great shame.

I love waking up to see Poppy's bright smile looking up at me. 

Poppy's Poncho.

My grandma is the most amazing knitter and after having found out I was pregnant has been knitting for Poppy non stop. She is also an extremely stylish and modern woman and so this isn't just old fashioned knitting. I just had to share the latest item in Poppy's 'Winter Collection', a baby poncho, t bag hat and matching booties! She is very a la mode!

Poppy outside Santa's Grotto!

All tuckered out!  

If you want to try this knitting pattern for yourself follow the link below:

http://www.littlelambwool.co.uk/knitting-patterns/sirdar-1412.html

A Winter Walk.

Going out by yourself with the pram can be quite difficult at first, especially if breastfeeding.  Everyone tells you to get out and about, but it's harder said than done!  Make sure you have a changing bag and supplies ready by the door, then it's all about timing!  I get myself ready while Poppy is in her cot with her mobile on I also get the pram set up.  Then all I have to do is pop her in the pramsuit and go.  Some babies cry when in the pram.  Try to look your baby in the eye and sing to them to reassure them.  If they continue to cry, stop the pram, pick them up and give them a cuddle, when they have stopped crying pop them back down again.  The more you go out for walks the better your baby will be in the pram.   

All snug in her pramsuit.

The bright light and fresh air tends to send babies off to sleep, so if you're having trouble getting your baby to sleep, try a nice walk together.  It also starts to help burn off some of that post pregnancy weight!