Expectant Mothers Archives - Baby Accessories Blog

Sleep easy by choosing the right cot

With prices ranging from €80 for a basic cot up to €1300 for a solid wood luxury cot, it’s worth shopping around to choose the one that is perfect for your baby’s early months and years. Whether you decide to buy a cot-bed which will last until your child is five or six, or whether you want a cute cot for babyhood, you will be searching for the best in safety quality, durability and value for money.

Cots:

There is a huge range of cots to choose from and you would be wise to do some extensive research and to consult with the staff in your local baby accessories shop before making a purchase. Ensure that you always look out for the BS EN 716: 2008, safety standard. This ensures that the cot is deep enough to be safe for your baby, that the bars are the correct distance apart, and that the cot does not have cut-outs or steps. If you are using a borrowed or second hand cot, ensure that the distance between the bars is no less than 2.5cm (1inch) and no more than 6.5cm(2.6inches). This is to prevent babies head slipping between the bars. Cots used to have drop sides, for easy access, but these day cots have static or non- moveable sides. It is acceptable to put baby in the cot as soon as they are home form hospital, although many parents prefer to use a cradle, moses basket or carry cot till the baby is a little bigger. A height-adjustable base is common in most cots and cots beds. You can choose the highest lever for the first few months in order to lift your baby in and out easily. The lower level really comes into its own as baby starts to pull themselves up and become more adventurous.

Cot beds:

A cot bed is a cot where the sides and the end panel are removable, so that it may be converted into a toddler-sized bed later on. The best cot beds are durable, safe and easy to convert. Not surprisingly, these are extremely popular and are a much better investment, in that you get a longer life from the purchase. They may also help to assist in making the move from a cot to a bed as smooth as possible for your child. On the down side, a cot bed will take up more space in the room. However its life span in terms of usage is much longer than that of the cot.

Travel Cots:

Travel cots are portable cots that you can fold up and put in a bag to take away with you. Most have a plastic or metal frame, woven fabric and mesh sides, and a hard segmented bottom with a folding, lightly padded mattress. Before purchasing check weight (is it too heavy for travel?) size (again is it travel friendly?), do you need a mattress, stability, ease of assembly (for obvious reasons!) and naturally, cost. If you don’t actually leave home very often you must ask whether you actually need to purchase a travel cot. The assistant in your local baby accessories shop will be able to advise on the best travel cot for your needs.

Teething rail:

An optional teething rail can be incorporated into some cots. It’s a simple rail or a protective covering lining the side-edges of the cot which assists in avoiding the risk of damage. Some cots have casters or mounted wheels which are handy if you want to move it into to a different room. It also makes for easier cleaning under and around the cot.

Bedside cots:

You can buy cots with a removable side so you can position the cot right next to your bed. The base can be adjusted so your baby’s mattress can be lined up with yours, which makes night-time feeding easier.

Mattresses:

Just as it has become a huge part of purchasing an adult bed, there is a mind boggling range of mattresses to choose from. Make sure you choose the right size, ensuring that it is firm and flat and has a waterproof cover. Mattress should have the BSI number 1877-10:2011+A1:2012. There should be no gaps at the side.

Eating Healthy for two- The do’s and don’ts of your Pregnancy diet

Did you know that dietitians are now saying that during the later stages of pregnancy, your baby can ‘taste’ the foods you eat through the amniotic fluid. Treating your baby to a variety of healthy fruits and vegetables in the womb, will increase the chance that your baby will recognize and accept those flavours later on. Eating healthy for two can seem to be a complicated matter. There are foods to avoid and foods to enjoy. Some people encourage you to eat more while others frighten you with words like ‘obese’ and plain old ‘fat’. A good diet for a healthy pregnancy is mainly common sense. If you ate healthy before getting pregnant then there is little change required. If your diet was full of ready meals, takeaways and sugar rushes, then you have the incentive to change.

What not to Eat!

Some foods should be avoided when you’re pregnant. These include raw seafood, unpasteurized milk, cheese and soft cheese like Brie or Camembert. Avoid pate and raw or undercooked meat and poultry. Try not to be tempted by hot deli meals, hotdogs etc as they have a small risk of passing bacteria and parasites. Undercooked eggs should be avoided. Likewise, liver and liver products.

What to Eat!

Everything else! As you can imagine, this leaves a lot of good things to eat. It is worth noting that for the first six months of pregnancy you do not need any extra calories for a growing baby! In the last three months you only need 200 extra calories a day. This is the equivalent of a toasted pitta bread and two tablespoons of hummus or a couple of oatcakes and avocado!! Fruit and veg, protein and low fat dairy are the obvious menu options as you give the tiny person and yourself the most nutritious meals available.

Don’t feel like eating?

If you suffer from nausea or heartburn, you may find it easier to eat a little often rather than large meals at designated times. Bland starchy food, such as crackers or toast may be the short term solution.

Reduce caffeine and throw alcohol to the bin for the duration.

Treats during pregnancy: You are not being punished and don’t need to give up all your favourite foods. High salt and sugar snacks can still be enjoyed in moderation. But don’t feel too guilty if you succumb to temptation and the bowl of crisps or gallon of ice cream disappears in one sitting! Eat well and have a happy healthy pregnancy

6 Things you didn’t expect about expecting.

Congratulations, A special time in life lies ahead of you. Here’s some things they didn’t tell you.

Books and articles on pregnancy abound. Most will tell you what a wonderful time this is and what to expect in your second trimester. Indeed, it is a wonderful and special time. But there are many things which no one tells you. Here are some unexpected things about expecting.

No Touchy-feely my bump please! Somehow, once you begin to show, certain people (friends, family and random strangers) think that it is acceptable to touch your baby bump. Let’s face it, you are not some lucky Buddha to be rubbed for good luck. Back off weirdo. The best thing to do is to rub theirs back. They might think twice before crossing that personal space barrier again.

Laugh so much you pee! Let’s face it, there is a lot of pressure on the body in the last stages of pregnancy. It should not be surprising, but laughing, coughing, sneezing can cause ‘snissing’. That’s the polite and cutesy name for peeing your pants while pregnant ladies. Don’t worry, you won’t need to buy adult nappies just yet and you have so little dignity left by the time you get to the final few weeks of pregnancy, frankly, you really won’t give a damn.

Feeling like Big Foot! Ok, I am not going to sugar coat it. Your feet might get bigger. A shoe size bigger. A wide shoe size. Alongside the Varicose Veins, Haemorrhoids, and Constipation which you have heard so much about, there is a fresh hell to consider. Water retention can mean that your favourite kitten heels will not fit. Don’t stress about it as you will be back in your favourite shoes when baby is born.

Cravings are real. Yes, it is not a myth. Cravings for hot and spicy jalapeno peppers, mushy peas, ice cream and chocolate are common. In fact, there is a scientific reason for pregnancy cravings. Yes, you guessed it.
Hormones. Most doctors advise that you allow shutterstock_68371888 the cravings if they are healthy and make sense, but do not recommend that you give in to the
longing for a glass of white wine… which brings me to the next topic…

Missing alcohol. Yup. This is more common than you might think. While all the books, pamphlets and website show glowing mums-to-be floating through a meadow of wild flowers, wearing homespun cotton en route to their wholesome juice and granola burger dinner, the reality is a little different. Those clubbing days are still in your blood stream and many women admit to missing their favourite tipple. Nights out are not much fun in those flat wide shoes, snissing on the dance floor while you sip still water! Ho Hum girls. This too shall pass.

The glow is real A pregnancy glow exists. Hormones give good things too. That amazing radiant glow skin is a gift which kicks in during the second trimester. Of course not everyone experiences it in the same way, but generally speaking that wonderful radiance is yours, for free, for the duration. No doubt, once your special wee bundle arrives in the world, this glow of pure love will continue.

Pregnancy is a real time of change. Your body, your relationships, your lifestyle. But hey, there are times when you can embrace change and welcome the new. This is one of those times. Enjoy the expected and the unexpected with a good sense of humour and the knowledge that all of this is temporary.