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Keep, pass-on or donate.
Keep, pass-on or donate. Here’s something that will be news to no-one: babies grow, and fast! That adorable onesie they came home wearing, the outfit they met their grandparents in, their first birthday party dress… they’re now sitting in storage – boxes of tiny clothes taking up room. That clutter helps no one, but there’s another downside to storing clothes – it actually damages them. Even if you wash and dry clothes thoroughly and store them in a dry, dark place, it’s likely they will suffer. Protein stains from drool, milk spills and spit-up get embedded in the clothing. If they’re in regular use, the marks are kept at bay, but in storage, they develop into yellow and brown stains. Most of these become permanent and are resistant to cleaning. Elastic and stretchy clothes will lose their elasticity, especially if they’re stored in a warm environment. So, baby clothes need to come out of storage, but how do you tell if they’re keepsakes, hand-me-downs or ready to be donated? We’ve made things simple with a checklist of things to consider before adding an item to the ‘keep’ pile. Donate or pass on, if the clothes are: Super girly or masculine If you have non-neutral clothes, it might not be smart to keep them for future children, unless you’re really comfy blurring gender lines. The chance of having that same-gender again is only 50/50. Very tiny There’s no way of knowing how big your next baby will be. If you had a premie the first time around, that 10lb second baby (ouch) won’t ever fit those tiny clothes. Strictly seasonal While high-quality merinos will suit most seasons, it’s best to get rid of anything that’s very heavy, or very light – light blousy dresses, or heavy jackets. If your next child is born at a different time of year, he’ll have outgrown the items before the weather gets cool or warm enough to wear them. Damaged or stained If you wouldn’t put your baby in the clothes now, don’t expect your mind to change later. Really useful to someone else Whether they’re a permanent donation to the Salvation Army or a loaner to close family or friends, they’re doing more good being used. Keep if the clothes are: Emotionally significant Perhaps your next baby won’t ever wear that tiny beanie, but you can’t bear to part with it. Some precious items are worth holding onto, for the memories. Versatile If something will work across seasons, genders, and is stretchy to accommodate growth, it might be worth keeping – you’ll have a better shot of getting your next baby into it at some point. Clean, tidy and high quality Everything you keep should look almost new. This means you’re more likely to still have some wearable things when the next baby comes along, even after being stored for a few years. When should you let those baby clothes go? Letting go can sometimes be difficult – it can be farewelling some happy moments in your life. That includes maternity clothes too – even if you ended up really hating those stretchy jeans, saying goodbye feels like letting go of that precious time. Many of us keep clothes well beyond any useful point if they hold beautiful memories. If this is you, then it’s time to make some choices. Keep a few outfits that are really important to you and have some lovely memories attached. You can even have some items made into a special memory quilt or cushion, so you can have them forever in a useful way. Then give away the rest. You’ll have your storage space again, you can feel good helping out another mother, and know that clothing will be used again to create happy memories for someone else.
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We are on the Move!
Lots more space just across the road! Dimples' has an exciting announcement – and it's a little different to your usual gender-reveal party. We're on the move! Although our current space has served us well, it's time to move out of the small (sometimes, let's face it, a bit cramped) retail store on 14 Kent Street in Newmarket. We're headed to a bigger, newer, prettier space – just across the road at 25 Kent Street. Here's everything you need to know about the new space and what you can expect when the doors open on Tuesday, 3rd September. More range in-store With more space, you'll be able to see and touch far more products in real life! We'll still have all of your favourites, along with products that use to be only available online and all-new brands! You can also expect brand new displays, making it easier for you to find the beautiful, practical things you need to make your baby's first years ever-so-sweet. With the release of our new store, Dimples will also be releasing the first-ever New Zealand Stokke and Nuna flagship store! Offering a first-class brand experience where the full range of products take centre stage. Easy parking Don't worry about getting lost trying to find our new store – it's just across the road from our old location at 14 Kent Street. You'll find plenty of free customer parking right outside, too, so you can drive on up and come straight in. More staff to help you Getting ready for a new arrival, whether it be your first or fourteenth, can be overwhelming. But with the right help, shopping for a new baby should be enjoyable! That's why in our new store you'll find more staff to show you around, answer your questions, and help you choose the right things. Setting up your nursery from scratch? You'll now also be able to book a consultation with one of our team members, who can take you through everything you'll need for your new baby. And with the launch of our new store, we now have 6-month interest free finance options available! Keep bubs safe – expert car seat installation A must-do before the new bubba arrives is getting your car seat installed. We'll have qualified car-seat installers on-site, so you can drive away knowing your car seat is correctly – and safely – affixed. We can't wait to show you around This is a big move for Dimples – and our loyal customers – and we can't thank you enough for being a part of our journey so far. We're eager to open our new store – we've been squeezed into a small space for a long time, and we're ready to give our products the room they deserve. We're currently still in the design process, but we can guarantee our new shop will look and feel different in all good ways. We hope you love it just as much as we do. Stay tuned for more opening information – we can't wait to see you there!
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Top Ten Tips for a Successful Naptime
Naps are more challenging than night sleep but can be done. Napping is incredibly important, not just for your baby’s wellbeing, but for yours too. When naps are too short, erratic or unpredictable, it can be frustrating, worrying and exhausting. If you’re struggling to get your baby or toddler to nap, these ten tips could help. 1. Look out for sleep cues Ideally, your baby will be ready for sleep, but not overtired which can make napping harder. Keep an eye out for signals like frowning, jerky movements, scratching their ears or head, or making grunting noises. Toddlers may get sillier, louder, or easier to upset. 2. Skipping a nap won’t make for better sleep later Don’t skip a nap with the hope that your baby will have a better sleep later. Missing a nap will lead to overtiredness, making napping even harder. If your child has skipped a nap, they might need to go to bed earlier to make up for it. 3. It’s ok to try later If your baby is point-blank refusing to nap, it’s ok to take a break. Try pausing, and doing something else with them. If you’re following a sleep-training technique or trying to break a sleep habit, it’s ok to revert to what you know will work – you can try again when your baby is no longer overtired. 4. Avoid device screens TV, computers and other devices with screens emit blue light, which can disrupt melatonin production – the hormone that makes people feel sleepy. Watching TV up to 90 minutes pre-nap can lead to less nap time, or missing sleep altogether. This can add up to a sleep deficit, which can make the problem worse. Keep screen time to a minimum and after nap time only. 5. Develop a schedule You need to find a balance between naps and feeding, so your baby isn’t waking up because of hunger. To maximise sleep it’s also important that there is enough (but not too much!) time between sleeps. For many parents, a schedule makes this easier. Every child is different, but this sleep and feeding schedule will help give you an idea of what could work. 6. Have a pre-nap routine Bedtime routines are important – and naps need them too. Create a short pre-nap process that is a pared-back version of what you do at night. It should be cosy and relaxing, preparing your child for her nap. 7. Keep the light low and encourage quietness Your baby will find it easier to fall asleep and stay that way in a cool, dark, quiet room. To create this ideal sleep environment, check the room isn’t too hot – between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius is ideal. Hang blackout drapes, and use white noise to block out sudden noises. 8. Consistency is key Aim for at least one nap at home during the day – ideally the first of the day. If you’re out and about, the naps aren’t as restful as ones at home, which will lead to your baby becoming overtired. 9. If your baby stops napping, don’t panic Your baby can stop napping for many reasons – illness, teething, a sleep regression, a growth spurt, a developmental leap, or a change in napping schedule. During sleep regressions, your baby or toddler will change their sleeping patterns for the worse. This is exhausting and stressful, but it’s normal. This regressions generally align with big developmental leaps, around 4 months, 8 months, 11 months, 18 months, and 2 years. Nap transitions are when a child’s sleep needs change. Commonly newborns will nap 4-5 times a day, which drops to 4 at about four months old. Then, from 5-8 months, they’ll have around three naps and start resisting the fourth. From 9-18 months this will reduce to two naps a day, and you can expect your child to continue having one (ever shorter!) nap a day until they're about 3. 10. Be kind to yourself Naps are notoriously tricky to manage – your baby won’t have the same sleep pressure during the day as they have at night, so even small things can throw you off course. Like everything else involving babies, be patient with yourself and them. What’s ‘normal’ won’t work for everyone, so give yourself permission to have a bit of trial and error, and allow gentle deviations from the routine when required. Persistence, flexibility and support Naptime doesn’t have to be a struggle. Keep an eye out for sleep regression or nap transitions, and adjust schedules accordingly. Keep persisting, ask your friends and family for help and support, and pay attention to your baby’s natural tendencies. Before long, nap time will be something to look forward to!
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Pros and cons of getting a nanny
A nanny or not? That is the question It could be the best decision you ever make So, you’re ready to go back to work – now comes the sticky question of who looks after the kids. You’ve got plenty of options, all with different pros and cons, including daycare, home-based care and family members helping out. Not often explored in NZ is the option of getting a nanny. While some families think they’re the best thing since sliced bread, it’s not the right solution for everyone. Advantages of hiring a nanny No more frantic mornings It’s hard enough getting yourself out the door, let alone an unwilling toddler, or a baby who always seems to need changing at the wrong time. With your nanny around, frantic mornings are gone. It’ll be as simple as getting yourself ready and kissing your baby’s goodbye. One-on-one care It’s comforting to know that yours is the only kid (or kids!) your nanny has to worry about. There are no other crying babies to attend to, so they have the nanny’s attention all the time. That means your children’s emotional, physical and developmental needs are there first priority. Your children will also be at home in their own space – a far more relaxing environment than a Daycare Centre. Flexibility A nanny’s hours will usually be more flexible than daycare. Rather than rigid schedules, you’ll work to understand how flexible the nanny’s hours are, and how you can handle abrupt changes of plans. No more last-minute calls to daycare or paying through the nose for late pick-ups. Less illness Daycare is a breeding ground for coughs, colds and other childhood illnesses. By keeping your child away from other children, you’re avoiding a host of health issues, which is better for everyone in the family. Help in the home Imagine coming back to a tidy home, washing done and the kids fed. Nannies don’t just look after the kids – they can also help around the house too. The level of extra duties will depend on how many kids they are looking after, so it’s best to detail these from the start. No-compromise approach to care If you parent a certain way or believe in certain approaches, it can be difficult to let others look after your child when they don’t share your values or views. When you hire a nanny, you can choose someone who already fits your family, and then ask them to closely align with your parenting style. Daycare, homebased care or family members won’t give you nearly the same level of oversight and control. Disadvantages of a nanny You’re reliant on just one person If the nanny quits unexpectedly – or is unwell – you may be stranded with no other childcare options. A daycare is always open! Less social interaction Socialization is important for your child’s future. Daycare means your child has daily contact with peers but staying at home with the nanny means your child may miss out. To combat this, you could ask your nanny to schedule playdates, outings, and music or swimming classes. A bit pricier A nanny will need to be paid at least the minimum wage, which is $23.15 an hour – although you should expect to pay up to $30 an hour for a good one. That means a ten-hour day will cost at least $231.50, or $1,157.50 for a five-day week, which is a lot more expensive than your average daycare. If you have two or more kids, a nanny becomes a more economical option – you’ll pay the same hourly rate, regardless of the number of children (within reason!), but you pay per child for daycare. If the nanny can help out by doing some housework each day, the equation becomes even more attractive. More paperwork If you employ someone directly, you may have to pay PAYE and other employer-related taxes and benefits. You also need to be familiar with the Holidays Act and Employment Relations Act. Working through a nanny agency can solve some of these problems – they’ll handle the paperwork but may add a fee. Lack of privacy This person will be in your home, all day, with no other adult there. Some people may struggle with this and feel like they are losing their privacy. Questionable qualifications How do you know you can trust this person with your child? In NZ, there’s a Certificate in Nanny Education, a globally-recognised qualification. This qualification ensures they have the theoretical and practical knowledge to look after your children. But nannying doesn’t require qualifications – they could be studying towards an early childhood career or have no qualifications at all. You’ll need to do your homework to check up on potential nannies – even if they seem to tick all the boxes. Ready to find a nanny? If you’ve decided a nanny is the best option for your family, there are plenty of places you can find one. There are umbrella organizations that act as agencies to connect nannies and families. You could also advertise online or ask around your community for recommendations. Remember to check references thoroughly and perhaps conduct a paid trial to see if the nanny and your kids get along. Get it right, though, and a nanny could be an amazing addition to your family.
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Pregnancy Stages - Third Trimester
Can’t wait to meet you! Here’s what happens during your third trimester of pregnancy. You’re on the home stretch! It’s your third trimester, the final stage of your pregnancy, marked from week 29 to 40 (or even week 42 or 43, if you go over!) Anything uncomfortable that started getting niggly in the second trimester will continue, and probably get worse. You can expect a bunch of others to join the party, too! The good news is that it’s now possible for your baby to survive outside of the womb with some medical help, and every day that passes it’s getting stronger – something you’ll sure feel as it begins walloping you. This growing little person is now taking up more space, which pushes your internal organs up into your ribs, presses on your bladder and makes digestion difficult. You may get breathless and need to pee a whole lot more often. This is totally normal and will go away almost the second the baby is born. As your due date approaches, your body also begins getting ready for birth. The baby will start sitting lower in your belly, and your cervix will begin to thin and soften, which can feel like period cramps. You may also begin to feel Braxton Hicks, which are like tiny contractions and make your whole belly go rock hard. What happens to your body? This is the month of big physical changes on the outside for you-you'll look really, obviously pregnant, and begin to feel heavy and slow. Sleeping may also get harder – the weight of your belly means sleeping on your back is uncomfortable (and even dangerous), while side sleeping may feel more comfortable with a pillow between your knees and another under your belly. Here are some other things you may experience • Swollen feet, ankles, face or fingers. If you puff up suddenly or gain weight quickly, call your doctor – it could be a sign of pre-eclampsia, which is serious. • Constipation • Hemorrhoids • Tender breasts, which may begin making colostrum (pre-milk) • A popped-out belly button • Shortness of breath • Heartburn • Difficulty sleeping What’s going on in there? At 29 weeks, your baby is pretty much fully formed but is still busy getting everything into working order. Weighing in at about 1kg, and 38.5cm long, your baby’s soft bones are getting harder, with more calcium deposits. The brain is also fired up with neurons, gaining folds as it gets more complex. At 33 weeks, and kicking up a storm, your baby is 1.5kg and is losing living space by the day. Your baby is gaining about 200g a week, filling in that wrinkled skin The eyes can now open and close, but the lungs are still not quite ready yet. Even so, your baby has begun practicing breathing, by inhaling amniotic fluid. The fine covering of hair is now beginning to fall off, but many babies are born with much of it – and it falls off completely after birth. Your 36-week baby is counting the days until you finally get to meet. In the meantime, it’s in there packing on the pounds. The vernix, that waxy coating, is thickening and your active wee one is almost certainly pummeling you from within – you may even be able to tell whether that bump in your belly is a foot or a hand. At 40 weeks, your baby has organs that all work on their own and is technically ready to come out – although many babies stick around for two or three weeks longer. As your due date approaches, your baby will (hopefully) move its head down, facing backward. This is the ideal (but not the only) birth position. While you’re pregnant it can feel like a never-ending journey, and then suddenly you meet that little person you’ve been carrying for close to ten months. The range of emotions you might feel at this point is enormous – the first days with your new baby can be exhilarating, exhausting, heartbreaking and utterly wonderful all at the same time. You might suddenly see your pregnancy as a strange dream that happened to someone else! Getting ready for a baby? Click here to view our newborn essentials checklist.
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Pregnancy Stages - Second Trimester
Hello in there! Here’s what happens during your second trimester of pregnancy. The second trimester, marked from weeks 13 to 28, is often when pregnant women feel at their best. The major developments in your baby’s growth have slowed, which means the hormones (and all the horrible symptoms!) tend to ease now, too. Your baby bump will be popped out – so people stop wondering if you’ve just been eating too much cake – and you can also begin to feel a bit more reassured that your pregnancy will be viable. It’s extremely unusual to miscarry after week 12, which is why many parents wait until the second trimester to announce their impending addition to the family. Your baby is busy refining the developments made in the first trimester, which means you’ll still feel reasonably light and mobile. The second trimester is arguably the most exciting period in pregnancy. On top of feeling a lot better, you’ll also begin to see obvious signs of life. Some women feel movement as early as 13 weeks, but some don’t feel those first flutters until closer to 25 weeks. It all depends on your baby’s positioning, and where your placenta is. It’s in the second trimester that you’ll have scans that will tell you your baby is growing as it should, and, if you like, what sex it is. While the external sex organs are more clearly male or female now, scans can get it wrong – it’s not unheard of for parents to take home a little girl when they were expecting a boy (and vice versa!) What happens to your body? While your body is saving up all the really big changes until the third trimester, you’ll still notice a big shift. Here are some symptoms you may experience: Feeling achy in your back, tummy, groin, or thighs Stretch marks on your tummy, breasts, thighs, or bum Darkening of the areola (skin around your nipple) Development of the linea nigra – a line on your skin running from belly button to pubic hairline Patches of darker skin on your cheeks, forehead, nose, or upper lip Numb or tingly hands Itchy tummy, palms or bottoms of the feet. If this is combined with fatigue, nausea and yellowed skin, call the doctor – it could be your liver. Swollen feet, ankles, face or fingers. If you puff up suddenly or gain weight quickly, call your doctor – it could be a sign of pre-eclampsia, which is serious. The good news is that this is the trimester for the famous pregnancy glow. If you’re lucky, you might notice your hair getting lush and shiny, your nails growing faster, and your skin looking radiant. Not too bad right? Remember to treat yourself kindly – lots of good food, sleep and gentle exercise. You may notice feeling a little slower, or short of breath now, too – this is normal. Listen to what your body is telling you and try not to push yourself too hard. What’s going on in there? At 16 weeks, your baby is about 11.5 cm long and weighs a hefty 85 grams. This trimester is all about putting the finishing touches on its little work of art. The bones and muscles are still forming and the skin appears – it’s nearly transparent. Your baby will also be making its first poo! This is called meconium and develops in your baby's intestinal tract. The sucking reflex is working overtime, practising for the breast or bottle. Whether or not you can feel it, your baby is also getting frisky in there, kicking arms and legs, and swimming around in that still-roomy sack. At 20 weeks, the way your baby is measured changes. Before, your baby was measured from head to bum – it’s hard to measure those tiny legs when they’re all tucked up. At 20 weeks, people generally begin measuring foetuses from head to heel – so it can seem your baby has stretched from 15cm in week 19 to 25cm in week 20. Your baby’s skin is now covered by fine, feathery hair, called lanugo, and a waxy protective coating called vernix. Other hair comes in too – eyebrows, lashes and the first tufts up on top. Your baby can swallow, and also has working ears – you may notice your baby’s movements respond to sound. By 24 weeks, your baby is over halfway done – and babies born at this stage have even been known to survive, with a lot of medical help. There’s still plenty more left to do, though. Your baby needs to fatten up, and still has important elements developing: bone marrow begins to make blood cells, taste buds, footprints and fingerprints form, and sex organs are all present and accounted for. Your baby’s lungs are formed, but still don’t work. What happens next? Read about your third trimester.
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Breastfeeding Basics and Tips
Understanding the Fundamentals of Breastfeeding Breastfeeding might seem straightforward, but many new moms find it challenging. Patience is essential, and being well-prepared can make the process smoother. Here, we break down the basics to help you get ready for this journey. The Three Stages of Breast Milk Colostrum: The First Stage When your baby is born, your body produces colostrum, a clear or yellowish liquid packed with nutrients, proteins, and vitamins. This small amount is perfect for newborns, helping to protect their digestive tract and immune system. Transitional Milk: The Second Stage Regular breastfeeding will stimulate the production of transitional milk, which appears around the third to fifth day. It looks like a mix of milk and orange juice, rich in lactose, fat, and calories. Mature Milk: The Third Stage By the second week, mature milk replaces transitional milk. This pale, sometimes bluish milk provides all the nutrients, fat, and proteins your baby needs, adjusting its water content in hot weather and boosting antibodies when needed. Achieving a Good Latch Proper latching is crucial to prevent discomfort. A good latch covers both the nipple and the areola and shouldn't be painful. Here’s how to ensure a successful latch: Positioning Your Baby Hold your baby tummy-to-tummy with your breasts, keeping their head aligned with their body. Mouth to Nipple Tickle your baby’s lips with your nipple or express a bit of milk to encourage the rooting reflex. When your baby opens wide, bring them to your breast. Ensuring Proper Attachment A proper latch involves the baby’s chin and nose touching your breast. If necessary, adjust the bottom lip to ensure it isn’t tucked in. Watch for a steady suck-swallow-breathe pattern. Trying Different Positions If you encounter difficulties, experiment with different breastfeeding positions like the football hold or side-lying. Consult a lactation consultant if needed. Maintaining Comfort and Milk Supply Relax and Feed on Demand Stay calm and relaxed to enhance milk production. Allow your baby to feed without time limits, ensuring one breast is fully drained before switching to the other. Recognizing Hunger Cues Signs of hunger include nuzzling your breasts, rooting, sucking on hands or clothing, and making lip-smacking noises. Crying is a late hunger cue. Feeding Frequency Newborns typically feed 8-12 times a day. Some may need to be woken up for feeds if they sleep for more than six hours. Patience and Persistence Breastfeeding takes time and practice. Be patient with yourself and your baby, seeking professional help if needed. With time, breastfeeding will become more natural and enjoyable for both of you. By following these tips, you can create a calm and successful breastfeeding experience, eventually making it look effortless.
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Pregnancy stages – First Trimester
Welcome, little bean Here’s what happens during your first trimester of pregnancy. You’re pregnant! Congrats – this is both an unbelievably special moment, and one that’s totally ordinary. It should come as a comfort to you that while this may be your first time pregnant, there are billions of women who have gone before you. The first thing to remember about pregnancies is that each is unique – our founder Jane Anne had 14 children and tells us that none of her pregnancies were the same. There are, however, some things you can predict. Most women experience similar things at similar stages, and you can expect your baby to grow and develop at predictable periods. The first trimester begins at the official date of conception, which oddly enough is counted from about two weeks before you actually conceive. That’s because doctors count from the date of your last period – you’ll have ovulated and conceived about two weeks after, but there’s no way of knowing exactly when. What happens to your body? During the first trimester, your baby’s development is at its most visibly startling, developing from a cluster of cells into something that looks pretty much human in a matter of weeks. That takes a lot of effort – and hormones – on the part of your body. While most women won’t start to show until the second trimester (and a bit earlier if this isn’t your first pregnancy), many women feel very pregnant very quickly – bloat can look a lot like a pregnancy belly. Some other symptoms you may experience are: Feeling really tired Sore and swollen breasts and nipples Morning sickness (that actually appears around the clock!) Food cravings or aversions Mood swings Constipation Needing to pee more Headaches Indigestion Weight gain or loss Such glamour! But don’t worry – this is only a short-lived period in your pregnancy. It gets easier. The best way to manage it is to stay as healthy as possible. Eat and sleep well, and get as much gentle exercise as you can manage. That means you may need to go to bed earlier, cut out foods that make you queasy, eat smaller meals more frequently, and shift away from high-impact exercises to walking, swimming, and yoga. For many women, morning sickness peaks in weeks 8 and 9 and then will begin to taper off – along with their other symptoms – as they head into the second trimester (counted from 12 weeks). What’s going on in there? Your baby is getting busy! These early weeks are when your baby is building all the components of its body. By week 12, your baby will look like a person (just with odd proportions). At four weeks, your baby is still called an embryo. At a teeny tiny 0.5cm long, your baby has already begun work on its brain, spinal cord, and heart. Four little buds have sprouted, which will eventually become legs and arms. By week eight, your baby is 2.5cm and is now officially a fetus. All major organs are under development (hello, tiny lungs) and the heart has begun to beat. Little details are underway too – fingers and toes (with minuscule nails!) sex organs and facial features. The end of the first trimester is marked by the beginning of week 12. At this point, your baby is about 7.5cm long, with nerves and muscles that work together (which is why some parents catch their little one sucking a thumb on scans!) Eyelids close and won’t open again until about week 28. If you could peer inside, you’d see that your baby looks quite a lot like… a baby! The head, however, is still a lot bigger in proportion to the body and the arms and legs are still quite short. What happens next? Read about your second trimester here.
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Keep your Baby Close - Highchairs
Family Dinners are more important than you think. How eating together makes your baby smarter and healthier: There’s no denying it, the dinner table is the heart of family life. Research has also shown the critical role it plays in strengthening your bonds, and in helping your child’s development. Studies have shown that dinnertime chat is even more important for boosting your child's vocabulary than reading aloud. Young children learn 1,000 rare words at the dinner table, compared to only 143 from books. This increased vocabulary means your kids will read earlier and more easily. If your kids are school-aged, having them join you at the dinner table is possibly more important for their grades than making sure they get enough time in school, doing homework, playing sports or making art. There’s also a connection between family dinners and a bunch of health benefits – your kids will eat more fruit and veg , which may be why young adults who ate with their families as teens often have healthier eating habits and are less likely to be obese . Studies have also found that family dinners make kids happier , and less likely to suffer from depression or engage in risky behaviours . Embed family dinner habits early While you and your partner may have preferred to eat in front of the TV, your new baby should begin to change all that. The sooner you can establish the ritual of family dinners the better – ideally from infancy when they’re busy learning rules, words and habits. That can be easier said than done if you don’t have the right equipment. Highchairs are generally designed for older babies, and with little thought to facilitating family dinners. With bulky construction and a tray in the way, it’s almost impossible to get your baby close enough to the table to be part of the family dynamic. It’s why many parents end up feeding their babies separately and away from the table. For older children, adult chairs (even with boosters or cushions) can make dinner times just feel like hard work. Seated too low for their food, and with feet dangling, they can quickly become uncomfortable so they’re less able to concentrate on their meal, and on the family chit-chat going on around them. While you can find solutions for all of these issues for each stage, there are highchair systems that can grow alongside your baby, from infancy all the way to adulthood. Stokke® highchairs for easy family dinners from birth up The Tripp Trapp ® and Steps ™ highchairs from Stokke are designed to do just that, with fully adjustable seats and footrests. Clip on the safe, ergonomically designed Tripp Trapp or Steps Newborn Set and you can have your baby with you at the table right from the start. Perfect positioning and excellent leg support let your little one relax and enjoy the family time. It’s a great way to help your baby build strong relationships with the whole family – and means one parent isn’t absent from the dinner table. Once your baby can sit up unsupported, it’s time for the baby set for Tripp Trapp or for Steps to keep them safe, supported and comfortable at the table. Cushions are available for both the Tripp Trapp and Steps systems, too. Silicone EZPZ ™ mats for the Tripp Trapp and Steps chairs have built-in bowls to minimise spillage. They can be used with the Tripp Trapp or Steps trays or placed directly on your dinner table. Older children will also enjoy the Tripp Trapp Table Top Tray , with their suction bases and fun, educational motifs. The Tripp Trapp’s timeless Scandinavian design was first produced in 1976 and hasn’t changed since. Steps is a newer addition to the Stokke family, with a look to complement a range of interior styles. Both chairs come in a range of colours to mix and match to your home décor and with a warranty when you register your new chair’s serial number - Tripp Trapp is 7 years and Steps is 3 years. Get the best from your family meals Do yourselves and your children a big favour – don’t let television horn in on precious and valuable family meal times. The dinner table has been shown to be the best place for all kinds of learning and development, including vocabulary, eating habits, relationships and life-long health. Even when you understand the vital importance of family meals, it can be hard logistically to include your kids right from the start – tradition highchairs don’t help much! It’s good to know that Stokke® can provide a Tripp Trapp® or Steps™ seating system, allowing your kids to join the family meal right from newborn, and get the very best start possible.
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