new baby – Nannyjob blog

Adjusting to Your New Addition

There’s no denying that first lung full of fresh air you take after having your baby. Only mothers understand the feeling as the sun comes up after the birth and seeing the most beautiful sunrise of all time. Suddenly nature is 100 x more beautiful than it has ever been, and your precious bundle of joy is a product of that.

However there is one subject that isn’t talked about enough. After the birth of a new baby few would care to admit that they aren’t finding the joy in everyday life as they used to.

Some couples may have tried hard to conceive, and all they ever wanted was this bouncing bundle of joy but now the baby is born they find themselves crying on a daily basis and finding it difficult to cope with everyday life.

Women need to understand that postnatal depression is not a sign of failure. There are many contributing factors that would be challenging at any stage of life, yet after a baby these factors are compounded into a short space of time leaving your body and mind exhausted and prone to mental health issues.

After the birth of a baby a woman will experience the baby blues. Hormones will crash and the new mother may feel teary and emotional, yet when these symptoms persist past the first week it is time to have a chat with the doctor.

These symptoms can be prolonged due to the nature of bringing a baby into the world. Your body is exhausted and most probably very sore, your mind will feel like it has permanent PMT, if breastfeeding your hormones will not be the same as prenatally, and sleep may seem like a luxury you can’t afford.

You may look at your new baby with its tiny fingers and toes, its button nose and gurgles and think, “how could anyone be depressed with such a wonderful gift,” yet that is the time when you need help the most.

Postnatal depression is not easily fixed by the individual. A doctor’s advice, even medication, is required to overcome it, yet most women are loathing admitting they are not coping as well as they envisaged.

It is worth noting that one in ten women will suffer from postnatal depression, so you are not alone, and you are not the first person your doctor has seen about it. Your doctor will ask questions, he will be sympathetic and decide the best course of action for you.

Overall it is best to nip postnatal depression in the bud early. As soon as you see the signs, ask for help, the sooner you are on the road to recovery, the sooner you can enjoy your new life as a mummy.

Tips for Nannies: How to Bond with a New Baby

Building a bond with a new baby in your nanny family might sound easy enough. What’s not to love after all? From a sweet coo to their first smile, you’ll be smitten in no time. But, when there are older children around, it can sometimes be difficult to create a lasting bond that will have a nurturing effect on both you as the nanny and the new baby.

That’s why we’ve put together our top tips to help you!

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What would Fiona do?

We were kindly sent a copy of Fiona Cooke’s ‘What would Fiona do?’ to review. Written by a practising maternity nurse, Fiona combines her midwifery training and years of experience with a gentle and compassionate tone to inform and guide new parents (and childcarers) through the first few months.

Continue reading “What would Fiona do?”

Tummy time

‘Tummy time’ can be a daunting prospect. It’s drummed into parents and childcare professionals alike that babies must sleep on their backs and that leaving an infant on their front is risky. But eqaully tummy time is vital to help babies develop strong neck and back muscles from the start and to prevent flat spots which can develop when too much time is spent lying on their back.

The concept of tummy time is simple. You pop baby on their front on a playmat or blanket covering a hard surface and allow them to try to lift their head at first, eventually pushing up with their arms and finally onto all fours so they can crawl. In practice many infants dislike tummy time at first and older babies can get frustrated. Tummy time doesn’t need to last for ours, or even minutes, to be effective right at the start. Even 15 seconds once a day gives a newborn the chance to move their head from side to side, and you can build up gradually. It’s often reassuring to keep a hand on their back so even when they can’t see you they still have that comforting contact. If a baby starts to cry or show signs of frustration or distress then it’s a sign that tummy time is over.

As they grow and become aware of their surroundings you can play games while they lie on their tummies. Try shifting position relative to their head and saying their name – they should look around to locate you. Another big hit once they can push themselves up a little is a child-safe mirror propped up in front of them. They will be fascinated by the other baby that they see there. Lie on the floor in front of them and make faces – anything that keeps them amused also gives them time to strengthen those important muscles.

Mix things up by altering the place you put baby down. Change the angle of elevation if you have a firm pillow or nursing cushion – put it under their torso with their arms in front. This can be really good for babies suffering from reflux as it keeps them slightly upright. You can also do very short bursts, for example after blowing a raspberry on their tummy when changing their nappy quickly roll them over to blow a few on their back too.

To encourage a baby to reach out and eventually crawl put a favourite toy just in front of them and allow them to grab it and pull it closer. as they grow place the toy further away as an incentive to get on the move. Crawling can also be easier if you remove unnecessary or constricting clothes before tummy time, just make sure the room is nice and warm.

Tummy time can be done anwhere – inside, upstairs, downstairs, outside on grass or sand – as often and for as long as you like. The most important thing to make it fun and give your baby a chance to develop.