Books to read with young children

Here's some recommendations from storylines, a Children Literature Charitable Trust of New Zealand:






















A Book of Pacific Lullabies

My Maori Colours

How much sleep does your child need?

Good resources to share:

How much sleep does your child need?

15 months toddler

Time flies.... my baby is already 15 months old! The main thing that concern me now is her education, when should we start teaching her different things like manners, letters or numbers...etc. However I still think it's a bit young to teach her any of that, I'm more concern about what interest her? Saying what we're doing to add her vocaburary of the language, and just go along with her. And try not to say too many 'no' to her, instead use positive languages like teeth are for eating, not biting.

Another thing is health issues, babycentre has a good page on Toddler Symptom Guide that could refer to.

It's time to have a look at our home and possibly re-arranging it.

At eight months old, babies usually range from 25.25 inches long and 15.25 pounds (10th percentile) to 28.5 inches long and 20.5 pounds (90th percentile).

Once your baby starts pulling up on furniture, it's time to inspect your home for rocking chairs, recliners, and anything else on wheels or that's unstable. If your baby tries to pull up on an item that moves, shifts, or falls over, he can go tumbling (and the item can fall on top of him too). Block his access to these unstable items as much as possible using baby gates or simply move the item to a room that is inaccessible to your roaming baby.

- Parenting Weekly

My baby doesn't seem to crawl yet, she seems to be pushing herself backwards or sliding backwards instead of crawling, but heard from a friend that her baby didn't crawl and go straight to walking. She doesn't seem to drink much milk these days, and she starts to understand a few words, it's so exciting!

Outings

We went to the zoo the other day, yes, a 7-months old is a bit young for it and most of the time, our baby is either sleeping or feeding in her pram. We saw some seaseals, a hippo, elephant, zebra...etc, she didn't seem to comprehend much but was an experience. After the trip, I think next time for any outings, I'll take the baby carrier, I had a trial on the ergo carrier and it was good, it's more comfortable than the other ones that I got from Farmers which keeps falling down from my shoulders, and easier than the sling I got from trademe. I think it'll last longer than the other ones as well, it's well worth it. I also bought the bubba wrap, but I'm not very good at tying knots and my baby keeps sliding down for some reason.

She's a bit cranky these days, maybe the teething pain, and have a little problem sleeping too, the plunket nurse recommended just leave her crying to sleep, stay beside her but no eye contact to distract her to play, and wait until she get to sleep. I also pat her lightly to try help her to get to sleep. Just found a book called Teeth Are Not for Biting [Board Book] which is funny book to let baby learn to deal with sad, cranky feelings.

Reading to her is a good idea too, there're some free downloadable story books here, like Cinderalla, tortoise & the hare, sleeping beauty...etc.

6 months

Couldn't believe time flies, when I look at my last post, it was September! Was busy all these months with the baby, housework, looking for part time work...etc. I'm really enjoying motherhood now, as the baby is starting to learn things and I was more used to the routine and what to expect. She's well and picking up new things every day, it's delighted to see that.

About feeding, she seems to be less keen on milk and more keen on solids, I was doing her puree apple, carrot, banana and spinach. The plunket nurse suggest to add vegetables to help her digest better.

Still puzzling as the day care centre I'd like her to join is still on waiting list until April, still struggling to find time for work.

Found something good to start at 6 months: Tips for promoting speech & language development

Planning for the next child

Heard that the best time to have a second kid is either with an age difference of 3 years or 1 & a half year, and it's harder when 2 kids are 2 years apart as they'll both be demanding. If having an age difference between 1 and a half year, pretty much we'll need to get pregnant when our daughter is between 6 months to one year old.

As I'm breatfeeding, I've been trying to keep my healthy eating, but not eating as much as when I was pregnant, as I'd like to lose some weight and my appetite doesn't seem to be as big. Will take Elevit again for the folic acid.

My husband was dreaming to have a boy, we don't really mind the gender for our next child, but I guess we could try to maximise the opportunity. There are many ways we could try:

- the old wives tale like facing the pillow north

- IVF and others described in the about.com site

- time the ovulation, boys will conceive closer to ovulation (when ovary release egg), as sperm for male live shorter

To test which days is ovulation, one way I heard before is to measure the temperature first thing in the morning when awake, our body temperature will rise at ovulation. The Clearblue Digital Ovulation Tests will test the exact day, like a pregnancy test paper, through urine.
Signs of ovulation

But I found it quite troublesome, having to measure my temperature every morning and sometimes my period didn't come on time! The day this month might be different from the next. The Maybe Baby Saliva Ovulation Reusable test kit test the estrogen (the hormone that release at the time of ovulation) level through Saliva, I think I'll give this a go, it's simple, not as expensive as reusable, and it makes sense.


More Useful Resources:

Getting Pregnant FAQ



ClearBlue Ovulaton test FAQ

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