Baby Bidz Blog

Seller Of The Week - Mumma Made It

2010-05-23T16:37:00.006+10:00

Introducing Tara & Jazmin who are two stay-at-home mums who enjoy making things for our two beautiful daughters to wear that are unique and pretty, but can be used for everyday wear or that special occassion.

1. Tell us a little about yourself.
We are two stay-at-home mums who enjoy making
things for our two beautiful daughters to wear that are
unique and pretty, but can be used for everyday wear or
that special occassion.

2. How long have you been in business for?
6 Months

3. How did you come up with your business name?
It took us a sometime to decide on a suitable name
that we felt represented us. We are both mums that
make accessories hence the name 'Mumma Made It'.

4. What did you do before this?
We were and are still full time parents.

5. Whats your best advice for new sellers?
If you love what you do it doesnt feel like a job.
Turning a hobby into a buisness ensures that it is fun
to go to “work” in the morning.

6. What do you have in stock that you cant believe hasn’t sold?
Our Fabric covered headbands as they are great for
when you want to get up in the morning put
something on when your in a hurry. A quick fix when
you dont want to do your hair but still look good.

7. What do you enjoy doing besides selling on BabyBidz.com.au?
Spending time with our families and spending time
outdoors playing.

8. What is your favourite movie, tv show and website?
Playschool as it entertains the kids while we work,
The Hills something to watch on our lunch break &
The big Bang theory for relaxing at night.... and updating
Mumma made it Facebook page.

9. It’s a good day at work when…….
The kids have slept, our products are made and we
still standing at the end of the day.

10.If I ran the internet for the day I’d….
Make everything free!

11.You’d laugh if you knew this about me.
I still believe in Santa... ha ha ha

Visit Mumma Made It......Click Here

Join Mumma Made It on Facebook......Click Here

Seller Of The Week - Nappy Rapz

2010-05-07T23:42:00.005+10:00

Introuducing Vicky from Nappy Rapz who produce the most elegant Gifts for New Baby Celebrations.

1. Tell us a little about yourself.
I have been married for 8 wonderful years to my husband, Nick. I have always been interested in baby products, kids parties, kids food…anything baby related. I also enjoy creating websites, so I am doing an IT course at the moment.

2. How long have you been in business for?
I started my business March 2008

3. How did you come up with your business name?
My husband and I sat many evenings on the couch brain storming names. We knew that it should have the word nappy in the title because at that time I was only going to make nappy cakes. The fact that you wrap nappy’s in baby goods seemed like a good word, but I wanted it to stand out, so we made it Nappy Rapz

4. What did you do before this?
I worked for 8 yrs with a bank. I did almost every branch role they have! My last position was a Mobile Home Finance Manager.

5. Whats your best advice for new sellers?
Research!! Research what you want to sell, and who sells it in Australia and overseas. Spending a little extra time researching your products & competitors can save a lot of time later.

6. What do you have in stock that you cant believe hasn’t sold?
I have these gorgeous Sock booties…in lots of colours that have not taken off yet! I am hoping once the warmer weather comes, they will be a big hit!

7. What do you enjoy doing besides selling on BabyBidz.com.au?
I love being on facebook. It is such a great tool for businesses. I also enjoy reading baby forums & especially the promote your business sections.

8. What is your favourite movie, tv show and website?
I think I am going to have to say….Dirty Dancing….nobody puts baby in a corner.
TV Show – (currently) I can’t pick just one…I have to say Masterchef, Desperate Housewives, Brothers & Sisters, Greys Anatomy and Private Practice
Website – (excluding the websites I have created & of course Baby Bidz) http://www.masterchef.com.au/recipes.htm
It has so many fabulous recipes

9. It’s a good day at work when…….
A good day at work is a productive day…lots of orders made and delivered, time for facebook and forums and a delicious home cooked meal on the table when my hubby gets home.

10. If I ran the internet for the day I’d….
Make search engine optimization a lot easier!

11. You’d laugh if you knew this about me.
I don’t walk under street signs or over street drains…..superstitious!

Visit Nappy Rapz......Click Here

Join Nappy Rapz on Facebook......Click Here

Gift Giving Ideas

2010-05-06T09:36:00.006+10:00

Here are some great gift giving items.
Click on the photo to view the product.

For more gift ideas click here.

Baby Bidz Babes Photo Comp

2010-05-03T11:39:00.006+10:00

Here are our entrants for our "Cheeky, But oh so cute" Photo competiton.
Please click on the photo you think is the "Cheekiest" to vote.

To enter your child.......Click Here

Seller Of The Week - Adorable Kidz

2010-05-01T23:39:00.008+10:00

Tell us a little about yourself.
Well I am mostly known as Bekkie and I'm a WAHM. I am from NZ and lived there until our family of 3 decided to make the move over here to Australia in January of this year. I have 1 son, Aston who is 3.5 now and been married to my hubby for coming up 5 years this May. I don't like the critters here much but slowly getting use to them.

How long have you been in business for?
Gosh a while.. probably near 3 years.

How did you come up with your business name?
Originally I started off as Babymania but then decided to do a big change last year so came up with Adorable Kidz! Because all kids are adorable aren't they? lol

What did you do before this?
I was working in a cafe as a barrista and worked in the kitchen preparing the meals.

Whats your best advice for new sellers?
Join support groups and networks as they are great! And don't give up, sometimes its not easy but if you have the passion you will keep going.

What do you have in stock that you cant believe hasn’t sold?
Fur Fashion Bandana Bibs.

What do you enjoy doing besides selling on BabyBidz.com.au?
I own a parenting community Adorable Kidz Parenting Community as I LOVE making new friends and I sew lots and lots.

What is your favourite movie, tv show and website?
I don't really have 1 favourite but really like comedy movies, can't beat a really good laugh, good for the heart! TV Show would be Home and Away and website would be http://adorablekidzcommunity.ning.com/

It’s a good day at work when…….
I get lots of sewing done and feel accomplished. Also when I get a sale it puts me over the moon!

If I ran the internet for the day I’d….
Buy lots and lots of ribbons and fabric! They are my addictions lol

Visit Adorable Kidz......Click Here

Join Adorable Kidz on Facebook......Click Here

New brochure helps parents find services for children with autism.

2010-04-21T16:14:00.005+10:00

A new brochure about autism spectrum disorder, now available as part of the Federal Government's Helping Children with Autism package, is designed to help parents and carers find the best care for their children.

"Autism can seem like bad behaviour, and no two children will have exactly the same set of problems so it can be difficult to recognise,"
says psychologist and brochure co-author Dr Rebecca Mathews, from the Australian Psychological Society. "However, parents are best placed to know their own children, so if they feel something is not right they should ask for an assessment. It is also important that parents know which health professionals provide assistance with autism and how they can access these services."

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disability that is part of the broader category called pervasive developmental disorders, which includes Autistic disorder (autism), Asperger's disorder, Pervasive developmental disorder – Not otherwise specified, Rett's disorder and Childhood disintegrative disorder.

The new brochure, I know every child is different, but I'm still worried…A guide to the assessment and treatment of autism spectrum disorder, outlines the signs of ASD and the recommended process for assessment and treatment, including the various roles of the allied health professionals who may be involved. It was developed by the Australian Psychological Society, Speech Pathology Australia and Occupational Therapy Australia under the umbrella of Allied Health Professions Australia, with funding from the Federal Government.

"ASD principally affects a child's social skills, ability to communicate and behaviour, so interventions focus on developing life skills and the ability to interact and communicate with others, and on changing unhelpful behaviours," Dr Mathews says. "Evidence shows that an interdisciplinary approach with a team of health professionals is most effective for children with ASD. A team approach could include a paediatrician, child psychiatrist, psychologist, speech pathologist and occupational therapist."

Under the Helping with Autism package there is also funding available for a range of early intervention services for children with ASD. The brochure outlines how people can access this funding.

For more information the brochure can be downloaded at www.autism.ahpa.com.au, or to find a psychologist, call the Australian Psychological Society's Find-a-psychologist service on 1800 333 497.

Being Vegetarian And Breastfeeding

2010-04-20T10:14:00.004+10:00

Some people claim that vegetarian mums probably are not able to provide adequate nutrition to their newborn baby by way of their breast milk. In particular, the claim is made when mother is a vegan. Since Vegans don't have dairy or milk products, are they taking in enough calcium to pass it on to their infant in breast milk?
There is however little basis to this claim so long as the mother has a balanced diet that includes enough nutrients such as calcium, zinc, and vitamin B12 which are important for the mother as well as the baby. The fact is that the body manages to create a good balance in terms of nutrients to a baby by way of breast milk.

It is actually possible to get these vital nutrients from food sources: bran cereals, peanuts, beans, wheat germ, spinach, yeast and pumpkin seeds provide zinc.
There are also many vegetarian and vegan food sources that provide adequate calcium.
If the mother is a vegan who does not have any dairy or fish, then getting vitamin B12 is a problem. It may be required for her to supplement her intake with a B12 supplement while pregnant or nursing.

Source: Bliss Tree

Monday Madness - Brand New Clothing Under $10

2010-04-19T13:39:00.004+10:00

Click on image to view item.

Come and Meet Our Sellers

2010-04-15T09:59:00.005+10:00

Click On The Logos to visit their Stores

Monday Madness - GAP Clothing under $3

2010-04-12T13:44:00.004+10:00

Click on the photo's to view item.

For more GAP clothing click here!

SOTW: KeJa Photography & Design

2010-04-11T10:10:00.006+10:00

Tell us a little about yourself.

I am a stay at home mum, married for 5 years to Shawn and have two gorgeous boys Keegan and Jarryd. We live in Sydney. We love picnics and the beach.

How long have you been in business for?

3 months

How did you come up with your business name?

It is a combination of my sons names Ke -Keegan Ja - Jarryd Photography and Design

What did you do before this?

I was a Preschool Teacher

What's your best advice for new sellers?

Keep Strong and keep going don't let anyone get you down.

What do you have in stock that you cant believe hasn't sold?

My Photo Collages with frame.

What do you enjoy doing besides selling on BabyBidz.com.au?

I moderate a mums forum www.mumsmeeting.com, we go on picnics, taking LOTS of photos and designing all my products, spending time with my hubby and gorgeous sons.

What is your favourite movie, TV show and website?

An officer and a Gentlemen, 2 and a half men, babybidz.com.au and facebook.

It’s a good day at work when…….

I get a photosession booking and make people happy with my work.

If I ran the Internet for the day I’d….

Buy lots and lots of photography equipment

You’d laugh if you knew this about me.

I eat all the chocolate of the tim tams before the middle hahaha, I don't know I am pretty borning lol.

Visit KeJa Photography & Design.....Click Here

Join KeJa Photography & Design On Facebook.....Click Here

There Could Be A Cost Of Not Breastfeeding, Says Study

2010-04-11T00:35:00.003+10:00

While it is now well established that breastfeeding is the best option for a newborn baby as well as the mother, research keeps adding to the sum of our knowledge about all the different reasons why and how it is so good.

Now a study tells us that as many as 900 babies (to say nothing of billions of dollars) a year could be saved if exclusively breast fed for the first 6 months of life.

The benefits of breastfeeding are still underappreciated feel experts and could help prevent a number of illnesses that are commonly seen in newborn babies: ear infections, SIDS, asthma, stomach viruses, juvenile diabetes, and even childhood leukemia it is thought.

This is because of the antibodies that are contained in breast milk.

Further benefits of breast milk can not only fight infections, it can impact the levels of insulin in blood which can positively impact the child's risk of getting obese or diabetic.

In purely economic terms as well, it is estimated that about $13 billion are indirectly lost due to the fact of less breastfeeding. Cost of the illnesses themselves include hospitalization and treatment for diseases that could have been prevented by breastfeeding.

Source: Associated Press

Pretty In Pink

2010-04-10T19:45:00.012+10:00

Click on photo to view item

Visit babybidz.com.au for more items!

Helping A New Born To Become A Smarter Adult

2010-04-07T11:05:00.000+10:00

This is a statement many mothers consider in the first months of the motherhood when for the first time the new born is reaching out to touch that something that is moving before his eyes or is smiling when talked to.

The first signs of baby intelligence are manifested when changes interfere within the baby's environment. This is so far from the theory that the baby inherits the intelligence from the parents.

Usually the way our baby's mind grows and develops is conditioned by the amount of factors the little one is made to react to.

If the environment offers the baby a large opening and many interactive options the baby will react by improving attention.

For example, when taking the baby out for a walk during the first month you can see that he or she tends to fall asleep after looking vividly around and processing the light, the movement and the sound. This is how their little mind tends to process the information and during their sleep this information is registered and stimulates the brain.

We are so embarrassed when presenting our baby to different persons the little one gets scared and starts crying. This has a very good reason and has nothing to do with our baby being silly.

Human beings represent oceans of information abruptly introduced in our baby's world. They talk, laugh, reach out and touch the baby and many times so much information turns to be too much especially if the baby is very young.

How can we help our baby be intelligent?

That is easier than you might think. All we need to do is to offer our babies time and opportunity to learn, react and respond by introducing them to the environment.

This can be done from the first days of the baby's life but parents must keep in mind that the babies have a very different way to process and understand the world.

They depend very much on their senses and for the first two years of life this is their main way of interacting with the environment.

For the baby to come in physical contact with the environment he will relate to your senses. This is why parents are encouraged to play with their babies and by it to stimulate their learning process.

Before reaching the age of 4 months the baby is occupied to discover his or her body. We can see that they spend a lot of time looking at their hands or analyzing the things we show them. The babies show a lot of interest for the faces of their loved ones and for the sounds they make.

The calm voice, the laughter and the touch become something very clear for the baby. This is the time when the babies start to understand the rules and also the disposition of their parents.

From this point the learning process is increasing with every new element the parents are presenting the baby.

What we should be aware of is that we must not push them, bore them or make them lose interest. The main point of their very early education is that they feel a compulsive need of spending time with us.

If during this time we take the challenge and offer them the information during games, physical exercise and interaction, the babies will register it and process it learning faster than we as adults could ever learn.

The Changing Table – Do You Really Need One?

2010-04-06T10:29:00.002+10:00

As a new parent it is understandable that one wants to buy all the things that you imagine may be required for a new baby.

Among those things is a changing table, which many take for granted is one of the basics required to furnish the nursery.

Many people find that a changing table is very convenient. However is it really necessary? Does one really need a changing table? Consider these factors:

There are several other items of furniture that could double up as a changing table, such as the top of a dresser, a high table etc. Or you can always change your baby on the floor or the carpet or on the bed.
Many experienced parents will tell you that this is a wasted expense and that the money could have been used better for something else.
Also consider if you will cart your baby back to the nursery each time a nappy change is required.
Do you have the space to fit in a changing table? You should ideally have enough space around the nursery to move comfortably around.
When baby starts to roll over, a changing table may get a bit dangerous
Also consider that a baby outgrows diapers fairly quickly after which a changing table is quite superfluous.

What have you used as a change table??

5 Tips In Choosing Toys For Toddlers

2010-04-05T10:04:00.003+10:00

Parents who are new to having children should remember that the formative years of a child is the most important. When children are in their toddler years, their learning capability is amplified 100% given the fact that they learn something new every hour.
Everything they see, touch, and hear is added to their experiences which eventually harness learning for toddlers.

Toys for toddlers[Toddler toys ] help in promoting these learning experiences which is deemed vital to their learning curve. Toddlers will always be toddlers, they generally learn through playing and observation.

When looking at a child, one might think that nothing goes on in that head of theirs, but they are wrong. These toys for toddlers are usually what parents purchase for their children knowing they are easily attracted to them.

For parents who are new to raising children, perhaps having to choose what toys for toddlers are actually good for the children could prove to be an obstacle.

Given the fact that there are hundreds of toys to choose from, parents will find that there are certain details of toys for toddlers that they should consider.

Here are some of the tips parents should keep in mind when buying toys for toddlers:

1. Buy toys that are appropriate for their age bracket. It is important for toys of toddlers to be just right for their age. Most of the time, these toys are larger than normal toys for children.

The reason for this is that toddlers could accidentally swallow small parts which could lead to a disaster. Another detail to take note of is to purchase toys for toddlers that do not have sharp edges.

Toddlers can hurt themselves by puncturing their soft skin or poking themselves in the eye.

2. Consider purchasing toys that promote creativity. Toys for toddlers that follow certain themes such as cars, houses, airplanes, and others could help promote the toddler's natural thinking and imagination.

This also helps in promoting their verbal capabilities and learning. Remember that when purchasing these toys for toddlers, the goal is to basically enhance their mental attributes.

3. Purchase toys such as puzzles. Toys for toddlers that encourage complex thinking and problem solving help toddlers develop their skills that differentiate shapes and sizes. They also encourage toddlers to expand their mental imagination.

4. Buy toys that promote physical development of toddlers. Purchasing things such as ride on toys and toddler walkers help in developing their physical abilities. It is important that parents consider that these toys are relevant for a toddler's physical progress.

5. Books and visuals is a must. Enhancing toddler's ability to differentiate colors and shapes can be better promoted through books and reading materials.

Regardless of toddlers actually understand what is written on them, parents should continuously narrate the different shapes and colors found in these books.

You can find a range of toys at BabyBidz.com.au

Cloth Diapers Making A Comeback?

2010-04-05T10:00:00.001+10:00

If you are a new parent, you are probably still discovering all the different ways in which the new entrant into your life makes you spend money; not least the amounts you spend on the copious numbers of disposable diapers soiled by baby.

According to one estimate, the average parent spends as much as one and a half to two thousand dollars on diapers with each baby. Is there an alternative to disposables though? Apparently there is and it's catching on.

There are several reasons why people shy away from cloth diapers: the fact that they are fiddly to put on (pins, ties etc.), plastic pants are required on top, that you need a ton of bleach to clean them.

The new age cloth diapers however have evolved beyond all that: they are as easy to use as disposables, they have microfiber inserts and use Velcro to keep them fastened. As for laundry, all you have to do is put the soiled diapers in a plastic lined laundry bag and then into the washing machine they go.

And they are cheaper than disposables to use. Whereas disposables could cost a thousand dollars or more, cloth diapers could cost as little as a few hundred dollars to get started and then one could possibly use them for next baby as well!

Check out our range of cloth diapers.

Vitamin K Shot – Necessary Or Unnecessary

2010-04-04T10:36:00.000+10:00

Vitamin K is the element that the body needs for proper blood clotting. In humans, the bacteria lining the intestines produce Vitamin K. However, in the immature digestive tract of a newborn, this vitamin K producing flora is absent, which raises the risk of hemorrhagic disease in newborn infants.

This is the reason that new born babies in the United States and many other western nations are routinely injected with the vitamin K shot.

Experts are now questioning the necessity of giving a new born infant this jab. It is their view that the vitamin K itself is required since babies are born with insufficient quantities of the vital vitamin.

However, the method of administering it, i.e. by giving the nesonate an injection, is being called into question. Experts demand that safer, less invasive and less painful methods of administering the vitamin K be adopted.

Though hemorrhagic disease in newborns is rare, risk factors are known to increase if it was a preterm delivery or the baby had low birth weight.

A C section, a vacuum extraction or forceps delivery also increases risk. If a mother was on certain medications during pregnancy, the risk increases. Undetected liver disease could increase risk, as can an unusually long or short labor.

Tips To Help Your Baby Deal With Separation Anxiety

2010-04-03T12:56:00.001+11:00

Separation anxiety is something that happens in the normal course of development of most babies; even for healthy secure babies.

While it is not an abnormal occurrence or something that has to be worried about, separation anxiety is quite stressful for a parent to witness, who may feel torn at having to leave the child even for a short period of time.

Separation anxiety is something that starts to happen by about 8 months of age or when the baby senses itself as being separate from its primary care giver and does not understand yet that things that are out of sight do still continue to exist. Separation anxiety could continue till the child turns three.

When a parent or principal caregiver of a baby goes away, the baby cries, not understanding the concept of 'returning in a while'.

The child may also cry when the parent returns because at the time he or she is reminded of the feelings felt when the parent left. Separation anxiety may be lessened or controlled to a degree with the following tips:

Don't sneak off when the baby isn't watching or is unaware of your leaving. If the child asks for you later and finds you gone, he or she may find this even more stressful than if he or she saw you leave. There may even be some sense of betrayal that mommy sneaked off like that without telling.
Never scold or berate a child for starting to cry as you begin to leave. Rather lovingly explain that you have to go somewhere for a specific purpose. Even if the baby is not old enough to understand or fully comprehend the words, the power of a loving embrace and gentle soothing words is considerable.
If you made a promise, keep it. If you said you would return by the time it got dark then make sure you do. A broken promise is not likely to lessen the baby's apprehension or resultant separation anxiety the next time that you leave.
Give a build up to the person who will be looking after your child when you’re gone. Tell your baby about how much fun he or she will have with aunt or uncle who will be looking after them. In fact you could initiate a game that will carry on after you leave and the other caregiver then taking the lead in engaging with the child.
Don't let the tears or the sad face coax you into staying a little longer and then a little longer and so on. Sometimes it may just be best to explain that you have to go gently but firmly and then leave. There is really no sense in prolonging the agony so to speak.

Use Words With Your New Baby

2010-03-28T11:14:00.001+11:00

The importance of talking to a baby is evidenced by the response of a baby himself: when you speak directly to the baby, you have his attention, he looks at you, chortles in response, he coos, he smiles with his whole body! And researches are telling us exactly why talking to baby (as against baby talking) is so good for him.

Words apparently have the biggest impact on the developing mind of the tiny infant according to a new study; more so than musical sounds even. Three month babies exposed to words were found to be more able to categorize pictures when compared to babies who listened to tones alone.

Researcher at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Dr. Albert Levy has said that babies benefit from having stories read out to them even when they are as young as 3 months of age.

Also the researcher advised that parents ought not to baby talk to their babies all the time.

When you baby talk to the baby, he learns to speak that way, using baby words, lisping, using the sing song voice.

Parents should instead use the words that they normally would in speech, in order for their infant to learn them.

Put your Business Infront Of 1000's of Parents Everyday!

2010-03-26T18:36:00.002+11:00

Advertise your site, business or service

More and more parents are turning to the internet every day, for child care advice and information and also to seek the best child related products, services and sites. To increase your exposure to this growing audience, we offer advertising space to baby and child related businesses and webmasters (or mums).

Get your site, product or service in front of targeted visitors.

Proudly, Baby Bidz is Australia's Number 1 online Maternity, Baby & Kids Auction site. We know you're busy, but if you are serious about marketing your brand in the parenting space, we feel it is well worth your time to read on.

About our traffic

We are a new website with growing numbers daily. Currently Baby Bidz receives between 1000 - 3000 unique visitors every day, resulting in over 600,000 page views per month. Virtually ALL of these visitors are interested in child/baby related products and services.

Benefits of advertising with Baby Bidz

Our visitors are YOUR potential customers. Ensure that your business name is seen - and remembered - by as many parents as possible.

Build Traffic

Receive targeted traffic - mums to be & parents of young children with an interest in your product, service or site.

Tips For Picking The Right Preschool

2010-03-26T17:56:00.002+11:00

It's a big step: your child will be away from the safety of the home for the first time possibly, and you want that the experience should be as positive as possible for your toddler.

You want to ensure that the preschool you pick for your little one is appropriate and that it is an enjoyable and stress free time for your child. Here are some tips to keep in mind to pick the right one:

Ask around, other parents of toddlers, relatives and friends with children of similar age, they will be able to give you good feedback about the preschools you have in mind.

Consider whether it is a school that stresses upon learning or on creative play and what it is that is important to you and your child.
Consider the location, since you will most likely be doing the dropping and picking up.
Consider whether you want your child to start with just a couple of days a week or more.
Consider finances, a preschool should not throw your budget off course.
Consider what size the school is, and what size the classes are. Also consider if there is a wide range of ages in one class or if there are separate classes for separate ages.

Men And The Baby Blues

2010-03-26T11:56:00.001+11:00

If a new dad is suffering the baby blues, we probably disbelieve or disparage of such a situation. And yet post natal depression is common among men as well as women. For every mother who undergoes the baby blues, there is one dad who does the same.

Some estimates suggest that as many as 15% of new fathers could be subject to post natal depression and some say the figure is much higher, because male post natal depression may very likely not be reported at all.

For one men of typical fathering age are likely to be unwilling to admit having difficulties, much less seeking help for it. There is also the feeling that they would be stigmatized for being a bad parent.

There are many reasons men may suffer post natal depression:

They may not be fully prepared for their world being turned upside down
They may find juggling work and extra work at home stressful
There may be the financial burden placed by a new member of the family
Curtailment of freedoms
Lack of sleep
Lack of sex
Coming to terms with change in identity
Pressure of living up to societal expectations

Source: Herald Sun

When Should You Consider Preschool For Your Toddler?

2010-03-26T11:51:00.002+11:00

There are many people who would like for their kids to get a head start in learning and would like to start them off in preschool as soon as possible; perhaps by age 1 ½ or 2 years of age.

Yet, others would prefer to wait for the child to be as old as four years to start them off.

This is a decision that parents can best take for their children keeping in mind certain factors:

Most preschools will require the child to be potty trained before admitting them. Considering this fact; a young child may find an accident traumatic, particularly in a class which has kids ranging from 2 to 4 years of age.
It is a good idea if a toddler is able to effectively communicate; speech should be reasonably clear; if short sentences are able to be formed, so much the better.
Think about whether your child will benefit from the environment of the play school. Does your child seem bored or lonely at home? In which case she or he may enjoy being with other kids. If however you think that your child may well be overwhelmed by school at this stage you may want to hold it off for a bit.

Win 1 of 15 Family Passes to the Royal Easter Show

2010-03-25T09:48:00.002+11:00

Win 1 of 15 Family Passes to the Royal Easter Show

For your chance to win send your name, address and telephone number to competitions@parentingaustralia.com.au . Be sure to include the name of the competition in the email subject line.

Competition ends 6th April, 2010. Prizes can not be redeemed for cash, judges decision is final.

By entering this competition you are automatically subscribing to the Parenting Australia free weekly enews. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Your Childs Health Record

2010-03-25T09:44:00.000+11:00

Medical records at your fingertips

Your Childs Health Record is the new, free online personal health record for your child.

In an age where we can do just about anything online - from paying bills and registering the car to doing the shopping and buying movie tickets; it seems only natural that we should be able to manage something as personal as our own health as well. Storing medical records electronically has become increasingly popular overseas, and is now starting to take off in Australia. And it makes sense particularly when it comes to the health records of our children.

From the moment your child is born, it is important to keep a record of all their medical history, such as immunisation records and growth development. Usually these details will be recorded at your local Doctor's surgery, or perhaps in your Blue Book given to you when your child is born. However if you should move, travel, change doctors, are unable to read a doctor's handwriting or simply misplace bits of paper along the way, you may not have all the information you need to be assured of the well being of your child.

YourChildsHealthRecord.com is the breakthrough e-health tool that offers parents and guardians peace-of-mind by enabling them to independently control and manage their child's personal health and medical records, in a safe, secure and convenient online environment.

Dr Joann Goodier, a Sydney GP with a business background in the pharmaceutical industry, understands the importance of having online medical records. "From the point of view of health, you'll get much better outcomes," she says. "It will make sure people know what has happened to them from when they were a baby through to an adult".

In Australia, vaccination is a well recognised way to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. After all, it is an accepted fact of life that at some point, your child will get sick, and that it is virtually impossible to avoid germs altogether. The Australian Government even encourages parents to vaccinate their child, through providing a free vaccination program which includes financial incentives for parents who ensure their child completes the full program.

"Ensuring an accurate immunisation record is a great example of the value of a Personal Health Record. Monitoring the individuals and populations immunisation status in a timely manner is vitally important to the ongoing prevention and eradication of vaccine preventable disease on a national and international scale. Recording this information online is an ideal way to ensure accurate record keeping into adult life, helping us work towards a greater level of national health" says Professor George Rubin, President of the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine.

Catherine mother of Lucy, 15 years and Isobel 12 years, would have loved such a system when her girls were younger. "It makes a lot of sense to have it all centrally located," says Catherine. "We moved when Lucy was two and a half and I didn't have a complete immunisation history for her. I was sure she'd had the full hepatitis B course but because we didn't have it documented, and the doctor we went to had moved, we made her have it again."

Recording medical records online becomes even more important when a child has particular health concerns such as diabetes or asthma. Vital information is carefully stored and a parent can refer to it quickly in an emergency whether they're at home or on the other side of the world. With busy lives and hectic schedules, parents can rest easy, knowing that they have complete control over the location and accessibility of their children's medical records.

It is important to take control of the information regarding your children's health and store it all in one secure place. Your child will then have a great start in life with clear concise records over which they eventually will also have control. Convenience, security and peace of mind; for a parent it does not get much better than that.

About YourChildsHealthRecord.com

YourChildsHealthRecord.com uses an expert system developed by WWW MacHealth Pty Ltd, the creators of yourdiagnosis.com. The site was developed in consultation with Australian Doctors and mothers of children both with and without medical conditions as well as independent surveys on parent's requirements for an e-health site.

YourChildsHealthRecord.com offers parents and guardians peace-of-mind by enabling them to independently control and manage their child's personal health and medical records, in a safe, secure and convenient online environment. A great way to store scattered medical information, the site helps users build an online journal of their child's key health and developmental milestones. This includes recording results from all health appointments; maintaining an accurate immunisation record; updating health check outcomes from birth to 4 years as well as monitoring asthma, sleep patterns, height and weight. Parents can also record allergies, medications and any current health conditions to ensure a full summary of their child's health at all times.

Other popular services that come under the WWW MacHealth Pty Ltd banner are Your Health Record (www.yourhealthrecord.com) and Your Diagnosis (www.yourdiagnosis.com).

Precautions To Take When Using A Baby Sling

2010-03-24T13:40:00.000+11:00

It is a fact that a baby sling can make things enormously easy for parents leaving their hands free and enabling them to go places and do things with baby held securely to the chest.

It is also true that the baby enjoys the cozy warmth and comforting proximity of the parent or caregiver.

However, improper use of the baby sling could be potentially dangerous and even result in increased risk of suffocation. It is recommended that:

It is best not to use a baby sling with a premature baby unless a pediatrician has been consulted.
Be careful with a baby younger than 4 months of age when using a baby sling. They don't have full control over the neck and head and this is therefore of great importance.
Parents should also be more careful with babies who have a low birth weight or breathing problems of any kind.
The slings should be used properly or they could be dangerous. If a baby's chin goes to the chest the esophagus can be affected and this is to be kept in mind when in the stroller, the car seat or anywhere.
It is recommended that newborn babies should be carried vertically in the sling.
The face should always be visible, the chin should be up and the mouth free.

Baby Wraps

2010-03-17T10:06:00.000+11:00

Parents who choose to wrap their baby, swear that wrapping helps to settle them. This is because the wrap contains her, much as she was in the womb before birth, and so makes her feel secure. The wrap will also stop her from startling herself when the 'moro' reflex occurs.

When should I wrap my baby?

You can choose to wrap your baby from any age. Wrapping may be used throughout the first year of life - although it should be loosely wrapped once your baby can roll over - to help her relax and settle to sleep. Choosing to wrap or not depends more on whether it helps soothe your baby, rather than how old your baby is. Some babies find it stressful to be restrained, while others find it comforting to be held by a wrap for many months. Some babies do better if they have their arms out - particularly if they're a thumb-sucker - while others like their arms wrapped in. Some babies find the wrap so connected with sleep that the process of wrapping them can almost send them to sleep.

The wrap

Wraps are usually made of muslin or light cotton, and their proportions usually measure about 1.5 metres x 1.0 metres Don't try to use a bunny rug as a wrap because you will find that it will be too square and too short to be of any use. A bunny rug will also make your baby too hot because, while you may worry that the wrap material is not warm enough, when you place your baby in bed there will also be a sheet and/or blanket over her to keep her warm.

When should I stop wrapping my baby?

Generally it's recommended to start loosening your baby's wrap with the plan to remove it totally once she starts rolling over.

Your Baby's Teeth

2010-03-16T22:32:00.003+11:00

The development of your baby's teeth begins before he is even born. At birth he has a full set of 20 baby teeth (also known as primary teeth or milk teeth) hidden away in his gums.

The first teeth to appear in your baby's mouth will most likely be the two bottom front teeth. They tend to make their appearance somewhere between 6 and 8 months old. These teeth are then followed by the 2 upper front teeth. The remainder of your baby's teeth will then appear, usually in pairs, on each side of the jaw, until your child is about 2 ½ years old. By this age, all 20 baby teeth will most likely have appeared.

Even though your baby's will eventually lose all his milk teeth, they are just as important as the permanent teeth that follow. Not only do the milk teeth hold a space for the adult teeth, but they are also needed for speech, chewing and biting food.
You need to teach your child to eat a healthy diet for the sake of his teeth and gums.
Your child's routine should include brushing his teeth twice a day, every day after the first tooth erupts.
When you first brush your baby's teeth, you can use a toothbrush with a small soft head and use only water until he's 18 months old. After this age, you can introduce low-flouride toothpaste.
After your child turns 4 years old, you can begin to teach him how to brush his teeth, though it will be many years before you can hand the toothbrush over permanently.

REMEMBER!

Don't worry if your child teethes early or late - there's nothing you can do to hurry a tooth! Every tooth is on its own timeline and will eventually make its way through the gum. It follows too that a child got his baby teeth late will also lose them late.

Paying Attention To The Ergonomics Of A Baby Stroller

2010-03-13T18:17:00.004+11:00

Ergonomics is not something that you think of when buying a baby stroller; chances are you are more focused on how good looking it is and whether the price of it is right.

However, there are ergonomic factors to take into account when buying a baby stroller:

The seat should be well padded for the comfort of the baby and for safety so that accidental movement does not hurt or jar the baby. This is of particular concern when it is a jogging stroller that you buy; the sort that is built to go along with you on a jog.
If the seat pads are removable this is a great feature. This means that you can clean them, perhaps even wash them, so that the handle with the dirt and the germs that will invariably proliferate with sticky toddler hands and the munchies that baby will invariably strew around the stroller will be removed.
A foot rest is a good feature to look for. This makes for a more comfy and restful ride.
Secure seating of course is a must, not only because it prevents baby from accidentally falling out, but also because it will restrain the more adventurous child.

Remember To Have Fun With Your Toddler

2010-03-12T18:20:00.003+11:00

There is a lot that will change in your life when a baby arrives; there will be a lot more work that needs doing, your priorities in life seem to change completely, and you seem to have little time for yourself.

In this situation, it is easy to feel overburdened and gloomy and to forget what a bundle of fun a small baby can be.

Spend time just being with your child, giving your whole attention and focus to the little baby.

A small baby is learning and doing something fascinatingly new nearly every day, and the wonder seems never to cease. Take pride and pleasure in this marvelous phenomenon unfolding before your very eyes.

One of the first games that a baby enjoys is peek-a-boo; it is one that is a source of seemingly endless fun and merriment for a small baby. Playing a four legged animal and carrying baby on the back is another uproariously fun game for baby.

A child who has just learnt the art of walking, will, quite simply want to walk. Be with the baby as he or she branches out on her perambulations and enjoy the journey of discovery that has been initiated.

In short remember to be part of the incredibly enjoyable process of being a parent; rather than be bogged down with the undeniably weighty responsibilities of being one.

PayPal Offers Purchase Protection on Preloved Items

2010-03-08T11:19:00.000+11:00

PayPal have announced that from the 1st November 2009, items purchased using PayPal on any site, including BabyBidz.com.au, will be eligible for their Buyer Protection scheme.

Before 1st November, if you bought an item from a site other than eBay but didn't receive it, you could only get back the funds if your seller had them in their PayPal account. Now if you make a valid dispute or claim for an item not received and win it, you will be reimbursed under PayPal's buyer protection scheme. This is the same protection you'd get on eBay for items you haven't received.

For a claim to be valid, your purchase needs to be for tangible goods that are bought with PayPal and shipped to the address you used in the transaction. Claims need to be made within 45 days. You should also read through the PayPal user agreement to make sure you know what does and doesn't apply for buyer protection. For example any personal transfers of money or purchases of cars or custom made goods aren't applicable for protection.

Mums Can Buy It Nearly New At BabyBidz

2010-03-07T21:48:00.003+11:00

With this in mind, babybidz is the website which makes life easier – a mums’ marketplace for buying and selling brand new and quality second-hand baby, kids and maternity stuff.

Ever wondered what other mums do with their stuff when they no longer need it? Find it on babybidz – there’s everything from baby carriers, bouncers & buggies through to books, clothes & accessories.

BabyBidz.com.au loves bundles too – encouraging sellers to group similar or related items together (like "boys clothes 0-6 months"), which is even quicker to advertise and fantastic value for buyers.

Selling is easy too! Its simple to create your listing and you don’t pay a penny until your item is sold (then the fee is only 4% of the item price).

Snap up a great value purchase from a highchair to a jigsaw puzzle OR make some money from your own outgrown but still lovely kids’ stuff? Find it all at BabyBidz!

www.babybidz.com.au

More parents buying used baby stuff online

2010-03-07T21:32:00.001+11:00

According to Preloved, more would-be parents are buying used and second-hand baby stuff online in an attempt to save money.

Of the 1650 mums questioned Preloved found that a staggering 89% had purchased more than three items second hand for the impending birth.

Have a look what used baby stuff is on offer for yourself on auction now at BabyBidz!

How to do pelvic floor muscle exercises correctly.

2010-03-07T12:45:00.001+11:00

How do you really do pelvic floor muscle exercises properly?

Pelvic floor muscles are specifically targeted to the core issues surrounding weak pelvic floor muscles. To determine how strong or weak your pelvic floor muscles are, you may need to be assessed by a continence physiotherapist. This assessment process involves finding out how well the muscles are working including how they lift, how many seconds the muscles can hold for, the number of repetitions that can be done before the muscles get tired and how well the muscles tighten with a cough. All of this provides your physiotherapist with information so they can tailor an exercise program specifically to your needs.
Research by Thompson et al in 2006 showed that during pelvic floor muscle contractions, there are a proportion of women who incorrectly bear down instead of lifting up the pelvic floor muscle.

Learning pelvic floor muscle exercises

Research shows up to 50% of women trying to do pelvic floor muscle exercises from a pamphlet get the technique wrong, which means that the exercises won’t help or could make a problem worse.

Getting the technique correct is the first step in the training process, and needs to be emphasised by anyone teaching pelvic floor muscle exercises to women. Some people think a person should intuitively know how to perform pelvic floor muscle exercises however, they are complicated muscles and can be hard to isolate. Because you can not see them, it is hard to know if they are working correctly.

These new and specific instructions (below) have been developed by a group of specialists in the area to help you do your exercises in the most productive way possible.

How to do pelvic floor exercises

1 - Sit with your back straight and lean slightly forwards. This helps you focus on your pelvic floor muscles.
2 - Relax your thigh, bottom and tummy muscles.
3 - Breathe out and tighten the muscles gently around your urine passage as if trying to stop the flow of urine. Still holding this muscle, try and breathe normally. You should feel the vagina squeeze and lift up inside the pelvis (Hint: when squeezing, the ‘lift’ should feel like your muscle is being drawn up toward your belly button instead of in towards your spine).
4 - Remember the muscles that contract when you do this, and then relax.
5 - Breathe out, and tighten the muscles of your anal passage gently as if trying to stop passing wind. Holding this muscle, try and breathe normally.
6 - Remember the muscles that contract when you do this, and then relax.
7 - Now breathe out and try and do them both at the same time.
This is your pelvic floor exercise.
You should feel your back and front passages working. Focus more on the front part of the pelvic floor, like when holding on to a full bladder.

How to check you are using the right muscles

Correct technique is very important.
If you are doing your pelvic floor muscle exercises correctly you will:
– feel a ‘lift and squeeze’ inside your pelvis
– feel a ‘letting go’ when you relax your pelvic floor muscles
– keep your chest, upper tummy and ribs relaxed
– keep breathing normal and quiet. Don’t hold your breath as this does not help. The pelvic floor muscles are below the belt and not ‘up high’. Holding the breath sometimes can actually result in bearing down on the pelvic floor, so it is important that this does not occur.

Exercising your pelvic floor muscles

• Warm up your muscles with three quick flicks and let go
• Once this is easy, hold the lift for longer (eg. 3 secs or anything up to 10 seconds), before relaxing
• Make sure you continue to breathe normally while you lift up
• If you feel comfortable doing this, repeat it up to 10 times
• Make sure you use the correct technique – while breathing quietly, keeping everything above the belly button relaxed
• This can be done three times a day. This is a very general suggestion that should be tailored to your individual needs if you think your pelvic floor is weak.
Further advice is required if you:
• cannot feel your muscles hold or relax
• cannot feel a definite ‘lift and squeeze’
• cannot squeeze and breathe at the same time
• cannot stop the flow of urine
• don’t feel confident doing pelvic floor muscles by yourself
• don’t feel that you are making any progress

Where to get professional help

The Continence Foundation of Australia can provide information about local continence services, and the name of your nearest continence and women’s health physiotherapist, or continence nurse advisor.
For more information visit www.continence.org.au or call the National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66 to speak with a continence nurse advisor who can offer you free information, advice and support and can provide you with a wide range of information resources.

The Continence Foundation of Australia can also provide you with general information and advice about issues relating to bladder and bowel health.

So You're Preggers Hey?

2010-03-07T10:22:00.000+11:00

So you've peed on a little stick to reveal those delightful two blue lines and it's confirmed. You are definitely, well and truly up the duff. Look out sister, you are in for the ride of your life. From this point on get used to being poked and prodded by midwives and doctors and get used to friends and family asking you lots of nosey questions and offering up unsolicited advice. Practice your polite smiles as Grandma offers up tips from the 1920's Parenting Handbook and rehearse your diplomatic responses for all of the weird and wonderful names people are going to try and inflict on your unborn fetus.

Now having had two children of my own by no means makes me the Grand Poo-Bah Mummy Wizard of the World, but I've definitely learnt a thing or two that I'm willing to share in preparation for your launch into motherhood. Read this advice and do with it what you will, but these are the things about pregnancy, birth and motherhood that I now know for sure:
1) Get used to not owning your body..for a while: That's right, you now have that lovely little mung bean inside of you, zapping all your energy and making you feel like an alien force has taken you over. Hopefully you won't need to pull the car over on the way to work to heave up your breakky too many times, but at the very least you may feel queasy, head-achy and quite tired, especially in the first trimester. Be prepared that after giving birth, you may begin to feel like your once lovely boobies have gone from being pretty chest ornaments to a functional device with only one purpose – food, food and more food. Give it up girlfriend and realize that now is not the time to shout "It's my body and I want it back." Go with the flow and realize that you will be able to reclaim your body..one day!
2) There are so many products on the market that magazines and other mummies will convince you that you absolutely need. Whiz bang ones with all the bells and whistles that you will need to re-mortgage your home to afford. The designer pram that features all of the mod cons, power steering and costs the same as a 2nd hand car doesn't look that great once covered with baby chuck. Do some research, find some bargains and save yourself a whole load of cash!
3) Natural Birth or C-Section? Drug Free or Natural? Wacky name or traditional? This is a time of choice..and judgment. There will be so many opinions on how you should deliver your baby, name it, dress it, feed it, school it..whew I feel tired already. Remember to do what feels right for you and to try and resist the urge to plonk people over the head with a dirty nappy when they cast judgment on your parenting.
4) Ignore Hollywood and every silly woman's magazine that comes out of it – especially the ones that feature photoshopped covers of the latest size zero celebrities, moments after giving birth. They are unrealistic and not what real new mothers look like. Enjoy your baby and take care of yourself..good health is so much better than trying to live up to silly "yummy mummy" expectations.
5) Be amazed that once the little one comes along, you and your husband will take delight in having conversations that centre largely on their bodily functions. How much they poop, what consistency it was, what color it came out and what shade of Dulux Paint it most reminds you of. I defy you to go a day without discussing poo, wee and baby chuck. Go on I dare you.
6) Forget shopping sprees, facials or expensive nights out, once you have kids you will crave the simplest of pleasures. A hot shower will feel amazing and10 minutes to yourself in the bath without having a toy car launched over your head will have you feeling like you've been to a day spa. Motherhood is a humbling experience.
7) There are going to be times that you wish these kids came with a receipt so you could return them to the Target customer service desk and get your money back. Like when you're up all night with a screaming baby. Like when your toddler drops the f-bomb in front the other mummies at Kinder-Gym ("I honestly don't know where he hears this stuff hmmm".) Like when your child decides to chuck a tantrum in the middle of the supermarket and you are forced to endure comments from strangers such as "That kid needs a whack!". Be prepared for the bad days and realize that the glorious ones will far outweigh them so it's not all bad..
About the Author:
Kathrine Holland is a career mum turned stay at home mum. After working for 10 years in radio, newspapers and magazines, she has hung up her corporate boxing gloves to spend some much needed quality time with her two sons Noah 4 and Connor 5 months.
You can find her daily blog on motherhood, celebrity mums and entertainment news at http://www.mummydiaries.com.au/

Find out now. Link all your email accounts and social updates with Hotmail.

With all the latest places, searching has never been easier. Looking for a new home?