Category: The Toddler Years

1. Why should I take my baby swimming when they are small?

   Posted on 3:55pm Sunday 31st May 2015

   Just in case I've not written about it enough, our house loves swimming. For a long time my mum took our smallest to her Water Babies lessons, as they were on a day when I'm working. When the chance came to move to a Sunday morning lesson, I took it instantly - I love being in the water with her and seeing her learn. With summer coming and this being the busiest time of year for people wanting to learn more about baby swimming and baby swimming lessons, I asked Tamsin if she'd write for me about all the things people usually ask me when I'm telling them how much we love our Water Babies lessons...

    

   The first thing I'm asked is "Why should I take my baby swimming when they are small? Are there really any benefits to starting early on?"

    

   Over to Tamsin....

    

   To be honest, I don't know where to start - there are so many benefits of baby swimming lessons!

   Water safety is the main reason that most parents chose to take their baby swimming. By introducing your baby to the water at a young age, they become familiar with the environment and would not panic in the event that they fell in water. Swimming is also extremely beneficial for your baby’s cognitive and physical development. Physically, the water allows babies to exercise muscles that they can’t on land as it eliminates the constraints of gravity by providing a supportive environment. Also, the repetitive movements of bouncing and splashing provide a great stimulation for a baby’s sense of motion, co-ordination and balance.

   

   This in turn also helps cognitive development. During your baby’s first year of life, their brain will grow more rapidly than at any other time and every movement they make helps to boost this growth. Swimming provides a complete physical workout for your baby, strengthening the heart, lungs and respiratory system which, in turn, promotes brain development.Learning to respond to voice commands used in swimming lessons can also make babies sharper mentally and increases levels of understanding.

   And one of the best bits?  Regular swimming in warm water both relaxes your baby and stimulates their appetite, leading to improved sleeping and eating patterns!

   I'm so pleased to have opportunity to share with you here on the Little Lilypad, about how great swimming is for you and your baby. But for now, I just want to encourage you to get in the pool, book a baby swimming lesson with any of the Water Babies teachers across the UK and beyond, because it's something that I love and feel privileged to be able to share with families. Seeing the happiness on the face of our babies and their mums, dads, grandparents and carers makes all our hard work behind the scenes worthwhile.

   If you have any questions about anything baby swimming related, please call us on 01295 709221 or email us at [email protected] as we're always happy to talk about our favourite subject!

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2. Sleep Tips for parents with a Toddler

   Posted on 1:42pm Friday 29th May 2015

   Hand's up if you have a toddler who never wants to go to sleep? *raises hand*

   Don't get me wrong, she loves her bedroom and has a perfectly lovely bedtime routine with a bath, story and snuggle time but when the lights go out, suddenly there are a million reasons why she can't sleep.

   

   So my husband regularly finds me asleep on the floor of the toddlers bedroom but this is not my preferred sleeping scenario, I much prefer to be snuggled up with my husband in our own bed (without the toddler creeping in) and not falling in an exhausted heap on the sofa (or the floor). 

   This summer is (allegedly) set to be the warmest in 135 years* which means plenty of sun filled days! But experts** warn that sleeping in temperatures above 24°C means you’re likely to wake up during the night or only have a light, fragmented sleep, preventing you from getting the restful night you need. This is not ideal when you have a toddler who thinks that sleep is for the weak!
   
   So have been listening to Silentnight’s sleep expert, Dr Nerina Ramlakhan who says: “We all love summer and the long evenings, but the increased temperatures can make it harder to sleep well, which can have a detrimental effect on our health, relationships and work. She added: “A good night's sleep is important in order to process information throughout the day as well as to repair and rebalance the body physically and mentally. Ideally, in order for us to sleep well, there needs to be a fractional temperature difference between our body and our brain – a warm body and a cool head!” 
   
   Dr Nerina, has created a list of 5 top tips to help the nation keep cool and get the best rest when the weather is hot and humid: 

   1. Stop your bedroom over-heating during the day by keeping curtains and blinds closed 

   2. Wash your feet with cold water before getting into bed, and run your wrists under cold water 

   3. Use light bed sheets and a summer duvet - 4.5 Tog recommended 

   4.Try a Geltex mattress from Silentnight, with an innovative combination of an extremely elastic gel and air-permeable foam offering unparalleled breathability to prevent the body from overheating 

   5. Finally, it is essential to stay well hydrated during the day and most importantly, don’t fret too much if you can’t sleep. Use the time to rest and think positive thoughts, then you will be extra productive the day after 
                    
   We also have some slightly ‘alternative’ methods you can try to help you cool down at night. Here are the top quirky tips to try: 
   
   1. Use a fan and place it so that it is blowing the air over a tray of ice - this will cool the room down as the ice melts 
   
   2. Keep a plant mister containing water by your bed to spray on your face during the night 
   
   3. Place a wet flannel in the fridge for an hour or so before getting into bed and lay it on your forehead to help you drift off 
   
   4. Sleep in cool wet socks or even a damp T-shirt 
   
   5. Chill your pillow case in the freezer before getting into bed 
   
   *According to UK Met office 
   **According to Meir Kryger, author of "A Woman's Guide to Sleep Disorders" and "A Good Night's Sleep” 

   I have to be honest, I can't see me putting on wet socks or a damp t-shirt but a cooling spray would probably be my recommendation, especially for warm feet. The toddler is not a massive fan of being warm and loves to sleep with no clothes on ...... that is until the Silentnight hippo arrived and she just "had" to pinch his pyjamas!!

    

   What are your top sleep tips?

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3. Top tips for gardening with a toddler : Country Kids

   Posted on 8:46pm Saturday 23rd May 2015

   The start of the hayfever season has not been particularly kind to the toddler but she loves being outside and you don't need a big garden for them to enjoy getting involved, so here are our top tips for gardening with a toddler (even one with asthma).

   Tiny Tools

   Use child size tools, or in our case when we were scooping compost we simply used plastic cups. Using tools that that are safe and manageable for their little hands will totally enhance their experience. Plus, they are super cute and come in bright colours, which are much more exciting than grown up tools!

   

   Let Them Get Dirty

   I have spent what seems like forever trying to keep my girls clean but even the most immaculate child LOVES getting filthy. Let them put their fingers in the dirt and enjoy feeling the soil in their hands (note to self : just try not to squeal if they come across a worm!)

   

   Let Them Pick Their Own Flowers

   We took the toddler to the garden centre with us and (maybe foolishly), let her pick her own flowers. It seems that we will have extremely pink hanging baskets this year but it meant that she was very excited to plant them.

   

   Grow Their Favourite Fruit or Vegetables

   Most children love the sweetness and crunch of carrots, or strawberries and even tomatoes and they are not too difficult to grow be sure to plant a couple of things that your little one loves, as they will take great pleasure in eating their home grown fruit and veg. 

   Hunt For Mini Beasts

   Go on a hunt for minibeasts (e.g. snails, worms and insects) and explain how bugs and creepy-crawlies are good for the soil and plant. It is good to encourage them to hold these creatures gently and carefully so that they can see what minibeasts look like.

   Water & Watch Them Grow

   Plants (like children) need regular watering, so each day it is good to get them used to taking care of their plants and watching them grow. (Just don't let them eat anything until it is ripe .... that remains a regular challenge in our house!) 

   

    

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4. My child has asthma : what do I do?

   Posted on 8:16pm Saturday 16th May 2015

   Usually the Lilypad blog is full of anecdotes, silly stories and probably far too much clothes and fashion discussion than any parenting / lifestyle blog "should" have but this week I am a little exhausted.

   I am exhausted by asthma.

   My toddler has asthma and on a daily basis I am questioning "am I doing the right thing?".

   I have never really known anyone in my inner circle with asthma.

   I was immune to the effect it can have on a family. 

   

   Anyone who has a child with asthma soon learns that symptoms come and go and can change as quickly as the weather. This week we have had a mixture of;

   • wheezing
   • coughing, especially at night
   • times where she has has difficulty breathing

   She has also complained of a tummy ache a few times and after doing even more reading, I have learnt that little ones may have a tight feeling in their chest and don't know how to describe it, so complain of tummy ache.

   They are reluctant to diagnose young children with asthma (especially those under 2) as nearly one-third of very young children will have wheezing at some point. Over time, most of them will stop wheezing as their airways grow; however for others early wheezing can be a sign they will get asthma in later childhood or adult life.

   So what do I do?

   • I make sure she is taking her preventative medicines every day.
   • Constantly look for triggers (usually keeping the cat off her bed) but the pollen has been a big factor this week.
   • Regular handwashing to prevent spread of coughs and colds (reminding her big sister of this too!)
   • I lie awake listening to her breathing. Is it too fast? Is she too hot? 
   • I lie awake wondering why.

   Why does she have asthma?

   Why can't I fix this?

   I didn't smoke or drink or do anything that is reportedly "dangerous" to a child in the womb. I even stayed away from prawn sandwiches! I could control what went into my own body but I can't control what is happening to hers.

   I am frustrated and exhausted.

   My child has asthma and with every attack I tell her it will be okay. Mummy and Daddy are here and she sleeps, eventually she sleeps.

   We are not the first family to have emergency trips to the hospital and we won't be the last but my heart breaks just a tiny bit every time I hear her say "Mummy, I need my pump". She is our daughter, a toddler, a swimmer, a gymnast but she is also an asthmatic. 

    

   I needed to vent this evening and normal "fluffy" service will resume soon (I promise).

   

   If you enjoy hearing our family stories and toddler adventures, we would love you to vote for us in the MAD Blog Awards. It is kind of a big deal and it would mean that we know at least one or two people do read our little blog! There are some amazing bloggers out there (and I hear it is a pretty amazing party too) but a vote in the Pre-School Section would be very very welcome xx

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