Be patient with yourself – parenting is a learning experience
The pressure to be a perfect parent comes from many directions. It can be easy to think that you have to be an instant expert on everything to do with your baby, but each day of parenthood is an opportunity to learn and grow.
On those days when you’re feeling critical of your parenting skills, here are a few tips to reassure you.
Book recommendation: The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read and Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did by Philippa Perry.
Whether you’re interested in how to support your child’s feelings and emotions, curious about how your upbringing shaped who you are today, or want to support others with their parenting journey, this book is must-read.
Essentially, it’s about developing trusting and meaningful relationships with your children by supporting them through their feelings, behaviours and emotions.
Tips for buying your baby's first shoes
Buying your baby’s first pair of shoes is a big step. There are lots on offer and it can feel tricky to find exactly what you are looking for. Your baby’s feet need good support and shoes that are suitable for them and their needs. Here are a few tips to help.
Where to buy
Come on, let's do the locomotion – just take it one step at a time
One of your baby's biggest accomplishments will be locomotion. We're not talking chirpy pop songs here; we mean the body moving from one place to another. It is not simply movement – locomotion requires the body to travel.
Locomotion that has gone before
What inspires a baby to walk?
An interesting study was carried out in 2021 into what motivates babies to walk. According to most studies, babies walk because they want to reach a destination: a person, a place or an object. But is this actually true? Here we look at this new study, and the conclusion it came to.
Learning to walk in the home
Take a moment for yourself
Parenting is hard work; it's important to step back when you can and take some time for yourself.
Taking some time to focus just on you can be a great boost for your mental health. Parents often find that they struggle to put themselves first as they are just so busy. There can be times when constantly being on-the-go and putting yourself on the backburner can become overwhelming.
Your baby learns words long before they actually talk
First words bring lots of excitement to the whole family, and once we hear them everyone is eager to encourage more. But have you thought about what comes before that first magical word? Your baby’s learning to talk starts much earlier...
Before a baby is even born, they have understood the pitch and rhythm of their mother's voice; once they are here, they learn to distinguish voices and the melody of language to find words in speech.
Using 'first word' books with your baby
Share this beautiful book and have a dance with your baby
Baby Dance takes a nineteenth century poem by Ann Taylor and brings it to life with illustrations that will make you want to move!
This is perfect for you and your baby if you love to dance. The illustrations show a dad dancing with his baby and will no doubt inspire you to get swinging and swaying too.
Why not read the book with your baby, then stand up and gently dance with them as you say the words of the poem over again.
Life is a sensory experience – it's ok if you and your baby don't want to make cornflour gloop or lie in paint!
Sensory experiences are an important part of your baby’s development, and if you and your baby love a bit of gloop, go for it. But stimulating your baby’s senses doesn’t need to involve elaborate activities or undressing your baby and placing them in various mixtures or in a splodge of paint! Read on to find everyday things that give your baby all the sensory stimulation they need.
Going outside