Top 5 Settling Techniques for a Newborn

Your new little person has arrived safely. You have left hospital where they were sleeping perfectly, and now you cannot get them to sleep at home. I have been there. With my firstborn, I remember days and days of worrying that he would not sleep, spending hours settling him only to have him wake up 20 minutes later.

These are the five techniques that made the biggest difference for me.

Make Sure They Have Had a Really Good Feed

When you are breastfeeding, it is hard to know when your baby has had enough. A warm, cosy baby is much more likely to fall asleep mid-feed, which means they wake up hungry 20 minutes later and you are back to square one.

I had a few tricks that helped me keep feeds going longer. I used to take their clothes off before feeding so they were not too warm and comfortable. I kept the room a little cooler than usual. And I tickled their feet while they fed. All of these things helped keep them awake long enough to get a full feed, which meant longer sleeps afterwards.

Burp Them Properly

I remember thinking in the early days that if they had not burped after a few seconds, they were not going to. I was wrong. It can take a few minutes, and the technique matters. I found holding them upright on my shoulder and patting their back worked best for me. My sister used to lie her babies across her knees and pat. Every baby is different, so try a few positions until you find what works for yours.

A baby with trapped wind is not going to settle no matter what else you do, so this step is worth the patience.

Wrapping is Worth the Effort

My babies all had a strong startle reflex. Every time they stirred, they would startle themselves awake, which meant nobody was getting any sleep. I quickly worked out that wrapping firmly made a huge difference.

There are lots of wrapping techniques, so find the one that is easiest for you. The key is to wrap firmly enough that they cannot wriggle free too easily. If you have a summer baby, use a lighter wrap so they do not overheat. These days there are also some great sleeping bags that do the same job without the wrapping.

Do Not Keep the House Too Quiet

This is one of the best things I did. I never closed the baby's door, and I always had the radio or TV playing in the background. My babies got used to falling asleep with normal household noise around them, which meant they were far less likely to wake at a sudden sound.

I had a friend who insisted on total silence when her kids were sleeping. She would usher us into the backyard, we had to whisper, and she had signs all over her front door not to ring the doorbell. Her babies never slept well. I think there is a lesson in that.

The bonus of background noise is that my kids used to wake up happy. I could hear them chatting in their cots, and I did not need to rush in the second they stirred.

The "If All Else Fails" Option

Some days, nothing works. You have fed them, burped them, wrapped them, and they are still not sleeping. On those days, I used to put them in the car and go for a drive. There are very few babies who are not settled by the movement and the noise of a car. It can guarantee a decent sleep and saves you from dealing with an overtired baby for the rest of the day.

No guilt required. Whatever gets your baby to sleep is the right answer.

Kate x

Easy Meals for Fussy Toddlers: Quick, Healthy Recipes You Can Make Together

If you have a fussy toddler, you already know the drill. You spend time cooking something nutritious, put it in front of them, and they look at you like you have just served them a plate of dirt. It is exhausting.

After three kids of my own and years of chatting with mums at sessions, I have learned that most toddlers fall into one of three categories: the one who eats everything (lucky you), the one who refuses anything green, and the one who will only eat plain food. If yours is in category two or three, these tips and recipes might help.

Give Them a Choice

One of the simplest things you can do is let your toddler choose. Not from the entire fridge, but from three options you have already decided on. "What does your tummy feel like for dinner? We have this, this or this." It gives them a sense of independence and makes them more likely to actually eat what ends up on the plate.

Cook Together

Meals you make together are not just about food. They are bonding time, education and conversation all rolled into one. My kids always gave me one-word answers about their day at childcare, but put them next to me at the kitchen bench with something to stir or mash and suddenly they would not stop talking. It breaks down that barrier because they are focused on spending time with you rather than running off to the next toy.

Use Their Interests

Whatever your child is obsessed with right now, use it. Monster trucks, unicorns, Bluey, dinosaurs. Unicorn pancakes with a banana horn. Dinosaur toast with vegetable claws. If it is too fiddly to make from food, grab a cheap plastic toy from the party section and pop it on the plate. It sounds silly but it works.

Three Quick Recipes to Try

Banana Pancakes

Ingredients: 

1 x Ripe Banana

1 x Egg 

2 x Table spoon Self raising flour

Mash the banana until smooth, whisk in the egg and flour, let it sit for five minutes, then cook spoonfuls in a non-stick pan over medium heat for one to two minutes each side. Done. Fruit disguised as a treat.

Pirate Ship Tacos

Ingredients: 

Old El Paso - Soft Tortilla bowl

500g x Mince

1 x Shredded Cheese bag.

2x Tomatoes 

1x Iceberg lettuce

1 x taco seasoning 

1 x pack of little flags ( pirate flags, princess flags - relate to your toddlers interest - usually found in party or baking section at the grocery store.) 

Set up five small bowls and get your toddler to separate the ingredients into each one. It will be messy, but that is half the fun. Let them build their own taco, top it with a little flag from the party section at the shops, and call it a pirate ship. Make one for yourself too.

Dippy Eggs and Soldiers

Ingredients: 

1 x Egg ( per child) 

2 x toast.

Boil the eggs for three to four minutes for a runny yolk. Toast the bread, cut it into long strips and let your toddler dip away. My grandma called them dunking soldiers and it is still one of the simplest meals that kids love.

You Are Doing a Great Job

Feeding a fussy toddler is one of the most frustrating parts of parenting. But if they are fed, happy and loved, you are nailing it. Try one of these this week and see how you go.

Kate x