easidream: a revelation for Sleep Deprived Parents
September 22, 2009 by Andy Merrett · 2 Comments
Ask any new parent what the most difficult thing they have to overcome is, and the majority of them will say sleep deprivation.
easidream is a clinically tested baby sleep aid that helps to ease the transition from womb to world by gently mimicking rocking sensations that baby experienced whilst still in the womb. This ‘womb experience’ helps to trigger a calming reflex in baby so reducing crying time and inducing quality sleep.
During trials, the use of easidream saw babies settle down to sleep much quicker and average crying times were reduced from 18 minutes to less than one minute.
It can be used from birth in almost any cot and helps baby establish a healthy sleep pattern that will benefit the whole family. easidream is the brainchild of mum of six Lynda Harding who came up with the idea after struggling to get her youngest son (now 7) to settle down to sleep.
The development of easidream has been a long process but now she is about to see all of her hard work and determination come true.
“easidream is an independent and retro-fitted sleep aid that fits snugly into a normal cot,” explained Lynda. “It works by stimulating the rocking feeling of being cradled by placing a pneumatic pad underneath the cots mattress. It also encourages babies to fall asleep on their backs, which is proven to be the safest sleeping position for babies under six months old.
When you are sleep deprived yourself you are tempted adopt high-risk methods of encouraging your baby to sleep such as lying them ‘front down’ or letting them sleep on the sofa or in bed with you. If used from day one easidream will allow your baby to settle straight into a healthy sleep pattern and no one needs to get over tired.”
How does it work?
A slim line ventilated platform fits under your baby’s cot mattress. Air tubing links this to a control unit that operates the functions. The platform can either rock gently from head to toe or roll gently from side to side. There is a timer for up to 45 minutes and a choice of 2 speed settings, one in time with mum’s resting heartbeat and a slower speed setting that can be used for weaning off at a later stage. The platform is pneumatically powered so there are no worries about anything electrical being in the cot. In the early stages of your baby’s life easidream can even be used in a moses basket. You just place the platform on the floor and place the basket on top.
A plush ‘dream’ sheep called Ewan can be attached to the bars of the cot by his velcro tail (or sit him by the basket). Ewan has a choice of four soothing heartbeat sound combinations plus a warm glowing pink light. The light can be activated at the same time as the sound and both last around 20 minutes.
Working together, the platform and ewan provide soothing motion with calming sounds and glow and in a short time you can create the perfect combination to help your baby drift off into a long and peaceful sleep.
Trials were carried out using babies and parents from a Hampshire nursery by university researchers from the Brighton School of Nursing and Midwifery. The sleep diaries that the parents kept revealed to researchers that the average crying time reduced dramatically and the time taken for babies to settle dropped, in some cases by 90 per cent.
easidream has already been shortlisted as a finalist at the Baby Product Association Concept Awards.
The following people / companies were also instrumental in bring easidream to market.
Maddison Design Ltd, of Fittleworth, West Sussex
GBE Designs Ltd, of Goring, West Sussex
Maggie Stewart, from the University of Brighton’s School of Nursing and Midwifery.
Available from the end of this month, priced around £249 for the easidream system and £24 for Ewan the dream sheep.
“Mummy friends” are best, finds new poll
September 21, 2009 by Andy Merrett · Leave a Comment
Eight out of ten mums relied upon the support of “mummy friends” they made while pregnant or as a new mum, while four out of ten are still in contact with those mums up to ten years afterwards, according to a new survey by What’s On 4 Little Ones.
Over half of new mums made friends with others at mother and baby groups, while antenatal classes and introductions from other friends came in joint second place.
“I made some of my best friends when I was pregnant with my daughter Alice. Five years on, many of these are still firm friends and I’m sure we still will be when our children are having children of their own!” said Sam Willoughby, founder of Whats on 4 Little Ones and winner of the Practical Parenting Business Mum of the Year award.
“Taking part in local activities gave me the chance to meet other mums, share tips and advice and make lasting friendships. Plus Alice had the chance to have fun, meet other children and learn new skills too.”
Gestures can improve early speech development, scientists find
March 6, 2009 by Andy Merrett · Leave a Comment
Using signs and gestures with babies can enhance their communication skills and allow them to learn to talk more quickly, according to research by scientists at the University of Chicago.
The research confirms previous studies that show a strong link between gestures and spoken language, finding that babies who use gestures to communicate, at an early age, have large spoken vocabularies compared to their non-gesturing peers by the time they reach school age.
“Babies have so much to say- even before they can talk. Babies who sign, usually learn to speak much more quickly and more clearly than babies who don’t,” said Katie Mayne, founder of TinyTalk, an ex-primary school teacher and a mother of two. “Signs are like ‘pictures’ for babies, helping them to understand what is being said to them. The signs also help the children to express themselves much earlier too. Their communication attempts promote growing self-confidence and self-esteem which, in turn, leads to further communication! Importantly, through signing, children also make early attempts at speech.”
TinyTalk offers baby signing classes right across the UK and Ireland and is seeing a significant increase in demand. More and more families are seeking to experience the benefits of early communication with their little ones. Mayne explains, “Contrary to popular belief, sign language encourages spoken language rather than hindering it. Even tantrums are reduced! Signing babies are happy babies, able to understand and be understood, and happy babies mean happy carers! Families who attend our classes tell us that their babies and toddlers are little chatterboxes, full of things to say!”
Family on TV: UK guide 2nd-8th March 2009
March 2, 2009 by Andy Merrett · Leave a Comment
Welcome to a new feature at Family Relationships Magazine, where we highlight the pick of family-related British TV for the week.
Note that not all programmes are suitable for the whole family to watch, but rather is programming on the subject of families and relationships.
So, we kick off with the final part of this series of Who Do You Think You Are (Monday 2nd March, 9pm, BBC1; 10pm, BBC HD). This week, Kevin Whateley discovers that his family had significant business acumen, with his great-grandfather running a fishing empire and 18th-century relatives being turkey traders.
These documentaries are generally fascinating insights into the lives of celebrities and can often inspire us to research our own family history.
Baby Borrowers USA (Thursday 5th March, 9pm, BBC Three) follows the teenagers who have to deal with tantrums, disciplining and potty training when they are given toddlers to care for.
A new three-part series, Rocket Science, begins on Friday 6th March at 9pm on BBC2. With the number of youngsters studying science declining fast, teacher Andy Smith hopes to convince pupils at Woodchurch High School in the Wirral that the subject can be fun by showing them how fireworks are linked to chemistry and physics.
New programme to help lower-income mums to breastfeed at work
February 9, 2009 by Andy Merrett · Leave a Comment
Thanks in part to continue stigma, and sometimes simply practical issues, it can be difficult at the best of times for a new mum to breastfeed in public. However, the problem is exacerbated among lower-income workers, according to US-based Corporate Voices for Working Families.
It has therefore launched an initiative to help solve the problem – a need for breastfeeding support in the workplace.
In partnership with Abbott Nutrition, Working Mother Media and a select group of companies, this new programme aims to give employers the information and tools they need to reach hourly and lower-wage workers and help establish workplace lactation programs.
In a July 2008 survey of the Working Mother Magazine 100 Best Companies, more than one-third of employers said there are real barriers to implementing programmes for hourly and lower-wage employees. These barriers include scheduling conflicts, lack of dedicated lactation rooms, and limited promotion of lactation benefits to hourly employees.
“It’s clear that workplace lactation programs benefit employers. When women breastfeed, babies and mothers may be healthier, they may miss less work-time and employee satisfaction and productivity can increase,” Donna Klein, President and Founder of Corporate Voices for Working Families, said. “Opening the door to extend workplace lactation programs to all employees is a challenge that can be overcome and this new program offers tools to help.”
A key component of the initiative – Workplace Lactation Programs: Good for Working Families. Good for Business – is a workplace lactation toolkit that provides instructions, tips and template materials. Important elements of the program include recommendations for employers on how to support employees with breastfed babies, guides for working mothers who breastfeed, and sample promotional materials to alert employees to the resources provided by the program.
“Breastfeeding is the gold standard for infant nutrition but for many lower wage moms returning to work is a barrier to extended breastfeeding,” said Dr. Larry Williams, senior medical director, Abbott Nutrition. “As a leader in infant nutrition, Abbott’s goal is to ensure optimal nutrition for infants, whether mothers choose breastfeeding, infant formula or a combination of both. Abbott has a long history of supporting health professionals and parents with breastfeeding education materials and programs and we’re pleased to support this first-of-its kind program as a solution to an issue many working mothers face.”
Health concerns raised over bisphenol A (BPA) used in baby bottles
February 7, 2008 by Andy Merrett · Leave a Comment
The health of young baby is of paramount importance to every new parent, so whenever there’s the potential for that health to be put at risk by a seemingly innocuous product, it’s worth taking notice.
A large number of state and national environmental health organizations in the U.S. and Canada are calling for an immediate moratorium on the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles and other food and beverage containers, based on the results of a new study that demonstrates the toxic chemical BPA leaches from popular plastic baby bottles when heated.
Celeb Watch: Christina Aguilera, Nicole Richie, Cheryl and Ashley Cole
January 31, 2008 by Andy Merrett · 2 Comments
Christina Aguilera and Nicole Richie are both enticing a number of high-profile publications who want the right to print the first photos of their babies. Marie Claire reports:
A bidding war has erupted between OK! and People magazine for the first pictures of Christina’s son Max Liron, and the asking price has already reached $1.5 million.
Nicole Richie and Joel Madden have already signed a deal with People magazine, where they will get $1 million for the photo debut of daughter Harlow Winter Kate.
I wonder at the lives of the rich and famous, yet the bidding war is only active because the magazines know that large sections of the general public want to see the photos. No doubt they’ll be leaked onto the Internet anyway. So much for the privacy of kids with famous parents.
Meanwhile, Cheryl Cole is being urged by her family and friends to leave husband Ashley, after claims from at least two women that he had affairs with them:
The latest claim comes from glamour model, Brook Healy, who is alleged to have been approached by Cole in December 2006 at London’s Funky Buddha club – just five months after the Coles’ marriage – and later slept with the footballer.
The Girls Aloud star [Cheryl] stated: “I was furious… but I’m determined to be strong. Ashley’s a wonderful husband and we’re in love. I won’t let this woman destroy our marriage.”
WellChild Helpline launched: UK’s only national children’s health advice line
January 22, 2008 by Andy Merrett · Leave a Comment
The children’s charity WellChild today announced the launch of the WellChild Helpline, designed to offer comprehensive help and advice to anyone concerned about the health and well-being of children.
Staffed by a team of trained healthcare professionals from a variety of disciplines, callers will either have questions answered, or efficiently passed to the most appropriate organisation.
BBC1’s Breakfast programme’s GP, Dr Rosemary Leonard, endorsed the WellChild Helpline, saying, “WellChild’s new service is extremely welcome as accessing the right information can seem daunting and not having access to concerns about health can cause a lot of anxiety. By having this multi-disciplinary team of experts at the end of a phone-line or email, WellChild will be putting people in touch with the right health information which could ultimately lead to saved lives as well as an enormous improvement in the quality of many more.”
Citinannies.net Helps to Filter Frauds and Scams for Families Seeking Care
January 19, 2008 by Andy Merrett · 1 Comment
Household employment is increasing for families who continually strive for a manageable balance between life and work. For many people, the solution to managing the pressures and the obligations is to hire household staff to work in the home. Most domestic placement agency services can run into the hundreds, or even thousands of dollars, ranging from $700 to $4,000 per placement. What happens when a family is not happy with the placement agency’s selection of nannies? Generally, there is very little recourse. Would it be very difficult for a family to search for household help without using an agency? How would a family weed out frauds and scams? Are the tools of the trade available and easily accessible?
Citinannies.net was created to connect families and top quality caregivers nationwide. Whether a family needs a nanny for their children, a personal assistant or even a butler to bring cocktails poolside, Citinannies.net can help. Citinannies.net is the first online domestic placement service to utilize an advanced identity authentication process without entering a credit card number or requesting intrusive information such as the registrant’s full social security number. The patent pending privacy tool prescreens all caregivers and families to help filter out the frauds and scrams that put loved ones at risk.
Families simply register, post the specific domestic requirements and qualifications, and pass the Citinannies.net authentication process. Once the authentication process has been completed, the pool of quality caregivers are available with a click of the mouse. New caregivers are added daily, so the selection is never stale. In addition, Citinannies.net has trusted partners that offer services including criminal background checks, online continuing education courses and easy ways to pay caregivers without hiring an accountant. After all, finding household help that is tailored to a family’s lifestyle can be overwhelming.
As President of CitiNannies LLC, Jennifer Nguyen states, “I wanted to make the search for care easier for families, and at the same time, filter out fraudulent registrants, identity thieves, and fraud schemes that become rampant on the internet. We are taking one step further to assure families are more comfortable using the internet to find exceptional help for their loved ones.” Being a single mother, Jennifer realizes the importance of finding top quality caregivers. Hiring and entrusting caregivers can improve the quality of life immensely, without sacrificing the commitments. Recall the last time an emergency situation arose and a reliable sitter was not available? Think citinannies.net. Do it right. This is the most important hiring decision a family could ever make.
For caregivers seeking employment opportunities, the registration process is free. Simply agree to be bound by Citinannies’ professional code of ethics, register and post a profile. In addition, passing the Citinannies.net identity authentication process is also a prerequisite for all caregivers. Imagine, no more agency fees or commissions taken out of the paycheck. No more answering blind newspaper ads or attending embarrassing career fairs. Imagine an easier way to connect with potential families who are serious about searching for care and willing to pay top dollar for exceptional care?
For information: CitiNannies.net
3 in 5 parents couldn’t save their child’s life, survey finds
January 3, 2008 by Andy Merrett · 1 Comment
A survey of 2,500 mothers by UK supermarket Tesco suggests that 60% of new parents wouldn’t know what to do in an emergency where their child’s life was in danger.
Less than 10% of new parents have had child first aid training in the past 12 months, and 24% said that they badly needed a refresher course.
Mother wins right to keep baby a secret from father, court rules
November 23, 2007 by Andy Merrett · Leave a Comment
A mother has won the right to keep the birth of her baby, conceived on a one night stand, a secret from the biological father.
Though the county court ruled that the 20-year-old had to tell both her parents and the father, the Court of Appeal ruled that the mother had “the ultimate veto” over who was told about the birth.
Naturally, fathers’ groups were unhappy, saying that the child was now treated as the property of the mother, “to be disposed of as she sees fit.
The mother said that she wanted the 19-week-old baby to be adopted.
Dads lack of confidence in bringing up baby shows up as not taking responsibility
November 23, 2007 by Andy Merrett · Leave a Comment
An interesting new survey from SMA Nutrition suggests that some fathers who come across as being unwilling to help with the upbringing of their babies and young children are actually unconfident about their abilities.
The study finds half of new dads admitting that they don’t always make the effort to get home from work in time for their baby’s bath and bed routine, while 43% say they rarely or never get up in the night to comfort their crying baby.
Other ‘confessionsÂ’ to sidestepping parental duties include not always changing their baby’Â’s nappy (68%) and a tendency to spend time playing with baby rather than on practical childcare tasks (45%). More than a third (36%) have taken their parentsÂ’’ side on the ‘best way to parentÂ’ while 35% say they have felt relieved that work commitments have meant an overnight hotel stay as it ensures a good night’s sleep.
