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How to brush your toddler’s teeth – and tips for when they refuse

Every parent knows that a toddler’s favourite word is no.  Sometimes our tamariki can drive us mad with their refusal to do anything we ask, and it’s tempting to give in to their demands.  But while they may not like it, your toddler’s teeth need to be brushed. We’ve put together some helpful tips to get their buy in, and hopefully avoid the daily tooth brushing tantrum. THE BASICS Get into a good routine of brushing twice a day, at the same time. Once in the morning and once before bed. Give lots of praise. “Gosh, you are doing such a great job. Your teeth are going to be so sparkly.” You will need to brush your child’s teeth until they reach around age 6 or 7 when they should have the manual dexterity to brush their own teeth thoroughly. After this age it’s important to check they are doing it correctly. Aim to brush for around 2 minutes. Use a fun toothbrush timer. Brush (very gently) back and forth and in circles. Watch this short video to show you how.  TOOTHBRUSHING TOOLS Use a small-headed, soft-bristled toothbrush and be very gentle. Select a mild flavoured or children’s toothpaste (containing fluoride) and use it sparingly. Use the smallest smear of toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice. As your child gets older, you can increase this amount to the size of a pea. Use some fun toothbrushing aids such as an Eye Smile Toothbrush Holder, toothbrush timer and tap extender for rinsing their toothbrush. RELUCTANT BRUSHERS Brush along with them. You brush your teeth, while they brush their teeth. Start with this, but make sure at some point, you hold their toothbrush and give their teeth a brush too. Get your toddler’s ‘buy-in’ by letting them select their own toothbrush colour and style. If initially, the brush is a ‘no-go’ start with using your finger, a muslin cloth or finger toothbrush and progress onto a toothbrush. There are fun videos available to teach children how to brush their teeth and special toothbrushing songs you can sing. Enlist the Wiggle’s help!  Use a sticker chart and a reward at the end of the week. Use teamwork. If you have another adult (or sibling) to help, try working together to clean your toddler’s teeth. Use distraction, fun and silly songs or games. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY CHILD STILL REFUSES? Persevere. It’s so important to look after your children’s teeth and help them learn that cleaning teeth is a non-negotiable. If you keep encouraging and being consistent, it will get easier. Credit: Kowhai Dental Looking for some Toothbrushing friends to make toothbrushing more fun?

I’ve only got one pair of hands!

The other day I saw a post from a new mum asking a question about a baby bouncer. In true ‘social media’ style, the poor mum was bombarded with strong recommendations on why this mum should not put her baby in a baby bouncer, even for a second.  There was advice on tummy time, baby wearing and a multitude of other ‘useful’ advice. There were plenty of common-sense suggestions too, but I did feel sorry for the mum asking the question. I believe most new parents have enough common sense to know that you wouldn’t put a baby in a bouncer, a jolly jumper or a floor seat for hours on end. These products have their time and place. At the end of the day, we only have one pair of hands. If we pop bubs in a bouncer on the bathroom floor while we have a shower, or near the kitchen when we’re cooking dinner or perhaps next to the clothesline when we’re hanging out the washing, it makes life easier, keeps bubs safer and takes away some of the stress involved in caring for a baby. At the end of the day, if a parent wants to make an informed choice, then some research from a trusted source, rather than Facebook, is always a good idea. The World Health Organisation recommends that babies shouldn’t be in a stroller, seat or strapped to a caregiver’s back for more than an hour at a time, and tummy time and floor-based interactive play are encouraged as part of their day. Instead of coming down hard on new mums and assuming they have no common sense, I say, let’s ease up on the self-righteous bombardment of ‘useful advice’. This is coming from a mum who used a Bumbo Floor Seat daily, so she could take a shower and have a (very much) needed break from holding her reflux baby and who is married to a 53-year-old who was a ‘bum-shuffling’ baby and still represents New Zealand in master’s cricket.   

Top Postpartum Recovery Tips

Even if you cruised through your pregnancy and had the easiest delivery on record, your body has been stretched and stressed to the max, and it needs a chance to recover. There is no time limit on postpartum healing, so take your time. We’ve come up with some practical advice on postpartum care for ‘down there’. Ouchy! The perineum is the area between the anus and the vagina and if you’ve had a vaginal birth then this area could be sore, swollen and/or stitched. Try the following: Add Epsom Salt to your bath water or use a postpartum healing bath soak to ease pain and help healing.   Fill your Peri Wash Bottle with lukewarm water and 5-10 drops of Witch Hazel and squirt down there when you go to the toilet. This helps prevent infection and aids healing to reduce the stinging when peeing. Use the Peri Wash Bottle again after finishing your wee and pat dry with a clean soft towel. Apply Postpartum Ice Packs to the perineum area to soothe pain and reduce swelling. You can purchase specifically designed ice packs or make your own and add a blend of Witch Hazel and Aloe Vera for cooling, instant relief and reduced swelling.  Change maternity pads regularly.   Move around as often as possible, to increase blood circulation and speed the healing process.   Keep the perineum area dry and wear cotton, breathable underwear.   Avoid lifting heavy objects or strenuous activity as the strain may cause bleeding and break the stitches.   Going ‘Number 2’s’ There are so many topics not talked about before giving birth and discussing your first bowel motion after a vaginal birth, is one of them. When 'down there' is raw, sore and swollen, for some women, the thought of 'going number two's' can be terrifying. With a little help from nature, you can make things a whole lot more comfortable. In the first couple of days after giving birth, drink lots of water and try eating kiwifruit and high fibre foods such as leafy green vegetables. Apples, citrus fruits, lentils, beans, wholegrains and dried fruit are also good options to have on hand. You may need to bring these to the hospital with you. For many women Kiwi Crush is a god-send and is a 'hospital-bag must-have'.  Health food stores and pharmacies also generally stock good quality natural laxatives.  The key is to be prepared with what you need to help make things a little ‘softer’ and a little more comfortable. Bleeding after Birth Vaginal bleeding after labour is normal. Initially the bleeding can be quite heavy and you’ll need maternity or heavy flow pads (do not use tampons). Change your pads regularly and wash your hands before and after. You may notice the bleeding is redder and heavier when you breastfeed. This happens because breastfeeding makes your womb contract. You may also feel cramps similar to period pains. The bleeding will carry on for a few weeks. It will gradually turn a brownish colour and decrease until it finally stops. If you're losing blood in large clots, tell your midwife. You may need some treatment. Just like pregnancy and childbirth, your postpartum recovery is personal and unique. During this time, focus on your new born and your own well-being. It’s more than OK to be easy on yourself during this time. If you’re having difficulties during your postpartum recovery, don’t be afraid to contact your LMC at any time. And don’t hold back on sharing your feelings with your partner, or reaching out to close friends and family members for help with the baby. Your physical and emotional health is important, so make sure to give yourself a break when you need it the most. SHOP Maternity & Postpartum Recovery

Is your toddler ready to toilet train?

Timing is everything when it comes to toilet training success. As any parent who's been through it can tell you, trying to force the toilet on a ‘not-quite-ready’ toddler only prolongs the process (and makes everyone miserable!).  So how can you tell if your little one is ready to make the leap from nappies to the toilet? Here are ten tell-tale signs: Shows an interest in the toilet, potty or underpants Stays dry for two or more hours Wants to watch you ‘go’ 'Number twos’ happening on a predictable schedule Complains about wet or dirty nappies, and wants to be changed Can follow basic instructions. Understands basic vocab like "wee" and "poop" Can tell you when they need to go—or uses body language, like going into a corner or grunting Can pull their pants up and down with little assistance Can learn to use toilet training gear, such as a Step-on-Up Toilet Trainer Seat or Bumbo Step n’ Potty. And remember, help is here for any age and stage. SHOP Toilet Training: Step-on-Up Toilet Trainer Seats now on SALE $29.99 for a limited time only. 

Cleaning your Blissful Bedtime Humidifer

How does a bedwetting alarm work?

If your child is around 5 or 6 years of age and still wetting at night, bedwetting alarms aim to help your child wake when recognising the sensation to urinate. An alarm teaches your child's brain to respond to a full bladder, even during sleep. When exposed to wetness (urine) the alarm makes a loud noise to wake your child. The sound needs to be loud enough and quick enough to wake your child prior to complete bladder emptying. When beginning your child will wet and the alarm will sound. Your child (and you) will wake up and you will need to take him to the toilet to completely empty his bladder of any “left over” urine. Initially your child is likely to empty his bladder before reaching the toilet, but with practice this should improve. Using the alarm every night and waking up just after wetting should eventually teach your child's brain to wake up prior to wetting. With time, wetting will happen less frequently and eventually your child will stop wetting altogether. Once your child establishes a consistent pattern of waking during the night prior to wetting then you will no longer need the alarm.  Some children stop wetting within days or weeks, other children and can 2-3 months to stop wetting. Bedwetting alarms are the most commonly used tool to help children stop wetting the bed. They are recommended by Continence Nurses and they're 100% safe.  Which alarm is best for my child?   "My 6yo daughter is such a heavy sleeper we couldn’t get her out of overnight nappies, despite being out of day nappies extremely early. We’ve been using your Rodger Bedwetting Alarm for about 3 weeks consistently and she is now waking herself up once a night (beating the alarm essentially) to go to the toilet. The progress seemed to have come in stages from the alarm going off while she did a pee then she learned to hold most of the pee in when the alarm went off until now finally she is beating the alarm and getting up to pee herself before she lets any go in bed. It’s been such a success and we’re so proud of her. Of course it was a little scary for her at first, a gadget she wasn’t familiar with. We spoke to her about it, tested the alarm together so she knew what to expect and what it sounded like and let her know that there was no pressure and we could just give it a try without expectation. Well we are so happy now it’s been 4 nights of beating the alarm and will now take the alarm away to see how she goes….keeping it close to use again if she slips backwards. Thank you again for the great product and very quick postage." Learn more about the Rodger Wireless Bedwetting Alarm

How does heat relieve pain from colic?

The old wives' tale has it that a hot water bottle can relieve pain deep in the body - and now scientists have discovered why. A hot compress can physically shut down the normal pain response involved in stomach aches, period pain or colic. "The heat doesn't just provide comfort and have a placebo effect - it actually deactivates the pain at a molecular level in much the same way as pharmaceutical painkillers," said Brian King, a senior lecturer in physiology at University College London, who led the research.  Dr King found that if heat is applied to the skin near where internal pain is felt, it switches on heat receptors at the site of injury. These in turn block the body's ability to detect pain. "Heat is recognised by a group of receptors called transient receptor potential channels," said Dr King. "One of them, TRP1, responds to heat at around 40C. It's known to be on the sensory nerves that supply the internal organs like the gut." When someone feels pain in the gut, a separate mechanism is firing. Receptors called P2X3 have detected ATP, a chemical that pours out of cells when they are damaged. The heat response appears to shut these receptors down. "You've got the heat receptor on one side and the ATP receptor on the other side that will recognise the pain. Both are present in our cells and yet, when you activate one, it switches off the other," said Dr King. "What appears to be something that can sense heat can help you get over visceral pain by switching off the pain mechanism." If your baby suffers from with pain from wind, cramps or colic then learn more about our Warm-Ease Heated Baby Belts. Now available https://www.moosebaby.co.nz/collections/moose/products/warm-ease-heated-baby-belt Source:  https://www.theguardian.com/science/2006/jul/05/health.society  

Twins, Reuben & Oliver test drive our Moose Baby Walker

We were super excited to hear what Saffron, mum to our two gorgeous 'test-driver's' had to say about our Moose Baby Walker. Here is the unedited, version of her fabulously detailed feedback. What do you like about the ‘look, quality and design’ of the walker? First impression of the walker is that is looks expensive. The sizing and proportions of it are generous compared to other cart like walkers on the market, and the overall design of the handles that allow the child’s body to tuck underneath while using it means that it is cleverly designed. The blue colour is really beautiful making it a gender neutral toy that can become an heirloom item. How did you find putting together the walker and the instructions? Putting the walker together was incredibly easy. We did it in less than 5 minutes. (We opened the instructions retrospectively.) Describe how your boys use the walker. The twins LOVE playing with the Moose cart! It has been a point of much excitement. My boys are 12 months old and have no issues pulling themselves up on the bars. I think they could have done this at a younger age also. They are not so low or high that they will grow out of it too fast, or not be able to use it from the recommended age. They have used it all over the house. They do love pushing each other in the cart, standing in the cart and using it like a skateboard, or just sitting in it! They haven’t quite cottoned on to putting things in the cart yet as a form of transport, other than themselves. How do you find the rubber wheels? We love the big rubber wheels on the walker, it makes the motion incredibly smooth when your little one is pushing it. Compared to other walkers we have used with are entirely plastic, it is a lot more stable and has better overall motion. What do you like from a safety aspect? Because of the design and the stability of the cart, it doesn’t tip over when your child goes to pull themselves up or speed away from them. I do like the fact the paint is non-toxic. How can you see this walker helping your boys to learn to walk or gain independence? I can see my child gaining confidence walking with tis toy due to the steadiness of it when it is used and the ergonomics of allowing the feet enough space to move under the handles. It allows their body is in a more comfortable position for walking. Is there anything else you’d like to add? The height of the walker of the thanks to the large wheels is excellent. It means it can go over the top of small toys. The only downside of the walker is that it is heavier than your standard plastic walker and it does need adult supervision while they are still young to help them turn it around or to keep on a “path”. Tell us if you’d recommend this product to others and why? Overall I would recommend this walker to other parents as a learning to walk aide for their children. I think due to the design and of the walker, it will last longer and be used for longer than the other plastic ones on the market. It has uses beyond learning to walk as a toy as children get older. The large rubber wheels make it ideal for using outdoors on your lawn or at the park. The advantage of choosing a cart as a walker also encourages other children to play with it as well rather than it being a solo toy. IT REALLY IS THE PERFECT WALKER This is the perfect walker for your little one! It is beautiful, sturdy and ergonomically designed to allow your littles one’s body to stand at a comfortable position for walking. The big rubber wheels help to give your child confidence as they take their first steps with it, and soon you will find them speeding away. The cart design allows for open-ended and imaginative play for your little one, and any friends or siblings that may join them. I can see this toy being used in our house for a very long time and even generations to come. I highly recommend this to any parent who is looking for the perfect walker or toy for your child – you won’t be disappointed. - Saffron (mum to twin boys) Wondering if a walker is right for your baby, and when to start? Read our guide: Are Baby Walkers Safe? When Can Baby Use a Walker? Buy your own Moose Baby Walker

Is your child scared of needles? Try these 8 positive ways to help

Is your child scared of needles? Try these 8 positive ways to help:1. Consider when to tell your child they need an injection. Avoid telling them weeks or even days beforehand, but perhaps leave it to a day or two before the appointment. When you tell your child, be calm and reassuring. Explain why they need the injection….to stay well and healthy.2. Avoid lying to your child that the procedure won’t hurt. Hiding information about what is going to happen could cause resentment, fear, or trust issues. Talk to your child matter-of-factly about what is going to happen. Say something like, “You have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow. You’ll be getting a couple of shots. I just wanted to let you know.” Be sure to answer any questions she might have and be honest. “Yes, it might hurt or pinch a little, but it will be over fast.”3. Before the appointment, let your child see Buzzy and explain how he works. Buzzy’s vibration works by interfering with the pain signals running to your brain. His ice cold wings numb the skin and he provides a distraction to what is happening.4. The day of the appointment, be organised. Make sure you aren’t running late or rushing. Be happy and relaxed. Consider arranging to bring a friend, partner or family member. Keep a drink and snacks in your bag.5. If you child has a special toy, blankie or dummy, bring it along. Depending on the age of your child, consider other forms of distraction such as an ipad or photos on your phone. Practice with the Buzzy Distraction Cards.6. During the procedure act relaxed, positive and supportive. It is well known that your behaviour influences the amount of pain and distress your child feels. Your child will pick up on your anxiety. Be supportive, but not excessive. Research suggests humour and distraction tend to decrease distress.7. At the appointment offer reassuring smiles, words of encouragement and a reward for making it through the procedure. If you or your child are particularly nervous, let the nurse know.8. After the procedure give plenty of praise and gives hugs.