London

Traveling with babies it´s a lot of fun and a lot of worries. I think that for a great getaway is important to have luck and your baby to be very calm. In other case you will have a really bad experience. I can firmly say that we are very lucky with my husband, just because Damian was very quiet... I would say very unusual quiet. He was sleeping, eating and sleeping what helped us to take advantage of the time passed there. As well you have to be very lucky if you want that in October to be sunny (as it was) and not rainy (as was promised)... so what can be better that lovely child, lovely weather and your love with you.
I wouldn´t say that it is very easy to travel with babies, I think that it is really hard, but you have to be patient and all will be ok.
FLIGHT I was afraid about the flight, because it is Damian´s second time when he is flying and first time he was crying in the plane, it was very difficult to calm down (he was 2,5 months).Now for my surprise he was very calm, he was sleeping all way from Barcelona to London(this told me dad). In any case if you are traveling with your baby, as a tip, you have to give him a pacifier or caramel during landing, it helps to his ears and he is not noticing the pressure at the landing.
HOTEL I booked a double room (not triple) at www.lastminute.com and I didn´t mentioned that we need a cot, but when we arrived they kindly proposed a cot for us and boiled water for preparing Damian´s food. Our stay at Danubius Regents Park was perfect, quality service of personal helped us to have a lovely stay there. Damian was sleeping when we get to the hotel and we just went to sleep, because we were very tired.
LONDON As we were with Damian I was thinking a lot how to manage to see London and the best of it. Underground is an option to get faster where you need, but it is not the perfect way in case you have a pushchair and a baby. After weeks of searching of any options, I decided that we will go just to Big Ben and to Buckingham Palace, and rest of the time just strolling near the hotel. In the last days I found a really great price for Sightseeing Tour Bus that includes in price of one ticket 2 days of City Tour and a round way ticket on the River Thames. Just great! I bought it for us (babies are free of charge) and we´ve seen all the city in 2 days and spent lovely the time on Thames Tour.
EAT. As I mentioned previously on other posts, I begun to work and now I give him breast on the night and during the day dad gave him bottle. In London we were buying (if we were not in the hotel) boiled water and preparing the food. We had termos with us, and this helped us to mantain the water at the same temperature much more time.
DRESS. Damian was dressed more than enough I think, but I was calm and sure that all is ok. He wasn´t complaining :)
WAY BACK. He was crying when we went back to Barcelona, but it is normal, he was tired and it was the first time in 2 days. Don´t worry, babies need to cry sometimes.
In any case, for a perfect journey you need :
- a happy baby - good weather - pushchair - a lot of pampers - food - clothes - good mood :)
And as promised, pictures:

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Welcome to UK

I think that I had 4 longest days in my life, and 3 not very good slept nights. I am with work in London, and it is so difficult to be so far from your lovies.

BUT, my sweety is comming with dad and we will explore London during this weekend. Finger crossed that it will not rain and we will have great weather... I really hope.

Now I´m at the airport and waiting for them. I think that they will apreciate my warm meeting that I prepared for them. I just can explain in words how I´m happy that I´ll see them soon.

So, be prepared for some really good pictures and advices how to travel with babies.

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Stroller, our new friend

One week passed by, first week at work and first week when dad is staying alone with our big boss. I can firmly say that dad has done very well his job and we are a big power when we are doing this job (being parents) together.
I wanted to share our experience with stroller from the very first day of using it, but unfortunately being a working mum, not always can permit the luxury to write a post or to do something for myself.

Yes, we are almost 5 months (2 days left) and we are using a STROLLER and left our lovely PRAM.
We wanted to wait till our child goes to nursery and then just to change him from pram to a stroller, but it was hard, Damian always wanted to see what is happening outside. He left us to decide or we will carry him always on our arms or we will change the pram for a stroller. Dady didn´t resist and 3 days how he has made this big change. His back told ´thank you´ as the only way Damian stays calm were arms.
Disadvantages:
- Damian is too small for a stroller.
Advantages:
- He is looking with his little eyes full of wonder and interest to this big city life.
- The pram has different options of leaning (90°, 45°, 180°) , I can change the position just with one click.
- He is sleeping much ... much better than in the pram.
- It looks like more fashionable ( maybe because it is new and I like it more).
As you can see, we found more advantages than disadvantages for passing from pram to stroller... and we like it. I think that you have to listen to the wishes of your child, he knows better what he needs.
When did you change the seat for your baby ?

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Introducing solid food

Hello my dear readers,

today I want to share with you our experience with introducing solid food to our baby. From start I thought that it will be very difficult, as children on his age don´t know how to take spoon and how to mix food it in their little mouth. For my big surprise it was easier than with bottle.

In many sources I have read that it is better to introduce solid food from the sixth month, and till then just breast milk, even our pediatrician told us this. We haven´t listened to anybody, just because Damian from his 3rd month was looking greedy when I was eating something. So a few days before his 4th months birthday we decided to give him fruit porridge. He was very happy, even the fact that he was eating with spoon and not from the bottle was a big change for him.  This fruit porridge we bought in a supermarket and is special for children, so I didn´t prepare it at home.

As well I gave him cereals (corn and rice), special for 4 months baby that not contain gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat. It's gluten that helps to make bread dough stretchy when you're working it. Giving to baby gluten before he's six months old could increase his chance of developing coeliac disease. Coeliac disease happens when your baby's immune system mistakes gluten for something that may make him ill, such as a virus. His immune system attacks the gluten, and this can lead to his gut becoming inflamed. Be careful when you buy something for your sweety.

Just once I gave him mashed carrots and potatoes that I´ve made in home conditions.

In my case, my baby liked a lot the way of eating with spoon, and his spoons become his new toys. Eating solid food is really fun for him. At this moment I´m looking for recipes for babies, so in case that you have some, just write. I´ll be very grateful to you.

xoxo

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Nursing - breast or bottle ?

Today, dear reader, I want to share my experience with bottlefeeding, as well the way to prepare it.

I know that breast milk is the better choice and nothing can compare with it, but in my case I need to give nursing bottle. Next Monday my maternity leave is being finished, so I have to prepare Damian and daddy for this big change.

I´ve begun to give him nursing bottle 2 weeks ago, the idea was to try how it works and if my baby will eat this kind of milk. I was really afraid that he won´t take my breast anymore, but for my big surprise my breast he loves more :D. So for the first time he took the bottle, have eaten almost 100ml, and then all the night he was crying. How do you think?... the next day and few days later he didn´t take anymore the bottle, even with water. I was trying with different types of bottle nipples and different bottles and no way. I thought that maybe the problem is in milk (it can be, because neither I can drink this milk), I bought other type of milk, he took as well the first bottle (a few days later without showing him any bottle). I breathed relieved and thought that all is ok... nope, neither this time... and here I realized how much he loves me.

Now we are in the third week of trying and last time when he was hungry he took the bottle... I´m happy.

Preparing the nursing bottle.


1. Sterilize the bottle. Our days are a lot of sterilisers that will ease this work, you can buy these in any baby shop. I prefer to use the old method, hot water. I put all the bottles and nipples in a receipent with water and wait till the water is boiling and I leave it for some minutes.

2. Boiled water. I need 45C degrees water, I boil it first and then let it get colder to the temperature that I need. Each brand write the temperature that is needed for its formula.

3. Add formula. On each recipient is shown the dose that you have to put , as I have seen on both containers shown that one spoon(goes with container) to 30 ml.

4. Mixing. Shake the bottle till all the formula is mixed in the water. It is important to shake it well and that won´t appear foam.

5. Verify. The temperature should be equal to body temperature, so test by dripping onto your wrist. It should not feel hot or cold.

Baby´s bottle is ready, hope your child is ready as well. Bon appetit!

 

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For a walk

I think that everyone knows the importance of taking a little walk each day, more than this it is so much fun for our babies.

We´ve begun our strolls from the 5th day after his birth (2 days in a hospital and 2 days at home was more than enough to stay in a closed space). At the beginning we were going for a stroll for 15 minutes, then each day passing more time out. At the moment we are taking a walk in the morning for 2-3 hours, and in the evening for 1,5-2 hours. Damian likes it very much. It is fun to see him how he is looking on the sky, trees and all the things that he is seeing from his pram. When we are staying in parks I´m always taking him from his pram and show the surroundings. Looking at him and the way he is absorbing all the beauties of this world you understand how much we lose because we are never looking the same way as they do.

Each baby likes strolls. For example Damian knows that if I put him in the pram we are going for a walk, so he stops crying in that moment and is waiting for his big journey - LIFE.

How much time do you spend with your baby for a walk?

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Massage for our TIGER

Today I will tell you how I am making massage for our precious baby.

I´ve begun to make massage from the very first days, but it was tough just because Damian didn´t want the massage. He was very hungry after bath, actually he was hungry all the times and at the final point after one or two weeks I stoped to make massage. When the child is hungry or irritated or anything else that he doesn´t like he won´t let you do anything with his body.

But, after a few weeks, when his regim more or less was regulated I´ve begun to make massage and I found it fun, as the child was prepared for this and he liked it. Now it is our mantra each evening.

You can choose any time of the day to make massage, I´ve chosen evening, as he is more relaxed and it is easier for me.

Below I will show you in images how I´m making massage to all his body. I was using before Johnson´s Baby Oil, but now I have some samples of baby lotions Mustela and I´m using it.

1.  The chest. Using a little oil or baby lotion I am making movements from the neck to abdomen, and from armpits to abdomen.

2. Abdomen. Then I put some baby lotion on his abdomen and make cirular movements. Here it is important to make massage in clockwise direction. In case that your child has colics or gases or is constipated the massage helps him feel better. I think that I was lucky and Damian hasn´t had colics.

3. The arms. I´m taking one of his arms in my hands and repeating the milking motion from his armpit all the way to his wrist. Then repeat with another arm.

 4. Legs. I´m doing the same procedure as for the arms, I´m "milking" his leg. Then, I´m repeating with another leg.

5. The feet, soles and toes. I´m taking one foot and gently rotate it a few times in each direction, then stroke the top of his foot from the ankle down to the toes. To finish off the feet, I grab each toe and gently pull until my fingers slip off the end. Then repeat with other one.

6. The Back. Here I spend more time, as my baby is just 4 and a half months but he likes to sit almost all the day. So here I´m doing gently movements from the neck to tushy and as well from one side to another how it is shown in the image.

 

And that is it! See you next time on our blog. xoxo

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Bath time, BABY

Dear friend, today I want to share with you one of the most important moment of the day for our baby - BATHING. It might be that you already know all the tips that I will give you, and you think that you are doing better, please don´t hesitate to leave a comment of your success story.

I don´t know how it is in your case, but this activity we are doing together with our lovely daddy. We think that it is very important to do bath or other activities together because in such case the child can feel our love and be much closer to both of us.

Steps to prepare the bath:

1. I prepare chamomile tea (you can use as well lavender tea or any bath foam). Your question is why am I using this? Chamomile tea helps that baby skin to be clear and prevent that any red points to appear on its finest skin. Lavender tea, I have never used it, but I have read that it helps baby to sleep better.

As well you can use bath foam, it doesn´t matter... which you like more... and of course you can use just pure water.

2. At the same time daddy is preparing the water. Perfect temperature for this is 37-38 C degrees. You can measure with special termometer or in case you don´t have it, you can easily measure it with your elbow. In case that for your elbow the water appears good, so you have the perfect water for your child.

3. I prepare all the stuff that we need during the bath and after. These are: shampoo, towel, diaper, pajama and body lotion or cream for massage (about this I will tell you on the next post)

So, almost done. The water is ready... the baby is ready...and very happy, because if you are doing the bath each day at the same time, he already knows what is expecting him.


Bath time... I was reading many comments about how it is better to do a bath for a child. To begin with the hair or to finish with the hair, I tried both methods and can firmly tell you that there is no difference in baby´s behaviour. But,it is VERY IMPORTANT that in his ears won´t step the water, just because your baby can take easily a cold.

After the bath EVERY TIME I´m doing a massage for all his body, because in such case his body is relaxing and he sleeps well... and now is the time of pajama and dinner.

I hope you enjoyed the time reading this post, and then the time bathing your baby!

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The happiest DAY!

Dear friend, I´m happy that finally I have get courage to create this blog and to write this post for you!!!

20th of May was a big day, I became MOTHER. I can firmly say that this was the happiest moment in my life when I heard  the cry of my little baby... It is priceless to become a mother...

Why I am writing now and not earlier, you will ask, not from the very first day of the BIG DAY. Well, earlier I think I wasn´t prepared to share all my feelings and emotions, because these are very different each day, each hour, each minute. You can laugh and cry at the same time. You understand that life is not just about you ... and your feelings are nothing compared with his feelings.

Here on the blog WE (me and Damian) want to share happy and tough moments that brings motherhood, also we want to grow together with YOU (our reader).

My ideas for the next posts are various: preparing bath, nursing bottle, massage for babies, preparing for nursery etc. Here I would like to hear from you what would you like to see on this blog.

See you next time on my blog.

Besitos

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