Swimming during pregnancy.

Swimming is one of mostly recommended sports during pregnancy. I am not the fun of this kind of sport, only because I can't swim professional, and I swim very slow comparing with other people in the gym. With my first kid, it happened to swim few times, while with my second baby I was highly recommended to swim by my doctor. From first weeks of pregnancy I felt pain in my back and this pain annoyed me even during the night. Then, I have read that every pregnant has such pains, because of big changes that produce in our body during next 40 weeks. Strange, but I haven't noticed this pain in my first pregnancy.

Recommendations that I received were:

1. Swimming.
2. Massage, with a specialist, it is important not to make massage for all the back as it can be dangerous for your baby and for your pregnancy. Don't try it at home, only if you are specialised in massage.
3. Special exercises to reinforce my back.

I like water, even if I don't really like to swim. Water help you to relax and feel great after a long working day and after a sleepless night. Swimming is great for pregnant, because it is the less dangerous type of sports and bump weight less in the water. Apart of that, the cold water help to revitalize your body and help it to relax.

Recomended styles of swimming:

1. On the back.

This one I was highly recommended, by the way I swim the best on this position, as this position is the most relaxing one while making slow movements with arms.

2. Freestyle.

Apart of reinforcing arms muscles, it helps to the back as well. Even though, in my case, I wasn't recommended to use this style of swimming during my pregnancy. I used to swim at the beggining of the training, to warm muscles and to learn to control my respiration. And then making movements on the back.

3. Buterfly style.

I haven't tried it, but it is totally prohibited during pregnancy, because it requieres a lot of force in the muscles and if you are not a professional swimmer, like me, better do not use this style.

You can begin to swim from first weeks of pregnancy till the last ones, but always you have to consult with your doctor and see if he recommends you to make this kind of sport. Every woman is different and swimming is done to help you feel better, not worse.

Now, after giving birth I am swimming as well. There is no better way to relax after a sleepless night. Swimming help to quit stress and influence positively on prolactina, the hormone of producing milk.

Swim my darlings! You deserves the best in this world!

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10 tips for breast care while breastfeeding.

Breast is one of the women's part of the body which suffers a lot of changes during pregnancy, and after giving birth, during breastfeeding. That is why, it is so important to take care of your breast during all this period.

Here are some tips, some of them are inspired from literature that I have read, others from my own experience. I hope these tips will help you as well.

1. Use suitable breastfeeding bra, that are comfortable for you.

2. Mantain you normal way of hygiene, wash your breast with pure water. Do not use in excess soap, lotions or cream, these can damage areola.

3. If you need to use a cream, try to use only creams rich in Vitamin E, only these help to prevent stretch marks.

4. Once your baby finished, apply some milk on the nipples, as our milk has different antiinflamatory components. From my experience it works better than any other cream to hydrate your nipples, in the first days of breastfeeding.

5. Alternate the breasts while feeding, try to evit the colapse of the breast. If your baby do not want to eat, it is good to extract milk and to reserve it for later feed.

6. Do not take out your breast promptly from the mouth of your baby, this action can damage your nipples. Use your finger to cut the vacuum that have been created with the mouth of your baby, and only then you can take your breast out.

7. Make regular massage to your breast. This helps from engorgement.

8. Do not expose directly your nipples to the sun.

9. Make some excercise for breast muscles. It is great to swim, yoga or pilates, but before doing this ask your doctor.

10. If you use absorbent discs, try to change them regularly to evit humedity.

Keep breastfeeding, I am sure you are doing a great job.

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10 tips for better breastfeeding. 2nd time mommy.

The decision to breastfeed or to give formula to your baby is just yours. If you finally decide to breastfeed your baby, this post is for you. I am happy to share some of my experience with you my dear reader.

When you are a first time mommy, you are not prepared for all breastfeeding problems that occurs in the first few days, which are the most difficult to pass. Then you take control over it, and life goes easier. Here, I would like to share with you few tips of breastfeeding that helped me a lot with my second son, and now I am easily breastfeeding my baby.

1. Breastfeed as soon as possible, here I mean from your baby's first minutes of life. Researches demonstrate that in the first hour after giving birth suction is the most intense.

2. Breastfeed as many times as your baby requieres it. Mainly it is very important to do this in theirs' first days of life. Our body is very clever and it produces as much milk as our baby needs.

3. Night breastfeeding is very important as well, because it is the time when prolactina has its' more effective production.

4. Take care of your and baby's position while breastfeeding. I prefer to lay on the bed and breastfeed. It is the best position for me and baby to breastfeed efficiently. You decide yours. Of course, if you breastfeed in public such position is not possible.

5. Baby is who takes control over breastfeeding, more he eats, more milk you will produce. These 2 go together.

6. Be aware, your baby will ask for breastfeeding not just only when he is hungry, but as well on the moments when he needs consolation.

7. Your diet is very important. Be aware that now you are one, and you do not have to eat for 2. As well, you have to make a correct diet and to eat the necessary amount of food. Eat all but in little quantities. In my country there is a misperception that you do not have to eat fruits as then your baby will have colics and will cry. It is true just if you abuse with fruits, but when you eat a little bit of each it is great for your and your baby's health. I haven't left to eat fruit while I have breastfeeded my first baby and now neither. And from my experience my first baby, now a toddler, loves fruits and eats them every time I propose them to him.

8. Hydrate your body, drink at least 2 l of water a day. If you are already breastfeeding you can feel by yourself how much water you want to drink.

9. Take care with drinks with caffeine, such as coffee or normal coke. Firstly it is not recomended for your baby's health, and secondly you will see that your baby is very agressive and won't sleeep a good part of the day. I didn't know about that, and have experienced this bad day with my first kid. Then I have read about caffeine on breastfeeding and found out how bad is this. Now when I really want a coffee I drink decaffenaite one.

10. Ask for help. If you have doubts about breastfeeding and you don't know how to solve them, ask for help to your doctor or other mommi
es who have passed through this experience.

Good luck and enjoy breastfeeding as these moments are the best ones.

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More fresh fruits on his diet. Healthy kids are the happiest kids, and we are the happiest parents.

It is normal, nowadays, that we are too busy to think about a diet, mostly when both parents are working all day long. But I am sure, that every mum has thought about the diet of her kid and always tried that his diet to be the best one.

Our diet has to be rich and variated. There has to be proteins, fats, sugars, minerals, water, carbonohydrates. After reading some Health reports about a rich diet I had made my appointments:

1. Do not abuse with lacteal foods.

I would say that within all of the information that I have read, this point I abused a lot till these days. As I always thought, that it is great when your kid eats and drinks lacteal foods.

Till 1 year it is ok that baby is breastfeeding or taking formula as their stomach is not prepared to eat a big variation of solid food. And milk, breastmilk or formula, replace all the ingridients that our baby need. To take into consideration that cow milk is not the best one to feed your baby till 1 year as this contains a little amount of iron. Kids eat a big amount of lacteal, this means not only milk but as well yogurts, cheese and other things made from milk. And because of that, they do not want to eat other food that it is important as well, like fruits or vegetables. So, the diet becomes poor and our toddler does not eat the necessary amount of nutrients. A lot of mums offer to their kid lacteal foods for the dessert, me too, because we think that the diet will be complete. As the result, it is better to give as a dessert a cup of fresh fruit juice or fresh fruits instead of milk. I try to do this for several days and my kid is enjoying eating fruit.

2. Eat more fresh fruits.

As mentioned in previous point, is is always great to give your kid some fresh fruits for the dessert. I give him fruit for the snack time as well and sometimes at the breakfast. I hope I am doing right. Fresh fruit contains fiber, which is great to give your kid if he suffers from constipation. Fresh fruit juice is great as well, but this doesn't contain fiber. So, you have to decide what it is better for your kid.

3. Stop giving too much cereals.

Even though, I have read different sources and in ones are written that it is great to give cereals to your kid and in others that it is not as good. The idea at the end is not abuse with them, such as with milk, it is good but in less quantities. Cereals do not have the necessary amount of nutrients and to be loved by our kids usually the companies make them with sugar, honey or chocolate. It is ok to give our kids cereals without these additives.

4.  Say NO to refreshments!

The best thing to give is pure water, as all refreshments contain a big amount of sugar. Apart of the thing that kids want to drink more and more after taking refreshments. As well kids do not want to eat after them. Try to give your toddler a cup of refreshment and then try to feed him. I am sure it will be mostly impossible.

Ex. At this point I would like to write my own experience. I gave my toddler regularly juice, not a fresh fruit juice, but one bought in the supermarket that it is easy to use and has the perfect size. After some days I have noticed that my toddler begins to eat poorer every day. I thought, ok, no problem. As I have read from various sources that sometimes kids do not have appetite and it is ok. This happened not one or two days long, but more than 2 weeks. We became affraid of this as our kid began to lose weight. Then we went to the doctor and consulted with him and the problem that we had was giving him juice whenever he required. It was difficult to leave this habbit, but now we gave him a little juice once in 2 or 3 days. So, please, do not repeat our mistake.

How about you? What do you give or restrict to your kid? Share your experience with us.

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Going to the dentinst. When it is considered that is the perfect time to brush baby's teeth?

I do not know why, but from my experience of talking with other parents, a lot of them think that oral hygiene has to begin once baby has all his teeth in the mouth. Well, everybody can think as he wants. But after talking with an expert, I understood that oral hygiene is very important from the very first tooth or even before. It is great to begin oral hygiene from the first day when your baby is teething.

After having a good talk with an expert, I began reading various studies on oral hygiene, and I have found that bacteria which cause carries in our mouth makes it's apparition once teething begins. Most of the times this bacteria comes from mothers' mouth while we kiss our baby or while we give our baby something to eat.

Creating a habit.

From the very first months when baby's food is just breastmilk and from the 6th months when they begin to eat fruit and vegetables it is very important to create a habit of cleaning mouth. It is very important to avoid foods that contain a lot of. and that can remain within the teeth. It is recommended that once first tooth appears, mum or dad to clean baby's mouth with water and gasa. And once there are more teeth it is recommended to use a toothbrush at least twice a day.

And if you have any questions it is better to go to the dentist and consult any of your doubts.

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Week #2. Tips for flying with babies.

Happy to announce that this project continues with another wonderful blogpost and today I have as a guest Sarah from tammymum. A great mum who shares with us her experience and tips for flying with babies.

Having recently embarked on air travel with an 18 month old and a 7 month old I have decided to write down all the things that helped get us through our 4 hour flight. I'm not saying it'll solve everyone's travel woes but it may help you out at a time in need, and I must say both my babies were fab on the flight, much better than I expected.

1. Entertainment. This is a difficult one for babies I find as they imageare hard to entertain, especially the when they are at that awkward age between the just sitting and staring at everything age and the able to sit contently in front a film age. For my little one I took a trunki packed with stuff. We had books, wooden puzzles, paper and pens, a plastic teapot and cup, her 'baba' (bedtime bunny thing) and of course my iPad. I downloaded her favourite CBeebies programs, such as In the night garden (which is 25 minutes...amazing)  Rah Rah the noisey lion, Bing etc. I also downloaded a couple of apps, such as the In the night garden app. That being said her favourite thing to do on the iPad was to flick through photos. None of these things held her attention for an hour in any one stretch but they did help to occupy and pacify her. Keeping her quite and calm.

2. Food. I took plenty, we also had an in flight meal. No shame here, it kept everyone happy...and quiet.

3. Bottles. For take of and landing it can be worth giving your little ones a bottle or allowing them to nurse. The sucking helps the pressure on there ears and can help to reduce the pain. It's not uncommon for us adults to suck on a boiled sweet after all.

4. Don't be afraid to get up. don't get me wrong we weren't a yo yo but baby 1 and I did on occasion get up to stretch our legs. It served as a good distraction for her (and me) and helped kill some time. I also found the majority of people would happily fuss over her as she walked down the isle.

5. Flight times. This isn't always possible but where it is I would recommend thinking about the flight time you book. We deliberately booked an early morning flight on the way out in the hope the little ones would have a nap on the flight after the earlier than normal start - which they did. On our way home we had a later flight about 1.30pm our 18 month old didn't sleep prior to the flight so she was ready for a nap during. By some miracle it worked. I must admit though there was about 10 minutes of fussing and crying as she got herself off to sleep. But 10 minutes in 4 hours - I'll take that!

6. Strength in numbers. Again this isn't always possible but if it is, embrace it fully. On our outbound flight we took Nanny and Grandad. We outnumbered the babies 2 to 1 and it was brilliant. We could take shifts and relieve the pressure on each other. For the inbound flight it was only Mr TM myself and my Nan, but still the extra body was a godsend. That being said our next flight will probably just be the 2 of us but we are feeling more confident now to tackle it by ourselves.

7. Ignore the tutting. We did get some disapproving looks from other passengers - how dare we be on their flight, and I did hear of some complaints from passengers in respect of a couple of the other babies and toddlers that were on the flight. I was conscious to keep baby related disturbances to a minimum but ultimately, it's a few hours out of everyone's lives and is that such a big deal in the grand scheme of things?  One of the cabin crew members who I got talking to said she was used to passengers moaning at her about babies and kids on flights but she quite rightly pointed out, the majority of these people have themselves had little ones, or their children or grandchildren do and at some point they will have been faced with a discontented baby they are struggling to settle whilst under the watchful eye of others, they have simply forgot what it is like. They were once the ones facing the tuts and grumbles and groans from bystanders, the boot just happens to be on the other foot now. So I simply wouldn't worry about it. It will come to and end and everyone will forget about it.

8. Try to enjoy it. Potentially easiesr said than done granted, but the babies are more relaxed if you are (so we are told) and if you are off on your holidays, visiting friends, family whatever you are doing you are creating a memory. I will always remember my little ones face as we took off and look forward to telling her and her brother all about how their travelling escapades started so young and what they were like. Admittedly this only works if you have a memory you don't want to forget...


So it's not the golden ticket but hopefully there's a few tips in there that will be the key to a happy mamma when flying with babies.


Sarah from tammymum.com

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Week #1: 5 Tips for introducing a new sibling to toddlers and preschoolers

Welcome to week´s #1 post from #happymamasecrets project.

Today´s invitee is Harriet from Toby & Roo and her super cute kids. Feel free to share and comment. I, personally enjoyed reading her article.

Introducing a new sibling to our family is something I was so worried about, especially as Reuben, who is nearly 4 years old and very aware of what is taking place around him, seemed to be really anxious about baby’s arrival. He was very excited, don’t get me wrong, but he was also very clingy, possessive and nervous of being left anywhere – even though he’d been to preschool, Grandma’s house, wherever so many times before. Toby, on the other hand, seemed to be in sweet oblivion, he’s only just 2 years old so doesn’t really have much of a concept, we felt like maybe he would feel pushed out or like he wasn’t the ‘special’ baby anymore. I was unsure what he would make of me breast-feeding baby, especially as he was breast fed… would he be jealous? We spent a tonne of time before baby was due, planning out what to do to help everything go smoothly and make sure that no one feels pushed out.

I thought it might be helpful to put together a little list of things that we did to help introduce older siblings to the new arrival, so here goes, good luck!

• Talk, talk and talk some more

• 
  

Talking is possibly the most important thing you can do for helping to prepare your children for the new changes they are about to face, and I found it was just as important for after baby is here. During my pregnancy I talked to the boys about everything, in fact I wrote about that here , and it seemed natural to me to continue after my baby was born. Question’s like ‘How did baby get out of your belly?’, ‘Why is baby eating your boobie?’, ‘Why can’t I come with you and Edie?’ are a few of the ones we have had so far and I can honestly say, for us, they have been a blessing – the boy’s (Reuben mostly) feel more involved if their questions are answered. I have also found that honesty is the best policy – ‘Baby was born when mummy went to the hospital, she moved down what’s called a birth canal and then arrived into the world’, ‘Baby doesn’t eat Mummy’s boobie, she is drinking milk that comes from mummy’s boobie’ and ‘Baby has to stay with Mummy at all times because she can only drink from Mummy’s boobie, no one else has her special milk, so she has to stay with me. When she is a big girl like you, she will be able to stay with Daddy or Maw Maw’ are just some of the answers we have chosen to give. Honest, but without too much detail! Basically what I’m saying is, no matter how tired you are, how touched out or fed up you’re feeling, don’t deflect the many, many questions that will come your way. Answer them, as best you can, and that will help.

• Ask for help, not just from Daddy or other adults

• 
  

I’m really surprised by how much I have found this to be helpful in integrating Edith into our family and making the boys feel really happy and special in themselves. I ask both the boys to help me with little things like fetching me a nappy, picking up a packet of wipes or passing me muslin squares while I’m feeding. This has been especially helpful with Toby – Reuben is at the age where he is super helpful when he wants but if not, he won’t bother – but Toby loves to pick up little bits and bobs, it makes him feel really useful and helpful (which he of course is!) but, most importantly, it makes him feel involved.

• Ask visitors to be thoughtful

• 
  

Imagine every time your extended family members come to visit you there are cuddles and kisses, often toys or treats and then suddenly this new thing, this usurper, comes in, and you aren’t even the first person they say hello to anymore, the gifts aren’t for you, the treats aren’t for you and the kisses and cuddles are being showered on someone else. That would piss you off, right? You would probably feel like acting out for attention, but you wouldn’t, because you’re an adult and can control your emotions, but your child might not be able to. Before family members and friends come over to meet baby for the first time, make sure they know that you need them to think of your other children first. Things like making sure that they say hi to your kids first (this is actually the most common ‘mistake’ people don’t say hi, it’s surplus to requirements and they forget), then any kisses and cuddles that would normally happen should still go ahead, and finally, ask the children to show off their new sibling, ask their permission to hold the new sibling etc etc – involve them as much as possible. I know the temptation to just default to the new parents, ask about the labor, ask questions, congratulate etc is really strong, but make sure visitors know that the most important thing is to involve the kids and treat them as normal.

• Bring the kids something they have been really desperate for from baby

• 
  

We did this both times we had have had a baby, and each time it has been really effective and something that has had the desired effect. For weeks (maybe even longer!) Reuben has been begging us for a special toy that he was in love with, we have been telling him that he has to wait until his birthday, however the day that we brought Edith home, we brought him his special toy and told him that his new baby sister brought it for him because she loves him and wanted to bring him something special. We obviously did the same for Toby, he doesn’t quite get it so much, however it still put a big smile on his face!

• Make time

• 
  

It’s the most simple one to say, but the hardest one to actually do. This is something that requires work and is going to be a learning curve for everyone – you, Daddy, the kids and the baby. I find that bath times are a really good way to spend some time as a family. I get in the bath tub (or sometimes shower) with Edith and the boys come in with us, Daddy helps by getting everyone dry and sorting out pjs. It’s a way to make ‘family time’ everyday. On top of that, when the baby is sleeping, you can do simple things like read a book with the kids, bake or even set them up to paint. It’s the only way to enjoy time together, but don’t push yourself too hard!

So there you have it, this is how we have integrated our new arrival into the home, I’d love to know if you have anything to add, we could get a lot of ?

Harriet x

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10 SECRETS of happy mama to build SELF-ESTEEM of your toddler

On how you will build your kid´s self-esteem, depends his happiness, and his mental health. As a parent you are responsible of your kid´s happiness and future, why not to make him happy from his early ages and be confident on what he does.

Confident people inspire other people to big deals. Usually the society would accept ideas and would prefer a confident person to a person with a lower self-esteem, even if the ideas of another one can be better. Just take a look to your circle as an adult, who do you listen more?

I can´t say firmly that I am very confident person, but it is true that I read and develop this skill within me. During my life, all the best things which had happened to me were due to my high confidence and in that moments.

Studies show that you can grow your self-esteem during your life, but real self-esteem is built at early ages, till 5 years more or less. Why at this stage? Because, during first 5 years of life you discover the world in which you live, the people nearby, your body and your mind.

I am not a psychologist and I do not insist on my ideas. Every parent has the right to educate his child on his own way. This is why I share with you my top 10 secrets that I do for growing self-esteem of my toddler. If you want to add any own secret, please comment. We like comments :)

1. Give hugs - Earlier, before being a mum, I had read an interesting article about the importance of touching. All people feel safe while hugging. This fact is for one simple reason; baby in mother´s utter has very few space, and his position inside the utter is like he is hugged by his mother and protected during his first 9 months of living. Even if we do not remember our first 9 months of living, our body remember. And a hug of a parent for a kid is like a recharger of happiness batery and his feeling of being safe.

2. Tell your toddler I LOVE YOU - even if it is a boy, he must know that he is loved by his parents, and that he is appreciated. All of us need to hear these magic 3 words.

3. Tell him he is smart and pretty - all children seem their perfection and they love their body and how they look like, but unfortunately after a lot of studies, have been seen that from 5 years they begin to feel uncomfortable with their body and begin to compare themselves with other children of their age. It is important that you observe this and explain him that he is perfect in his way.

4. Ask questions. If you want to know more about your toddler, ask him questions, it is a perfect way to find what he thinks about. At this stage it it important not to impose your ideas. You have to understand that you had your childhood at least 20 years ago, so many changes happened during this time, that your ideas are a little bit obsolete. In any case your child will repeat you and will be a little ¨copy¨ of you and your partner. By asking questions, let him discover the world, create his imagination and feelings. He is thinking while he answers you.

5. Listen - when you ask your toddler anything, please, be patient and listen what he wants to tell you. If every time when your kid will talk you won't listen, do not expect him after few years that he will share his thoughts with you.

6. Sing and dance with him - music forms his flexibility. Your child needs to understand that he is the Master of his body, every move has to be coordinated and understood by him. Music helps a lot your child´s to possess his body.

7. Ask for help - do not compel your child to do something. Ask him for a favor, and he will grow like a flower, because he will feel that he is doing something amazing by helping you.

8. Play together - remember about your childhood, and play with your kid as being of his age. I am sure you will enjoy as much as he does. He will find in you a good friend that is ready to be nearby.

9. Travel together - it is really fun to learn this amazing world with him, you feel like a team who discover the places that has been never seen buy you.

10. Be his HOME - your child must feel, that whatever and wherever he goes, there is always a place where he can come for relief. And if something bad or good happened to him, there is always a person waiting for hime to discuss his problem. Be his HOME!

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Potty challenge - our own story about how we forgot about diapers

¨Quick potty training¨ it is not a recent thing nowadays. Psychologists Nathan H. Azrin and Richard M. Foxx published the book that started it all, Toilet Training in Less Than a Day, in 1974. 30 years past since then, so I won´t amaze anybody with new tactics or new ways to train your kid to get used with a potty. But, I will tell you a story, our story, how we forgot about diapers.

It was middle of April, when I tried for the first time to train my kid to get used to a potty. I looked for a long weekend when I had the opportunity to stay almost 3 days at home. I firmly decided that in 3 days we won´t be using diapers. Just one little thing here to mention, I began alone, I didn´t prepare nor my husband, neither the nursery (very, very bad decision).

1st day, my toddler were looking at me like ¨ are you crazy mum, why did you take off my diaper ? ¨. Yep, I took off his diaper, and all the flat was pissed off, when he went to sleep I had to clean all my house... yes... very challenging.

2nd day better results, not all the apartment were pissed off, just few times, and few times in a potty. Again, when he went to sleep I had to clean all the flat, because my husband told me ¨it was your idea, so feel free¨.

3rd day, almost done, almost all the times were in a potty. When he went asleep, I prepared a lot of pairs of clothes for the nursery.

These 3 days were training during the day, during the night it was diaper. As well we went out very little within these 3 days, as I wanted to get ready my kid to the nursery.

4th day in the nursery, they told me, that they will try, but it is better to begin a little bit later potty training....hmmmm (I didn´t like this, but)... I said... OK.

....passed a week, on Friday, let´s follow our potty trainig... NO, NO, NO, our toddler was afraid and crying and didn´t want to go to a potty, it was almost impossible to train him. That weekend was the most challenging for us, our dear daddy helped a lot, as he has seen  my striving to teach our toddler, but even though it was difficult. On Sunday, the day before nursery was the easiest day of the weekend, but even though it was much more difficult to train him as it was on the previous week. The most amazing part of this, was that our toddler, were looking for a diaper on a usual place, and gave it to me.

Almost 3 or 4 weeks we were struggling in such a way his potty training. It was difficult, but we did it, as nothing is impossible.

NEXT STEP. Get out the diaper during the night. A challenging task, but I found it easier than during the day, in JUST 2 nights we trained our toddler to a potty, during the night.

Counting back, potty training took us almost one month. We did it, it was taugh, stressful, messy, but we have good results now.

I think that to train to a potty your kid in 3 to 7 days, you need to be, or a stay at home mum, or to take some holidays or to be helped by the nursery. For us it was challenging because we did it with my husband, and nursery´s contribution was seen only when our diapers in the nursery got finished.

Every bad experience or a good one come with a lesson, my lesson was: be open and ASK FOR HELP, and other thing that I learnes was patience.

Wish you a good experience, and this task on your job as a MUM to be the easiest one.

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5 tips for mums with boys and how become a happier mum

How to be a happier mother? This question makes all of us to think about not once. All the time you feel sleepy, tired, out of time and never have that moment to relax. Here I want to share my top 5 tips that help me feel great with my toddler and enjoy motherhood life.

Every child is different, and we can´t firmly say that if you have a girl, you have more time for yourself, than when you have a boy, but during my almost 2 years of experience as a mum of a boy and I can tell you that the way you look at them it is very different, even how you play, talk and make things together. Boys prefer more outside activities like run, play football, skip, jump nor inside activities which require their attention. That is why Ishare with you my top 5 tips as a mother of a boy:

Tip 1: Run or practice sport... I know, you will say you don´t have enough time for practicing sport, me neither... but half an hour in 2 days is more than enough to practice sport and feel better. Is it possible for you? For me is just perfect. I began to run very few time ago, so I am not a really good runner, but I understand that I feel better, and I have more energy to dedicate to my toddler and to play with him with a ball, or any of outside aactivities that he needs.

Tip 2: Sleep, sleep and sleep whenever you have the opportunity. When I do not sleep enough I feel tired, I don´t want to run, I do not want to play with my kid, and I do not want to do anything.

Tip 3: Wake up early. Being a working mum I know the difference. I love the days when I have to go to work...wierd...but it is true, as I wake up early in the morning to take a shower, make up, drink my coffee in silence, and have a nice breakfast. Because, when I am off and I lie in the bed till my toddler wake me up, I don´t have these 30-40 minutes for me, neither the time to be a really pretty mum.

Tip 4: Read... Fortunately, I have my Kindle, and I have my 30 minutes to go on subway while I get to and back from my work and I have this time for reading a book and learning something new. I read all kinds of books, but I prioritize the books, which make me grow intellectualy. It is up to you what do you read, it can be a magazine, but READ something. You develop your vocabulary, what I think you stop doing once finished school, college or university.

Tip 5: Talk to your boy. Boys are a special kind of humans that they do not want to talk too much, and they are not the humans who share their feelings, but think about it, and ask yourself. Do you want to know what happens in his mind and how he feels? If he will see in you a good listener and see that you are ready to speak with him about anything, obviously when he will grow up he won´t forgive to make a call to you.

I hope you find these tips usefull.

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Cold and how to chase it

Recently I have been very active on socials and promoting this blog, even I agregate a really great page on twitter and google+, come and follow us :), as I felt like I have a little bit more time for this, and as well I thought why not to promote this blog, as for sure I will find mums alike that would love to read what I am share with my readers. But suddenly Mr. toddler got a flue, and all this time flew out, and I was absorbed with fever, congestion and all cold stuff that I even haven´t time for me, nor for other people. It is true, that if your baby is not ok, all around you goes not in the right directions, you don not have time, nor desire to make something out of order. Now, I am happy that I am back, my toddler is great, I think he now is better than before the cold and I feel relaxed, happy to continue with blog and my socials. For sure, follow Happy Mama Secrets, as I am on the way to make some changes on the site, and I would really appreciate your reviews to see if you like the changes which we prepare.

Going back to last week, and to the cold… this was our first time when our toddler got a flue for a one week long, never it was so much time, fever not more than 2 days. How we manages this? It was difficult, as the stress get you absorbed and sometimes you don´t think clearly in such situations and you don´t know what to do, and the unique way to escape is to keep calm and listen the doctor. Our daddy was 3 times to the doctor to see what happens, and how we can cure this cold. So here are some advices that were given to us: put an onion on the room where baby sleeps, clear nose with serum, give paracetamol each 6 ours, but just if the temperature is higher than 37.5 and if there is no changes after paracetamol, put wet cold compresses till the temperature goes down… and yes we were doing all this process during 6 days… here I would like to add another tip, that I think had finnaly helped us…baths with tepid water… make sure it is not warm, this is just great to low the temperature and of course be patient, as the cold is not just for 1 day. Then another tips that are important during a cold, is give as much water as your child can drink.

Wish you will be healthy always!!!!

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Cut wrong the nail on foot

Have it ever happen to you to cut wrong the nail on foot and then it to get red? I do not know you, but it happened three times to us. Now we are more attent when cutting the nails, and we cut them when Damian sleeps, as when he is awake it is mission impossible. On this article I want to share some of the tips that we learnt after these bad experiences.

1. Cut the nails straight and not in form of oval, as their nails are too fine and these are very sensitive.

2. To offer comfortable shoes for your child, and always buy the right size on time. Do not wait.

3. If it happened that you have cut the nail wrong and it is get red, we used this ointment to stop the infection.



I hope this few tips will help you on your next time when you will have to cut nails.

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Baby nose cleaner

In this article I want to share a little story from the first days being a mother, and about an advice that was given to me that till now I am very grateful to that doctor.

In Spain, there is a program that on first 10 days after you gave birth, a doctor form Doctors College is calling you and asks you about your feelings as a mum, new experience, what problems you have found, what questions do you have, and teach you some new util things. I don´t really know if they called me by social security program, or it was any other program that I have asked previously when I was pregnant.

The fact is, that this call changed my perception about the flue on babies. I was lucky as my child was born at the end of may and it was a good weather outside and I didn´t know what is flue till he went to the nursery :D.

It was done a study about baby nose cleaner, and was found that more you use it more snot forms in the nose of your baby. I listened the advice not to use it and evit to use it till once my baby was breathing through the mouth. The result, my baby didn´t breathe better, he was crying as he was afraid of the strange thing that I used for his nose, and it was true that more snot came later.

Dear mums, my advice to you, do not use this baby nose cleaner. The best way from all the times is the onion in the room while baby sleeps.

Cheers, love you!

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Playing Dough an interactive activity for toddlers

This weekend I wanted to prepare to my toddler an interactive activity and specially colored dough. I have plasteline, and very coloured and very beautiful, but once I gave it to him he put all in his mouth to try it. So, I opted for a natural things that wouldn't affect my child if he would like to taste the object while playing. I decided that coloured dough it is the best way he can enjoy to play with and the safest. I took floor and water and prepared the mass, then this mass cut into four little pieces of dough and coloured each one with a new colour. I have just 4 food colours, it is said that I can mix them to obtain other colours, but I didn´t complicate this work too much, you know what I mean. As it was supposed he liked the colours and took all of the balls into his mouth to try them :D. It was fun, but I was happy as I knew that it´s ok for him. We made different shapes and forms, at the end it wasn't just an interactive game, but educational activity too.

Below you can see some images.

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Colored beans, one of the inside activities that help develop the feelings and learn colors

One of montessori activities that I tryed to do after looking for some activities on pinterest, was colouring the beans. On pinteres I found coloured rice, coloured pasta but not beans. I decided to try beans as not to repeat others. As advised on other blogs, I have used special food color, as it is better if your toddler try all the things in his mouth. It is a perfect way to entertain a toddler, but it wasn´t the easiest task to do, as colouring the beans took time, these weren´t coloured as I thought, and it took a lot of time to get dried. Finnaly these were dried, and Damian could enjoy to play with them, and not just to sort them but as well to fulfill the bottle with red beans and yellow beans. Interesting experience for my toddler, but as well too much work and too many time to prepare this activity.

Below some images:

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Toddler activities - Part II

This weekend we didn´t go out of Barcelona, we stayed at home, our lovely flat became a fortune for a lot of funny things with Damian (on Sunday evening we´ve spent a lot of time to put all in order when Damian went to sleep :D). I browse on internet what we can do and how we can play with our child and not to get bored. I want to say that I have never expected that I will have so much fun, playing with him. Try with your kid and you´ll see :).

- fine motor activities

 duck craft - I´ve seen on internet chicken craft here, but I decided to try it with a duck, as Damian loves so much ducks and when he sees a duck he begin to say ¨quack quack¨ :). For this craft you will need, paper, some feathers and glue. Look what we have got:

shape matching - is another activity, here we didn´t make too much effort, as he has a really great toy that helps him to be entertaining. But, if you don´t have such great toy, it is very easy to do it, you will need cardboard, and you can paint the forms, then cut from colored paper the shapes, and leave your child to put cut paper on the shapes painted on the cardboard.

fill the bottle- amazing activity, if you want your toddler to be amused and doesn´t require too much your attention. The idea is to have an empty plastic bottle, rice (you can choose whatever you want), space. Show your child how he needs to fulfil this bottle and that´s it.

make pyramids from cubes

- Montessori activities (1-10 numbers)

 I found this activity a little bit difficult to do with Damian, I think that he is not so big enough for it. I will try again several times to see if it was his first time, or he is too little for this activity.

I used TP tubes for matching the numbers and straws to count the numbers, I find this activity interesting, but maybe it is too early.

 and last but not least activity, you can do it even with babies or your kids is reading or books, babies just love them.

Have a great week.

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Toddler Activities

I told you various times that I believe in going out and spend time with my baby on fresh air, but even though we can't stay all day long out, and there is a part of time that we stay at home. While we stayed at home, we have made various activities that helps toddlers to have great time with parents.

1. Fine Motor Skills activities

- this activity Damian used to do in a previous nursery, is called "treasure bag" is a bag full of different toys, it can be as well normal day by day things with different tactile and form structure. It is very important that not all objects used to be plastic ones, as in this activity your toddler learn texture of each object. I have gone even further, I took scissors for kitchen use, and he had to take each object with these scissors and to put them into the bag. First time it was almost impossible that he made this by himself, so I helped him a lot. The second time he understood how to play and was easier for him and for me. I encourage you to try this very interesting activity with your toddler.

- another motor skill activity is putting circles on a stick and create a pyramid, we found this toy in IKEA, firstly I thought, what can my baby do with this, but after we bought it, this become his beloved toy, he plays every day with it. This toy develop his motor skills on putting all the pieces together and create one single form, as well for a toddler that have just 1 year and a half it is not so easy to get this circle into the stick :)

2. Attention activities are various:

- painting - I think all children love this activity, and we (mothers) don't like, as after his play with colors there is so much work in the apartment. Yes, but remember you, when you were a kid how much you liked this activity. They create and they feel them powerful.

- stick color sorting using TP tubes or plastic cups, it requires a lot of attention, as first time for them it is really difficult to understand what you want them to do. For this activity you need to have sticks of different colors, I don't have sticks, so I used straws of different color, some plastic cups, you can use TP tubes and show your child that he has to sort all the straws by colors. We've played 3 or 4 times, and each time is easier to play with him, but as well it is not an easy task. Be patient.

- salt dough - this activity I described in another post, that you can see here

- sorting caps from plastic bottles. I used some caps, and put into them colored paper, and asked Damian, to sort in a line all the caps by theirs color. We played just once, and he didn't do what I asked, but we had fun together :). At the end it doesn't mean that your child have to be a genius, you just need to spend really great time with your toddler

Stay with us for more activities for toddlers in the next posts.

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Oral Hygiene - or when to start cleaning teeth on babies

To prevent dental problems it is very important the teeth cleaning, and as all of us do is cleaning teeth at least twice a day, but how about our babies, when do you think is is the perfect time to begin this process?

My thought at the beginning was that when baby has all teeth, you can begin to clean them, but after a consultation with a specialist, a good specialist, I understand that once appears the first tooth you need to begin to look after oral hygiene of your baby. This consultation was long after first 4 teeth, so you understand that I didn´t do anything till then. After this advice I have begun to clean the teeth of my baby, but as well not regularly. And now, when Damian, has 12 teeth he cleans his mouth alone. To get this it was easier as I thought, I just had to show my baby that I clean my mouth daily, and gave him his toothbrush and shown him that it is fun he copies me.

Our pediatrician told us that it is very important that when you show your kid the cleaning process you don´t use a toothpaste, because babies want all that we have, Damian till now didn´t ask me for toothpaste.

Below you can see the video with him cleaning teeth.

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Nappy Rash Creams

Today I would like to make some comments about ointments for babies bottom. This article comes to my mind once I have seen a comment about a baby that goes to nursery and sometimes comes home with a red bottom. I really like my nursery and this doesn´t mean that it hasn´t happened to me to see in the evening a red bottom of my son, and sometimes it looks really bad, that I was thinking there is no way to make it looks better. Believe me, every time there is a solution.

1. Wash the bottom regularly, especially at the moment of changing the diaper... really... I didn´t do that, but I know a lot of mums that are doing in that way. It is great when you have this time and patience, I didn´t have.

2. Change the diaper regularly, I was/am changing it at every 3-4 hours.

3. Use a good dippers, change in case you see the baby is allergic to the one you use.

4. If your baby is on nursery or even better has a babysitter, please don´t be shy to tell to the babysitter to be more careful with changing the diaper and change it on time, and to ask them to use an ointment.

BUT, here I would like to mention, that even with doing all this routine, you can find that sometimes your babies bottom will be irritated. This can be caused by various symptoms: fever, teething (when a child is teething his excrements are acid, and this cause an irritation, that´s why is so important when you baby is teething to change the diaper even more times), or simply his/her skin is so soft that doesn´t accept the dippers you use.

Below I want to share with you some ointments that I have used, and really helped me. (Bepanthol, Lutsine, Mustela, Nutracel, Nutraisdin ZN40, SebaMed)

The best one, but it is not for everyday use is Nutraisdin ZN40, this is perfect if any other cream doesn´t help.

If you have some more things to complete for this article, please do not hesitate to do this. Every comment is welcome.

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