Parenting Tips & Support

One last getaway for you and you’re partner before your little one arrives may be at the top of your to-do list. Over the years, the babymoon trend has exploded with the help of celebrities leading the way, such as Love Island stars Olivia and Alex Bowen. Who posted snaps of their babymoon in Tenerife. Before the arrival of their baby boy, Abel, in June.

📷 @oliviadbowen

Travel companies like Jet2holidays and First Choice even have pages on their site dedicated to babymoon destinations. But before you book your last hurrah. You should research and speak to your doctor or midwife about flying when pregnant. So you can plan ahead to ensure your babymoon is as relaxing as possible.

When to Travel During Pregnancy

Every pregnancy is different, and what you experience during a certain stage of pregnancy may be the complete opposite of what your friend does. However, the first 12 weeks, also known as the first trimester, can be particularly tiring. In early pregnancy, you may experience morning sickness and nausea. Therefore, you may want to avoid taking a trip away during this time. Plus, the risk of miscarriage is higher in the first 3 months, whether you’re travelling or not.

Another period you should avoid flying is during the final months of your pregnancy. It’s common to feel more and more uncomfortable the closer to the due date you get. You may struggle to sleep with your bump or experience leg cramps when trying to drift off to sleep.

For many pregnant women, the best time to travel and take that pre-baby holiday is in the second trimester, which is between 4 and 6 months. 

📷 @leighannepinnock

 Weeks of Pregnancy

After 28 weeks, your airline may request a letter from your doctor or midwife. That confirms your due date and that you’re not at risk of any complications.

It is important to consider that some airlines may not let you fly towards the end of your pregnancy. One reason is that the chance of going into labour is naturally higher after 37 weeks or around 32 weeks if you’re expecting twins. According to the NHS Start4Life website, at 37 weeks, your baby could make an appearance at any time, and this would not be considered early.

Travel Insurance

When shopping for travel insurance before you jet off, it’s important to bear in mind every eventuality. You should make sure you’re covered for all circumstances, such as an early birth, medical care during labour and the cost of changing your return trip if you do go into labour.

Plan Ahead

As we mentioned at the start, planning is the key to a stress-free babymoon. Once you’ve decided on the destination you’d like to visit. Make sure you research before booking your flights to ensure there are healthcare facilities nearby, should you need them.

It’s also a good idea to take a copy of your maternity notes/medical records in your hand luggage. Along with any medication you require while away. Another thing you may find useful is speaking to your midwife or doctor about any concerns you have before setting off for your trip, especially if you’re travelling later in your pregnancy.

📷 @staceysolomon

Long-distance Travel

For most pregnant women, spending longer than 4 hours on a plane is their worst nightmare. However, if you’re thinking about taking a long-haul flight, you should be aware that it carries a small risk of blood clots – Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). To reduce the risk of this happening, you may want to wear compression stockings.

You should also drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration and try to reserve an aisle seat or one with extra leg room.

Remember to get out of your seat and move around regularly. You should aim to do this every 30 minutes or so. 

Destination

Choosing the right destination for your babymoon can be a difficult task. But there are a few factors you should take into consideration:

• Will you need any travel vaccinations? (Ask your Midwife or GP about travel vaccinations).
• What will the weather be like?
• How long is the flight?

Tips for When You Get There

• Drink bottled water if unsure whether the tap water is safe to drink.
• Be careful when eating and drinking to avoid water-borne conditions, for example an upset stomach and travellers’ diarrhoea – keep this in mind when washing fruit and veg.
• Pack suitable clothes and shoes that you’ll be comfortable in. Remember, your feet may swell in warm temperatures.
• Be mindful when planning activities, and don’t push yourself too hard. A babymoon is supposed to be relaxing.
• If you’re going to a sunny destination, be sure to pack a higher SPF, as your skin is more sensitive when pregnant.
• Make sure you don’t lift any heavy suitcases or bags.

Whether you are a first-time mum or are expecting your second child, it is important to refresh your knowledge on safe sleeping practices for babies. Becoming a parent comes with new-found anxieties that you have never experienced before. And sometimes, these worries can overshadow your first few weeks of bonding with your little one. To help you conquer any fears you may have about putting your baby to sleep. We have created this blog post where you can find advice, guidance and the Do’s and Don’ts of safe sleeping.

What is Safe Sleeping Advice?

Safe sleeping advice is introduced to expecting parents to ensure that they are taking the necessary actions to significantly reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Also more well known as cot death. It provides parents with the information they need to put their baby to sleep safely through the day and night.

📷 @lullabytrust

Where Should my Baby Sleep?

The NHS recommends that for the first 6 months, your baby should sleep in the same room as you. The safest place for your baby to sleep is either in a moses basket, crib or cot. Always make sure that you place your baby on their back to sleep.

Can my Baby Sleep in my Bed?

As advised by the Lullaby Trust, babies should sleep in a clear, safe sleep space, which is easy to create in a cot or moses basket. However, it is a personal choice. Below is some guidance from the Lullaby Trust on how to make your bed a safer place for your baby to sleep.

DO

• Ensure that you keep pillows, sheets, blankets and any other items that could obstruct your baby’s breathing or cause them to overheat away from them.
• Make sure that your baby won’t fall out of bed or get trapped between the mattress and the wall.
• Follow all other safer sleep advice.

DON'T

• Do not let pets or other children in the bed.
• Do not co-sleep if you or your partner smoke.
• Do not co-sleep if you or your partner has drunk alcohol or taken drugs (including medications that may make you drowsy).
• Do not co-sleep if your baby was born premature or at a low weight.
• Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair.

You should never share a bed with your baby if any of the points above apply to you or your partner.

What Type of Blanket Should I use to Cover my Baby?

You should never cover your baby with a bulky quilt, duvet or fluffy blanket. This type of bedding can make it difficult for your baby to breathe and cool down. Lightweight blankets are the best type to use as you can easily adjust the temperature by layering one or more. Remember, a folded blanket counts as 2 blankets.

Your baby’s blanket should not go above their shoulders. To prevent their blanket from moving in the night, tuck it securely under their arms. You should also place them in the ‘feet to foot’ position. It means that their feet are at the end of the moses basket, crib or cot. Instead of a blanket, you may want to use a well-fitting baby sleep bag with the correct tog value.

How do I Know if my Baby is too Warm or Cold?

According to experts, the ideal temperature for your baby’s room is between 16 and 20 degrees. The best way to check if your baby is too warm is by checking the back of their neck to make sure their skin doesn’t feel hot, clammy or sweaty to touch. But remember, if they are unwell, they may feel warmer than usual. In this instance, you would use fewer bedclothes. Another way to check whether the temperature in your baby’s room is comfortable is to get a room thermometer.

What Should my Baby Wear for Bed?

The first thing to take into account when dressing your baby for bed is their room temperature. Knowing the temperature of their nursery will help you make an informed decision on what to dress them in. Remember your baby should never wear a hat to bed as their head is important for maintaining their body temperature. It is how they release heat.

Below is a helpful infographic with guidance on what your baby should wear to bed, depending on what the room temperature is.

📷 @babyinbloommcr

Does Breastfeeding Reduce the Risk of SIDS?

Yes. A 2017 study found that breastfeeding for at least two months, even if supplemented with formula, can cut the risk of SIDS in half. Furthermore, the Department of Health recommends that babies are fed only breast milk for at least 6 months.

Unfortunately, breastfeeding isn’t an easy experience for every new mum. But if you’re struggling, you can reach out to the National Breastfeeding Helpline for advice and help on 0300 100 0212.

More Safe Sleeping Practices

• Use a firm and flat mattress that is protected by a waterproof cover, making sure that it is the correct size for your moses basket, crib or cot.
• Don’t use sleep positioners to keep your baby in one position unless advised by a health professional.
• Keep your baby’s sleep space clear of pillows, bumpers, soft toys, pods or nests.
• Keep your home smoke free.

Always Ask if Unsure

When it comes to the safety of your baby, no question is stupid. Your midwife or health professional will be happy to answer any questions you may have. There are also many trusted organisations online, such as the Lullaby Trust or the NHS, that have a great range of resources that cover safe sleep practices.

Child Safety Week is a community education campaign that happens once a year and is championed by the Child Accident Prevention Trust. The charity’s aim is to reduce the number of children and young people killed, disabled or seriously injured in accidents. One way the charity works towards this is by giving free child safety advice to parents and carers to ensure that they have the tools and information required to keep their little ones safe.

This year, Child Safety Week runs from Monday 6th to Sunday 12th of June with the theme of Safety in mind.

In honour of this important week, we have decided to use our resources and expert knowledge to create a series of blog posts. These posts will be dedicated to 4 different safety topics to inform you about real risks that your children are exposed to daily. However, the purpose of these blog posts isn’t to instil you with fear. Instead, we want to provide you with the information you need to deal with these situations confidently and calmly.

The Safety Topics

Safe Sleeping

In this blog, we will cover the main aspects of safe sleep for babies to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). We will focus on common questions about safer sleep and precautions you and your family can take before putting your baby to sleep.

Weaning Safety

This post is a must-read if you are about to start the weaning journey with your baby. We will empower you with the knowledge you need to safely wean your baby. And will look at weaning essentials, foods to avoid and much more.

Car Safety

A car seat is one of the many things you need to buy before your baby is born. This blog post will act as a guide to choosing the most suitable car seat for your new arrival and will help you better understand the safety regulations and laws in place.

Safety at Home

Taking the time to baby-proof your house is an important process that all parents will have to go through before your little one is able to crawl. If you are unsure where to start, this blog post is an essential read.

Make sure you check back in each day this week when we will be publishing a new safety article. For more information on Child Safety, make sure you head over to the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) website.

In the meantime, you can read the safety-related blog posts that we already have on our website, such as ‘What is the Best Cot Mattress for Your Baby' and ‘How to Get a Baby to Sleep on Its Back’.

Travelling with a baby can be quite a daunting thought when you consider the day-to-day essentials this tiny human needs. Add to this the sun, an unfamiliar environment and time spent on a plane with a fussy baby, you have enough reasons to avoid booking a holiday altogether. However, we're here to take any anxieties you may have about travelling abroad and replace them with excitement about creating lasting memories with your little one.

Plan Ahead

Just like you would plan for a trip to grandma's or a stroll around the park. Going on holiday is no different, it just requires a little more thought. The more careful planning you do before your departure date will make for a more relaxing holiday for the whole family. Our list of baby holiday essentials will help you begin to develop a checklist of everything your baby will need during your trip away.

Doona Car Seat

The Doona Car Seat is a holiday must-have. It is the world's first complete and fully integrated travel system, allowing you to move from car seat to stroller in seconds. Not only is it practical, but it has been designed alongside medical and engineering experts to ensure that the baby's body is properly supported in the correct ergonomic position. Furthermore, it is TUV and FAA Aircraft Approved for travel. So, whether you are wandering along the promenade or exploring in a rental car, the Doona has everything you need to keep your baby safe and supported.

📷 @jessimalay

Sun Protection

It is important to keep your baby out of the sun as much as possible while on holiday. The NHS states that babies under the age of 6 months should not be in the sun at all, and babies over the age of 6 months should be kept out of the midday sun between 11am and 3pm. However, sun protection doesn't just include using an appropriate sunscreen. You should also consider buying a suitable sun cover for the stroller. The Doona 350° Car Seat Sun and Insect Protection Net has been created to protect against direct sunlight and insects.

First Aid Kit

A first aid kit is a baby holiday essential that should be a priority on your checklist. Hopefully, you will not need it, but it is better to have it on hand should it be required. As recommended by the NHS, your first aid kit should contain paracetamol suspension, ibuprofen suspension, barrier cream, a thermometer and rehydration sachets.

Changing Mat

Make sure your holiday is as stress-free as possible with a quality changing mat. This baby holiday essential will ensure that each nappy change is on a hygienic surface and involves as little mess as possible. Any accidents can easily be wiped clean on a waterproof changing mat. During your time away, you may want to explore outside of the hotel. Therefore, a changing mat is a must-have for when you are unsure what facilities the local restaurants and shops have. 

A Bag for Essentials

Whether you are spending the day around the pool or heading out to explore, you will need a bag to store your baby's essentials. We recommend making an alternative checklist dedicated to this bag, so you always have everything you need nearby. There is nothing more annoying than having to return to your hotel room to grab something that has slipped your mind. Some items you may want to consider for the bag are sunscreen, muslins and swim nappies.

Travel Cot

Although some holiday accommodations provide a travel cot, you will need to check beforehand. Remember to pack a cot sheet to make sure that your little one has a comfortable night's sleep. Don't worry if your hotel doesn't provide a travel cot as they are lightweight and easy to pack away. They are also an investment as they will come in handy for any future holidays or trips away.

Time to Make Some Memories

Now that you have put together your checklist of baby holiday essentials, it is time to make the most of your time away from home together. Remember to take lots of pictures and enjoy every moment!

Check out our 7 sleep safety tips to reduce the risk of SIDS. Share our blog or use the downloads to promote Safer Sleep Week to raise awareness of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. 

With your baby on the way, you'll need to know how to get everything ready for your new arrival. See our tips for setting up your baby changing table.

If space is limited, but you refuse to compromise on quality, here is our guide on how to arrange furniture in a small nursery. Read on to discover our tips now.

Life can be chaotic with a newborn. Staying organised can truly preserve your sanity. Check out our nursery organisation tips and storage hacks.

As your mind turns to weaning, you'll have a few decisions to make — what's the best high chair? Discover the best highchairs that adapt to grow with your baby!

When do babies outgrow a changing table? Read on to find out why you should stop changing them on the changing unit and tips to make nappy changing less stressful for you and baby.

You’ve rocked your baby to sleep. Sung them to sleep. Breastfed or bottle-fed them to sleep. You’re an expert at sending your baby to dreamland, but after months of perfecting this skill, you’re wondering: How long until my baby can do it on their own? Is there any way to speed up the process?

When your little one is able to self-soothe themselves to sleep, it’s a big deal. While every baby is different and no one solution will work for everyone, we’ve compiled some tips to help make the process as quick and easy as possible.

What Is Self-Soothing?

Self-soothing is typically referred to a baby’s ability to fall asleep on their own without the need for an adult to rock, cuddle, pat, carry or shush them. It is a natural mechanism to control and regulate emotions that involves a baby or young child learning how to calm themselves down when they wake up or are a little anxious or stressed. 

Most babies need to be taught to self-soothe, while a few are natural self-soothers. You can expect your baby to begin soothing anywhere between three months and one year of age. In some cases, babies may take a little longer to learn.

Why Is Self-Soothing Important?

In terms of baby milestones, self-soothing may set your baby up for a lifetime of good sleeping habits. 

It’s believed that babies who can self-soothe become toddlers who can self-soothe through tantrums, and so on. Plus, we probably don’t have to stress to you how much of a relief it can be when you don’t have to spend an hour — or more — each night trying to get your little one to fall asleep. Yes, you treasure that togetherness. But it’s also nice when your baby can self-soothe and you get to squeeze in a bit more sleep. Other benefits of self-soothing include:

When Can Babies Self-Soothe?

You can try simple self-soothing techniques once your baby has turned about three months old. If you start too early, your baby might get a little fussier. Don’t rush it, don’t expect too much, too soon. Take your time and allow your little one to learn how to soothe themselves naturally and in their own time.

Newborn

In the very early days, your baby can’t control their own movements to be able to self-soothe themselves. They are still adapting to life in the outside world. You have to be patient and understand that they need you and depend on you for everything, from food and changing to falling asleep. As a result, you will need to rock, pat, sing and carry your baby around for them to fall asleep sometimes. Don’t worry about your baby getting into any bad habits of being rocked to sleep at this stage, as habits don’t develop until they have turned about 12 weeks old.

Three months onwards

As your little one approaches the 12-week mark, you can teach them to sleep on their own. A few babies learn to self-settle, almost overnight, while other babies need support and encouragement to learn this new skill for as long as it takes.

How to Teach a Baby to Self-Soothe

So, how can you help your baby to learn the crucial skill of self-soothing? Here are four tips from our experts designed to do just that:

• If you are parenting your baby all the way to sleep (by rocking or feeding to sleep, for example), start changing this by still parenting them, but laying them down drowsy but awake for one nap each day. Then, you can gradually build up to doing this for all naps, and eventually at bedtime and during any night wakings. Or, for an even gentler approach, start by gradually shortening the amount of time you spend parenting to sleep — rock your baby for just five minutes, for example, instead of 10.

• Create strong, consistent sleep routines. If you haven’t already, institute a consistent nap time and bedtime routine. These routines serve as signals to your baby that sleep time is approaching.

• Allow some time — even just a minute or two — between hearing your baby cry and rushing in to comfort them. Waiting even just a minute gives your baby a chance to find their fingers or toes and start calming themselves down, a key part of learning to self-soothe. 

• Comfort your baby in their crib. If your little one wakes in the middle of the night and you would like to acknowledge them, talk or sing softly to them or lightly pat them while they remain in the crib. This can aid them in falling back to sleep without having them fall asleep on you.

Time to Enjoy a Good Night’s Sleep

Once you have taught your baby to self-soothe and drift off to sleep without you, it’s important to remember it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

There may be some nights that don’t work out as well as you’d planned — that’s life. But with these helpful tips, a solid night’s sleep may start to become the norm rather than the exception. Read our blog on How to Help a Baby Get to Sleep for further sleep advice for your little one.

Breastfeeding can be one of the most challenging but rewarding experiences you'll have as a mother if you are able or choose to do it. 

Making milk might come naturally, but the delivery of it from breast to baby belly takes a little know-how and a lot of practice. There’s no right or wrong way to hold and feed your baby, and each mum and baby will find their preferred position to feed in. What’s important is that you both feel comfortable. 

For just about every new mum and baby, the first attempts at breastfeeding are haphazard and hapless, at best. But proper positioning is essential in helping your newborn latch on the right way, as well as preventing nipple soreness and other breastfeeding problems. Knowing a few different breastfeeding positions and techniques can be helpful because life often requires us to be versatile, especially as your baby gets bigger and you start to go out and about more.

With some trial-and-error, you'll find the breastfeeding position that works best for you.

How to Hold Baby When Breastfeeding

Start by placing your baby on one side, toward your breasts. Ensure your baby’s whole body is facing your chest, with his or her ear, shoulder and hip in a straight line. You don’t want your newborn's head turned to the side — it should be straight in line with the body. Use a nursing pillow to bring the baby to a height that makes manoeuvring them to the breast easier.

Different Breastfeeding Positions

Once you and baby are ready, try one of these five best breastfeeding positions, recommended by our CuddleCo experts:

Side-lying position

This position is a good choice for nursing mums when breastfeeding in the middle of the night. To breastfeed your baby in a side-lying position, do the following:

• Both you and your baby should lie on your sides, tummy to tummy.
• Use your hand on the side you’re not lying on to cup your breast if you need to.
• When using this position, there should be no excess bedding around the infant that could pose a suffocation hazard. You shouldn’t use this position on a recliner, couch or water bed for that same reason.

Clutch hold

Also known as the football hold, the clutch hold position is especially useful if you have large breasts, a small or premature baby or twins, or if you have had a C-section and want to avoid placing your baby against your abdomen. To breastfeed your baby in a clutch hold position, do the following:

• Position your baby at your side, facing you, with baby's legs are tucked under your arm (yes, like a football) on the same side as the breast you're nursing from
• Support your baby’s head with the same hand, and use your other hand to cup your breast as you would for the cradle hold

Crossover hold

To breastfeed your baby in the crossover hold position, do the following:

• Hold your baby's head with the hand opposite to the breast you’ll be nursing from (i.e. if nursing from the right breast, hold the head with your left hand).
• Rest your wrist between your baby’s shoulder blades, your thumb behind one ear, your other fingers behind the other ear.
• Using your free hand, cup your breast as you would for the cradle hold.

Laid-back position

A laid-back nursing position can be beneficial for mums with smaller breasts and newborns and babies with super-sensitive tummies or excess gas. To breastfeed your baby in a laid-back position, do the following:

• Lean back on a bed or couch, well supported by pillows in a semi-reclining position, so that when you put your baby tummy-to-tummy onto your body, head near your breast, gravity will keep him moulded to you.
• Your baby can rest on you in any direction, as long as the whole front of the body is against yours and he can reach your breast.
• Your infant can naturally latch on in this position, or you can help by directing the nipple toward your little one's mouth.
• Once your baby is set up at your breast, you don’t have to do much besides to lie back and relax.

Cradle hold

To breastfeed your baby in a cradle hold position, do the following:

• Position your baby so their head rests in the bend of your elbow of the arm on the side you'll be breastfeeding, with the hand on that side supporting the rest of the body.
• Cup your breast with your other hand, placing your thumb above your nipple and areola at the spot where your baby’s nose will touch your breast.
• Your index finger should be at the spot where your baby’s chin will make contact with the breast. Lightly compress your breast so that the nipple points slightly toward your baby's nose. Your baby’s now ready to latch.

Nursing, Support and Breastfeeding Pillows

Many breastfeeding mums advocate having a baby nursing pillow on hand for feedings.

A nursing pillow, otherwise known as a breastfeeding pillow, is a specially designed pillow to aid in your comfort while you nurse your baby. Not only can a nursing pillow ease the strain on your back, neck and arms during epic meal times, but it also makes your baby super comfy, supporting them, snuggling them, securing them and giving them the extra height they might need to latch on properly. 

Unlike a regular bed pillow, they come in a few different shapes designed to help you hold the baby.  Some nursing pillows are U shaped to snuggle against your stomach such as our infant support pillow by Mother&Baby which can also be used to help your baby sit up. You can also buy a wedge support pillow set with a U shape support for you to feed your little one more comfortably.

Other support and feeding pillows are designed to wrap all the way around your waist, allowing feeding mums to relax, while also helping in the baby’s breast latch. These U shaped designed are also used as pregnancy pillows to help you achieve a more comfortable sleeping position while pregnant.  

Breastfeeding Positions to Avoid

If your baby is positioned improperly, your breasts might not be stimulated to produce more milk, or your baby might not be getting enough breast milk in the first place. That can lead to even more problems down the road. Here are a few breastfeeding positions to avoid:

• You hunch over your baby. Many latching-on troubles occur because Mum is hunched over baby, trying to shove breast into their mouth. Instead, keep your back straight and bring your baby up to your breast.
• Baby's body and head face different directions. The last thing you want is for baby’s head to be facing your breast while his body faces the other direction. 
• Baby's body is too far away from the breast. If it is, they will pull on your nipple while feeding. This will be painful for you and potentially unsatisfying for your little one.

Discover CuddleCo’s full range of expert nursing, support and feeding pillows, designed to help you find the best position for breastfeeding. Browse our nursing pillows category page to buy and for free shipping on all orders over £50.