West Auckland Parents Centre Issue 188

Tiny Talk

Positive birth experiences and informed par-enting in a community

Oct — Nov 2014|188

Visit us online

This issue

Baby Sleep Myths Busted

Outdoor Explorers

Christening - A

Celebration to cherish

Developmental milestones

Ideas for Dads

Tips for travelling with kids

Learning and Development

through play

What to pack in your

hospital bag

West Auckland Parents Centre

West Auckland Parents Centre 3

From the Editor Hello, you will of course have noticed this

issue is late again, apologies for that. If you

take a look on page 32, you’ll see how low we

are on volunteers in committee at the

moment and something has to give.

At the moment I’m busy concentrating on

running the centre and keeping our antenatal

classes full and of high quality and so have

had to put the newsletter on a slightly lower

priority for a while

If you’d like to come along and help us,

there’s never been better time than now, we

have a variety of roles we need to fill. Your

welcome to come along and check us out.

Email [email protected].

Again, I’m really short birth stories and round

the coffee cups interviews. If you’d like to tell

your story, or receive a $50 café voucher for

your coffee group, please get in touch. I’m

only too pleased to publish you.

Thanks,

Daniel

COPYRIGHT - As the articles, recipes, stories etc. in this newsletter have been contributed, we are unable to guarantee originality and therefore cannot be held liable. Copyright held by contributors remains with the contributing party.

Opinions and articles in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the policies of Parents Centres New Zealand Inc or West Auckland Parents Centre. Advertising in this newsletter does not imply endorsement by Parents Centres New Zealand Inc.

Special Features Baby Sleep Myths Busted 6

Outdoor Explorers 8

Christening - A Celebration to cherish 10

Developmental milestones 12

Ideas for Dads 15

Tips for travelling with kids 20

Learning and Development through play 24

What to pack in your hospital bag 26

Regular Features Birthdays 18

Welcome to our World 19

WAPC: Parent Education 23

Shopping for Baby 28

WAPC Member Discounts 30

Contact Us 32

Parent Support—Directory 33

Tiny Talk Contributions & Advertising 34

west Auckland Parents Centre is a not-for-

profit organisation entirely run by a team of

volunteers. We have a fantastic team who are

enthusiastic and committed to keeping our

Centre running, but we need a few more willing

hands to help out with a number of tasks. If

you have previously indicated you might be

interested in helping out on committee is now

the time?.

Some of the roles we currently need some help

with include parent education coordinator or

bookings (booking members into courses,

organizing hosts etc), social media co-ordinator

(maintaining our social media presence on

facebook and twitter) and a number of host

and general admin tasks.

Many of the roles can be done from home and

require as little as a few hours every month.

Just email [email protected]

for more details

Some of the available positions

Newsletter Editor

Secretary

Events Coordinator

Parent Education Coordinator

Parent Education Bookings

Librarian

Membership Discount Coordinator

Marketing Coordinator

Antenatal Host

CPR/Choking Course Host

Moving & Munching Course Host

12 Months & Over Course Host

Baby Factory Liaison

Social Media Co-ordinator

VOLUNTEERS!


West Auckland Parents Centre relies upon the generous support of philanthropic organisa-

tions in the community. We take this opportunity to thank the organisations below for their

6 West Auckland Parents Centre

Sarah is stressed and anxious. She tells me, “I

can’t get my baby to wake up for her 7 am feed.”

I ask, “when did she last feed?”

It turns out that Sarah’s two week old baby was

fed at 5.30am and, being a newborn, she took

about an hour to feed and go back to sleep. This

meant that she had only been asleep for half an

hour when Sarah tried to wake her for her next

feed. It turned out that the source of Sarah’s

anxiety was a book on her coffee table: it advised

that whatever time her baby last fed she should

start her daily routine at 7am and now she was

anxious that the routine would be mixed up and

that she would then be setting her baby up for

bad sleep habits.

There is so much conflicting advice and ‘rules’

about infant sleep that undermine mothers’

natural intuition and common sense that I’d like

to bust a few common baby sleep myths:

You must start your day at 7am, whatever

time your baby last fed.

You have two choices here that make sense – you

can start your own day at 7am: Get up and have a

shower (you might even have time to wash your

hair) and eat breakfast or even prepare tonight’s

dinner or do a load of washing while your baby

sleeps. Or you can snuggle down under the

covers and catch some zzzs until your baby

wakes. It can

create

unnecessary

stress and be a

waste of time to

wake a sleeping

baby who was just fed an hour ago and probably

won’t feed well anyway, if he isn’t hungry.

Babies ‘should’ sleep in two hour stretches

during the day.

Babies, just like all of us, are individuals with

differing sleep requirements. These will change

according to developmental stages, illness, and

environment. As a parent, you know if your baby

has woken as he comes up into a light sleep cycle

but could do with some help to resettle, or

whether he will be happy to get up and play after

45 minutes or an hour of sleep. If you do try

resettling, give yourself a time limit, say, 10

minutes, then if your baby isn’t going to sleep,

get him up and play, go for a walk, talk to him

and have fun. It makes no sense to stand in a

darkened room all day trying to get your baby to

sleep, especially if you spend half an hour

resettling and your baby sleeps for an extra

fifteen minutes. As one mother of three said, “I

spent so much time trying to get my first baby to

sleep, I wished had spent it enjoying him.”

Sleeping in your arms, a sling, a pram or the

car is not ‘proper’ sleep.

Baby Sleep Myths Busted


Some ‘experts’ claim that any sleep that isn’t in a

cot is ‘junk sleep’ like ‘junk food’ and won’t

refresh your baby, especially his tiny brain. Sleep

is sleep. A child who is quite flexible about where

he sleeps is a lot easier than one who will only

ever sleep in a darkened room at home, in his

cot. While you may be able to get home for every

sleep with a first baby, it’s pretty unrealistic if you

have more than one child: if you have a school

pickup to manage, your baby will almost certainly

get used to sleeping ‘on the move’. Also, if your

baby sleeps in a pram, a sling or your arms, the

rocking motion while he is sleeping is helping

develop his vestibular apparatus, a series of

canals inside the inner ear that, as fluid moves

over them (with movement), send out messages

to the nervous system that helps with the

development of speech and language, balance

and sensory integration (making sense of all the

sensations of sound, movement, taste, smell and

visual stimuli).

You should never rock your baby to sleep

This method of calming and settling babies has

been around for generations, so there just might

be something in it, don’t you think? As

mentioned above, movement is helpful to your

baby’s development and, according to US

Psychologist Sharon Heller, author of ‘The Vital

Touch’ many babies may crave rocking if mothers

have sedentary pregnancies and their babies

have fewer opportunities for movement that

supports vestibular development before birth. As

your baby grows, you can ‘wean’ her from being

rocked to sleep by offering more movement

when she is awake and introduce gentle music as

a relaxation cue, then gradually rock less. Later,

you can simply reduce the volume of the music if

you like.

You must never breastfeed your baby to sleep

This causes so much stress because it is

completely normal for a relaxed baby to fall

asleep on the breast. Can you imagine being all

snuggled up to your partner, then being poked

and told, “move over to your own side of the

bed, we are creating ‘bad habits’ ?” In fact there

are amazing relaxation chemicals in breastmilk,

with different hormones and proteins in your

‘night time’ milk ( melatonin and neucleotides)

that have stronger sleep inducing effects. This

explains why your baby will probably go straight

back to sleep after a night feed. Therefore, it

makes no sense to wake a drowsy baby who is

naturally calm and relaxed. And, just in case you

are worried about ‘bad habits’, take heart: your

baby may love to snuggle up to a warm breast

when he’s eighteen – but it won’t be yours!

Pinky McKay is the author of ‘Sleeping Like a Baby–

simple sleep solutions for infants and toddlers’

http://www.pinkymckay.com

http://www.pinkymckay.com/pinkyshop/sleeping-like-a-baby


Find the Facebook event here -https://

www.facebook.com/events/668273956587699/

and make sure you like West Auckland Parents

Centre on Facebook to follow our updates.

Outdoor Explorers WAPC Playgroup

https://www.facebook.com/events/668273956587699/



https://www.facebook.com/WestAuckPC

https://www.facebook.com/WestAuckPC


A christening is a special occasion, a day on which

family and friends gather together to commemorate

the arrival of a precious new life. Combine the

traditional with the unique to create a memorable

day for your guests.

The tradition

Christening, also known as baptism, literally means

"to bring to Christ". Regardless of your religious

background, this special day gives you and your loved

ones the opportunity to welcome your child into the

family, the community, and the world. Part of the

christening tradition is the formal blessing of the child

by a clergyman or celebrant, which also includes the

child's parents and godparents. This is reflected in

Mark 10:13-16, which describes that when children

were brought before Jesus, "He took the children in

His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them."

A christening serves as a public, formal

acknowledgement that the child is blessed by the

unconditional love of God. Many non-religious

parents choose to hold naming or dedication

ceremonies instead of christenings, which serve a

similar purpose in that they are a formal

acknowledgement of the child's birth and welcome

into the world.

The ceremony

A christening is essentially a service of blessing, which

echoes the scripture quoted above, and is about

recognising and celebrating that the child is receiving

God's unconditional love. This kind of service takes

place in a church and usually includes the sprinkling

of holy water over the child. This recalls the

experience of John the Baptist, who was christened

or baptised by Jesus by being immersed in water to

symbolically "wash away his sins". At this ceremony,

godparents are named and charged with a

responsibility for the spiritual life of the newly

christened child. The ceremony usually follows a

formally prescribed formula and is very rooted in

tradition.

Naming ceremonies can be similar to christenings,

but because they are not usually religious in nature,

this allows parents to have much more scope to

create a ceremony that reflects their personal beliefs

and wishes for their new baby. One lovely idea is to

have guests write their good wishes for the baby on

slips of paper and place them in a special container,

or in a special blank journal. Many people choose to

have a celebrant to retain the atmosphere of

formality. At these ceremonies, the child's name is

officially announced and family and friends welcome

the baby into their lives.

The gown

Christening gowns have traditionally been white in

colour, symbolising innocence, purity, and new life. It

Christening - A Celebration to cherish


has been said that for a girl, the christening gown is

the most important garment in her life besides her

wedding gown! Indeed, many mothers choose to

have her child's christening gown sewn from her own

wedding gown (or offcuts of fabric if she has been

forward-thinking enough to ask the dressmaker for

these!). Many christening gowns are family heirlooms

and have been worn for generations -- Christening

gowns may be as simple or as fancy as the parents

wish, but quality is the most important factor,

especially if you plan to use the gown for other

children. Boys don't necessarily have to wear a gown,

either - many companies make special christening

outfits for boys, which can be traditional sailor suits,

rompers, or even miniature white tuxedos. There are

also a gorgeous variety of accessories available:

Booties, bibs, bonnets, socks, and shawls also make

beautiful family heirlooms.

The flowers

Flowers are traditionally used to decorate the church

or other venue for the christening ceremony, and

also the reception area for the celebration afterward.

When choosing the flowers for your child's

christening, look to seasonal blooms and greens, as

they will be the most beautiful choices for the time of

year. Spring is the perfect time for a christening, and

spring flowers like those below have special meaning

for your baby's special day.

Baby's breath: Pure heart, constancy

Lily: Purity, majesty

Daisy: Innocence, youth, gentleness

Ivy: Friendship, dependence, fidelity

White rose: Purity, humility, reverence

Rosemary: Remembrance

Hyacinth: Constancy, sincerity

The gifts

Traditional christening gifts are long-lasting

reminders of the child's importance and

preciousness. Rather than choosing an ephemeral gift

like a new outfit or a toy, why not look back to

traditional gifts such as silver mugs or cutlery, a silver

rattle, picture frame, or keepsakes such as a guardian

angel figurine, coin minted in the child's birth year

(the New Zealand Mint has a beautiful selection of

these), cross necklace or bracelet, photo albums, or

even a special rosary.

The celebration

After the christening ceremony has finished, your

guests will want to relax a bit and enjoy a party! An

elegant morning tea is a lovely way to celebrate.

Choose a theme that complements your child's

special day, with soft colours and decorations that

represent the event, such as angels, crosses, hearts,

special flowers, and tea light candles. Another

important part of the celebration is the christening

cake, which is usually marked with the child's name

or initial, and can be every bit as sumptuous as a

wedding cake. Keep the menu simple and classic, and

consider hiring caterers to minimise your stress on

the day so you can enjoy time with your guests away

from the kitchen!

Source: Under 5’s


If you have any worries about your child’s

development, talk to your child’s Well Child nurse

or GP.

Newborn to 6 months

Development

Develop more control of their head

Push with their feet, and learn to roll

Begin to explore objects and things around

them

Play and learning

Try to reach and grasp objects around them

Put objects in their mouth

Explore their body

Connecting and communicating

Respond and interact with others

Recognise familiar people

Look at your face and try to copy your mouth

movements as you talk

Smile, coo, learn to babble and laugh

Learn trust through developing a loving

relationship with familiar caregivers

6 months to 1 year

Development

Become more mobile

Push with their feet, learn to roll, sit, move

around the floor, pull to stand and walk around

the furniture

Develop stronger head control

Begin to explore objects and things around

them

Play and learning

Grasp objects and toys

Put objects in their mouth

Begin to explore their body

Explore things around them


Recognise familiar people

Babble, copy sounds and laugh, then start to

say their first words by around 1 year

Learn trust through developing loving

relationships with familiar caregivers

May start to become unsure of strangers,

refuse to go to family or friends

May become upset when parents leave them

1 to 2 years

Behaviour

Enjoy copying you

Try new things

Help you and be involved

Be impulsive and want their needs met

immediately

Have tantrums

Refuse to do what you want at times

Refuse to eat what you offer and may make

lots of mess with food

Be slow to do things and get annoyed

Developmental milestones While all babies are unique and may develop at a different rate, it is still

important to keep an eye on your baby’s developmental milestones. Below are

signs you can look out for depending on your baby’s age


Development

Become more independent and curious about

things

Want to do things for themselves

Play with a variety of toys and objects

Be ready to learn to use the toilet (from around

18 months to 4 years)

Play and learning

Explore and be active

Become more busy

Take first steps, progress to walking, running

and climbing

Be unaware of risks or dangers


Show more interest in others

Develop language rapidly and be able to

express more

Start to join words together

Begin to say ‘that’s mine’, and not want to

share

May hit, shout, snatch and say ‘no’ to others

May experience frustration when they’re not

understood, which can cause them to have

tantrums, hit, bite or snatch

2 to 5 years

Behaviour

Enjoy copying you

May enjoy being helpful

Recognise and express different emotions

Be ready to learn to use the toilet (from around

18 months to 4 years)

Understand more difficult requests

Take time to get things done, because they are

learning

Use silly talk like ‘toilet talk’, ie, about poos or

body parts

Try to get reactions from others by how they

behave

Not do what you ask them at times

Development

Enjoy being active, and develop physical

abilities like running, jumping, climbing and

throwing

Develop skills like using scissors, drawing and

building – be aware that they may use these

skills in unexpected ways, for example, cutting

hair and drawing on walls

Play and learning

Enjoy playing pretend games and making

things happen

Understand the rules of simple games

Develop friendships with others

May struggle to join groups, be bossy or shy

May not want to share


Develop language skills and start using

sentences

Ask lots of ‘why’ questions

May use ‘toilet’ words like ‘poos’ and ‘wees’


Do you want to learn basic breastfeeding skills and tips?

Available now are FREE Antenatal Breastfeeding classes taken by a Lactation Consult-ant at Waitakere Hospital. They are held fortnightly: on the first Tuesday of the month from 10am-12pm; and on the third Tuesday of the month from 7pm-9pm.

This class is designed for women in the late stages of pregnancy, especially 28 weeks and over. Partners/support people are also welcome. The class is a great opportunity for women to learn more about breastfeeding (or a refresher for second-time mums) just before the baby arrives.

Classes are held in the Childbirth Education Area—Nikau Room at Waitakere Hospital. Bookings are recommended, but not essential. Call Adith on 838-9362, or Barbara on 838-1566.

Antenatal Breastfeeding Classes


Benefits of membership

Your annual membership subscription helps

to enable West Auckland Parents Centre to

advocate for West Auckland families from

pregnancy to school. In return your

membership gives you :

12 month subscription (6 issues) to Kiwi

Parent magazine, full of helpful articles,

useful product information and great

inspiration for Kiwi parents.

12 month subscription (6 issues) to our Tiny

Talk magazine for local centre news, local

events, upcoming parenting courses, and

topical articles.

Discounted prices for West Auckland

Parents Centre parenting courses.

Discounted prices on a range of quality

baby products.

Discounted hireage.

Invitations to exclusive member only

shopping days at selected major retails,

such as The Baby Factory 20% discount day

and Toy Factory pre Christmas sale.

Special member only discounts from WAPC

Member Discount Scheme.

Special discounted membership rate for

active committee members.

Free pregnancy, childbirth and parenting

book library.

Coffee groups, support and social events.

One major purchase at The Baby Factory

Member Discount Day would cover the cost of

your annual membership.

One year membership $65

One year committee membership $20


Here’s a great rainy day activity that doesn’t cost

a lot and will get both you and your children

thinking. It may take a bit of preparation on a

sunny day but it will keep your children

entertained for hours. My kids and I call this one

‘Cardboard City’.

All you need is a pencil, a permanent marker,

coloured felt tip pens, a ruler, a craft or stanley

knife and a fridge box. Most appliance stores are

happy to give you big fridge boxes - but

remember to ask

permission

before you start

rifling through

the recycle bin.

Also, it’s a good

idea to get your

fridge box on a

sunny day, often

times the recycle

bins are

uncovered and

on a rainy day, soggy boxes will disintegrate in

the car boot before you get them home.

You’re basically making a cardboard mat, so at

home, using the craft knife, carefully cut through

one corner of the box, so you’re able to flatten it

out on floor. Once you’ve got your cardboard flat

and you’ve put your craft knife somewhere safe,

it’s time to start planning your city. I typically

measure out roads using a two match box cars

side-by-side for the width of the roads. I create

blocks of empty sections and draw streets

dividing the sections. You may be thinking; “Big

whoop, I can buy a play mat with roads printed

on it” but, while those types of mats are great,

they don’t encourage the sort of interaction and

discussion you’ll have with your children.

Drawing your own city on this blank canvas will

provoke the ultimate question: What does our

town need? Don’t be surprised if the first ideas

are along the

lines of toy

store, lolly

shop,

amusement

park. To us,

these might

not be the

most

important

features of a

city but

they’re fantastic and valid suggestions. Decide

which suggestions are going into which section

and label them in pencil. Once you’ve got the

initial suggestions drawn in, get your children

thinking about their world around them. What

does the real life city you live in need to exist?

Houses, police station, dentists etc. Get them

thinking about the places they go in their lives -

they might like visiting the library. Get them to

decide where the library goes. You’ll be amazed

Ideas for Dads—Cardboard City

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WLmJxiXui0Q/UIULlYBQGdI/AAAAAAAAA4s/cLHy-blOrkM/s1600/8072548714_1ae56b4a91.jpg


at what they know about the world around them.

This awareness and what makes a town, and a

community is a fantastic thing to encourage in

your children.

Once the roads have been drawn in, the empty

sections have been designated and labelled, get

them to draw the details of their own house or

the aquarium they work at. What colour is the

roof? How many car parks do they need? Having

this sort of say and control over their own little

world is a dream come true.

Your cardboard city is a work in progress, try not

to fill in all the sections straight away, you’ll find

you and your children think of other ideas well

after you’ve folded the city up and put it away in

the cupboard. If you do finish your town and

think of more ideas, all it takes is another piece of

flatten cardboard and you’re away laughing.

My boys love our cardboard city and get a lot of

play out of it on rainy days. In our cardboard city

my house has a six car garage and is only five

minutes walk to my job at the Chocolate Fish

Factory. Have fun!

Abraham Lawson

http://www.ideasfordads.com/


Birthdays! Celebrating 2 Years Joshua Williamson

Celebrating 1 Year

India-Rose Chambers Boston Christie Monty Hanson Peter Russell

Birthdays


Welcome to Our World Class: Mon 19 May to 23 June

Gabby & Ben 28th June Matilda

Yolande & Scott 16th July Zara

Rebecca & Daniel 18th July Noah

Yasmin & Steven 28th July Griffen

Katie & Marcel 29th July Mollie

Taleisha & Jason 30th July Esther

Sangita & Bhavesh 4th Aug Jivaan

Hire it from us!

TENS Machine

Helps to lessen contraction pain by stimulating certain nerves and muscles.

Hire cost: $55, plus $55 bond

Collect 2 weeks before EDD and return as soon as possible once baby has arrived.

Class: Mon 19 July to 2 Aug

Jayde & Fred 30th Aug Elijah

Kelly & Matt 22nd Sept Robert

Samantha & Adam 28th Sept Hunter

Jennifer & Sam 28th Sept Gilbert

Emma & Alan 17th Oct Chloe

Lis & Andrew 4th Aug Emma

Rochelle & James 7th Aug Haven

Traci & Adam 3rd Sept Autumn

Kristyn & Carl 15th Sept Liam

Ashwina & Dharmesh 20th Sept Diyan

Katie and Wairau 21st Sept Indie

Claire and Greg 1st Oct Freddie

Class: Mon 19 May to 23 June


Tips for travelling with kids

Tania North is the Child Birth Educator for

Manukau Parents Centre

Planning your holiday….

Ensure your passports are valid at least six

months from the day you plan on returning from

your holiday. Kids (including babies) have their

own passports. New Zealand Passports are valid

for five years. If you need one, it takes

approximately two weeks to get them processed

and back to you.

If you’re travelling in School Holidays - book

WELL in advance. Specials don't normally apply

for School Holidays so you do pay more as well

as things book up very, very quickly. The later

you book the more you generally pay.

Great family holiday destinations for kids are the

Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Fiji, Rarotonga and

Samoa. If you go to the Islands (Fiji, Rarotonga or

Samoa) get a resort that has a Kids Club and

Babysitting available so you can have some down

time as well. They have some really cool stuff for

kids at some of the Island Resorts.

Booking your seats…

Depending on the size of your baby you can

request a bassinet seat on the plane (long-haul

flights only). These are normally assigned to the

smallest / youngest babies first. They do have a

weight limit on the bassinets.

If your toddler is under 2 years of age, you pay

10% of the adult fare for International flights and


they will sit on your lap. From 2 - 11 years of age

children pay 75% of the adult fare and get their

own seat. If it is a long flight and you don't want

your under 2 year old sitting on your lap the

whole time then you can pay the 75% of the

adult fare and they can have their own seat. 12

years and older pay full adult fare.

If you are not requesting the bassinet seats - ask

to sit down the back, if possible. That way the

kids can get up and walk around down the back -

and also you are closer to the toilets - for

changing baby and kids that always need to go

to the toilets.

Also request window seats - looking out the

windows can keep toddlers entertained for a

while.

Check in….

Most airlines (check with the one you’re flying

with) will take car seats as additional luggage. So

you can check these in with your bags.

Take an umbrella stroller with you and advise

check in staff that you will take it through to the

gate; that way babies / toddlers don't have to

walk all the way through customs to the gate.

Once at the gate the airline staff will take the

stroller and put it on board. (You will get it again

at the luggage carousel area when you get to

your destination).

The other option instead of a stroller is to take a

front or back pack. These are fantastic for

hanging around airports and having your hands

free as well.


If you book through an agent you will normally

get Departure cards (pink cards). If not, ask for

some. Fill these in before heading to the airport

to save time (and stress!) having to do it there

with kids running around the place.

Food & Drinks....

Internationally - you can't take any liquids that

won't fit into a glad wrap sandwich bag. So if you

are using formula you will need to take sachets

and then get the water for bottles from a cafe

after the security check or once you are on the

plane. You can't take them through the security

check made up). Same goes with drinks for kids.

Domestically, taking drinks or bottles on the

plane is fine.

Internationally they do have kids’ meals on

board. Each airline is different so check with your

chosen airline on what they normally offer for

babies’ meals and children’s meals. Normally it is

a nuggets and chips type of meal. If you want a

meal for your child you need to either advise

your Travel Agent to request a child’s meal (or

baby meal) - or request it if you book online.

You can take your own food for babies / children

- but anything not eaten will need to be thrown

out or declared at the country of destination. (All

foods you take into another country must be

declared).

What to bring in your carry-on luggage….

Often babies and young children get sore ears

during take-off and landing due to changes in

altitude and air pressure. If possible, have your

baby or toddler sucking on something – e.g. a

bottle, dummy, or breast-feeding can help

equalise the pressure in the ears. Packing some

lollipops is a good idea for toddlers and older

kids for this reason.

Bring lots of snack foods - lots of water to keep

them hydrated, especially on long-haul flights.

(Again, remember to throw these out or declare

them on arrival.)

Bring a bag of toys and books... Pull a couple out

at a time - not all at once so you can rotate them

around and keep the kids interested. A lot of

airlines give kiddies little Kid Packs when they get

on-board.

Flying on airlines that have TVs in the backs of

the seats is great as the kids can watch movies

etc. If you are not on one of these airlines, take

your own little handheld DVD player (with

earphones) or something to play movies and

keep them occupied for a while.

Make sure you have a change of clothes for them

- especially a jacket/ socks / slippers as the air-

conditioning on planes can get quite chilly.

Try to keep them in their routine of sleeping

when they normally do. This is easier said than

done - but does help with time changes when

you get to your destination.


Moving, Munching

&

Motoring

This is a two-part daytime course for parents of 4-7 month old babies.

The first session covers starting solids, crawling to walking, developmental toys, and safety. Participants receive a free copy of the fabulous recipe book Baby Food and Beyond by Alison and Simon Holst.

The second session covers Top 10 car seat mistakes and what you can do to avoid making them in your car, how to choose a car seat to best suit your family and ensure it is correctly fitted in all situations. You will also see some of the latest research into keeping kids safe in cars, including why it is best to keep your child rear facing as long as their car seat will allow.

Sessions are 2 hours on two consecutive Fridays, 10am—12am at Kelston Community Centre, Activity Room 1.

Our next course commences: Returning in 2015. Please contact us.

Members: $40, support person free

Non members: $50, support person $15

NOTE: If you wish to book into JUST the motoring session, this costs $20 for members, $25 for non-members, and $40 for non-members bringing a partner.

Parent Education

Baby

& You

This is a 4-part daytime course covering essentials for parents in the ‘4th trimester’ (newborn to 4 months). Sessions include sleeping & settling, life changes, baby massage, and child development. It’s designed to help you understand and cope with your role as a new parent, or to refresh your skills if you’re doing it for another time around.

Each week we have a different expert speaker to pass on knowledge and ideas, and take your questions.

The course runs for four weeks and each session is 2 hours from 10am– 12pm,

at Kelston Community Centre, Committee Room.

Our next course commences: Returning in 2015. Please contact us.

Members: $50, support person free

CPR &

Choking

Parenting Courses

Know what to do in an emergency! This Saturday morning course is designed to give you hands on experience in CPR and choking skills. An essential class for all parents and caregivers of children under five, led by a qualified, experienced paramedic.

The course runs from 10am—12pm on a Saturday morning at Kelston Community Centre, Main Hall.

Our next course commences: 13 December. Please contact us.

Members: $20, support person $10

Non members: $30, support person $15

CPR &

Choking


Choosing toys

Choose toys that are suited to your baby or

child’s personality, age and stage of

development. Toys can develop skills, encourage

imagination, and help them learn about sound,

touch and how things work.

Activities for your baby

Babies don’t understand danger, so they need

you to keep them safe – by moving things out of

reach, or protecting them with guards, safety

catches and plugs.

From birth to 4 months your baby may enjoy:

being held and talked to, and listening while

you talk, sing, read or repeat nursery rhymes

being shown things like books and pictures –

or themselves in the mirror

grasping your hair and face

playing peek-a-boo games or watching you

hide a toy and then finding it themselves

playing with plastic containers, blocks, plastic

cups, pots and pans

you placing bright things nearby (to encourage

baby to move toward them)

you rolling balls and toys back and forth (to

encourage their eye movement)

going with you on walks and meeting people

feeling different textures and watching light

and water

crawling on the grass or lying under a tree

dancing in your arms as you gently spin.

At 4–6 months your baby may enjoy playing

with toys that:

they can reach, grasp and chew on (they learn

about size, shape, taste and texture by putting

things in their mouth)

make noises, such as rattles and squeaky toys

hang and move above them.

At 8–12 months your baby may enjoy playing

with toys that they can:

bang together

put inside one another, like blocks that stack in

and out of plastic containers, or pots and pans

move or pull along

chase after, like a rolling ball

watch, such as bubbles.

Activities for your toddler

Indoors activities

Your toddler might like to:

Learning and Development

through play Babies and children learn and develop by playing, so it’s important to

give them plenty of play time. You can use things around the house to

play with, or choose toys suited to your baby or child’s personality.


swing, spin, and rock gently (to help develop

their sense of balance, and their eyes)

have you roll on the floor with them

build towers with boxes or blocks, then knock

them down

push and pull or stack toys (to develop balance

and building skills)

bang kitchen things like pots and pans with

wooden or plastic spoons

play in large cardboard boxes

play with bubbles when they’re in the bath

have things they can put inside one another,

such as blocks or coloured pegs inside an ice-

cream container

make things with play dough

paint and draw

dress up (to develop imagination and

interaction)

listen to music, sing, dance and play with

musical instruments.

Outdoors activities

Your toddler might like to:

roll down a small hill

spin slowly on merry-go-rounds or swing on

swings

learn to throw and kick balls

walk along low walls, with you holding their

hand or supporting them

climb in safe places

go for walks and stop to pick up things like

twigs or leaves (to help their movement and

balance)

walk barefoot on surfaces like sand, grass, dirt,

and mud

splash and jump in puddles

go for a drive, find a park and throw bread to

birds and ducks

chase bubbles

play with a bucket and spade.

Activities for your child

Your preschooler may enjoy:

drawing, painting and cutting with child-safe

scissors

making pictures with glue and cut-up pictures,

cards, magazines, leaves or material

talking about their pictures

playing with play dough

looking at books and having stories read to

them. They’ll often have favourite stories they

like to be read over and over again

choosing their own books

telling made-up stories at bedtime

singing and dancing to music (to develop

words, memory skills and hand–eye

coordination through action and the beat)

playing make-believe games and dressing up.

Children often dress up in the opposite sex’s

clothes – this is normal behavior

playing with you

copying and helping you around the house

with simple household jobs, like setting the

table or putting away clothes

watching you prepare meals and helping with

things like adding ingredients and mixing.

When you cook be careful to keep your child

well away from the hot stove and hot tap.


Make sure you don't forget anything! You're in

the final stretch, with only a few weeks to go

before your due date. Now's the time to gather

together all the essentials you'll need during

labour and birth and for after your baby is born.

Even if you're not planning a hospital birth, you

may need to go in unexpectedly, so it's a good

idea to have a bag packed by the time you are

about 36 weeks pregnant. If you know you will be

having a caesarean section, take a look at our

checklist for your caesarean birth hospital bag.

Hospitals vary in their policies about what you

are allowed to bring with you when you have

your baby. You may want to take a few items

from home, such as your own pillows, to make

the environment more personal and less clinical.

Check what the hospital provides and what you

can bring yourself, but be aware that hospitals

can be short on space. You may need to store

everything in a small cabinet by your bed once

you're on the postnatal ward. Many hospitals also

have policies on valuables such as cameras and

mobile phones. If you wanted, you could pack

two bags: one for labour and the hours

immediately after your baby is born, and another

for a stay on the postnatal ward. If you're driving

to hospital, you could leave the second bag in

the car. If you have a straightforward birth, you

may be discharged from hospital on the same

day, so you might not need the second bag at all.

See our list for what you'll need to take for your

big day.

What to pack for labour—CHECKLIST

What to pack in your bag

Print your handy checklist

Your birth plan and maternity notes.

Dressing gown. This will be useful if you end up

pacing hospital corridors in early labour and

you'll need one on the postnatal ward. Hospitals

can be very warm, so a lightweight one may be

better.

Slippers/Socks. Believe it or not, your feet can

get cold during labour.

An old nightdress or a T shirt to wear in labour.

It will probably get a bit messy, so don't buy

anything special to wear during labour.

Massage oil or lotion if you would like to be

massaged during your labour.

Lip balm.

Snacks and drinks for you while you are in

labour. Isotonic sports drinks or apple juice that

can be diluted are good for

Things to help you relax or pass the time, such

as books, magazines, games and so on.

A hairband. If you have long hair, you might

want it tied up.

Pillows. The hospital might not have enough to

make you really comfortable.

TENS pain relief machine, if you are planning to

use one.

Heat packs. Many hospitals have a limited

amount of heat packs but are happy for you to

bring your own. Check there is a microwave

available where your birth partner will be able to

heat them.

Toiletries

Music to listen to. Take a battery-operated

machine, as some hospitals won't let you plug

What to pack in your hospital bag


Baby

& You

things in. Some hospitals provide their own CD

players or radios - again, check first. There may

be a limited amount available and you may not

get one on the day.

For the birth partner

Water spray, or a hand-held fan to keep cool

down the mum-to-be while she's in labour.

Comfortable shoes. You may be pacing the

corridors!

A change of clothes.

Watch with a second hand, to time contractions.

Swimwear, if you want to join the mum-to-be in

a birth pool.

Digital camera or video camera. If you want to

bring a video camera, check with the hospital

beforehand, because not all of them allow them

in delivery rooms.

Address book or a list of phone numbers. You

and your partner will be able to use a mobile

phone in parts of the hospital, but bring lots of

change or a prepaid phone card just in case, for

all the calls you may want to make.

Snacks and drinks. You don't want a dehydrated,

hungry birth partner looking after you and if you

take some with you, they can stay with you rather

than leaving the room to search for food!

For after the birth

A going-home outfit. You'll need loose

comfortable clothes to wear while you're in

hospital and for the journey home. It will take a

while for your tummy to go down, so you'll be

still wearing maternity clothes when you come

home - sorry!

Nursing bras. Take two or three.

Breast pads

Maternity pads. Bring a couple of packs.

Nightshirt or T-shirt. Front-opening shirts or

pyjamas are useful in the early days of

breastfeeding.

Toiletries

Towels, hairbrush, toothbrush and toothpaste.

Old or cheap knickers, or disposable knickers.

Don't bring your best ones as they will get messy.

Arnica tablets to help with bruising after the

birth. Although there's no conclusive evidence

that they work (NHS 2007), many women report

that taking arnica helps reduce bruising and

helps the healing process.

Ear plugs, in case you end up on a noisy ward!

For your baby

An infant car seat. You won't be able to leave the

hospital by car without one and you may be able

to get the fitting checked if you are at a large

hospital.

One outfit for the trip home (all-in-one stretchy

outfits are easiest).

Two or three sleep suits and vests for baby to

wear while you are in hospital.

Baby blanket. Take a warm one if the weather is

cold.

Nappies, wipes and bags for soiled nappies

One pair of socks or bootie and hat

Jacket or woollen cardigan. When you leave the

hospital it may be the first time your baby is

exposed to the breeze and cold air.

Muslin squares

Once you've got your hospital bag organised,

remind yourself of the first signs of labour so you

know when it's the real thing!


with West Auckland Parents Centre

Chosen by parents like you, we have some fantastic products with some great savings, and ultimately you gain again as all profits go back into our centre to serve your community. Here is just a short selection from our online shop, sure to suit any budget. Order online www.westaucklandparents.org.nz/store

Eardrops Journey CD, Sounds of City/Country/

Home $15

Little Snuggles Muslim Wrap Set

$20

People Puppies Taggie Blanket

$16

Strawberry Jam Merino Wrap

$45

Amber Teething Beads $36

NZ Pregnancy Book $40 (Save $15!)

Shopping for Baby and You

http://www.westaucklandparents.org.nz/store


For more baby products discounted for WAPC members, see www.westaucklandparents.org.nz

Kimberly Collection Woollen Blanket

$66

Bellaroo Cotton Sling

$60 Womama Birthing Wrap

$99


SCAMPS BOUTIQUE - Scamps Boutique, eco products for mum, baby and child. Members who visit us online at www.scamps.co.nz will receive 10% off orders by using the code WAPC. 5% of all orders using the WAPC code will go to the West Auckland Parents Centre.

SPORTS4TOTS - Our fun, structured programmes provide preschoolers with a grounding for an active future in sport. Give us a call on 974-3644, let us know that you are a WAPC member and you will receive a 10% discount.

www.sports4tots.co.nz

GRASSHOPPER KNEES Learning Leaps is a programme with books, toys and fun and easy tips, games and activities to grow kids’ intelligence over all areas so they get the balance they need to fully reach their potential and do well in school. WAPC members who shop online at www.grasshopperknees.co.nz and enter the code parent1 will receive a 10% discount.

TOYWORLD HENDERSON AND WESTGATE

Toyworld is New Zealand’s largest retail chain of specialist toy stores with the biggest range of toys, games, puzzles, and indoor & outdoor activities available in New Zealand. Henderson Megastore and Westgate store offer WAPC members 10% off all full priced products (some conditions apply).

HARVEY NORMAN HENDERSON Electrical Department - Come visit us at Harvey Norman Henderson and upon showing your WAPC member card to one of our friendly sales team you will receive a 10% discount in our electrical department on not

already discounted products (some conditions and exclusions may apply).

FIT FIT FIT provide group exercise programmes for new mums and mums-to-be using the most up to date research available. WAPC Members will receive a 10% discount on Fit Bumps and Fit Mums classes. Call us on 360-0620 or check us out online at www.fitfitfit.co.nz

KID ACTIVE HOLIDAY PROGRAMMES - With over 100 courses to choose from, Kidactive offers a huge range of fun hands on experiences for children aged 4 and older. Give us a call on 974 5135, let us know that you are a WAPC member and you will receive a 10% discount. www.kidactive.co.nz

BABY ON THE MOVE - The Baby On The Move team are specialists in the rental and sales of all baby products and services. Come in store for some great savings, including 10% off all hires with a WAPC card.

BREASTMATES - Breastmates is all about motherhood. With maternity wear, breastfeeding clothes & accessories, body care & baby gear, members get free postage using the discount code: WESTPC at checkout. See www.breastmates.co.nz

FLOOR CARE SOLUTIONS is a family run business aiming to bring high quality floor care products to parents of young children at affordable prices. We sell Bissell floor care products, these include: vacuum cleaners; carpet and upholstery cleaners and steam cleaners. We have a try before you buy policy, so if you would like to know how the product performs in your home, then contact us and we can deliver a demonstration unit for you to try, with no obligation. The Auckland Sales Manager is a mother of a 1 year old, so understands the cleaning needs of young parents. To see our range of products go to www.bissell.co.nz. Floor Care solutions will offer 25 – 40% off the RRP to Parent Group card holders. For more information please email [email protected] or call me directly on 0212382535.

WAPC Member Discounts

Discounts & Benefits

http://www.breastmates.co.nz/

Your Fast Shop

EASY SHOPPING—EASY FUND-

RAISING

Step 1: Go to

www.yourfastshop.co.nz

Select: West Auckland Parents Cen-

tre

Start: Browsing your favourite stores.

That’s it!

No parking, no petrol costs, no aching

feet!

Great deals at great stores, including

Apple, Ezibuy fashion, Mighty Ape

Toys, and FREE DVD rental at Fatso.

Save $70 on printer ink and other items

at Snatch A Deal

Do you have a hidden talent you would like to share?

Become a volunteer with

West Auckland Parents Centre!

Check out our current opportunities in


Committee Meeting

Interested in volunteering? You can attend a committee meeting to see if it’s for you.

Meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday of every month.

Please email [email protected] if you would like to attend.

West Auckland

La Leche League West Auckland La Leche League

welcomes mothers and pregnant women to their monthly meetings for

encouragement, support and discussion on a wide range of breastfeeding, mothering and

parenting issues.

No booking required

Kelston Community Centre,

Activity Room 2

Cnr Awaroa & Great North Rd, Kelston

2nd Tuesday of every month, 9.45am

Coffee morning 4th Tuesday

of every month, please call

for details

For further information or

breastfeeding help, please contact

an accredited Leader:

Slingbabies Find out how to wear your baby.

First Friday of every month, 10am to 12pm

Sturges West Community House,

58 Summerland Dr, Henderson

ww.slingbabies.co.nz

Did you give birth at Waitakere

Hospital ?

Waitakere Maternity Unit values

feedback about the service they

offer to the women and families

in our community.

Sue Fitzgerald, Community Manager, and Helen Ngatai, Facility Manager, would be very open to any invitations to visit groups of women who have birthed at Waitakere Hospital and who would like to give feedback on their experiences.

Email Sue [email protected]



Ph. 837 8481 (answerphone) PO Box 83-192, Edmonton, Auckland 0652

www.westaucklandparents.org.nz

Committee Contacts President [email protected]

Vice President Daniel Mapletoft [email protected]

Secretary [email protected]

Co-Treasurers Catherine Matson

Megan Barnwell [email protected]

Membership Coordinator Catherine Matson [email protected]

Parent Education Coordinator [email protected]

Parent Education Bookings Daniel Mapletoft [email protected]

Products Coordinator Jose Edmonds [email protected]

Newsletter Editor [email protected]

E-News Editor Muirie Cook [email protected]

Newsletter Advertising Muirie Cook [email protected]

Grants & Fundraising Coordinator Catherine Matson [email protected]

Librarian [email protected]

Membership Discount Coordinator [email protected]

Website Coordinator Jessica Vroegop [email protected]

Marketing Coordinator [email protected]

Events Coordinator Lydia Dunn [email protected]

Venue Coordinator Jose Edmonds [email protected]

Volunteer Admin Coordinator Jess Maher [email protected]

Childbirth Education Convenor Carolyn Neilson [email protected]

Childbirth Education Bookings Daniel Mapletoft [email protected]

Baby & You Course Host [email protected]

CPR/Choking Course Host [email protected]

Moving & Munching Course Host [email protected]

12 Months & Over Course Host [email protected]

Baby Factory Liaison [email protected]

Advocacy & Lobbying [email protected]

Social Media Co-ordinator [email protected]

https://www.facebook.com/jess.grinsteadsacroug


Support Services Healthline (24 hours)

0800 611 166

www.healthline.co.nz

La Leche League (Breastfeeding)

Adith 834 1234 or

Kristi 824 7019

Rebecca 412 8369

Kiri 32 9082

www.lalecheleague.org.nz

National Poisons Centre

0800 POISON (0800 764 744)

www.poison.co.nz

Miscarriage Support Auckland

378 4060

www.miscarriagesupport.org.nz

Parent to Parent Special Needs Children Support

0508 236 236

www.parent2parent.org.nz

Plunket 838 0981

Plunket Car Seat (Waitemata)

837 1871

6E Enterprise Drive, Henderson

Plunket Family Centre

836 5730

Woodford Avenue, Henderson

Womens Refuge 8361987

www.womensrefuge.org.nz

Trauma & Birth Stress Support Group

575 7404 www.tabs.org.nz

Post Natal Distress

846 6967

www.postnataldistress.org.nz

Work & Income (WINZ)

0800 559 009

www.workandincome.govt.nz

Working for Families

0800 257 477

www.workingforfamilies.govt.nz

Waitakere Hospital Breastfeeding Classes

Adith 838 9362 or

Barbara 838 1566

Parent Aid 836 4122

Playcentres 8278649

Citizens Advice Bureau

Glen Eden 818 8634

Henderson 836 4118

Massey 833 5775 New Lynn 827 4731

Asthma New Zealand

630 2293

www.asthma-nz.org.nz

Immunisation Advisory Centre

377 7966

www.immune.org.nz

Allergy New Zealand

0800 34 0800 www.allergy.org.nz

Childcare Advisory

www.childcareadvisor.co.nz

Dial-a-Mum West Auckland Parents Centre have a

wonderful team of people who are a good

source of information for many common

and not so common pregnancy and

parenting. This is a free and confidential

service. Our support people have

information on organisations that can help

if we are unable to.

Breastfeeding— Nicole Snook 837 2501

Bottle Feeding—Nicola Mapletoft 832 5353

Post Natal Distress—Eileen Joy 818 8845

Miscarriage—Nicola Mapletoft 823 5353

Caesarean—Nicole Snook 837 2501

Homebirth—Eileen Joy 818 8845

Premature Birth—Amanda Galt 820 8085

Same Sex Parenting—Kristal O’Neill 832 8456

If you have any other queries or need advice or help with any other issue please leave your details on our answerphone 837 8481, for one of our committee members to contact you.

Parent Support


Advertising & Newsletter Contributions West Auckland Parents Centre is an entirely voluntary organisation run by parents, for parents. Our advertisers help us to produce this newsletter to over 150 families with children up to five years old in West Auckland, as well as midwives, and other organisations that support young families.

Ad type Single issue Pre-pay 3 issues Prepay 6 issues

Full page $75 $70 ($210) $65 ($390)

Half page $45 $40 ($120) $35 ($210)

Quarter page $35 $30 ($90) $25 ($150)

Inside cover $80 $75 ($225) $70 ($420)

Back of magazine $85 $80 ($240) $75 ($450)

Prices quoted are per issue and include GST.

Brochure Insert: We can include your flyer or brochure in our newsletter and Kiwi Parent Magazine mail-out for a cost of $100. Material must be forwarded to the Distribution Centre by the deadline.

E-News: Our e-News goes out to over 300 members each month. We can include your advertisement in our e-News for $35 per issue.

Newsletter Contributions: We would love to hear from you with any contributions or requests for articles. Send your material or requests by email to: [email protected]. Should you wish to contribute to our Dec/Jan 2014 issue, the deadline for copy is 1st Nov 2014.

For more information please contact our Newsletter

or Newsletter Advertising volunteers, see page 36

for details.

Postnatal Distress Support Group Meeting

Every Monday 10am-12noon.

Please call PND Support Network for more information and support or to see if this

group is right for you. For more info

call 836 6967 or go to www.postnataldistress.org.nz

Cloth Nappy Workshops

Te Atatu

Thursday 26th March, 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Te Atatu Community Centre - Activity Room

247 Edmonton Road

Te Atatu South

For more info, costs and bookings visit:

http://www.thenappylady.co.nz/workshops-auckland.html

http://www.thenappylady.co.nz/workshops-auckland.html

West Auckland Parents Centre Issue 188

Documents

Transcript of West Auckland Parents Centre Issue 188